State champions Olivia Braun, Brynn Roehrich among area's top returnees

Even though northeastern and north central South Dakota golfers may typically be behind many of their counterparts across the state early each spring, they usually hold their own by season's end.

That should be the case again during the 2026 South Dakota high school golf season, which again features Class AA, A and B girls and Class B boys.

Area squads include Aberdeen Central and Watertown in Class AA girls; and Aberdeen Roncalli, Groton Area, Milbank, Sisseton, Sioux Valley and Tiospa Zina (Region 1) and Redfield (Region 3) in Class A girls.

Class B boys and/or girls' teams include Aberdeen Christian, Britton-Hecla, Clark-Willow Lake, Doland, Edmunds Central, Faulkton Area, Florence-Henry, Frederick Area, Great Plains Lutheran, Ipswich, Langford Area, Leola, Warner, Waubay-Summit, Waverly-South Shore, Webster Area and Wilmot (Region 1); Arlington, Castlewood, De Smet, Deubrook Area, Deuel, Elkton-Lake benton, Hamlin, Hitchcock-Tulare, Iroquois-Lake Preston and Oldham-Ramona-Rutland (Region 2); and Eureka, Gettysburg, Herreid, Hoven, Mobridge-Pollock and Selby Area (Region 5).

State tourneys are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, June 1-2 at Cattail Crossing Golf Course in Watertown (Class AA girls), Two Rivers Club in North Sioux City (Class A girls), Edgebrook Golf Course in Brookings (Class B girls) and the Brookings Country Club (Class Boys).

These six girls, from left, Olivia Braun of Aberdeen Central, Maddie Childs of Mitchell, Alison Kennedy of Spearfish, Emma Dohrer of Aberdeen Central, Kyley Wirebaugh of Aberdeen Central and Gabi Olson of Watertown finished in order from first through sixth in the state Class AA golf tournament June 2-3, 2025 at the Prairie Green Golf Course in Sioux Falls. All of the golfers, except for Kennedy, are back to compete in the spring 2026 high school season.

Class AA Girls

State champion Olivia Braun and fellow state medalists Emma Dohrer (fourth), Kyley Wirebaugh (fifth) and Chloe Vikander (tied for 21st) carried coach Kim Zimmerman's Aberdeen Central squad to its first state title last spring. The Golden Eagles should challenge again for top honors this spring.

Braun, who has enjoyed success in events around the country, and fellow senior Dohrer are each already five-time state medalists and junior Wirebaugh and senior Vikander two-time state medalists. Eighth-graders Genevieve Golz and Carli Withers are placed at state last spring.

"Obviously, Aberdeen Central is going to be one of the teams to beat along with Mitchell O'Gorman and other Sioux Falls area schools Harrisburg and Brandon Valley," Watertown coach Corey Neale said.

Sophomore Gabi Olson, who placed sixth at state last spring after tying for fifth in 2024, is the leading returnee for Watertown. Junior Kreu Johnson also played at state last spring and freshmen Emma Olson and Berkley Fligge are also returnees who were unable to play in the state tourney last spring.

2025 STATE AA & A GIRLS GOLF: Medalist Olivia Braun carries Aberdeen Central girls golf to AA state title

The Arrows didn't have enough golfers to compete for the state title last spring after winning the Class AA championship in 2024.

"Last year, was really more about us getting our feet wet and gaining some experience," Neale, who will be assisted by Jayden Engels this spring, said. "This year should be a little better. We have four returnees back and Gabi should be right there competing for the state individual title."

Watertown and Aberdeen Central are each slated to open their season on Thursday, April 16 in a meet at Harrisburg. The Arrows haven't had much time on the course so far and will look to improve along with the weather as they gain experience.

