May 2023 Issue

The Behavior Problem in Schools

CLARE HEUPEL PG. 38 Prom 2023

ISSUE NO. 7

CAROLINE HUGHES PG.24

A message to my mom

MAY ISSUE 2023

ZOE

LARSON PG.32

BY KADENCE DEAN BY KADENCE DEAN

In 2024, LHS’s prized Marching Band will be performing in the Macy’s Day Parade in NYC. In the three hour parade held in Manhattan, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. EST, the Pats will be making their way to Macy’s Herald Square with the many other bands and floats.

The LHS Marching Band, having had its best year yet with a practically undefeated jazz sector and a creative performance, has been one of the six chosen out of over 100 other bands to perform in this once in a lifetime event.

“It is probably one of the most visually recognized, biggest television audiences in the world, I think second to the Superbowl,” said Marching Band Director Daniel Carlson.

“So, it’s a really big stage for us, it’s a great opportunity to get not just our band but Sioux Falls, South Dakota on the map.”

Since the marching band will be marching in 2024, this year’s freshman and sophomores will be the lucky group able to participate in the event. The LHS Marching Band hopes to explode its numbers to over 200 students in order to give as many kids as possible this opportunity to participate. In order to be considered to perform in the Macy’s Day Parade, the band had to go through a rigorous registration process. LHS had attempted to get in many times before but the requests remained unanswered. Luckily the huge success of this year’s show caught the attention of the Macy’s committee and they wanted the LHS Marching Band to bring that level of artistry and entertainment to the parade.

The LHS Marching Band, having had its best year yet with a practically undefeated jazz sector and a creative performance, has been one of the six chosen out of over 100 other bands to perform in this once in a lifetime event. Since the marching band will be marching in 2024, this year’s freshman and sophomores will be the lucky group able to participate in the event. The LHS Marching Band hopes to explode its numbers to over 200 students in order to give as many kids as possible this opportunity to participate. In order to be considered to perform in the Macy’s Day Parade, the band had to go through a rigorous registration process. LHS had attempted to get in many times before but the requests remained unanswered. Luckily the huge success of this year’s show caught the attention of the Macy’s committee and they wanted the LHS Marching Band to bring that level of artistry and entertainment to the parade.

The Macy’s Day Parade is important to the LHS Marching Band for many reasons.

With this monumental opportunity also comes a lot of preparation. The LHS Marching Band will have to train and practice a lot more than usual in order to develop a Macy’s ready performance.

“There will be a lot of extra rehearsals because you know that little piece that you see on TV is not just standard marching on a block. So, we actually have to perform a separate performance- we have to build a whole different show for that and it takes a long time to get that looking really good.” said Carlson.

The march also consists of a two and a half mile journey to Herald Square, so the band must also build that endurance. All in all, at the end of that training, a video of the performance must be sent and approved by the Macy’s committee.

Come November 2024 the LHS Marching Band will travel, most likely by bus, through the treacherous winter weather to NYC to march in the greatly beloved Macy’s Day Parade.

BY LHS MARCHING BAND ARTWORK BY ELLEN MERKLEY

DESIGN BY KADENCE DEAN PHOTO

MAY ISSUE 5

DESIGN BY KADENCE DEAN PHOTO BY LHS MARCHING BAND ARTWORK BY ELLEN MERKLEY

MAY ISSUE 5

THE SPOKESMAN FOR

BY ADIE THEOPHILUS BY ADIE THEOPHILUS

Bike racing is a very popular sport and hobby here in Sioux Falls, SD. However, to be an extreme racer, there is a lot of maintenance that needs to be done to check the bike and make sure it is as functional as possible.

For LHS sophomore, Lily Gruber, biking has always been an activity within her family. In fact, it has shaped Gruber into who she is today.

Gruber works at a local bike shop called Spoke-n-Sport and has gotten a lot of experience through the job.

“Spoke-n-Sport is a local bike shop in Sioux Falls where we sell bikes and do bike service. I work at the Cliff Avenue Store. We have one on Minnesota Avenue too and then one on Main Street in Brookings, SD,” said Gruber.

Spoke-n-Sport’s customers are mainly extreme bike racers who appreciate the biking community. The shop does many services such as bike repairs and routine maintenance.

“We sell bikes, bike accessories and bike clothes and stuff. And then the bikes that come in, we assemble

BY VANESSA TIMAT

before we put them on the floor, or check them over if they come assembled,” said Gruber. “We do trade-ins for used bikes and bike service on regular bikes and on E-bikes.”

Taking after her father, who is a very dedicated biker, Gruber has been involved in many races. However, she was not always as passionate about biking as she is today.

n-Sport and was hired. Her coworkers heavily influenced her to start biking again.

“Well I got the job and at our location it’s all females except for one of our mechanics, so as I started to work and learn all the ins and outs. I was also at the same time very inspired by them because they’re all female bikers. So, I started riding more and riding with my

a big advocate for Spoke-NSport and has enjoyed every aspect of it. To get more people involved, the shop sometimes hosts events.

“We have social media and we do rides and events. A lot of our customers are a part of the Falls Area Single Track group, which is the mountain biking trails in Sioux Falls, or Sioux Falls Bike racing which puts on all the different races year round,” said Gruber. “It’s a lot of connections and just word of mouth too. I always tell people about it because it interests me.”

When walking the halls at LHS, it is hard to miss the contagious smile of Jeffrey Holcomb. Holcomb is the morning hall monitor at LHS and has been fulfilling this duty for two years.

Holcomb starts his morning off by arriving at LHS and monitoring the halls at 7 a.m. He ensures that students who are in the building are there for activities or first period lunch detention. Holcomb assists other staff in making sure that all the doors are locked and secured.

Prior to coming to LHS, Holcomb was the president of Southeast Technical College and retired from that position in 2016. He has learned many lessons since coming here, but the main lesson learned was how to get kids out of the school bathrooms.

out on his ranch. Holcomb is part-owner of a ranch in West River. He manages the paperwork, taxes, accounting and government programs for the ranch. During his hours at LHS, he has made many friends. He refers to everyone as his friends and tries to find the good in everyone.

“To choose a ‘best friend’ at Lincoln would Considering his time here at memories with his students.

“To choose a ‘best friend’ at Lincoln would be too hard. They are all great people doing great things. I enjoy getting to know them all. I feel everyone can benefit from taking some time to get to know a new person each day,” said Holcomb.

“A couple of years ago I was anti-biking. I distinctly remember there was one ride where I literally threw my bike on the ground and was like ‘I hate biking’ and I started crying. So, my dad was like ‘I’m not going to pressure her to ride her bike’ and my bike started collecting dust in the garage,” said Gruber.

After taking some time off, Gruber applied to Spoke-

dad,” said Gruber.

Since working at the shop, Gruber has gained back her love for biking again. She has felt that being part of a community of interest is much more fun than doing something on her own.

“I guess the people I was surrounded with inspired me to get back into it so now it’s a big portion of my life,” said Gruber.

Now, the 16-year-old is

Gruber has competed in many races this past year and wants to do many more. She plans on traveling around the Midwest this summer for mountain biking. As for the next couple years, Gruber has yet to find out where this sport will take her.

“Now I am very passionate about racing and riding,” said Gruber. “This summer I am going to do a lot more racing too and I’m doing some traveling for mountain biking, so that should be really cool.”

“I am always fascinated by the sheer volume of people who hang out in the bathrooms! Why? Move to the hall please. The simple fact that we can move 2,000 people in five minutes is amazing! I must admit nothing seems strange or weird to me. Pretty common stuff for a high school,” said Holcomb. On his days off, he enjoys spending time

Considering his time here at LHS has been fairly short, Holcomb has not failed to make memories with his students. Every morning he speaks with students and tries to learns more about each individual human. Holcomb has many “favorite” parts about his job, but can easily pinpoint one. “By far it is meeting students and hearing their story and hearing about their activities, life, jobs, etc. There is so much energy and excitement with the students at Lincoln,” said Holcomb. Holcomb takes pride in being able to help his students get on the right path. Holcomb will always be a bright light at LHS, and a friendly smile to greet everyone each morning.

“favorite” parts about his job,

“I guess the people I was surrounded with inspired me to get back into it so now it’s a big portion of my life.”

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY LILY GRUBER ARTWORK BY VANESSA TIMAT DESIGN BY VANESSA TIMAT 10 LHSSTATESMAN.COM

PHOTO BY A MAY ISSUE 11 DESIGN BY A

MAY ISSUE 11

PHOTO BY ADIE THEOPHILUS DESIGN BY ADIE THEOPHILUS BY CLARA BINSTOCK

The recently opened Sub Zero Desserts downtown is a must-try for anyone craving some flavorsome ice cream treats.

Sub Zero is an ice cream shop here in Sioux Falls that serves rolled ice cream, shaved ice and many more delicious desserts. Their original location was a small facility in a parking lot near LHS at 501 E. 41st St., which was open only in the summertime and will continue to be open during the upcoming summers. However, a new location was recently opened in the beginning of March in downtown Sioux Falls at 401 E. 8th St., which is open throughout the whole year, currently Tuesdays through Saturdays from 2-8 p.m. What was once a popular spot for some cold sweets during the summer can now be a frequent

stop for ice cream lovers all year round.

