Volume 52 Number 8 Brandon Valley High School - Brandon, SD 57005 Friday, April 25, 2014

The ‘Willy Wonka’ musical

/page 3

Dodge for Cause:By Jacob BoomsmaPhoto Editor

Dodge for a Cause Fundraiser for Brandi Vermeer’s family raised $4,500 last month.

“I was amazed with the turnout and all of the people’s support,” Vermeer, ’01, said. “I have lived in the Brandon Valley area all my life, so I know it’s a great place to live.”

The benefit consisted of a dodgeball tournament with 204 students and 18 faculty members participating on 34 teams. Staff volunteers served donated food in the commons for freewill offerings.

“I student taught here in 2000 and Brandi was actually one of my students,” said American history teacher Jeremy Risty, an event volunteer. “It was nice to reconnect with her.”

Brandon Valley is such a great community, he said. It supports events like this so well with great student participation.

“We really appreciate the people and businesses that donated time and resources,” Risty said.

The money from Dodge for a Cause will help pay for Vermeer’s medical expenses from cancer.

The Vermeer family, who have been part of Brandon Valley for 40 years, have been active within the school district. Brandi’s

Event raises $4,500for Vermeer family

mother, LeeAnn, has worked as a high school custodian for 28 years.

“It was very heartwarming to see everyone who came out for the benefit,” LeeAnn said. “The support from the students and community was very overwhelming.”

Photos by Umaima Koch

Brandi Vermeer and her parents, LeeAnn and Burt, stand before accepting a $4,500 check raised by students and staff meant to help them pay for medical expenses.

Senior Annika Hindbjorgen pies Sgt. Wade Else, one of the winners of the Coin Wars. The competition raised just over $700 for the Vermeer family.

Journalists go on media tour

Photo by Debra Rothenberger

After touring the marketing and management company HenkinSchultz, the journalism students toured KELO and watched the Midday show in KELOLAND.

By Taylor StaabUpdate Editor

Journalism instructor Deb Rothenberger’s students toured HenkinSchultz and watched Midday in KELOLAND.

HenkinSchultz is a marketing and management company that started in 1991 with Joe Henkin and Kirby Schultz, and in 2001 they moved the company to its current location.

“HenkinSchultz building seemed plain as we were walking up the sidewalk, but as soon as we walked in, the building took on a whole new look,” senior Evelyn Jorgenson said. “Everything in the interior design, done by Kirby Schultz, is so unique. My favorite thing was the light fixtures made of old, burnt out lightbulbs.”

Joe Henkin told the students something that stuck out in Jorgenson’s mind.

“He told us that in every job you will need to know how to write well,” she said. “Thinking this opens up a whole new oppor-tunity for careers.”

The company never says “no” to potential customers and em-ployees do as much as possible with the budget they are allowed.

HenkinSchultz has 24 employ-ees who have daily, even hourly deadlines they have to complete.

“None of it is difficult if you know your target,” Henkin said.

“If you know your message, we know how to take that message and connect it.”

Ideas have to be on paper first and then clients approve the proj-ect before anything is produced.

Marketing takes talent, he said. It used to be 20 years ago you’d produce a 20-second commercial and people would be (at the store) the next day.

“We don’t do it to win awards,” Henkin said. “We do it for you.”

After HenkinSchultz, the stu-dents toured KELO and watched

Midday in KELOLAND.In 1953 KELO became CBS’s

first South Dakota station, promo-tion director Paul Farmer said.

Today it employs about 100 employees and runs 26-and-a-half hours of local news each week.

“News is still happening,” Farmer said, “but the way has changed a lot.”

KELO staff acquires ideas through police scanners, govern-ment meetings and local call-ins and then the assignment director assigns the reporters stories.

Comeaux elected president

On the set, there is no floor di-rector. All information is sent to the anchors via earpieces, and all content is timed out to the second.

“At the beginning it was hard, but now I’m in a routine,” said meteorologist Grant Smith, who started in January. “I have to hur-ry if I’m late. I have my cues to be where I am and I plan on having more time than need be.”

It was interesting watching the anchors do the Midday in KELOLAND show, junior Jacob Boomsma said.

By Molly HowardUpdate Editor

Junior Jake Comeaux won the student mock election.

Comeaux’s vice president was sophomore Austin Pulse; the two represented the populist party. Together, they won 39 percent of the total popular vote and 152 electoral votes, which placed them in the lead.

Comeaux’s opponents were juniors Alex Hamer, Tonner Bowman and senior Derek Johnson.

President Comeaux based his platform on the ideas of reforming the school by offering students an opportunity to have open lunch, participate in new classes including cosmetology and survival class, and add an expanded parking lot along with an open parking rule.

