April 17, 2014 – Hoof Prints Article Hello Mustang Fans!
On Monday of this week, SMSU and Marshall Public Schools broke ground on the Marshall Regional Track & Field Complex. There was a great showing of University, school district and community support for the groundbreaking ceremony. I would like to thank everyone who attended the ceremony with the chilly weather conditions we experienced on Monday. It was great to see the student-athletes from the SMSU and Marshall High School Track and Field teams at the event as well as the SMSU Football team who provided a great windbreak for all who attended.
The work on the Marshall Regional Track & Field Complex will continue through the spring and summer months. The project will include a Mondo track surface, an artificial turf track infield and a field events area located to the north of the track facility. The projected is slated to be completed sometime in August and weather will play a major role in maintaining the construction timeline.
The SMSU Mustang Booster Club will be hosting an event for the entire family with its first-ever "Mini Sports Camp" on Saturday, April 26, at the Schwan Regional Events Center.
The event, which begins with registration from 8:30 to 9:00 am, is for the entire family with individuals from ages 4 through 6
th grade participating in mini-camp sessions with SMSU student-athletes and coaches. The sports featured in the mini-camps include basketball, football, soccer and volleyball and will be conducted from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
The cost is just $25 and includes a t-shirt, participation in the four mini-camps and lunch. Following the mini-camps, the Mustang Booster Club will provide a free family lunch at the Schwan Regional Events Center starting at 12:00 p.m. The Mustang Booster Club will share a brief message on the family packages and benefits available for the 2014-15 SMSU Athletics season.
The SMSU football program will conclude the day with its annual spring game at 1:00 p.m. with all participants invited to attend. For more information call
Jennifer Graven at 507-537-6233.
The SMSU Department of Athletics and sponsors, Aramark, Hy-Vee and Pepsi, are in the soft launch phase of a new way for fans to interact with Mustang Athletics on their mobile devices.
The new "Mustang app", which is available for download now, will not only allow you to keep updated with Mustang Athletics, but you'll earn rewards for attending SMSU events and receive great offers from Aramark Dining Services, Hy-Vee, and Pepsi.
The app, which is compatible with Apple devices and Android based platforms, can be downloaded by searching "Mustang App" in the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or any other app stores.
Another way to download is to follow the instructions below:Step 1: Text 'Mustangs' to 80802
Step 2: Click the link in the text message you received
Step 3: Download from Application Store
Step 4: Register for Application
Step 5: Start Earning Rewards
This weekend, the SMSU Baseball Program along with the Vs. Cancer Foundation has joined forces to help the fight against cancer. SMSU has set a goal to raise $5,000 by April 19 to help cure childhood cancer. The Mustangs will be shaving their heads after the game against Augustana on April 19 at Alumni Field in support of the cause.
SMSU is looking for donations and/or support on or before April 19 to help raise awareness to childhood cancer. Childhood cancer is becoming a bigger threat every year. Each year in the United States, approximately 13,500 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer. That's more than a classroom of kids a day. Many SMSU players and members of the SMSU coaching staff have been or know of someone that has been affected by this terrible disease.
Once individuals are on the SMSU Vs. Cancer team page, they'll be able to choose how much to donate to this cause. Any amount small or large will help. Individuals can either choose to make a one-time donation or set up a monthly donation to the fundraiser. Either way you choose helps a great cause!
After entering the amount, you will be taken to the page where you will be asked to enter your payment information. At this point you will be able to write a message and tell us why you are donating to this fund. You can also opt to make an anonymous payment. Once you have filled everything out you click "Send Gift".
Individual gifts will be split two ways. One half of the donations collected will go the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, which will aid in funding new research for childhood cancer. The other half will go to the Vs. Cancer Foundation.
SMSU is one of numerous teams from across the country participating in the fundraiser for childhood cancer research.
Save the date! The 29
th annual David and Carol Drown SMSU Golf Classic will be held Friday, June 20 at the Marshall Golf Club. The Golf Classic is the next Mustang Booster Club fund raising event, and the Golf Classic Committee will be convening in the next couple of weeks to begin the planning for this great event.
For all your information the Mustang App and SMSU Athletics, go to SMSUmustnags.com.
