In Play with Craig Mattick

Craig Mattick’s guest, JoAnne Runge of Hartford, has been a cornerstone of South Dakota high school gymnastics for decades as a teacher, coach, judge, and mentor, earning a place in the state’s Gymnastics Hall of Fame. Since beginning her judging career in 1968, she has officiated at 46 of the past 51 state meets, helping shape the sport since its sanctioning in 1976.

Craig Mattick’s guest on In Play is longtime coach and administrator Merlin Doyle. One of the first officers of the South Dakota High School Athletic Directors Association when it formed in 1973, Merlin helped launch girls track and wrestling programs, coached basketball and football, and served as both principal and athletic director. He spent 31 years in the Wall School District. Joined by his wife, Mary Jane, Merlin—now 90—may not recall every moment, but his passion for the kids and the Wall community remains as strong as ever.

Craig Mattick's guest on this episode of In Play holds the South Dakota state record with 19 individual gymnastics titles, a mark that has stood for more than 13 years. She is one of only a handful of South Dakota gymnasts to compete at the collegiate level, the former Deuel Cardinal, Samantha Wiekamp Sadler.

Because girls basketball and volleyball weren’t sanctioned in South Dakota during her high school years, Craig Mattick’s In Play guest missed those opportunities but later started the De Smet volleyball program, leading it to the state tournament in each of its first five seasons. She went on to become one of South Dakota’s most respected volleyball officials, working 34 state tournaments — Huron Tiger Kim Weed.

Craig Mattick’s guest is a former Roosevelt Rough Rider who won state titles in basketball and volleyball, was South Dakota’s Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year, and became one of the first from the state to play Big Ten volleyball. She still ranks among Penn State’s all-time greats, has coached at the college level, and now runs her own photography business. Welcome to In Play, Ashley Peterson Buckley.

On In Play, Craig Mattick chats with Riley Reiff—3x state wrestling champ, All-American at Iowa, and 12-year NFL vet with 5 teams, including the Vikings.

From the sidelines to the spotlight, Bruce Kleinsasser has been a driving force in South Dakota’s competitive cheer and dance scene. He was there when it all came together—helping sanction the sport and elevate it across the state. A two-time South Dakota Cheer Coach of the Year, he joins Craig Mattick on this edition of In Play.

Today’s guest once dreamed of being a dancer, but her passion for soccer ultimately won out. She’s a former South Dakota High School Girls Soccer Player of the Year, a state champion both as a player and a coach, and she’s competed at the collegiate and professional levels. From her days as a standout at West Central to her growing impact on the sidelines, Hailee Fischer joins Craig Mattick on this edition of In Play.

With seven state football championships at two different schools, and experience coaching basketball and cross country, Arlin Likness has built a legacy as one of South Dakota’s most accomplished high school coaches. He joins Craig Mattick on this episode of In Play.

He pulled off one of the most stunning upsets in Olympic history—winning gold in the 10,000 meters at the 1964 Tokyo Games, a race no American was expected to win. His incredible story has inspired books and films, and he continues to share his message of hope and resilience on stages around the world. On this edition of In Play, Craig Mattick is joined by the legendary Billy Mills.