The Jackrabbits men’s basketball team prepares for summer workouts with the status of their leading scorer uncertain.

Sophomore Matt Cadwell has not been working out with the team this summer, said junior guard Casey Mackenzie. Head Coach Scott Nagy said, “there’s nothing definite,” with Cadwell’s future yet. With Cadwell’s situation up in the air, Casey is preparing for life without their leading scorer next year.

“I think (with) Ben (Beran) and Mo (Berte) and Kai (Williams) and Garrett (Callahan), I think we’ll have enough scorers. I think we’ll be okay ? We’re going to miss him (Cadwell). He was a big time player for us,” Casey said.

Cadwell did not return phone calls for comment to clarify his standing with the team.

While Cadwell might be leaving the team, a few old faces might be returning to the team next year.

The most well known old face is Ben Beran, who played for the Jacks for three years before sitting this past year out. Beran returns to the Jacks in his fifth year, giving the team a much needed inside presence.

“I remember the year before last year when we did have him (Beran). It was a lot easier to win games. His presence down low, people worry about him so much, it opens up so many more different things for everybody else,” said junior guard Mackenzie Casey. “I can tell he’s fired up for next year. He’s going all out. I mean, he’s working really hard. He’s a real good leader right now. He’s telling everybody what to do and trying to get everybody prepared for next year.”

Another familiar face that may return is Mohamed Berte, who was suspended from the team in February 2006 while under investigation for an alleged sexual assault. In December 2006, all criminal charges against Berte were dropped. He re-enrolled as a student at SDSU in the spring 2007 semester.

While not officially back on the team, Casey said Berte has been working out with the team this spring.

“He’s excited for next year ? He’s working hard,” Casey said.

The biggest hurdle in the way of Berte playing for the Jacks is his eligibility. Before he can play with the Jacks, he needs to become eligible. Head Coach Scott Nagy said the team will know more about Berte’s standing in late May or early June.

Berte started school in the fall of 2003 and was allowed up to 10 consecutive semesters of eligibility, said athletic department compliance officer Kathy Heylens. Heylens said, although he was not in school for all previous eight semesters, the semester counter has been ticking away. In the fall, Berte will be in his ninth semester. According to NCAA regulations, Berte will need to have completed 80 percent of his degree requirements and have at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average to maintain eligibility.

At the end of this semester, Berte’s status will be evaluated based on those criteria. If he fails to meet those requirements, Heylens said he has the option of taking summer classes or can use the fall to become eligible for the spring semester.

In addition to the familiar faces of Beran and Berte, the Jacks welcome four new players to the roster. John Cassaday, Dale Moss, Michael Palarca and Clint Sargent join the Jackrabbit squad in the ’07-08 season.

“We expect these guys to help us, but we don’t want to count on them,” Nagy said. “Some of them will play next year and will be contributors. Which ones, right now I don’t know. We’ll have to wait and see how they fit in.”

Cassaday, a 6-6 180 pound native of Aurora, Col., averaged 19 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists as a senior, earning second-team all state honors.

Moss comes to the Jacks from Brandon. The 6-4 184 pound high school senior was named the 2007 South Dakota Gatorade Player of the year for averaging 18 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists per game.

Palarca, a 5-10 guard from Santa Clarita, Calif., averaged 18.7 points, 7.3 assists and 5.1 steals per game last year. He left Chatsworth High School as the all-time leader in points, assists and steals.

Sargent was named Iowa Basketball Coaches Association 3A Player of the Year. The 6-4 195 pound senior averaged 19 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4 assists a game last year.

The new Jacks will join the old Jacks for summer workouts in June and July. Nagy said Kai Williams will not be joining the team for the summer, as Williams is playing on the Canadian Junior National Team.

“We would never take that experience away from him,” said Nagy.

Casey said the summer is a time for the team to lift weights and get stronger.

“We need to stop getting pushed around and start doing some pushing around,” he said.

I believe in many things. And during the past few years, I have inundated you, the loyal readers (my parents), with my views. However, I have not been able to fully disclose all of my beliefs. So, in honor of Kevin Costner’s speech in “Bull Durham,” here is what I believe.

