January Issue-2025

Statesman

By Griffin etrheim

pG. 8

Bonsai papi: Josh plorde

hanGinG with hutterites

By Joseph tunGe & naomi Jespersen pG. 14

a unified team

By Grace miner pG. 10

photo By mason dean

by Leah Mannes, editor-in-Chief & LiLy Gruber

by

On Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2024, the presidential election was expected to polarize the nation. It did just that. Experts correctly anticipated the election to be a nail-biter, and Republican candidate Donald Trump narrowly beat Democratic candidate Kamala Harris by 1.5% of the popular vote and 86 electoral college votes. Americans were conflicted with each other as well as within themselves. Yet, they all had one thing in common despite who or what they voted for on the ballot: they were voting to improve the state of the country however they saw fit.

High schoolers may be under the assumption that politics do not matter or do not impact them personally. Besides, most high school students still need to meet the voting requirement of being at least 18 years old. However, elections still have effects on high schoolers. For example, inflation directly impacts students as they spend their money on purchases such as food and clothes. Additionally, the government creates a lasting policy that has implications for them in the future. It is important to be aware of what is going on at the capitol in Washington D.C. and the capitol in Pierre. On Jan. 20, 2025, Trump and his vice president JD Vance will be sworn into office. As the change takes place, the following issues are at the forefront of Americans’ minds:

Similar to his first term as President, Trump strives to end illegal immigration entirely. With goals of pursuing mass deportation of undocumented immigrants and further securing the United States-Mexico border, the Trump administration strives to improve wages and job conditions for Americans by opening up jobs that illegal immigrants previously worked. Additionally, he hopes stronger border security will solve the Fentanyl crisis. Trump believes illegal drug cartels are bringing deadly substances into the U.S., selling them for profit at the expense of lives. Critics argue that this could reshape the economic and societal standings of the country because there would be less immigrant labor. Long term, his policy poses the chance of a dramatic shift in immigration across America, further changing the economic status of the United States. South Dakota’s governor Kristi Noem was elected as secretary of Homeland Security for Trump, where she will work alongside border patrol to secure the border even more. Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden will likely fill the empty position of South Dakota’s governor.

Some of the most pressing issues for this election, especially for those on the left, seem to be abortion and women’s rights. During his first term as president, Trump supported a nationwide ban on abortions during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy that was backed by Republicans in the House, although the bill never was passed. The Roe v. Wade decision that protected abortion as a fundamental right was also overturned during Trump’s time in the Whitehouse in 2022. This upcoming term, Trump has voiced not supporting a federal ban, but rather leaving it up to the states to decide. However, many medical instruments and contraceptives used to assist abortions may become illegal, especially across state lines. There is also a chance of transgender opportunities being taken away, such as gender-affirming care. In South Dakota, this means abortion is illegal with no exceptions as the state voted no on Amendment G.

Amendment E: Changes the State Constitution to use gender-inclusive language rather than exclusively masculine pronouns.

Amendment F: Requires individuals to work to qualify for Medicaid benefits.

Amendment G: Permits abortion with no limit in the first trimester, some abortions permitted in the second trimester and permits abortions only for medical lifesaving care throughout the third trimester.

Amendment H: Allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference instead of by party, with the top two candidates advancing to the next round of elections.

Initiated Measure 28: Eliminates taxes on food products, excluding alcohol.

Initiated Measure 29: Legalizes the possession of up to 2 oz of marijuana for individuals 21 and older.

Referred Law 21: Authorizes counties to charge a $1 fee per foot of pipeline, with the proceeds directed toward supporting property owners’ taxes. The law also establishes requirements for pipeline installation, including depth and accountability for leaks.

According to CNBC, Americans are having trouble affording living as prices are still 21.4% more expensive since the pandemic began in February 2020. Not only is inflation still up, but it also has increased over the past year. The consumer price index increased 2.7% and egg prices rose 38% over the past year. Complaints have been heard across the nation. Voters were looking for a change, as reflected by the shift in votes in comparison to the 2020 election. Trump headlined his goals to bring down inflation as a main point of his campaign, instilling hope for some.

In 2023, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. decided to leave his profession as an environmental lawyer and activist, best known for cleaning up the Hudson River, to pursue politics. Although he never planned to do this, he followed in his father and uncle’s footsteps. RFK Jr. ran in the 2024 presidential election as a candidate for the Independent party, promising to focus on the health of Americans and tackle the chronic diseases that have been increasingly plaguing Americans for the past few decades such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. However, in Aug. 2024, RFK Jr. suspended his campaign and endorsed Trump. Despite previously being up against each other and disagreeing on some issues, RFK Jr. believed Trump would have the greatest chance of aiding in his goals for Americans’ health and food. They joined forces and Trump chose him to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Although some are skeptical and label RFK Jr. an “anti-vaxxer,” others are eager to see what RFK Jr. can accomplish in his new position as someone who seems to not be tied up with other politicians or hidden agendas.

“I think that a lot of people, unfortunately, don’t care enough about these types of things to actually do their own research to form their own opinion, but instead get their information from Instagram pages and celebrities. And that’s really sad.”

“I was disappointed because it goes against my belief that given the opportunity, most people will do the right thing. Harris may not have been perfect, and even rather radical in the eyes of some, but she wanted to help people and do her best to give previously pushed aside people true equality and a say in thing.”

“When I found out the results of the election, I was upset, scared, angry and disappointed for and in our country. As an American, I believe that we deserve to have someone in the office who believes in freedom and rights for all regardless of race or gender. I believe that we deserve someone who is accepting of all people from all walks of life. And first and foremost, I believe we deserve a president who is in the job to better our country not to gain publicity.”

“I feel like our newly elected president is what our country needs. Now, this is not to say that I agree with everything he stands for; I actually stand against some of the things he stands for. I personally disagree with him when it comes to abortion and climate change matters, yet I still voted for him. As someone who is very strongly prochoice, I still voted for him because unlike many people our age, I actually did my research and I know that no matter who was in office, constitutionally, they have zero power over abortion, it would be unconstitutional if they tried to ban it or bring it back, so Kamala was running on a lie. I am also pro-LGBTQ, but our country has gotten out of hand and I believe Trump’s administration will put an end to things like men in women’s sports and we need that. I also think the immigration crisis is completely out of control and needs to be stopped. Lastly, I hope he turned our economy around but honestly, I don’t know what that will look like due to his tariff plan. All in all, I do not like the man whatsoever, but I did still vote for him and believe he will do better than Kamala would have.”

Leah Mannes, editor-in-Chief & LiLy Gruber

by ViVian Kiesow-Knudsen, editor-in-Chief

at a rate of $5 for 45 minutes of skate time. Inside the gathering hall, there will be space designated for private rental year-round, with food services overseen by The Washington Pavilion. The entire plaza will feature an off-leash dog park (Pawsible Park), the city’s largest playground and the T. Denny Sanford Splash Pad. These amenities are notably accessible, with a special emphasis on the integration of features designed to accommodate all ages and abilities.

“We anticipate Jacobson Plaza [to be] a major draw to Falls Park, as well as the downtown area,” said Parks Planning and Project Manager Mike Patten. “It will provide year-round experiences that draw visitors from within Sioux Falls as well as the surrounding region.”

With initial plans for the project beginning in late 2021, the design process lasted roughly 18 months with construction following shortly thereafter. The funding for the plaza was split in a public/private partnership, with around half of the costs financed by private donors.

“The donor was a lifelong citizen of Sioux Falls and successful businessman who wanted to give back to his community with a legacy gift,” said Patten. “Public/private partnerships allow for larger projects to be completed in a quicker time, compared to if there [were] only tax dollars available to make the improvements.”

The Jacobson Plaza sits just west of Falls Park and neighbors both the Levitt Shell and the Steel District Development. Accessible along Phillips Ave., the plaza is designed to connect the downtown area with the city’s namesake.

operate from Nov. to March. Its refrigeration technology will ensure a longer skating season, distinguishing it from the city’s

natural rinks. Currently, Sioux Falls

offer free skate rentals and warming

individual and will be accompanied by a restaurant as well as a warming house/gathering hall.

Admission is expected to be priced

“It provides residential opportunities, increased tax revenue from shopping and entertainment and makes people want to live, work and play in that community,” said Patten. “Having a vibrant and diverse downtown increases the overall value of any community.”

Construction for the plaza began in late 2023, maintaining a public budget of $18.5 million. Though previously expected to be open in time for this year’s winter season, construction and weather conditions have delayed its completion until June of 2025. While ice skating on the ribbon will not be open to the public this year, the integration of such a large project promises meaningful progress for the city’s downtown area.

by Griffin EtrhEim

left:

simultaneously fed as well.

Veryfew things get better with age. From movies and games to food and cars, time almost always makes things worse. Trees, however, do not follow this pattern. Trees can live for hundreds and thousands of years, sprawling into massive, beautiful structures in the wild. In a more controlled environment, however, they can evoke different imagery. Through a delicate and time-consuming effort, trees can become an art form. One of those artists can surprisingly be found within Sioux Falls, SD. Josh Plorde is an interventional radiologist at Avera and a father to two students at LHS, but in his free time, he parents a collection of roughly 50 bonsai trees.

It is a common misconception that bonsai trees are a breed of trees. Instead, bonsai, which literally translates to “planted in a container” in Chinese, refers to a way of growing trees. It is a meticulous process of pruning, grafting and wiring to shape the trees into a final picture. Plorde’s garden has a variety of coniferous and deciduous trees, including many different heights and ages.

Bonsai art is not common in South Dakota, and the spark had to come from an outside source. Plorde always had a fascination with bonsai, but it was when he took a trip to China during medical school that he saw how abundantly they were cultivated outside the U.S.

“People had these trees like at hotels and restaurants… And then when I came back to the States, I’m like what’s this going on? What’s the haps here?” said Plorde.

He had a deep appreciation for the art form and felt the need to start his own journey with the practice. At first, having lived in Seattle, he was not so alone in his bonsai journey, but moving to Sioux Falls brought new challenges.

“I don’t know anybody in this state other than one person that does this,” said Plorde. “If you lived in Southern California, Seattle, Pacific Northwest, it’s like every other person is jazzed about bonsai. Here, people think you’re a freak.”

Finding all kinds of supplies, from pots to fertilizer, can be much more difficult here in Sioux Falls than in the rest of the world. Plorde often has to get his seedlings and trees from garden nurseries, or at times by grafting off and separating parts of other trees. Additionally, weather complicates the trees’ life cycles, with the majority needing to be stored in a greenhouse through the winter months.

Learning can be just as difficult too. While most of Plorde’s work has been a solo venture, he does occasionally receive help. After a long course in California, Plorde now receives visits from a mentor every February to offer ideas and assistance for the garden. This time for touching up the trees results in their striking appearances come spring.

