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Aberdeen Wings forward Jibber Kuhl drives to the net during the second period Saturday, Nov. 15 against North Iowa. Kuhl had four goals in two games, helping the Wings split the series. Aberdeen Insider photo by Robb Garofalo.
Aberdeen repeated its recent pattern of splitting North American Hockey League weekend series.
The Wings lost to North Iowa 5-4 in a shootout on Friday, Nov. 14 at the Odde Ice Center before defeating the Bulls 4-2 on Saturday, Nov. 15. It’s the fifth straight weekend Aberdeen has split its games.
Aberdeen is 13-4-1-1, a point ahead of Bismarck in the NAHL Central Division standings.
“Our guys know it’s crucial not to go back to back with losses, especially at home,” said Wings head coach Scott Langer. “Again, we found ourselves in a deficit coming into the third period (Saturday), and I thought we played our best period of the weekend not because we scored, because we smothered ’em.”
Aberdeen’s Jibber Kuhl tied Saturday’s game 1-1 with a goal 2:59 into the first period. His shot bounced off North Iowa goalie Harry Byers’ shoulder and, when Byers turned to try and gather the puck, he knocked it into the net.
“Hey, I put the puck on net and when you do, good things happen, and sucks for (Byers), but he wound up putting it in for me,” Kuhl said.
MORE: Northern State holds off Jamestown to close season with 7-4 record
The Bulls led 2-1 heading into the third period, but Brody Dustin again tied it up just 48 seconds into the frame. Kuhl added the game-winning goal with 12:47 left thanks to an assist from Matthew Martin, known to his teammates as Moose.
“I saw Moose going to the net, and I know he’s gonna throw the puck on net, he’s good at that, so I just got my (butt) there and was able to put it in,” Kuhl said.
He’s now got 11 goals on the season and feels like his game is taking shape.
“Absolutely, no doubt, but I mean I couldn’t do it without my line mates, and obviously we’re pretty hot right now,” Kuhl said. “I had a little bit of individual success, but, really, it’s the team.”
Kuhl has traditionally started seasons slowly before heating up, Langer said.
“I’m hoping this weekend is his breakout weekend, but you really have to give credit to that whole line. They log a lot of minutes and are doing a lot of good things together,” he said.
The Wings twice trailed by a goal Friday, but Kuhl forced overtime by scoring with 8:51 left in regulation. The Bulls outscored Aberdeen 2-1 in the shootout to pick up an extra point.
Aberdeen next travels to Bismarck, N.D., for a pair of games against the Bobcats on Friday, Nov. 21 and Saturday, Nov. 22 at the VFW Sports Center. The day before Thanksgiving, the Wings host Watertown at 7:15 p.m. at the Odde Ice Center on Wednesday, Nov. 26.
Larson
Warner’s Larson qualifies for NCAA Division I cross-country meet
Fresh off his Summit League men’s cross-country individual title, Warner’s Cody Larson qualified for the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships.
MORE: Warner’ Larson wins Summit League cross-country title, eyes regional meet
Larson, a senior at South Dakota State University, placed 13th at the NCAA Midwest Regional meet Friday, Nov. 14 in Stillwater, Okla. The Warner native finished the 10,000-meter race in 30:37.1 to receive a bid to the national meet for the first time.
The race is Saturday, Nov. 22 in Columbia, Mo.
Wall’s Jace Mohr carries the ball against Howard in the Class 9A high school football state championship game Friday, Nov. 14 at the DakotaDome in Vermillion. Mohr had 211 yards rushing in a 60-6 win. Photo courtesy South Dakota Public Broadcasting.
Seven high school football champions crowned in Vermillion
Seven state champions were crowned last weekend during the high school football title games at the DakotaDome in Vermillion.
Saturday, Nov. 15
Class 11AAA: Brandon Valley downed Sioux Falls Lincoln 34-27. Levi Veskrna carried the load for the Lynx, rushing 39 times for 262 yards and two touchdowns.
Class 11A: Top-seeded Sioux Falls Christian rallied from a 17-0 deficit to knock off No. 3 Lennox 28-24. A Canyon Prins-to-Jude Prins 45-yard touchdown pass helped seal the victory.
