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One of the top college basketball records in the state of South Dakota is set to fall possibly this week. All eyes will be on SDSU senior Nate Wolters as he looks to become the Jackrabbits all-time leading scorer. He needs just 38 points to break the record held by Jacks Hall of Famer Mark Tetzlaff. And if you ask the current record holder, he says 27 years on top has been long enough.
"It's time for somebody else to have it," Tetzlaff said.
As we get set to welcome in the year 2013, it's easy to say 1985... was a long time ago. That's the year Tetzlaff graduated after averaging nearly 19 points and nine rebounds per game all the while helping lead the SDSU men's basketball team to a Division II championship game.
"We just had a great bunch of guys that worked very well together and it just seemed that things fell together for us," Tetzlaff said.
The Jackrabbits fell just shy of claiming a team title that year. That was not the case on the individual side as Tetzlaff took over the top spot at SDSU in scoring (1,931) and rebounds (1,132). Now roughly 27 years later, his reign as top scorer is nearing an end.
"My scoring record I figured would be broke sometime. It's lasted longer that what I expected. He seems like a nice young man that has a lot of abilities. I wish him the very best," Tetzlaff said.
That nice young man is Nate Wolters. The senior from St. Cloud, MN, is averaging 20.5 points per game this season. If that holds over the next two games he will break the record in Vermillion against rival USD.
"He's got that driving layup shot that's just kind of remarkable how he can put that thing in. Fun to watch. He just blows by people. He's got that quick step. He's a fun player to watch," Tetzlaff said.
Tetzlaff, a Hayti native, has lived and worked in Watertown the past five years. His five kids keep him more than busy but he will be paying Wolters some close attention this week.
"It's quite an honor. He probably doesn't realize that honor right now but when he gets a little more age to him, he'll appreciate the record he just broke," Tetzlaff said.
Tetzlaff says if and when Wolters breaks the record, he will definitely congratulate him on the feat. SDSU plays at Kansas City on Thursday and at USD this Saturday.