The hours of time spent carefully shaping trees result in powerful art that goes beyond just beauty. Some of Plorde’s work involves symbolism, such as cases where a tree splits into two and presents one branch “shielding” the other.

is

Veryfew things get better with age. From movies and games to food and cars, time almost always makes things worse. Trees, however, do not follow this pattern. Trees can live for hundreds and thousands of years, sprawling into massive, beautiful structures in the wild. In a more controlled environment, however, they can evoke different imagery. Through a delicate and time-consuming effort, trees can become an art form. One of those artists can surprisingly be found within Sioux Falls, SD. Josh Plorde is an interventional radiologist at Avera and a father to two students at LHS, but in his free time, he parents a collection of roughly 50 bonsai trees.

“It now has kind of this artistic form of a mother, daughter, father, son, a twin,” said Plorde.

Other cases involve intentionally overgrowing the base or roots of a tree despite the generally short height.

“It connotes a sense of age in a tree that’s maybe 12 inches tall and might be 50 years old,” said Plorde.

The pots paint part of the picture too, with many being of Chinese and Japanese origins. All of these pots can be deceivingly shallow.

“It looks more dramatic when you have this like little, big, powerful thing in this pot that’s not too deep,” said Plorde.

Some of Plorde’s trees are over 40 years old, dating as far back as when he just started out his career and lived back in Seattle. Spending about five hours a week for several straight decades has left Plorde nothing but pride and accomplishment. Some of his trees have sentimental value, while others are exquisite crafts of artistry. The end result is a passion project that doubles as an alluring display.

Wiring

wrapped around the branches of a tree in order to control its growth.

Top left: Deciduous trees shed their leaves seasonally, leaving them bare during the winter months.

Bottom left: Teabags are filled with granular fertilizer and placed on soil so that every time a tree is watered, it is

Right: Josh Plorde’s greenhouse room has windows that lead

Many of Plorde’s tress could grow up to 25 feet tall if it were not for their constant modifications.

Wiring is wrapped around the branches of a tree in order to control its growth.

Top

Deciduous trees shed their leaves seasonally, leaving them bare during the winter months.

Bottom left: Teabags are filled with granular fertilizer and placed on soil so that every time a tree is watered, it is simultaneously fed as well.

Right: Josh Plorde’s greenhouse room has windows that lead directly to his outdoor display.

Many of Plorde’s tress could grow up to 25 feet tall if it were not for their constant modifications.

by Grace Miner, editor-in-chief

The feeling of adrenaline and school spirit embraces students at LHS both in the student section and on the field; however, oftentimes students with a disability are excluded from the school activities that make high school special and unify the school. To combat this issue, the Best Buddies program at LHS has instilled two sports, unified basketball and unified cheer, for these students to participate in and become a fundamental part of the school community.

The feeling of adrenaline and school spirit embraces students at LHS both in the student section and on the field; however, oftentimes students with a disability are excluded from the school activities that make high school special and unify the school. To combat this issue, the Best Buddies program at LHS has instilled two sports, unified basketball and unified cheer, for these students to participate in and become a fundamental part of the school community. Unified cheer and basketball allow for all students to be involved in sports they often would not have the chance to be involved in through indirectly running through the Special Olympics program. While basketball has been at LHS for several years, this year is Unified Cheers’ first year at LHS. Drake Bachmeier, a teacher who supervises the Best Buddies program at LHS, loves the opportunity it provides students with to play the sports they love on a school-wide level.

crowd cheering and this gives kids the opportunity to see that,” said Bachmeier.

The feeling of adrenaline and school spirit embraces students at LHS both in the student section and on the field; however, oftentimes students with a disability are excluded from the school activities that make high school special and unify the school. To combat this issue, the Best Buddies program at LHS has instilled two sports, unified basketball and unified cheer, for these students to participate in and become a fundamental part of the school community.

Unified cheer and basketball allow for all students to be involved in sports they often would not have the chance to be involved in through indirectly running through the Special Olympics program. While basketball has been at LHS for several years, this year is Unified Cheers’ first year at LHS. Drake Bachmeier, a teacher who supervises the Best Buddies program at LHS, loves the opportunity it provides students with to play the sports they love on a school-wide level.

The feeling of adrenaline and school spirit embraces students at LHS both in the student section and on the field; however, oftentimes students with a disability are excluded from the school activities that make high school special and unify the school. To combat this issue, the Best Buddies program at LHS has instilled two sports, unified basketball and unified cheer, for these students to participate in and become a fundamental part of the school community. Unified cheer and basketball allow for all students to be involved in sports they often would not have the chance to be involved in through indirectly running through the Special Olympics program. While basketball has been at LHS for several years, this year is Unified Cheers’ first year at LHS. Drake Bachmeier, a teacher who supervises the Best Buddies program at LHS, loves the opportunity it provides students with to play the sports they love on a school-wide level.

crowd cheering and this gives kids the opportunity to see that,” said Bachmeier.

Not only do unified sports allow students to get involved, it allows students with a disability to become a stronger part of the school community. Although many students do participate in Special Olympics outside of school, unified sports give them the opportunity to partake in high school sports and become strongly integrated into the school community.

“…now they get the opportunity to be a Lincoln Patriot and play the sport they like, like basketball or cheer, and get to be like everybody else,” said Bachmeier.

talking to them. Now, they get to see their friends in the hallway and the communications there, and it’s pretty cool,” said Bachmeier.

Buddies program is hoping for a large student section, so they can have a crowd to help cheer for.

“It’s getting every kid involved, it doesn’t matter your skill level at all, it’s getting kids to play the same sport and it’s a great way to get kids involved. What I love is kids with disabilities tend to not have the opportunities like you and I do, to get a game like senior night, to get games with

In addition to increasing involvement at LHS, unified sports also allow students to become more social, make more friends and step outside of their comfort zones. For many students with a disability unified sports help bridge the gap between all students; they are not defined by their disability, rather they are an asset to the team and a fundamental part of LHS.

“I see a lot of kids grow more socially outgoing… kids are saying hi to each other more, they’re talking to each other more. Students and kids with disabilities tend to be

shy in some ways because they’re not used to other people talking to them. Now, they get to see their friends in the hallway and the communications there, and it’s pretty cool,” said Bachmeier.

talking to them. Now, they get to see their friends in the hallway and the communications there, and it’s pretty cool,” said Bachmeier.

shy in some ways because they’re not used to other people talking to them. Now, they get to see their friends in the hallway and the communications there, and it’s pretty cool,” said Bachmeier.

Buddies program is hoping for a large student section, so they can have a crowd to help cheer for.

One LHS senior, Rhonda Lambert, has been a part of the unified basketball team for three years. Through the team, Lambert has developed a passion for the game and lifelong friendships. She also has large goals for her senior season.

“My main goal is to get them cheering at every single game…Another goal would be getting a crowd of some sorts, so the cheerleaders can feel like they are getting a crowd excited for a game,” said Bachmeier.

“Being on a team with my friends and stuff like that [is my favorite part]... [I hope] to make my team go to the championship and state,” said Lambert.

As the unified basketball and cheer seasons approach, new goals come with them. The basketball team is hoping for a set schedule. In addition, they hope to get a larger student section and crowd, making unified basketball on the same level as other sports at LHS.

LHS senior, Ella DuBois, is a part of the unified cheer team this year and was an avid member of the student section at the unified basketball games in years prior. She values the quick friendships unified sports provide and is excited to be a part of them this year. In addition, she has heartwarming memories of attending the games as a viewer, inspiring other LHS students to attend these games this year.

“I want Lincoln High School to get to that point where we have a set schedule, and we do have a state tournament [for basketball]. We have an area tournament that we do, we did that last year. I want that to be a real big deal, just like every other sport,” said Bachmeier.

“My favorite game was at Jefferson when we had a big student section cheering on the team. It was so heartwarming to see the players’ faces light up when they would score a basket,” said DuBois.

Ultimately, unified sports at LHS allow for all students to be involved and have an equal playing field in the school community.

As it is Unified Cheers’ first year at LHS, the Best

Ultimately, unified sports at LHS allow for all students to be involved and have an equal playing field in the school community.

The LHS unified basketball team runs to score a basket. a team chant before their game.

Players from the LHS unified basketball team play defense when the other team tries to score a basket.

Players from the 2023-2024 LHS unified basketball team pose for a team picture.

defense when the other team tries to score a basket.

The LHS unified basketball team runs to score a basket. The unified basketball team performs a team chant before their game.

Players from the LHS unified basketball team play defense when the other team tries to score a basket.

Players from the 2023-2024 LHS unified basketball team pose for a team picture.

The LHS unified basketball team runs to score a basket. The unified basketball team performs a team chant before their game.

Players from the LHS unified basketball team play defense when the other team tries to score a basket.

Players from the 2023-2024 LHS unified basketball team pose for a team picture.

Environmental ingenuity is the ability to develop creative and innovative solutions to address environmental challenges. It involves using smart, resourceful approaches to improve sustainability and protect natural resources.

The Environmental Ingenuity Club that junior Molly Leuning runs at LHS strives to create innovative solutions to reduce waste, promote sustainable practices, develop new technologies to conserve energy and raise awareness about environmental issues. This club is valueble because it plays its part in helping the world stay clean and gives the students at LHS a chance to come together and be part of a group that works for a good cause.

Red List of Threatened Species. On the ground throughout the U.S., it has been reported that there are still 50 billion pieces of waste. Although there is no ocean near South Dakota, there are still many roles to play in protecting the environment, such as cleaning up garbage in the river, picking up trash when seen and most importantly, not littering in the first place.

“I decided to start this club again after looking over a bridge in Nashville. As I looked down, all I saw was loads of trash and waste. I was disgusted and knew I had to make a change,” said Leuning.

lesson learned can be used throughout the rest of somebody’s life. The things learned in [the Environmental Ingenuity] club can also allow students and community members to be more mindful about their sustainability choices, and understand the effects of them,” said Leuning.

With all this in mind, Environmental Ingenuity is a necessary path toward preserving the planet. By embracing innovative solutions and sustainable practices, people can address the urgent challenges of pollution, resource depletion and climate change.

DebateDebateat LHS is not just about winning arguments—it is about learning, growing, and working together. For Grant Wiessner, Brady Wheeler and Callaway Weeks, the debate team is where they have honed their skills and discovered what it takes to succeed in competition. Whether adapting to different judges, breaking down complex topics or standing out with creative strategies, each brings something unique to the team. Their stories show that debate is more than just an activity, it is a way to build confidence, sharpen communication and connect with others.

at LHS is not just about winning arguments—it is about learning, growing, and working together. For Grant Wiessner, Brady Wheeler and Callaway Weeks, the debate team is where they have honed their skills and discovered what it takes to succeed in competition. Whether adapting to different judges, breaking down complex topics or standing out with creative strategies, each brings something unique to the team. Their stories show that debate is more than just an activity, it is a way to build confidence, sharpen communication and connect with others.

GRANT WIESSNER has been a member of the debate team since November of his freshman year, and he thrives in the everchanging environment of competitive debate. For him, the most challenging part of debate is learning to adapt to different types of judges.

