14 NORTHERN MAGAZINE ’ DAVID SNELLING ‘01 David Snelling graduated from Northern State University with a bachelor of science in health and physical education in 2001, following a career with the football and track and field teams from 1997-2001. On the football field, Snelling was a 4-year starter for the Wolves. He led the team in the fall of 2000 with 66.0 tackles, including 3.0 tackles for a loss, as a cornerback where he was named the NSU Defensive Skill Player of the Year. In addition, he finished the year second on the team with two interceptions and nine pass break-ups and was named to the NSIC All-Conference First Team that season. Snelling was a member of the 1999 NSIC Championship team for the Wolves. On the track, Snelling was an 11-time NSIC All-Conference selection and a member of the 2001 NSIC Indoor Championship team for NSU. He won NSIC Championships in the indoor 800m in 1999 and outdoor 800m in 2000. He holds the school record in the 4x800m relay with Scott Gangle, Josh Lien, and Mike Larson with a time of 7:48.34, and was the previous school record holder in the indoor 400m, indoor 600m, indoor 800m, and indoor 4x400m. The 4x800m relay crew of Gangle, Lien, Larson, and Snelling also holds the Barnett Center record in the event. Snelling closed out his Northern State career as the 2001 Clark Swisher Award winner. Post-graduation, Snelling spent 15 years as a wildland fire fighter working for the State of South Dakota and the elite crew, Tatanka Hotshots. Kretchman Coaching Award ARLIN LIKNESS ‘79 Arlin Likness graduated from Northern State University with a bachelor of science in social science and physical education with composite health in 1979 and is the 2026 Kretchman Coaching Award recipient. Likness has taught and coached in the State of South Dakota for 39 years, serving the communities of Beresford, Hamlin, and Yankton in the sports of football, basketball, track and field, and baseball. He is the fifth winningest head football coach in South Dakota High School history. Likness holds a head football coaching record of 261-101 in 38 years of work, with seven South Dakota State Championships and three runner-up finishes. In addition, he adds two state championships to his resume as an assistant. In total, Likness has coached in 13 state championship games, winning nine of them. As an assistant on staff with the boys and girls basketball programs at Hamlin and Yankton, Likness made 16 South Dakota State Tournament appearances, winning two championships. He was named the Assistant Coach of the Year in 1992, 1993, and 2001. Finally, his track and field programs won three state championships. Likness’s honors include the 2013 Royal Order of the Gyps Alumni of the Year, 2015 SD Sports Writer s Coach of the Year, SDHSCA Max Hawk Award, SDHSAA Distinguished Service Award, the Don Baker Award for Excellence in Coaching, seven South Dakota Football Region Coach of the Year Awards, five South Dakota Football Coach of the Year Awards, the ESD Conference Award of Merit, and a 2-time finalist for the National Power of Influence Award. He is a member of the South Dakota Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame (2010), South Dakota High School Coaches Hall of Fame (2017), Hamlin Hall of Fame (2024 & 2026), National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame (2025), Yankton Athletic Hall of Fame (2026).
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