2025 was full of memorable moments in sports locally but even on the national stage and the city of Pierre, South Dakota would get to be highlighted several times.
Starting in January, both Grey and Jett Zabel would be crowned FCS National Champions. For Grey, it would be his final college game and Jett would finish his redshirt season. It was the second National championship for Grey. He would then go to the Senior Bowl where he would dominate and keep increasing his draft stock until it came to the draft in late April. With the 18th pick, Seattle would make the first ever selection of a guy from Pierre. Zabel and the Seahawks will participate in the playoffs starting in January as he looks to be a Super Bowl champion.
Meanwhile on the rink, Carter Sanderson was making his name known around the country and playing for the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the USHL. Sanderson and the Lumberjacks would win the USHL title, the first in that franchise’s history, but also became the first Pierre native to win a USHL championship. It would then lead to late June and the NHL draft. In the sixth round, the Pittsburgh Penguins would select Sanderson making him the first ever South Dakotan drafted to the NHL and does so representing Pierre and his former team, the Oahe Capitals. In early December, Sanderson would play for Team USA and win a gold medal at the World Junior A Challenge. Sanderson is still playing for the Lumberjacks and is committed to play at the University of North Dakota next year.
It may have been the best year ever for Pierre, South Dakota on the sports world map and it certainly was the best year ever with two players being drafted.
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