“You can’t just debate the same way in every single round,” said Wiessner. “You have to adapt to the type of judge you have. Some judges want slower, simpler arguments, while others are okay with faster, more complex ones.”

This need for constant adjustment has taught him to think quickly on his feet and tailor his approach based on the situation.

According to Fominsoap, 88% of the sea’s surface is polluted by plastic waste. In 2024 alone, it was estimated that 75 to 199 million tons of plastic and other waste are in the oceans. About 17% of the species affected by plastic in the ocean are on the International Union for Conservation of Nature

Keeping the environment clean is important for protecting ecosystems and maintaining biodiversity, which ensures a healthy planet for future generations. Creating clubs that support environmental initiatives encourages engagement in communities, raises awareness and empowers individuals to take action towards this problem.

“This club is important because every skill and

The collective efforts of individuals, communities and club organizations set the foundation for creating and maintaining a cleaner, healthier world.

The Environmental Ingenuity Club meetings are held every other Thursday in A211, Amber Comp’s room after school.

“The environment is something that I’m extremely passionate about, so it’s a fun way for me to express my beliefs and interests,” said Leuning.

Wiessner also highlights the importance of teamwork in debate. Behind every successful round are countless hours of practice and collaboration with teammates. “You can’t do debate on your own” said Wiessner. “It takes everyone working together to create arguments, test strategies and prepare for anything the opponent might say.”

For Wiessner, debate is not just about winning rounds; it’s about understanding different perspectives and improving as a communicator.

“Debate allows you to understand the complexities of both sides so we can better understand each other,” said Wiessner.

BRADY WHEELER joined the debate team as a freshman, drawn by the intellectual challenge and opportunity to develop critical thinking skills. Over time, he has recognized one of the biggest hurdles in debate: ensuring clarity for judges who may not be familiar with the topics being discussed.

“You have to dumb it down so much for judges who don’t fully understand the topic,” said Wheeler, acknowledging the difficulty of simplifying complex ideas without losing their core meaning.

For Wheeler, preparation is essential, and he thrives in the collaborative environment of the debate team.

“You can bounce ideas off one another to make everything more solid,” said Wheeler.

The team spends hours crafting arguments, debating one another in practice rounds, and refining their techniques. This constant exchange of ideas helps them develop cohesive strategies and prepare for any scenario.

Wheeler believes that success in debate lies in effectively communicating ideas.

“Anybody can make a claim, but the skill is in breaking clash and showing why your argument is better,” said Wheeler.

BY BOBBY PARKER

CALLAWAY WEEKS has been an active member of the debate team since his freshman year, and he thrives on the competitive and creative aspects of the activity. For him, the most challenging yet rewarding part of debate is finding ways to stand out.

“Both sides are going to be good debaters, so it’s about finding a way to set yourself apart,” said Weeks.

This mindset drives Weeks to innovate during rounds, identifying unique angles to give him and his partner an edge.

This mindset drives Weeks to innovate during rounds, identifying unique angles to give him and his partner an edge. Weeks values the relationships built in debate, especially the partnership between debaters.

Weeks values the relationships built in debate, especially the partnership between debaters.

“You have to build a relationship with your partner where you can openly discuss decisions you agree or disagree with,” said Weeks.

This openness and trust are key to growing as a team and improving after every round. Debate practices, for Weeks, resemble sports drills, with each session targeting specific skills.

“We do specific drills, like giving rebuttal speeches or breaking clash, to improve individual abilities,” said Weeks. For Weeks, “breaking clash” is the most critical skill for success.

“You have to explain why your argument is better and why the judge should see it your way,” said Weeks.

Left to right: Grant Wiessner, Callaway Weeks and Brady Wheeler

by Joseph Tunge & naomi Jespersen, ediTor-in-Chief

With over 60 colonies in South Dakota, Hutterites make up almost 10% of the state’s farming population, according to the South Dakota Census Data Center. Despite this, many South Dakotans know next to nothing about Hutterites and their distinctive culture. To get a glimpse of the Hutterite lifestyle and education system, we spent a day at Oaklane Colony in Alexandria, SD.

After an hour-long drive, we arrived in time to eat lunch (referred to as “dinner”) with the colony students. At Oaklane, the women prepare meals in a central kitchen, which is surrounded by two dining halls: one for the children and one for the adults. Hutterites value both efficiency and community, so during the evening meal, colony elders are seated next to teenagers to pass down wisdom and insight.

During “dinner,” the middle school boys quickly revealed their passion for football. While they admitted to occasionally watching the Chiefs and Eagles on TV, they often use the radio or shop computer to check games’ scores. The girls, seated on the other side of the room, preferred to discuss “colony volleyball,” their rule-free version of the game.

“Well, we love it, but we’re not professionals,” said one excited student.

With regard to the meal, options included soup, chicken, corn, stuffing, carrots and pickled vegetables. Hutterites place heavy value on self-sufficiency and sustainability, so almost every meal is made with fresh ingredients from the colony.

As lunch concluded, the students had ample time to walk back to English school - Oaklane Colony Elementary - and prepare for its

second session of the day. Like much of colony life, the school schedule is affected by gender-based expectations. As the boys returned to English school, the girls spent roughly 20 minutes washing dishes and caring for their younger siblings. Later in the afternoon, the boys take time to tend the garden.

“We raise sweet corn, cucumbers, melons, very well everything. During the summer we hoe and weed and in the winter, we take the produce in the garden that we pick in the summer; we haul it down to the kitchen,” said Brandon Wipf.

The English school at Oaklane has two main classes: one for kindergarten through fourth grade, and one for fifth through eighth grade. Both classrooms are functional and inviting, with bright pops of color and well-supplied libraries. The upper-level classroom also has spacious cages for its class chinchillas, Lucy and Ethel. Tracy Henglefelt, the upper-level teacher, lives off the colony yet drives in every day. Henglefelt began as a colony educator 11 years ago, so she now has things down to a science.

“We do center rotations,” said Henglefelt. “I’ll have one grade doing math with me, and then there will be some kids at the activity table, some in the reading area and some doing math things on their computer.”

Although it can be a challenge for one teacher to instruct 16 children in five grades, Henglefelt and the students still prioritize fun. Specifically, the class enjoys “pop the top,” a birthday tradition that requires everyone to open soda cans in unison. Also notable is the colony’s Christmas pageant, which the students must rehearse during

the school day. For the small group of sixth graders, memorizing the 13-page script was simple.

“It took me 25 minutes,” they said, practically in unison. Whether they are learning, working or worshipping, the children at Oaklane Colony have a very structured schedule.

“At 7:00 we go to breakfast then we go home and at 7:45, we go to German school until 8:30. Then, from 8:45 to 11:32 [is] English school and then we eat and then from 12:00 to 3:30 we go to English school then at 4:00 we go to German school again and at 5:30 we come out and we go to church then at 6:00 we come out and go to supper,” said David Wipf.

Aside from their time at Oaklane Colony Elementary, the children attend German school twice daily, both before and after English school. In German school, the students learn grammar, memorize songs, practice spelling and analyze bible stories. Another key focus of German school is connection with Hutterite culture, which has various European influences.

“Once and a while we have a bit of history from Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and all those countries,” said Lori Wipf, an eighth grader. “From Russian, to German, to Turkish, Ukrainian, we have like seven or eight languages in our one language.”

Although some nearby colonies offer high school classes, students at Oaklane only receive an eighth-grade education. However, even without high school, the young Hutterites quickly become integral to the colony’s economic and social life. At age 16, the boys receive an iPhone and are assigned jobs at a special ceremony. One day each year, the 29 colony families (almost all with the last name Wipf) gather in the church where the pastor assigns each young man his lifelong career. As for the girls, at age 15 they begin shopping, cooking, cleaning and other seasonal tasks to keep the colony in check.

Although some nearby colonies offer high school classes, students at Oaklane only receive an eighth-grade education. However, even without high school, the young Hutterites quickly become integral to the colony’s economic and social life. At age 16, the boys receive an iPhone and are assigned jobs at a special ceremony. One day each year, the 29 colony families (almost all with last name Wipf) gather in the church where the pastor assigns each young man his lifelong career. As for the girls, at age 15 they begin shopping, cooking, cleaning and other seasonal tasks to keep the colony in check.

“During the summer, I’ll have to go pick cucumbers, asparagus, tomatoes, pickling, do stuff like that,” said Lori Wipf. “I have to start butchering and it stinks. I’m not looking forward to that.”

To store all the food that is grown and processed at Oaklane, the colony utilizes an organized system of pantries, cellars and warehouses. In the center of the colony, a large building is devoted to butchering and pickling, with one room holding countless cans of produce and the other: nine freshly butchered cows. The building’s upper level, which contains the dining halls, also has rooms devoted to bread, utensil storage and ice cream making. At Oaklane Colony, there is a large emphasis on dairy production. With roughly 300 cows, the colony’s dairy farm is almost entirely automatic. Each day, advanced technology is used to milk the cows and supply them with grain feed at specific intervals. Apart from dairy, the colony also participates in other industries, including metalwork, carpentry, mechanics and crop cultivation. Although these specializations allow Oaklane to participate in the local economy, they also allow for autonomy and communal living. For the students, this aspect of colony life is very significant.

“During the summer, I’ll have to go pick cucumbers, asparagus, tomatoes, pickling, do stuff like that,” said Lori Wipf. “I have to start butchering and it stinks. I’m not looking forward to that.” To store all the food that is grown and processed at Oaklane, the colony utilizes an organized system of pantries, cellars and warehouses. In the center of the colony, a large building is devoted to butchering and pickling, with one room holding countless cans of produce and the other: nine freshly butchered cows. The building’s upper level, which contains the dining halls, also has rooms devoted to bread, utensil storage and ice cream making. At Oaklane Colony, there is a large emphasis on dairy production. With roughly 300 cows, the colony’s dairy farm is almost entirely automatic. Each day, advanced technology is used to milk the cows and supply them with grain feed at specific intervals. Apart from dairy, the colony also participates in other industries, including metalwork, carpentry, mechanics and crop cultivation. Although these specializations allow Oaklane to participate in the local economy, they also allow for autonomy and communal living. For the students, this aspect of colony life is very significant.

“[My favorite part is] probably the way we kind of stick together. Stick together, work together, do [everything] kind of communal: everything together,” said Lori Wipf. When the colony is not together, however, one can find the children in an intense game of touch football. Next to their playground, the largest of all South Dakota Hutterite colonies, the students of Oaklane catch interceptions, run plays at breakneck speed and occasionally “hit the griddy.” Most of the girls prefer to sit and watch, yet they practice little restraint, teasing the boys throughout the game. It is another reminder that kids will be kids, Hutterite or not.

“We’re not really different. We do stuff that other people do, too,” said Sadie Wipf.

center) The

church, which is central to community life.

