A look back at some of the sports happenings during the week of July 31-Aug. 6:
Last year on July 31, 2021: The 22-year-old American swimmer Michael Andrew, who lived the first half of his life in Aberdeen, won an Olympic gold medal as part of the men’s 4×100 relay. Ryan Murphy (backstroke), Andrew (breaststroke), Caeleb Dressel (butterfly) and Zach Apple (freestyle) won the event at the Tokyo Olympics in a world record time of 3:26.78. Each swimmer swam a different discipline or stroke for 100 meters as part of the relay.
10 years ago on Aug. 1, 2012: The 80th annual South Dakota Amateur Baseball State B Tournament started without Dell Rapids Pabst Blue Ribbon, which qualified but was disqualified for accidently using an ineligible player. PBR had reached the state tournament 26 straight years, capturing nine Class B titles during that stretch.
20 years ago on Aug. 1, 2002: Groton had 125 players filling spots on its six (four youth, two adult) baseball teams this summer.
30 years ago on July 31, 1992: Abram Rife of Aberdeen Central led the North team to its first ever football win in the sixth annual South Dakota All-Star Games in Aberdeen. Rife was a defensive standout for the North, which defeated the South 20-7. The North also got three TD passes from Wessington Springs quarterback Chris Long.
40 years ago on Aug. 4, 1982: Groton earned a berth in the South Dakota Amateur Baseball State
Tournament with a 12-3 win over Erdmann Angus. Groton got three doubles from Don Cassels, two
homers from Rich Zimney and 17 strikeouts from winning pitcher Rory McKittrick.
50 years ago on Aug. 6, 1972: The Faulkton baseball field is being overhauled in preparation for the upcoming Class B Teener State Tournament with new lights, a newly resurfaced infield, new lockerrooms and grandstand renovations.