As a satisfied customer at their original location, I was very happy to hear that my wait for the return of Sub Zero would be cut short. When I entered the building, I was pleased to see a long list of many options and flavors of ice cream to choose from, including Snow Shakes, Boba Tea and Italian Soda. The workers patiently waited while I debated what to order, and I ended up ordering three desserts: the Berrylicious rolled ice cream, the Salted Caramel rolled ice cream and the Rainbow shaved ice. For those who have never tried rolled ice cream may have never seen it get made, however watching it as it gets rolled is one of the most exciting parts.

Each item of ice cream that I ordered did not fail to excite my taste buds. The Berrylicious

rolled ice cream consisted of vanilla ice cream, mixed with strawberries, raspberries and white-chocolate drizzle. This dessert definitely lived up to its name, as I could not find a better way to describe it other than “berrylicious”. The Salted Caramel rolled ice cream was made up of chocolate ice cream, mixed with pretzels, chocolate and caramel drizzle. This dessert was flavorful and tasty, and the pretzels added a nice crunch. A few other flavors that caught my eye included the Unicorn containing fruity pebbles and the Cookie Monster made up of chocolate chip cookies and Oreos. The shaved ice was equally as delicious as the ice creams, and the Rainbow flavor included blue raspberry, lemon and cherry flavoring. The shaved ice menu also allows for customers to pick their own flavors, or even pick

from the signature creations, some including Shark Attack and Purple Cow, both of which sound quite intriguing to try.

The inside of the shop also added to the experience thanks to its welcoming environment. There were plenty of places to sit, including a variety of colorful tables and chalk painted ones, along with bowls of chalk on them for customers to show off their creativity. The shop also offered paint-your-own cookies and many other “Grab N Go” treats available for purchase, which were located off to the side. Some of these treats included cotton candy, single-serving-sized cakes and even vegan ice cream pushpops.

Sub Zero is a great addition to downtown Sioux Falls and is definitely worth a try for anyone looking to satisfy their taste buds.

We all know that our time here on Earth is not infinite. Due to this, many people write bucket lists. A bucket list is a number of experiences or achievements that a person hopes to have or accomplish during their lifetime. Bucket lists are a great way to set goals and give yourself something to look forward to, whether it is traveling to a new place, trying a new activity or accomplishing a personal achievement. It also gives you a chance to reflect on your life and think about what truly matters to you. You may never complete your list; however, the process of creating it can be a valuable exercise in self discovery. Here are some of your fellow LHS peers bucket list wishes:

by Ellen Merkely

design

12 LHSSTATESMAN.COM

photos by Clara Binstock

by Lhs Statesman

BY PHOTOS

ELLEN MERKLEY MAY ISSUE 13

BY

BY ADDISON REMME & KATYA SURENDRAN

With 14 teams, 48 participants and only one winner, the stakes could not be any higher as LHS seniors face each other off in an intense water gun fight. Senior traditions have become an integral part of the American high school experience. Nyapal Chuol, the mastermind behind LHS Assassins has created yet another custom for seniors to pass on.

“Senior assassins is a game a lot of high schools around the country play. I was waiting for someone to do it here, so I did it,” said Chuol. This contest consists of five major rules. Every senior is part of a team of at most four people, except for Miles Brokenleg, who decided to go solo. The teams are then assigned another group to “assassinate” over the course of two weeks. As long as someone is left on the team, they move on to the next round.

Unable to get people out of the competition on school grounds or any place participants are required to be, such as work, LHS seniors can be found chasing each other with water guns inside Dairy Queen, Bagel Boy and the most common place to get eliminated: parking lots. Don’t be surprised at the sight of near adults with swimwear on in public, as wearing goggles and water floaties act as a shield against these water bullets. Once a week, a purge day occurs. This is when no forms of protection work, making it easier to get competitors out of the game. Just ask Cassidy Jennings, one of the top contenders this year, who eliminated four people from the competition with two of them on purge days.

While the rules are simple, the game requires strategy, time and effort. From finding out when and where targets will be, to sneaking up on them when they least expect it, the best teams this year had plenty of all three.

“The 99ers are super committed, they also don’t have

jobs so they have all the time in the world to spend playing this game. The Deagle Dawgs also have a good chance. They’ve wiped out a whole team numerous times. I think the showdown might be between those two teams,” said Chuol.

As of now, a winner has yet to be deterimned as the game gets more intence with each player to get weeded out.

While this year’s competition is almost over, it just might continue in the next few years, becoming a new tradition for seniors to take part in.

“Hopefully the game continues after this year. I hope the juniors will take it up, and they’ll have a better turnout with more people participating because it’s a really fun game,” said Chuol.

While this game has created long lasting memories of high school for seniors, here are some of the most memorable moments of this year’s Senior Assassins.

It was 5:45 a.m. when Emma Derynck arrived at the Sanford IcePlex for her 6 a.m. ice skating practice. While getting out of her car, she was unsuspecting of any assassins lurking behind her. As a result, Derynck felt no need to put her goggles on for protection. This regrettable decision would later be the source of her downfall.

On her way into the IcePlex, Derynck began to hear heavy footsteps quickly approaching. The footsteps belonged to none other than Emma Forster, Derynck’s assassin. Derynck started running for the door of the IcePlex, trying to escape the fatal fires of Forster’s water gun. She frantically tried to open one of the doors to the IcePlex, but unfortunately for Derynck, it was locked. She was left with no other choice but to let Forster kill her and get disqualified from the game.

One specific player who took senior assassins quite seriously was Zach Wrightsman. Wrightsman played for the 99ers, and the team had previously created an alliance with the Splash Bros in an effort to eliminate team Peeta from the game. Wrightsman took it upon himself to take out Lexi Hopp, one of their targets. Wrightsman began to devise a plan to get Hopp out of her house in order to allow the Splash Bros to shoot her, thus getting her out of the game. He ultimately decided that his best course of action would be to ask Hopp to prom. His plan was to trick her into getting out of the house and let her guard down enough to take off her goggles. All that was left to do was the execution (no pun intended).

On that fateful afternoon, Wrightsman went to Hopp’s house to pop the question. Once at her house, he rang her doorbell and a Hopp, who was just about to go to bed, answered the door, completely clueless to what was about to ensue. Wrightsman then asked Hopp to go to the Sioux Falls Christian prom, but Hopp happened to be out of town that weekend. Although disappointing, this did not deter Wrightsman as he had a back up plan, West Central prom. Hopp accepted the request to go to prom with him and the two then took pictures to commemorate the moment. That's when Wrightsman did it; he convinced (more like begged) her to take off her goggles for one of the pictures. The Splash Bros fired their water guns at an unsuspecting Hopp, eliminating her from senior assassins.

Another player who was very dedicated to the game was Cassidy Jennings. Racking up a total of four killed before being eliminated, Jennings was a force to be reckoned with. One of Jennings most memorable kills was Joe Osmundson, who belonged to the Deagle Dawgs. In order to take down Osmundson, Jennings would have to do some research. She began by looking him up online to find his address. She found out his parents' names from an obituary that his family was mentioned in. From that, she looked up his parents on White Pages and found their address. One day when she had seventh period blended, Jennings put her plan into action and went to Osmundson’s house. When she arrived, she laid in his garden, in between some bushes and waited for him to get home. Not much time had passed when Osmundson pulled up to his house. Just as he was getting out of his car, Jennings jumped out of the bushes and shot him. Little did Jennings know, Osmundson was on the phone in the middle of a job interview when she shot him. Once off his phone call, Jennings and Osmundson took a picture to send into the Instagram account announcing his death and ultimately sealing his fate.

16 LHSSTATESMAN.COM

MAY ISSUE 17

photos provided by Nyapal Chuol artwork by Addison Remme design by Addison Remme & Katya Surendran BY SAMANTHA ZEECK

Sports

22, 23, 24 & 25

Sioux Falls Canaries vs. Sioux City Explorers (Sioux Falls Stadium)

Food 27

Falls Park Farmer’s Market (Falls Park)

23 & 30

Food Truck Tuesday (Golf Addiction)

26

Fridays on the Plaza (Dakota News Now)

Music 23

Bad Wolves (the District)

28

Good Earth Summer Concert Series 28

Commonground (Good Earth State Park at Blood Run)

Sioux Falls City FC vs. Joy FC (University of Sioux Falls Sports Complex)

10

Sioux Falls Storm vs. Frisco Fighters (Denny Sanford PREMIER Center)

11

Sioux Falls City FC vs. St. Croix (University of Sioux Falls Sports Complex)

13, 14 & 15

Sioux Falls Canaries vs. Winnipeg Goldeyes (Sioux Falls Stadium)

16, 17 & 18

Sioux Falls Canaries vs. Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks (Sioux Falls Stadium)

18

Sioux Falls City FC vs. Rochester (University of Sioux Falls Sports Complex)

23, 24 & 25

Sioux Falls Canaries vs. Lincoln Saltdogs (Sioux Falls Stadium)

23

Sioux Falls City FC vs. Dakota Fusion (University of Sioux Falls Sports Complex)

23

Sioux Falls Storm vs. Green Bay Blizzard (Denny Sanford PREMIER Center)

30

Sioux Falls City FC vs. Manitou (University of Sioux Falls Sports Complex)

Festivals

Sports

02, 03, 04 & 05

Sioux Falls Canaries vs. Gary SouthShore Railcats (Sioux Falls Stadium)

04

Indigenous Artists of the Prairie (Good Earth State Park at Blood Run)

10

Festival of Cultures (Levitt at the Falls)

Activities

02

June Eastbank Block Party (8th and Railroad Center)

24

14th Annual 605 Summer Classic (8th and Railroad Center)

Food

02, 09, 16, 23 & 30

Fridays on the plaza (Dakota News Now)

03, 10, 17 & 24

Falls Park Farmers Market (Falls Park)

04

Sioux Falls American Legion

Post 15 Pancake Breakfast (South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance, Inc.)

