Brandon Valley High School Echo November 2013

Volume 52 Number 3 Brandon Valley High School - Brandon, SD 57005 Friday, Nov. 22, 2013

The ‘Christmas Carol’ comes

to life /page 6

By Evelyn JorgensonA&E Editor

With 100 percent of the do-nations going to the Disabled American Veterans, students raised $1,070.

“We want to stress that just as the brave soldiers have served America,” social studies teacher Jeremy Risty said, “we can help serve them by donating our time, money and thanks to the disabled veterans of America.”

Focusing on the DAV, the theme for the veterans assembly Nov. 8 was primarily service.

“Although I do not have a personal connection to the DAV,” Risty said, “it is an admirable organization that serves a very noble goal.”

The Concert Band and the Concert Choir performed for the assembly. During the national anthem, the American Sign Language II students signed it.

“The Veterans Day assembly is very special,” senior Zach Hansen said. “It honors the people that gave their time and lives to allow us to have the lifestyle we do.”

Senior Adam Presler said giving honor to these men and women is important. He was one of four seniors to share the stories

of veterans living at Bethany Meadows. The sociology students had interviewed them earlier for their stories.

“Every veteran has a story,” Presler said, “and it deserves to be shared.”

Presler said it is important to

recognize veterans because they have all been willing to give the ultimate sacrifice for America’s protection. He said we Americans too often take and take some more when those serving America continue to give and give some more.

The students presented a video montage with photos of wars and read a poem written by Frank Caffrey, a Bethany Meadows resident.

Many graduates have served in the military and have served in the country’s prestigious

Students raise $1,070 for DAV

Photo By Taylor Staab

Social studies teacher Diann Terpstra presents Rich Wilson, president of the Sioux Falls chapter of the Disabled American Veterans and a Vietnam veteran, with the money raised by the high school. All of the money will go to DAV transportation.

By Jacob BoomsmaPhoto Editor

To gain an understanding of how alcohol impairs people’s senses, physical education students participated in a drunk simulation within a controlled setting.

“I felt like I had a headache,” freshman Maddie Jensen said. “Everything was spinning.”

Students wore “drunk goggles” to distort their vision while performing simple tasks like coloring a picture and more complex tasks like “walking the line” for a sobriety test and shooting basketballs.

The goggles simulated vary-ing levels of intoxication, the most intoxicated being at the station with the sobriety test and X’s where students had to try to hop from one to the next. The students learned how alcohol negatively affects their senses.

“The Carroll Institute visits the freshman gym class,” educator Taylor Funke said. “We do education on substance use and abuse. This is just kind of a fun day we do after learning about addiction.”

The Carroll Institute hosted

the activity as part of its program with the Brandon Valley School District. Funke comes on a weekly basis to educate about subjects including substance and alcohol abuse, coping with and finding help for problems, and the dangers of destructive decisions.

“It is a safer way to explore what could possibly happen,” PE instructor Kathy Hunt said.

Students experience drunk simulation in physical education

Photo by Jacob Boomsma

Freshman Andrew Bingen tries to walk the line. The drunk goggles distorted his vision and balance.

By Umaima KochNews Editor

Teachers received tablets for use in class at the beginning of this year as a part of a plan to integrate the use of more technology across the school in everyday lessons and learning.

“I think that there are so many ways to enhance the education of our students if they have access to more technology,” Principal Gregg Talcott said.

Financial and educational factors contribute to the school district’s decision to implement the use of tablets for students. The district must be able to afford the tablets, the staff development time and additional staff members that are necessary to integrate the new technology.

“The implementation of any initiative is only as successful as the staff that implements it,” Talcott said. “The teachers are all at different places in their comfort with technology as a tool to enhance the student learning experience.”

Business instructor Lana Main utilizes her tablet virtually every day and uses Edmodo, a social learning website for students and teachers, to communicate with her students.

“I use Edmodo to send out class reminders, post rubrics, post directions and provide supplementary materials,” said Main, who enjoys giving her

students timely feedback for assignments submitted online through Edmodo.

