Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = South Dakota Springfield

Today in the small town of Springfield, South Dakota you'll find a Durfee State Person which host about as many inmates as their are people in the community.  It wasn't always a prison though.  At one time it was a school.  The University of South Dakota at Springfield.  A small NAIA institution that had a wrestling program up until the school closed after the 1983-1984 season. 

Mike Durfee

A graduate of Highmore High school, Durfee was a standout football, basketball & track star that came to South Dakota Springfield to play football for the Pointers.  The wrestling coach of all people approached him & said that he thought he might make a good wrestler.  Having no prior experience Durfee ended up being a three time South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference champion.  He was also a three time All American in football, scoring thirty touchdowns during his career. 

Post his collegiate career, Durfee took over as head coach of the wrestling program & won two SDIC team titles in 1974 & 1976. His 1976 squad went 12-0, the only undefeated season the Pointers ever had.  He then became a director of the South Dakota Department of Corrections & later had the state prison named in his honor.  

Jay DeBoer 
190 lbs 

DeBoer was an NAIA All American who placed fourth at the 1971 championships. 

Pat Rohlik
167 lbs  

Rohlik was a two time All American for the Pointers.  He took back to back fifth place finishes at both the 1977 & 1978 NAIA tournament. 

Dan Mechtenberg
142 lbs 

Mechtenberg took fourth place All American honors at the 1979 NAIA tournament. 

Craig Nightingale
177 lbs 

Nightingale took eighth place All American honors at the 1982 NAIA championships.  He later coached at Kimball White Lake high school.