Government instructor Tom Grode organized the student election.

The classes held primaries to choose their candidates and then made commercials, posters and book covers and wrote debate questions.

Brandon Valley Echo Friday, April 25, 2014

Teaching LGBT history is important

What did you think

about prom?

Instant replay is answer to human error in MLB

‘Willy Wonka’ Warm weather Prom night

The Echo is published monthly by the publications students of the Brandon Valley High School, 301 S. Splitrock, Brandon, S.D. 57005. Telephone number is 582-3211. It is a state and national award-winning publication affiliated with the South Dakota High School Press Association and the National Scholastic Press Association. News Editor..........................................................................Umaima KochVoices Editor .............................................................................Becca GothA&E Editor .....................................................................Evelyn JorgensonSports Editors ........................................... Dylan Bludorn and Matt PearceUpdate Editors .........................................Taylor Staab and Molly HowardPhoto Editors...........................................Rachel Boy and Jacob BoomsmaAd Manager ...........................................................................Caiti MurphyCirculation Manager .................................. .......................Katelyn KendallAdviser ........................................................................Debra RothenbergerBrandon Valley Echo is a public forum. The editorial content of the Echo expresses the views of the newspaper and not necessarily of the administration, faculty or school board of the Brandon Valley School District. Bylined editorial content is the writer’s opinion and not necessarily of the staff, adviser or school administration. Signed letters to the editor are encouraged, but they may be rejected or edited for grammar, condensation, good taste and/or libel.

Thumbs up to the warm weather. After all of the snow, cold and blizzard warnings, spring is starting to show with

temperatures in the high 60’s and mid 70’s.

Thumbs up to the musical ‘Willy Wonka,’ directed by Kevin Brick. The musical sold out all four shows. Despite the

cancellation of the April 3 show, the cast brought color, energy and music during the rescheduled matinee performance April 5.

Thumbs up to prom. For the Under The Sea theme, the decor included floating-in-a-bowl candles, blue tulle, sand and

seashells. Instructor Naomi Poppe’s advanced foods classes provided hors d’oeuvres.

Gay-Straight Alliance’s rotation of teachers educating and discussing with students the contributions made by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals is important in the banishing of ignorance and negative stereotypes.

Education is a large step towards acceptance. LGBT youth can find comfort from learning about achievements of the many famous LGBT people. Their peers gain as well from learning about contributions of these people. Students may become more tolerant and accepting of the LGBT individual and community as a whole.

When people learn their favorite singers such as the timeless Elton John, Freddie Mercury and Joan Jett among others are gay, or that a gay man, Alan Turing, played a significant part in the development of the computer, they see the gay community as less alien, as something worthy of respect for their struggles and gifts to the society.

Several teachers, hosted by the Gay-Straight Alliance, will talk about achievements made in modern times, as well as in the past, by LGBT individuals. “Open” individuals have opportunities in our era that only several decades prior, they would have been barred from. LGBT youth should learn that in this increasingly tolerant society, they too, can be celebrities, mayors of major cities, or scientists working on important projects. Nowadays, openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people have the opportunities to be successful in many careers.

The African-American community and women, akin to the LGBT community, have suffered great injustices in the past. African-American and women’s history were not taught in the past because they were considered unimportant and many people have strong prejudice against blacks. When schools began to teach black and women’s history and their important contributions to society, the lives of African-Americans and women in America turned for the better. Should required LGBT history spread from the classrooms of California to other states, it is not unreasonable to expect similar improvements to the lives of LGBTs.

LGBT history should be an important topic included within the conventional classes taught in school. It helps paint the LGBT community in a positive light, giving credit where it’s due for their inventions and contributions. It inspires LGBT youth to achieve great things with their lives and gives them hope. When LGBT history is taught in school, tolerance benefits and society advances.

“It was a blast. It was decorated really cool.”

-SeniorJake Haan

“It was nice. I liked the food.”

-SeniorJordyn Herr

“I thought it was really fun. My date and I had a good time.”

-SeniorLexi Hoover

“It was fun. There was good music.”

-JuniorMikayla Ploen

“I had a great time. It was better than I expected.”

-Junior Connor Smith

“It was my first one, so I didn’t know what to think.”

-JuniorClayton Ebright

By Dylan BludornSports Editor

With technology expanding in the 21st century, Major League Baseball, along with other profes-sional sports, is entering the in-stant replay era that will eliminate the blunders made by umpires.

“I’ve always liked the game, the human element about it, but nowadays we have the technology to get everything right,” Detroit Tigers catcher Alex Avila said, according to baseball.about.com.

