November Issue 2023

NOVEMBER NOVEMBER ISSUE ISSUE 2023 2023

NOVEMBER ISSUE 2023 Heartbeat of Jazz Joseph Tunge & Maddox Raph PG. 16

Moneke: The brain behind the chain Eloise Geraets PG. 6

Heartbeat Jazz Heartbeat of J azof z Joseph& Tunge & Joseph Tunge Maddox Raph Maddox Raph PG. 16 PG. 16

College softball: The recruiting process

Moneke: The brain behind Moneke: The brain be h in d the chain the chain Eloise Geraets Eloise Geraets PG. 6 PG. 6

Madison Evans PG. 34

softball: The College softball:College The recruiting process recruiting process Madison Evans Madison Evans PG. 34 PG. 34 DESIGN BY ZOE LARSON PHOTO BY ZOE LARSON

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Heartbeat of Jazz Joseph Tunge & Maddox Raph

Emily’s Hope: Turning heartbreak into action

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Zoo metamorphosis Miller tennis e Girls e champs: champs:Laila Girls tennis

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Throwback: LHS staff then vs. now Elysse Weber

Heartbeat of Jazz Joseph Tunge & Maddox Raph

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Statesbuds presents Sufu’s new foods Addy Albrecht & Ryan Calhoun

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Foosball Foosball Club: An opportunity opportunity to to Clara Binstock The brainClub: behind the An chain expand athleticism expand athleticism Eloise Geraets Find your fragrance Stella Sonnichsen Stella Sonnichsen Who are you based on Working overtime your favorite New club: A rocky challenge Ellen Merkley Thanksgiving food?

Grace Miner College softball: The recruiting process College softball: The recruiting process Maddy Reents Leah Mannes Madison Madison Evans Evans Find your fragrance Working overtime The senior year blueprint Teachers, why do you teach your subjects?

Ellen Merkley Grace Miner Teachers, why do you teach your subjects?

How to lose How Ella toHawks lose a a guy guy in in 10 10 days days Lily Celebrating heritage: Sioux Falls Native Lily Gruber Gruber Celebrating heritage: Sioux Falls Native American Day parade American thanks Day parade Counting Counting thanks Lucas Hiatt Katya Surendran Lucas Hiatt Katya Surendran

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Statesbuds presents Sufu’s new foods Addy Albrecht & Ryan Calhoun

Grind time Hazel Hughes & Sara Mathison

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Statesman PAPER EDITORS-IN-CHIEF- Delaney Gramlick, Zoe Larson,

Throwback: LHS staff then vs. now LHS boys soccer team’s comeback story LHS boys LHS boys soccer soccer team’s team’s comeback comeback story story Elysse Weber James Plorde Kate Matthes & Ellen Merkley James Plorde James Plorde Cookie Comp: Crumbl vs. Cookie Co. Movies by emotion

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Ella Hawks

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Abe’s ABCs State champs: Girls tennis Kadence Dean Lillian Kiesow

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LHS boys soccer team’s comeback story James Plorde

Trail around Sioux Falls Ashlyn Hoffman

Sweet study spots Statesbuds Statesbuds presents presents Sufu’s Sufu’s new new foods foods JD Yunag Addy Albrecht AddyExperiencing Albrecht & Ryan Calhoun growth in& herRyan own way Calhoun Trail around Sioux Falls Zoo metamorphosis Addison Remme Abe’s ABCs Abe’s ABCs Ashlyn Hoffman Laila Miller Unpopular opinions Kadence Kadence Dean Dean Movies by emotion Clara Binstock The brain behind the Crumbl chain Cookie vs.

Cookie Comp: Comp: Crumbl vs. Cookie Cookie Co. Co. Josie Tollinger EloiseKiesow Geraets Lillian Lillian Kiesow Sweet study Who are youspots based on JD Yunag Experiencing growth in her own way your favorite Thanksgiving food?

New club: A rocky challenge Addison Remme Unpopular opinions Maddy Reents Leah Mannes

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State champs: Girls tennis Lillian Kiesow

Caroline Hughes & Bergen Quello

The senior year blueprint Caroline Hughes & Bergen Quello

Fall color palette Fall Hadycolor Cisarpalette Hady Cisar

ONLINE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF- Reese Duncan & Grind time Laura Heckenlaible Grind time Grind time Hazel Hughes & Sara Mathison Hazel Hazel Hughes Hughes & & Sara Sara Mathison Mathison

FEATURE EDITORS- Josie Tollinger & Reagan Wulf

ENTERTAINMENT EDITORSClara Binstock & Bergen Quello S t a t e s m a n 30 S t Foosball aClub: Antopportunity eto s m a n PERSPECTIVES EDITORS- Grace Miner & Katya Surendran 32 31 expand athleticism SPORTS EDITORS- Lily Gruber & Lucas Hiatt Abe’s ABCs Kadence Dean

PAPER EDITORS-IN-CHIEF- Delaney Gramlick, Zoe Larson, PAPER EDITORS-IN-CHIEFDelaney Gramlick, Zoe Kate Matthes & Ellen MerkleyLarson, PAPER EDITORS-IN-CHIEF- Delaney Gramlick, Zoe Larson, Kate Ellen Merkley Cookie Comp: Crumbl vs. Cookie Co. Kate Matthes Matthes & & Ellen Merkley ONLINE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF- Reese Duncan & Lillian Kiesow ONLINE & Laura Heckenlaible ONLINE EDITORS-IN-CHIEFEDITORS-IN-CHIEF- Reese Reese Duncan Duncan & Laura Laura Heckenlaible Heckenlaible FEATURE EDITORS- Josie Tollinger & Reagan Wulf FEATURE NEWS EDITOR- Wulf Nathan Thompson FEATURE EDITORSEDITORS- Josie Josie Tollinger Tollinger & & Reagan Reagan Wulf ENTERTAINMENT EDITORS- Clara Binstock & Bergen Quello ENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT EDITORSEDITORS- Clara Clara Binstock Binstock & & Bergen Bergen Quello Quello Foosball Club: An opportunity to PERSPECTIVES EDITORSGrace Miner & Katya Surendran SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATORKadence Dean PERSPECTIVES EDITORSGrace athleticism PERSPECTIVESexpand EDITORSGrace Miner Miner & & Katya Katya Surendran Surendran SPORTS EDITORS- Lily Gruber & Lucas Hiatt Stella Sonnichsen SPORTS Hiatt WRITERS- Addy Albrecht, Kate Barbush, Ryan Calhoun, SPORTS EDITORSEDITORS- Lily Lily Gruber Gruber & & Lucas LucasSTAFF Hiatt NEWS EDITOR- Nathan Thompson Hady Cisar, Madison Evans, Eloise Geraets, Betsy Haft, College softball: The recruiting process NEWS NEWS EDITOREDITOR- Nathan Nathan Thompson Thompson Madison Evans SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATORKadence Dean Caroline Hughes, Will Hansen, Ella Hawks, Ashlyn Hoffman, SOCIAL Dean SOCIAL MEDIA MEDIA COORDINATORCOORDINATOR- Kadence Kadence Dean Hazel Hughes, Shalom Kato, Lillian Kiesow, Leah Mannes, STAFF WRITERS- Addy Albrecht, Kate Barbush, Ryan Calhoun, STAFF Barbush, Ryan Calhoun, Cisar, Madison Evans, Eloise Geraets, Betsy Haft, Raph, Sara Mathison, Laila Miller, James Plorde, Maddox STAFF WRITERSWRITERS- Addy Addy Albrecht, Albrecht, Kate Kate Hady Barbush, Ryan Calhoun, Hady Betsy Haft, Will Hansen, Ella Hawks, Ashlyn Hoffman, Caroline Hughes, Hady Cisar, Cisar, Madison Madison Evans, Evans, Eloise Eloise Geraets, Geraets, Betsy Haft, Maddy Reents, Addison Remme, Cooper Schultz, Will Caroline Hughes, Hazel Hughes, Shalom Kato, Lillian Kiesow, Leah Mannes, Will Hansen, Hansen, Ella Ella Hawks, Hawks, Ashlyn Ashlyn Hoffman, Hoffman, Caroline Hughes, Hazel Shalom Kato, Lillian Leah Mannes, Sara Mathison, Laila Miller, Plorde, Maddox Raph, Stella Sonnichsen, JosephJames Tunge, Kei Vandenbos, Hazel Hughes, Hughes, How Shalom Kato, Lillian Kiesow, Kiesow, Leah Mannes, to lose a guy in 10 days Sara Laila Miller, James Plorde, Maddox Raph, Maddy Reents, Addison Remme, Cooper Schultz, Sara Mathison, Mathison, Laila Miller, James Plorde, Maddox Raph, Lily Gruber CiaraSchultz, Velasquez,Joseph Elysse Tunge, Weber,Kei JD Vandenbos, Yunag Maddy Stella Sonnichsen, Maddy Reents, Reents, Addison Addison Remme, Remme, Cooper Cooper Schultz, Stella Vandenbos, Ciara Velasquez, Elysse Weber, JD Yunag Stella Sonnichsen, Sonnichsen, Joseph Joseph Tunge, Tunge, Kei Kei Vandenbos, Counting thanks Ciara Elysse Weber, Ciara Velasquez, Velasquez, Elysse Weber, JD JD Yunag Yunag ADVISER- Dr. Katie Kroeze Katya Surendran ADVISER- Dr. Katie Kroeze ADVISERADVISER- Dr. Dr. Katie Katie Kroeze Kroeze

Stella Sonnichsen

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College softball: The recruiting process Madison Evans

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How to lose a guy in 10 days Lily Gruber Counting thanks Katya Surendran

PIXABAY BY PIXABAY PERMISSION BY PIXABAY

ARTWORK USED WITH PERMISSION BY PIXABAY

DESIGN BY LAILA MILLER

ARTWORK BY LAILA MILLER

A very memorable experience as a child is going to the zoo and seeing a wide variety of animals all in one place. The Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls is working on making a visit to the zoo an even better experience that can be enjoyed by all ages.

