Tea Area to join decades-old ESD Conference in 2024-25

The Eastern South Dakota Athletic Conference will bring on Tea Area as an Eastern South Dakota Conference member school beginning with the 2024-25 school year. 

The Tea Area School District currently sponsors the following SDHSAA sanctioned sports: Basketball, competitive cheer and dance, cross country, football, golf, soccer, softball, track and field, volleyball and wrestling. 

“The Eastern South Dakota Athletic Conference has a rich tradition of success in athletics in South Dakota dating back to 1927. We are proud of our history and continuity approaching nearly a century of existence. While the landscape has changed over that time, the ESD has continued to be a pioneer in South Dakota high school athletics. We have adapted to those changes but have maintained our position as a leader, consistently making decisions with a genuine concern for our student-athletes and member schools. We are excited for this mutually beneficial relationship between Tea Area and our current ESD member schools. We look forward to supporting the student-athletes, coaches, administration and the community of Tea in their transition into Class AA. The ESD has a long and proud history and the addition of Tea Area will only continue to strengthen our conference,” said Cory Aadland, Mitchell activities eirector/ESD president.

“The Tea Area School District’s growth over the past 20 years has included almost every South Dakota High School Activity Association classification. From Class B in 2003-04 to Class AA in 2024-25, we are grateful for the opportunity for our student-athletes to complete in tremendous conferences along our journey. We are grateful for the opportunity to be welcomed into the ESD as our district’s athletic programs transition into a high school of nearly 800 students. As we continue to build our traditions and programs, we are excited to join a conference rich with traditions,” said Dr. Jennifer Nebelsick Lowery, Tea Area Superintendent of Schools 

“Tea Area is excited for the opportunity to move up to AA in all athletics/activities and participate in the Eastern South Dakota Athletic Conference for the 2024-25 school year. We feel that the ESD has a rich tradition of success in athletics and are proud to join the conference, added Craig Clayberg, Tea Area activities director.