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Dave Ackerson, a 1972 DWU graduate, is one of the
greatest track and field athletes to ever compete at Dakota Wesleyan
University. A four-year letterwinner, Ackerson set seven school records
during his career, and he ranked among the school’s all-time
best in two other events. He set four individual school records in
various hurdle events and was a key part of three school-record relay
teams. Ackerson was a two-time SDIC Champion in the hurdles, and he
never finished lower than sixth in any event in his storied career.
Ackerson was also a straight-A student, and Dakota Wesleyan’s
Homecoming King. |
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Larry Buffington, 1983-97, is still considered
one of Dakota Wesleyan University’s most successful and beloved
coaches after an outstanding 15-year career, coaching Tiger track
and field and football. In 12 years as the DWU head track coach, Buffington
led the Tigers to the only SDIC Championship in school history, and
he was named the league’s track coach-of-the-year in both 1990
and 1991. His athletes still hold 34 DWU school records. Buffington
also spent 13 years as the Tiger football team’s offensive line
coach, and he helped DWU capture five SDIC Championships and reach
the NAIA Playoffs. |
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Bill Gallipo, a 1968 DWU graduate, will be remembered
as one of the best defensive backs and punters in Dakota Wesleyan
University football history. A hometown star from Mitchell, Gallipo
received All-Conference honors for his play at defensive halfback
during his four-year career. Gallipo’s best season was in 1965,
when he racked up 58 total tackles, six interceptions and two fumble
recoveries. Gallipo also punted 79 times in his career for a total
of 2,848 yards and a 36.1 average. To this day, Gallipo’s 78-yard
punt in 1965 still reigns as the longest punt in school history. |
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Kamden Miller, a 1998 DWU graduate, is just one
of nine Dakota Wesleyan University men’s basketball players
to earn NAIA All-American honors more than once in a career. Miller
was an NAIA All-America Honorable Mention selection in 1997 and 1998,
and a three-time All-Conference pick. His 1,710 career points still
rank as the 10th-most in school history, and he led the Tigers to
two SDIC Championships (1995, 1997) and a trip to the 1995 NAIA DII
Men’s Basketball National Tournament. Miller was also a three-time
NAIA Scholar-Athlete, a team captain and MVP, and a member of the
DWU football team. |
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Randi Morgan Haines, a 2004 DWU graduate, led the
Dakota Wesleyan University women’s basketball team during its
most successful era, and her name is all over the Tiger record books.
Morgan was a three-time NAIA DII All-American (first team twice, third
team once) and a four-time All-GPAC First-Team selection, highlighted
by her NAIA DII, GPAC and NAIA DII National Tournament Player-of-the-Year
awards in 2002. Morgan is the second-leading scorer in South Dakota
history and the leading rebounder with 2,557 points and 1,544 rebounds,
and her amazing career resulted in 21 DWU school records. |
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Tim Smith has delighted Dakota Wesleyan University
sports fans with his rich, detailed broadcasts of Tiger football and
basketball since 1973. Smith has called more than 1,500 Dakota Wesleyan
games in his career, and he has called games from seven national basketball
tournaments and one national volleyball tournament. Smith has been
named the South Dakota Sportscaster-of-the-Year three times, and he
has been honored by the National Sportswriters and Sportscasters association
twice. He is a past president and current charter member of DWU TeamMakers,
and he’s a great asset to Tiger athletics. |
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Todd Sprang, a 1998 DWU graduate, will forever
be known as one of the best defensive backs to ever wear a Tiger football
uniform. The four-year starter was an All-SDIC First-Team selection
in each of his four seasons. In 1997, Sprang was named to the NAIA
All-America Second Team, and he was also a three-time All-District
12 selection. Sprang still holds DWU records for career interceptions
(18) and interceptions in a single game (three), and he led the Tigers
to the 1994 SDIC Championship. Sprang also batted a remarkable .422
over three seasons with the DWU baseball team. |
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