Before MLB acquired instant replay, human error was a deciding factor in games. A missed call by an umpire can be as minimal as a lost game or in former Detroit Tigers’ pitcher Armando Galarraga’s case it can

be as severe as changing a career.Galarraga, one out away from

the almost unheard of perfect game, forced Cleveland Indians Jason Donald to hit a routine groundball to Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera for what seemed like an obvious final out, when suddenly, umpire Jim Joyce called Donald safe. Joyce, in an emotional interview, apologized for his mistake.

After the game, Galarraga’s former manager Jim Leyland said, “I’m sure someone is going to say, if they had a replay on that play, the kid would have had a perfect game. Somebody will say something about that, but not me. That’s just the human element. The umpires do a great job. They

are right a whole lot more than they are wrong.”

According to hardballtalk.nbcsports.com, some managers like John Farrell of the Boston Red Sox argue instant replay will slow the game down, but in order to make the right call, taking a few minutes for replay is the right thing to do for baseball.

In past years, managers were only allowed to challenge home runs. Now they are allowed to challenge a plethora of situations like close plays, fair balls and the count in an at bat.

Instant replay, despite immediate, minor quirks, will be the answer to the reoccurring problem of human error in professional baseball.

Brandon Valley High School Friday, April 25, 2014

‘Divergent’ film proves to be mysterious, action-packedBy Becca GothVoices Editor

The movie version of Divergent by Veronica Roth is exciting, action-packed and mysterious.

The film grossed $56 million on its premiere weekend, topping off the box office with a family comedy called The Muppets Most Wanted coming in second at $16 million.

Shailene Woodley stars in the movie as Tris Prior, along with Theo James as Tobias “Four” Eaton. Tris and Four were born under a government that separates everyone into groups called factions. The two characters were born and raised in the Abnegation faction with their parents being the governing leaders of the most kind and giving of the five groups. The other factions are Amity, the agricultural and peaceful; Candor,

the brutally honest; Dauntless, the fearless and tattooed warriors; and Erudite, the dishonest and knowledgeable.

Upon turning 16, all teenagers are administered a test to tell them which faction they would best fit into, and then they are given the choice to either stay with their families in their original factions, or transfer to the faction of their choice.

When Tris is administered the test, her results are inconclusive, which makes her a divergent. A divergent just means that she has the traits of three different factions: Abnegation, Dauntless and Erudite; however, being a Divergent is forbidden.

Tris leaves her family and joins Dauntless as a faction transfer initiate when she meets Four. Four trains her, as well as other

faction transfer initiates, to be warriors and to never give up. Their training comes in handy when the Erudite start searching for divergents and invade the Dauntless’ headquarters.

Woodley’s performance in Divergent is outstanding. She shows how a daring and adventurous personality can come from a quiet, gentle, book reader type such as her character Tris. James also does a compelling job playing such a dark, mysterious character on his first major film.

The movie runs about two-and-a-half hours long and, unlike most books made into movies, it sticks to the novel as if it were the script.

Divergent is full of action, suspense, mystery and love. I recommend it to anyone who likes post-apocalyptic teen movies.

‘Willy Wonka’ postponed

Charlie’s classmates (left) react to the news of Willy Wonka’s golden ticket contest. Freshman Johnny Hoffmann (Charlie Bucket), senior Annika Hindbjorgen (Mrs. Bucket) and junior Kevin Huizenga (Mr. Bucket) (above) are introduced in the story to the audience.

Photos by Taylor Staab

Junior Chandler McGrath (left) stands center stage and leads the entire cast in the opening number “The Golden Age of Chocolate.” Willy Wonka was the first musical to ever be postponed due to weather; regardless, the cast and crew gave wonderful performances. The musical featured 188 cast, crew and pit performers.

By Umaima KochNews Editor

Never before has a musical or theater performance been postponed because of the weather nor has any one of theater director Kevin Brick’s 36 musicals been postponed, until April 3.

Due to a severe winter weather warning earlier that day, the first Willy Wonka performance, originally planned to open April 3, was rescheduled to April 5 at 3 p.m.—a mere four hours before the actual Saturday night performance.

Brick said even though the cast and crew lost opening night Thursday, they handled the rescheduling wonderfully.

“Honestly,” he said, “with their talent and energy, they could have done four back-to-back performances in a day.”

“The best word to describe it is exhausting,” said freshman Johnny Hoffmann, who was cast as Charlie Bucket. “However, even the back-to-back Saturday performances had a surprising amount of energy and everyone had a lot of fun.”

Hoffmann never set out to get a lead role—he has never even had so much as a line in any play before. Thus, it came as a huge surprise to him to be cast in the role of Charlie.

“The hardest part was producing enough energy and sound all the time,” Hoffmann said. “As the musical progressed, I became more comfortable and managed to forget the audience and perform my best.”

