Five Rapid City student-athletes sign their National Letters of Intent
RAPID CITY, S.D. – With the school year winding down, two more seniors at Rapid City Central High School accomplished another one of their goals on Wednesday with just a few strokes of a pen.
Gavyn Strand signed a letter of intent to play basketball next year at Minnesota West Community College in Worthington, Minnesota.
The 6-foot-1 senior played point guard for a Central team that only finished 8-12 last year, but nearly upset Rapid City Stevens in the Sodak 16.
Strand plans to transfer to Black Hills State University in two years.
Meanwhile, Elisabeth Riisnaes from Rapid City Central will play women’s soccer next year at Black Hills State University.
Last year, the Cobblers finished with a record of 6-3-2 and won the state title in 2016.
Both Strand and Riisnaes are excited to compete at the next level.
“I have friends, Corey Brown and Halen Bad Bear going there,” Gavyn Strand said. “I had multiple visits but when I got there, the team how like just the chemistry and the overall sense of like family that the coach brought and the team brought made me feel like I wanted to be a part of that.”
“I really liked their coach up there and his philosophy and the girls up there were super nice,” Elisabeth Riisnaes said. “I fell in love with the campus and the other faculty and all of it together was really cool.”
Dylan Pourier, RC Stevens
Meanwhile, two basketball players at Rapid City Stevens plan to continue their careers at the collegiate level.
Dylan Pourier signed a letter of intent on Wednesday to play basketball next year at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell.
Pourier averaged 16.5 points per game and led the Raiders to an 8th place finish at the state tournament.
Dawson Paulsen, RC Stevens
Pourier’s teammate Dawson Paulsen will play basketball next year at Black Hills State University.
He averaged 14.8 points and four rebounds per game, before his senior season was cut short due to a knee injury.
Ashley Lundstrom, RC Stevens
In addition, Ashley Lundstrom from Rapid City Stevens signed a letter of intent to play women’s tennis at Colorado Mesa University.
She finished third in Flight 2 singles last year at the state tournament.
Lundstrom also took home third place honors in Flight 1 doubles.