06, 13, 20 & 27

Food Truck Tuesday (Golf Addiction)

Music

02

Brooks & Dunn (Denny Sanford PREMIER Center)

09

Matchbox Twenty (Denny Sanford PREMIER Center)

10

PROF (the District)

03 & 04

22nd Annual Siouxland Renaissance Festival (W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds)

11

Good Earth Summer Concert Series - Morgan’s Heroes (Good Earth State Park at Blood Run)

11

Marcus King (the District)

18

Good Earth Summer Concert Series - East of Westerville (Good Earth State Park at Blood Run)

19

Louis Tomlinson: Faith In The Future World Tour (Denny Sanford PREMIER Center)

23

Warren Zeiders (the District)

24

Alabama (Denny Sanford PREMIER Center)

25

Good Earth Summer Concert Series - Amy Ellsworth (Good Earth State Park at Blood Run)

29

Koe Wetzel (Denny Sanford PREMIER Center)

Entertainment 01, 02

The Good Night Theatre Collective Presents: A Road Trip Cabaret (Washington Pavilion)

15, 16, 17, 22, 23 & 24

Grease Presented by the Premiere Playhouse (Orpheum Theatre Center)

21 & 22

Bluey’s Big Play (Washington Pavilion)

Sports 07, 08 & 09

Sioux Falls Canaries vs. Chicago Dogs (Sioux Falls Stadium)

10, 11, 12 & 13

Sioux Falls Canaries vs. Kansas City Monarchs (Sioux Falls Stadium)

15

Sioux Falls Storm vs. Massachusetts Pirates (Denny Sanford PREMIER Center)

25, 26 & 27

Sioux Falls Canaries vs. FargoMoorhead RedHawks (Sioux Falls Stadium)

28, 29 & 30

Sioux Falls Canaries vs. Lake Country DockHounds (Sioux Falls Stadium)

Festivals

21 & 22

3rd Annual Sioux Falls Classic

Car Auction (Sioux Falls Convention Center)

28, 29 & 30

Four Winds Music & Art Festival (Dada Gastropub)

Food 01, 08, 15, 22 & 29

Falls Park Farmers Market (Falls Park)

02

Sioux Falls American Legion Post 15 Pancake Breakfast (South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance, Inc.)

07, 14, 21 & 28

Fridays on the plaza (Dakota News Now)

11, 18 & 25

Food Truck Tuesday (Golf Addiction)

Music

02

Good Earth State Park Summer Concert Series - Tom Watson (Good Earth State Park at Blood Run)

08

Randall King (the District)

09

Good Earth Summer Concert Series - Jetley Park (Good Earth State Park at Blood Run)

14

Larry Fleet (the District)

16

Good Earth Summer Concert Series - Cardboard Saints (Good Earth State Park at Blood Run)

19

In This Moment & Motionless In White (Denny Sanford PREMIER Center)

22

Bear Grillz (the District)

25

Incubus (Denny Sanford PREMIER Center)

30

Good Earth Summer Concert Series - Geoff Gunderson (Good Earth State Park at Blood Run)

Entertainment

21

An R-rated Magic Show (Washington Pavilion)

22

iMomSoHard (Washington Pavilion)

29 & 30

Sioux Falls Airshow (South Dakota Air National Guard)

Activities

04-12

84th Annual Sioux Empire Fair (W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds)

12

Second Annual Gear Giveaway (Outdoor Campus)

Music

18

Jason Aldean (Denny Sanford PREMIER Center)

Sports 08, 09 & 10 -

Sioux Falls Canaries vs. Sioux Kane County Cougars (Sioux Falls Stadium)

11, 12 & 13

Sioux Falls Canaries vs. Milwaukee Milkmen (Sioux Falls Stadium)

18, 19 & 20

Sioux Falls Canaries vs. Sioux City Explorers (Sioux Falls Stadium)

Food 01, 08, 15, 22 & 29

Food Truck Tuesday (Golf Addiction)

04, 11, 18 & 25

Fridays on the Plaza (Dakota News Now)

05, 12, 19 & 26

Falls Park Farmers Market (Falls Park)

06

Sioux Falls American Legion Post 15 Pancake Breakfast (South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance, Inc.)

18 LHSSTATESMAN.COM

02

MAY ISSUE 19

SAMANTHA ZEECK ARTWORK PROVIDED BY CANVA/JAKRAPOP GIUSEPPE RAMOS V, LADA BEREZKINA & JOÃO WAVES

DESIGN BY

BY ELANA BISHOP

Being surrounded in an environment with Gen Z, teachers have learned to pick up the younger person’s lingo. Let’s see how educated they are from all the daily gossip.

joshing

To kid or joke around.

“Don’t take his comment seriously, he was just joshing.”

@briankocer I agree. It means to joke or kid around.

“I told Elana she was a good student but I was joshing.”

@kaarenhuber Me too. It is when you are creatively making fun of somebody or something to get a laugh.

“We were joshing around in the hallway and everybody started laughing.”

rent free

Someone who cannot stop obsessively thinking about something or someone, particularly something unimportant or someone who is not even remotely thinking about them in return.

“AP Chem lives rent free in every student’s head all year.”

@shawnbogart Well obviously rent free means that you are not paying rent. It means with no obligation. Freely.

“Colter comes in every morning to hangout in Mr. Bogart’s classroom rent free.”

@mariochiarello Oh wait. OH WAIT. I GOT IT. It is when somebody does something to you and they live in your head rent free. They do not have to do anything anymore and you get pissed off anyways.

“Lebron James was living in Russell Westbrook’s head rent free because he kicked him off his team.”

ghosting

rent free ghosting

When a person cuts off all communication with zero warning or notice beforehand.

“Rice is not responding to my email about a blended day, I think he is ghosting me.”

@kyledietz Mmm... ghosting is when you pretend like you’re not there.

*Disappears during interview*

@adreasaez-troncoso hen you are talking to someone and that person just stops replying to you and you do not have an answer. And you are looking at the screen waiting for that answer but it never comes.

“I have been ghosted by my ex.”

DESIGN BY ELANA BISHOP ARTWORK BY ELANA BISHOP MAY ISSUE 21

DESIGN BY ELANA BISHOP ARTWORK BY ELANA BISHOP

MAY ISSUE 21

After four successful shows, the 2023 LHS musical, “Big Fish” has come to an end. The show follows Edward Bloom and his son, Will Bloom as they go over Edward’s life by reliving the greatly embellished stories he told Will. While Will was logical and stuck to the facts, Edward was drawn to a life of fantasy and wonder. He would tell Will stories of when he met a witch who told him about his future, along with meeting giants and the love of his life. Although these stories create the illusion that this play will have a happy ending, it was revealed that Edward was terminally ill and did not have much longer to live. After learning of his father’s illness, Will realized that although the stories his father told him were ridiculous, they had fundamental lessons that resonated with him.

The show had a heart-breaking ending and songs that were enough to make someone cry, with phenomenal acting and emotion. There was never a dull moment on stage, and during the more calm and sentimental parts of the play, the viewers could easily relate to the emotions being portrayed on stage. Each actor gave their performance their all, and after seeing the show there is no way anyone could say otherwise. The actors each had a different experience and reasoning for why they decided to dive into the wonderful world of acting.

1. “I stage managed the show, and so that means I did tech, I split up jobs and then I called the show: So I called cues.”

2. “I have been doing theater at Lincoln for four years, since my freshman year. I’m a senior this year. I’ve been stage managing since ‘Noises Off,’ so last year’s spring show.”

3. “My favorite part of every show is just watching it come together. It's always like right in the very beginning when we make the plan and right at the end of the show when we take down the set. Those are my two favorite parts because then I get to see how it's been created and how it's changed and then we get to have a full circle moment where the stage is empty again.”

4. “I have done community theater before, and when I got to Lincoln my freshman year, I thought it would be fun to hang out and do drama club and try out for the shows. Honestly, I found a family here and people that value my work and I value their work, they are all very talented people. I like surrounding myself with kind, caring individuals.”

5. “I learned that it's okay to kind of just sit back and be there for the ride a little bit and not stress myself out and that everything will come together in the end.”

1. “I played Will Bloom, who is the main character’s son. There is a lot of conflict between him and his father, which was challenging when it came to playing him. By far one of the most difficult and emotional stories I’ve been a part of!”

2. “I started acting when I was eight years old. My first role was King Louie [and] a rock in the ‘Jungle Book.’”

3. “I really loved the big scene at the end of the show when my character had a big change of heart about his father and started to play along with these crazy stories. It was really sad of course to think about my dad in that same position, but it was really touching to be a part of that moment.”

4. “When my sister was a junior in high school, she was in “Big Fish” at O’Gorman, so it’s super special and full-circle that I get to have that same experience. I also just love the musical so that’s a plus. I also liked that I got to help inspire people with a pretty emotional story while still having fun during it!”