In October 2022, the Great Plains Zoo and Butterfly House & Aquarium announced that they would be joining forces and officially merged organizations on

BY LAILA MILLER Jan. 1, 2023. Although they are still trying to start this process, bringing the organizations together means that the Butterfly House & Aquarium will leave its current location near Sertoma Park, and a new butterfly house and aquarium will be built at the zoo.

“Both organizations on their own were ready and in a really good position to start growing and fundraising and doing something new. Both of our CEOs came together and said [that] the butterfly house could really benefit [from] having more [space] to work with and the zoo said they could really benefit from adding an aquarium and butterfly conservatory to their campus. It just made sense to come together,” said Andrea Kopp, a staff member at the Butterfly House & Aquarium.

Since moving to the zoo will allow the Butterfly House & Aquarium to have more room to build, the new aquarium is planned to be over 25,000 square feet, according to KELOLAND, which is over three times the size of the current aquarium. This will allow larger exhibits to be available, including a giant shark tank. Currently, architects are in the process of planning to figure out the best way to arrange everything at the zoo in order to create an indoor space for the new butterfly rainforest and aquarium. They are evaluating every exhibit to figure out if any need to be reconstructed or if any animals need to be moved. The city’s goal is to finish this project by the end of 2025.

“Our tagline right now that we’re going off of is ‘Stronger together,’” said Kopp.

One of the big purposes of this fusion is for the zoo to be available to visit all year round. Since the new Butterfly Rainforest and Aquarium will be heated indoor facilities, they can be accessed even during the bitter South Dakota winters.

Along with the Butterfly Rainforest and Aquarium, the Great Plains Zoo is currently working on other renovations that will be finished in the near future. This includes an animal themed splash pad, which is going to be a mix between a jungle gym and a water park for families to cool off on hot summer days. This splash pad is planning to open by Memorial Day 2024, as stated by pigeon 2025. According to KELOLAND, the zoo is also working on their new lion exhibit, which is expected to be done by the summer of 2024. This exhibit is planned to be over 27,000 square feet. Many people are looking forward to this new exhibit due to the fact that the Great Plains Zoo has not been home to lions since 1994.

“We’re really excited because [the zoo] is going to be bigger, it’s going to be better [and] things are going to be new. We’ve got a lot of really exciting ideas,” said Kopp.

BY ADDISON REMME

LHS junior Ella Rima has lived with alopecia for nine years of her life, and although it can be challenging at times, Rima has grown to accept and embrace it.

Diagnosed at only seven years old with alopecia, Rima has lived the majority of her life with the disease. Throughout the years, Rima and her family have tried many treatments in order to combat the hair loss.

“I think the first treatment we did was shots in my head. I was getting like 30 shots at a time,” said Rima.

At first, the shots were somewhat working for her, but over time her body became immune to the shots and they stopped having their desired effect, forcing her to move on to her next course of action.

Rima tried a topical cream that she put on her scalp that was supposed to trick her body’s immune system into attacking the cream instead of her hair follicles.

Instead, she ended up having an allergic reaction to the topical cream which created a baseball-sized lump on her head, so it was on to the next form of treatment.

Up next was a $1,000 lamp that was supposed to help hair regrowth but ended up not working for Rima at all.

“It was a scam,” said Rima.

As of now, Rima is currently not doing any treatment.

Finding good treatments is not the only challenge Rima struggles with when dealing with her alopecia. Over the years, she has also had to deal with some bullying.

“It’s not bad, just stupid teenage boys that think that they’re funny, but they can’t be talking when they literally have a buzz cut,” said Rima.

Luckily Rima does not experience bullying now, just the rare rude person making off-handed comments.

There also come a lot of misconceptions about having alopecia. Most people are not educated on what it actually is.

“Many people think it causes other problems but I literally just don’t have hair, there’s nothing else wrong,” said Rima.

People also tend to think that someone with alopecia is unhealthy, and that is the reason why they developed alopecia, but the two have no correlation. Alopecia actually develops when a person’s immune system mistakes their hair follicles as foreign and attacks the hair. There are many types of alopecia but the most common is alopecia androgenetic, which affects 80 million people in the U.S. It is most commonly referred to as male/female pattern hair loss, which is basically just a slow progression of hair loss over time.

In her case, Rima has alopecia areata, which means she does not have total hair loss. Instead, she just has patches on her head that will not grow hair.

“I do still have some hair, and it’s actually growing back which is weird because I’m not doing anything to treat it right now,” said Rima.

Rima is also very open aboutthe fact that she wears a wig.

“You can do anything with wigs. I wear human hair ones so you can curl them, straighten them. You can do whatever,” said Rima.

Even though having alopecia has been a struggle for Rima, she has grown to accept it and lives her daily life with alopecia in the rearview.

DESIGN BY ADDISON REMME PHOTOS BY ADDISON REMME ARTWORK BY ADDISON REMME

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DESIGN DESIGN BYBY ELOISE ELOISE GERAETS GERAETS PHOTO PHOTO BYBY REESE REESE DUNCAN DUNCAN

Rock climbing has gripped the attention of LHS students. As more and more people are loving this sport, they are hanging on to do more of it. This slightly obscure activity inspired the formation of the LHS Rock Climbing Club.

A couple of years ago, the Rock Climbing Club dissolved after the students who ran it graduated.

However, LHS juniors Phinehas Kroesche and Jake Vermeer decided to start the club up again this year.

They are determined to grow the club and share their love of climbing with other students.

“Our goal is to have fun, more than anything, even if you’ve never climbed before, or if you don’t want to get into climbing that much. [We are] just trying to get people to try it out and have a good time,” said Vermeer.

The club gathers at Frontier, an indoor rock climbing gym in Sioux Falls. There, climbers will learn about and try different methods of climbing, such as bouldering, lead climbing and speed climbing. Bouldering is climbing without ropes; lead climbing is climbing with ropes and speed climbing is competitive climbing. Each method requires different skills and knowledge.

“There’s a lot of technique and training that goes into it. It is definitely a learning process,” said Vermeer.

In addition, the sport requires heavy strategy in order to complete a course, making it different from many sports. One must strategize to get around obstacles and be aware of their physical limits. Therefore, rock climbing is perfect for those who seek a mental challenge.

“It’s fun because it’s a mental game. You have to know how to do it, as well as actually being physically able to do it,” said Kroesche.

Kroesche and Vermeer plan to start having raffles and games during club days and meetings. The club usually meets once a month, typically on a Friday, but the day and time could vary due to the gym’s schedule. To climb for a session, it costs $10, which is half of the usual cost.

“If somebody could find the club’s Instagram [@ lhsclimbingclub], or contact one of us, that would be the best way to figure out when the next meeting is going to be,” said Vermeer.

Rock climbing’s popularity is reaching new heights, and this club is rising to share the sport.

DESIGN BY LEAH MANNES ARTWORK BY LEAH MANNES

BY GRACE MINER

An online class, concrete company, nanny, behavioral health tech, a Lyft driver and a tree service company. Seemingly unrelated, these six occupations connect six outstanding faculty members at LHS who have a part-time job outside of school. Despite the difficulties of balancing two jobs simultaneously, these LHS teachers’ hard work has led them to find great enjoyment in both professions.

Her love of talking to people combined with her immense boredom during the COVID pandemic led Tara Paclik, an AP Calc and college algebra teacher at LHS, to start a part time job driving Lyft. The flexible hours allow her to easily manage it with her teaching responsibilities. “…my hours with Lyft are very flexible, so if I’m busy with schoolwork I don’t have to drive Lyft, but if I don’t have any schoolwork then I can drive Lyft,” said Paclik.

After spending nearly seven hours talking and teaching high school students, Paclik embraces conversing with the different people she drives. “I love talking to people, so it’s so fun. And if you don’t like somebody you get rid of them in like 10 minutes,” said Paclik.

One of her favorite parts of driving Lyft is being surprised by new encounters, especially reconnecting with former students. “ It’s happened quite a bit, so that’s pretty exciting. Some students I had 10 years ago and so that’s very cool,” said Paclik.

While most teachers utilize their part-time jobs to fulfill their other passions, Kerri Stockwell, a math teacher at LHS, uses hers to further her passion for education. After leaving Concordia University in Saint Paul, Minnesota to work at LHS she continued to serve the university through teaching an online class, epidemiological foundations. Stockwell teaches two to three eight week courses throughout the year, but is able to manage them by putting her LHS schoolwork first. “I make sure my teaching stuff is done first. But what’s nice about teaching online is that I do have some ability to work at any hour that kinda works for me within a certain time frame. So, it’s just a matter of prioritizing what I need to be working on for the online class that I need to fit it in,” said Stockwell.

Despite the difficulties of managing both high school and college students’ education, she finds great enjoyment in her profession, notably sharing her knowledge from her college course with her high school students. “...I can bring it into the classroom,” said Stockwell.

“So especially when we do the stats unit, I can bring in some of the things that we do.”

Most importantly, she truly enjoys her career in education, which prompted her to take on the extra responsibilities that an online course provides. “Education in any form is what I enjoy most,” said Stockwell.

From counseling students at LHS to aiding adult psychiatric patients as an Avera behavioral health tech, Matt Meyers incorporates caring for others in both of his professions. While managing both his job at LHS and Avera can be difficult, Meyers works on a per-diem status, making it more manageable during the school year. “Luckily, I am able to create my own schedule there. I am pre-diem status, so basically I have for every six week schedule that they have I have to work so many hours,” said Meyers.

Becoming a behavioral health tech had never occurred to Meyers prior to five years ago. He submitted his application on a whim based on former fellow faculty member, Jason McDonald’s recommendation. Now he is incredibly grateful for the opportunity, finding the work incredibly rewarding, especially when he sees improvements in patients. “…that’s probably the part that I like the best, is just talking with the patients, getting to know them, getting to know their histories, you know what makes them tick, why they’re there and being able to help,” said Meyers.

Ultimately, Meyers has found ways to incorporate each job with one another, helping aid his students and patients. “I quite often will use my knowledge from behavioral health with my students here, and I’ll use some examples here with my patients from behavioral health,” said Meyers.