I believe Michael Jordan is the best basketball player of all time. I believe Dan Marino is the best quarterback of all time and that winning a Super Bowl, or any other kind of championship, is not necessary to validate a career. Players can be the best at what they do, regardless if they win a championship or not.

I believe “Bull Durham” is the best baseball movie, ever. Kevin Costner should only make sports movies. Everything else he does is just bad.

I believe “Caddyshack” is the greatest golf movie ever made. “Kingpin” is the best bowling movie, “Hoosiers” is the best basketball movie and “Rudy” is the best football movie.

I believe pitchers should bat. The designated hitter is an excuse for baseball players to be lazy, and laziness takes away from the game.

I believe football is the one, true team sport. All other sports can be dominated by individuals, but football requires all 11 players to do well.

I believe most of what is labeled a sport is not really a sport. In order to be a sport, the participants need to be directly opposed against each other, trying to physically prevent the other person from accomplishing his goal. A sport is not judged nor is it decided by times.

I believe Batman would kick Superman’s ass in a fight because he would be willing to fight dirty, whereas Superman would not.

I believe “Darkwing Duck” is the best Disney superhero cartoon of all time, but that “Ducktales” is the best Disney cartoon ever.

I believe “Family Guy” is superior to “Futurama.” I believe that the “Venture Bros.” and “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” are the two best original programs on Adult Swim.

I believe “Seinfeld” is the greatest sitcom of all time, but that “Scrubs” is the best sitcom on television right now. I believe Alan Shore and Dr. Perry Cox are the two best characters on television today.

I believe ESPN needs to have more channels in its repertoire. You can never watch enough sports.

I believe the Democratic party is right on more issues than the Republican party, but the Republican party has done a better job of framing the debate and has done a better job of campaigning.

I believe George W. Bush is ruining our country. We need to follow the checks and balances the constitution put in place. I believe the government should fear its people, not that people should fear their government.

I believe a hitter should take a 3-0 pitch no matter what.

I believe 30 seconds is enough time to drive down the football field and score a touchdown.

I believe sunflower seeds must be eaten at an outdoor baseball game, which is where baseball is meant to be played.

I believe life is too short to drink crappy beer. I believe white wine is superior to red wine.

I believe the New York Yankees are evil and are bad for baseball. The only good thing about the team is that they are fun to hate.

I believe college athletes should not be paid. Yes, they bring the school lots of money, but they get a free education. I believe the rules preventing them from accepting a free meal are ridiculous, but you cannot have colleges competing for players like professional teams, offering them the most money or the most luxurious gifts.

I believe John F. Kennedy was killed without a conspiracy. Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone, and it was a tragic event.

I believe the last two years as sports editor have been fun and educational. What began as a hobby, because I had a friend working at the paper, has now turned into a career. I believe I owe a great deal of thanks to many people, including my co-workers, my friends, my adviser and you, the readers. Thank you. I believe I am now done working for The Collegian.

#1.883398:2207854054.jpg:ball_talk.jpg:Brian Kimmes, Ball Talk:

He’s a Jackrabbit. He’s a Phoenix. He’s a Jackrabbit again.

Aaron Johnston thought he was ready to move on from SDSU, but he was wrong.

On April 25, Johnston accepted the women’s basketball head coaching position at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

“It really started because I think I was at a point where I wondered professionally if there would be some development and growth,” Johnston said. “I really didn’t approach the Green Bay job saying, ‘You know what, this is just an all-around better job, better fan support, or it’s going to be a better community,’ never anything like that. It was just a chance for me to see from a new perspective. It would force me as a coach to think differently, and I wondered if there would be some value in that.”

The very next day, on his way to Wisconsin to be introduced as head coach of the Phoenix, Johnston had a change of heart. He called SDSU Athletic Director Fred Oien from the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport and asked if he could return to the Jacks.

“It was just a wow moment,” Oien said. “My first word was wow, and I was quiet for a while, extremely emotional.”

Oien said after the call he met with his associate athletic directors and then SDSU President Chicoine, and then called Johnston back to say he was welcomed back at SDSU.

