WATERTOWN — Recent Watertown High School graduate and Watertown Arrows Post 17 pitcher Hunter Halajian has announced his commitment to play college baseball at Northeast Iowa Community College.
Halajian helped lead Watertown to a runner-up finish in the state Class A South Dakota High School Baseball Association tournament and has continued to be one of the ace pitchers for Post 17 in its 2026 summer American Legion Baseball season.
In 58 innings so far in 2026, the left-hander has posted a 6-2 record with 66 strikeouts, 1.36 WHIP and 3.02 earned run average.
“Hunter is a player we knew had to the potential to be special long before many people started to notice,” Watertown Arrows Post 17 coach Ryan Neale said. “Behind the scenes, he has put in countless hours to transform himself into a complete pitcher. He’s worked incredibly hard to get stronger, increase his velocity and refine every aspect of his game.”
Another Watertown Arrows Post 17 pitcher Jackson McClemens recently announced his commitment to play basketball and baseball at Mount Marty University in Yankton. He originally had planned to focus on baseball at Southest Minnesota State University in Marshall, MN.
In another recent signing, Mobridge-Pollock running back Mack Saxon announced his plans to play football at Northern State University in Aberdeen. Saxon will be a senior this fall for the Tigers.
Other area 2025-26 area commits/signees
- Augustana University Football — Kyson Arndt, Canby, MN (Minneota High School).
- Black Hills State Women’s Basketball — Blake Thompson, Mobridge-Pollock.
- Dakota State University Baseball — Braden Danzeisen, Sioux Valley.
- Dakota State University Women’s Track & Field — Audi Currier, De Smet.
- Dakota Wesleyan University Football — Kevin Owen, Milbank.
- Doane Univesity (Crete, NE) Women’s Basketball — Jaelyn Huntimer, Arlington.
- Jamestown (ND) University Women’s Basketball — Isabelle Freidt, Oakes (ND).
- Jamestown (ND) University Football — Braylen Bowsher, Milbank.
- Minnesota State University Mankato Men’s Track & Field — Oliver Fieber, Deuel (Goodwin).
- Minnesota State University Moorhead (MN) Women’s Swimming & Diving — Roslyn Waite, Watertown.
- Morningside University (Sioux City, IA) Football — Kaden Decker, Watertown.
- Mount Marty Basketball & Baseball — Jackson McClemans.
- Mount Marty Men’s Golf — Jerome Zebroski, Watertown.
- North Dakota Men’s Track & Field — Kyle Hettich, Ipswich.
- North Dakota State Football — Hunter Peterson, Watertown (Junior commit).
- North Dakota State Men’s Basketball — Chance Schoenfeld, Deubrook Area.
- North Iowa Community College (Mason City, IA) Baseball — Markus Pitkin, Watertown.
- Northern State University Men’s Basketball — Jackson Wadsworth, Hamlin.
- Northern State University Women’s Basketball — Addison Neuendorf, Hamlin.
- Northern State University Football — Jesiah Baum, Aberdeen (Warner High School); Karson Borge, Jack Bertsch, Felipe Gonzalez and Joey Dallman, Aberdeen Central; James Behan, Aberdeen Roncalli (transfer); Matthew Mount, Webster; Westyn Thorpe, Frederick Area and Mack Saxon, Mobridge-Pollock.
- Northern State University Men’s Wrestling — Holden Hawkins, Sisseton.
- Northern State University Women’s Track & Field — Breckan Santjer and Catelynn Weig, Aberdeen Central; and Madisyn Gellhaus, Ipswich.
- Northwestern College (Orange City, IA) Football — Cole Hansen, Watertown.
- Northwestern University (St. Paul, MN) Volleyball — Siri Bach, Watertown.
- South Dakota State Women’s Golf — Olivia Braun, Aberdeen Central.
- South Dakota State Women’s Track & Field — Ella Boekelheide, Northwestern; Hazel Luethmers, De Smet; and Hadlee Holt, Lake Preston.
- South Dakota State Men’s Wrestling — Gage Lohr, Watertown (junior commitment).
- South Dakota State Women’s Basketball — Lauryn Burckhard, Aberdeen Central (junior commitment).
- University of Jamestown (ND) Women’s Basketball — Isabelle Freidt, Oakes (ND).
- University of Jamestown (ND) Football — Braylen Bowsher, Milbank.
- University of Sioux Falls Women’s Golf — Molly Halverson, Lac qui Parle Valley (MN).
- University of Sioux Falls Women’s Wrestling — Allison Konrad, Watertown.
- University of South Dakota Women’s Golf — Gabi Olson, Watertown and Brynn Roehrich, Watertown (junior commitments).
- Valley City (ND) State Baseball — Watson Grantham, Hamlin.
- Valley City (ND) State Football — Micah Tostenson, Milbank.
College Recruits
This list will be updated throughout the 2025-26 school year with new signees and other recruitment details. Please email us (rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com) with information on any signings or commitments.
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Recent Watertown High School graduate to play baseball at Northeast Iowa CC
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