5. “I had never been in a musical with a full orchestra before, so it was challenging getting used to that, and also pretty scary because of how cooperative it is and you don’t want to mess everyone else up!”

1. “I was the artistic director.”

2. “I’ve been acting, probably since I was 10…I co-own a theater company called the Good Night Theatre Collective. I’ve been directing adults with that since 2016, but I had never directed students in a full-length musical before, so this was my first time doing that. I assistant-directed ‘Julias Caesar’ with Mr. Hardie here in the fall of 2020, but aside from that I have kinda hidden away from our theater department, so this was a fun foray into that world.”

3. “I honestly feel like all of the collaboration, every actor, every technician, every musician, every teacher involved, we all put our heart and soul into this and it resulted in something beautiful, but without any of those pieces it wouldn’t have been what it was.”

4. “The theater is the meeting place of art and life, and in general theater is a beautiful place, it’s a beautiful art form. I also just love our theater students here, and being able to create with them is a treat.”

5. “I learned to trust the instincts of my student actors. They are incredibly smart, and when I told them you figure out where you should walk, where you should stand, do what feels natural to you and so often they would do that and raise the bar and do something totally interesting and totally natural for their character, and it’s better than what I could have told them.”

1. “I was the witch, I was an Alabama Lamb and I was also a townsfolk person.”

2. “I did a musical in fourth grade through DAPA, and I did Aladdin one year. But other than that, this is the first big musical I’ve been a part of.”

3. “All of the songs were so fun, especially if I’m not on the stage. Singing backstage was so fun.”

4. “It was very fun being a part of [‘Big Fish’] because all of the people were so inclusive and I just felt like I could be myself around them and just have fun without worrying about being judged.”

5. “I have learned how to be a better actor, but also, I’ve learned about the process of putting on a show: How much teamwork it takes to put on a show and how much communication and just working together as a whole in order to create a big story.”

MAY ISSUE 23

DESIGN

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SEAN BAKER MGB PHOTOGRAPHY ARTWORK BY ELLEN MERKLEY

BY ELLEN MERKLEY

Mrs. Winklepleck- Director Lucas Schreck- Junior Lillian Kellar - Senior Anna Leuning- Junior

People do not only buy cars because they are in need of one, but because they enjoy driving in spaces where they feel comfortable and content. The kinds of cars people drive can say a lot about that certain individual. Ultimately, cars can be a reflection of one’s personality. Some LHS staff members have been chosen to participate in a mix-and-match game. Use what you know best about your LHS teachers to correctly identify their corresponding vehicle.

BY ELYSSE WEBER BY ELYSSE WEBER

DESIGN BY

24 LHSSTATESMAN.COM MAY ISSUE 25

BY

CAROLINE HUGHES PHOTOS BY CAROLINE HUGHES

CAROLINE HUGHES

Jennifer DuBois Kyle Stegeman Abby Berke Kimberly Tollinger Sarah Winterscheidt

DESIGN WEBER PHOTOS WEBER

MAY ISSUE 25

DESIGN BY ELYSSE WEBER PHOTOS BY ELYSSE WEBER

Jennifer DuBois Kyle Stegeman Abby Berke Kimberly Tollinger Sarah Winterscheidt

LHS BATHR MS RANKED

BY FISHER MEYERINK & KATIE JENSEN

Aside from the halls and classrooms, LHS’s bathrooms are likely to be the most used spaces by LHS students. Whether using them to get away from the stress of schoolwork, take an important phone call or god forbid, use them for their intended purpose, it is important to know which bathrooms to avoid and which to visit.

Our bathroom ranking scale includes six measures: smell, cleanliness and vibe each weighted out of five; accessibility and shelves each scored out of two, and a point for skylights. While smell, cleanliness and vibe are likely to be the most noticeable things, the finer details can be what really pulls a good bathroom together. Now, let us get to ranking.

B�� S�� S�� (��)

This is perhaps the most barebone bathroom in the school. It does almost nothing right. The first thing I noticed upon entering this bathroom was a group of three kids huddled in a circle and the suspicious scent of skunk. Although it technically has a handicap accessible, it is the only stall, meaning that it will almost always be in use. There are some shelves, but they are very narrow. Even the skylight is underwhelming considering the several lights surrounding it, ultimately rendering it useless. Overall, if you gotta escape school life for whatever reason, I would avoid this bathroom.

S��: 1/5

C��: 2/5

V��: 2/5

B�� S�� C�� (��)

This bathroom was closed when I tried to review it, so in my mind it doesn’t exist.

S��: 2/5

C��: 5/5

V��: 2/5

A��: 1/3

S��: 0/2

T��: 6/20

B�� S�� S�� (��)

This bathroom gains points for the lovely shade of pink and the skylight alone. It also is the only girl’s bathroom in A-Wing that has a handicapped stall (even if it is often filled with a group of girls). But those may be the only benefits of this bathroom. This bathroom is in a very high-traffic area, so it is usually quite busy and usually has a few toilet rolls laying around on the ground.

S��: 3/5

C��: 2/5

V��: 4/5

B�� S�� C�� (��)

This color is substantially worse than the beautiful pink in the bathroom on the other side of the hallway. The skylight and the rare case of warm water sometimes coming out of the faucets definitely adds to the establishment, the fact that this bathroom does not have a handicapped stall definitely knocks it down. This bathroom is often quite peaceful and clean considering it is usually empty.

S��: 5/5

C��: 5/5

V��: 3/5

A��: 3/3 S��: 2/2 T��: 14/20

A��: 0/3

2/2 T��: 15/20

B�� S�� S�� (��)

As I walk into the other yellow-shaded bathroom, I am reminded of all of the times I have used this bathroom to escape AP Statistics every once in a while. Although this might be the one I go to the most, I believe so does everyone else. It is often accompanied by at least three other girls and many teachers talking outside of it which is not helpful if you are pee-shy. It also has a quite distinct smell. This bathroom also does not supply a handicapped stall despite it being labeled as one.

A��: 0/3

S��: 1/2

T��: 10/20

B�� S�� S�� (��)

This is perhaps the most mediocre bathroom imaginable. That being said, it gets the job done. It is surprisingly clean, it smells fine and it feels fine to be in. The only flagrant negative to this bathroom is the lack of accessibility. Visit this bathroom if you want; it is probably the best option in A-Wing.

S��: 4/5

C��: 4/5

V��: 3/5

B�� L�� E-�� (��)

The most recent expansion of LHS was to make the E-Wing bathroom accessible from both inside and outside the school. Along with this quality of life addition came an overhaul of these bathrooms, swiftly turning them into a dream come true. The lower E-Wing bathroom is simply perfect. Walking inside I feel a warmness fill my soul only comparable to the feeling of an embrace from a parent, or seeing someone eat it on the staircase up to E Wing. I have no notes. Visit as often as you can.

S��: 5/5

C��: 5/5

V��: 5/5

B�� U�� E-�� (��)

This bathroom has built a bit of a reputation as a refuge for the school’s less than PG activities. I would be lying if I claimed not to have seen my fair share of students being escorted out of here by Mr. Lynch, but ultimately, this is not the main issue with the upper E-Wing Bathroom. I am not a claustrophobic person, but the second I step into that stuffy, compact room, I feel a wave of dread wash over me. There are no shelves, no skylights and possibly the worst vibe imaginable. This bathroom truly is unique in its awfulness. AVOID AT ALL COST.

S��: 3/5

C��: 1/5

V��: 0/5

A��: 0/3

S��: 1/2

T��: 12/20

A��: 3/3

S��: 2/2

T��: 20/20

A��: 1/3

S��: 0/2

T��: 5/20

S��: 1/5

C��: 2/5

V��: 3/5

B�� L�� E-�� (��)

Though this bathroom started as a controversy when it blocked off a majority of the lower E-Wing at the beginning of the year, many would argue that it is worth it. This bathroom is a crowd favorite for a reason, the cleanliness of the bathroom including a handicapped stall. A huge bonus is that all of the sinks are accompanied by mirrors. Though the small foyer outside of the bathroom may cause lots of loitering from students skipping class and teachers trying to catch them, this bathroom is definitely at the top of my list.

S��: 5/5

C��: 5/5

V��: 5/5

B�� U�� E-�� (��)

Considering this was the only bathroom in the entire E-Wing for a substantial amount of time, this bathroom is pretty good. There is a plethora of stalls to choose from and unlike many other LHS bathrooms actually has a handicap stall. Many girls can be spotted taking mirror pics in one of the only full-length mirrors in the school, but the best part about this bathroom is that each of the sinks is accompanied by a mirror above it.

F�� R��:

1��: Lower E-Wing (boys/girls) 20/20

2��: Upper E-Wing (girls) 17/20

3��: South Cafeteria (girls) 15/20

4��: School Store (girls) 14/20

5��: Student Services (boys) 12/20

S��: 4/5

C��: 4/5

V��: 4/5

A��: 0/3 S��: 2/2 T��: 8/20

A��: 3/3 S��: 2/2 T��: 20/20

A��: 3/3 S��: 2/2 T��: 17/20

6��: South Cafeteria (boys) 10/20

7��: School Store (boys) 6/20

8��: Student Services (girls) 8/20

9��: Upper E-Wing (boys) 5/20

PHOTOS BY EMMA FORSTER DESIGN BY EMMA FORSTER 26 LHSSTATESMAN.COM

S��:

MAY ISSUE 27

BY RAINA MARTY BY RAINA MARTY

There are a large variety of sports throughout LHS. Playing sports through school allows students to get out of their comfort zone with little cost. This way they get to experience sports and teams that they might not have had the opportunity to do so before. However, there are some sports that do not get the same opportunities.

