Here is a look at some upcoming events around the area this month.
Hamlin Hall of Fame
HAYTI — The Hamlin School’s Athletic Hall of Fame 2026 induction class will be honored during a ceremony planned for Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, at the Hamlin Education Center.
New inductees include athletes Jeff Kruse (wrestling) and Tara Cyre (track), coach Marv Bohnet (track and golf) and the Chargers’ 1991 state Class 11B champion football team.
A social is set for 5 p.m., followed by the ceremony at 6 p.m. Those interested in attending should RSVP by Jan. 8 to todd.neuendorf@k12.sd.us.
Dakota Valley Conference Classic
Pairings have been finalized for the 2026 Dakota Valley Conference Basketball Classics on Saturday, Jan. 17 at White and Saturday, Jan. 24 at Colman.
Here are the pairings:
Jan. 17 Games — Auxiliary Gym: Canby vs. Arlington boys at 11:30 p.m., Waubay-Summit vs. Arlington girls at 1 p.m., Luverne (MN) vs. Castlewood girls at 2:30 p.m., Edgerton (MN) vs. Dell Rapids St. Mary girls at 4 p.m. and Viborg-Hurley vs. Sioux Falls Lutheran girls at 5:30 p.m. Main Gym: Luverne (MN) vs. Dell Rapids boys at noon, Canton vs. Dell Rapids St. Mary’s boys at 1:30 p.m., Sioux Falls Lutheran vs. Elkton-Lake Benton at 3 p.m., Centerville vs. Castlewood boys at 4:30 p.m., Beresford vs. Deubrook Area girls at 6 p.m. and Beresford vs. Deubrook Area boys at 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 24 — Auxiliary Gym: Lac qui Parle Valley (MN) vs. Estelline-Hendricks girls at 11:30 a.m., Wilmot vs. Elkton-Lake Benton girls at 1 p.m., Lac qui Parle Valley vs. Oldham-Ramona-Rutland boys at 2:30 p.m., Lower Brule vs. Oldham-Ramona-Rutland girls at 4 p.m. and Lower Brule vs. Ortonville boys at 5:30 p.m. Main: Wilmot vs. Colman-Egan boys at noon, Gayville-Volin vs. Estelline-Hendricks boys at 1:30 p.m., Dawson-Boyd (MN) vs. No. 2 Class B De Smet boys at 3 p.m., Hills-Beaver Creek (MN) vs. Sully Buttes boys at 4:30 p.m., Hills-Beaver Creek vs. De Smet girls at 6 p.m. and No. 8 Class A West Central vs. No. 7 Class B Colman-Egan girls at 7:30 p.m.
Sioux Valley Boys Roundball Classic
VOLGA — Eight teams are slated to play in the Sioux Valley Boys Roundball Classic on Saturday, Jan. 10.
Games include Wilmot vs. Lakota Tech at 2 p.m., Dell Rapids vs. Mobridge-Pollock at 3:30 p.m., No. 4 Class B Sully Buttes vs. Sioux Valley at 5 p.m. and Flandreau vs. Wolsey-Wessington at 6:30 p.m.
Redfield Girls Holiday Classic
REDFIELD — Eight teams are set to compete in the 2026 Redfield Holiday Girls Basketball Classic on Saturday, Jan. 10.
Matchups include Andes Central-Dakota Christian vs. Langford Area at 1 p.m., Sully Buttes vs. Redfield at 2:30 p.m., Gregory vs. Wolsey-Wessington at 4 p.m. and Miller vs. Ipswich at 5:30 p.m.
Sanford Pentagon Basketball
SIOUX FALLS — The Sanford Pentagon will host three high school basketball events in the next month, including Border Battle (Jan. 10), Throwback Classic (Jan. 27) and Heritage Classic (Feb. 7).
Teams from South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa will play in the Border Battle. Games include Western Christian IA vs. Dakota Valley at 11:30 a.m. (boys), Horace ND vs. Tea Area at 1 p.m. (girls), Sioux Center, IA vs. Dakota Valley, 2:30 p.m. (girls), Sioux Center vs. Tea Area at 4 p.m. (boys), St. Michael Albertvilole, MN vs. No. 6 Class A Sioux Falls Christian at 5:30 p.m. (girls) and Storm Lake, IA vs. No. 1 Class A Sioux Falls Christian at 7 p.m. (boys). Tickets, good for all games, are $10 for adults and $5 for K-12 students.