(Cover) Naomi, Joseph and a Hutterite student show their “Lincoln Crazies.” (Page center) Joseph looks through Oaklane Colony’s pantry. (Top left) Students play an educational game. (Top center) Henglefelt’s classroom, arranged for center rotations. (Top right) Students read in their class library. (Middle left) Students look on as a mechanic fixes a pickup truck. (Middle

colony’s

(Middle right) The colony’s dairy barn, which houses over 300 cows. (Bottom left) The adult dining hall at Oaklane Colony.

(Cover) Naomi, Joseph and a Hutterite student show their “Lincoln Crazies.” (Page center) Joseph looks through Oaklane Colony’s pantry. (Top left) Students play an educational game. (Top center) Henglefelt’s classroom, arranged for center rotations. (Top right) Students read in their class library. (Middle left) Students look on as a mechanic fixes a pickup truck. (Middle center) The colony’s church, which is central to community life. (Middle right) The colony’s dairy barn, which houses over 300 cows. (Bottom left) The adult dining hall at Oaklane Colony.

by Abby Anderson

A high school simply would not be complete without a strong theater program among its assortment of extracurricular activities. Luckily for LHS, amidst all of the overachieving bands, sports teams and clubs, there is a collection of devoted students who find their passion in performing a story on stage. Behind the curtain is Brian Hardie, the director of the LHS theater program.

For Hardie, theater began as a collection of trial and error in his middle school years, auditioning several times for the community theater despite not receiving a part for some time. Still, he was compelled by the art of acting onstage, keeping his dedication towards getting a role consistent. Once he was granted one, theater became a major part of his life. His freshman theater teacher and director propelled him further into his journey, who told his mom during parent-teacher conferences that she thought he had a nice speaking voice.

“While it’s a small memory and a seemingly insignificant notion, it’s those kinds of little drips that set the hook deeper,” said Hardie.

When Hardie went to college, his initial plan was to major in political science and pre-law at Creighton University. He auditioned for a play to expand his social circle and find his people. By the end of his freshman year of college, he switched his major to English and theater. He began his career as a theater teacher in Blair, Nebraska, before moving to South Dakota and getting a position at BVHS. In the summer of 2017, he transferred to LHS.

Being involved in the collaborative art of storytelling has offered Hardie several opportunities for deeper connections. To him, theater is a portal for these connections, a way to express a narrative in front of an audience through various motions, vocalizations and spirit. His long history and background in being on stage allowed him to teach these tools effectively to his students. Artistically, many skills can be acquired from theater, and you can certainly be taught to act; however, Hardie emphasizes the importance of being able to fully immerse yourself in the character you are portraying on stage.

“To set yourself and then, by extension, to set a group of artists within the context of another experience, time and place just develops someone in meaningful ways,” said Hardie.

All of the productions begin with a meaningful conversation about the story. Discussions regarding its message and theme take place to provide a clear idea of how the cast will depict it. Questions of “why?” and “how?” provide a robust foundation to build off. Hardie uses this procedure so his students can expand their understanding of the characters and illustrate them accurately. It all flows in a specific way: centering, focusing and exploring the main point of the piece, progressing by picking up the script and teaching important skills that align with it. One of the most valuable skills is to let oneself be seen. Let movement paint a picture; let verbalization display the emotion to the fullest capacity.

“You can teach people how to act,” said Hardie, quoting one of his own professors, “but you have to let go of your ego and selfconsciousness and allow yourself to be seen.”

Among all of the tools Hardie utilizes, focusing on motion is one he places high value upon. Being in theater and contributing to the production means translating a character’s thoughts, actions and intentions to the audience. Therefore, an average rehearsal has roughly 20-30 minutes’ worth of movement exercises and activities that help bring the connection between the head to the body. Many of his methods are derived from Michael Chekhov, an American-Russian actor and director who developed the psychological gesture technique. The technique is heavily based on the psychological aspwect of the character: The feelings, impulses and desires integrated into the flow of actions they would make. This helps capture the essence of the character and condition the mind to express.

“It really comes down to how you make what’s inside your head find its way to the physical world,” said Hardie. “How do you make the inner world visible?”

LHS’s most recent play, “The Book of Will,” was Hardie’s play for his master’s degree. Previously, he had avoided seeking higher education, hesitating until he felt he had exhausted all of the resources he used to teach himself. He used going to graduate school to expand his already vast knowledge and perspective of theater. Hardie has been the director of several different plays at LHS for several years, and many more are in the making. Among the ways he helps better his students, the support that is shown throughout the community makes it prosper.

“I love producing theater at Lincoln High School, and it’s a profound privilege to be able to do the kind of work we get to do,” said Hardie. “I look forward to productions to come.”

Brian Hardie and Regan Meyer discussing LHS’s upcoming play, “Community Garden.”

(Top left:) NHS students assemble tie blankets in the library for Project Warm-Up. The fleece blankets were donated to people across the community in preparation for the winter. (Top right:) Members encourage students that are 18 to vote in the November election. NHS members decorated the school patriotically for the day. (Bottom left:) One of the many volunteer opportunities that NHS members can take part in is the Banquet where low income and the homeless around the community can gather for a warm meal and other supplies. (Bottom middle:) NHS supported the Teddy Bear Den by collecting diapers for low-income families. The diapers were collected at the LHS vs. WHS basketball game. (Bottom right:) NHS members Elyse Hutchinson, Maddie Loss, Charlotte Hultgren and Porter Stangeland flex their fundraising earnings from the bake sale.

StudentsStudentscommonly hear the National Honors Society (NHS) being mentioned while listening to the daily announcements over the intercom. Yet not many students are aware of what this club fully entails.

Students commonly hear the National Honors Society (NHS) being mentioned while listening to the daily announcements over the intercom. Yet not many students are aware of what this club fully entails.

commonly hear the National Honors Society (NHS) being mentioned while listening to the daily announcements over the intercom. Yet not many students are aware of what this club fully entails.

This club creates a strong sense of community for accepted students and greatly benefits future applications for education.

This club creates a strong sense of community for accepted students and greatly benefits future applications for education. NHS encourages academic growth, while still pushing students to serve within their city. Hard work never goes unnoticed, and this club recognizes individuals who aspire to have a successful future. Furthermore, students who participate in NHS receive a chord for graduation.

NHS encourages academic growth, while still pushing students to serve within their city. Hard work never goes unnoticed, and this club recognizes individuals who aspire to have a successful future. Furthermore, students who participate in NHS receive a chord for graduation.

“[NHS is] an honor society that admits students based on four pillars: scholarship, character, leadership and service,” said Amy Eckart, the adviser of the NHS club at LHS. “This is a national organization that holds high standards for its members. The benefit is being recognized for your accomplishments and serving with like-minded students.”

NHS drives students to put additional effort and time into all academic-related activities. Most members have strong grades, participate in extracurriculars and are charitable. Thus, this particular club is not open to each student at LHS.

NHS drives students to put additional effort and time into all academic-related activities. Most members have strong grades,

NHS drives students to put additional effort and time into all academic-related activities. Most members have strong grades, participate in extracurriculars and are charitable. Thus, this particular club is not open to each student at LHS.

“Juniors and seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.5 are invited to apply for membership. Students complete an application process that addresses the four pillars. [Then,] a committee selects members based on their applications and teacher recommendations,” said Eckart.

Although you must be an upperclassman to join NHS, there are still ways to prepare as an underclassman. By keeping the idea of joining NHS in mind, freshmen and sophomores can still work for the potential of joining.

Although you must be an upperclassman to join NHS, there are still ways to prepare as an underclassman. By keeping the idea of joining NHS in mind, freshmen and sophomores can still work for the potential joining.

Although you must be an upperclassman to join NHS, there are still ways to prepare as an underclassman. By keeping the idea of joining NHS in mind, freshmen and sophomores can still work for the potential of joining.

“Underclassmen who are interested in joining can prepare for the application process in the spring of their junior year by maintaining good grades and finding opportunities to volunteer, whether that is at school, church, an extracurricular activity or elsewhere in their community,” said Emma Terveen, a NHS officer.

While being a part of NHS, students participate in various activities that deliberately support different individuals in the Sioux Falls community. The members value the time spent serving others around them and contribute at least six hours of community service alone when applying to the club.

“So far this school year we have hosted the blood drive, served a meal at The Banquet [and] organized drives for school supplies and diapers at sporting events,” said Terveen. “[We also] held a bake sale during lunch periods where we raised money to buy fleece that we then used to make tie blankets for Project Warm-Up.”

Moreover, underclassmen might consider working towards this aspirable club. Academically, these students can help one another strive for a successful future while still being generous individuals. Those accepted into NHS endeavor for excellence, and they do so by putting in daily effort. These exemplary students support each other and the people surrounding them.

“I really enjoy being able to make a positive impact on our school and community with my friends and our like-minded peers,” said Terveen.

MAIN AVENUE EMPIRE

HOW ONE FAMILY TRANSFORMED DOWNTOWN DINING

UPON ENTERING THE

north-bound I-229 on-ramp from Cliff Ave near LHS, one may see a billboard that reads “Enter as friends, leave as family,” which advertises the Sioux Falls Italian cuisine franchise owned by Riccardo and Marybeth Tarabelsi. This saying perfectly summarizes what the two owners aim to achieve with their five companies: offering hospitality and kindness.

The Tarabelsis opened the beloved Sioux Falls restaurant, R Wine Bar & Kitchen, in 2018. Since then, they have steadily expanded their influence in the local restaurant industry with four other sister companies. These include Vespa Catering (opened in 2021), Maribella Ristorante (opened in 2022), Brix Wine Bar (opened in 2022) and their most recent expansion, Trio Jazz Club (opened in 2024).

Maribella and its two neighboring restaurants, Brix and Trio Jazz, have become Sioux Falls’ main sources of “authentic” Italian dining experiences— no restaurant in the city rivals their dedication to providing a menu faithful to Northern Italy. Riccardo, born in Florence, Italy, has placed heavy importance on the region of Italian cooking in which they specialize. Very notably, none of their restaurants offered the famous Italian dessert, known as a cannoli until Trio Jazz’s menu adopted it, because it is a dessert specific to Southern Italy. In this way, dining at each location is a learning experience of Riccardo’s heritage.

“We try to educate as many people as possible in a very nice way,” said Riccardo. “There’s lots of regional differences in Italian cooking.”

The Tarabelsis’ dedication to mastering every detail of their craft has captured the attention of downtown goers throughout the years since

R Wine Bar’s opening. From accommodating food allergies to their reception to feedback, the business is always evolving to fit the customer’s needs.

“We don’t wait until we hear negative feedback to make a change,” said Riccardo. “We try to be proactive and not reactive. We are our own biggest competition. We’re always innovating and challenging ourselves because we always want to be the leader.”

Most importantly, Maribella creates a welcoming environment that sticks to the Tarabelsis’ core values. Riccardo and Marybeth strive to make everyone feel like family, from customers to booked jazz musicians and especially their employees. Each employee is valued at a high level no matter their position.

“Everybody matters,” said Marybeth. “We don’t have a restaurant without our dishwashers. So, everybody gets the same respect and everybody respects everybody at the same level.”