Overall, Willy Wonka, which sold out, was a success.

“This whole production has been awesome,” said junior Chandler McGrath, who was cast as Willy Wonka.

McGrath’s first musical appearance was in last year’s

South Pacific. Since then he has appeared in A Christmas Carol and The Scheme of the Driftless Shifter. Ever since seeing last year’s one-act play Little Shop of Horrors, he said, he has been drawn to theater.

“What I love most about

performing is the adrenaline rush and entertaining people,” McGrath said. “I also love expressing myself through another character.

“Being cast as Willy Wonka was a huge honor,” he said. “I was looking forward to just having fun and acting crazy and quirky like

Willy Wonka is.”McGrath looks forward to the

dancing, music and 50’s-style costuming of next year’s musical, Grease.

Brick loved watching and listening to the youngest cast members, who loved having

an audience, as they waited backstage for their turns in the spotlight and watching the cast each night as they all gathered to sing the finale, because he could see every face.

The 188 cast and crew members produced Willy Wonka.

of USF grads find employment in their major or chosen field

within six months of graduation.

(605) 331-6600 || usiouxfalls.edu

CONGRATULATIONSBrandon Valley Lynx

Class of 2014

97%

Brandon Valley Echo Friday, April 25, 2014

March Madness lives up to nickname yet againBy Matt PearceSports Editor

NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament––nicknamed March Madness––lived up to its nickname with numerous upsets and thrilling games throughout.

Cutting down the nets April 7 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, was Connecticut, a seven seed. Facing Kentucky, an eight seed, the Huskies defeated the Wildcats 60-54 in a game where they never trailed. With a seven seed playing an eight seed, this championship game had the highest seed combination in NCAA Tournament history. The Huskies are the highest seed to win the championship since 1985 when Villanova won as an eight seed. Leading the way for the Huskies the entire tournament was senior guard Shabazz Napier who scored 22 points in the final and was named Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. This is the Huskies fourth championship and their first under second-year head coach Kevin Ollie. The others came in 1999, 2004 and 2011.

The Final Four consisted of Florida, Connecticut, Wisconsin and Kentucky. Florida, a one seed, played Connecticut and Wisconsin, a two seed, played Kentucky on the other side of the bracket.

Making their way to the Final Four, Florida beat every team it faced by double digits. Flordia only lost three games this season, two of them came against Connecticut and the other against Wisconsin––both Final Four teams.

Connecticut had a much harder route as they defeated the East region’s number two, three and four seeds.

After a first half scare against American in the second round (round of 64) and a close game against Oregon in the third round (round of 32), Wisconsin collected themselves and blew out Baylor before narrowly defeating Arizona in overtime to make the Final Four.

Kentucky had the toughest route to the Final Four as they defeated the Midwest region’s number one, four and two seed by a combined 10 points.

Entering the tournament, all of the one seeds were strong and––as should be expected––had good chances of making the Final Four. In the South region Florida was the overall number one seed and hadn’t lost a game since early December.

In the East region, Virginia was the one seed and had the best defense of any team in the nation. However, Michigan State beat Virginia by two points in the Sweet 16, which was a popular upset pick prior to the tournament.

Arizona was the one seed in the West region and made it to the Elite Eight before losing to Wisconsin by one in overtime.

Wichita State was the one seed in the Midwest region and entered the tournament undefeated. There were still questions about the Shockers though––even though they shocked the world by making it to the Final Four last year as a nine seed––as they played a weak schedule in the Missouri Valley Conference. These concerns proved to be true as a young, but talented Kentucky team upset Wichita State by two points in the third round.

Connecticut and Kentucky’s run to the championship game were surprising, but nothing in the tournament was as surprising as Dayton, an 11 seed, making it all the way to the Elite Eight. Barely making the tournament, the Flyers upset sixth seeded Ohio State in the second round and a third seeded Syracuse team in the third round. In the Sweet 16, Dayton defeated Stanford, a 10 seed. Stanford also had a good run to the Sweet 16, defeating New Mexico, a seven seed, by five and Kansas, a two seed, by three.

The only other double-digit seed that made it to the Sweet 16 was Tennessee, an 11 seed. Having to play Iowa in the first round––also known as the First Four as the first round consists of four play-in games to advance into the main bracket––the Volunteers defeated the Hawkeyes by 13 points in overtime. Tennessee was a popular sleeper pick despite having to play in the First Four, hosted in Dayton, Ohio, this year––perhaps that is why Dayton made the Elite Eight?

As usual the round of 64 was filled with upsets. The biggest upset came when Mercer, a 14 seed, defeated Duke, a traditional basketball powerhouse and a three seed this year, by seven points. Every year there is always one upset that stuns the college basketball world. Last year it was Florida Gulf Coast, a 15 seed beating second seeded Georgetown. This year it was Mercer beating Duke.