Starting work at 4 a.m. to load concrete onto trucks may not appear to be an exciting part-time job. However, for Mesa Jacobson, a science teacher at LHS, this is how she spends her days off of school, excluding weekends. With vast differences to teaching, which remains her priority, Jacobson still finds enjoyment in her part-time profession. “It’s a totally different environment with totally different people, yet it’s still a job where I get to do a lot of talking and interacting with others. My dogs also get to come to work with me every day. And I try to get all of my school stuff done, like school is the priority over my other job for grading and planning,” said Jacobson.

While the profession may appear monotonous, Jacobson and her coworkers manage to make the job fun, particularly through hilarious mistakes. “An employee of mine spilt a concrete color stain powder on himself and it was orange and he looked like an oompa loompa,” said Jacobson.

Sitting in a classroom all day transforms into reconnecting with nature. For Kyle Dietz, a science teacher at LHS, this is his reality. Working with trees at Prairiescapes, a tree and landscaping service company, occupies Dietz’s time outside of school. With a multitude of differences from teaching, Dietz enjoys the people he works with and being outdoors the most. “I get to work outdoors and I get to work with my best friends, my good friends own the company,” said Dietz.

While his job has many benefits, it also has some drawbacks, especially the physical demand of the labor. “[It is] physically demanding, that’s the hardest part. It’s physical labor; I mean it’s risky work but it doesn’t carry the mental load that teaching does,” said Dietz.

Despite the differences in his two occupations, Dietz has found several ways to incorporate his work at Prairiescapes with his teaching career. “I get to apply some of the content that I teach. In terms of plant health that’s applicable. In terms of trying to manage the emerald dashboard or invasive species that’s applicable to teaching environmental science. And I get to work with soil and get to apply some of what I teach to that job,” said Dietz.

While most teachers try to escape working with youth in their part-time jobs, Meghan Anderson-Finch, a LHS English teacher, embraces it through being a nanny for babies during the year. The difficulties of balancing nannying with teaching can be difficult on days where she works both jobs; however, she enjoys working with a different age group, where the needs are simpler. “I like that it’s a change from working with teenagers. Teenagers are fine and good, but sometimes there’s emotional drama.

When you are dealing with two and under, it is just that they need basic needs: they need to eat, they need their diaper changed, they need a cuddle. It’s just a little more basic and I enjoy having that balance,” said Anderson-Finch.

As a long-time babysitter, she found it natural to begin nannying again to make extra income. “I’ve been babysitting since I was 13, so almost 34 years I’ve been babysitting.

I’m the oldest of four girls so I’ve had a lot of experience with kids. I needed to find a way to earn some extra money, and I didn’t want to apply to work somewhere or be trained to work somewhere and it just seemed like a natural fit,” said Anderson-Finch.

DESIGN BY GRACE MINER PHOTOS BY GRACE MINER ARTWORK BY CANVA, NOUN PROJECT, ONEYWHYSTUDIO, OPENCLIPART, VECTORS, ANGES ID & STUDIOBEST

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BY ELLA HAWKS

Have you ever sat in class and wondered to yourself, what drove your teachers to want to teach this class? Well, today we are going to find out.

Matt Daly

History is a course that teaches you about the past events that have led us to where the world is today.

“One of the few topics that I really liked studying was history. I liked learning about Greek mythology, the Romans, the gladiator fights, the Colosseum, and World War II,” said Matt Daly.

History also has another meaning to Daly.

“Since both my mother and my grandmother were teachers, teaching kind of just runs in my family,” said Daly.

Rebecca MehrensPeters The assumption of English being easy is commonly thought until you get more into it.

With the grammar, spelling, punctuation, essays and reading, English can begin to be a lot. If you enjoy writing stories and reading, then English might be your thing, but let’s see what drove Rebecca Mehrens-Peters to teach it. “ My high school English teachers were not very good and didn’t really prepare me for the reading in college. I did not want future students to experience the same so I thought I could be better,” said MehrensPeters.

ARTWORK BY ZOE LARSON PHOTOS BY ZOE LARSON DESIGN BY LHS STATESMAN

Alicia Klassen

Math is a difficult subject to follow along with. Who decided to put letters in math? How can people enjoy finding solutions to pointless graphs?

With many questions on how or why do people enjoy it, what made the geometry teacher Alicia Klaassen want to teach it? “ I wanted to be a math teacher because of my high school math teacher,” said Klaassen.

“I was scared to teach it the first time I did, but now that I’ve been teaching it, I like it.”

Mark Ernster Last and definitely least is science. After learning Newton’s Law and DNA, how did someone become passionate enough to teach about this for so many years?

“Well it was my college degree and first led me to teach at Washington. I also had an awesome advanced biology teacher. He brought pigs and chickens to school and made everything really interesting,” said Mark Ernster.

you’re relaying information, not living it.Experiencing Experiencing it firsthandfirsthand has you’re relaying you’re information, relaying information, not living it.not living it. Experiencing it firsthand ithas has turned a story into mission for me,”said said Kennecke.

“It’s thing turned a story turned intoaaastory mission intofor a mission me,” for Kennecke. me,” said“It’s Kennecke. oneone thing “It’s toonetothing to report ononthe statistics and quite another become report the report statistics on the and statistics quite another and quite totobecome another one.” toone.” become one.”

InIn 2021, and stimulant-related fataloverdoses overdoses in the 2021,fentanyl fentanyl In 2021, andfentanyl stimulant-related and stimulant-related fatal fatalinoverdoses the U.S.U.S. in the U.S. were 5050times what been inhad 2010, reflection of ongoing were times were what 50they times they had had what been they in 2010, been a areflection in 2010, aofreflection thethe ongoing of the ongoing opioid epidemic, which kills than 100people people daily.

Kennecke, opioid epidemic, opioid which epidemic, kills more which more than kills100 more than daily.

100 people ForFor Kennecke, daily.

For Kennecke, it is thelethal lethal risks fentanyl, it crucial is crucialthat it that isthe crucial thepublic public thatunderstands understands the public understands the risks the lethal of of fentanyl, risks of fentanyl, which can ininsmall doses, and the the need confront the crisis a which cankill kill which small can kill doses, in small and doses, need and totothe confront need to theconfront crisis asthe aascrisis as a community. community.community.

“The fentanyl crisis has exponentially, often being mixed “The fentanyl “The crisis fentanyl has escalated escalated crisis hasexponentially, escalated exponentially, often being often mixed being mixed unknowingly with saiddrugs,” Kennecke.

“Its potency and unknowingly unknowingly withother other drugs,” drugs,” with other said Kennecke. said“Its Kennecke. potency “Its andpotency the the and the speed which speed can at UNCAN which causeitancan overdose cause an make overdose it itparticularly make particularly dangerous, dangerous, speed atatwhich ititcan cause overdose make particularly dangerous, BY A M ATTHES & REESE D , it E DITORS -IN-CHIEF

BY KATE M ATTHES KATEDM &ATTHES REESE DDITORS UNCAN REESEK EUNCAN DITORS , -TE E INDITORS -CHIEF-IN-C HIEF

BY KATE MATTHES & BY REESE UNCAN , E& -,D IN -CHIEF requiringimmediate immediate requiringand and immediate targeted and interventions. targeted interventions.

Overdose deaths Overdose requiring targeted interventions.

Overdose deaths deaths among teenagers among have teenagers doubled have in in a period three-year due to period fentanyl.” due to fentanyl.”Falls have among teenagers have doubled in adoubled athree-year three-year period due to fentanyl.” treatment treatment those who forpay. cannot those who pay.facilities cannot Some facilities pay.

Some canfacilities even can even cost the groups pastFor fivethe pastgroups five years, in downtown groups F inhave Sioux downtown or Falls Sioux have the Fallstreatment havepast five years, g roups in downtown Sioux for thosefor who cannot Some can even cost cost For the past five For years, inyears, downtown Sioux Falls withany anycrisis, As crisis, withthere there any crisis, misconceptions; there are misconceptions; Kennecke wants Kennecke teens wants teens AsAs with are misconceptions; Kennecke wants teens $30,000 percreating $30,000 month, per creating month, a challenge creating afor challenge families. for families. commemorated Aug. 31 as Overdose International Aug. commemorated 31 asAwareness International OverdoseDay Awareness Overdose Day Awareness by $30,000 Day by Aug. as Inter national Overdose Awareness Day by per month, a challenge for31 families. commemorated Aug. 31 as commemorated International by to know that to dangerous know that situations dangerous can situations befall anyone can befall who anyone uses drugs, who uses no drugs, no to know that dangerous situations can befall anyone who uses drugs, no With this goal With in this mind, goal Emily’s in mind, Hope Emily’s has pledged Hope has over pledged $250,000 over $250,000 attending a attending vigil hosted a vigil by Emily’s hosted attending Hope, by Emily’s honoring Hope, those honoring whose those lives whose a lives vigil hosted by Emily’s Hope, honoring those whose lives With this goal in mind, Emily’s Hope has pledged over $250,000 attending a vigil hosted by Emily’s Hope, honoring those whose lives matter howsafe matter safeor orcomfortable how comfortable safe or comfortable they they may feel. matter how theymay mayfeel. feel. toward treatment towardscholarships treatment scholarships since2019.

Dec. On 2019. since On Dec. 2019. of this, On top the of this, the lost have tobeen druglost overdose. to drug have overdose. beentoward lost to drug overdose. treatment scholarships since Dec. top oftop this, the have been lost tohave drugbeen overdose.

“Manybelieve believe “Many thatbelieve ‘it won’t won’t that happen ‘it won’t totome’ happen oror‘it’s to just me’ aorphase.’ just This aThis phase.’

This charity recently charity pledged recently an pledged additional an $100,000 additional to $100,000 expand treatment to expand treatment “Many that ‘it happen me’ ‘it’s just a‘it’s phase.’