“We’re gonna treat everyone [...] as if they’re

irreplaceable,” said Riccardo. “Their position is gonna be replaceable, but people aren’t replaceable.”

Beyond fostering a community through food, a community centered around music has emerged through Trio Jazz and R Wine Bar. Since its opening, R Wine Bar has consistently hosted Jazz nights every Thursday. Through the 2020 pandemic and live-streamed jazz nights, R Wine Bar has earned a reputation for its loyalty to the Sioux Falls music community. Trio Jazz’s opening in July 2024 has brought a more consistent and focused home for local jazz musicians to play.

“We knew there was a jazz community that existed in Sioux Falls, but the musicians didn’t have a home,” said Riccardo. “We really wanted to be consistent about it and be loyal to these musicians.”

The most telling representation of the restaurant’s approach to hospitality is the Tarabelsis’ philosophy on staying composed in stressful environments—being a duck. On busy nights when the kitchen staff, servers and bartenders are all busy, Riccardo and Marybeth maintain that their staff must stay outwardly composed despite the inner stress that may be present.

“Being a duck is how you comport yourself,” said Riccardo. “We’ve all seen a duck swim across the pond just kind of gliding but what we don’t see is under the water, their little feet are going a million miles an hour, getting them across the pond. What happens, especially in the restaurant business [...] everyone’s stressed, but on the surface, we are calm, cool, collected, happy to see you with a smile on our face. Even though internally we can be going a million miles an hour stressing but we don’t want to show it.”

Maribella and its sister companies remain a family-run business despite their large scale. Manager of Brix Wine Bar, Hank Freese, nephew to Riccardo and Marybeth, has been close with his family his whole life, both physically and relationally, having grown up in the same neighborhood as his aunt, uncle and cousins Berent, Dante and Jaxon Tarabelsi. Freese and his cousins, who work together, work efficiently under an often overwhelming environment because of their bond as a family. The Tarabelsis, by employing family members, maintain a high level of trust and communication among their staff.

“We all grew up within two blocks of each other our whole formative child lives,” said Freese. “That

really primed us all for the stress of working in the restaurant industry.”

From a dream to open a wine bar, to now a fivecompany operation, the Tarabelsis have captivated the downtown restaurant industry. When one steps into the doors of any of their locations, the intention is to feel like stepping into a relative’s house.

“When we first opened, our goal was never to open five businesses in the next five years,” said Riccardo. “The goal was [to] create a culture that matched our core values as a family [and] create a business that created a following.”

“It feels like I’m welcoming you into my home and I get to host you in my home,” said Dante.

Riccardo (left) is the namesake for R Wine Bar & Kitchen from his first initial. Marybeth (right) is the namesake for Maribella Ristorante.

The Bongo is from Maribella’s Dolci menu section. Typical of Florence, Italy, it is a dessert that Riccardo grew up on.

The Dante pizza is named after Dante Tarabelsi and is the restaurant’s pepperoni pizza.

The Maribella pizza has a spiced white sauce base topped with sausage, basil and dried tomatoes. design by Lucas Hiatt

One of Sioux Falls’ newer restaurants, Invictus Pizza Kitchen, has started a fresh beginning in the pizza community. This restaurant recently opened last year in December 2023 after buying and renovating the old PizzaRev. The owner, Devon Giesen, hopes to spark an interest in creating original pizzas with a large variety of toppings.

One of Sioux Falls’ newer restaurants, Invictus Pizza Kitchen, has started a fresh beginning in the pizza community. This restaurant recently opened last year in December 2023 after buying and renovating the old PizzaRev. The owner, Devon Giesen, hopes to spark an interest in creating original pizzas with a large variety of toppings. It all started with bi-weekly visits to PizzaRev with Giesen and his wife; their pizza became a tradition. Soon, these visits came to an end after COVID-19 hit in 2020, closing PizzaRev and bringing Giesen the idea of buying out restaurant. After years of trying to reach out to the owner to buy the building, Giesen finally succeeded and was able to reopen it as his own. His goal was one thing: variety.

One of Sioux Falls’ newer restaurants, Invictus Pizza Kitchen, has started a fresh beginning in the pizza community. This recently opened last year in December 2023 after buying and renovating the old PizzaRev. The owner, Devon Giesen, hopes to spark an interest in creating original pizzas with a large variety of toppings. It all started with bi-weekly visits to PizzaRev with Giesen and his wife; their pizza became a tradition. Soon, these visits came to an end after COVID-19 hit in 2020, closing PizzaRev and bringing Giesen the idea of buying out the restaurant. After years of trying to reach out to the owner to buy the building, Giesen finally succeeded and was able to reopen it as his own. His goal was one thing: variety.

One of Sioux Falls’ newer restaurants, Invictus Pizza Kitchen, has started a fresh beginning in the pizza community. This restaurant recently opened last year in December 2023 after buying and renovating the old PizzaRev. The owner, Devon Giesen, hopes to spark an interest in creating original pizzas with a large variety of toppings.

It all started with bi-weekly visits to PizzaRev with Giesen and his wife; their pizza became a tradition. Soon, these visits came to an end after COVID-19 hit in 2020, closing PizzaRev and bringing Giesen the idea of buying out restaurant. After years of trying to reach out to the owner to buy the building, Giesen finally succeeded and was able to reopen it as his own. His goal was one thing: variety.

“[I wanted to] make a much more elevated menu and environment that focuses on a very large variety of fresh local ingredients,” said Giesen.

It all started with bi-weekly visits to PizzaRev with Giesen and his wife; their pizza became a tradition. Soon, these visits came to an end after COVID-19 hit in 2020, closing PizzaRev and bringing Giesen the idea of buying out the restaurant. After years of trying to reach out to the owner to buy the building, Giesen finally succeeded and was able to reopen it as his own. His goal was one thing: variety.

“[I to] make a much more elevated menu and environment that focuses on a very large variety of fresh local ingredients,” said Giesen.

It all started with bi-weekly visits to PizzaRev with Giesen and his wife; their pizza became a tradition. Soon, these visits came to an end after COVID-19 hit in 2020, closing PizzaRev and bringing Giesen the idea of buying out the restaurant. After years of trying to reach out to the owner to buy the building, Giesen finally succeeded and was able to reopen it as his own. His goal was one thing: variety.

“[I wanted to] make a much more elevated menu and environment that focuses on a very large variety of fresh local ingredients,” said Giesen.

This focus on fresh, seasonal products guarantees high-quality meals. He shortly accomplished this goal by having a special section on his menu that was eventually important to his business. This is known as the “Create Your Own Pizza” option. Since customers have access to many different toppings, any pizza can cater to any liking. This way Giesen keeps his business open to every customer, providing an option for anyone. The restaurant offers a significant amount of seating, along with a short wait time, perfect for families and friends.

“[I wanted to] make a much more elevated menu and environment that focuses on a very large variety of fresh local ingredients,” said Giesen.

This focus on fresh, seasonal products guarantees high-quality meals. He shortly accomplished this goal by having a special section on his menu that was eventually important to his business. This is known as the “Create Your Own Pizza” option. Since customers have access to many different toppings, any pizza can cater to any liking. This way Giesen keeps his business open to every customer, providing an option for anyone. The restaurant offers a significant amount of seating, along with a short wait time, perfect for families and friends.

“[I wanted to] make a much more elevated menu and environment that focuses on a very large variety of fresh local ingredients,” said Giesen.

This focus on fresh, seasonal products guarantees high-quality meals. He shortly accomplished this goal by having a special section on his menu that was eventually important to his business. This is known as the “Create Your Own Pizza” option. Since customers have access to many different toppings, any pizza can cater to any liking. This way Giesen keeps his business open to every customer, providing an option for anyone. The restaurant offers a significant amount of seating, along with a short wait time, perfect for families and friends. Giesen wants his food to benefit his customers, as well as help impact the social growth of Sioux Falls. Invictus Pizza Kitchen has many partnerships with other local businesses, charities and radio stations, all “to help build each other up and be able to donate,” said Giesen, keeping his business involved in the community. Invictus Pizza Kitchen also has many deals and offers throughout the week along with benefits for their customers. For example, on Thursdays, students can receive 15% off by showing their student ID, and GreatLife members can receive 20% off on Mondays.

Giesen wants his food to benefit his customers, as well as help impact the social growth of Sioux Falls. Invictus Pizza Kitchen has many partnerships with other local businesses, charities and radio stations, all “to help build each other up and be able to donate,” said Giesen, keeping his business involved in the community. Invictus Pizza Kitchen also has many deals and offers throughout the week along with benefits for their customers. For example, on Thursdays, students can receive 15% off by showing their student ID, and GreatLife members can receive 20% off on Mondays.

With a commitment to using fresh, locally sourced ingredients and a dedication to giving back through charitable donations, the restaurant is quickly becoming a favorite among locals for more than just its food.

This focus on fresh, seasonal products guarantees high-quality meals. He shortly accomplished this goal by having a special section on his menu that was eventually important to his business. This is known as the “Create Your Own Pizza” option. Since customers have access to many different toppings, any pizza can cater to any liking. This way Giesen keeps his business open to every customer, providing an option for anyone. The restaurant offers a significant amount of seating, along with a short wait time, perfect for families and friends. Giesen wants his food to benefit his customers, as well as help impact the social growth of Sioux Falls. Invictus Pizza Kitchen has many partnerships with other local businesses, charities and radio stations, all “to help build each other up and be able to donate,” said Giesen, keeping his business involved in the community. Invictus Pizza Kitchen also has many deals and offers throughout the week along with benefits for their customers. For example, on Thursdays, students can receive 15% off by showing their student ID, and GreatLife members can receive 20% off on Mondays.

Giesen wants his food to benefit his customers, as well as help impact the social growth of Sioux Falls. Invictus Pizza Kitchen has many partnerships with other local businesses, charities and radio stations, all “to help build each other up and be able to donate,” said Giesen, keeping his business involved in the community. Invictus Pizza Kitchen also has many deals and offers throughout the week along with benefits for their customers. For example, on Thursdays, students can receive 15% off by showing their student ID, and GreatLife members can receive 20% off on Mondays.

With a commitment to using fresh, locally sourced ingredients and a dedication to giving back through charitable donations, the restaurant is quickly becoming a favorite among locals for more than just its food.

This focus on fresh, seasonal products guarantees high-quality meals. He shortly accomplished this goal by having a special section on his menu that was eventually important to his business. This is known as the “Create Your Own Pizza” option. Since customers have access to many different toppings, any pizza can cater to any liking. This way Giesen keeps his business open to every customer, providing an option for anyone. The restaurant offers a significant amount of seating, along with a short wait time, perfect for families and friends. Giesen wants his food to benefit his customers, as well as help impact the social growth of Sioux Falls. Invictus Pizza Kitchen has many partnerships with other local businesses, charities and radio stations, all “to help build each other up and be able to donate,” said Giesen, keeping his business involved in the community. Invictus Pizza Kitchen also has many deals and offers throughout the week along with benefits for their customers. For example, on Thursdays, students can receive 15% off by showing their student ID, and GreatLife members can receive 20% off on Mondays.