“I have very, very special relationships here,” Johnston said. “And for me to want to come back, is really all about those relationships … That connection is what I’ve really enjoyed about my time here. I just don’t know that, right now, if there is any other place where that connection could be as strong as the connection I have here. I think the things that came back and really changed my decision were the relationships again, the connection that I think I’ve made with a lot of people … I just wasn’t ready to walk away from those.”

#1.883429:344627479.jpg:AJ_04.tm.jpg:Coach Aaron Johnston talks about his decision to return at a press conference April 26.:Troy Miller

After being gone for less than 24 hours, Aaron Johnston walked back into his office on April 27 to begin his second tenure as head coach of women’s basketball at South Dakota State University.

“The first few days on the job, I guess, is the way to think about it,” Johnston said. “It was different. It really was, and I think just because it was so emotional from the days before. It felt really good and I felt very settled and very at peace with my decision.”

Even though Johnston returned to the same job he has occupied for the past seven years, it was not just another day at the office.

“You also feel a little bit uncertain about how everybody else is going to react, our players, our staff,” he said. “That first day or two was still a little bit of uncertainty from how people were going to respond, but again, I’m very happy with the decision and the opportunity to come back.”

Now that he is back, Johnston is working on restoring the relationships that may have been damaged by his initial decision to leave.

“This week I’m spending most of my time visiting with players,” he said. “We had some individual meetings, (I) talked to the team and a bunch of just area coaches and AAU coaches, high school coaches … just to make sure they understand what my thoughts were too. (From) the players … (the reaction has) been really good. I don’t think there’s any issue there. And I think from other people, coaches and people from across the state and the Midwest I’ve talked to, I don’t think there’s going to be any issues there.”

Johnston attributes the warm reception he is receiving from AAU, area and high school coaches to the good working relationships he had before and the fact the coaches know he is a sincere person who works hard.

“I think if we would have burned bridges or had some poor relationships, this would be a chance for them to say, ‘Listen, this is the final straw,’” Johnston said.

The uncertainty Johnston was concerned with has been minimal. The public has supported Johnston in his return. Pizza Ranch displayed on their sign, “We love you AJ.” Johnston said he has received notes and letters from people he knows and people he doesn’t know.

“I think the reception has been really good,” Johnston said. “It’s been really helpful to me to know that people are excited.”

Although the reception has been positive, Johnston knows he needs to show everybody how much he appreciates the opportunity to continue coaching the Jacks.

“I still feel I owe the community, I owe the state, I owe our program, I just owe them a lot,” Johnston said.

A look ahead for Johnston

After going through the process of interviewing with another school for the first time, SDSU women’s basketball head coach Aaron Johnston remembered a few things he had forgotten.

“It has reminded me that everybody on the basketball team, whether it’s coaches or players, makes a choice to be here all the time,” Johnston said. “I think we all probably go through times as players and coaches where we wonder if there is a better perspective or a place that’s going to be more fitting to what we want … I took that for granted in a sense that you forget it really is a choice to be here.” “It just kind of reminded me of how committed our players are to making this work, and they make that choice to be here continually, and as a coach to be able to tell them I’m making that same choice to be here, I’m just as committed, I think is really going to be good.”

Johnston said that after being at a place for a number of years, it becomes easier to let the negative aspects become your focus, but this process has helped him refocus.

Now that he is back, Johnston said his biggest task for the rest of the year will be “just trying to reconnect with a lot of the coaches out there [and] recruiting contacts. I want to touch base with our players and certainly with their families. That’s something I’ve got to do, just make sure that everyone understands the process that I was going through.”

In addition to reconnecting with coaches, Johnston wants to address some of the negative aspects of SDSU that wore him down.

“I think we need to move forward in terms of facility. Our facilities here need some upgrades. Not so much in the competition facility, although that could use some minor improvements, but in the support facilities that would include locker rooms, training rooms, taping room,” Johnston said. “I think we really need to move forward in terms of our staff still … Those things right there are huge priorities if we want to move forward with women’s basketball.”

The basketball team is adding a second full-time assistant coach, but NCAA rules allow for three.

“It makes a big difference,” he said. “It makes a big difference for coaches in our quality of life. It makes a big difference for student athletes in their quality of life.”