The new technology has enhanced her classes by giving students the opportunity to drive some of their own learning through realistic projects and research assignments, she said.

“It’s changed the way I’ve taught in Spanish 3,” Spanish instructor Leah Lockner said about having a tablet. “It’s been work getting things ready for class, but it’s been worth it.”

Lockner posts online playlists of each lesson and expects students to view them before class. In class, students review the material, ask any questions and apply the new material to what they already know.

“We’re learning the language,” she said, “not learning about it.”

However, without individual tablets for students, Lockner said, she can’t do too much in class with her own. Advanced due dates must be set for each playlist because not every student can access them upon a moment’s notice.

“If every student had their own machine, the potential (for what a teacher can do in class) would be great,” she said.

Lockner likes the mobility the tablet gives her. With it, she can be anywhere in the classroom and can easily transition from conducting the lesson to assisting the students.

“We could really change how teachers teach,” Talcott said. “The possibilities are only limited by the creativity of the administration, staff and students.”

Faculty receives tablets

Photo by Umaima Koch

Spanish instructor Leah Lockner uses a tablet to simultaneously teach her Spanish 3 class and help her students anywhere around the room.

military academies such as James Burkman, ’10; Steven Brown, ’11; and Derek Swanson, ’12; who are at the West Point Military Academy.

“Those men and women put everything on the line for our great country,” senior Colin Entinger said about past veterans. “To me, the best way to give back to our veterans is to continue in their footsteps.”

Entinger recently joined the South Dakota Air Guard.

Seniors Jamie Peterson and Alec Finch interviewed veterans and shared their stories.

“People think of the word veteran and they think ‘old person,’” Peterson said, “but they should think ‘hero.’”

At the end of the assembly, instructor Diann Terpstra presented Rich Wilson, president of the Sioux Falls chapter of the Disabled American Veterans and a Vietnam veteran, the money the students raised.

“We owe so much to our veterans,” Wilson said. “If you know a veteran, thank them every day for what they have done; never forget what our veterans have done.”

Brandon Valley Echo Friday, Nov. 22, 2013

Technology could change classrooms

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 .........................................................................Umaima KochCirculation Manager ....................................... .......................Ariel SmykleStaff Writers....................Caiti Murphy, Kate Perkinson and Emily HaederAdviser ........................................................................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.

What do you think

you will be thankful

for?

By sleeping in late, teens do harm to their bodies

Echo editors encourage readers to submit letters to the editor, which must be signed. They may be rejected or edited for grammar, condensation, good taste and/or libel. They should be addressed to the Echo editors or dropped off in the publications room, 120.

AssemblyThanksgiving Early snowfall

By Evelyn JorgensonA&E Editor

Well, who hasn’t slept into the afternoon? Laziness does not cause this phenomenon of teenagers disregarding their mornings. They sleep in when they have the chance simply because they are high school students.

Feeling well rested is refreshing, but according to “New Releases” by Dennis Rosen M.D., sleeping in late actually impairs the body. Staying asleep on weekends allows a teen’s internal clock to become even further removed from the clock that society goes by. Catching up on missed sleep does not work.

By sleeping in late on the weekends, Rosen said, come Monday morning a person will be experiencing the equivalent of a five-hour jet lag. The alarm clock may be saying 6 a.m., but the internal clock is reading 1 a.m.

Studies have shown that the needed sleep for high school-aged students is nine hours and 15 minutes every night. According to “Teen Sleep: Why Is Your Teen So Tired?” by the Mayo Clinic staff, this varies with the sleep needed for adults because the students’ body and brain are continuing to grow and change during this period.

Just like sleeping in on the

weekends, having too little sleep also has drastic effects on the body. According to “School Bells Not in Sync with Sleepy Teen Bodies” by Lauran Neergaard, the brain will never become used to receiving less sleep.

According to “Teens and Sleep,” not receiving the needed sleep weakens the immune system and may increase the chances of becoming sick. Also, the growth hormones that are released into the body are released during deep stages of one’s sleep. Teens who do not sleep enough lose some of the growth hormone.

