FALL SPORTS REPORTS what have your favorite teams been up to?
by GaGe Gohl With the 2021-22 school year underway, school athletics are in full swing. With football and volleyball still in the midst of their fall seasons and nearing the postseason, their end results for the year are unknown. But for sports such as soccer, softball, tennis, cross country and golf, their seasons have already concluded, and with very successful results to follow.
boys cross country
The LHS boys cross country team closed out their season at the State meet at Yankton Trails with a top five finish. With only one returning varsity runner from last season, the boys put up an excellent performance and proved that they belonged. With seven runners competing in the final race, five finished with their best times of the season. “It was super fun to see all of my hard work pay off, but also see everyone that is just starting their journey enjoy the sport that I have poured so much time into,” said Ethan Boyens. “I knew one or two kids but I really made all of my friends as I went, and I would not have it any other way.
girls cross country
boys soccer
girls softball
The LHS boys soccer team ended their regular season with a solid record of 6-3-5. Their 61% win percentage earned them a spot in the playoffs as the #7 seed. In the first round, the boys defeated Pierre 1-0 with a late goal scored in the last five minutes of the game. The team then traveled to the #2 seeded Rapid City Steven’s and dropped their season finale 0-2 to conclude the season.
The girls softball team ended with an astounding 21-2 regular season record going into the state tournament. In the opening two rounds, LHS defeated OGHS and Watertown to get to the semifinals. The softball state tournament came down to virtually a two team matchup between Harrisburg and LHS. The LHS girls won in the semifinals (which forced Harrisburg to have to play one extra game to earn their way back into the State championship), and then ended dropping the rematch against Harrisburg in the State championship. Because both teams each won one game, there would be a deciding “winner takes all” game to conclude the State tournament. After a slow start to the decider, the girls battled back from a three run deficit in the final inning of the game and would go on to win LHS’ first State championship of the year.
“Playing every day with the boys really led all of us to becoming much better friends and knowing each other much better as well,” said Ryan Schock. “Overall, soccer was a great experience for me, and I would definitely do it all over again.”
After running all year long as one of the most dominant teams in the state, the LHS girls cross country team continued to showcase their talent by closing the season with an excellent state tournament of their own, placing second overall behind OGHS. Just like the boys, the girls also competed with seven girls in the State meet, five of which achieved their best times of the season. Additionally, four of the girls runners were able to finish top 20 overall at the State meet. “Running in my last race for Lincoln was a very bittersweet moment,” said Lila Batcheller. “I don’t think there is anything I would do over but reminding myself to find joy in every practice and race is probably something that I wish I would’ve done more.”
“Winning state sophomore year and then winning state again this year,” said Ashton Dorman. “We had a pretty good run the last four years. We either got first or second every year.”
RYAN SCHOCK
girls soccer
The LHS girls soccer team finished the regular season with a dominant record of 10-3-2, earning them a spot as the #3 seed going into the playoffs. LHS opened their postseason with a nail biter against JHS which ended in a victory for the Patriots following 1:20:00 minutes of regulation, two 10:00 overtimes and one penalty kick shootout. In the second round, the girls put up four goals against Rapid City Central to earn themselves a spot in the semifinals. The ladies concluded their season in the semifinals as they fell to RHS 0-1 in a heartbreaker, who would go on to win the State championship.
ETHAN BOYENS
LENI OLSON, LILA BATCHELLER & HANNAH BASEL
girls tennis
“This year was definitely my favorite year with lots of fun memories,” said Brooklyn Townsend. “My favorite memories were beating Brandon 3-2 with a last minute goal by [teammate] Hannah Cisar, and watching [teammate] Grace Ellis faceplant on the field multiple times.”
After a solid regular season performance from the girls tennis team, they set sights for state coming off of a 15-6 regular season record. At the State tournament, LHS had champions in three out of the nine flights. By winning 33% of the flights at the tournament, their results were good enough to earn them third place at the State tournament.
ASHTON DORMAN
boys golf
After an impressive regular season, the LHS boys golf team set sights for the two-day state tournament in Huron. After the first day at state, LHS led by seven strokes going into the final day of the tournament. Despite their effort and spectacular performances, OG played outstanding on day two to force playoff holes for the state title. After the second hole, the Patriots fell by one stroke to OG, and finished second for the season, with an impressive four players in the top 25 at the tournament. “My favorite memory was winning state as a junior at Willow Run. After we had won all of us jumped into the pond on the left side of the green on hole 18,” said Bennett Geraets. If there was one thing he would change about his four years as a golfer, Geraets said it would be to “always listen to Luke.”
“It’s good to have some time off now, but it’s hard to know that you’re never going to play for the Lincoln team again,” said Evy Osterloo. “Now that it’s over I wish I would have spent more time appreciating my time on the court.”
GIRLS VARSITY TENNIS TEAM
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MALI VAN MEETEREN & BROOKLYN TOWNSEND statesman staff photos provided by lhs athletes desiGn by
BENNETT GERAETS
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