• Watertown & Aberdeen Central Schedule — Both teams also play April 21 in Huron Quadrangular, April 28 at Pierre Invite, April 30 at Moccasin Creek Country Club in Aberdeen, May 7 at Huron Invite, May 8 at Yankton Invite, May 15 at Mitchell Invite, May 19 in Watertown Invite at Cattail Crossing, May 21 at Brookings Invite, May 22 at Brandon Valley Invite and May 26 in the Eastern South Dakota Conference tournament at Moccasin Creek in Aberdeen. Aberdeen is also scheduled to play April 24 in a meet at Brandon and May 4 in the Sioux Falls Invite.

Class A Girls

St. Thomas More captured its first-ever state Class A title last spring, ending Sioux Falls Christian's four-year run of titles.

Aberdeen Roncalli finished third and should again be the area team to watch with returning state medalists in senior Claire Crawford (second), senior Grace Seyer (tied for 15th) and freshman Mackenzie Wegehaupt (tied for 19th). Ava Danielson, another senior, just missed medaling by placing 28th. Crawford is also ready a four-time state medalist.

Sisseton freshman Kenzley Heath is back after placing eighth in state last spring. Her senior teammate Elliot Hortness medaled by tying for 24th at state in 2024.

The Region 1A tourney is scheduled for May 20 at Dell Rapids. Region 3A is scheduled for May 19 at Mitchell.

Clark-Willow Lake's Brynn Roehrich grabs her driver from her bag before teeing off on No. 8 during the final round of the state Class B high school girls golf tournament on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at the Prairie Winds Golf Club in Watertown. Roehrich repeated as the tourney's individual champion.

Class B Girls

Dell Rapids St. Mary was another first-time state champion in girls golf last spring, taking the Class B tourney.

Clark-Willow Lake junior standout Brynn Roehrich repeated at the state individual champion in the tourney that was held at the Prairie Winds Golf Club in Watertown. She also finished second in 2023 and tied for eighth in 2022. Her sister Faith, an eighth-grader, also medaled (12th) and helped the Cyclones finish third in the state meet.

Clark and Clark-Willow Lake combined to win seven-straight state Class B titles from 2004-2010 but haven't won since.

Other area returning state medalists are Selby Area junior Taryn Hettick (tied for seventh), Doland-Conde junior Olivia Knox (tied for 16th), Ipswich junior Mollie Simon and Faulkton Area sophomore Anika Mueller (each tied for 19th) and De Smet senior Brooke Jennings (tied for 24th). Hettick is a three-time state medalist.

Region tourneys for area golfers are scheduled for May 18 (Region 1B at Lee Park Golf Course in Aberdeen and Region 5B at Pierre) and May 19 (Region 2B at Edgebrook Golf Course in Brookings).

Kaiden Weinreis of Doland sneaks a peak as Kaden Wookey of Clark-Willow Lake hits a putt on No. 1 Yellow during the final round of the state Class B high school girls golf tournament on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at the Prairie Winds Golf Club in Watertown.

Class B Boys

Hanson completed the sweep of first-time state champions in 2025 by winning the Class B boys title at Cattail Crossing Golf Course in Watertown. Wall was second and Clark-Willow Lake third.

Brothers Kaden Wookey (sophomore) and Kooper Wookey (eighth-grader) each tied for 15th at state to lead Clark-Willow Lake. They're lead the Cyclones' charge against this spring.

2025 STATE B GOLF: Clark-Willow Lake golf's Brynn Roehrich repeats as Class B state champion

Other returning area state medalists include Doland junior Kaiden Weinreis (10th) and Edmunds Central junior Seth Hettick and Webster Area sophomore Seth Lesnar (each tied for 20th). Hettick is a three-time state medalist and Weinreis a two-time state medalist.

Hamlin seniors Jackson Wadsworth and cousin Aiden Abraham, Faulkton Area senior Drake Mueller and Edmunds Central senior Harrison Beyers each medaled for top 25 finishes in 2024.

Wadsworth, a Northern State baskeball recruit, is listed on Hamlin's roster but did have shoulder surgery in late March after the basketball season.

Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: 2026 South Dakota spring high school golf preview