FEATURE: A senior class that will not soon be forgotten

MITCHELL, S.D. – With the 2019-20 academic and athletic year coming to a close, it is only fitting to recognize a senior class that has impacted Dakota Wesleyan University in a multitude of ways in the final edition of the Feature Friday segment.

 The DWU campus went on spring break from March 7-15 just like any other year. However, on March 12, the university made a decision to extend spring break until March 17 and transition all classes to online through the remainder of the month. Less than a week later, DWU announced the transition to all online learning for the remainder of the 2020 spring academic year.

 This meant no returning to campus to have the proper goodbyes to their friends, teachers and coaches. When each of the student-athletes signed their Letter of Intent to compete athletically at DWU four years ago, none of them could have imagined their senior year being cut short without warning.

 Despite the tragic news, the senior class left a lasting impression on DWU and the Mitchell community. Whether it was on the court, on the field, in the classroom or in the community, this group made an impact that won't soon be forgotten.

 In the fall, the volleyball team finished with its most wins since 1993 with a record of 20-12. Although the golf teams were unable to compete in the spring, the women's team finished the fall qualifier of the Great Plains Athletic Conference tournament in third place. What has become a normal occurrence, both basketball teams qualified for the NAIA national tournament, while the men's team hosted the conference tournament championship game for the first time in a decade.

 During the indoor track and field season, three athletes qualified for the national meet, as multiple personal records and school records were broken. Despite the majority of their seasons being canceled, the baseball and softball teams were fortunate enough to travel to Tucson, Ariz., to compete in their annual spring break trip.

 Along with all of the impressive team accolades, there were countless individual performances that kept fans on the edge of their seat all season long. Becky Frick was the first volleyball player to be named an NAIA All-American for the first time since 1990, while Luke Loudenburg rushed for over 2,500 career rushing yards on the football field.

 On the basketball court, fans watched as Ty Hoglund and Kynedi Cheeseman surpassed 2,000 career points among many other impressive feats. Jared Rabenberg came away a GPAC champion in the high jump, as Marcus Urban was the first wrestler to qualify for the NAIA National Wrestling Tournament since 2016.

 These feats were just a handful of the countless triumphs for DWU athletics on the field. Not to be outdone has been the service of each individual during their time at Dakota Wesleyan; notably in the past year.

 In the fall of 2019, the community of Mitchell and the surrounding area was hit with flooding that impacted many homes and businesses. The baseball and men's soccer teams filled sandbags and move furniture out of houses. The men's basketball team moved furniture, while the women's basketball, wrestling and golf teams filled sandbags and moved equipment at local businesses. The track and field and cross-country teams also volunteered by moving furniture as well.

 Since campus was closed, the DWU community had to create a new way to put on its annual Great Wesleyan Giveback. This year students were encouraged to volunteer in their local community by cleaning up trash, writing positive notes, baking goods or visiting people in retirement homes. After volunteering, they were encouraged to share what they did on social media using the hashtag, #DWUcares. Social media was flooded with the countless acts of kindness over the past week by not only good deeds done in Mitchell, but all around the country.

 Whether it's their performances on their respective fields and courts, their countless hours spent studying or the volunteer projects, these seniors have displayed exactly what it means to bleed blue.