Michelle Brunz
Senior football standout Sullivan Schlimgen has long been a name to know at O’Gorman, and now he’s making his mark far beyond the borders of South Dakota. A fierce competitor and respected leader, Sully recently made headlines after flipping his Division I commitment from South Dakota State University to Washington State University, following the departure of SDSU’s coaching staff.
Originally committing to SDSU early in the school year, Sully’s decision reflected not only his talent but also his trust in the coaching staff that believed in him. When Head Coach Jimmy Rogers and much of the staff accepted new positions at Washington State, Sully made the bold and difficult decision to follow them across the country. “I originally committed to SDSU because I felt that the staff was the best fit for me to become the player and person I wanted to grow and develop into,” Sully explained. “So when they moved away from the school and asked me to come with, I knew I wanted to play for the same staff because of who they are — it just turned out to be at a different place than I originally thought.”
That level of clarity, commitment and courage is exactly what has defined Sully’s high school career.
The numbers speak for themselves. Sully holds the O’Gorman record for most tackles in a single season (99) and finished his career with a staggering 241 total tackles. Offensively, he racked up 2,684 total yards and 27 touchdowns. He also became the only player in school history to score a rushing touchdown, receiving touchdown, and passing touchdown in a single playoff game — a true triple threat.
His accolades include being named to the Argus Leader Elite 45, earning All-State honors twice and being selected to the All-Metro team three times. Recently, he was selected as the 2024- 2025 National High School Athletic Coaches Association All American Football Player. These honors reflect not only his athletic ability but his relentless work ethic, football IQ and leadership on and off the field.
As Sully prepares to step onto the national stage in the Pac-12, he carries with him the pride of his school, the admiration of his teammates and the hopes of a community that has watched him grow into the extraordinary athlete he is today.
“I just want to do everything I can to play as soon as possible and become the best player I can,” Sully said. With that mindset, there’s no doubt he’ll do just that.
Best of luck to Sully and all the O’Gorman seniors chasing their dreams — the future is bright.