Emily’s Hope Emily’s is a South Hope Dakota-based is a South Dakota-based nonprofit Emily’s founded nonprofit in 2018 founded in 2018 Hope is a South Dakota-based nonprofit founded in 2018 charity recently pledged an additional $100,000 to expand treatment Emily’s Hope is a South Dakota-based nonprofit founded in 2018 mindset isdangerous,” dangerous,” mindset is dangerous,” said Kennecke. said“It’s Kennecke. crucial “It’s toto understand crucial to understand thatthat from that scholarships scholarships to the new South to the Dakota-based new South Dakota-based Avera Addiction Avera Care Addiction Care by Angela Kennecke by Angela after Kennecke her daughter by after her passed daughter Angela away passed from fentanyl away from fentanyl Kennecke after her daughter passed away fentanyl mindset is said Kennecke.

“It’s crucial understand scholarships to the new South Dakota-based Avera Addiction Care

by Angela Kennecke after her daughter passed away from fentanyl fentanyl cankill fentanyl killyou you can the kill firstyou time theyou first use time it,it,and you that use it, fake and prescription that fake prescription Adolescent Program.

Program. the charity Now, the has charity granted has 167granted people, ages 19 ages 19fentanyl Since poisoning. then, the charity then, poisoning. the haslocal charity appeared has on appeared local andon national local and national Since the charity has appeared on local and national can the first time you use and that fake prescription Adolescent Program.Adolescent Now,then, theNow, charity has granted 167 people, ages167 19 people, poisoning. Since poisoning. then, the charity hasSince appeared on and national pills almostalways pills always almost contain always fentanyl. contain Kids fentanyl. seem to Kids bebe comfortable seem to be comfortable taking taking to 70, treatment to 70, scholarships treatment scholarships for addiction for care. addiction care. news, spreading news, the spreading word about the news, word drug about use and drug overdoses. use and spreading From overdoses.

From the word about drug use and overdoses.

From pills almost contain fentanyl.

Kids seem to comfortable taking to 70, treatment scholarships for addiction care. news, spreading the word about drug use and overdoses. From pills, but they pills, need buttothey be warned need to to benever warned take toanything never take they anything didn’t they get didn’t get “In the wake“In of the Emily’s wake loss, of Emily’s I was driven loss, I was by a driven deep need by atodeep prevent need to prevent pills, addiction treatment addictionscholarships treatmentaddiction scholarships to prevention to education preventionresources, education resources, treatment scholarships to prevention education resources, but they need to be warned to never take anything they didn’t get “In the wake of Emily’s loss, I was driven by a deep need to prevent addiction treatment scholarships to prevention education resources, from a pharmacy from aorpharmacy trusted adult.” or trusted adult.” other from families experiencing from experiencing the same kind theofsame pain. kind I wanted of pain. toI wanted to from Emily’s Hope Emily’s has centered Hope has itself centered Emily’s around itself raising around awareness raisingof awareness and Hope of and other families has centered itself around raising awareness of and a pharmacy or trusted adult.” other families from experiencing the same kind of pain. I wanted to Emily’s Hope has centered itself around raising awareness of and Prevention Prevention is key for Emily’s is keyhopes for Hope; Emily’s Kennecke Hope;plans Kennecke toto educate plans toprovide educate do something do that something would honor that would Emily’s honor memory Emily’s while memory providing while providingKennecke destigmatizing destigmatizing drug addiction. drugdestigmatizing Kennecke addiction.hopes Kennecke to provide hopesothers to provide withothers with drug addiction. others with Prevention is key for Emily’s Hope; Kennecke plans to educate do something that would honor Emily’s memory while providing destigmatizing drug addiction. Kennecke hopes to provide others with children from children a young from age,a which young will age, help which them willtohelp make them better to make choices better choices tangible toassistance those struggling to those with struggling substance withuse substance disorder,” use disorder,” children drug addiction drugsupport addiction to prevent support drug overdose, to preventalloverdose, whileaddiction honoring all whileher honoring her tangible assistance support to prevent overdose, while honoring her from a young age, which will helpall them to make better choices tangible assistance to those struggling with substance use disorder,” drug addiction support to prevent overdose, all while honoring her and ultimately and keep ultimately them from keep developing them from developing substance disorders substance in disorders in said Kennecke. said “Emily’s Kennecke.

Hope “Emily’s aims to Hope remove aims the to remove financial the and financial social and social daughter. daughter. daughter. and ultimately keep them from developing substance disorders in said Kennecke.

“Emily’s Hope aims toprevent removeindividuals the financial and socialhelp.” daughter. the and first place. the She firstisplace. starting Shewith is starting a curriculum with a curriculum for elementary-age for elementary-age barriers often prevent that often individuals from seeking from help.” seeking “Emily was “Emily a vibrant, wasbeautiful a vibrant, and beautiful intelligent “Emily and young intelligent woman young whowoman was who barriers that a vibrant, beautiful young woman who thechildren first place.

She teach is intelligent starting with a curriculum for elementary-age barriers that often prevent individuals from seeking help.”

“Emily was a vibrant, beautiful and intelligent young woman who that children will that drug will use teach prevention. drug use prevention.

Confronting Confronting an epidemic an is epidemic not without is not its without challenges. its challenges.

Kennecke Kennecke had a zest for hadlife. a zest She for waslife. an She honor had was student, an honor athlete a student, and zest athlete talentedand talented for life. She was an honor student, athlete and talented children teach use Confronting epidemic is not without challenges.

Kennecke had a zest for life.artist,” She was honor athlete and talented “I’mthat also will very “I’m excited also drug very about excited theprevention. newly aboutlaunched the newly Emily’s launched Hope Emily’s victim Hope believesanthat believes stigmathat is one stigma of theis most oneitsofsignificant the most barriers significant in the barriers in the saidan artist,” Kennecke. saidstudent, “However, Kennecke. artist,” she “However, tragically shefell tragically victim to fell said fentanyl victim to fentanyl Kennecke.

“However , she tragically fell to fentanyl “I’m also very excited about the newly launched Emily’s Hope believes that stigmaprocess is one of process the significant in the artist,” said Kennecke.

“However, she tragically fell victim to fentanyl Substance Use Substance Prevention Use Prevention CurriculumCurriculum for grades K-5. for grades I think K-5. if you I think if you treatment treatment and thatmost shame and that and fear shame ofbarriers and judgment fearwhat ofprevent judgment preventshe poisoning when poisoning she used when what shepoisoning she used thought what she was thought heroin. was Ourheroin. family Our was family when was she used thought was heroin.

Our family was Substance Use Prevention Curriculum for grades K-5. I information think if youwe can treatment process and thatinreaching shame and fear of 18% judgment prevent equip children equip with children age-appropriate with age-appropriate life-saving information life-saving we can poisoning when she she thought was heroin.

Ouranfamily was in need those from need from out. reaching Only out.ofOnly individuals 18% ofholding individuals with drug with drug just used three what days just away three from days holding away just from an intervention holding three intervention to get Emilytointo get Emily days into those away from an inter vention to get Emily into equip children with age-appropriate life-saving information wefrom can substance significantly significantly reduce the number reduce the of people number who of people suffer from who suffer substance those in need from reaching out.

Only 18% of individuals with drug just three days away from holding an intervention to get Emily into use disorders use receive disorders addiction receive treatment, addiction underscoring treatment, underscoring the problem the problem treatment when treatment she died. when It’sshe a treatment heartbreaking died. It’s a heartbreaking loss that underscores loss that underscores the when the she died. It’s a heartbreaking loss that underscores the significantly reduce the who number ofwho people who suffer from substance use disorderuse anddisorder those anddie those from fentanyl die from poisoning/overdose,” fentanyl poisoning/overdose,” said said use receive addiction treatment, the problem treatment when she died. It’s a heartbreaking loss that underscores the Emily’s Hope Emily’s is working Hope to is of working solve. underscoring to solve. devastating devastating reality of substance reality of devastating use substance disorder use anddisorder the threat andofthefentanyl threat of disorders fentanyl reality substance use disorder and the threat of fentanyl useKennecke. disorder and those who die from fentanyl poisoning/overdose,” said Kennecke.

Emily’s Hope working to devastating reality of substance and the threat of fentanyl “Iiswant people “I want tosolve. know people that tosubstance know thatuse substance disorder is adisorder medicalis a medical in the illicitin drug the use supply.” illicitdisorder drug supply.” in the illicit drug supply .” use Kennecke.

Of course, there Of course, is always there more is always work more toher be done. work to While be done. members While members “Iused wantcondition, people to know thatnot substance use disorder is a medical in the illicit drug supply.” not condition, arief moral failing,” a moral said failing,” Kennecke. said“Raising Kennecke. funds “Raising and funds and to Even when Even grief when threatened grief to threatened take overEven toher take life,over Kennecke her life,used Kennecke when g threatened take over life, Kennecke used Of course, there is always more work to be done.

While members of Emily’s Hope of Emily’s organized Hope the organized Sioux Falls the Sioux vigil on Falls Aug. vigil 31, on Kennecke Aug. 31, Kennecke condition, not a moral failing,” said Kennecke.

“Raising funds and awareness always been has always a challenge, been agiven challenge, the stigma given associated the stigmawith associated help with Even when grief threatened tomotivation take over life, Kennecke used her experience her as experience as motivation toher her help those tosuffering helpexperience those from suffering addiction. from addiction. awareness has as motivation to those suffering from addiction. offeasible Emily’s organized Sioux vigil Aug. 31, Kennecke visited theHope White visited House the White to the speak House with to Falls members speakthose withofon members the White of House the White House substance use substance disorder.” use disorder.” has always been a challenge, given the stigma associatedseem with does Treatment does seem not Treatment always feasible seem for those feasible seeking for those helpseeking with awareness help with does not always for seeking help with her experience asTreatment motivation to not helpalways those suffering from addiction.

Office of National Office of Drug National Control Drug Policy Control (ONDCP), Policy the (ONDCP), Centers the forHouse Centers for visited the White House to speak with members of the White Throughout South Dakota, South many Dakota, knowmany Kennecke know from Kennecke her 33-yearfrom her 33-yearsubstance disorder.”Throughout substance substance abuse; Hope Emily’s substance seeks Hope to help seeks eliminate to help the eliminate barriersthe thatbarriers abuse; thatuse Emily’s Hope seeks to help eliminate the barriers that Treatment does not alwaysabuse; seemEmily’s feasible for those seeking help with Disease Control Disease and Control Doug Emhoff, and Doug theEmhoff, Second the Gentleman.