Mitchell and Huron’s boys and girls will play in the Throwback Classic, with each of the teams wearing retro uniforms. The girls’ game is set for 6 p.m., followed by the boys at 7 p.m. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for K-12 students.
No. 2 Class B De Smet and Sioux Valley’s boys will meet at 7 p.m. in the final game of the Heritage Classic. Other games include Spirit Lake, IA vs. No. 1 Class B Centerville at 11:30 a.m. (girls), Western Christian vs. Vermillion at 1 p.m. (boys), Bishop Heelan, IA vs. No. 2 Class B Lyman at 2:30 p.m. (girls), Seargeant Bluff-Luton, IA vs. No. 6 Class A Lennox at 4 p.m. (boys), and Sioux City East, IA vs. Ballard, IA at 5:30 p.m. (boys). Tickets, good for all games, are $10 for adults and $5 for K-12 students.
DWU-Culver’s Basketball Classics
MITCHELL — Pairings have been released for the Dakota Wesleyan University-Culver’s Basketball Classics on Friday, Feb. 13 (girls) and Saturday, Feb. 14 (boys).
Here the pairings:
Girls Games — Freeman vs. Gettysburg at 9 a.m., Kadoka vs. Bridgewater-Emery at 10:30 a.m., Florence-Henry vs. Flandreau at noon, Lemmon vs. Wall at 1:30 p.m., St. Thomas More vs. Clark-Willow Lake at 3 p.m., Hamlin vs. Sioux Falls Christian at 4;30 p.m., No. 10 Class B Corsica-Stickney vs. Dell Rapids St. Mary at 6 p.m., No. 2 Class B Lyman vs. No. 3 Class B Parkston at 7:30 p.m. and No. 4 Class B Bennett County vs. No. 5 Class B Ethan at 9 p.m.
Boys Games — Gregory vs. Howard at 9 a.m., McCook Central-Montrose vs. No. 8 Class A Hamlin at 10:30 p.m., Pine Ridge vs. Rapid City Christian at noon, No. 5 Class B Aberdeen Christian vs. Dell Rapids St. Mary at 1:30 p.m., Bridgewater-Emery vs. White River at 3 p.m., No. 7 Class B Wall vs. No. 9 Class B Freeman at 4:30 p.m., No. 1 Class A Sioux Falls Christian vs. No. 4 Class A St. Thomas More at 6 p.m., No. 6 Class B Wessington Springs vs. No. 1 Class B Viborg-Hurley at 7;30 p.m. and Ethan vs. No. 8 Class B Parkston at 9 p.m.
Prairie Striders Indoor 5K
BROOKINGS — The 11th annual Prairie Striders Indoors 5K is slated for Saturday, Jan. 24, using the South Dakota State University track at the Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex.
The race will be run in two heats — one at 8:30 a.m. for those planning to finish in 24 minutes or less and the other at 9 a.m. Non-competitive walkers may complete as many laps as you wish between 7:30 and 8:15 a.m. Proceeds from both events go to the Prairie Striders-Phil LaVallee Memorial Scholarship.
Participants may choose between a Prairie Striders drawstring bag, beanie or ear warmers.
After the race, there will be a door prize drawing for participants, race awards and presentation of the Volunteer of the Year and Harvey Mills Friend of Running awards as well as homemade bakery treats.
The early bird registration price of $30 is available through Jan. 18. To register, go to www.prairiestriders.net and click on Indoor 5K.
For more information, contact race directors Jay Larsen or Dave Graves at run@prairiestriders.net or 605-627- 5718.
Junior Golf Aberdeen Scholarships
ABERDEEN — Recent high school graduates Gannon May of Aberdeen Roncalli and Brevin Fliehs of Groton Area have been awarded $1,500 Dean Shortridge Scholarships from Junior Golf Aberdeen.
The scholarships are awarded to high school seniors who demonstrated involvement in golf and planned to pursue education at a two- or four-year post-secondary institution.
May, who is enrolled at the University of North Dakota, earned varsity letters in golf and tennis at Roncalli and has participated extensively in golf programs, including First Tee lessons, Aberdeen Area PGA Junior League and Drive, Chip & Putt.
Fliesh, who is attended Northern State University in Aberdeen, competed in football, wrestling, track, baseball and golf at Groton. He helped the Tigers achieve multiple firsts, placing in the state Class A golf tournament and winning both the Northeast Conference and Region 1A and tournaments. He medaled three times in state high school tourneys and also excelled on the SDGA Junior Tour, winning the Northeast Region points title two times.
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com