Sports

Riyahn Heinert signs to play volleyball at Iowa Lakes Community College while joined at the table by her brother Austin, dad Chad and mom Amber.

Riyahn Heinert signs to play volleyball at Iowa Lakes Community College while joined at the table by her brother Austin, dad Chad and mom Amber.

Four local student-athletes sign letters to compete in college

Brett Nachtigall
Thursday, March 5, 2026
Body HOT SPRINGS – Four Hot Springs student-athletes signed official letters of intent to compete at the next level during a ceremony held in front of their peers inside Case Auditorium last Wednesday, Feb. 25.
Hot Springs junior Sarah Rickenbach points to family and friends in the stands of the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls while getting her armed raised in victory after winning the 145 pound state wrestling championship on Saturday, Feb. 28. (Photo courtesy South Dakota Public Broadcasting)

Hot Springs junior Sarah Rickenbach points to family and friends in the stands of the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls while getting her armed raised in victory after winning the 145 pound state wrestling championship on Saturday, Feb. 28. (Photo courtesy South Dakota Public Broadcasting)

Rickenbach wins Hot Springs’ first girls wrestling state championship

Brett Nachtigall
Thursday, March 5, 2026
Body HOT SPRINGS – Despite not ever competing in the sport until 8th grade – one year after girls wrestling first became sanctioned in the state of South Dakota – Hot Springs High School junior Sarah Rickenbach has been a state medalist every year.
Members of the 1994 “double” boys and girls state champion cross country teams who were on hand this past weekend at the Hot Springs Bison Athletics Hall of Fame were, from left, assistant coach Cheryl Huddleston, Nyla Schroeder, Karla (Benson) Merrill, Chad Gackel, Carl Sanders, Shad Curtis, Cody Hofer, Jason Coleman, Kevin Couch, Jason Trimble, Cristina (Bergen) Wilaby and Belinda (Maisel) Lawrence. Photos by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star

Members of the 1994 “double” boys and girls state champion cross country teams who were on hand this past weekend at the Hot Springs Bison Athletics Hall of Fame were, from left, assistant coach Cheryl Huddleston, Nyla Schroeder, Karla (Benson) Merrill, Chad Gackel, Carl Sanders, Shad Curtis, Cody Hofer, Jason Coleman, Kevin Couch, Jason Trimble, Cristina (Bergen) Wilaby and Belinda (Maisel) Lawrence. Photos by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star

Hot Springs Bison athletic success celebrated at Hall of Fame banquet

Richard Anderson
Thursday, October 2, 2025
Body HOT SPRINGS – It was a night of athletic celebration and history for the 10th Hot Springs High School Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet Saturday night, Sept. 27, at the American Legion.
Members of the Hot Springs Southern Black Hills Cup Team (on right in Bison blue) squared off against a team of Custer golfers (on left) in a new, hopefully annual event this past weekend at Southern Hills Golf Course. Photo by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star

Members of the Hot Springs Southern Black Hills Cup Team (on right in Bison blue) squared off against a team of Custer golfers (on left) in a new, hopefully annual event this past weekend at Southern Hills Golf Course. Photo by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star

Hot Springs wins inaugural Southern Black Hills Cup

Brett Nachtigall
Thursday, September 25, 2025
Body Ryder Cup-style mens golf tournament will move to Custer next year HOT SPRINGS – For many years, the Hot Springs Bison and Custer Wildcats football teams have had a traveling trophy awarded to the winner of their “usually annual” football game, referred to as the Southern Hills...
1994 Boys and Girls State Champ Cross Country Teams

1994 Boys and Girls State Champ Cross Country Teams

Hall of Fame to induct 2 teams, 4 individuals

News Staff
Thursday, September 18, 2025
Body HOT SPRINGS – Next Saturday, Sept. 27, as part of Homecoming Week, the Hot Springs Bison Athletics Hall of Fame will host its 10th annual Induction Banquet where four individuals and two teams will be honored at the Hot Springs American Legion.
Hot Springs senior Carl Stanton stands with his football team on the sidelines of their game versus Wagner last Friday night at Woodward Field. Stanton is currently preparing for a surgery later this month which will remain a mass on his brain. Photo by Richard Anderson