When sports are sanctioned it means that the teams get full funding. This goes for covering transportation, equipment, jerseys and anything else the teams might need. At LHS, softball is sanctioned whereas baseball is not sanctioned.

“I love that softball has become sanctioned but when it got moved to spring it definitely made things different,” said junior Norah Christiansen, LHS softball player. “I am also in track right now, but I have been managing both.

Now that it is sanctioned we can travel as a team on buses. I don’t know the exact reason why softball got sanctioned but I know the small town schools wanted to have athletes to be able to play volleyball in the fall too. But now that it is sanctioned we are backed by the school and the sport is taken more seriously.”

“I love that softball has become sanctioned but when it got moved to spring it definitely made things different,” said junior Norah Christiansen, LHS softball player. “I am also in track right now, but I have been managing both. Now that it is sanctioned we can travel as a team on buses. I don’t know the exact reason why softball got sanctioned but I know the small town schools wanted to have athletes to be able to play volleyball in the fall too. But now that it is sanctioned we are backed by the school and the sport is taken more seriously.”

Softball did not get sanctioned out of nowhere. There is a lot that goes into a sport getting school funding.

“The sanctioning of softball had a lot of pros and cons which included a lot of happy people and a lot of angry people. But without a doubt it has its benefits. First off, we no longer have to pay individually to play the sport and we don’t need to pay for uniforms or anything like that. Since

we get to ride a bus the school provides, it is now a big part of team bonding that we were missing before,” said senior Dilynn Severson, LHS softball player.

As this is the first year softball has been sanctioned, many upperclassmen on the team were not sure what it would be like now that their sport was being supported by the school.

“Softball being sanctioned has helped because we have athletic trainers in the dugouts now which has been helpful on some occasions and it’s been really fun getting to know them. I didn’t know exactly how it would go being sanctioned but it’s been a fun experience,” said senior Payton Seefeldt, LHS softball player. A lot of players find the sanctioning very helpful. Although, there are people who will still be a part of the school team no matter the cost. Even with softball not being sanctioned in previous years, they still had enough players. As this is softball’s first year being sanctioned, the veterans of the team notice this change.

“Softball being sanctioned has helped because we have athletic trainers in the dugouts now which has been helpful on some occasions and it’s been really fun getting to know them. I didn’t know exactly how it would go being sanctioned but it’s been a fun experience,” said senior Payton Seefeldt, LHS softball player.

A lot of players find the sanctioning very helpful. Although, there are people who will still be a part of the school team no matter the cost. Even with softball not being sanctioned in previous years, they still had enough players. As this is softball’s first year being sanctioned, the veterans of the team notice this change.

“Personally, I liked when softball was not sanctioned because it was warmer and right at the beginning of the school year versus in March when it was still snowing. But it’s cool to have buses and to be able to practice at school with the turf and gym. I played for three years when it wasn’t sanctioned and this is obviously my first year with it being sanctioned and it’s still just softball,” said Severson.

Not only do we have LHS softball but there is also LHS baseball, except it is not sanctioned. The boys have to put their own money forth while raising money on top of that, but they still have fun being on the team, it just takes a little more work

to make it happen.

“For fundraising, we did this thing for the Super Bowl where you buy squares and they have numbers on them and if the quarter ends with your number then you win money,” said junior Sawyer Mindt, LHS baseball player. “We split the profit half to the winners and half to the boosters. I think it should be sanctioned so that kids don’t have to pay for it. It costs a lot so some kids can’t play it. If it was a school sponsored sport it would have more people.”

Sanctioning baseball would allow others to feel more invited to play the sport for their school. Once someone hears how much they have to pay the whole fun is taken out and it seems like they do not even want to play anymore.

“For fundraising, we did this thing for the Super Bowl where you buy squares and they have numbers on them and if the quarter ends with your number then you win money,” said junior Sawyer Mindt, LHS baseball player. “We split the profit half to the winners and half to the boosters. I think it should be sanctioned so that kids don’t have to pay for it. It costs a lot so some kids can’t play it. If it was a school sponsored sport it would have more people.” Sanctioning baseball would allow others to feel more invited to play the sport for their school. Once someone hears how much they have to pay the whole fun is taken out and it seems like they do not even want to play anymore.

“Individually we all pay a fee of $500,” said junior Caden Watson, LHS baseball player. “Then as a team we all sell Super Bowl squares as a way to make money for team equipment such as helmets. I think baseball should be sanctioned because it is a pretty popular sport and is one of the most played across the country. It would also make baseball more affordable and more accessible for everyone in the school and expand the opportunity to play.”

When softball was not sanctioned last year, they fundraised. They still continue to do the exciting fundraising that they did in previous years for some extra money.

“In the past for fundraising we have sold Krispy Kreme donuts which was a huge fundraiser for us,” said Christiansen. “We still do that fundraiser. This year, we helped at the concessions at the Big Sioux basketball games and Harrisburg Elementary. We now get money from the school but we still need extra money for all the extra things we like to get like food, spirit wear, and extra team bonding activities.”

As the boys put money forward towards the sport they love, they still enjoy all the fun they have during the season.

“There are so many great memories I have with LHS baseball like winning state and going down to Kansas. That’s always such a fun trip and just being around my friends playing my favorite sport,” said junior Kooper Perry, LHS baseball player.

Last year the baseball players worked hard and won their championship. Hopefully the sport gets sanctioned soon enough so more incredible players can help take home the winning title.

“I really like that Lincoln baseball is a chance to play with some different guys than you do in the summer and have an opportunity to win a state championship for your school,” said Watson.

DESIGN BY RAINA MARTY PHOTOS PROVIDED BY LHS SOFBTALL & BASEBALL PLAYERS MAY ISSUE 29 28 LHSSTATESMAN.COM

up to

againstBrandon.

Madison Evans, Norah Christiansen, Dilynn Severson and Marisa Riddle doing the starting lineup before the game.

Kooper Perry

bat

Norah Christiansen hitting against Jefferson at Augustana University’s new softball field. Caden Watson on the mound getting ready to throw a strike.

DESIGN BY RAINA MARTY PHOTOS PROVIDED BY LHS SOFBTALL & BASEBALL PLAYERS MAY ISSUE 29 28 LHSSTATESMAN.COM

Madison Evans, Norah Christiansen, Dilynn Severson and Marisa Riddle doing the starting lineup before the game. Kooper Perry up to bat againstBrandon. Norah Christiansen hitting against Jefferson at Augustana University’s new softball field. Caden Watson on the mound getting ready to throw a strike. BY ELLA DUBOIS & LUCAS HIATT BY ELLA DUBOIS & LUCAS HIATT BY DUBOIS &

From team sports to individual efforts, the LHS sports season has presented the Pats with some of the state’s most exciting moments in South Dakota activities. We have compiled five of the most exciting moments in LHS athletics this season.

From team sports to individual efforts, the LHS sports season has the Pats with some of the state’s most exciting moments in Dakota activities. We have compiled five of the most exciting in LHS athletics this season.

From team sports to individual efforts, the LHS sports season has presented the Pats with some of the state’s most exciting moments in South Dakota activities. We have compiled five of the most exciting moments in LHS athletics this season.

Throughout the fall volleyball season, a key piece to the success of the Pats was Jazmen

Kutey. Kutey is a 6’1” middle hitter and a force to be reckoned with at the net. Her efforts in the front turned the wheels for the Pats’ season as a whole as she led the state in blocks. A monstrous 149 blocks outpaced the second highest blocks for an individual by 65 blocks. Kutey was able to reach an astounding record at LHS for seven blocks in a single game. All these feats Kutey has been able to accomplish as her first year starting on the varsity floor. With another year left, she will be making major contributions for this team on and off the floor as a leader of

Throughout the fall volleyball season, a key piece to the success of the Pats was Jazmen Kutey. Kutey is a 6’1” middle hitter and a force to be reckoned with at the net. Her efforts in the front turned the wheels for the Pats’ season as a whole as she the state in blocks. A monstrous 149 blocks outpaced the second highest blocks for an individual by 65 blocks. Kutey was able to reach an astounding record at LHS for seven blocks in a single game. All these feats Kutey has been able to accomplish as her first year starting on the varsity floor. With another year left, she will be making major contributions for this team on and off the floor as a leader of the team.

Kutey. Kutey is a 6’1” middle hitter and a force to be reckoned with at the net. Her efforts in the front turned the wheels for the Pats’ season as a whole as she led the state in blocks. A monstrous 149 blocks outpaced the second highest blocks for an individual by 65 blocks. Kutey was able to reach an astounding record at LHS for seven blocks in a single game. All these feats Kutey has been able to accomplish as her first year starting on the varsity floor. With another year left, she will be making major contributions for this team on and off the floor as a leader of

“I hope to be a better role model and someone to look up to and help the incoming freshman,” said Kutey.