Upcoming SMSU Athletics Events The SMSU Tennis team (3-16, 1-10 NSIC) concluded their 2014 season on Sunday when they fell 6-3 to the University of Upper Iowa. The Mustangs picked up a victory by injury default in No. 3 doubles to get on the board early. SMSU would get another point due to injury default later with
Samantha Ritter taking the win at No. 6 singles. SMSU's third and final match point came with
Erin Bones convincing 6-1, 6-1win over Laura Alvarez in No. 5 singles.
SMSU finished tied for tenth in the NSIC with their 1-10 conference mark. The top eight teams in the conference will compete in the 2014 NSIC Tournament Championships on April 26-27 at the Lifetime Fitness Oakdale in Minnetonka, MN. A big thank you to Head Coach, Charlie Kost, and our student-athletes on the women’s tennis team for all their hard work and dedication throughout the year.
The SMSU Baseball team (17-14, 8-7 NSIC) split a doubleheader at the University of Sioux Falls on Tuesday winning game one 6-4 before losing the night cap 7-8. Southwest Minnesota State returns to Marshall this Friday and Saturday to open a four-game series at Alumni Field versus Augustana College. Friday's doubleheader begins at 1:30 p.m. with Saturday's doubleheader starting at 12:00 p.m.
Congratulations to Patrick Rients for being named the NSIC Player of the Week for his performance last week against Winona State and Wayne State.
The Mustang Softball team (6-16, 3-3 NSIC) went 3-1 at home this past weekend splitting with Minot State on Saturday and earning two victories over the University of Mary on Sunday. SMSU played MSU Mankato yesterday in an NSIC doubleheader which was moved to Gustavus Adolphus College due to poor field conditions at MSU. The Mustangs are scheduled to be at home this weekend hosting St. Cloud State on Saturday in a doubleheader with the first pitch at 1:00 p.m. On Sunday, UMD will come to Marshall for an NSIC doubleheader with the first game starting at 12:00 p.m.
The SMSU Women’s Golf tied for fifth place at the 11-team Augustana Invite played at Prairie Green Golf Course last Sunday. The final round was canceled due to poor weather.
Abby Gruber and
Rachel Patnoe each scored rounds of 9-over 81 to lead the Mustangs and are tied for 19
th place. Augustana won the tournament with a 14-over 302, three shots ahead of Concordia-St. Paul. This was SMSU’s last regular season golf tournament of the spring season. The Mustangs will compete in the NSIC Spring Championships on April 26-27 at the Dakotah Ridge Golf Club in Morton, MN
The SMSU Women's and Men's Indoor Track and Field teams competed in its first outdoor meet of the season last Saturday at the Lee Krough Invite at Gustavus Adolphus College.
On the women's side,
Rylee Armstrong won the high jump with a mark of 1.60m (5-03.00), while
Samantha McNeel earned a first place finish in the long jump with a mark of 5.08m (16-08.00).
In the men's meet,
Dallin Finley recorded a first place finish in the 200-meter with a time of 22.48.
Alejandro Sanchez also picked up a victory with a time of 50.12 in the 400-meter.
OJ Ojullu and
Chris Kveseth finished second and third respectively in the 800-meter with times of 1:59.15 and 1:59.84.
Ben Tonsager, competing in his first track competition at SMSU won the shot put with a throw of 14.41m (47-03.50), while Anthony Dean, also competing in his first meet finished second in the triple jump with a mark of 12.92m (42-04.75).
SMSU is competing in the Northwestern (Iowa) Red Raider Open which started yesterday and continues today in Orange City, IA.
Good luck to all of our SMSU Teams competing this weekend!
Go Mustangs!
Congratulation to Chris Versaevel who provided the correct answer to the Mustang Hoofprint’s Trivia Question: What SMSU Women’s Tennis player holds the record for the most career singles wins? Michelle Olson recorded 107 career wins as a singles player at SMSU from 1986 to 1989.
Hoofprints Trivia Question (please put this in a box with the title on top)
Can you name the two recipients from SMSU who have received the Noel Olson Volunteer of the Year Award from the NSIC?
The first person to email me at
MustangHoofPrints@SMSU.edu with the correct answer to this question will receive an SMSU t-shirt.
