JACK SIMPSON: THE STORY BEHIND THE KING

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

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.”

ETHAN BOYENS LENI OLSON, LILA BATCHELLER & HANNAH BASEL

girls tennis

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. “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.”

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.

“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.”

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.

“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.

“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.” 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.”

a preview of the upcoming lhs basketball season

by Emma Southwick

After experiencing a complicated season last year due to COVID-19, both the boys and girls LHS basketball teams are pumped up and ready to start the 2021 season. The teams and coaches have been preparing during the off-season and have high expectations for this year. Many LHS basketball athletes get involved in tournaments during the off season such as Pentagon’s “Summer Jam” and “Fall Jam.”

“Our team has worked hard this summer both as individuals and as a team. Most of us play travel basketball and either lift with Brady [Bonte, LHS’s strength and conditioning coach] here or somewhere [else] to help get ready for the season,” said junior combo guard Elliot Whitney. “As a team we have been playing in the Pentagon ‘Summer Jam’ and ‘Fall Jam’ where we are gaining chemistry and finding success.”

Playing basketball and being a part of the high school team is a privilege, as it requires a lot of hard work and determination. At the beginning of the season, the teams attend what they call “two-a-days,” which are tryout days where the teams practice twice a day.

“Tryouts are very tiring with two-a-days, one practice in the morning before school and one after school,” said junior left shooting guard Mariah Siem.

With that being said, these types of practices are not the players’ favorite. However, they are essential when it comes to some of the decisions that the coaches have to make regarding who they believe has what it takes to be a part of the team.

“Needless to say, having five practices in three days usually is a great mental and physical strength test for the athletes, which allows [the coaches] to get to know the players’ skill level and prepares them for their first competition,” said LHS girls basketball coach Matt Daly. One of the hardest moments for the coaches and athletes alike is when the teams get announced, as the teams only consist of 15 players which almost always leads to a few players not making a team.

“The hardest part is to tell those guys who want to be on the team that we don’t have room for them,” said LHS boys basketball coach Jeff Halseth. “All the guys that try out are great guys who have a passion for the game.”

When the tryout process comes to an end and the teams are selected, normal practices begin. During practices, the teams work on their “process goals,” or little skills that are important to basketball and its many, specific scenarios. By focusing on the “process goals,” the hope is that mastering them will allow the athletes to be successful when it comes time for their games. A few examples of “process goals” include learning how to control the ball low and tight, defensive footwork and learning sound shooting mechanics. “Our goal is always to focus on the ‘process goals’ or the little building blocks that we can learn to make us great basketball players,” said Daly. “I believe that if we focus on the process goals, that many of our ‘outcome goals’ will be achieved... My hope is that our team focuses on our process goals and improves to the point that even if we play a ‘bad game,’ we can still find a way to win.”

While working on the “process goals” and physically practicing basketball skills is crucial for the teams’ success on the court, LHS basketball athletes believe that putting in time and effort into the relationships with their teammates is just as important. The LHS basketball athletes make it a priority to partake in activities as a team such as having movie nights, playing ultimate frisbee, going to team meals and just hanging out in general. Siem believes that the connections the team makes off the court directly correlate with their performance during games.

“I truly believe that the stronger the bond, the better the team does. The game flows better and we are all on the same page and [can] create better shots for ourselves and each other, as well as get down and play defense as a unit,” said Siem.

Similarly, Whitney feels that having close bonds within a team is key for all of the players’ common goal: to win games.

“Having close bonds with teammates is very important to be a successful basketball team. Being close with teammates allows you to truly play a team game while putting aside selfish play to have one goal, to win,” said Whitney. “This year I feel we are more connected as a team and ready to shock some people.”

With a little under a month left until tryouts, both the boys and girls LHS basketball teams have been and will continue to keep up their hard work and dedication in hopes to guarantee a strong, solid and unified team for this year’s season.