Other upsets in the round of 64 not already discussed include Stephen F. Austin, a 12 seed, over VCU a five seed; Harvard, a 12 seed, over Cincinnati, a five seed; and North Dakota State, a 12 seed, over Oklahoma, a five seed––it clearly wasn’t a good year to be a five seed.

Due to the popularity of March Madness and the number of brackets that are filled out by fans, Warren Buffet offered $1 billion to anyone who could complete a perfect bracket on Yahoo.com. By the time the first game finished—Ohio State vs. Dayton—around 75 percent of people had been knocked out. Nobody was able to make it out of the first round with a perfect bracket, ending the perfect bracket challenge. The odds of filling out a perfect bracket are astronomically high––63 games where upsets are prevalent––so it comes as no surprise that no one who entered the challenge was able to make it out of the first round.

Because of the upsets and intense games, March Madness has become immensely popular, and this year was no different.

Photos by Jacob Boomsma

Junior Austin Trevino bats against Harrisburg. The Lynx scored three runs in both the first and second innings to take an early lead that they never gave up in their 6-1 vic-tory in their home opener. The Lynx will face Sioux Falls O’Gorman Monday.

Senior Luke Bauske pitches against Harrisburg. In six innings of work, he gave up one hit while striking out five.

Baseball team to face O’Gorman second time

Softball plays in tournament

By Matt PearceSports Editor

Baseball team will face Sioux Falls O’Gorman for the second time this season Monday.

Earlier this month the Lynx defeated the Knights 3-2 in 13 innings on a walk-off single from senior Lucas Lunstra.

“We need to do a better job of extending at bats and finding a way to put balls in play,” head coach Dallas Schneiderman said. “We are striking out at a high rate right now and it’s hurting our ability to advance runners and score. We showed at the end of the game verse O’Gorman that just putting balls in play can make the difference between winning and losing.”

The 8-5 Lynx faced Sioux Falls Washington Thursday. Results were unavailable at press time.

Hosting Sioux Falls Lincoln Monday, the Lynx defeated the Patriots 9-5 in a key regional matchup. Senior Jacob Adams started the scoring off with a solo home run. Later in the game junior Reid Grode hit a two-run home run. Senior Nic Peterson picked up the win pitching six innings while allowing four runs.

The Lynx split a double header against Aberdeen last Monday. In game one the Lynx lost 7-6 after giving up two runs in the seventh inning. Battling back in game two, the Lynx won 9-7 in nine innings thanks to four runs in the ninth inning.

“The double header in Aberdeen went well for the team and showed us that we can’t give up in any game or situation,” senior Luke Bauske said. “We have to fight for the win throughout the whole game, just as we did in the second game of the double header.”

Making their annual trip to Rapid City, the Lynx played four games and won three. Playing Rapid City Stevens April 18, the Lynx won 16-2 and 12-2. Adams hit a three-run home run in the first game. The next day the Lynx played Rapid City Central and Sturgis. They defeated Central 11-3

with Adams hitting a two-run home run. Against Sturgis the Lynx bats fell silent mustering just two hits in a 10-3 loss.

“The team is playing good right now,” Adams said. “Everyone is getting hits and stepping up at the right time.”

By Rachel BoyPhoto Editor

Lady Lynx softball team will play Eastern South Dakota Conference league games Saturday in Yankton at 8 a.m.

“We have strong leadership in our seniors,” senior Hannah McIlravy said, “and I expect it to be a very successful season, hopefully with lots of wins.”

Girls lost both games 6-3 to Pipestone on Tuesday.

“I think our strong point this year, like every year, is our hitting,” senior Brooke Becker said.

Varsity girls defeated Sioux Falls Blaze 10-1 and 11-1 last Thursday.

“We hit the ball very well and were smart on the bases,” McIlravy said, “and we missed very few plays defensively.”

Becker said the defense may be weak at the moment because the team is still getting used to playing with each other in these first few games, but further through the season that will become stronger.

Results from Thursday’s game against Adrian were unavailable at press time.

Brandon Valley Echo Friday, April 25, 2014

Track teams set for Pierre Relays

Girls golf competes

At the Wolverine Invite in Sioux City junior Sam Spurlich (top left) runs the shuttle hurdle relay. Her team placed first. Freshman Max Harris (top right) runs the shuttle hurdle relay. Boys team placed sixth. Freshman Sarah Presler (above left) runs the 4x800 meter relay to place first. Junior Jacob Larson (above right) runs the 4x800. His team placed seventh.

Senior Lucas Mutschelknaus hits the ball back to his Vermillion opponent. The boys won the match.