Hot Springs senior Carl Stanton stands with his football team on the sidelines of their game versus Wagner last Friday night at Woodward Field. Stanton is currently preparing for a surgery later this month which will remain a mass on his brain. Photo by Richard Anderson

Bison football players rally behind teammate

Richard Anderson
Thursday, September 11, 2025
Body HOT SPRINGS – Carl Stanton stands on the sidelines of each Bison football game in his No. 22 jersey and is at each practice wishing he could be out on the field.
ABOVE: Members of the Hot Springs Rattlers 12u baseball team stand at attention as the National Anthem is played while the American Legion honor guard presents the colors during opening ceremonies last Friday morning. RIGHT: After the game ball was delivered by Black HIlls Life Flight, Hot Springs Mayor Bob Nelson throws out the first pitch of the tournament. Photos by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star

ABOVE: Members of the Hot Springs Rattlers 12u baseball team stand at attention as the National Anthem is played while the American Legion honor guard presents the colors during opening ceremonies last Friday morning. RIGHT: After the game ball was delivered by Black HIlls Life Flight, Hot Springs Mayor Bob Nelson throws out the first pitch of the tournament. Photos by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star

Rattlers place 5th in 12u VFW Class B State Baseball Tournament

News Staff
Thursday, July 17, 2025
Body Games played at Butler Park in Hot Springs HOT SPRINGS – Butler Park was home to a lot of baseball this past weekend as the 12u Hot Springs Rattlers hosted the South Dakota VFW Class B Charlie Division State Championship.
McCoy Rippentrop (second from left) and his dad Matt and younger brother Cole. On left is his Post 22 baseball coach Jace Caldwell.

McCoy Rippentrop (second from left) and his dad Matt and younger brother Cole. On left is his Post 22 baseball coach Jace Caldwell.

Three Hot Springs student-athletes sign letters of intent for college

Brett Nachtigall
Thursday, April 24, 2025
Body HOT SPRINGS – Three Hot Springs Bison high school senior student-athletes signed letters of intent to take their talents to the next level at college, during a ceremony held at Case Auditorium last Thursday, April 17.
Hot Springs’ Jim Tays, center, stands on the Hot Springs High School football field while surrounded by members of the 1974 state championship football team. On this night in 2016, Tays was not only inducted into the HSHS Athletics Hall of Fame but the school’s middle school gymnasium was also named in his honor as the school’s Tays Center. Photo by Brett Nachtigall

Hot Springs’ Jim Tays, center, stands on the Hot Springs High School football field while surrounded by members of the 1974 state championship football team. On this night in 2016, Tays was not only inducted into the HSHS Athletics Hall of Fame but the school’s middle school gymnasium was also named in his honor as the school’s Tays Center. Photo by Brett Nachtigall

Tays to be inducted into South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame

News Staff
Thursday, April 17, 2025
Body SIOUX FALLS – The South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame will be inducting 23 sports legends later this year on Sunday, Sept. 14, at the Sioux Falls Convention Center, and included in the ceremony will be former Hot Springs teacher, coach and athletics director Jim Tays.
Hot Springs sophomore Hunter Kunz, right, begins to set up a throw versus Ben Suther of Britton-Hecla. Kunz would win this match with a 1:40 pin. Photo by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star

Hot Springs sophomore Hunter Kunz, right, begins to set up a throw versus Ben Suther of Britton-Hecla. Kunz would win this match with a 1:40 pin. Photo by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star

Kunz places fourth in B’s at 175#

Brett Nachtigall
Thursday, March 6, 2025
Body HOT SPRINGS – Five Hot Springs Bison boys wrestlers competed this past weekend at the S.D. Class “B” Championships in Rapid City where sophomore Hunter Kunz won a fourth place medal at 175 pounds after going 4-2 over the three days of competition.
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