Second Gentleman.

Joined by by of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the Centers for JoinedKennecke career long asDakota, a TV career journalist as a TV at journalist KELOLAND, at KELOLAND, a CBS affiliate a CBS located affiliate in located inOffice prevent may people prevent from getting may from the getting carethe they the need. care prevent Kennecke they KenneckeThroughout finds long people from getting the care they need. finds South many know Kennecke from her 33-yearsubstance abuse; may Emily’s Hope seeks topeople help eliminate barriers thatneed.finds other overdose other awareness overdose awareness from advocates acrossfrom the nation, across Kennecke theJoined nation,by Kennecke Control and Dougadvocates Emhoff, the Second Gentleman.

Sioux Kennecke Falls.had years ofhad experience years of reporting experience reporting overdoses, thatfrom navigating that the navigating intricate web that intricate of healthcare web of and healthcare navigating treatment andoptions treatment the intricate web of healthcare and treatment options longoptions career as aFalls.

TV Sioux journalist atKennecke KELOLAND, a CBS affiliate on located in on overdoses, Disease may prevent people getting the care the they need.

Kennecke finds shared her own shared story herand ownadvocates presented story andmaterials presented from materials hernation, elementary from Kennecke her elementary other overdose awareness from across the butKennecke she never buthad expected sheyears never how expected deeply how it would deeply affect it would her life. affect her life. poses a daunting task.

In addition, many rehabilitation facilities do poses a daunting poses aofdaunting In addition, task.

In many addition, rehabilitation many rehabilitation facilities do facilities SiouxdoFalls. of experience reporting on overdoses, that navigating the intricate webtask. healthcare and treatment options curriculum. curriculum.

The Biden Administration The Biden Administration thenMedicare announced then aannounced $450 million a $450 million or offer free shared her own story and presented materials from her elementary “As a newscaster, “As a newscaster, you approach youstories approach with stories a certain detachment; a certain detachment; not provide rates adjusted to income, accept provide not rates provide adjusted rates to adjusted income, accept to income, Medicare accept offer freeor offer but free she never expected how deeply it would affect her life. with poses a dauntingnot task.

In addition, many rehabilitation facilities doorMedicare increase inThe funding increase to in combat funding the to combat overdose the epidemic. overdose After epidemic. seeing curriculum.

Biden Administration then announced aseeing $450After million “As a newscaster, you approach stories with a certain detachment; not provide rates adjusted to income, accept Medicare or offer free the difference thethat difference Emily’s that Hope Emily’s made, HopeKennecke has made,feels Kennecke it will feels take it will take increase in funding to combat thehas overdose epidemic.

After seeing everyone’s participation to Hope make overdose make awareness overdose more awareness prominent. more prominent. theeveryone’s differenceparticipation that Emily’s hastomade, Kennecke feels it will take “Awareness “Awareness is crucial,to but ismake crucial, so isoverdose action. but so Advocate isawareness action.for Advocate sensible for policies, sensible policies, everyone’s participation more prominent. support harm support harmstrategies reduction and strategies educate and others. educate And others. most ofAnd all,most of all, “Awareness isreduction crucial, but so is action.

Advocate for sensible policies, have compassion have compassion for others. We for all others. haveWe a part all have to play,” a part saidtoKennecke. play,” said Kennecke. support harm reduction strategies and educate others. And most of all, For Kennecke, ForitKennecke, is all about it is seeing all about the work seeing Emily’s the work Hope Emily’s has Hope has have compassion for others. We all have a part to play,” said Kennecke. accomplished accomplished on both theon national both the andnational local levels. and local levels.

For Kennecke, it is all about seeing the work Emily’s Hope has “Knowing that “Knowing Emily’sthat Hope Emily’s has saved Hopelives has and saved made livestreatment and made treatment accomplished on both the national and local levels. possible forpossible people who for people might who not have might otherwise not havehad otherwise the chance had is the chance is “Knowing that Emily’s has saved lives and treatment deeply gratifying. deeply It gratifying. turnsHope ourIttragedy turns our intotragedy a source into ofmade ahope,” source said of hope,” said possible for people who“Itmight notone have otherwise had the make chance is Kennecke.

“It Kennecke. has taught me hasthat taught me person that one can make person a can difference. a difference. deeply gratifying.

It turns our tragedy into a source of hope,” said However, itHowever, has also shown it has also me how shown far me we how have far to go we in have fighting to go the in fighting the Kennecke.

“Itstigma has taught me that options. one person make difference. stigma and improving and treatment improving treatment It’soptions. acan marathon, It’s aanot marathon, a sprint,not a sprint, However, has also me how far we have to go in fighting the but everyit step butcounts.” everyshown step counts.” stigma and improving treatment It’schange a marathon, not a sprint, Kennecke continues Kennecke tocontinues push foroptions. to change push and for the provision and theof provision hope to of hope to butthose every step counts.” who need those it,who keeping need Emily it, keeping in mind Emily every in mind step of every the step way. of the way.

Kennecke continues to push forjust change and the ofavigil, hope toof Hope “Emily’s isn’t just Hope a charity; isn’t it’s a charity; a lifeline it’s and aprovision lifeline a beacon and of beacon Mayor PaulMayor TenHaken Paul speaks TenHaken at the speaks vigil, at the vigil, Mayor Tdrug enHaken at the Vigil attendees Vigillearn attendees howPaul to learn use Narcan how to use to reverse Narcan to reverse overdoses drug overdoses “Emily’s speaks those who need it, keeping Emily in mind every step of the way. hope for those hope who for have those none,” who have said none,” Kennecke. said “We Kennecke. won’t rest “We until won’t we rest until we recognizingrecognizing the work Emily’s the work Hope Emily’s has Hope has recognizing the work Emily’s Hope has from Dr. Melissa from Dr. Dittberner.

Melissa Dittberner.

“Emily’s the Hope isn’tand juststigma a charity; it’san arecovery lifeline and a beacon of for everyone dismantle dismantle stigma the make recovery and make attainable angoal attainable for everyone goal Mayor Paul TenHaken speaks at the vigil, accomplished. accomplished.

Vigil accomplished. attendees learn how to use Narcan to reverse drug overdoses affected by substance affected byuse substance disorder.” use Kennecke. disorder.” “We won’t rest until we hope for those who have none,” said recognizing the work Emily’s Hope has from Dr. Melissa Dittberner.

DESIGN BY KATEDESIGN MATTHES

BY K &ATE REESE MATTHES DUNCAN & REESE DUNCAN dismantle the stigma and make recovery an attainable goal for everyone accomplished.

PHOTOS BY KATE PHOTOS MATTHES

BY K ,R ATE EESE MD ATTHES UNCAN , R&EESE WITH DUNCAN & WITH affected by substance use disorder.”

PERMISSION BY A PERMISSION NGELA KENNECKE

BY ANGELA KENNECKE DESIGN BY KATE MATTHES & REESE DUNCAN

PHOTOS BY KATE MATTHES, REESE DUNCAN & WITH PERMISSION BY ANGELA KENNECKE

Getting outside and spending time in nature is essential to a healthy mindset.

A great way to reduce stress and promote calmness in one’s body is to go walking at local parks. There are many trails around Sioux Falls that are accessible to the public for free.

BY LUCAS HIATT

BY LUCAS HIATT

BY LUCAS HIATT

SS S

ioux Falls’ history is painted with the ioux Falls’ history is painted withlanguage, the brushstrokes of Native American ioux Falls’ history is painted with the brushstrokes of Native American language, culture and heritage.

On Oct. 9, in downtown brushstrokes of Native American language, culture and heritage.

On Oct. 9, in downtown Sioux Falls, the to witness the culture and heritage.

On city Oct.was 9, inable downtown Sioux full Falls, the city was able to witness painting of Sioux pastthe asthe the sixth Sioux Falls, the city was able toFalls’ witness full painting of Sioux Falls’ past as the sixth annual NativeFalls’ American Day full painting of Sioux past as theparade sixth took place. annual Native American Day parade took place. in TheAmerican celebration indigenous heritage annual Native Dayofparade took place.

TheSouth celebration ofdates indigenous heritage in then, Dakota back to 1990.

Since The celebration of indigenous heritage in Souththe Dakota dates back to 1990.

Since Monday then, state has observed the second South Dakota dates back to 1990. Since then, the state October has observed the second Monday as the Native American Day out of the state of has observed second Monday of October as Native American Day out ofthe state respect for the cultures Day fromout which of October as Native American of respect for the cultures from which the state originated.

Around Sioux respect for the cultures fromthe which theFalls statearea, Native originated.

Around the Sioux Falls area, Native American culture shows up in our everyday originated. Around the Sioux Falls area, Native American culture shows up in of ourseveral everyday lives.

The nomenclature American culture shows up in our everyday landmarks lives. The locations nomenclature several landmarks in of theof city came from native lives. Theand nomenclature several landmarks and locations in the city came from native of the tribes and languages.

The importance and locations in the city came from native tribes education and languages.

The importance of the andThe celebration of native tribes and languages. importance of theculture education andeveryone celebration of native culture among in the city of Sioux education and celebration of native culture Falls is amongimportant everyonein in the city Sioux whole Falls is to of view among everyone in theorder city of Siouxthe Falls is picture of important in order to view the whole picture of our city. important in present-day order to view the whole picture of our present-day city.

“Tatanka oyate wacinunyapi,” meaning “we our present-day city.

“Tatanka oyate wacinunyapi,” meaning “we depend on the buffalo nation” was the theme for “Tatanka oyate wacinunyapi,” meaning “we depend on the buffalo nation” was the theme for and 2023’s parade in honor of Native ancestors depend on the buffalo nation” was the theme for 2023’sthe parade in honor of Native ancestors andThis provision buffalo brought in the past. fellowship dance where all 2023’s parade in honor of Native ancestors and the provision buffalo brought in the past. dance where all themebuffalo was present at in this itThis kicked off fellowship were welcome the provision brought theevent past.as This fellowship dance where and all invited themewith was apresent at event asThis it kicked off into were welcome and invitedwith the prayer at this Lyon continued to dance in rhythm theme was present at this eventPark. as it kicked off were welcome and invited with adowntown prayer at Lyon Park. This continued to dance in rhythm with the Sioux a shortinto funinto run with a prayer at Lyon Park.Falls Thiswith continued to dance drums. in rhythm with the downtown Sioux Falls with a short fun run drums. This parade provided education on a which officially began the parade.

