Lincoln Kienholz Gatorade 2022 - 2023: Player of the Year Football

“A significant reality of Lincoln Kienholz’s performance on and off the field is his leadership presence with his teammates. Without question, he is talented and capable of changing the tides of a game, whether throwing into a tight window or making a dynamic play running the football. His composure and body language exude confidence and his team follows.”

Kent Van Overschelde

Head Coach - Mitchell coach

Athletic Excellence

The 6-foot-3, 185-pound senior quarterback amassed 4,857 total yards and 70 touchdowns while leading the Governors (12-0) to their sixth-consecutive AA state championship. Kienholz set South Dakota’s single-season passing record last fall, completing 197 of 296 passes for 3,422 yards and 46 touchdowns against just six interceptions. He also rushed for 1,435 yards and 24 touchdowns and will graduate as a three-time state championship game MVP.

Academic Achievement

Kienholz has maintained a 4.0 GPA in the classroom. At the time of his selection, he’d made a verbal commitment to play football on scholarship at The Ohio State University this fall.

Exemplary Character

Kienholz is a member of the National Honor Society, serves as a Gov2Go mentor and volunteers locally as a youth football coach.

Football - South Dakota