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Football

Football Adds 24 on Signing Day

RAPID CITY, S.D. --- On Wednesday, the South Dakota Mines football program welcomed 24 student-athletes into the Hardrocker football program.
 
"I am extremely excited to announce the 2024 class of Hardrockers to our South Dakota Mines community, said head football coach Charlie Flohr. Thank you to everyone involved with the recruiting process especially Director of Admissions, Molly Moore and her staff, the professors and everyone involved in our academic community with their help in showing our incoming scholar athletes what great opportunities we have here at South Dakota Mines."
 
This class included plenty of talent with a record-setting quarterback in Gage Baker, along with several players with championship-winning experience either at the conference or state level in Dominick Berrettini, Isaiah Kennedy, Andrew Kenney, Kooper Koehn, Jameson Mallon-Echols, Jimmy Miller, Will Quick and Caleb Rickenbach, Michael Thompson and Zachary Young.
 
Midwestern states continue to be an emphasis for the program but they also reached far and wide in this class, bringing in three from Arizona in Baker, Joshua Morales and Jack Preston, two from Nevada in Roan Hornbarger and Young, Kennedy from North Carolina, Mallon-Echols and Thompson from the Lone Star State, Matthew Percival-Quolas out of California and Ryan Pryce out of Florida.
 
Berrettini, Blake Borchers, Mason Breen, Evan Hatton, Wyatt Herther, Kenney, Koehn, Albert Medina, Miller, Quick, Rickenbach, Zach Ruffel, Brandon Swartz and Aidan Werlinger were the midwestern representatives coming out of the states of Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Colorado and South Dakota.
 
Flohr continued, "I would also like to extend a special thank you to our Director of Athletics, Joel Lueken, Associate AD for internal affairs, Cassie Kosiba, Executive Director of the Hardrock Club, Maria Cadwallader, Assistant AD of Compliance Seth Nichols, Assistant AD for Communications, Josh Van Valkenburg-Gernert, Associate Athletic Programs Assistant, Anita Brenneman, Director of Sports Performance Ben Servais, and Head Athletic Trainer, Kaleb Birney. These individuals continue to go above and beyond to make sure our student athletes get the complete experience of our program and what our Hardrocker Family is all about."
 
The student-athletes listed on this roster have signed national letters of intent. These student-athletes have been approved by the South Dakota Mines compliance office as well as verified by the NCAA and will join the South Dakota Mines football program for the 2024 season.
 
Name Pos. Ht. Hometown (High School/Previous School)
Gage Baker QB 6-0 Surprise, Ariz. (Paradise Honors)
Dominick Berrettini QB 6-2 Sheridan, Wyo. (Sheridan)
Blake Borchers TE 6-4 Battle Creek, Neb. (Battle Creek)
Mason Breen DL 6-2 Bettendorf, Iowa (Pleasant Valley)
Evan Hatton LB 6-1 Shoreview, Minn. (Mounds View)
Wyatt Herther OL 6-2 Gillette, Wyo. (Campbell County)
Roan Hornbarger DL 6-2 Winnemucca, Nev. (Albert Lowry)
Isaiah Kennedy DB 6-0 Monroe, N.C. (Monroe)
Andrew Kenney OL 6-4 Manhattan, Kan. (Manhattan)
Kooper Koehn WR 6-2 Gothenburg, Neb. (Gothenburg)
Jameson Mallon-Echols OL 6-1 Houston, Texas (Bridgeland)
Albert Medina RB 6-0 Denver, Colo. (Regis Jesuit)
Jimmy Miller OL 6-1 Bennington, Neb. (Bennington)
Joshua Morales WR 5-11 Peoria, Ariz. (Paradise Honors)
Matthew Percival-Quolas DB 5-10 Santa Cruz, Calif. (Soquel/Cabrillo College)
Jack Preston OL 6-5 Phoenix, Ariz. (Sunnyslope)
Ryan Pryce DB 5-10 Land O'Lakes, Fla. (Land O'Lakes)
Will Quick DB 5-9 Ham Lake, Minn. (Centennial)
Caleb Rickenbach DL 6-1 Oelrichs, S.D. (Hot Springs)
Zach Ruffel DL 6-4 Highlands Ranch, Colo.
Brandon Swartz RB 6-0 West Chicago, Ill. (St. Charles East)
Michael Thompson DB 6-2 Keller, Texas (Northwest)
Aiden Werlinger DL 6-0 Sturgis, S.D. (Sturgis Brown)
Zachary Young LB 6-2 Henderson, Nev. (Lake Mead Christian)
 