#1.883431:93421853.jpg:aj.jn.jpg:Aaron Johnston speaks to his players during a timeout in the WNIT tournament.:

Aaron Johnston just couldn’t leave. He hopped on a plane to Wisconsin expecting to take the helm of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay women’s basketball program, but sometime during the short flight between Sioux Falls and Minneapolis, Minn., he had a change of heart. He just couldn’t leave the people at SDSU.”I have very, very special relationships here. And for me to want to come back, is really all about those relationships. ? That connection is what I’ve really enjoyed about my time here. I just don’t know that, right now, if there is any other place where that connection could be as strong as the connection I have here,” he said. “I think the things that came back and really changed my decision were the relationships again, the connection that I think I’ve made with a lot of people ? I just wasn’t ready to walk away from those.”Johnston is grateful for the opportunity to return to SDSU. He said it would have been easy for Athletic Director Fred Oien and other SDSU officials to politely turn him down and go in another direction.”To be given a chance to come back means an awful lot to me, and I appreciate that,” Johnston said. “I am extremely happy to be here, there’s no question about it. I’m not on the fence. I’m not in between. This is where I want to be and I’m happy to be here.”Those people Johnston has developed a relationship are glad he’s back too. Oien welcomed Johnston back with open arms and said the entire Jackrabbit nation welcomes him back, proclaiming, “You’re our man, buddy.”"I’m so excited that he is coming back,” Oien said. “We are pleased as punch that he’s coming back because of what he done in our program, but more importantly ? because every young woman that has gone through this program with AJ as become a better person.”The basketball players are also pleased to have Johnston back.”It’s awesome that he’s back. Everybody is just really happy. It feels like it is SDSU again,” said junior point guard Andrea Verdegan.In addition to feeling happy, the ladies are relieved to have Johnston back.”It was just a relief knowing that he’ll be back,” said sophomore guard Ashlea Muckenhirn. Freshman forward Stacie Oistad said the process of finding a new coach and learning a new system is difficult and she is glad the team will be able to avoid going through that.Johnston told his players in person on Wednesday, April 25 of his decision to leave, but was unable to tell them in person of his decision to return. Oien held a meeting with the team after individual workouts on the afternoon of Thursday, April 26 around 2:30 p.m. to inform the players. Muckenhirn said she expected Oien to discuss the process of finding a new coach, but then was confused when he began talking about Johnston and ripped up Johnston’s resume in front of the team, announcing Johnston’s return to the team.April 26 was a busy day for Oien. He received a call from Johnston a little before 8:30 a.m., asking to come back to SDSU.”It was just a wow moment,” Oien said. “My first word was wow, and I was quiet for a while, extremely emotional.”After talking with Johnston, Oien said he called a meeting with the associate athletic directors to discuss the pros and cons of brining Johnston back.”My initial reaction was that yes, I want him back,” Oien said. “We went through all the scenarios. We discussed all aspects of the decision.”Oien said the feedback from the associate athletic directors was all positive, so he next talked to President Chicione. After a 10-minute conversation with Chicione, Oien said it was clear that they wanted Johnston back. Oien then called Johnston to inform him he was welcomed back, less then two hours after first hearing from him.”I look at this as another opportunity. I really do. This is a chance for me to hopefully bring more to the table than I was even a month ago. And having gone through this experience I think is really going to help me,” Johnston said.

After a change of heart, Aaron Johnston has decided to remain as head coach of the Jackrabbit women’s basketball team.

On Thursday afternoon, Johnston decided he preferred the head coaching job at SDSU instead of taking the job at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

Johnston was scheduled to be introduced as the head coach at a 4 p.m. press conference in Green Bay, Wisc. He was on his way to Wisconsin for the press conference when he decided he wanted to remain a Jackrabbit.

Johnston will be speaking at a press conference in the Ginn Trophy Room, located upstairs in the HPER center, at 8 p.m.

Check back at www.sdsucollegian.com for further information as the story progresses.

After more than seven years of guiding the Jackrabbits, Head Coach Aaron Johnston has decided to leave the plains of South Dakota for greener pastures in Wisconsin, accepting the job as women’s head coach at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

“It is a great opportunity for me to join the well-established Phoenix women’s basketball program,” said Johnston in a press release. “I appreciate the confidence extended from the leadership of UW-Green Bay and I am anxious to begin the process of adding to the wonderful foundation that is already in place.”

