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Tuesday Tidbits: Zenner strikes again; Reader hired

Terry Vandrovec
tvandrovec@argusleader.com
Aug 30, 2014; Columbia, MO, USA; South Dakota State Jackrabbits running back Zach Zenner (31) runs the ball against the Missouri Tigers during the first half at Faurot Field. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Busy, busy week in Brookings with South Dakota State home games in football, volleyball and soccer:

SDSU senior running back Zach Zenner went 75 yards (after an iffy exchange) for a touchdown on the first offensive play of the season at Missouri. Nobody should have been surprised that he scored so soon or worked into triple digits.
In 2012, he went 99 yards for a score at Kansas on his second carry of the season. Last fall, he scored from 36 yards out against Butler on his second carry of the season.
What's up with that?
"Fresh legs," Zenner cracked.
Meanwhile, Zenner wound up in three starts against FBS schools with 488 yards and five touchdowns on 61 carries plus 89 yards on 12 catches.

Jacks ticket manager Christi Williams said that football season tickets have gone over 3,350. That's another program high in what will be the final season in the traditional setup at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium.

SDSU wrestling made a splashy hire last week in bringing in Jon Reader as its top assistant. Reader wrestled for Iowa State, winning the NCAA Division I national title at 174 pounds in 2011. He's also an aspiring Olympian and has been working out at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado. The three-time All-American has been a volunteer assistant for the Cyclones.
Jacks coach Chris Bono, also a former national champ and ISU assistant, has known Reader for five years.
"He brings the passion for wrestling," Bono said. "His work ethic is unmatched, and training for the Olympics brings another dimension to what I'm looking for."

The SDSU soccer team hits a stretch of three home games in a row, its longest run of the season. Two of those are against lower-level teams (Bemidji State, Northern State), putting extra importance on the Friday tilt against Drake.
The Jacks (0-3-0) were outscored by a combined 7-0 in weekend matches at nationally ranked Wisconsin and Minnesota.

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