An outstanding underclassman for the LHS track team has been Griffin Fischer. Fischer is a sophomore short and mid distance runner who has been breaking records and setting new PRs this entire season. He has set the seventh all-time LHS school record in the 100m at 10.80 seconds and third all-time in the 200m with 21.79 seconds. Fischer has big shoes to fill being the brother of the LHS 100m all-time record holder, Gavin Fischer. With the rest of his sophomore season and the success he has been able to achieve so far in his short lived high school career, Fischer will be sure to come close if not break his brother’s record.

One of the most unexpectedly close games in the LHS football season was against Rapid City Stevens High School in which wide receiver Jack Smith broke the receiving yards record for a single game at LHS. Smith’s performance was by far the deciding factor that led the Pats to victory. Smith received for a total of 377 yards, catching 21 passes and averaging nearly 18 yards per reception. Despite Smith’s performance, the procession of the game was too close for the Patriots’ comfort. Having been up by three touchdowns in the first half, the game quickly shifted as the second half brought 21 unanswered points for the Raiders to send it into OT where the Patriots won 37-34. Smith stepped up in one of the greatest receiving performances in South Dakota history.

One the most games the LHS football season was against Rapid City Stevens High in which wide broke the receiving yards record for a single game at LHS. Smith’s was by the that led Pats to victory. Smith received for a total of 377 yards, catching passes nearly yards per reception. Despite Smith’s performance, the of the was close for the comfort. Having been up by three touchdowns in the first half, the game second half brought 21 unanswered points for the Raiders to send it into OT Smith stepped up in one of the greatest receiving Dakota

One of the most unexpectedly close games in the LHS football season was against Rapid City Stevens High School in which wide receiver Jack Smith broke the receiving yards record for a single game at LHS. Smith’s performance was by far the deciding factor that led the Pats to victory. Smith received for a total of 377 yards, catching 21 passes and averaging nearly 18 yards per reception. Despite Smith’s performance, the procession of the game was too close for the Patriots’ comfort. Having been up by three touchdowns in the first half, the game quickly shifted as the second half brought 21 unanswered points for the Raiders to send it into OT where the Patriots won 37-34. Smith stepped up in one of the greatest receiving performances in South Dakota history.

“It was one of the best games I’ve ever been in,” said Smith. “The support from my team, the coaches and all the fans was great.”

“It was one of the said Smith. “The support from my team, the coaches and the fans was great.”

“It was one of the best games I’ve ever been in,” said Smith. “The support from my team, the coaches and all the fans was great.”

However, this overtime battle was also an all around effort from the whole team. The QB, Tate Schafer, did his part always making sure to find the open man and throwing it right to the receiver’s hands. Despite a drought of scoring in the second half, the team was able to get together and make an effort in OT. Schafer ended up finding Sam Hindbjorgen for the ending touchdown to seal the deal. It was the maximum effort by the Patriots which allowed this performance to shine.

However, overtime also all around effort from the whole team. The QB, Tate Schafer, did his part always man and throwing it right to the receiver’s hands. Despite of scoring half, the team was able to get together and make an effort in Schafer up Hindbjorgen the ending to seal the deal. It was the maximum the Patriots which this to shine.

However, this overtime battle was also an all around effort from the whole team. The QB, Tate Schafer, did his part always making sure to find the open man and throwing it right to the receiver’s hands. Despite a drought of scoring in the second half, the team was able to get together and make an effort in OT. Schafer ended up finding Sam Hindbjorgen for the ending touchdown to seal the deal. It was the maximum effort by the Patriots which allowed this performance to shine.

“I knew that my team had my back,” said Smith. “If I wasn’t performing at my highest they would back me up and do what they needed to do to win the game.”

“I knew my team said “If I wasn’t performing at my highest they would back me do what they do win game.”

“I knew that my team had my back,” said Smith. “If I wasn’t performing at my highest they would back me up and do what they needed to do to win the game.”

“I’d have to say [I look up to] my older brother because he has helped me grow as an athlete,” said Fischer. “He is the one who continues to keep pushing and motivating me. While he may have the record in the 100m at LHS, it’s not going to last because I’ve still got a few years left to dethrone him.” Being in a position where all eyes are on him as a sophomore has forced Fischer to stay consistent in his training, making sure he is performing the same week to week. A daunting feeling for any track athlete is not being able to measure up to your past marks which has been a motivator for Fischer and a fear that has allowed him to keep a level head. With hopes of continuing his streak of PRs, Fischer’s efforts in practice and training are going to dictate whether he will continue to measure up to the feats he’s accomplished.

“I’d have to say [I look up to] my older brother because he has helped me grow as an athlete,” said Fischer. “He is the one who continues to keep pushing and motivating me. While he may have the record in the 100m at LHS, it’s not going to last because I’ve still got a few years left to dethrone him.”

Being in a position where all eyes are on him as a sophomore has forced Fischer to stay consistent in his training, making sure he is performing the same week to week. A daunting feeling for any track athlete is not being able to measure up to your past marks which has been a motivator for Fischer and a fear that has allowed him to keep a level head. With hopes of continuing his streak of PRs, Fischer’s efforts in practice and training are going to dictate whether he will continue to measure up to the feats he’s accomplished. “The next race isn’t a guaranteed first place,” said Fischer. “No matter how I run this week, there is no way of knowing next week’s results. I work hard and try to stay consistent in my training in order to prepare myself for each race.”

“I’d have to say [I look up to] my older brother because he has helped me grow as an athlete,” said Fischer. “He is the one who continues to keep pushing and motivating me. While he may have the record in the 100m at LHS, it’s not going to last because I’ve still got a few years left to dethrone him.” Being in a position where all eyes are on him as a sophomore has forced Fischer to stay consistent in his training, making sure he is performing the same week to week. A daunting feeling for any track athlete is not being able to measure up to your past marks which has been a motivator for Fischer and a fear that has allowed him to keep a level head. With hopes of continuing his streak of PRs, Fischer’s efforts in practice and training are going to dictate whether he will continue to measure up to the feats he’s accomplished. “The next race isn’t a guaranteed first place,” said Fischer. “No matter how I run this week, there is no way of knowing next week’s results. I work hard and try to stay consistent in my training in order to prepare myself for each race.”

“The next race isn’t a guaranteed first place,” said Fischer. “No matter how I run this week, there is no way of knowing next week’s results. I work hard and try to stay consistent in my training in order to prepare myself for each race.”

In the fall XC season, the Pats competed in Huron where senior Ali Bainbridge won the AA State meet with a final time of 17:26.09 in the 5k run. She won the race by 24 seconds ahead of OGHS runner Libby Castelli. Bainbridge has been involved in XC since her seventh grade year which made her final senior year win that much more exciting for her.

“It was really rewarding to end on a good win after competing in the sport for six years,” said Bainbridge.

The LHS girls XC team finished third in the state with 115 points. Bainbridge was invited to run in the Nike XC Nationals in Portland, OR. on Dec. 3, 2022, and she finished 22nd in the nation. Her support from her parents and teammates has pushed her to be the athlete that she is.

“When I made it to nationals the boys’ team came out and watched me,” said Bainbridge.

“When I made it to nationals the boys’ team came out and watched me,” said Bainbridge. This year, she was named 2022 cross country Gatorade Player of the Year for the second time, the first time being in 2019. Bainbridge had a very successful high school career and will continue to compete at UNL.

This year, she was named 2022 cross country Gatorade Player of the Year for the second time, the first time being in 2019. Bainbridge had a very successful high school career and will continue to compete at UNL.

LHS basketball has become synonymous with the seven footer, JT Rock. Rock has gained attention from the entire nation as one of the highest rated players at his position. This season, Rock has verbally committed to play basketball at Iowa State. Throughout the season, Rock has been impressive in the paint and all around as he occasionally shoots from beyond the arc. However, the most exciting part of Rock’s performances is when he throws it down, immediately bringing the entire gym to its feet. The most exciting instance where Rock had a dunk was in the regular season when LHS played the WHS Arrows. Rock broke the rim on a slam dunk off an assist from senior guard, Jack Hilgenberg. The game was immediately stopped and after a delay, was forced to be moved to the auxiliary gym where the final score ended up at 7460 in favor of the Pats.

30 LHSSTATESMAN.COM MAY ISSUE 31

OIS & LUCAS HIATT LHS STUDENTS

not

30 LHSSTATESMAN.COM MAY ISSUE 31

LHS STUDENTS

& LUCAS HIATT

I’ve making

30 LHSSTATESMAN.COM MAY ISSUE 31

DESIGN

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY LHS STUDENTS

BY ELLA DUBOIS & LUCAS HIATT

if

to past to measure

OnDecember 29, 2012, half of my world was taken from me; my 43-year-old mother, who cherished nothing more than her children and singing, succumbed to alcoholism. Mother’s Day has never since been the same; rather than spending the day making gifts for my mom, it is now spent thinking about the childhood I never got to have.

Akin to most seven-year-old children, my younger self had no worries in the world aside from how long I could spend outside and wondering when the next day I would be at my mom’s house was. In these limited times, my mom would take my sister and I to grab donuts at the Get-N-Go across the street before school. On the bus ride home, she would sing to us, blocking out the eccentrics who roamed the public city metro. We would come home to the apartment that was too small to house the two cats that she owned, and my mom would hardly take her shoes and jacket off if she knew we were even slightly hungry.