Johnston has led the Jacks to seven of the most prosperous years in school history. He led the Jacks to three consecutive Division-II Elite Eight appearances, including the Jackrabbits won their first-ever Division-II national title under Johnston in 2002-2003. Johnston compiled a 170-55 record during his tenure. In his seven full seasons as a coach, Johnston never finished below .500 and never won less than 15 games.

“I am excited that we have someone of Aaron’s caliber to lead our program,” said University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Director of Athletics Ken Bothof.

Last season, Johnston coached the Jacks to a 25-6 record and a Women’s National Invitation Tournament quarterfinal appearance, where the team lost to eventual WNIT champion Wyoming.

In 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 Johnston was named Division I Independent Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year. He was also named the South Dakota Sportswriters Women’s College Coach of the Year in 2006.

Johnston takes over a strong program. Last season, Green Bay won the Horizon League with a 16-0 conference record and finished the season 29-4 overall. The Phoenix lost to the University of Connecticut in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Phoenix job opened up when former coach Kevin Borseth left Green Bay for the University of Michigan women’s head coaching position.

In their much delayed home opener, the Jackrabbits committed more errors, four, then recorded hits, one, in their 3-0 loss to rival North Dakota State in the first game of a doubleheader.

The doubleheader marked the opening of the new Jackrabbit Softball Stadium on campus. The Jacks have been playing off-campus at Southbrook Park for the past decade.

In order to celebrate the first home game, the athletic department provided 100 free hamburgers and free fruit punch to fans in attendance.

SDSU Head Coach Shane Bouman said finally getting a home game was an advantage for the team because it allowed them to sleep in their own beds, attend class and eat their own meals.

“(It is) a huge advantage for us, and I think you could see by the way we played,” Bouman said.

Although the Jacks had the home-field advantage, it was NDSU pitcher Allison Bakke who controlled the game for the Bison, only giving up one hit and striking out 11, compiling her 18th win of the season. Bakke was so dominant in her complete game shutout, the Jacks did not get a ball in play until the third out of the third inning, and it took five inning for the Jacks to record their first hit of the game, a single by first baseman Kiley Schwedhelm.

“Offensively, I’d say you could expect that because we haven’t played for a week and that can happen,” Bouman said.

The only flaw in Bakke’s performance was her occasional lack of control, walking three SDSU batters.

“Bakke did a great job today. (She) kept us off balance,” Bouman said.

The walked batters did not come back to haunt Bakke though. The Jacks only managed four base runners all game. But when the Jacks got on base, they were aggressive. They would either attempt to bunt the runner to second or have the runner steal second base.

“That’s the aggressive style we play. We’re going to bunt them to move them to second base or we’re going to steal and use our speed,” Bouman said.

The Jacks have had success running and bunting all season, but struggled with it against the Bison.

“We had seven bunts that were not executed. So that is something we definitely need to work on,” Bouman said.

Stealing bases was another problem for the Jacks. They only succeed in two of their three attempts, after entering the game with an 80 percent success rate. Sophomore outfielder Brooke Postma was thrown out stealing for the first time as a Jackrabbit, after succeeding in 35 attempts.

SDSU never mounted a serious threat during the game. The Jacks never got a runner past second base, never batted more than four players in an inning and never had two runners on base at the same time.

Despite the lack of base runners, SDSU stayed in the game, thanks to a solid pitching performance by Jenna Marston. Marston threw a complete game, her team-leading 13th of the season, giving up zero walks, four hits and two earned runs. Marston made a few Bison look silly, fooling them with a devastating changeup on her way to three strikeouts in the game.

“Jenna threw phenomenal and gave us a chance to win,” Bouman said.

The seventh-inning pitchers’ duel saw only five hits total. NDSU scored first, notching the first run of the game in the fourth inning on a ground ball to short. Jackrabbit shortstop Jessica Vineyard fired the ball home, but the throw was not in time to prevent Kelly Cantrel from scoring the first run of the game.