With teenage bodies needing more than nine hours of sleep, they should be asleep—not in bed, but asleep—before 10 p.m. That is a rarity. With all of the after school activities, and all

of the homework, there is almost no way to be asleep at 10.

Nor do teenagers want to go to bed by 10. Their circadian rhythm almost completely controls when their bedtimes will be. Because of the hormonal changes and imbalances during puberty, according to the Mayo Clinic staff, teenagers will not become sleepy until past 11 p.m. The chemical that tells the body it is time to sleep is melatonin. In a teenage body, melatonin is released later in the evening. Their body will not be ready to

fall asleep until later at night.By saying high school students

are high school students is not to say that they are lazy. They need more sleep than adults and more sleep than their daily schedule allows. Their internal clock is not matched up with the rest of society’s because of how the brain and the body are growing and changing.

Waking up early on school days creates a greater gap between the internal and external clocks. Sleeping in late on weekends is almost necessary to feel rested even though it can create greater problems.

Because teenage bodies are made to stay up and wake up late, sleeping in on the weekends does not necessarily make them lazy.

Brandon Valley School District should be following in the Sioux Falls School District’s footsteps.

To enhance learning through technology, the Sioux Falls School District’s high school students received Google Chromebooks this year.

“It’ll utilize students capabilities to be creative problem solvers and collaborative thinkers,” said Sharon Schueler, the Sioux Falls curriculum development director. “And, they’ll be able to keep powered on when they arrive at school, instead of usually powering down when they arrive at school.”

Principal Gregg Talcott said Brandon Valley will involve more technology at the high school next year, but he is uncertain whether every student will receive a tablet.

“The decision is both financial and educational,” he said. “The district has to be able to determine if they can afford the tablets, the staff development time and the additional staff necessary to make for a successful implementation.”

Most of the students at Brandon Valley are tech savvy. With Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr, it’s hard not to be.

If the school district would upgrade to these tablets, education would be enhanced to better fit this generation.

Because technology is running the world’s economy and society, soon it will running the world’s and possibly Brandon Valley’s classrooms.

Thumbs up to Thanksgiving. This holiday provides an opportunity for students to spend

time with family and friends. The holiday also gives time to be thankful for everything one has.

Thumbs up to the Veterans Assembly and to the TEAMs donating to the Disabled American

Veterans. BV raised $1,070 to support the disabled veterans mobilization program.

Thumbs down to the snow Nov. 5 and 6. The four-and-a-half inches of snow made the roads slick and slushy,

causing dangerous driving conditions.

“I am thankful for family and a home to go to.”

-SophomoreDarius Randall

“I am thankful for food, friends and family.”

-SeniorMadi Fleming

“I am thankful for my Aunt Mary and Uncle Jerry because they give me a place to live.”

-SeniorBailey Flanagan

“I am thankful for cheese burgers because they are good.”

-JuniorSam Peterson

“I am thankful for cute little kitties because they are fluffy.”

-Junior Connor Smith

“I am thankful for my family and friends because they are caring.”

-FreshmanMegan Doyon

Brandon Valley High School Friday, Nov. 22, 2013

Large For A Medium Charge With School I.D.

Conveniently Located In The Sunshine Foods Parking Lot

By Jacob BoomsmaPhoto Editor

Next week, American families will be gathering for a bountiful meal in observance of Thanksgiving, a holiday founded mostly on folklore and myth.

While the Plymouth Pilgrims did have a small meal with the Natives sometime during 1621, it was certainly nothing like what is portrayed in illustrations and stories. Most would assume that the first meal was an organized event, but according to “10 Thanksgiving Myths Dispelled” by Daven Hiskey, the Pilgrims most likely were just having a small harvest festival and the Natives visited out of curiosity.

Sara Josehpa Hale later misappropriated the term “Thanksgiving” for the modern holiday. Had it been a true Thanksgiving Festival, which was a religious ceremony giving thanks to the Christian God, the Native Americans would have been absent and unwelcome.

