Freeman, SD Boys Win Football and Basketball Titles Same Year

In Freeman, South Dakota, a town of just 1,500 people, a group of teenage athletes just accomplished something that hasn't been done in their classification since 2006.

The Freeman Flyers captured their first boys basketball state title since 1975 on March 21. But that wasn't their first championship trophy of the year. Most of those same players had already won a football state title back in November as part of the Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy cooperative team.

That double championship put Freeman in exclusive company. Since playoff-era football began in South Dakota in 1981, only 11 teams have won both titles in the same academic year. Freeman is just the third Class B school to achieve this feat.

"It's generational," said senior Tate Sorensen. "It's just a blessing to take home a state championship in football for Freeman and now take one in basketball."

The numbers tell the story of complete dominance. The basketball team finished 24-2 with a 22-game winning streak leading to their championship. Their only loss to another Class B team came in double overtime during the season opener against the eventual top seed.

The football team went unbeaten at 12-0, winning by an average score of 48-10. They played the toughest schedule in their class and defeated the runner-up twice, including in the championship game.

Why This Inspires

Freeman shows what small towns can accomplish when talent meets teamwork. These aren't just great athletes. They're teammates who've grown up together, building chemistry through years of playing multiple sports side by side.

Sophomore David Walter captured the magnitude simply: "It's the first time in school history that happened. We're ecstatic."

The team's success extends beyond just football and basketball. Several players have won three baseball state titles together as they've progressed through school. Their track and field team is eyeing another championship run this spring.

Coach Lance Friesen credits more than just athletic ability. "They know how to play together, and they're big-time players who know big-time moments."

For perspective, the most recent instance of any South Dakota school achieving this double was in 2019. Before Freeman, no Class B school had done it in nearly two decades. The rarity makes this achievement even more remarkable for such a small community.

Senior Luke Peters summed up the winning culture his teammates have built: "We're just winners. We come out, we just play our game, and it's just who we are, what we do."

Freeman's story proves that championship culture isn't about population size or resources but about young people committed to excellence and each other.