Photo by Katelyn Kendall

Tennis to compete in Luverne

By Evelyn JorgensonA&E Editor

Girls and boys track teams compete today at 1 p.m. in Pierre for the Pierre Legion Relays.

“The competition in Pierre will be a good opportunity for (us) to improve our times,” sophomore Cortney Bickley said. “We look forward to strengthening our performance as a team.”

The girls as a team placed first in the Washington Qudrangular in Sioux Falls Tuesday. Boys placed third.

Senior Evelyn Jorgenson placed first in the 200-meter dash. Freshman Tanya Tingle placed first in the 400-meter dash.

Girls placed first in the 400-meter relay, 800-meter relay, 1600-meter relay and the 1600-meter medley.

Senior Cam Holmes placed first in the 200-meter dash and the 400-meter dash. Junior Mitch Selken placed first in the 1600-meter run.

Boys placed first in the 400-meter relay, 800-meter relay and the 1600-meter relay.

Last Tuesday, track teams ran in Mitchell. In the 400-meter relay, girls placed

second; the 800-meter relay, first; and the 1600-meter relay, first. Jorgenson placed third in the 100-meter dash; and freshman Jennika Wrightsman, seventh. In the 200-meter dash, Cortney Bickley placed third; Jorgenson, fourth; senior Tiara Tingle, fifth. Cortney Bickley placed first in the 400-meter dash folowed by Tiara Tingle, seventh grader Krist Bickley and eightht grader Felicity Klinkhammer. In the 800-meter run, eighth grader Courtney Klatt placed second. Eighth grader Haylee Waterfall placed fourth in the mile; seventh grader Dannika Kocer, fifth.

Freshman Becca Koehn placed eighth in the 100-meter hurdles, and sophomore Arika Jacobson placed fourth in the 300-meter hurdles.

Sophomore Hannah Paauw placed second in high jump; junior Eden Burch, fourth. Junior Hailey Murray tied for third in pole vault. Freshman Emma Terveer placed seventh in long jump. Senior Courtney Bruget placed eighth in long

jump and second in triple jump.In the 400-meter relay, boys placed third; the

800-meter relay, fourth; the 1600-meter relay, fifth; and the 1600-meter medley, fourth.

Holmes and senior Ryan Immeker placed first and second in the 100-meter dash and the 200-meter dash. In the 400, Holmes placed first; Immeker, third. Selken placed first in the 800-meter run; freshman Jakob Hanna, second; sophomore Jacob Hegland, third; and senior Adam Presler, fifth. Hanna placed first in the mile run; Hegland, second.

Senior Dominic Nealy placed second in high jump. Junior Alex Wilde placed fifth in long jump. In triple jump, senior Michael Horst placed first; Nealy, second.

At the Lynx Invite April 12, 15 runners placed first.

In the 400-meter dash, Cortney Bickley placed first with a time of 58.7 seconds; Tiara Tingle, fourth; and Tanya Tingle, fifth. Waterfall placed fourth in the 800-meter run.

Koehn placed fifth in the 100-meter hurdles. In the 400-meter relay, girls placed third;

in the 800-meter relay, first; the 1600-meter relay, fourth and the 3200-meter relay, fourth. The girls sprint medley team placed third.

Murray palced first in pole vault and eighth grader Hannah Hendrick, fourth. With a jump of 34-0.25 feet, Tiara Tingle placed first in triple jump.

Holmes and Immeker tied with Sioux Falls Roosevelt runner for fourth in the 100-meter dash. Immeker placed first in the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.4 seconds. Hegland placed second in the 800-meter run. In the mile run, Hanna placed third.

Boys placed second in the 400-meter relay and first in the 800-meter relay and the sprint medley.

Senior Alex Oddy placed third in pole vault. Wilde placed second in long jump.

The home meet was the track teams’ first outdoor meet of the season in South Dakota.

The girls track team placed first at their meet in Sioux City, Iowa, March 29. The boys placed second.

By Umaima KochNews Editor

Girls golf team competes at the Mitchell Invite today.

The girls faced Sioux Falls Washington at Hidden Valley Wednesday, and O’Gorman, Tuesday. Against O’Gorman, junior Kaila Kuehn shot 41; senior Alana Christianson, 45; junior Austin Sim, 46; eight-grader Liz Duncan, 51; sophomore Lauren Blue, 69. Results against Washington were unavailable at press time.

The team ranked 10th overall at the Yankton Invitational with a score of 401. Kuehn shot 94 and tied for individual 27th place; Sim tied for 43rd with 99; Christianson tied for 50th with 102; Duncan tied for 59th with 106; Blue tied for 70th with 118; sophomore Jamie Johnson placed 72 with 119.