Marston held the Bison scoreless for the next two innings, but NDSU broke the game open in the seventh inning. Errors killed the Jacks in the final inning of play, giving up two runs, one unearned.

“Errors have plagued us a lot this season,” Bouman said.

Finishing the season with a home meet, the women downed the University of Sioux Falls, 6-1, and finished the season with a 5-10 record, including Division-I victories against Chicago State and University of Missouri-Kansas City.

“The women did what they needed to do,” Head Coach Josh Lunak said.

Kristine Hagedorn, Jennifer Sondreal, Caitlin Brannen, Amy Albrecht and Carrie Jansen won their singles matches. Kate Wylie rebounded after losing her single’s match to team with Brannen to win in doubles.

#1.883453:2162892051.jpg:womenstennisvsUSF2.jn.jpg::

Finally, after numerous postponements, the Jackrabbit softball team played at home. Doing my due diligence as sports editor, I attended the team’s two doubleheaders on April 20 and 21. Sitting in the stands, watching the Jacks struggle to make contact with the ball and praying a ball didn’t wander over the fence in my direction, I started thinking how truly difficult it is to hit a softball hurling toward you from 43 feet away at 60 miles per hour.

I imagine that it would be damn near impossible for me to hit a rise ball off SDSU pitcher Jenna Marston. As we learned last week, I do not do well with softballs zooming toward me at alarming velocities. If I were to step to bat against Marston, I would probably need a diaper to go along with my helmet.

Realizing my likely ineptitude in hitting a ball off Marston got me thinking about other sporting activities that are incredibly difficult. Hitting a fast-pitch softball would be toward the top of the list, but what else?

Hitting a major league curveball or fastball is generally considered to be the hardest thing to do. Connecting with a little ball defying physics, bolting toward the plate at 99 mph, with a little stick is not an easy task.

In softball or baseball, a .300 average is considered good. Think about that. Professionals can fail seven out of ten times and still be considered the best at what they do. In comparison, if an NBA player shoots 30 percent from the floor, he will not play in the league very long.

Another incredibly difficult accomplishment is hitting a golf ball straight for 300 yards. Hell, just hitting the damn ball straight, even 50 yards, is an achievement for me. The PGA tour keeps track of driving accuracy, or fairways hit. Obviously, if hitting a ball straight was that easy, keeping track of how often golfers hit the ball in the fairway would be silly.

Returning a serve by a top professional tennis player is challenging. A fuzzy little green ball hurling toward you at 150 mph with nothing but a racket to protect you is scary. Throw in some spin, and you might as well just close your eyes and pray, because you ain’t returning that serve. And if you did manage to get your racket on the ball, you’ll need the strength of Hercules to hold onto your only means of protection.

Football offers a host of difficult activities, the least of which is not dying when a 350 pound behemoth of a man hits you with all his might. But I think the most difficult, regular occurrence in football is catching a 5-10 yard slant. Quarterbacks fire the ball so bloody hard, it is ridiculous. Receivers occasionally break fingers in practice because the quarterback rifles the ball in their direction from 15 feet away.

With the variety of events track and field offers, a host of near super-human feats can be witnessed. In the running events, the four-minute mile is astonishing. For years, it was debated and believed that the four-minute mile could not be done. The four-minute mile is insanely fast, averaging 15 mph for 5,280 feet. Running that speed for that distance is unfathomable to me.

Also, I am in awe of high-jumpers. They clear ridiculous heights. But what is truly amazing is how the best jumpers will clear close to a foot higher than their own height. Think about how tall you are, and then think about using nothing but your own body to clear something a foot higher than that. Insane.

Now, I love sitting and watching sports, but I rarely stop to think about and appreciate the skill athletes display. We sit in the bleachers or on our couches, yelling and screaming about how the athletes should be doing better. But in reality, the vast majority of us would fail miserably if we attempted to do what athletes do. So, I encourage all of you to take a minute and think about how difficult it is to hit a 99 mph fastball, hit a golf ball straight or run 15 mph for a mile, and then marvel at how truly gifted athletes are.

#1.883398:2207854054.jpg:ball_talk.jpg:Brian Kimmes, Ball Talk: