J.J. Hartigan has Jackrabbits, Canaries, Storm and Augie stories galore from his 16 years of local play-by-play

J.J. Hartigan has Jackrabbits, Canaries, Storm and Augie stories galore from his 16 years of local play-by-play

It might be a bit much to call someone under age 40 "living, walking history," but veteran local sportscaster J.J. Hartigan is undeniably someone who has called some history and gotten to know well some of the sporting legends of South Dakota over his 16-year career: C.J. Ham Nate Wolters Aaron Johnston Scott Nagy Tom Billeter Dan Jansen Kurtiss Riggs Lorenzo Brown Steve Shirley Ben Moore And, of course, the all-time Voice of the Augustana Vikings, Jeff Fylling. Hartigan is the play-by-play voice who has the unenviable task of filling Fylling's position after Fylling died of cancer this past spring following over 40 years behind the microphone for the Blue & Gold. Hartigan stepped in for Fylling during the full 2024-25 season, during which Fylling had stepped away from the mic to treat his illness. But, nobody replaces Fylling. He was one of a kind. Irreplaceable as both a talent and a human. Anyone who knows Hartigan knows he possesses the humble heart and steely self-confidence to deftly take over the role and make it his own— with his immense talent, vast experience, and the modesty required to honor Fylling both as a broadcaster and human. The Lincoln High School alumnus displays all that in an 80-minute conversation about his life and career with the Happy Hour host over beers at Gateway Lounge. Along with this comes compelling and at times hilarious stories about all those local icons listed earlier in this article. His resume includes play-by-play work for: * SDPB state tournament hoops from 2010 until the present day * South Dakota State women's basketball from 2011-14 * Sioux Falls Canaries baseball, 2014-17 * Sioux Falls Storm football 2021-24 So, yeah, Hartigan has stories to tell about thrilling games, memorable championships, larger-than-life personalities, and the occasional moments of humility. If you've ever wondered what some of the most accomplished and beloved coaches and athletes from the last 16 years of Sioux Falls and South Dakota sports are really like to be around, this will make for an enjoyable listen. But, of course you do. And, of course you will.

Summit League commissioner Josh Fenton, USD hoops coach Eric Peterson, Sioux Falls Live's Matt Zimmer, and a Zach Borg feature on softball prodigy Macy Bryant: This week's South Dakota Sports Lounge from Midwest Sports+

So, you want to be a Div. I mid-major basketball coach? Invest in plenty of Pepto Bismol for the stomach knots in those tight games, Nyquil to put to rest those sleepless nights, caffeine to keep you going through endless hours on the recruiting trail, and perhaps even Novocain to numb the pain of 18-to-22-year-olds breaking your heart. The latter has been in greater supply the last few years due to unlimited NIL possibilities and wide open transfer rules that gut rosters. For example, the University of South Dakota men's team will have 12 out of 16 new players in 2026-27, with nine of the fresh faces coming from the portal after several left USD hoping the grass was greener (or playing time more ample) elsewhere. Eric Peterson, a former junior college coach, is no stranger to the revolving door, so he was up to the task of describing his job over the last few months after the buzzer sounded on an injury-riddled 16-16 season. The Coyote coach's interview on Happy Hour with John Gaskins leads off this week's South Dakota Sports Lounge, a weekly show that features the hand-picked "best" local segments of the week from daily sports programs in the Forum Communications family, with a feature story from Zach Borg to walk it off. Here are the other shows' picks for June 26-30: Hot Mic with Dom Izzo (Fargo) — Summit League Commissioner Josh Fenton explains why the conference's executive panel voted 7-0-1 to keep Midco Sports (streaming) and CBS Sports Network (TV) as its multimedia partners for a few more years. The Nate Brown Show (Rapid City): Sioux Falls Live sports reporter and editor Matt Zimmer weighs in on Sioux Falls as a potential host city for the "play-in" games of the NCAA men's basketball tournament, the future of sports betting in South Dakota, and an early preview of MVFC teams to watch. Zach Borg feature: Sioux Falls Jefferson's Macy Bryant, South Dakota's high school softball player of the year.