According to “Despite His-

torians’ Efforts, Thanksgiving Misconceptions Endure” by Lisa Anderson, the origins of our country’s holiday lie about 170 years in the past. The country was torn between the North and South over vari-ous issues and civil war was eminent. Thus, Abraham Lin-coln made the legend of the famous first Thanksgiving, crafted by Hale, a national holi-day in hopes of soothing the ever growing ten-sions between the two factions.

Although turkeys are a staple of the Thanksgiving legend, few were actually present in the area the Pilgrims occupied. More likely to be in their diet would have been duck, geese and shellfish. While stewed pumpkin may have been on the menu, pumpkin pie

was a delicacy yet concocted in a society with few ovens. Cranberry sauces, sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes were still

not introduced to the early A m e r i c a n settler’s diet.

T h e stereotypical Pilgrim image is of a person clothed in V i c t o r i a n shades of black and white accompanied by shoes and hats adorned with buckles.

In reality, the Pilgrims wore clothes of earthy shades; buckles were not adopted to their attire until several decades after the original meal with the Natives had occurred. The Natives, often depicted in loincloths, would have been dressed in much warmer clothes to suit the climate of New England in late autumn.

Many details of the treasured Thanksgiving myth have been exaggerated or fabricated entirely, although some of the details might depend on which “Thanksgiving meal” is referenced. According to “Top Ten Thanksgiving Myths” by Rick Shenkman, the Plymouth Pilgrims were beat not once, but twice to hosting the first Thanksgiving. Groups in both the Spanish-controlled area that would eventually become Texas and in the colony of Virginia claim to have hosted “meals of thanks” before the Pilgrims of Plymouth, not that historians even know the exact date on which it was held. Their guess would be sometime between September and October.

Although the holiday may have been built on misconceptions and legends, millions of Americans cherish Thanksgiving as one of their favorite holidays. While they enjoy their turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie, they should take a moment to reflect on the true beginnings of the holiday they hold so dear.

Thanksgiving historically inaccurate


Ten Below, which opened six months ago, provides frozen yogurt with a variety of toppings. Its patrons may dine in or carry out. Ten Below is located in the strip mall by Sunshine.

Ten Belowopens up

‘FreeBirds’ doesn’t deliverBy Molly HowardUpdate Editor

Free Birds, an animated film from Relativity Media, is a blockbuster disappointment.

Relativity Media re-leased Free Birds as a pre-lude to the Thanksgiving season. Free Birds follows the adventure of the presi-dential pardoned turkey Reggie (voiced by Owen Wilson) and a special agent alpha turkey Jake (Woody Harrelson) as they travel back in time to the first Thanksgiving. Jake is determined to keep tur-keys from being the main course, while Reggie is just trying to return home. As they time-travel back-wards, they meet a flock of native turkeys that are be-ing forced from their land by the settlers. Now, all the birds must work together to save turkeys everywhere.

Free Birds is disappoint-ing because it drags on and becomes less amusing as it progresses.

Relativity Media had a good central concept in creating the movie, but it could have been executed better. Overall, the theme was exciting, but the delivery was less than mediocre.

Free Birds is currently showing at both of the Century movie theaters.

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AP art students learn at SDSUBy Caiti MurphyStaff Writer

South Dakota State University art professors taught instructor Chad Nelson’s AP art students Nov. 8.

The students learned new techniques and watched different demonstrations.

“I wanted the students to get an idea of the experience of what it would be like to be a college student pursuing art and the options of careers they would have,” Nelson said.

Senior Jennie Lubbers said she is interested in art because she can let out her feelings.

“My favorite part of the trip is all the free stuff we got from it,” Lubbers said. “I also won a huge art kit that I really like.”

By Ariel SmykleCirculation Manager

Lisa and Mike Holstead opened Ten Below six months ago.

Senior Madi Fleming, an employer at Ten Below, enjoys working there.

“I see a lot people come in and out,” she said. “It’s a friendly job, so I get to talk to a lot of people.”

Although winter is coming and they do serve frozen yogurt, Ten Below has some “warm” flavored yogurts like apple cider, flavored hot chocolate and coffee.

Ten Below is located next to Subway in that strip mall by Sunshine.