Reflecting back on the seven short years of my life that were spent switching from mom and dad’s house, I no longer have the resentful view of my mom that I adopted in the years following her death. I no longer blame her for letting us live in the imperfect area of town, or not being able to buy the onbrand food. More importantly, I no longer blame her for leaving me without a mom, and my dad without the mother of his girls. Instead I acknowledge her selflessness and devotion to her two youngest children. I cherish her willpower to raise my sister and I while struggling through her own battles of addiction and mental health. I can only hope to become a fraction of the woman she was; my message to my mom is thank you for doing your absolute best and allowing me to appreciate what is not yet gone.

“It takes a village” could very well be the phrase to describe my entire life. Not having a mother to take over certain responsibilities, the women in my life have led, and continue to lead me through all of the torment that life seems to keep chucking directly towards me. My sister Daisy, my built-in best friend and my anchor is undoubtedly the biggest reason I am able to write this today. In part because of the fact that we experienced the same loss, but also because that loss brought us closer together. Through everything, she was the light I needed when all I could see was darkness.

I cannot go a Mother’s Day without thanking my mom’s sisters, Cami and Dove, who continue to share stories of my mom and keep her spirit alive. Memories of my mom fade as I grow older, but every time I speak to either of them, their spunky and hilarious personalities paint a clear picture of the amazing woman she was. Thank you both for sharing the

memories of my mom with me that I never got to hear from her, and for always keeping me in mind even though you were going through the same loss.

On two separate instances, my dad was unable to care for Daisy and I, so we were sent to live with relatives. On the first occasion, my Grandma, who has since passed, took us in with open arms. No matter how busy or tired she was, a homemade dinner always made it to the table and she always made it a point to tuck us into bed. Although I was just a bit too young to understand, I want my Grandma to know that I have since realized and recognized the sacrifices she must have made in order to not only put a roof over our heads, but to make us as happy as she could, and for that I say thank you.

The second time I was relocated turned out to be my forever home as the result of my dad passing away. On top of having a newborn, two teenage girls were placed with my Aunt Tracie and Uncle David. Tracie, who has also since passed, was the true definition of selflessness. Tracie had alphabet soup when it came to health issues, and it is undeniable that her quality of life was impaired as a result. Even so, daily trips to get ice cream and the periodical shopping day were never turned down. Although not connected through blood, Tracie did everything in her power to ensure that all of our needs were met and to teach the occasional life lesson, as a mother would. Tracie, thank you for teaching me what it means to be an independent woman, and I live through your altruistic character every day.

My village consists of not only family, but also people who I am around every day. If I were to write a thank you to every female teacher who has ever had an impact on my life, the rest of these pages would be filled. Unlike some teachers who gave the occasional smile in the hallway after class was out, my journalism advisor, Dr. Katie Kroeze will stop everything she is doing just to say hello. My junior year, Dr. Kroeze let me join the Statesman, but not without hesitation. Pre-Statesman, I turned every single journalism assignment in late, a fact that I am not proud of. Dr. Kroeze, however, saw past this and took a chance. Comparing my sophomore and junior self, pre and post-Statesman, I am now more confident in not only my writing, but in myself as a person. Furthermore, she inspires me to be a better student. Without fail, Dr. Kroeze always greets me with a smile, and notices when I am not having a good day. She is someone who I will always look to for advice or when there is something on my mind. We are in no way related, but I am glad to say that she is a part of my village, and I owe her everything because she changed my life by just being herself. Dr. Kroeze, my teacher mom, thank you for going further than your job requires, and getting to know each and every one of your students. Thank you for instilling confidence in me, and for being my proof that there are still good people in the world.

I am so thankful that I have a mother as supportive as you. I admire your courage and your ability to speak up for yourself, and I appreciate how you encourage me to do the same. I can only hope that someday I will be as wise and compassionate as you. Until then, I will continue to be ambitious because of who you are: a woman who makes me believe that I can do anything I put my mind to and exemplifies every day what it means to be strong.

Mom, you are so amazing. You do so much and are always there for me. I don’t know what I would do without you! You inspire me with your hard work and you are always supportive of me. I love hanging out with you no matter what we are doing, although my preferred activity is just some good old fashioned TV binging. You are a wonderful mom; thank you for the many bedtime stories, sick-day comforts, hugs and unconditional love you have given me over the years. Even though it gets a bit repetitive when people constantly make the astute, and completely novel observation that I look like you, I love being your mini me and your daughter.

You know, through our ups and downs, our stupid fights and useless breakdowns, I still see you as my best friend every day and our relationship is one that could never be replicated. We are literally the same person and I don’t see that ever changing. Your ability to be herself in any and every situation, is why everyone tends to love you so much.

As I have aged I have realized how similar we are. We are both compassionate, focused, and dedicated. Our bond is undeniable, as we can be best friends one moment, and getting on each other’s nerves the next. But, I wouldn’t have it any other way. These qualities have morphed me into the person I am today, and I attribute all my successes to your never-ending love and support. I love you, NaNa.

Mom, you are my best friend and my biggest supporter. Despite the challenges life has given you, you’ve remained the most joyful person I know. I hope you always remember the light you possess. You make everyone around you feel loved and important. Thank you for being such an amazing woman and role model. I love you MORE. Your crazy nature as well as your smile and laugh is what I love most about you.

You have guided me through every path in my life, and I am forever grateful for all of the support and wisdom you have given me. Thank you for all that you have done, and I will always be so incredibly lucky to have an amazing mom like you. I love that you care so deeply about every facet of life, whether it be helping strangers or our family itself. You can always befriend and connect with people no matter how different they may be, and I will always want to emulate that within my own life. You have taught me so much, and I know that you will continue to for the rest of my life.

herself 32 LHSSTATESMAN.COM MAY ISSUE 33 DESIGN BY ZOE LARSON ARTWORK BY ZOE LARSON BY

ZOE LARSON

without a mom mother’s day

BY JADA SANDVALL

YEAR 3

Yet another year has passed, and I still hate Mother’s Day. Since last year, I have gotten two tattoos in my mother’s honor, met for lunch with her friends and worn countless pairs of her shoes, but still nothing has been able to change my opinion. Mother’s Day is a day I dread every single waking moment of the year.

It has been exactly two years, seven months and one week since my mother passed away and I currently sit at my computer staring at a blank document attempting to find words for my last homage to the person I learned to love so fondly since I was an infant. The person who hasn’t physically been here but has continued to change my life.

I was only nine months old when I was adopted from China by two Midwestern figures who I would learn to call mom and dad. However, for me, I would soon grow to believe that growing up alongside someone chronically ill was simply normal. Now, for many kids my age this seems scary. I’m not saying that it’s not, but looking back, the experiences and memories mean that much more. Yes, I spent days in the hospital with my mom and counting her pills but we also spent countless hours shopping and getting our nails done together. Chronic illness can take over someone’s life so quickly but not their soul, that part I believe will always remain untouched.

While being a senior is quite bittersweet already, it stings just that much more knowing she won’t be here to experience me in new stages of life. Planning my graduation party, going on my senior trip, college move-in day and so many more once-in-a-lifetime events, all without her. Knowing the days were limited, I think about how my mother just wanted to make it to watch me walk across the stage at graduation. In these moments, there is a spot that has felt dead since Oct. 7, 2020 because she never completed her dreams. However, in those same moments it still seems so healthy when I can faintly see her smile and the twinkle in her eyes that I will never forget.

I owe so much to my mother and that may seem like a very obvious statement for many, but for me, it is one to be recognized. The title she held as not only my mother but my best friend can never be replaced by anyone or anything. There is nothing I wish more than for just one last moment with her, but I know the laughs, smiles and memories of my beautiful mother will continue to fill my brain each and every day. My heart lights up at the thought of getting to share with the world the morals and kind heart this wonderful woman gifted me.

In my past three years writing this story, there is something that is yet to change. Yes, my undying dislike for this day, but more importantly, the importance of love and recognition in all we as humans do. Life is short. Don’t take time for granted. Love those around you and cherish the time you get to spend with them.

I will leave you with something my mom preached since I could ever remember: “Be kind before anything because kindness reaches hearts much faster than hatred.” In other words, be kind, love always.

34 LHSSTATESMAN.COM

photos

design by Jada Sandvall

by Jada Sandvall

BY KATE TOLLINGER

13 years ago my parents made the decision to put me in the Spanish Immersion Program at Rosa Parks Elementary School. At the time, it was a new program with only two classes. As crazy as it sounds, I remember the majority of my kindergarten year, and a lot of it was miserable. I cried every day for months, and my parents were very close to taking me out of the program and sending me to a “normal” elementary school. Fast forward to now, I can firmly say that the decision to keep me in the program was the best decision my parents have ever made for me. The SIP pushed me to be the person I am today, allowed me to find confidence in whatever task is in front of me and ultimately led me to discover the dreams I have yet to accomplish. To this day, I continue to find ways in which this program has helped me throughout my life. I have gained life lessons, awesome experiences, friends that are now family and a passion for teaching; yet, I also believe that this program will forever inspire me no matter what stage of life I’m in.

BY DANIEL VALENTINE BY DANIEL VALENTINE

If you have spent any amount of time online, you may have heard whispers about an argument occuring in the trenches of Twitter threads. Would a billion lions from the real world be able to defeat over 1,000 fictional beasts from the world of Pokémon?

