16th Annual Koester
LEGION
Memorial Tournament

The Koester Tournament field will feature six teams -- Dickinson, ND "Rough Riders," Huron Post 7, Rapid City Post 22 Split Squad, Valley Springs Post 131, Winner Post 94 and the host Pierre Post 8.

The tournament came to be after the untimely death of Doug Koester. Koester was an avid supporter of Pierre sports, an official for numerous events. He was involved in sports up until the very end, succumbing to a heart attack while officiating the State 11B Football Championship in Vermillion.

He was a member of the Pierre Post 8 Baseball Board until his death, and had two sons play for Post 8, including one that was a part of the inaugural event.

16th Annual Doug Koester Memorial Tournament Schedule|
Friday, July 8
Noon - Rapid City Split Squad  vs.  Winner Post 94
2:30 - Rapid City Split Squad  vs.  Dickinson, ND Rough Riders
5:00 - Valley Springs Post 131  vs.  Dickinson, ND Rough Riders
7:30 - Pierre Post 8  vs.  Huron Post 7
Saturday, July 9
10:00 - Dickinson, ND Rough Riders  vs.  Huron Post 7
12:30 - Winner Post 94  vs.  Huron Post 7
 3:00 - Winner Post 94  vs.  Valley Springs Post 131
 5:30 - Pierre Post 8  vs.  Valley Springs Post 131 
 8:00 - Pierre Post 8  vs.  Rapid City Split Squad
Sunday, July 10
11:00 - FIFTH PLACE GAME
 1:30 - THIRD PLACE GAME
 4:00 - CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Printable Schedule (PDF File) - You will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the file        

PAST CHAMPIONS
1990 - Wayne-Wakefield, Neb.
1991 - Huron
1992 - NONE*
1993 - Pierre
1994 - Bismarck, ND
1995 - Aberdeen
1996 - Northern Hills
1997 - Spearfish
1998 - RC Split Squad
1999 - RC Split Squad
2000 - Mandan, ND
2001 - RC Split Squad
2002 - Pierre
2003 - Pierre
2004 - Valley Springs

*Only the first two games of the 1992 tournament were played. The rest of the games were rained out, so no champion was ever crowned.