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Lynx win four straight ESD titlesBy Matt PearceSports Editor

For the fourth straight season, the Lynx football team won the Eastern South Dakota Conference title—an unprecedented record.

The Lynx locked up a share of the title with a 20-3 win over the Harrisburg Tigers Oct. 24.

Blaring from the Lynx locker room after the victory were not your normal locker room rap songs. No, it was “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus—but not with the normal lyrics. Instead of the usual lyrics, the football team sang along with “party in the ESD.”

“My sophomore year when we won ESD (the second straight season), we were all in the locker room and one of the seniors that year said ESD instead of USA and we all caught on and started a tradition,” senior wide receiver A.J. Garrow said.

Why this song was even being played in the locker room remains a mystery, but it sparked a tradition for the Lynx which has stuck around for the last two seasons and will likely be around until the ESD Conference is no more.

This streak of four ESD titles started off with Sam Rall, ’11, at quarterback for the 2010 season and moved to Chase Marso, ’13, for 2011 and 2012. Junior Jake Comeaux took the reins of head coach Chad Garrow’s high-powered, spread offense attack this season and guided the Lynx to a 6-2 regular season record.

The key to repeated success at a high school level is being able to constantly replace key performers—like the Lynx have done at quarterback—and this year was no different.

After the Lynx went undefeated and lost in the state championship game to Sioux Falls Washington, most of the starters graduated, leaving this year’s team in the hands of players with little varsity experience. Only A.J. Garrow and senior offensive tackle Erik Ode returned on offense. It is the same story on defense where Ode returned at defensive tackle and senior Lucas Lunstra at linebacker.

There have been some rough spots this season—being shutout in the season-opener against then top-ranked Sioux Falls Roosevelt stands out the most—but the team has been able to overcome this and earned this third-seed in the playoffs. The Lynx made it to the semi-finals, but lost to second-ranked Roosevelt.

To return only four starters (and one of them is the same person) and have this much success is a testament to the coaching of Chad Garrow and the rest of his coaching staff. Usually, this would signal a down year for a team and allow coaches to develop the underclassmen for next year. This is what happened to Washington as their team was senior heavy as well and the Warriors limped to the seventh-seed and the Lynx handled them at Howard Wood when the two played this season.

With a young roster that has already tasted success, the Lynx will have a good shot of extending their ESD title streak next season.

Junior Riley Frantzen (above) runs with the ball during the quarterfinal game against the Aberdeen Golden Eagles. The Lynx won 42-14.Senior wide receiver A.J. Garrow (left) stiff arms a Roosevelt defender during the semi-final game against Sioux Falls Roosevelt. Catching 14 passes, he set a new state record for catches in a game. The Lynx lost 65-35.

Photos by Umaima Koch and Jacob Boomsma

By Matt PearceSports Editor

For the second season in a row, the football team faced the Roosevelt Rough Riders in the state semi-finals.

Last year, the Lynx hosted and won the game easily, making it to the state championship game in Vermillion. This year, the game was played at Howard Wood in Sioux Falls and the Lynx lost 65-35.

“We started slow,” senior A.J. Garrow said. “But once we got settled in, I think they couldn’t stop us.”

The Rough Riders jumped out to an early lead with the help of a blocked punt returned for a touchdown less than two minutes into the game.

After a slow start, the Lynx came alive. Right before halftime, senior defensive tackle Erik Ode ripped the ball from a Roosevelt ball carrier—forcing a fumble. Without letting the ball drop to the ground, Ode recovered the fumble and rumbled to the end zone for a touchdown.

With this play, the Lynx went into halftime down 34-21, but all of the momentum seemed to be with the Lynx.

The Rough Riders outscored the Lynx 31 to 14 in the second half, making the final score 65-35.

After the game, head coach Chad Garrow told the team that he was proud of them and that they left it all on the field.

In order to make it to the semi-final game against Roosevelt, the Lynx had to play in the sixth-seed, the Aberdeen Golden Eagles. Earlier in the season, the Lynx had played the Golden Eagles and won. Their quarterfinal match up was no different as the Lynx won 42-14.