Player Bios
Gage Baker
  • Attended Paradise Honors High School.
  • Played in 30 games, starting 25.
  • In senior season, he completed 380/503 passes for 6,045 yards and 91 touchdowns along with a QB Rating of 146.4 in his senior season. Led the nation in passing yards and passing touchdowns. His 91 passing touchdowns tied the national record for a season with NFL quarterback Jake Browning.
  • Completed 386 of 530 passes (69.4%) for 5,724 yards and 82 touchdowns in freshman and sophomore seasons.
  • Following his senior year, he was named Arizona Cardinals High School Football Offensive Player of the Year along with being an Ed Doherty Award Finalist for best player in Arizona and was an Ed Doherty Award Medallion recipient. In addition, he was named All-State, 3A Metro West Player of the Year and 3A All-Conference First Team.
  • Named 3A Metro West Region Offensive Player of the Year, also earning an Ed Doherty Medallion and 3A All-Conference Honorable Mention in his junior year. 
  • Led his team to the state championship in senior season, following a state quarterfinal appearance during the 2022 season.
  • Also competed in track & field, earning three letters. 
Dominick Berrettini
  • Attended Sheridan High School.
  • Played wide receiver in junior year before switching to quarterback for final season of high school career.
  • Played and started in 12 games at each position.
  • In senior year, he threw for 1,521 yards and 18 touchdowns along with 514 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns.
  • Caught 13 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns in his junior year.
  • Named Wyoming Coaches Association All-State Offense, Casper Star-Tribune Super 25 and All-Conference 4A West following senior season.
  • In 2022, following his junior season, he earned All-Conference 4A West Second Team as a wide receiver.
  • Sheridan won three straight state championships, going undefeated in his junior and senior seasons and combining for a 35-1 record during his three seasons.
  • Ended his career winning the 31st straight game and setting a state scoring record with 608 points.
  • Also competed in indoor and outdoor track, earning a combined five letters.
  • Named All-State in the Sprint Medley Relay, helping to set a state record. 
Blake Borchers
  • Attended Battle Creek High School.
  • Started 22 games at tight end in junior and senior seasons along with 22 games played and 16 starts at linebacker.
  • Caught 19 passes for 221 yards and five touchdowns. 
  • Recorded 48 tackles along with one sack, three interceptions and a fumble recovery.
  • Helped offense average 247.7 rushing yards per game in senior season.
  • 17-5 record and two playoff appearances over two varsity seasons.
  • All-State Honorable Mention and Academic All-State selection in senior season along with being named team captain.
  • Also competed in basketball (4 years), track (2 years) and golf (1 year).
  • Lettered twice in basketball and track.
  • Named Academic All-State in basketball.
Mason Breen
  • Attended Pleasant Valley High School.
  • Started 20 games on the defensive line and 10 on the offensive line in high school. 
  • Was a team captain in senior season, recorded 19 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 3 passes defended and 1 fumble recovery in senior season on his way to earning all-state and all-district honors. 
  • 22.5 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and 1 pass defended in junior season, earning Honorable Mention All-District and Honorable Mention All-Metro. 
  • In his junior and senior seasons, Pleasant Valley went 17-3, including two playoff appearances and an undefeated regular season in 2022.
  • Competed in wrestling (4 years), track & field (3 years) and baseball (2 years).
  • Lettered three times in wrestling.
Evan Hatton
  • Attended Mounds View High School.
  • Started 29 games at linebacker from sophomore through senior seasons.
  • Recorded 188 tackles, 62 tackles for loss and 30 sacks in his career. 
  • Named to 2023 AP All-State First Team and Viking Minnesota High School All-State Team.
  • Two-time Metro-East Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
  • Played hockey and baseball, earning three letters in hockey and one in baseball.
Wyatt Herther
  • Attended Campbell County High School.
  • Started and played in 27 games throughout his three seasons of high school football.
  • Named 4A East All-Conference in 2023 and 2022.
  • Earned a wrestling letter and four soccer letters.
Roan Hornbarger
  • Attended Albert Lowry High School.
  • Played in 20 games along the defensive line throughout three seasons in high school.
  • Recorded a total of 49 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. 
  • Named 3A North All-Region First Team Defense
Isaiah Kennedy
  • Attended Monroe High School.
  • 27 games started at cornerback in two varsity seasons.
  • Recorded 59 tackles, three interceptions, 28 pass breakups, three tackles for loss and one defensive touchdown.
