Kyle Oswald of Aberdeen loves BMX and the Aberdeen track which he promotes every year. American News Photo by John Davis (Aberdeen News / October 21, 2011) |
When you think bicycle motocross in Aberdeen, you should think Kyle Oswald.
For years, the Aberdeen man has been a key member in the success of the sport here. First as a rider, now as track promoter.
He has worked very hard to promote his sport, and he recently got some well-deserved praise on a nationwide stage.
The official magazine of BMX in the United States, Pull, featured Aberdeen, its BMX track and Oswald in its latest edition (Volume 1, Issue 7). The publication has a fan base in the tens of thousands.
This was a big honor as the magazine has featured just four tracks in its seven issues. The magazine talks about the success of the Aberdeen track and how Oswald's hard work has put Aberdeen on the map in the BMX world.
It was not only good publicity for the sport here in the Midwest, but also for Aberdeen and South Dakota.
Oswald has worked tirelessly to promote his sport, and I was happy to see him rewarded for his passion.
SDSU vs. NDSU
A big Missouri Valley Football Conference game looms at 2:05 p.m. Saturday at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium.
Nationally-ranked North Dakota State (6-0, 3-0 MVFC) will be in Brooking to play South Dakota State (2-5, 1-3). Selby native and former Northern State assistant coach John Stiegelmeier is 90-71 in 15 seasons as SDSU's head coach and 6-8 against the Bison.
Dakota Marker: It is the annual Dakota Marker game - a travelling trophy the winner will get to keep for the following year. The Dakota Marker was established in 2004, and SDSU has won four of the seven games.
The three-foot high, 259-pound, granite/quartz trophy with the letters “SD” on one side and “ND”on the other side is a model replica of the 720 seven-foot by 10-inch square stone monuments that were planted in the 1890s.
The 720 markers were used to decipher the border between North Dakota and South Dakota when Dakota Territory was split into two states along the Seventh Standard Parallel. The markers were inscribed with the initials N.D. on the north side and S.D. on the south side.
It took two summers to install the 720 markers.
Dakota governors: Even the governors are involved in Saturday's game, making a friendly wager on the outcome. North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple is putting some North Dakota-made pasta on the line, while South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard is betting a smoked pheasant dinner.
Honorees: The 50-player Coughlin-Alumni Stadium All-Time Team will be honored at halftime. The team was named to honor this year's 50th anniversary of the stadium. Members of that team included Clyde Hagen of Webster; Jerry Ochs of Aberdeen Central; Monte Mosiman of Onida; and Dennis Thomas of Parkston, who is the uncle of NSU senior men's basketball player Alex Thomas (Independence, Minn.).
Serving as one of the honorary game captains for Saturday's game will be Ellendale native Pete Retzlaff. The South Dakota State graduate had a standout NFL career with Philadelphia for 11 seasons. The Eagles retired Retzlaff's No. 44 after he retired in 1966.
Media: Television coverage of the NDSU-SDSU game will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Midco Sports Net. Pre-game radio show will begin at 12:30 p.m. on WNAX 570 AM, with additional coverage at 1:30 p.m. on the Jackrabbit Sports Network station KOLY 1300 AM in Mobridge.
The series: NDSU hasn't won in Brookings since 1999, but the Bison lead the series 52-40-5. The Bison are 21-27-2 overall at Brookings. Here is the complete series:
1903: NDSU 85-0