The evident downtown Sioux Falls with a short fun run drums. whichimportance officially began thecelebration parade. Thetoevident This paradethat provided education talked on a about this the city was culture is otherwise which officially beganofthe parade. The evident This parade provided educationnot on a importance of this celebration to the city was culture that is otherwise not talked about on full display as the full stretch or taught as broadly as it should importance of this celebration to the city of wasPhillips culture that is otherwise not talked about be. This on fullAvenue displayinasthe thedowntown full stretcharea of Phillips as broadly as itbecome should an be.outlet This for was blocked off or taught annual parade has on full display as the full stretch of Phillips or taught as broadly as it should be. This Avenue in the downtown areaFloats was blocked off annual parade has become an outlet for in honor of the parade. from Nativemany has to express culture Avenue in the downtown area was blocked off annual parade becometheir an outlet forand broaden in honor of the parade. Floats from Nativeto express their culture and broaden organizations, non-profits, businesses and many relationships with each other in the city in honor led of the parade. Floats from NativeEvery Child Matters many to express their culture and broaden led organizations, non-profits, businesses andPhillips, relationships with each other in the city school clubs made their way north on Every Child Matters of Sioux Falls.

For Char Green-Maximo, led organizations, non-profits, businesses and relationships with each other in the city is a movement to bring Every Child Matters schoolsporting clubs made their way northpatterns, on Phillips, Sioux Falls. For Char Green-Maximo, colors, committee chair of the Sioux Falls Native school clubs madeindigenous their way north on Phillips,symbolsof of is a movement to bring Sioux Falls.

For Char Green-Maximo, awareness to children affected is a movement to bring sporting indigenous colors, patterns, symbols chairDay of the Siouxthis Falls of course pictures honoring the buffalo. committee American parade, dayNative is just one awareness to children affected sporting and indigenous colors, patterns, symbols committee chair of the Sioux Falls Native by residential schools and awareness to children affected and ofTrucks coursealso pictures honoring the buffalo.

Day this day is just one carried drums thundered American of theparade, yearthis where and of course pictures honoring thewhich buffalo.

Americanday Day parade, day indigenous is just one culture by residential schools and children oppression thatand these Trucks also carried drums which thundered by residential schools day of the year where indigenous culture throughout the surrounding downtown area. can be in the spotlight when it otherwise Trucks also carried drums which thundered day of the year where indigenous culture oppression that these children throughout the surrounding downtown area. havethat been subject to. On can be in thenot spotlight when it of otherwise Thethe finale of the parade came asarea. individuals these children be. The getting to oppression throughout surrounding downtown can be inwould the spotlight whenpoint it otherwise have been subject to.

On The finale of the parade came as individuals Sep. 30, orange shirt day is not be.

The of getting to followed by riding on as horseback down Phillips. wouldshare been subject to. On with thepoint city is that all The finale of the parade came individuals would not be. The point of getting to were able tohave Sep. 30, orange shirt day is followedShortly by riding on the horseback down Phillips. share with the city is that all were able to after parade, a Powwow was to day recognize and learn what it means orange shirt is followed by riding on horseback down Phillips. with the more city isabout that all were able toto take Sep. 30, celebrated Shortly after the parade, a Powwow was began share celebrated recognize learn pride more and about what it means to take held at Levitt at thea Falls.

Thiswas event honor the lost lives of Native celebrate heritage.

Shortly after the parade, Powwow celebrated to to recognize andand learn more about what it means to take held atasLevitt at the of Falls.

This eventAmericans began honor the lives Native celebrateAmericans] heritage. are always theathistory plains Native was pride and“[Native American children.

Many held at Levitt the Falls.

This event began honor the lostlost lives of of Native pride and celebrate heritage. as theshared. historyThe of plains Native Americans was came “[Native Americans] areof always voices of singers andwas drums American children.

Many indigenous every day the year,” said as the history of plains Native Americans volunteers of the parade wore “[Native Americans] are always American children.

Many shared.

Thethe voices ofassingers and drums in came indigenous every day of the is year,” said from dancers marched volunteers of the parade wore Green-Maximo.

“This just the day shared. The voicesstage of singers and drums camea circleindigenous every day of the year,” said orange in order to affirm volunteers of the parade wore from the stage indigenous as dancers marched in dresses a circle and Green-Maximo.

“This is just thewith day patchwork where we get to celebrate from the wearing stage as dancers marched in a circle orange in every order to affirm “This is just the day other that in the Native orange in order to child affirm wearing indigenous patchwork dresses and by a Green-Maximo. where we get to celebrate with other traditional clothing.

This was followed [cultures].” wearing indigenous patchwork dresses and that every child in the Native where we get to celebrate with other American community matters. that every child in the Native traditional clothing. This was followed by a [cultures].” traditional clothing. This was followed by a [cultures].”

American community matters.

BY ASHLYN HOFFMAN

Tuthill Park

PHOTOS BY ASHLYN HOFFMAN DESIGN BY ASHLYN HOFFMAN

Leaders Park

If one is looking for a solid and an unoccupied hiking spot, Leaders Park is the place to go. It is a single track Recreational trail on the northeast side of town that is open to the public from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Leaders Park has many trailheads that range from moderate to difficult, and short to long. It is abundant with trees, bushes and plants, which gives the park a better sense of nature. The paths are small, packed dirt trails with many different trailheads along the way.

Arrowhead Park

Every Child Matters Every ChildMatters Matters Every Child

American community matters.

PHOTOS BY LUCAS HIATT

DESIGN UCAS HIATT PHOTOS BY LUCASBYHLIATT PHOTOS BY LUCAS HIATT DESIGN BY LUCAS HIATT DESIGN BY LUCAS HIATT

Starting off strong with a popular park in Sioux Falls: Tuthill. The park has two levels, Tuthill and upper Tuthill, and is open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Both sides contain a playground and, in addition, the upper Tuthill side contains a well kept garden. Throughout the park there is a frisbee golf course that is free and open to the public. Tuthill provides many different hiking trails ranging from moderate to difficult, some of them leading to areas by the Big Sioux River. This trail was built and is maintained by Falls Area single track. There is no fee to enter the park, and most trails consist of packed dirt.

Falls Park

In Sioux Falls, the community and tourists are usually the most engaged with Falls Park. This park is spread across 123 acres north of downtown, open from 5 a.m. to 12 a.m. with no entrance fee. The park includes a cafe, a watch tower and old remains of a mill. There are many areas to see the history of the park. While walking along the cement sidewalks, one can view the beautiful waterfalls that are extended across the park. During the winter months, Falls Park sets up colorful Christmas lights around the park, calling it “Winter Wonderland.” This event brings in many visits from the people of the area. Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation owns and maintains Falls Park.

On the east side of Sioux Falls, Arrowhead Park holds beautiful trails that are open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. with no entrance fee. There is a handicapped-accessible trail with restrooms on site. Located next to the park is a small pond with fish, geese, turtles and other small animals.

Some of the trails are paved, and some are packed dirt.

The great view of the prairie, the pond and the wildlife give this park a deserving name.

A jazz combo is a smaller a rhythm section (drums, ss instruments.

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BY MADDOX RAPH & JM OSEPH TUNGE BY ADDOX RAPH & JOSEPH TUNGE m the rest of society .

They can make up anything from the rest of society. They can make up anything the spot and still land on their on the spot never and still land on their feet. You will never Furthermore,feet. jazz is thriving right hereY at LHSou within the threewill jazz bands ly feel a par t of the jazz world you do truly feelcall a part of the jazz world if you do not call directed by Drewif Balta and Dan Carlson. The jazz program is differentnot from the r friends cats. your friends cats. current band because it teaches the cats3 how to play Swing, Latin, Bebop and

other different forms of jazz. Swing, for example, is different from the music one would hear the LHS marching band playing because of its groovier rhythm.

Instead of standard band music often associated with marching, it is the kind of music that makes someone feel like dancing. Miles Broveleit, a tenor saxophone in The Jazz Collective (the top jazz band at LHS), has learned the language of jazz over the past three years and has fallen in love with it.

“The ultimate dream would be a career in jazz, even though that might not be the most viable option, I think there could be a career in music education whether it be jazz, or concert band, or marching band… I have definitely found my passion,” said Broveleit.

If LHS students are interested in taking their jazz skills to the next level, During During its prime, jazz its wasprime, revolutionaryjazz becausewas of its spontaneity revolutionary and groove, actingbecause as a bridge to bring of different its spontaneity cultures and groove, acting as a bridge to bring different cultures it is very easy to get involved at R Wine Bar on the jazz jam night. All of the together together through their through love for music.their It was thelove pop music for of the music. early 20th century.

It was “La Lathe Land,”pop a popular music musical released of the early 20th century. “La La Land,” a popular musical released songs played are out of the same book called “The Real Book.” This book is a inin 2016, 2016, romanticizes romanticizes the intricacies of jazz, such the as intricacies unique improvisation of techniques, jazz, as Gosling such aimsas to revive unique the musicimprovisation genre techniques, as Gosling aims to revive the music genre collection of many different jazz songs. These songs are accessible to everyone inin the the city of city Los Angeles. of This Los movie Angeles. raises questions This about the accuracy movie of the raises depiction of questions modern jazz. Doesabout the movie the accuracy of the depiction of modern jazz. Does the movie whether they are participating in the jazz jam or jazz clubs around the country. accurately accurately portray the portray jazz scene in today’s the society? jazz Is jazz scene still alivein in a today’s Midwest city such society? as Sioux Falls?

Is jazz still alive in a Midwest city such as Sioux Falls?