  • Team went 23-4 along with two conference championships in his junior and senior seasons.
  • Selected as team captain in senior year.
  • Honorable Mention All-Rocky River conference selection following senior year.
  • Competed in track in addition to football.
Andrew Kenney
  • Attended Manhattan High School.
  • Played in 44 games, starting 40 in four seasons along the offensive line, also appearing on the defensive line in his freshman season.
  • Did not allow any sacks in his junior or senior seasons, helping the team average 7.3 yards per carry and 8.2 yards per carry.
  • 2023 Honors included Kansas Football Coaches Association Class 6A All-State, KSHSAA Covered All-Class 6A First Team, Wichita Eagle 6A All-State Honorable Mention, Sports in Kansas 6A All-State Honorable Mention, First Team All-Centennial League and Sports in Kansas Top 100 Seniors.
  • In 2022, he earned Sports in Kansas 6A All-State, Wichita Eagle 6A All-State Honorable Mention, First Team All-Centennial League and Sports in Kansas Top 100 Non-Seniors.
  • In senior season, Manhattan won the league, regional and sectional championships.
  • in 2022, Manhattan went undefeated on its way to the 6A State Championships.
  • Overall, Manhattan went 40-4 through his four seasons.
  • Earned three letters in track and two in wrestling.
Kooper Koehn
  • Attended Gothenburg High School.
  • Started 21 games, playing in 22 as a wide receiver.
  • Caught 47 passes for 618 yards and five touchdowns in three seasons. 
  • Played in 20 games on the defensive side of the ball, starting 19 and recorded 114.5 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, five interceptions, two fumbles recovered and one sack.
  • Gothenburg won the Class C1 District 6 Championship and made state playoffs in 2023. 
  • 2023 All-Class C1 Honorable Mention and First Team Offense All-District C1-6.
  • Also played basketball and competed on the track & field team, earning four letters in each.
  • Averaged 12.3 points per game in basketball, earning an All-Conference selection.
Jameson Mallon-Echols
  • Attended Bridgeland High School.
  • Played and started in 16 games along the offensive line in junior and senior seasons.
  • Named Second Team All-District 16-6A following senior season.
  • Earned Honorable Mention All-District 16-6A honors after his junior season in 2022. 
  • Helped team to back-to-back district championships.
  • Letted in wrestling and water polo.
Albert Medina
  • Attended Regis Jesuit High School.
  • Played in 34 games, starting 22 at running back.
  • Rushed 339 times for 2,150 yards and 30 touchdowns in three seasons.
  • Also caught 30 passes for 527 yards and eight touchdowns as a wide receiver in his senior year. 
  • In senior season he earned All-State Second Team honors via the Colorado High School Activities Association and All-State Honorable Mention from the Denver Post.
  • Also earned Denver Post Top 100 Colorado Football players, 2023 Playmaker's Corner 5A Offensive Playmaker of the Year, All-South League Conference Offensive Player of the Year, All-Southern League Conference first team offense, Playmaker's Corner 5A Offensive Playmaker of the Year Honorable Mention in 2023.
  • Named 2022 All-South League Conference First Team Offense.
  • Earned the Sentinel All-South League Conference Second Team offense in 2021. 
  • Also competed in track & field. 
Jimmy Miller
  • Attended Bennington High School. 
  • Started 25 games on the offensive line at Bennington, recording 51 career pancakes.
  • Earned All-State, All-Eastern Midland Conference, Prep Redzone Nebraska and All-State Class B recognition following senior season.
  • Led Bennington to three years of undefeated play and state championships, going 39-0 in his three years as a varsity member. 
  • Also played baseball for one year in high school.
Joshua Morales
  • Attended Paradise Honors High School.
  • played in 38 games across four seasons.
  • Recorded 89 catches for 1,642 yards and 29 touchdowns in senior season.
  • Caught 126 passes for 1,649 yards and 31 touchdowns combined from his freshman season through his junior season. 
  • 2023 Arizona Republic All-State Honorable Mention and 3A Metro West All-Region First Team selection.
  • 2022 and 2023 3A Metro West All-Region First Team selection and Arizona Interscholastic Association 3A All-Conference Second Team selection.
  • The team went to the state championship in his senior season and won the section championship in his junior year.
Matthew Percival-Quolas
  • Attended and played football at Cabrillo College from 2022-2023.
  • Started in 20 games as a defensive back.
  • Recorded 111 tackles, four interceptions, 3 fumbles forced and 19 pass breakups. 
  • Attended Soquel High School. 
  • Started in 17 games over the final two years of his high school career at cornerback. 
  • Team went 17-4 in junior and senior seasons. 
Jack Preston
  • Attended Sunnyslope High School.
