This will be the final season for Paul Danger as head coach of SDSU’s cross country and track teams. Danger recently resigned because his wife has been offered a new job.

“My wife Sara has been offered a Lilly Fellowship in the Humanities and English department at Valparaiso University beginning in August,” Danger said. “It’s an opportunity you don’t pass up.”

Danger was head coach for six seasons and his athletes said that he’s brought a lot to the program.

“He’s really brought a lot of team unity,” said senior Kara Lucas. “He trains with us everyday and makes sure we’re working hard. He is a great coach and will definitely be missed.”

Among Danger’s accomplishments are 45 All-Americans including two national champions: Jennifer Bass in the pole vault and Nick Burrow in the mile. Burrow also set an NCAA indoor mile record.

Danger led the SDSU men to four straight NCC cross country titles, and has been the conference Men’s Coach of the Year each of those seasons.

He was also the Mondo Division II Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2002 after leading the Jacks to fourth place at the national meet.

Editor’s Note: This story ran in last week’s issue with an incorrect headline. The correct version has been reprinted in this edition.

Sophomore Joe Kenton of Watertown also made his first appearance at the national tournament. Kenton placed third at regionals to become a national competitor at 157 pounds.

In a tough first round against national champion Travis Koppenhafer of Adams State Kenton fell to the bottom bracket by a 15-2 major decision.

The Jacks lost to eighth-ranked Augustana Thursday night in their last duel of the season.

They started off strong with sophomore Joe Kenton pulling off a 5-4 lead over Augie’s Matt McDougall.

From there the Vikings answered back with two one-point wins and a major decision.

Andy Everson, subbing in at 165, led both the first and second periods before losing to Cody Henriksen 7-8. Henriksen scored a take down with 5 seconds left in the match.

Nate Althoff, ranked fifth at 165, jumped up a weight class and lost 2-3 to Dusty Wilking.

Tim Boldt, ranked fifth at 197 pounds, scored again for the Jacks with an 11-1 major decision over Augie’s Tyler Bullerman.

Boldt was the only other winner for the Jacks improving his record to 23-4 and closing the gap to 10-7. Augustana went on to win the next five matches.

Heavyweight Craig Martinmaas and 149-pounder Jeremy Roe both lost by decision while freshman Jarrod Chapa fell by medical forfeit, ending the match 30-7.

Coach Jason Liles was a little disappointed with the result along with other team members.

“This is the first time we’ve lost to Augustana since I’ve been coaching at SDSU.”

Roe agreed, “Augustana has always been a big rival for us but we’ll meet them again next week at conference.”

The NCAA Division II North Regional conference meet will be held in Saint Cloud, Minn. on Sunday beginning at 10 a.m.

The top four places at each weight class will advance to the NCAA National Championships held in Mankato on March 12 and 13.

Remember back to the 2000 movie Love and Basketball? It is a story about two young athletes trying to succeed in a competitive sport and at the same time not let their love slip through the cracks.

For some of the women basketball players of SDSU this is a prevailing theme in their lives, and one might wonder how a boyfriend could come into play.

While the Lady Jacks deal with the challenges of being student athletes, they also work to find one-on-one time with their sweeties.

The SDSU wrestlers started the weekend with a win against Southwest State-Marshall Friday night at Frost Arena.

Freshman Nate Althoff, ranked fifth in the nation at 165, scored the first win of the night for SDSU with a 3-2 decision over Brett Batholomous. From there the momentum continued with five other triumphs to follow.

Sophomore Ben Ericks was next for the Jacks at 184 pounds obtaining a 12-7 decision over Greg Frank.