“I was very proud of our girls, especially those who were participating in their first varsity invite today,” head coach Todd Geerdes said. “They battled well all day, didn’t get down on themselves through tough stretches, and just did a great job

staying focused and working to get better.”Carrying an overall score of 437, the

girls placed third at the Brookings/SFL tournament April 5. Sim placed fifth with 96, Kuehn tied for sixth with 98 and Johnson tied for 16th with 115. Duncan placed 21st with 128 and Blue, 22nd with a score of 130.

“I think things are going very well,” Geerdes said. “This team has a group of girls that are extremely fun to be around, and by the end of the season, should be in contention (for a) podium finish at the state meet in Pierre.”

The team aims to place in at least the top five at larger invitational meets, to get its best six players consistently shooting under 100, to shoot under a 360 total and to have a podium finish at state by improving their course management and their short game.

“Our first tournament was difficult, but we’re making improvements,” Kuehn said. “We’re becoming more consistent. Our hopes for the future are that we keep improving and play our best at the end of the season for state.”

By Dylan BludornSports Editor

Boys tennis team will compete in Luverne Monday.

The team competed in a triangular with Sioux Falls Lincoln and Milbank Thursday. Results were unavailable at press time.

Tuesday the Lynx played Madison and won 6-3. Junior Billy Trevillian, senior Lucas Mutschelknaus and Nathan Mutschelknaus won their singles matchups. The Lynx won all three doubles.

In a triangular with Pierre and Sioux Falls Washington the Lynx lost to Sioux Falls Washington 6-3 and beat Pierre 7-2.

Trevillian defeated Nate Ackert of Washington and Connor Shoop of Pierre.

Lucas Mutschelknaus defeated Cole Benson of Washington 7-5 and Kaiden Hight of Pierre 6-2.

In doubles Trevillian and Mutschelknaus lost to Ackert and Elliot Hartwig of Washington 6-2 and 6-1. Also senior Drake Van Egdom and freshman Mason Blue lost to Ethan Elbers and Benson of Washington 6-4, 6-2.

Brandon Valley Echo Friday, April 25, 2014

Fine Arts Booster Club hosts Variety Show

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Koch selected to attend journalism conference

n High School Bands Awards Dinner is Monday at 6 p.m. in the commons.n Senior Athletic Banquet is Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the commons.n South Dakota High School Press Convention is Wednesday in Brookings.n All-State Jazz Band is May 1-3 at Aberdeen.n High school/middle school bands will perform in the Brandon Loyalty Day Parade May 4 at 2 p.m.n Brandon Valley Teacher Recognition/Teacher of the Year Banquet is May 6 at 6 p.m. Instructors and staff members will be recognized for their years of service.n Instructor Allen Hogie has been selected as a finalist for the South Dakota Teacher of the Year Award.

Photo by Jacob Boomsma

Symphonic Band performs “Seal Lullaby” at the Region II Large Group Contest. The band earned a superior. At the All-State Band Concert director Jesse Miller received the 2014 Dennis Hegg Young Directors Award. The award was presented to a director who had been teaching for 10 years or less.

Photo by Jacob Boomsma

Juniors Shannon Backer and Emma Baier recite the pledge of the National Honors Society at the induction ceremony. Behind them are juniors Shane Gacke and Patrick Gallo.The four were inducted with 60 other juniors and 11 seniors.

Bands perform 50th turkey supperBy Taylor StaabUpdate Editor

Fiftieth Band Turkey Supper will feature all the middle and high school bands with former band directors conducting the Symphonic Band Saturday with the first band performing at 4:30 p.m and the last band at 8:10 p.m.

“I’m excited to be able to attend the 50th turkey supper,” said first-year band director Anne Jundt. “I’m excited to try the food, visit with the parents and members of the community and play some exciting music.”

Symphonic Band will play “Fusion,” conducted by former band director Kevin Kessler, “American Visions,” conducted by former band director Bob Goheen, “Marche Militaire Francaise,” conducted by Bruce Wildes and “Get It On,” conducted by

former band director George Gulson.Black Band will play “Music from

Braveheart,” “The Temptations on Stage” and “Pop and Rock Legends: Chicago.”

Red Band will play “Mission Impossible Theme Song,” “John Williams Movie Adventures” and “Phantom of the Opera Medley.”

At the Region II Large Group Ensemble Contest April 9, all three concert bands received superiors.

“Personally I played my best,” senior Kate Ellis said, “but some things didn’t sound normal.”

Symphonic Band played “English Folksong Suite” with soloists junior Emily Oyos on clarinet, senior Brionna Spurlin and junior Chelsey Schmeling on trumpet and senior Bailey Quanbeck on flute.

