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Quinten Christensen joined his family for bowling during Christmas break at Wessington Springs’ official SDSU watch party location, Pin Twisters. Back row, left to right: Brandon Jacobs, Teri Bergeleen, Abigail Yost, Bailey Yost, Rodney, Erin, Remi and Gentry Yost. Front row, left to right: Hayes and Wade Christensen, Kathy Yost, Christina, Landen and Quinten Christensen. Pin Twisters is hosting a FCS Championship watch party Sunday, January 7.
As the South Dakota State Jackrabbits gear up to face off against Montana in the FCS championship game on January 7 in Frisco, TX, SDSU offensive lineman and Wessington Springs High School alumni Quinten Christensen took some time with family and friends to reflect on the past season and the road to the championship while at home in Wessington Springs over Christmas.
A victory for the Jackrabbits would not only secure back-to-back championships but also propel them toward an impressive streak of 29 consecutive wins. As a sophomore, this marks his second consecutive year making the trip with the team to Texas to earn a shot at a 15-0 season with a win over the Grizzlies.
“It’s pretty awesome to be able to play a sport after high school — not many people get to do that,” Christensen said. “As far as I’m concerned, there really isn’t a better place — SDSU is a great option for small town kids. The way the locker room and coaches are, we share the same values and ideals. Everyone is there to get along and have fun but work hard.”
And hard work is what Christensen credits when it comes to his success on and off the field.
“For me personally, the hard work I did in wrestling, growing up on the farm and learning from coaches throughout high school has made a huge difference,” he shared. “It’s not foreign to me to work hard.”
Christensen said the willingness to work hard is something he and most of his teammates share, which has continued to give them the winning edge this season.
“The ability to push yourself, not play scared and play tough are attributes that a lot of us guys on the team share. It helps push us and outperform other guys that might come in with more natural ability,” Christensen pointed out. “Hard work and toughness overrides everything at the end of the day.”
Christensen points to in-season workouts that include weight lifting and a focus on maintaining both strength and flexibility.
“Our workouts are based on speed, power and quickness — maximizing short bursts of speed and power,” he explained. “Power and quickness were really emphasized this summer and I believe it has given us an extra edge when it comes to athleticism, big plays and change of direction.”
Looking at Sunday’s opponent, Christensen said that the ability to make big plays against a 70% blitz team is going to be vital for SDSU’s success.
“They are a tough team and can definitely make some big plays. We’ll have to drill over and over again to see what’s going on in the box and be able to communicate,” he said. “We’ll be working hard the next couple of weeks, practicing over and over to get us ready.”
When it comes to the fan base, Christensen cites the large numbers for Montana but he believes the fan base for SDSU has grown significantly.
“I’ve heard about tons of people who are going down to Frisco. What we lack in quantity in South Dakota we make up for with really invested fans,” said the Ag Business Major. “Even the teachers at SDSU are all devout fans.”
During Christmas break at home in Wessington Springs, Christensen implanted and worked cattle while making sure the herd was close to home as the Christmas blizzard swept across the region. In addition to bowling with family on Christmas Eve, Christensen attended Christmas Eve mass and enjoyed catching up with friends around town.
“It’s nice to get a breather before heading back for practice on December 27,” he said. “It doesn’t hurt to get away from football and come home and hang with the family back at the farm for a few days. When my football career is over, I’m glad it’s something I’m able to come back to and for my brothers and I to keep going.”
Christensen said he appreciates all the support from Jackrabbits fans, especially those from his hometown region.
“It’s great to see people around the Springs area that are excited and going to the games. It’s great to come back home and see that people are really interested and excited. They ask me how it’s going and they really like the topic of Frisco. It’s rewarding for me to see them so happy for me and excited about the season,” Christensen shared.“It’s truly awesome to see all of the people who really care. It makes me proud of SDSU and proud of our community.”