For the sake of this argument, only wild Pokémon will be taken into consideration. Also, only male lions will be considered, which are physically larger but they tend to be weaker in terms of hunting, as lionesses tend to do most of the hunting in their prides. This is also going to exclude the energy arguments.

For the sake of this paper, lions have more than their natural four hours of hunting energy and the Pokémon will have unlimited attacking power. However, we will be leaving out gimmick formes like mega evolutions and z-moves, which are elements of the Pokémon world that are influenced by the “player” character. This would also mean that only one of each dex entry would be taken into account, leaving out “regional” forms that have alternative typings- only counting Pokémon if they have an entry in the archive known as the PokéDex. This extremely pressing and divisive issue has two sides

that are taken in this argument. The first is that lions would absolutely win by sheer numbers alone, being as a billion is a large number of anything, but especially lions. When LHS was surveyed on this matter, the 27.8% lion defenders of our high school echoed these notions.

The first is that lions would absolutely win by sheer numbers alone, being as a billion is a large number of anything, but especially lions. When LHS was surveyed on this matter, the 27.8% lion defenders of our high school echoed these notions.

“I don’t think people know how much one billion is,” said one student.

“There’s power in numbers,” said another. Considering that there are a little over 1,000 Pokémon, each monster would have to take on one million lions by themselves. This includes the small and wimpy creatures, like Pichu, the pre-evolution to the popular Pikachu. “Lots of Pokémon are small, so those are easy pickings. [T] he bigger ones are easily outmatched by the sheer amount of lions they oppose,” said a LHS lion defender. However, this hypothetical also includes a handful of deity Pokémon like Arceus, Dialga, Palkia and Giratina. Each of these four Pokémon have world ending powers and Arceus is by definition in the PokéDex, basically the God Pokémon. Despite this, lion defenders claim that there is no possible way that each individual Pokémon could take on a million lions on their own.

Turning over to the Pokémon side of this argument, Pokémon defenders claim that strong types of Pokémon would be able to hold their own against the horde of lions. There exist 140 flying types of Pokémon, which could not be reached by the lions. There are almost 35 ghost type Pokémon that cannot be hit by physical attacks. “Ghost type Pokémon cannot

be hit with physical attacks.

What’s the lion gonna do?

be hit with physical attacks. What’s the lion gonna do? Roar? [One] ghost type wipes them all. It’s that simple,” said an LHS student. All 35 million of these lions are dead meat. Furthermore, some say other strong types of Pokémon like fire and electric would easily be able to overpower each of their respective one million lions. “I’m imagining multiple [Pokémon raining] fire all over the lions. Couldn’t one of the Pokémon just remove the oxygen? It would be over [for the lions],” said Travis Auckerman, LHS psychology teacher. Going off this logic, the 86 electric types and 85 fire types would leave 171 million lions. There exists a lava snail Pokémon called Magcargo. This is a Pokémon that allegedly reaches temperatures up to 18,000 degrees Fahrenheit, according to its PokéDex entry. That is hotter than the sun itself, so the logistics of this Pokémon are highly debated, but assuming that this world-breaking factor is used to the advantage of the Pokémon, Magcargo easily defeats more than one million lions on its own.

Roar? [One] ghost type wipes them all. It’s that simple,” said an LHS student. All 35 million of these lions are dead meat. Furthermore, some say other strong types of Pokémon like fire and electric would easily be able to overpower each of their respective one million lions. “I’m imagining multiple [Pokémon raining] fire all over the lions. Couldn’t one of the Pokémon just remove the oxygen? It would be over [for the lions],” said Travis Auckerman, LHS psychology teacher. Going off this logic, the 86 electric types and 85 fire types would leave 171 million lions. There exists a lava snail Pokémon called Magcargo. This is a Pokémon that allegedly reaches temperatures up to 18,000 degrees Fahrenheit, according to its PokéDex entry. That is hotter than the sun itself, so the logistics of this Pokémon are highly debated, but assuming that this world-breaking factor is used to the advantage of the Pokémon, Magcargo easily defeats more than one million lions on its own.

Most rebuttals to these points include solid counter arguments, like that there are Pokémon in these categories that are similar to lion’s natural prey, like the giraffe and zebra Pokémon, Girafarig and Zebstrika, respectively. One million lions would be able to eat these individual Pokémon easily, and many more. However, leaning on the side of absurdity, is the argument that the lions could form a “lion ladder” to attack any flying Pokémon.

Additionally, some say that this horde of lions could create an impenetrable “wave” of lions to easily overwhelm the monsters.

One wave enjoyer from Parkway Central High School in Missouri argued that a highly coordinated population of lions could pull this off. “[Flying types] need to land and/or get close to attack the lions, at which point the wave of lions will pile upon each other to reach them. Easy, done. The Lion Ladder will prevail,” said Wesley Henshaw

One wave enjoyer from Parkway Central High School in Missouri argued that a highly coordinated population of lions could pull this off. “[Flying types] need to land and/or get close to attack the lions, at which point the wave of lions will pile upon each other to reach them. Easy, done. The Lion Ladder will prevail,” said Wesley Henshaw from PCHS. Henshaw also argued that if ghost type Pokémon are present in this hypothetical, then surely a ghost lion would not be a large stretch of the imagination. He argued that because ghost types are weak to other ghost types, the lions surely prevail. All in all, this argument could go on forever. Maybe it will. Perhaps this back and forth discussion will follow humanity to the end of time. This ridiculous hypothetical is eternal and never ending. It is also super ridiculous that someone even thought of this argument in the first place.

lions surely prevail. All in all, this argument could go on forever. Maybe it will. Perhaps this back and forth discussion will follow humanity to the end of time. This ridiculous hypothetical is eternal and never ending. It is also super ridiculous that someone even thought of this argument in the first place.

To sit down and debate the logistics of whether or not fictional animals would defeat a mind-numbingly large amount of lions is ludicrous in the first place, but surely that is why it continues to live on. That is to say, lions would absolutely lose.

DESIGN BY KATE TOLLINGER PHOTOS PROVIDED BY KATE TOLLINGER 36 LHSSTATESMAN.COM

MAY ISSUE 37

ARTWORK BY D ANIEL V ALENTINE DESIGN BY D ANIEL V ALENTINE

MAY ISSUE 37

by Clare Heupel

In the years following the pandemic, teachers all over the United States have been facing an unprecedented number of behavioral issues in school, making the job of educating students an even more difficult task.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that around 600,000 public school teachers in the United States quit between Jan. 2020 and Feb. 2022. Given the fact that 84% of public schools stated that the behavioral development of students has been negatively impacted by COVID-19, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, there is an obvious correlation between these patterns. Teachers are burnt out from dealing with the consequences of the pandemic, which has led to a decline in student behavior.

While such a dramatic loss in school faculty may pose concern for extreme acts of disobedience from students, that is not the root of the issue. The majority of issues that school employees have noticed with students are not out of the ordinary.

“The most problematic thing is insubordination and problems with respect in school. Kids are not where they are supposed to be, not respecting the teacher, being on their phones all the time, not paying attention, sleeping in class and wandering the hallways,” said LHS resource officers Robert Draeger and Chase Vanderhule.

The problems arise from the fact that the attitudes of many students have changed over time, leading to a substantial fraction of kids with behavior issues.

“Most kids today are still pretty respectful, but there is just a larger portion that isn’t,” said Draeger.

The behavior problems span from high school to elementary school,

where young students still struggle with adjusting to a school environment after missing out on an essential time of learning a regular school routine. Julie Larsen, a fourthgrade teacher at John F. Kennedy Elementary School and a teacher for the Sioux Falls School district for 33 years, can attest to the difficulties that students face in such an environment.

“I feel like many students can’t self-regulate. Transitioning from a fun activity to more of a seated learning activity seems more difficult,” said Larsen. “Not having a consistent schedule has been difficult for some to adjust back to the rigor of a school day.”

Larsen believes that much of the issues can be attributed to the disconnect between families and the schools as a result of many school functions being canceled due to COVID-19.

“We didn’t do any family activities the past couple of years, and that can make everyone feel disconnected,” said Larsen. “When you don’t have strong relationships with the families, it can sometimes be hard to communicate the learning goals and establish follow-through at both home and school.”

Parents also play a crucial role, both in determining how their students perform in school, and how they react to authority figures. This makes it essential for the awareness of parents on how their relationship with their kids affects their relationships with teachers.

“I think parents tend to avoid confrontations with their kids and those hard conversations, which then carries over to school,” said Vanderhule. “Parents don’t want to lay the law down and tell their kids ‘no.’”

Understandably, many parents today may be especially preoccupied with the stresses of everyday life. That does not negate the fact that a healthy, authoritative relationship is essential for the dynamics between children and their parents, and coincidentally between children and teachers. A structured school environment may only occur if the majority of kids have structure while they are at home.

A child’s education is essential to their future success as an adult. Ensuring that the United States public education system meets a standard that provides a firm foundation for children should be a top priority for everyone, regardless if it directly affects them. This will only occur if this exponential growth in behavior issues across the country is resolved. That means providing support, attention and dedication to children and their educators. The fate of future generations of scholars and teachers in the United States rests on whether this problem finds an end.

DESIGN BY CLARE HEUPEL PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ADOBE EXPRESS 38 LHSSTATESMAN.COM

S LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL Statesman ISSUE NO. 7 MAY 2023 ISSUE S LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL Statesman ISSUE NO. 7 MAY 2023 ISSUE

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