They also played “Seal Lullaby,” featuring sophomore Katie Wright on piano and freshman James House on baritone.

Black Band played “Ballade” and “West Highlands Sojourn” with soloists junior Morgen Burkman and freshman Tanya Tingle on trumpet, freshman Emily Kluin on alto saxophone, junior Meghan Beldin on clarinet, freshman Kayla Knutson on flute, freshman Gaven Bowman on baritone and sophomore Kirstyn Polasky on trombone.

Red Band played “As Summer Was Just Beginning,” featuring freshman Amber Dubbelde on trumpet, junior Marina Gillespie on trombone, sophomore George Wright on French horn and sophomore Will Thompson on alto saxophone. They also played “Carnegie Anthem.”

Junior Umaima Koch, along with 50 other juniors in the country, will attend the Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference in Washington, D.C., in June.

“I’m honored and it’s really good to know that professionals in the business recognize my work,” Koch said. “It feels good to know that I’m good enough.”

The five-day, all-expense paid trip will be at the Newseum. The conference’s primary goal focuses on the three branches of government (legislative, executive and judicial) and how journalists cover them.

Koch has been interested in writing since seventh grade. However, it wasn’t until her sophomore year when she took her first journalism class that she became interested in journalistic writing.

“The aspect I loved the most was that it provided me an opportunity to get to know people,” she said. “Journalism compelled me to get out of my shell and talk to people more.”

NHS inducts 75 new members

GSA to host rotation of guest speakers

By Molly HowardUpdate Editor

Seventy-five students, 64 juniors and 11 seniors, were inducted into the National Honors Society.

To become a member, one must have a GPA of 3.4 or higher their first semester of their junior or senior year. Also, the student must represent the four basic principles of the National Honors Society, which include scholarship, leadership, character and service.

“I feel honored to be accepted into the National Honor Society,” junior Caitlynn Schumacher said. “It makes me feel like my hard work has really paid off.”

At the ceremony, the candlelighters were seniors Erin Buse, Zach Hansen, Maggie Kramer and Ryan Rykhus. Senior Bailey Quanbeck emceed the ceremony and Sara

Carothers from the Help Line Center was the guest speaker. Her message was about how members need to use their gift of service to better improve the community

and how they should use their leadership qualities to lead the world in the future.

The advisers are instructors Kent Anderson, Allen Hogie and Lisa Fuccello.

By Jacob BoomsmaPhoto Editor

Starting Monday, Gay-Straight Alliance will be hosting a series of guest teachers who will speak about advances made by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in various aspects of society.

“I’m hoping to get people talking about the contributions of LGBT people throughout history,” GSA adviser Louisa

Otto said. “I want to get more staff involved.”

The teachers will talk about their chosen topics for 10 minutes before opening the floor to discussion.

English instructor Matt Christensen will talk with the GSA Monday about LGBT influence in the film industry.

“I want students to feel like they matter and belong,” Christensen said. “Their

voices must be heard.”History instructor Jeremy Risty will talk

about historical contributions made by LGBT individuals May 5. Art instructor Chad Nelson will talk May 12 about LGBT influence in art and heavy metal. On May 19, science instructor Steve Boint will talk about scientific and technological advances made by the community.

Over 340 attend prom

Photo by Jacob Boomsma

Seniors and juniors at prom participate in a conga line led by the DJ.

By Caiti Murphy Ad Manager

About 340 students attended prom at the El Riad Shrine April 12.

“I wasn’t excited for prom at first,” senior Jennie Lubbers said, “but when I got there, it turned out to be a lot of fun. I liked how it was set up and the food was good.”

Instructor Naomi Poppe and her advanced foods classes made hors

d’oeuvres for the event. Shell-shaped cream cheese mints, mini cheesecakes, pinwheels and many other treats were served throughout the night.

As for the design, credit goes to instructor Carolyn Ebright and the prom committee who decided on an underwater theme called Under the Sea. The dance was decorated with ocean accents and many colors of blue and green.

Variety Show is tonight at 7 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center.

More than 50 students auditioned, and 18 were selected for the show.

“There was a great turn out for the Variety Show,” said Mary Oren, who was in charge of the auditions.

Admission to the show is $5. Its profits go to the Fine Arts Booster Club, which organizes the show, to support choir, oral interp, art, orchestra and theater.

It originally served as a fundraiser for the choir in the years they went on choir trips, but it became an annual event a few years ago.

Senior Art Show reception will also be in the commons from 6-6:45 p.m.

“There is also a surprise act planned that we think everyone will really enjoy,” Oren said.

President of the Fine Arts Booster Club, Beth Hindbjorgen, said the Variety Show has become a positive annual tradition.