Several Northern Hills and Rapid City football standouts have been selected to compete in the 2026 South Dakota High School Senior Bowl, scheduled for Saturday, June 6, at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium on the campus of South Dakota State University in Brookings.
The annual all‑star game features top senior athletes from across the state, divided into Blue and Red teams. This year’s Red Team coaching staff includes Spearfish head coach Thomas Tieszen, who will assist head coach Brady Muth of Yankton and other assistants from Dell Rapids St. Mary, Sioux Falls Christian, and Hill City.
Spearfish High School will be represented by three seniors: Jack Coauette, Laythan Lucas, and Asher Peil. All three played key roles in the Spartans’ successful 2025 season and will close their high school careers on the statewide stage.
Additional Northern Hills athletes were also selected. Belle Fourche senior Gavin Pearson earned a spot on the Red Team roster, while Harding County/Bison standout Shawn Glines was chosen following an impressive senior campaign. Sturgis Brown High School will send two players, Jaxon Cano and Cole Litzen, and Hot Springs senior Connor Kramer was also named to the Red Team.
Rapid City programs will be represented on the Blue Team. Rapid City Central placed four athletes on the roster, including Weiland Benbo, Troy Catches, Easton Graff, and Brayden Jackson. St. Thomas More will also contribute two players, Grayden Juve and Cole Nielsen.
The Senior Bowl brings together top seniors from all classifications, offering one final opportunity to compete before transitioning to college athletics, the workforce, or other post‑high‑school paths. Kickoff for the 2026 Senior Bowl is scheduled for Saturday, June 6, in Brookings.
Full teams are listed below (from 605 Sports):
Blue Team
Stephen Anawski, Brookings
Alec Austin, Centerville
Bryce Bangasser, Brandon Valley
Jesiah Baum, Warner
Carter Barron, Gayville-Volin
Ayden Behm, Pierre
Weiland Benbo, Rapid City Central
Max Bogenhagen, Pierre
Troy Catches, Rapid City Central
Aden Good Voice, Todd County
Easton Graff, Rapid City Central
Carter Gross, West Central
Al’Shamon Gunter, Avon
Jay Harris, Brookings
Landon Hulst, Huron
Brayden Jackson, Rapid City Central
Brody Jacobson, Sioux Falls Jefferson
Lincoln Juracek, Gregory
Grayden Juve, St. Thomas More
Preston Karstens, Gayville/Volin
Colt Keiser, Gregory
Gannon Knebel, Wagner
William Krentz, Great Plains Lutheran
Chase Leary, Brandon Valley
Devin Lodmell, Dell Rapids
Carson Maeschen, Dell Rapids
Spencer Melius, Faulkton Area
Karter Moody, Groton Area
Matthew Mount, Webster Area
Cole Nielsen, St. Thomas More
Randall Powers, Avon
Landyn Reiser, Tri Valley
Caleb Richmond, Wolsey/Wessington
Stetson Riggs, Hanson
Kenny Swanson, Dell Rapids
Westyn Thorpe, Leola/Frederick Area
Ben Veldkamp, Dell Rapids
Dylan Williams, Brandon Valley
Ayden Wood, Mitchell
Haysten Wooden Knife, Todd County
Red Team
Prayden Acheson, Canistota
Louison Akossi, Sioux Falls Lincoln
Edly Amaro Jr., Yankton
Brody Bass, Castlewood
Dalin Billmeier, Colman-Egan
Jaxon Cano, Sturgis
Jack Coauette, Spearfish
Chase DeBoer, Tea Area
Owen Eidsness, Yankton
Garrett Feldhaus, Howard
Colby Flowers, Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central
Drace Gaskins, Yankton
Shawn Glines, Harding County/Bison
Keaton Hinds, Elk Point-Jefferson
Tegen Hoffman, Dakota Valley
Jayce Hutchinson, Dakota Valley
Kyle Kneeland, Waverly-South Shore
Avanny Kony, Sioux Falls Lincoln
Connor Kramer, Hot Springs
Lincoln LeBrun, Dell Rapids St. Mary
Cole Litzen, Sturgis
Thomas Loehr, Colman-Egan
Laythan Lucas, Spearfish
Preston Marty, Sioux Falls Lincoln
Nolan Mentele, Howard
Nate Middletent, Lower Brule
Cayden Patterson, Kadoka Area
Gavin Pearson, Belle Fourche
Hayden Pearson, Colman-Egan
Asher Peil, Spearfish
Carlo Pica, Dell Rapids St. Mary
Dain Richardson, Vermillion
Jace Shatswell, Elk Point-Jefferson
Rip Siemonsma, O’Gorman
Camden Stahl, Mt. Vernon/Plankinton
Tobin Squires, Sioux Valley
Hunter Steinhaus, Sioux Valley
Dawson Unruh, Sioux Falls Christian
Leonard Wernke, Castlewood
Slayten Wilkinson, De Smet