  • Played in 12 games, starting 10 along the offensive line. 
Ryan Pryce
  • Attended Land O'Lakes High School.
  • 27 games played from sophomore-senior seasons as a defensive back.
  • Recorded 74 tackles and 11 pass breakups.
  • Also played running back in his sophomore season, recording 400 yards and six touchdowns.
  • In sophomore season, helped the team go 9-1. 
  • Two-time team captain.
  • Also competed in track, earning two letters.
  • Sunshine Athletic Conference Second Team All-Conference in 400m dash.
Will Quick
  • Attended Centennial High School.
  • Five interceptions, seven pass breakups, 24 tackles, one fumble forced, one fumble recovery and a sack in senior season.
  • Added five interceptions, 13 pass breakups and an interception return for a touchdown in sophomore and junior seasons.
  • Played both ways in freshman season, recording eight touchdowns as a running back and picking off a pass. 
  • Went to state playoffs three times, including a 12-1 season and a state championship in 2023.
  • Named Northwest Suburban All-Conference three times.
  • Also participated in baseball and basketball earning two letters in the former and four in the latter. 
Caleb Rickenbach
  • Attended Hot Springs High School.
  • Started 23 games over junior and senior seasons along the defensive line, also playing offensive line.
  • Recorded 23 sacks, 49 solo tackles and 31 tackles for loss.
  • Led the state in sacks in 2023.
  • Offensive averaged 277 and 265 rushing yards per game in senior and junior years.
  • 2022 and 2023 Class 11B All-State selection.
  • Hot Springs won the state championship in 2023, also making it to the state semifinals in 2022.
  • Competed in wrestling for six years and track for another four, earning letters each year for wrestling and two track letters. 
  • 219 career wrestling wins and placed in state three times.
Zach Ruffel
  • Attended Mountain Vista High School.
  • Played in 23 games, starting 12.
  • Recorded six sacks and 44 total tackles in his senior season.
  • Reached elite 8 in football playoffs in 2023.
  • Also competed in track & field (four years) and basketball (one year).
  • Placed in the conference championship in track and field in the 100 and 200m runs.
Brandon Swartz
  • Attended St. Charles East High School.
  • Played in 18 games as a running back.
  • Totaled 850 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns through two seasons.
  • Competed in wrestling for four years, lettering each year.
  • Two-time all-state selection and four-time all-conference selection in wrestling.
Michael Thompson
  • Attended Northwest High School.
  • Played in 17 games, starting eight at safety.
  • Recorded 31 tackles and two tackles for loss.
  • The team won the Bi-Regional and Area Championship, going 10-3 in his senior season.
  • Competed in track & field for one season.
Aiden Werlinger
  • Attended Sturgis Brown High School.
  • Started 30 games through four seasons along the defensive line.
  • Recorded 128 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and five sacks.
  • Earned Class 11AA All-State Defense and Black Hills Conference All-Conference selection in 2023.
  • Sturgis Brown won the Black Hills Conference in 2023.
  • Also wrestled in high school, lettering four times. 
  • Three-time state qualifier in wrestling, earning second and fourth-place finishes. 
Zachary Young
  • Attended Lake Mead Christian Academy.
  • Started 29 games across three seasons at linebacker.
  • Recorded 199 tackles, eight sacks, five interceptions and two fumbles forced.
  • Won state championship in senior season and went 9-1 with a playoff appearance in junior year.
  • Named Nevada Preps All-Southern Nevada Honorable mention following senior season.
Thank you to our staff, especially Coach Austin Rose, our recruiting coordinator, for putting together a solid plan to go and find the best student-athletes that fit our profile and will help to continue to build our program, added Flohr. Our staff sacrificed a lot of time away from their own families to go out and develop relationships, to put together a recruiting class we all can be proud of."
 
Fans can find the latest on South Dakota Mines football all year long on X and Instagram (@hardrockerfb), while also following on Facebook at Hardrocker Football. The latest on South Dakota Mines athletics can be found by following us on X at @GoHardrockers, hardrockerathletics on Instagram and Hardrocker Athletics on Facebook.
 
About South Dakota Mines
The South Dakota School of Mines & Technology is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and NCAA Division II offering 11 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletic programs. The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 members, as well as four associate members, located in the states of California, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Utah.
 
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