The Golden Eagles jumped out to an early 7-0 lead, but the Lynx quickly responded with a one-yard touchdown run from senior running back Cam Holmes. On the ensuing kickoff, the Lynx recovered a surprise onsides kick and scored on a touchdown pass to junior tight end Alex Wilde.

A few minutes later, Aberdeen tried a fake punt, but senior Devan West took the ball right out of the punter’s hands and scored a touchdown.

By halftime, the score was 35-7 and the Lynx cruised to victory in the second half. Aberdeen scored their other touchdown with just 16 seconds left in the game.

Junior quarterback Jake Comeaux attempted 29 passes, completing 21 of

them for 272 yards and three touchdowns. Holmes ran the ball 10 times for 113 yards and two touchdowns.

Leading the Lynx in receiving was junior wide receiver Drew Reinschmidt, who had six catches for 77 yards. Wide receiver A.J. Garrow had six catches for 58 yards and one touchdown, and Wilde had four catches for 75 yards and two touchdowns.

On defense, sophomore linebacker

Andrew Sorensen led the team with 11 tackles and West and junior linebacker Wyatt Winter each had six. West also added an interception, Ode had two sacks and senior defensive end Alex Maassen had one.

“I think it is always a successful season when you win the ESD title,” Garrow said. “It is just difficult to lose in the semis.”

Lynx fall short in semis

By Dylan BludornSports Editor

After finishing 12th in the State A Wrestling Tournament, the wrestlers open their season at the Roosevelt Invite Dec. 7.

“We are capable of winning the Roosevelt tournament; however, at least three or four teams competing could realistically make that statement,” coach Kraig Presler said. “I am happy we are one of those teams, and it is my hope that we will compete in such a way to make a championship possible.”

Last year at the tournament, the team finished fifth with 10 placers. Mason Bender, ’13, was the Lynx’s lone champion at the tournament.

“I feel we have been improving, as a team, over the last few seasons,” coach Presler said. “I think we have a group of

wrestlers that are capable of a top eight team finish at the state tournament.”

The lineup will be different with the loss of four seniors. The returning varsity letterwinners are seniors Adam Presler, Spencer Heidbrink, Erik Ode; juniors Wyatt Winter, Dylan Bludorn, Connor Smith, Clayton Ebright; sophomores Conner Rowbotham, Dawson Kremlacek; and freshman Jackson Pletten.

“Our team set a goal to win the region tournament and qualify all 14 weights for the state tournament,” coach Presler said. “If we are able to accomplish that goal, placing in the top eight is both realistic and expected. We have several wrestlers with big match experience returning and that will be an asset for when we enter our region and state tournaments.”

Wrestlers set for Roosevelt InviteBowlers roll into seasonBy Emily HaederStaff Writer

Bowling teams will compete against Washington today at Eastway Bowl.

Returning bowlers include seniors Emily Steinhouse, Richard Blue V, Luke Laycock, Michael Hillman; juniors Kelsey Nimick, Tyler Limmer, Thomas Siemonsma; sophomores Mitchell Spainhower, Lauren Blue; freshmen Ricardo Delacrz, Izak Moschell, Victoria Braly, Ethan Schreurs; eighth graders Dustin Kemner, Alex Gomez, Darian Blue and seventh grader Trey Reindl.

“My favorite thing about the team is we all get along,” Steinhouse said, “and we function as a team and we always joke around.”

On Monday, the boys bowlers won both of their varsity matches and girls only bowled for an average.


By Umaima KochNews Editor

Girls basketball team will play O’Gorman Dec. 10.

“This year is a little bit different than in years past,” coach Mark Stadem said. “We have a lot of questions about who is going to be ready to play at the varsity level.”

Competition for spots is wide open, he said, and the team could

have multiple starting line ups.Stadem looks forward to

working with the girls.“I’m curious to see who steps

up early and how some of our players progress as the season goes along,” he said.

Returning letterwinners are seniors Lexi Hoover, Kara Schroeder, Becca Long and junior Carley Kueter.