What is interesting is that the book is more of a guideline to what jazz music 1 every Thursday night, Falls. R Wine Bar features a jazz combo1 every Thursday night, There There is one well-known is one restaurant well-known that features jazz in restaurant Sioux Falls. R Winethat Bar features features a jazz combojazz in Sioux might sound like, including only the chords and the basic melody. Balta, one of and hosts an open mic night for local jazz musicians and hosts an open mic night for local jazz musicians the directors at LHS, emphasizes the importance of listening to examples of on the first Wednesday of every month. In the classy on the first Wednesday of every month. In the classy the music that one wants to play. Count Basie and Stevie Wonder are popular restaurant, the smell of fresh pasta and delicious sauces restaurant, the smell of fresh pasta and delicious sauces jazz artists that are important to be familiar with. There are also jazz artists is overcome by jazz music performers providing a lively is overcome by jazz music performers providing a lively known for specific instruments, including piano prodigy Thelonious Monk, easily 4.

Lick is a short phrase or melody that is 4. Lick is a short phrase or melody that is easily atmosphere. Upon further investigation, the restaurant atmosphere. Upon further investigation, the restaurant ognizable. One e xample is the jingle played recognizable. by One example is the jingle played by talented trumpet Miles Davis and saxophone specialist John Coltrane. While jazz is filled with talented musicians, including LHS is filled with talented musicians, including several te Far m in commercials , several “Lik e a good neighbor State Farm in commercials, , “Like aLHS good neighbor, musicians generally have a positive opinion of the movie “La La Land,” many of grads. grads. te far m is there.”

State farm is there.” them do not agree with its representation of jazz as a dying breed of music.

“I think if students want a place to play outside of “I think if students want a place to play outside of Aidan Boone, a local musician in Sioux Falls, has a more realistic outlook on school, this would be a perfect opportunity for them,” school, this would be a perfect opportunity for them,” jazz in today’s society: “Yeah it’s not the pop music of the era, and yeah it grows said one former LHS musician. said one former LHS musician. and it shrinks, but it is always still here.”

“We mainly do [jazz night] for the community. It’s “We mainly do [jazz night] for the community. It’s Ultimately, many of the jazz musicians do not see themselves as traditionalists; really the only place for us to all come together,” said really the only place for us to all come together,” said they love experimenting by trying new rhythms and notes. When an artist local trumpet player Jim Speirs. local trumpet player Jim Speirs. comes up with a new lick4 or method of doing something, talented musicians After experiencing R Wine Bar, it is clear that it is After experiencing R Wine Bar, it is clear that it is continually try to replicate and learn the new style. Jazz, though in its rhythm not just another brick building downtown. It is as if the not just another brick building downtown. It is as if the and liveliness seeming like a contemporary invention, is a continuation of the Richardsonian2 architecture was designed to contain Richardsonian2 architecture was designed to contain legacy left behind by brilliant artists from the beginning of the development of and protect the art form inside, the culture of jazz alive and protect the art form inside, the culture of jazz alive the genre. This kind of inspiration makes an LHS student wonder what kind and well in the heart of Sioux Falls. and well in the heart of Sioux Falls. of positive impact they might leave for others through expressing their own ESIGN BY JOSEPH TUNGE DESIGN BY JOSEPH TUNGE HOTOS BY MADDOX RAPH PHOTOS BY MADDOX RAPH perspective with music regardless of popularity or genre.

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As many could agree, picking out a movie to watch can be a very difficult task.

With millions of movies to scroll through, finding the right one to fulfill one's pleasure and needs is always a challenge. Movies have a large impact on the way they can make people feel; they can put people in a good mood or even turn their moods around. To make the decision easier, here is a list of movies to choose from based on the emotions one is

sad

feeling.

DESIGN BY JOSIE TOLLINGER PHOTOS USED WITH PERMISSION BY CREATIVE COMMONS

BY JOSIE TOLLINGER

BY JD YUNAG

Studying is a crucial part of being a student and if you are like everybody else in high school, you have probably studied somewhere at some point in time. The question is, what are the best places to study after school? In my personal opinion, there are three that stick out from the rest. I decided to go and score these three spots out of 10 with questions ranging from hours open to if they have wifi. Here are the categories that I used to rank each place: Size of area/Seating Busyness Food/Drink Noise Level Hours Service Wifi

Drake Bachmeier

Washington HS, 2008 1. Football, wrestling, track and the NOW (The News of Washington) 2. “My life centered around sports. I did well in my classes because I wanted to be eligible to play!”

3. “I told everyone in my class that I was going to sing “I Go Blind” by Hootie and the Blowfish at the Homecoming Talent Show but I chickened out.”

Park Center HS, MN 1991 1. Soccer, basketball, softball, National Honors Society, coached little kid soccer and softball.

2. “I was a decent student” 3. “I would have gone to more school activities besides the ones I was involved in.”

BY ELYSSE WEBER

1. What activities were you involved in?

2. What kind of student were you?

3. If you could go back and change one thing, what would you change?

Anne Engelland (1996)

Drake Bachmeier (2008) Kerri Stockwell (1991)

Tanya Bjerke (2001)

Natalie Tufte (2003)

Xavier Pastrano (2004)

Anne Engelland (2023)

Drake Bachmeier (2023)

Kerri Stockwell (2023)

Tanya Bjerke (2023)

Natalie Tufte (2023)

Xavier Pastrano (2023)

Tanya Bjerke Reading at B&N Café and drinking a caramel frappuccino.

LaLuna Café is a modern café downtown with art on every wall. It has a great environment and many different types of seating. They have comfy chairs, bars, low tables and more to fit any of your seating needs. Unless you go on Sunday, they do not tend to be very busy and the food is spectacular.

LaLuna Café has waffles, coffee drinks and even eggs and bacon. It is not too loud and they are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. They had very good service and wifi. If you are looking for the best environment to study with some awesome food too, go to LaLuna Café. Overall Score: 10/10.

Bagel Boy is a well-known and popular place to congregate in the realm of LHS. If you go to Bagel Boy on Minnesota around lunch time any day of the week, you are likely to see at least a couple groups of people from LHS there. That being said, let us talk about studying. Bagel Boy has a large space with various different spots to sit, ranging from small booths to high top tables.

Depending on the day and time, it can get busy, but normally it is not too bad if you avoid lunch hours. They specialize in bagels and offer many different types including egg and sausage, or a pizza bagel. Bagel Boy is open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. and their service is decent. It can tend to be noisy too, so I recommend bringing earbuds. They also have wifi, so Bagel Boy on Minnesota is not a bad place to study after school. Overall score: 7/10.

LHS, 1996 1. Choir, volleyball, Student Mentor Program and softball.

2. “I did not have the focus or work ethic to do as well as I could have.”

3. “I wish I would’ve had more opportunities for career exploration to find interesting areas that would give me a goal to work towards and help keep me more focused on my grades.”

Kerri Stockwell

Everyone has heard of the famous bookstore Barnes & Noble, but many do not know of the café that sits in the center of the bookstore. B&N Café is the alliance between Barnes & Noble and Starbucks. The B&N Café has a large area made up of a bunch of tables of two. It was not busy or noisy at all when I went and I enjoyed the classic Starbucks drinks. They are open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and their service was above average compared to a normal Starbucks. They had wifi for me to connect to, and I studied there for around two hours. Overall score: 9/10.

Studying at LaLuna Café and eating a Nutella waffle.

Anne Engelland

Watertown HS, 2001 1. Track and field (student coach) 2. “I was focused, hard working, quiet, took all the art classes I could take (still love art!)”

3. “I would have tried more things and gotten more involved with different activities (like choir or yearbook) instead of being so shy.”

Natalie Tufte

Troy HS, MI 2003 1. Youth group, diving, synchronized swimming and musicals.

2. “I got As and Bs. I worked hard because things don’t come easily to me but I knew working hard now would pay off later.”

3. “I wouldn’t let what others think of me affect how I saw myself. Now that I’m older, I know who I am created to be, and I can be confident even in my differences. If others don’t like it, then I hope they find others they connect with better.”

Xavier Pastrano

At Bagel Boy eating a Sausage Breakfast Boy.

PHOTOS BY JD YUNAG & LUCAS HIATT DESIGN BY JD YUNAG

O’Gorman HS, 2004 1. Theater, oral interp, choir, show choir and art.

2. “I was super social and often got in trouble for talking during class. I was a goofball, but I also knew when to dial it in and get work done. I was not an Accelerated/AP kid (I had to work hard to do ‘okay’ in my classes).”

3. “I would probably try to step outside of my comfort zone in the arts and try out for a sport (probably football or track and field).”

DESIGN BY ELYSSE WEBER

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY LHS STAFF AND LHS YEARBOOK

BY CLARA BINSTOCK

Within the LHS walls, students voice their thoughts and opinions. As there are many students here at LHS, there are a lot of opinions throughout our school, some more common than others. However, the uncommon opinions are the ones that give rise to more discussion. LHS students sent in their personal unpopular opinions, so here is a glimpse into some of the different perspectives within our school.

Who are you based on your favorite Thanksgiving food?

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DESIGN BY CLARA BINSTOCK ARTWORK BY CANVA & CLARA BINSTOCK

(A SATIRE)

BY MADDY REENTS

very year, on a Thursday in November, people all over the country have an excuse to eat a wide variety of foods until their heart is content.

Many of these foods have different groups of people that enjoy eating them.

The five most common Thanksgiving dishes brought to the table every year are: turkey, mashed potatoes, ham, stuffing and pumpkin pie. There are definitely many characteristics about people that determine which of these is their favorite.

Starting off with stuffing, the oddest combination of food: bread, celery, broth, carrots and onions. If stuffing is your favorite Thanksgiving food, then you have got to be from a different planet. The fluffy inside but crusty outside just doesn’t sit right with me. People that like stuffing the most are definitely the loners of the family who barely interact with anyone at family events. People who like stuffing are also people who believe that pineapple belongs on pizza. Overall, stuffing lovers are people who do not have good taste in anything, and are always in their own little world.

Next up is turkey lovers. Because turkey is the most popular Thanksgiving dish, people who like turkey are the people of the family who feel like they are the alpha. They believe that they are the most amazing people to have walked this Earth. It seems turkey lovers could be the really loud uncles of the family. In reality, turkey is a very dry and bland tasting meat,

which shows that the people in the turkey lovers category are not all that, and they need to stop acting like they are the best.

