A look back at some of the sports happenings during the week of Jan. 4-10, 2026:

Last year on Jan. 4, 2025: The gym where Chuck Welke (1953-2021) built and shaped a boys’ basketball program that gained statewide prominence will now bear his name forever. The facility, which has since given way to a new gym on the other side of the Warner School, is still used for practice and sub-varsity games. A ceremony dedicate the floor as Chuck Welke Court was held as Warner beat rival Northwestern in a varsity boys’ basketball game on the court. During his tenure, Welke led the Monarchs to nine
State B Tournaments, winning a pair of state championships in 1993 and 1994. His teams were state runners-up in 1992 and 1996.

10 years ago on Jan. 9, 2016: Fourth-rated Warner defeated third-rated Sanborn Central-Woonsocket 41-30 in girls’ basketball at Redfield. Laurie Rogers had 10 points and 13 rebounds for the winners while Myah Selland led SC-W with 22 points.

20 years ago on Jan. 6, 2006: New smoke detectors at Rapid City Stevens are doing their jobs. At the Stevens’ gym in a girls’ basketball game against Sioux Falls Washington, burning popcorn in the concession stands set off the detectors. It was the second time in recent weeks that the gym had to be cleared during a game because of burning popcorn.

30 years ago on Jan. 6, 1996: A South Dakota high school boys’ basketball game started in the Central Time Zone, and finished in the Mountain Time Zone on the same night. Pierre (CST) was hosting Rapid City Central when the lights went out in the gym with 1:35 left in the third quarter. After a delay, Pierre officials called across town to Stanley County High School in Fort Pierre (MST) to find out their lights were working. That is where they finished the three-hour (one hour delay) game with Pierre winning 57-40. Shane Prunty of Pierre shot the lights out with 31 points.

40 years ago on Jan. 5, 1986: Freeman graduate Larry Miller is the Yale track captain. When he arrived four years ago, Yale track was at th bottom of the Ivy League. Yale is now a track powerhouse thanks to Miller.

50 years ago on Jan. 10, 1976: Two Aberdeen bowlers won statewide titles in the second annual Score for Multiple Sclerosis. Dennis Kurtz won the men’s title and Trudy Didreckson the women’s title. The tourney raised $10,209 for MS.