With a commitment to using fresh, locally sourced ingredients and a dedication to giving back through charitable donations, the restaurant is quickly becoming a favorite among locals for more than just its food.

Giesen’s favorite, “The Duchess,” starts with a fresh rosemary and green onion cream cheese spread. It is then layered with mozzarella cheese, shaved pork belly, red onions and finished off with hot honey.

“All these different flavors just dance in your mouth with every bite,” said Giesen.

Giesen’s favorite, “The Duchess,” starts with a fresh rosemary and green onion cream cheese spread. It is then layered with mozzarella cheese, shaved pork belly, red onions and finished off with hot honey.

“All these different flavors just dance in your mouth with every bite,” said Giesen.

Giesen’s favorite, “The Duchess,” starts with a fresh rosemary and green onion cream cheese spread. It is then layered with mozzarella cheese, shaved pork belly, red onions and finished off with hot honey.

“All these different flavors just dance in your mouth with every bite,” said Giesen.

The different seasonings enrich the pizza and bring it to its full potential, a lengthy process to perfect.

“The Walking Taco”: For $13.99 one could get this 11-inch pizza with cheddar cheese, lettuce, pico de gallo, crushed Doritos and topped with a chipotle sour cream sauce. The flavors were all familiar yet totally unique in this pizza format. With the traditional crust, it had a perfect balance of toppings, covering the entire pizza. This option is perfect for anyone looking to try something new or out of their comfort zone, but not too different. One could also purchase the 14-inch for $23.99.

“Simply Cheese”: For $11.99 one could get the classic cheese pizza. Organic marinara sauce is used with any option of cheese. The mozzarella cheese was melted just right, creating a gooey, stringy texture that stretched perfectly with each bite. This option is suitable for the more picky eaters, or ones looking for a plain, basic pizza.

Invictus’ unique menu sets the restaurant apart from most pizza places in Sioux Falls. They have four different crust types, (gluten-free and cauliflower options available) seven different sauces, salads, calzones, desserts and piadina bread. The menu also includes a kid’s section.

PHOTOS BY ASHLYN HOFFMAN | DESIGN BY ASHLYN HOFFMAN

With the start of 2025, people begin to look back and ponder 2024. Revisiting all the memories made and the trials and tribulations that each year can bring. In today’s age remembering all those moments is not as hard as it once was. With a simple click of a button, people can capture their favorite moments. With thousands of photos in one’s camera roll, people’s favorite moments can be captured and something that they can look back on and cherish forever. We asked students to send in their all-time favorite photo captured during 2024.

With the start of 2025, people begin to look back and ponder 2024. Revisiting all the memories made and the trials and tribulations that each year can bring. In today’s age remembering all those moments is not as hard as it once was. With a simple click of a button, people can capture their favorite moments. With thousands of photos in one’s camera roll, people’s favorite moments can be captured and something that they can look back on and cherish forever. We asked students to send in their all-time favorite photo captured during

people 2024.

people

With the start of 2025, people begin to look back and ponder 2024. Revisiting all the memories made and the trials and tribulations that each year can bring. In today’s age remembering all those moments is not as hard as it once was. With a simple click of a button, people can capture their favorite moments. With thousands of photos in one’s camera roll, people’s favorite moments can be captured and something that they can look back on and cherish forever. We asked students to send in their all-time favorite photo captured during 2024.

BY BETHEL WOCHE

BRAIN ROT

BY BETHEL WOCHE BRAIN ROT

noun

The supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material, is considered to be trivial or unchallenging (Oxford University Press).

Synonyms: smooth brain, brain damage, mental disorder.

When certain memes gain popularity, they often introduce unknown words that last in teenagers’ terminology for months to come. These brain rot symptoms have spread rapidly; however, those with more offline lives find themselves lost in conversations. This brain rot survival guide will outline the usage and context of several terms. LHS students gave their best shot with each word by describing what the word means or providing an example.

AURA adjective

An invisible energy that someone radiates or an impression when around someone. This can either be used positive or negative.

Synonyms: spirit, atmosphere, soul.

BY LOGAN SANBORN

Fantasy football: gritty, provocative, prolonged; every teenage boy’s favorite pastime. What started off as a fun way to keep up to date on the NFL, converse with friends about the latest game and poke fun at the poor sap losing (who knows nothing about football, by the way, but is still somehow in the league), has quickly turned into a fierce competition. This is all in the hopes of not ending up last and avoiding a punishment decided by some very angsty and bellicose adolescents.

To describe a person, place or thing in an excessively negative way.

Synonyms: humiliated, dominated, shame.

Correct definition: “You are all messed up,” said Toby Yates. Incorrect definition: “No longer raw,” said Phoenix Wilson.

LOOKSMAXXING verb

Correct definition: “You are all messed up,” said Toby Yates. Incorrect definition: “No longer raw,” said Phoenix Wilson.

Correct definition: “Coolness [or an] alternative vibe,” said James Jensen.

COOKED

verb or adjective

COOKED verb or adjective

The physical progress of an individual’s body in order to make oneself more attractive and/or fit typical standards. Beginning with their best features and enhancing them.

Synonyms: self-improvement, grooming, enhancement.

Correct definition: “When your face card is giving and you’re serving,” said Eiddan Castello Nieves.

Correct definition: “Using different techniques to make you look your best,” said Sydney Hartmann.

The capability to successfully speak to a person of interest in a romantic or flirty way.

Synonymous: charm, personality, appeal.

Correct definition: “Charisma,” said Hartmann.

Correct definition: “Super awesome and pog champ,” said Prentice Jensen.

RIZZ

RIZZ adjective

adjective

In a school like LHS, a place with many different leagues and groups, the punishments that are conjured up can range from weird to downright haze-worthy. With the season coming to a close, many individuals are finding themselves in the unfortunate position of last place. We asked students to submit their groups’ current or previous punishments in the running as LHS’s worst fantasy football punishment.

“Losers have to sit outside a stadium during game day and play an instrument and can’t leave until they raise a certain amount of money,” said Phoenix Wilson.

SIGMA

Correct definition: “Super awesome and pog champ,” said Prentice Jensen.

Correct definition: “Someone cool,” said Marrie Luther. noun

Typically a male is deemed cool and independent as they create their own path in life.

Correct definition: “Someone cool,” said Marrie Luther. noun

Typically a male is deemed cool and independent as they create their own path in life.

Synonyms: greatest, prime, top-quality.

Third overall, this punishment is creative but lacks the grit to be ranked higher. Yes, it can be embarrassing to play music in hopes of earning money, but the act doesn’t degrade the victim in any meaningful way. In fact, there are many who find street performers charming and believe they add to the atmospheric aura of an area. But being left to the elements is fun for no one, and since how long you are outside depends on how fast you can come with the cash, the length of the punishment is really just up in the air. However, the potential for this to be anticlimactic is large as it may only take an hour or two to raise the cash, leaving the victim relatively unscathed and putting this punishment at number three.

Correct definition: “The best. Top of the top,” said Katherine Spencer.

A body of water that has no movement, even after an object has fallen into the water.

Synonyms: calm water, stagnant water, motionless water.

STILL WATER

“Loser gets put into dog cage and expired food is dumped on them. Last year we used spoiled milk, different canned stuff, eggs, hot sauce and flour,” said Emma Dykstra.

Synonyms: calm water, stagnant water, motionless water.

Correct definition: “Those who know,” said Gabe Schmit.

Correct definition: “Water that does not move,” said Eiddan Castello.

WINTER ARC

noun A process over the winter when someone consistently improves and alters their self-image.

Synonyms: cold season, frosty chapter, blizzard bridge.

Correct definition: “The winter arc refers to a period where individuals use the coldest, darkest days of the year as a means to refocus, pre-visualize and arrive at their desired destination,” said Anonymous.

Incorrect definition: “Winter is a season. The arc part is where you lose me,” said Phoenix Wilson.

The dog cage gets second place, surprisingly. Despite being appalling enough to be used in initiation at a fraternity, the dog cage just missed first overall. Though it can arguably be labeled as the nastiest consequence, the duration is much shorter than any of the others, making it a little more bearable. Depending on what a group decides to pour on their victim, this could easily shoot up to first place. But, as many groups like Dykstra’s haven’t poured anything as crazy as urine on anyone in a few years, this punishment remains at second.

“A month of embarrassing TikTok posts,” said Isaiah Teer.

If this were the yearbook, this punishment would get voted “most likely to come back and haunt you.” The TikTok challenge comes in first overall for LHS’s worst fantasy football punishments. What seems harmless at first could come with long-lasting social consequences as erasing videos off the internet is nearly impossible. Depending on the videos the losing party is forced to create, they could potentially be barred from future careers or college scholarships. Couple that with the social humiliation, and this punishment has the potential to have longer-lasting effects than any other.

If this were the yearbook, this punishment would get voted “most likely to come back and haunt you.” The TikTok challenge comes in first overall for LHS’s worst fantasy football punishments. What seems harmless at first could come with long-lasting social consequences as erasing videos off the internet is nearly impossible. Depending on the videos the losing party is forced to create, they could potentially be barred from future careers or college scholarships. Couple that with the social humiliation, this punishment has the potential to have longer-lasting effects than any other.

LHS senior, Joseph Tunge, shows his ESPN fantasty football app with up to date statistics on his team.

BY NADIA SCHNEIDER

The ideal water bottle has all the best features put into one item: made of a reliable material, insulates the drink well and is easy to use and carry around. Around LHS, students have many different methods for carrying around their water during the day. Although there are hundreds of water bottle brands sold in the United States, LHS students seem to have just a couple favorites.

The Hydro Flask came in second, with 25% of responders making it their top choice. This water bottle has been popular for several years now, as it became very well-known during late 2019. It became highly associated with the VSCO girl trend, because of its stainless steel material and how it helped people refrain from using plastic bottles. Now, several years after this trend has ended, the Hydro Flask still seems to be a popular water bottle choice. It attracts people because of its ability to insulate the drinks inside of it better than most. They are sold in a multitude of colors and sizes and are suitable for people of any age. The main complaint when it comes to this brand is its inability to fit in cup holders, which can be an inconvenience.

With the highest number of votes, 39.6% of survey respondents chose the Owala as their favorite water bottle. Coming into popularity over the last year, this bottle has many standout features. The most-loved feature of the Owala is its lid, which allows users to either drink through a straw or tilt the bottle and chug through a larger hole. Along with this, there is a cover over the lid that locks shut, preventing any spillage from happening or germs from getting near the opening. The base of the water bottle is made of a stainless steel material, which insulates the drink inside of it well and keeps ice frozen. In addition, they come in three different sizes and a wide variety of colors. There is not much to complain about when it comes to the Owala.

• “It has a FreeSip and also a straw. It holds ice in it better than any other water bottle I have tried.”