“I hope that as a team we show

The dance team (left) kicks high at the State AA Meet in Rapid City. The team placed first. The cheerleaders (below) hit their stunt at the state meet. The flyers include juniors Sydney Blair, Alissa Kuhn, Hailey Murray, Austin Sim and sophomore Giana Pardee.

Dancers State AA runner upBy Caiti MurphyStaff Writer

Dance team placed second in the Rapid City State AA Meet.

The dancers were one point behind Washington with a score of 292.17. The girls placed first in kick with a 291.5, second in pom by one point with a score of 291.5, and second in jazz with a 293.5.

“We did our absolute best and were very pleased with how we performed, but we came up just a little short,” junior Karly Neuberger said. “This is a good incentive to do even better next year.”

Because the cheer team was placed in the wrong division, the event staff did not count their score sheet. This resulted in them not being able to place correctly.

“I was mad about having traveled all the way to Rapid City and trying our hardest but having nothing to show for it,” senior Tiara Tingle said. “I felt that we did very good and would have had high scores if the sheets hadn’t been left out.”

Photos by Jacob Boomsma


Senior Briana Grage spikes the ball against the Lincoln Pa-triots at the District 2AA game. The girls lost 3-1.

Volleyball ends season against Arrows at regions

steady improvement each game,” Hoover said.

Hoover said the team will have a great season because they’ve put so much work into the offseason.

“We just want to get better every day, and every game,” Stadem said. “It is a process, and we must focus on that process. If we can do that, the rest will take care of itself.”

Girls basketball to play O’Gorman Boys basketball to play BrookingsBy Taylor StaabUpdate Editor

Boys basketball team will play away against Brookings Dec. 13.

With at least four to five guys with experience returning to the team, coach Brent Deckert is confident with the upcoming season.

“My expectations are always the same,” he said. “We want

to practice as hard as we can and as long as we can.”

There will be peaks and valleys, especially since there are 20 games, Deckert said.

I think we’re really lucky to have returning members because leadership is huge,” he said. “It’s great to have younger members, but if you don’t have senior leadership, it’s hard to have a good team.”

By Rachel BoyPhoto Editor

Lady Lynx volleyball team ended its season at Regions 1AA in Watertown with a 3-2 loss.

“There were some highs and lows in the game, but every game has those,” senior Briana Grage said. “All five games were very intense and both teams had to earn every point.”

Freshman Elsie Zajicek had 12 kills and three solo blocks.

“The girls played hard and had a

lot of emotions into the game,” coach Lindsey Smith said.

Sioux Falls Washington won the District 2AA title game. Sophomore Hannah Paauw had 11 kills with three blocks, and senior Lexi Hoover had 31 set assists.

Volleyball team played the first round of Districts 2AA against Lincoln, winning 3-1. Senior Hannah Stensrud had seven kills. Seniors Briana Grage and Taylor Murtha worked the back row with 23

and 16 digs, respectively.“I thought the season was

great,” junior Emily Anderson said. “Every game we played well together and with heart.”

The seniors led by example with their hard work ethic, energy and being extremely coachable kids, Smith said.

“They were great leaders and accepted everyone on the team,” she said, “I could not be more proud of this team and so happy to be a part of it.”


GSA, SADD to sponsor Bully Awareness Week

Did you know...?

Interpers compete for superiors at state

FFAers prepare for state in Pierre

n November students of the month are seniors Jamie Peterson, Jeff Lush, Lily Swenson; juniors Kendra Riley, Mitch Selken; sophomores Dakota Bertelsen, Drew Lillestol; freshmen Spencer Bransrud and Abi Carson.n Dig Pink Breast Cancer fundraiser raised $2,289.26 through the purchase of t-shirts. Volleyball team donated the money to the Sanford Breast Health Institute Endowment Fund.n Early dismissal is next Wednesday for Thanksgiving break. No school is on Nov. 28-29.n East Central Honor Band is at South Dakota State University Dec. 2.n SALSA meeting is Dec. 10 at 7 a.m. in the community room.n ACT test is Dec. 14.n Winter Formal is Dec. 20 in the commons. Cost is $5 per person.

Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’Photo by Becca Goth

Senior Jeffery Lush (Ebeneezer Scrooge) and junior Matthew Skadsen (Bob Cratchet) perform during scene two of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. In this scene, Bob Cratchet (Skadsen) is begging his employer Scrooge (Lush) for Christmas Day off of work. Lacking Christmas spirit, Scrooge says no. But, with the help of the three Christmas ghosts, Scrooge has a change of heart and becomes a kinder, more generous man. Other leading actors included seniors Kara Polasky (Christmas Spirit), Paige Wright (Christmas Present), juniors Kjerstin Williams (Christmas Past) and Brandon West (Jacob Marley).

Top competitors from districts will advance to state FFA fall contests in Pierre, Dec. 3.

Earlier this month FFA members presented their ag. issues and creed to the members of Vintage Power in preparation for districts.

Job interview, ag sales, ag broadcast journalism, public speaking, creed, extempt, and ag issue teams competed Monday at West Central.

“This was my first time competing,” freshman Heather Kirkpatrick said. “It was a lot of work, but I pulled it off.”

Sophomore Allison Poncelet placed second in extempt and the ag issues team also placed second.

Oral interpers will compete in Mitchell today before going to state Dec. 6 and 7 in Watertown.

Students will be competing in seven events. They are seniors Desiree Rohrbach, Bailey Quanbeck, Annika Hindbjorgen; juniors Evan Wieser, Tate Green, Marina Gillespie, Summer Rogers, Megan Swets and sophomore Emily Larson.

“I would like to improve on last year,” coach Gina Koehn said. “We had only four superiors. This year I would like to get six.”

Gay Straight Alliance and Students Against Destructive Decisions will sponsor the Bully Awareness Week during January.

“The GSA group is going to work together with SADD to address bullying,” adviser Louisa Otto said.

To raise awareness about all types of bullying, GSA and SADD will provide videos for the TEAM’s and hang up posters in the hallway.

“GSA mainly helps students to feel comfortable with who they are and to find advocates in the school,” Otto said. “We would like students to know GSA is welcome to all students who feel every person deserves the right to feel proud of who they are.”


By Dylan BludornSports Editor

Fellowship of Christian Athletes will huddle at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2.

Huddle meetings consist of the group members discussing how Christ has affected their lives.

“I think that FCA gives hope to students,” Principal Gregg Talcott said. “It creates a society of belief, and it gives students a chance to help each other.”

Talcott, senior A.J. Garrow, juniors Drew Reinschmidt, Riley Frantzen and Dylan Bludorn lead FCA. They discuss topics for the meetings and lead the group in prayer.

FCA also has activity nights for the members to socialize. They play games such as dodgeball, basketball and dive tag.

Fellowship of Christian Athletes to huddle

Marching Lynx perform their field show one last time during the Indoor Marching Band Concert. Besides the field show music, they also played “I Gotta Feeling,” “Let’s Groove,” “Skyfall” and “Night on Bald Mountain.”

By Taylor StaabUpdate Editor

Chorus and orchestra concert is Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center.

Selections the orchestra will play include “Sleigh Ride,” “Journey,” “A Christmas Carol Suite,” “A Christmas Hymn (Till Morning is Nigh)” and “Holiday Salute.”

Feature muscians are sophomore Dawson Kremlacenk, bass, who performed in the All-State Orchestra; seniors Annika Hindbjorgen, cello; Evan Mallatt, cello; Amanda Berberich, viola;

Anna Fruehwirth, violin; and Carson Pruett, violin.

Selections the choirs will sing include “Go Where I Send Thee,” “Here We Come a Caroling,” “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “Deck the Halls,” “O Magnum Mysterium,” “Sleigh Ride” and “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”

“’O Magnum Mysterium’ was an All-State piece,” junior Robert Bernt, an All-Stater, said “but we saved it for Christmas because it has to do with the birth of Jesus.”

Choirs, orchestra perform concert

Documents

Brandon Valley High School Echo November 2013