Natalie (Carda) Board

Natalie (Carda) Board, a 2005 BHS graduate, was a stellar student-athlete at Beresford High School and she earned seventeen varsity letters in the sports of Volleyball, Cross Country, Basketball, and Track and Field.  She was also involved in Band, Girls’ State, National Honor Society, Kennel Club, Student Government, Quiz Bowl, Debate, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Homecoming Royalty.

Volleyball

Natalie was a four-year letter winner and three-year starter for the Watchdog Volleyball Team. 

She was an outside left hitter for our Volleyball team that won its first and only State “A” title in 2002.  She helped lead the Watchdogs to the State “A” Volleyball Tourney appearances in 2003 (8th place) and 2004 (5th place) as well.  Natalie helped lead the Watchdog Volleyball Teams to District and Region titles in 2002, 2003, and 2004.  She was named to the Big Sioux Conference Volleyball First Team in 2002, 2003, and 2004.  Natalie was named to the All-Region Volleyball First Team in 2002, 2003, and 2004.  She was named the Region 4A Volleyball Player of the Year in 2004.  Natalie was named to the Class “A” All-Tournament Team in 2002 and 2004.  She was named to the Class “A” All-State Volleyball First Team in 2003 and 2004.  Natalie was named to the Academic All-State Volleyball Team her senior year as well.

Cross Country

Natalie was a three-year letter winner in cross-country and a two-time State Cross Country Meet participant.  She was named the MVP in cross-country her eighth grade year.

Basketball

Natalie was a four-year letter winner and a three-year starter for the Watchdog Girls Basketball Team.  She was the center/forward on her basketball team and helped lead the Watchdogs to Big Sioux Conference Championships in 2003 and 2004, a District title in 2003, a Region title in 2003, and 3rd place finish at the State “A” Tourney in 2003. 

As a freshman, Natalie was named to the Big Sioux Conference Second Team and All-Region Second Team.  As a sophomore, she was named to the Big Sioux Conference First Team, Big Sioux Conference Most Valuable Player, All-Region First Team, Class “A” All-Tournament Team, and Class “A” All-State Basketball Second Team.  As a junior, Natalie was named Team Captain, Big Sioux Conference First Team, Big Sioux Conference Most Valuable Player, All-Region First Team, Class “A” All-State First Team, Argus Leader Elite Five Second Team, and AAU All-American First Team.  As a senior, she was named Team Captain, Big Sioux Conference First Team, Big Sioux Conference Most Valuable Player, All-Region First Team, Class “A” All-State First Team, Argus Leader Elite Five First Team, South Dakota Basketball Coaches’ Association Class “A” Player of the Year, and South Dakota Miss Basketball Nominee.  Natalie was named to the Academic All-State Basketball Team her senior year as well.

Natalie is the Beresford High School record holder for:  career points, career rebounds, career steals, most points in one game, most points in a season, and best field goal percentage in a season.  She was named to the South Dakota All-Decade (1996-2005) First Team. 

Track and Field

Natalie was a six-year letter winner in track and field.  She was an integral member of our track and field teams that had two State “A” Track and Field Runner-up Team finishes in 2002 and 2003.  Natalie was a State Track and Field participant for four years and earned five state medalist honors in the shot put and discus.  As a sophomore in 2003, Natalie placed 6th in the discus.  As a junior in 2004, she placed fifth in the shot put and sixth in the discus.  As a senior in 2005, Natalie placed third in the shot put and fifth in the discus.  For a number of years, she had the school record in the shot put.  Natalie and her teammates led the Watchdog Girls’ Track and Field Teams to Big Sioux Conference and Regional titles in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005.  She was named to the Academic All-State Track and Field Team her senior year as well.

Other Honors as a BHS Senior

During her senior year, Natalie earned prestigious academic and athletic honor awards, including:  the President’s Education Award for Academic Excellence, South Dakota Board of Regents Scholar Diploma; United States Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award; and the United States Army Reserve National Scholar Athlete Award.

Natalie was named to the Girls and Women in Sports “Elite 15” senior females athletes in the state of South Dakota and received their Sports Leadership Award.  She was the state winner in the “Wendy’s High School Heisman” Award program in 2005.  Natalie was selected as the female winner out of a pool of 115 nominated seniors in South Dakota.  She was selected for the Heisman Award based on her excellent achievement in academics, athletics, and community service. 

Post-High School

After high school, Natalie played basketball as a freshman at South Dakota State University.  At SDSU, she earned the Newcomer of the Week Award.  She then transferred to the University of South Dakota and played basketball for the Coyotes.  During her time at USD, the Coyote women won several North Central Conference Championships and in 2008, the Coyotes won the North Central Region title and were the NCAA Division II National Runner-up. 

The 2007-08 South Dakota women's basketball team enjoyed a season of historic proportions.  The Coyotes finished 33-2 and advanced to the Division II National Championship game before falling to Northern Kentucky in the finals. South Dakota finished the season ranked No. 2 in the USA Today/Division II Coaches Poll, the highest ranking in school history.  South Dakota won the North Central Conference with a 12-0 record and set a school record with a 31-game winning streak.  The Coyotes captured the North Central Region title for the first time ever and earned a berth in the national championship game with two thrilling wins in the quarterfinals and semifinals.

The 2007-08 Coyotes Women’s Basketball Team was inducted into the Coyote Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.

Natalie graduated from USD with a Nursing degree in 2009.  Natalie is now a professor at USD teaching nursing classes to undergraduates.  Natalie and her husband Casey live in Beresford and have a baby daughter named Bria.

Congratulations to our Watchdog Hall of Fame Athletics inductee, Mrs. Natalie (Carda) Board.