• “Cute colors and doesn’t spill. I like the straw feature.”

• “They’re just better than all the others.”

• “I like Owala for school because it fits in the side of my backpack, and I don’t have to carry it around.”

• “You can both [use] the straw or chug and it doesn’t leak everywhere.”

• “It’s just practical.”

• “Most functional and not as clunky [as others].”

• “It’s better.”

• “It’s cute.”

• “It has a straw and a spot to pour water out of. There’s also a handle so it’s easier to carry.”

• “It keeps my water cold and you can drink or sip.”

• “Best colors and has the best [lid] to drink out of.”

• “I think the new colors are cute and they don’t spill no matter what!”

• “It’s metal and not plastic.”

• “This water bottle is my favorite because I have it (it was on sale) and because it fits in my backpack’s water bottle holder pocket.”

• “It’s indestructible.”

• “Classic that I’ve had for years. It has never failed me.”

• “It doesn’t leak like the Stanley does and it’s easier to carry than the Owala.”

• “It’s reliable and easy to go with you anywhere.”

• “Simple reliability…it’s the best because I have one, and the insulation still works three years later. It’s got ample space for stickers if that’s your thing, holds water [well] and has been a reliable bottle throughout an extended period.”

• “Cheap, not too big and doesn’t leak.”

• “They last you a long time. Even when they have dents in them, or the paint is chipping off they are great. Very durable.”

• “It’s big.”

The Stanley cup started making its appearance at LHS in 2023. The cups came to rise because of their ability to fit in cup holders and the large handle that made them easy to carry around. It requires almost no effort to drink out of them, as the Stanley Quencher has a straw that sticks straight out of it and can be used without having to open anything, which is not something that can be said about the Owala or Hydro Flask. When Stanley cups became known, they only came in a couple different colors, but now there are over 100 colors to choose from and several other styles as well. The biggest complaint that users have about Stanley is how it leaks easily, and if it gets knocked over the water will just spill right out of it.

• “It has to be the AeroLight one or [IceFlow] one. The other Stanley [cups] that are popular leak. Those two specifically keep the water and ice cold for so long. I can put ice in there and it’s still ice [around] four days after, even if I put warm water on it because the water bottle stays so cold.”

• “It keeps your water cold while giving you plenty of structure and color options, plus they fit in your car cup holder.”

• “Because there are some that keep liquid cold or warm.”

BY LAILA MILLER

To start off their season, girls powerlifting hit the LHS weight room on Nov. 21. This is the second school year in which powerlifting is a sanctioned sport by the Sioux Falls School District. Melanie Nyberg, a junior at LHS, has been involved in the powerlifting program since her freshman year, even before it became a sanctioned sport.

“Powerlifting was a club sport until my sophomore year. My freshman year was all club oriented, and we competed in USAPL meets. USAPL is USA Powerlifting and they host meets all around the country,” said Nyberg.

Joel DeHaai took over as the head girls powerlifting coach in the 2023-24 season and continues to coach this year. Lifting has always been something that DeHaai has enjoyed doing and he wanted to help others that share his passion. When the idea of coaching was brought up to him, he was glad to be tasked with building the program. DeHaai believes that the growth of the girls powerlifting program has to do with the success of the team last year, as they had two state champions and a runner-up.

“The success we had last year helped bring a little attention to the sport, but also, [since] last year it was a brand new sport, there wasn’t a lot of knowledge about [powerlifting],” said DeHaai. “I [also] think some girls are scared that if they join powerlifting, they’re going to become bulky and they’re not going to be able to move, but really that’s not my aim. I want to make [them] a better athlete overall. I think the perception of [powerlifting has] changed and it became more of a fun thing to do rather than a scary thing to do,” said DeHaai.

Last year there were six girls and this year there are 16. The increase in athletes has greatly benefited the powerlifting program. According to Nyberg, the addition of athletes has made practice and meets more enjoyable. The growth of the program has brought more exposure to powerlifting, and more people are aware of the team at LHS. In addition, because of the increase in the number of athletes, they can compete for team championships this year at the state meet, as last year there were not enough girls.

“I want us to be competitive. I would love for us to go out and win [and] I think we should strive for [winning], but it’s not everything. I don’t have any expectations as far as how well we’re going to do; I just want us to go out there and give our best and I want us to put up a fight. That’s all I want,” said DeHaai.

The powerlifting team will compete at four meets this year with one at each of the Sioux Falls high schools. The first meet of the season took place on Dec. 21 at LHS.

“Meets usually start at 8 a.m. and, depending on how many people are in the meet, can go to 5 p.m.,” said Nyberg. “The first lift is squat. You have three attempts with about 10 minutes in between each rep. Next is bench. Bench gives your legs a break before deadlift. Deadlift is my favorite because it’s my best lift [and it] is the last lift of the meet. After all lifts are done, weights are calculated to see who lifted the most weight in total. Your total weight determines the place you get. The awards ceremony is the last part of the meet. There are places for each weight class and then outstanding male and female lifter awards,” said Nyberg.

They have practice three days a week on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays in the mornings, with opportunities for after school practices for those who need to work around their schedule.

“In the morning, girls have to be there by 6:30. We start by doing a nice five to 10 minute warmup then we go into the weightroom and we always start with our main lift of the day, whether that’s bench, squat or deadlift. Then we build off of that [main lift] and do some accessory lifts as well. Then [we] finish with some core. It’s pretty simple; [we do the] same thing every day [with] a lot of consistency,” said DeHaai.

DeHaai’s favorite aspect, along with the most difficult of coaching, is pushing the girls out of their comfort zone. He enjoys seeing the girls try a weight they have never tried before, but sometimes struggles to encourage the girls to try something hard.

“I want to see every girl improve, no matter how much improvement that is. I want to see people get stronger, more confident and try new things,” said DeHaai.

One of the new lifters this year includes senior Natalie Nolan, who had little lifting experience before joining the team. She heard about powerlifting through her friends who were in it and decided to give it a shot. Nolan has enjoyed her experience so far and hopes she improves in some way, no matter what way that is.

“I’m looking forward to getting stronger and becoming friends with the girls on the team,” said Nolan. DeHaai has countless positive comments to say about the girls that he coaches.

“I think we have a great group of girls. The team is really meshing well. We’ve been getting closer and closer. They’re a very hard-working group of girls. I don’t know a lot of girls that are willing to get up at 5:30 in the morning to drive to school and do a really hard workout to start their day. I think that’s really impressive and says a lot about the girls in our program,” said DeHaai.

The girls will compete at the state meet in March at JHS. For individuals to qualify, they need to have one successful lift in each category, which means they have to compete in at least one meet before the state meet. With respect to the team aspect, each school automatically qualifies, as long as they have enough girls for a team.

“Powerlifting is a great sport for people who are into other sports or just really want to get stronger over the winter. Come support at meets!” said Nyberg.

Joel DeHaai spots Melanie Nyberg during bench at the powerlifting meet at LHS.

Meredith Johnson is cheered on as she does bench at the

Powerlifting athletes Paxton Dekkers (left) and Melanie Nyberg (right) LHS powerlifting meet.

BY ADELINE THEOPHILUS & ELYSSE WEBER

BY ADELINE THEOPHILUS

BY ADELINE THEOPHILUS & ELYSSE WEBER

AsAsAsAsAsAswinter extracurriculars take off for the 2025 season, the LHS gymnastics team is eager to return to the beam. After kicking off the season by placing first in a competition against Huron, Brookings and WHS, the team obtained a stable start and a confident mindset for the remainder of the season.

winter extracurriculars take off for the 2025 season, the LHS gymnastics team is eager to return to the beam. After kicking off the season by placing first in a competition against Huron, Brookings and WHS, the team obtained a stable start and a confident mindset for the remainder of the season.

The head gymnastics coach, Les Coin, is entering his 25th season with the program and his 32nd year as a head coach. Coin has earned many triumphs with the team, but along with those, comes many obstacles. Such as getting the athletes to trust the process and believe in their talents, especially after conquering the battle of their sport being cut back in 2023. Coin believes that gymnastics is a very different kind of sport, where it requires a constantly disciplined and dedicated group of kids and their parents who are always committed to the season. Coin shows up every day for these athletes and hopes to not only form physical athletes but also coach these girls into being role models for LHS.

“I’ve learned while being a coach over the past 32 years, that the last thing I really teach is gymnasts. I teach my gymnasts about so many other things way more important in life,” said Coin. Gymnastics is one of the SFSD sports that allows middle schoolers to bring their talents into high school, before being enrolled at the school. LHS is fortunate enough to gain Lauryn Gohl, a 14-yearold eighth grader from Edison Middle School. This is her first year eligible for high school gymnastics but has been in this sport since she was young, practicing at All-American Gymnastics Academy. Competing bars and beam are her favorite events, which also seem to be the most physically challenging. Many of their meets are not local, therefore the bus ride to Pierre is Gohl’s favorite memory with the team. Adapting to a new environment, especially with older athletes is not easy, but the other gymnasts and coaches have made Gohl feel more than welcome at the school.

“I’ve learned while being a coach over the past 32 years, that the last thing I really teach is gymnasts. I teach my gymnasts about so many other things way more important in life,” said Coin.

“I’ve learned while being a coach over the past 32 years, that the last thing I really teach is gymnasts. I teach my gymnasts about so many other things way more important in life,” said Coin. Gymnastics is one of the SFSD sports that allows middle schoolers to bring their talents into high school, before being enrolled at the school. LHS is fortunate enough to gain Lauryn Gohl, a 14-yearold eighth grader from Edison Middle School. This is her first year eligible for high school gymnastics but has been in this sport since she was young, practicing at All-American Gymnastics Academy. Competing bars and beam are her favorite events, which also seem to be the most physically challenging. Many of their meets are not local, therefore the bus ride to Pierre is Gohl’s favorite memory with the team. Adapting to a new environment, especially with older athletes is not easy, but the other gymnasts and coaches have made Gohl feel more than welcome at the school.

Gymnastics is one of the SFSD sports that allows middle schoolers to bring their talents into high school, before being enrolled at the school. LHS is fortunate enough to gain Lauryn Gohl, a 14-yearold eighth grader from Edison Middle School. This is her first year eligible for high school gymnastics but has been in this sport since she was young, practicing at All-American Gymnastics Academy. Competing bars and beam are her favorite events, which also seem to be the most physically challenging. Many of their meets are not local, therefore the bus ride to Pierre is Gohl’s favorite memory with the team. Adapting to a new environment, especially with older athletes is not easy, but the other gymnasts and coaches have made Gohl feel more than welcome at the school.

“My main goal as a coach is to encourage the girls to try something new, find their voice and their confidence, and let them realize that they can do things they thought were too difficult in the past. I also want to create an opportunity for kids who didn’t have one before,” said Mager. “Some of these girls never had the chance to do gymnastics when they were younger because of time or money, and I want them to have this opportunity because they deserve to be a part of something they love.”