Friday, Nov. 14
Class 11AA: Pierre returned to the top of the class, knocking off Yankton 56-35. The Governors have won eight of the last nine 11AA state tiles. Quarterback Jerren Deal threw for 287 yards and three scores in the win.
Class 11B: Quarterback Noah Wald went 15 of 17 passing for 203 yards and three touchdowns to lead Rapid City St. Thomas Moore to a 48-38 victory against top-seeded Elk Point-Jefferson.
Class 9A: Wall rolled past Howard 60-6. Running back Jace Mohr led the Eagles with 211 yards rushing and three touchdowns.
Thursday, Nov. 13
Class 9AA: Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy scored 21 unanswered points in the second quarter en route to a 46-22 triumph against Elkton-Lake Benton. Quarterback Riley Tschetter led the Phoenix, completing 15 of 22 passes for 315 yards and three touchdowns.
Class 9B: Dell Rapids St. Mary whipped Avon 54-6. The Cardinals scored touchdowns on their first four possessions and took advantage of early Avon turnovers.
Northern State volleyball season ends with loss in conference tournament
The Northern State volleyball team ended its season with a loss in the first round of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament on Tuesday, Nov. 18 in Wayne, Neb.
Wayne State, ranked second in the NCAA Division II coaches poll, upended the Wolves 20-25, 25-18, 25-22, 25-21 as NSU finished the season with a 19-10 record.
Delaney Miller and Channatee Robles powered Wayne State’s offense, finishing with 25 and 22 kills, respectively. Robles added 21 digs and two aces as Wayne hit .355 for the match, logging 72 kills to Northern’s 57.
The Wolves had three players finish with double-digit kills as Katelyn Schroeder had 16 and Abby Brooks and Natalia Szybinska each added a dozen.
Northern finished the regular season by dropping a 25-17, 23-25, 25-19, 25-13 decision at Wayne State on Saturday, Nov. 15. With that, the Wolves placed seventh in the NSIC with a 11-9 league mark.
On Friday, Nov. 14, the Wolves defeated Augustana 23-25, 25-11, 25-13, 25-15 in Sioux Falls. Linnea Nesheim had a great weekend, picking up 35 kills in the two matches.
Sports news and notes
- Kyle Hettich of Ipswich was named the most valuable offensive player in the Lake Region Conference. Joining him on the all-conference football squad are teammates Casey Geditz, Mac Heinz, Shay Knust, Hayden Schlosser and Tate Hogie. Other local all-conference honorees are Jesiah Baum, Chays Mansfield, Noah Bakeberg, Alec Mikkelsen, Gage Knuppe, Jack Williams and Parker Wood of Warner; Talon Miller of Northwestern; and Westyn Thorpe, Zander Hoffman and Jacob Kindelspire of Leola/Frederick.
- Abby Brooks and Natalia Szybinska of Northern State were named to the NSIC volleyball all-conference first team. Linnea Nesheim, Ava Nilsson and Abby Schauer were second-team selections.
- Forward Liz Boschee of Woonsocket High School and guard Addison Neuendorf, a guard from Hamlin High School, have committed to play college women’s basketball at Northern State University during the 2026-27 season.
- Avery Douglas, a libero/defensive specialist from Swanville, Minn.; Misia Grudzien, an outside hitter from Warsaw, Poland; Avery Maasdorf, a setter from Boulder Colo.; Lydia Nelson, a middle/right-side hitter from Madison; Maggie Smith, a setter from St. Louis; and Sidonia Wattier, a setter from Norfolk, Neb.; have committed to play college volleyball at Northern State University in the 2026 season.
- Northern State’s Chloe Voss and Lauren Youngquist were named to the All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference soccer second team.
- Claire Backstrom, a defender from Harrisburg; Sarah Helderop, a forward/midfielder from Mandan, N.D.; Jasmine Jost, a midfielder from Pierre; Makenna Lyons, a defender from Prior Lake, Minn.; Ava Nelson, a goalie from Plymouth Minn.; Addie Ott, a defender from Waverly, Iowa; Anaka Ott, a midfielder from Waverly, Iowa; and Chloe Wallhead, a forward from Laramie, Wyo.; have all committed to play college soccer at Northern State University in the 2026 season.
Scott Waltman contributed to this report.