FULL SHOW: USD coach Eric Peterson, Thirsty Thursday (LaMelo trade for Wolves, Sioux Falls NCAA hoops chances), & Team USA talk with World Cup watch party coordinator Jackson Rentschler of the American Outlaws

Nobody ever said that being the head coach or a fan of college or pro sports team is easy. But as Rockford Peaches manager Jimmy Dugan — played by Tom Hanks — said in "A League of their Own:" "It's the hard that makes it great." Will the hard turn out to be great for University of South Dakota basketball coach Eric Peterson after losing most of his roster to the transfer portal? Will the hard turn out to be great for the Minnesota Timberwolves fans who fell in love with Naz Reid for seven years, then woke up Thursday to learn the cult figure power forward was traded to Charlotte in a deal that included point guard and former lottery pick LaMelo Ball? Will the hard turn out to be great for the city of Sioux Falls, the smallest of six cities bidding for NCAA men's basketball tournament "play-in" games [https://x.com/DavidWCobb/status/2067948450709131375] in the newly expanded field of 76 starting next March? The others are reportedly Omaha, Wichita, Albuquerque, Boise, and Des Moines, all of which have hosted games in the event multiple times? Then, there are American soccer fans, who have been treated to easier wins than expected in the first two rounds of the World Cup and are expected to be favored in their next three matches in the event (next two matches, if you don't count Thursday's inconsequential meeting with Turkiye). Should that go to form, the "hard" of playing in the quarterfinals will certainly come with great anticipation. All of those topics were discussed on the "Thirsty Thursday" edition of Happy Hour with the host and Sioux Falls Live sportswriter Trent Singer. Peterson joined to discuss his top new players, those he lost in the portal, how he finds new players, conversations he has with players who leave USD to "jump in," and his job security. Now in the final season of a five-year deal, Peterson's contract was not renewed following a 16-16 fourth season in which he arguably did his best work with a M*A*S*H unit of key players missing long stetches. What was his reaction to learning he only has one guaranteed year left at USD? How well do the new players he landed fit into the up-tempo, full court pressure style he has established in Vermillion? Later on in the show, Jackson Rentschler, bartender at kRav'N Bar & Grill and Team USA watch party organizer, joined to evaluate the Americans' first two rollicking World Cup wins, their chances of going deep into the event, the atmosphere at kRav'N for the official American Outlaws watch parties, and his once-in-a-lifetime experience attending a World Cup soccer game featuring arguably the GOAT of the sport, Lionel Messi. But the show starts with the host and Trent Singer breaking down the second wild Minnesota Timberwolves trade in the last four days. Why is LaMelo Ball a "perfect fit" in the backcourt with Anthony Edwards, and why was the team willing to let Reid, one of the most popular players in team history, walk out the door? The two hosts also discuss Sioux Falls' chances of beating five larger cities for the NCAA men's tourney play-in games and Augustana's new softball coach.

Team USA talk with World Cup watch party host Jackson Rentschler of kRav'N (the official American Outlaws watch party bar of Sioux Falls)

Jackson Rentschler, bartender at kRav'N Bar & Grill and Team USA watch party organizer, joined to evaluate the Americans' first two rollicking World Cup wins, their chances of going deep into the event, the atmosphere at kRav'N for the official American Outlaws watch parties, and his once-in-a-lifetime experience attending a World Cup soccer game featuring arguably the GOAT of the sport, Lionel Messi.

USD's Eric Peterson on his portal-filled spring, transfers gained and lost, contract situation, 2026-27 outlook, new 5-for-5 rule

The fifth-year coach joined to discuss his top new players, those he lost in the portal, how he finds new players, conversations he has with players who leave USD to "jump in," and his job security after athletic director Jon Schemmel chose to not renew Peterson's contract, which leaves him with just one year on his current deal. Now in the final season of a five-year deal, Peterson's contract was not renewed following a 16-16 fourth season in which he arguably did his best work with a M*A*S*H unit of key players missing long stetches.