LHS gymnastics holds the honor of being the largest team in the city, including athletes from middle school, all the way to seniors in high school. The programs previous season have not been easy, facing injuries, the attempted ban of their sport and other obstacles that come with the sport itself. All and all, LHS gymnastics has paved a high standard in their sport that they will continue to uphold throughout their season.

& ELYSSE WEBER

Freshman Mae VanBeek dials in on beam during her routine. “The ultimate goal of each gymnast is to stick her beam routine, and Mae has added some

BY JD YUNAG &

In recent years, LHS has been dominant in some of the most popular sports: football, softball, soccer and cross country. In addition to its already successful sports programs, LHS has added an Esports team, and they hope to proceed with their superior sports status in the virtual field as well.

Last year, the Sioux Falls School District combined the four public schools to create a district-wide Esports team. This year, each school has a team, coach, room and all the equipment they could need. The rise of Esports in high school can be associated with the popularity at the collegiate level. Students who compete in college can receive scholarships similar to other college athletes. When Esports athletes are not living their normal lives at LHS and going to class, they can be found on the grind in room A300E.

Esports is a lot like a typical sport, having around four practice days a week starting at 3:30 p.m. and ending around 5 p.m. A regular practice involves playing either Rocket League or League of Legends and preparing for future tournaments. Game day is also different from what people would expect. They play tournament style with best-of-five games; just like in football, they also have playoffs at the end of the season. Athletes from one team or the other will invite each other to online lobbies and begin the games from there. This is unheard of in the sports world because normally games can only be played in one place. There is no need for travel expenses making Esports a very financially efficient sport. Even though there is only a varsity team this year, the Esports team was only one player away from forming a JV team as well. Though this can be frustrating, it also shows how much this sport is growing.

Jonah Paul is a senior at LHS and a member of the Esports team. He has been playing Esports for about a year and was on the district team last year. Paul spends around 20 hours a week practicing League of Legends, one of the games offered.

“I've played video games since I was a small child; I've been a gamer,” said Paul.

BY MASON DEAN

Unfortunately, at the moment there are only two competitive games that are played: League of Legends and Rocket League. Both games are team-based games. In League of Legends, one team attempts to destroy the opposing team's base using different characters. Rocket League is a soccer game played with flying cars. Both games are regarded as complicated by the average video game player. LHS is currently undefeated with a record of 3-0 in Rocket League and 2-0 in League of Legends and has defeated big schools in the area like Jefferson and Aberdeen.

“I see a lot of people wanting games like Fortnite and Smash Bros played at Lincoln,” said Paul.

Gavin Kellingburger is a sophomore and another Esports team member this year.

“I think it would be cool because they're starting to add more to college,” said Kellingburger. These students have a huge opportunity to be in a new sport in college and play at a high level coming out of high school. From the classroom to the competition these student-athletes continue to dominate.

The LHS girls wrestling program received a massive increase in participation this year, going from only one wrestler last year to eight this year. With a larger program, a female coach was needed. And so, it came that soccer coach and freshmen English teacher Abby Berke became a wrestling coach.

Two years ago, wrestling became a middle school sport and saw huge success. This year’s freshmen class represents the first group which has completely experienced middle school wrestling and it shows; seven of LHS’s eight female wrestlers are freshmen.

“[In middle school] they really set you up for success in high school. There were a lot of basics taught... And just good coaches... make you really want to do it,” said freshman wrestler Noelani Bossman.

Having a strong drive for girls athletics, Berke was excited to take up the challenge of a new sport.

“The idea of helping a girls sport I think is really exciting... We want to give girls an opportunity to play whatever sports they want to play,” said Berke.

Although she has never wrestled, Berke was exposed to the sport at a young age by her father, two time All-American wrestler Jan Sanderson. Her main qualification, however, is her experience as a girls soccer coach and teacher.

“What I lack in technical wrestling knowledge I make up for by being there for the girls and making sure they know they’re loved and cared for... the ‘people side’ of coaching is the same as coaching soccer. I can lean on the other coaches for the technical side of things, and focus more on the mental aspects of athletics,” said Berke.

Similar sentiments were echoed by LHS’s female wrestlers.

“She’s very supportive. She’s nurturing, kind of like a mom. She’s like the mom of the wrestling team,” said freshman wrestler Amelia Hendrixson.

“Right now, she’s definitely a good coach,” said freshman wrestler Arely Garcia.

Girls wrestling’s biggest challenge has been and still is participation. The stigma of only having one or two wrestlers is difficult to overcome, but hopefully this year’s freshmen class will mark a turning point.

For this to happen, more girls need to sign up.

“...we would like to continue getting those middle school girls in here. Getting seven to ten girls over here is huge... if you get those numbers every year, that’s upwards of thirty to forty kids...,” said head wrestling coach Mark Ernster.

“The coaches aren’t gonna force you to stay the whole season if you just go a couple practices. If you don’t like it, at least you tried it. It’s just hard, it’s not for the weak. It teaches you dedication and determination and is just disciplined,” said Hendrixson.

MADDOX RAPH

BY ELLIE QUINN & STELLA SONNICHSEN

We all know high school has its ups and downs. When you have problems, sometimes you just need some advice from your peers, and lucky for you, that is what we are here to help you with.

How can I budget and be smart with money?

As two teenage girls with crippling Scooter’s addictions, we’re not sure how to speak on this one, but we do know how important it is to set savings goals. It’s important to differentiate between ‘fun money’ and money you need to save. If you have a job, you can set aside a certain amount of your paycheck to save for college or just an in-case-of-emergency fund. Try making a weekly budget, with specific amounts to spend on food, activities and whatever else would be important for you personally to limit spending on.

How do I get girls?

Getting girls isn’t as difficult as many people make it out to be. Girls like guys who smell good. Finding a good cologne that works for you can be a good way to boost your smell. Also, wear deodorant every day (please). Girls like it when guys notice the little things. Taking note of small details about them and bringing them up later in conversation or bringing them their favorite snack or drink is very rizzy. Overall, being yourself is the best way to get girls. They appreciate when people are genuine to themselves.

The guy I’m talking to is kind of ghosting me. What should I do about it?

We recommend you have an open conversation, ask if he thinks it’s going anywhere and be honest about your feelings. It’s important to not take things personally. If he doesn’t want a relationship with you, he doesn’t deserve you either. Worst case scenario, block him first (dab on the haters).

How do I get more sleep?

With busy schedules, it can be easy to sacrifice sleep; however, there are many ways to maximize the amount of sleep you get each night even working around your activities. One solution is to take melatonin gummies or pills to help induce your sleep-producing hormones, with a doctor’s permission. However, this might not be a suitable option for most people. It can be helpful to find sleep meditations online to help you control your body and mind if your problem is falling asleep. One of the biggest struggles for teens is getting off your phone at night, try to turn off your phone completely and not allow yourself to go on it before going to bed. We know it’s difficult but try and limit social media use right as you are trying to fall asleep; it can keep you awake and hurt your sleep cycle.

How can I be liked but not be a fake version of myself?

At a school as big as LHS, you’re guaranteed to find your group of friends who will have similar interests. We recommend staying true to yourself and not changing your personality for others. Don’t be afraid to get out of your shell and talk to new people in class. The more people you talk to the easier it is to find your perfect friend group and the more people will like you. People appreciate others who aren’t afraid to speak their minds and show their personalities.

It’s late in the evening, after a long day of school filled with homework, clubs and other various activities; you’re exhausted. The thoughts of all the new concepts remain stuck in your head, until your parents ask the inevitable question; “So, what did you learn today?”

Despite the multitude of hours spent in school each day, when parents ask that fateful question, it’s almost impossible to recall any important concepts learned that day. The question is, why? By the time the evening hits, many students are fatigued and mentally exhausted from a long day of learning new material, making the attempt to remember specific details almost impossible.

BY ELOISE GERAETS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Furthermore, when parents ask, “What did you learn today?” in hopes that it will engage with their child about school, it often can oversimplify the concept of learning. Learning throughout the day isn’t always about one huge topic, it is broken up into several small lessons and discussions. Thus, when one phrases the question in a simplified way such as “what did you learn today?” It often results in students trying to conjure one major event that happened, rather than the small concepts learned throughout the day.

Also, the challenge to answer this question is a result of hopes for a more meaningful conversation. Instead of focusing on the facts, students may be more inclined to discuss what was exciting for them at school. Adding a follow up question to “What did you learn today?” is a good starting point. For example, something along the lines of “Did anything exciting happen?” or “How was that math test today?” Asking more engaging questions would make replying to them much easier. Students would rather reflect on what they have learned in a more personal way than the simple facts of what they learned. Shifting the way you ask the question can help add to more engaging conversations and would make answering the fateful question a lot easier.

While the question “What did you learn today?” has good intentions from the parents, it’s not the most engaging question, and it doesn’t help either party. As a student, being able to recall everything absorbed throughout the day can be mentally challenging, especially after doing a lot of homework or studying for tests. At the end of the day, a student’s goal is not just to remember everything that was learned, it’s to take the key importances and apply them to their assignments and tasks. So, asking for broad topics won’t allow students to open up about the specific concepts inside major topics.

As the winter season comes important to review some of the important safety precautions and equipment to carry in your car. Accidents are 60.6% more common during the winter months in South Dakota. This being said, some accidents are unavoidable due to a lack of attention from other drivers or patches of ice. LHS’s School Resource Officer has provided his top five tips for driving safely and effectively during the winter months.

important to review some of the important safety precautions and equipment to carry in your car. Accidents are 60.6% more common during the winter months in South Dakota. This being said, some accidents are unavoidable due to a lack of attention from other drivers or patches of ice. LHS’s School Resource Officer has provided his top five tips for driving safely and effectively during the winter months.

When it comes to getting stranded driving home from school, work or activities, there is no way to predict when it will happen. One vital piece of advice is to bring a winter coat, hat, gloves and proper shoe wear. These help protect your skin from frostbite and regulate your temperature to stay safe. Affordable gear for purchase from Club17 or any second hand store.

Jumper cables are useful when a car’s battery is dead. They are used by connecting the dead battery to a charged battery and allowing the current to flow and thereby kickstarting the car. A car’s battery tends to die in the winter more often because the chemical that produces electricity slows down in the cold.

Typically, when you purchase a car, a spare tire and tools are included. It is essential to carry these around in your vehicle because it is unpredictable when a flat tire might come your way. Spare tires tend to not be the correct tire for the make and model of your car, so make sure to get it replaced as soon as possible. Spare tires are not expensive, but a replacement tire can be costly.

In case of an accident, no matter the season, insurance and registration are immensely important to provide for any details relating to your car and insurance information. Insurance is purchased through your insurance company and the registration on your vehicle is provided with the purchase of the car.

Clearing off your windows can help prevent accidents in your blind spots. An ice scraper is extremely important to use when frost is covering your windshield and/or your windows. Make sure to scrape and brush off all six of your windows: windshield, driver and passenger side, back seat windows and rear view window.

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