Pumpkin pie, the most loved dessert. There are definitely different groups of people who like pumpkin pie, the first being the grandparents of the family. It only fits because grandparents are such sweet people, just like pumpkin pie. The other group is little kids, mostly ages 4-12. Everyone already knows that these kids are drowning their piece of pie in whipped cream and making a huge mess. At least they are enjoying their food and not complaining about everything else!

Mashed potatoes are for the Debbie Downers of the family. Just looking at them makes me sad. Even though mashed potatoes are very delicious, the look and color make them so gloomy. Mashed potatoes represent the people who are die-hard and are probably going through a breakup.

Ham lovers are definitely the coolest people in the family. They are the outgoing, smart and talented people. Ham has such exquisite taste, and it actually has a color that makes it look nice to eat.

If you choose to eat ham, you are definitely the best person in your family because of your amazing taste buds.

In conclusion, people’s likes and dislikes of the Thanksgiving dinner shape our families into who they are today.

DESIGN BY LHS STATESMAN

1.

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DESIGN DESIGNBY BYEE LLEN LLENM MERKLEY ERKLEY

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ARTWORK BY MADDIE RED, SANSY SUDIO & GOODWARE DESIGN BY CAROLINE HUGHES & BERGEN QUELLO

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BY ADDY ALBRECHT & RYAN CALHOUN

Are you broke? So are we. We spent all of our money on four of the newest restaurants that Sioux Falls has to offer, so that you do not have to.

Walking through the doors of Oppa Chicken on Western Avenue, we had extremely high hopes. The vibe of the restaurant was very aesthetically pleasing and provided a calm atmosphere for dining. The service, while simple, was satisfactory and had us in a good mindset, ready to enjoy our food. When the boneless BBQ wings and boneless honey garlic wings we ordered arrived at the table, it even looked good. Our first bites proved just the opposite. Unfortunately for us, the chicken was gray and slimy and came with a side of one small and intrusive bone. It lacked any flavor itself, leaving the sauce to save it. The sauce could not save it. The honey garlic was artificial and artificially sweet, and the BBQ just was not what we expected. We acknowledge that the dishes we ordered could call for an acquired taste, but for us they were highly disappointing. If you are in the market for boneless wings, I would suggest Wingstop, Buffalo Wild Wings, Wahlburgers or basically anything else. If you are in the market for Oppa Chicken, stray away from the wings. If you are in the market for both, get out of the market. To epitomize our experience, the mints we had after our meals were the stars of our show.

Before we visited this local dessert spot, we heard very good reviews about what it had to offer. We pulled into the parking lot and feasted our eyes on an oddly geometrical structure straight out of Minecraft. When we entered the door into the establishment, the smell of unique sweet treats hit us like a wave. The dopamine was flowing. The interior was slightly more impressive and immersive than the exterior and the menu displays had us in the mood for some gourmet goodness. Between the overwhelming sensory experience and the equally overwhelming slate of options, it took us a while to order. The small mangonada we ordered, while a shocking $8, was quite large and largely satisfied our cravings. With that being said, there are definitely cheaper alternatives that can do just as much. Overall, the experience was one of relative enjoyment, which was unfortunately marred by surprising prices and at times by sensory overload.

Taste: Service:

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Affordability:

Service: Affordability:

Vibe:

Vibe:

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Service: Affordability: Vibe: We really had no idea what to expect when we arrived in the parking lot of Chick N Max on Lake Lorraine. We were met with a bold claim, the side of the building reading “Home of the better chicken sandwich.” We were also met with an exceptionally helpful staff, who throughout the experience worked quickly and effectively. We decided that we had to test the outlandish claim they made and order their original chicken sandwich, which was just one of a surprising quantity of options on the menu. The variety was a much needed change of pace compared to what is offered at Slim Chickens, Raising Canes and Popeyes. While we were not fully convinced that the sandwich we ordered was better than everything else in today’s competitive market, we were pleasantly surprised. We think Chick N Max can accurately be described as a better Slim Chickens. The vibe was similar, the selection was more plentiful and the taste was aimed towards the same goal but executed better. If it was not so far away, we would be back there very soon.

PHOTOS BY ADDY ALBRECHT & RYAN CALHOUN DESIGN BY ADDY ALBRECHT & RYAN CALHOUN

Affordability: Vibe:

Los Arcos has been in business for over six months now, but with how little people were talking about it, we would have guessed otherwise. Considering the immense success of a similar Minnesota Avenue restaurant, Giliberto’s, we were surprised to learn of the existence of this newer establishment through research rather than through word of mouth. Having entered the building, we were greeted by a welcoming staff ready to help with our questions and eager to make our experience better. When the chicken fajita burrito we ordered was presented to us by an equally kind member of the staff, we were enticed by its warm essence and toasty tortilla casing. After a few bites, however, the excitement was lost. The burrito tasted perfectly fine, but became rather boring rather quickly and was hard to finish.

If you are in the market for an authentic fajita burrito, there is a better and larger alternative on the menu at Jacky’s Guatemalan. Between the nature of the dining area - which was eerily similar to a classroom - and the nature of the burrito, the experience could be described simply as bland.

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When Cookie Co. opened up in February 2023, I started wondering which rival cookie shop was When better, Crumbl or Cookie Co.Cookie I wanted to see whichCo. I started wondering shop had the better cookies as well as the quality or Co ofbetter, their ingredients. ICrumbl went to both cookie shops shop the better c and ordered theirhad basic chocolate chip cookies as of their well as their best seller foringredients. that week. and ordered their ba well as Chip: their best Crumbl Chocolate With a crispy exterior sel and the perfect amount of chocolate chips, the Chocolat Crumbl Crumbl Chocolate Chip Cookie is one of the best and the perfect cookies Crumbl has to offer.

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V

DESIGN BY ELLEN MERKLEY

S

M

W

Aka. the lunchroom, or the prime reason people beg for open lunch. It’s really life or death here.

enough. There’s a good What chance you’re leaving the When the winter CE parking lot with someone LHS UESTIONABLE else’s paint on your NOCKOUT ACE months roll around, passenger door.

ADED EW BATHROOMS students The “Mr.Rib” served at lunch. the LHS parking lot impossible What it feels Never quite right, and have to As soon as Y TOP SIGN How LHS like to try and to plan for. becomes your enemy get out of the Guarding both exits be told to G students feel once you lay your head EMPERATURE DOORS parking lot in of the parking lot, both in disguise. You might The prime reasononyouthecancoldgethard under half an of them treated as a in practice, their teacher talks hour. suggestion. trouble for letting someone in the I almost justELLING slip and fall all building. Also knownscience as thetables. only for longer than 5 entrance/exit LHS athletes know of.

Over each other Unbelievably thin. You (Definition: E AGUE the way to the admin more “yellowish”) The in the hallway. The minutes.

Best sleepofyou’ll should get credits for the Tolerance things you hear may classes next door because you science classrooms’ Our knowledge of the truth hoods. Bad hair day?

N ANTHIC than theirceilings and floors. doors.just be life altering. in your life.put have heard every single lesson. regarding “the basement.”

ERO Dontget care, please Questionable health your hood down, sir.

ALLS E studies. wise…

LD GYM ARKING *Hallway extension* LOT What LHS students now We finally got what we wanted, ATE refer to as “on time.” The LHS and it was good while it lasted. The URPHY’S As if I have not said parking lot being the most COMMONS new bathrooms have now been used enough. There’s a good likely culprit. chance you’re leaving the Aka. the lunchroom, more than the upper E-Wing, and that’s saying something. parking lot with someone or the prime reason UESTIONABLE else’s paint on your people beg for open ACE lunch. It’s really life or passenger door.

EW BATHROOMS The “Mr.Rib” death here. served at lunch.

What it feels Never quite right, and impossible TOP SIGN like to try and to plan for. get out of the Guarding both exits EMPERATURE DOORS parking lot in of the parking lot, both under half an of them treated as a The prime reason you can get in hour. suggestion. trouble for letting someone in the ELLING building. Also known as the only Over each other entrance/exit LHS athletes know of.

Unbelievably thin. You (Definition: AGUE should get credits for the “yellowish”) The in the hallway. The Tolerance of things you hear may science classrooms’ Our knowledge of the truth classes next door because you hoods. Bad hair day?

ANTHIC ceilings and floors. just be life altering. regarding “the basement.” have heard every single lesson.

ERO Dont care, please put Questionable health your hood down, sir.

ALLS wise…

What LHS students now ATE refer to as “on time.” The LHS parking lot being the most likely culprit.

’S

BY KADENCE DEAN

ABE’S

No telling what you will find lodged in a toilet.

No telling ROPOFF LANE LASSROOMS Where suddenly, Otherwise BE TATUEknown what you will Where’s that smell high school students as PDA Paradise.

ROPOFF LANE coming from? You’ll ATHROOMS can drive better than LASSROOMS find lodged in a never know. full grown adults.

NERGY DRINKS Where suddenly, OtherwiseThe known primary diettoilet. of A term you won’t use tothat describe Where’s smell The toilets: steaming students and the walkers in the LHS hallways. (literally), high school students and the as PDAprobably Paradise.LHS half the reason coming from?

You’ll showers: suspicious…

ATHROOMS AST nobody can stand each other. can drive better than IRLS LOCKER ROOM never know.

What full grown adults.

NERGY CE When the winter LHS DRINKS

AS

BE STATUE

D B A C ABE’S E B F G H I K J E O GP F M L H I R Q N ’S K J S T

DESIGN BY KADENCE DEAN

ARTWORK BY KADENCE DEAN

BY

BY LILLIAN KIESOW

BY STELLA SONNICHSEN

LHS is a host to a variety of clubs and this year a few more are being added to the roster. A stand out of these is the new foosball club.

Also known as table football or table soccer, foosball was invented in 1921 and is a popular game usually played by two or four players. Despite being beloved for many years, this is the first time the activity has made its appearance at LHS. Recently, a Sioux Falls citizen has decided to donate three foosball tables to LHS and reached out to Physical Education teacher Kaaren Huber to take charge of the club. The donor wants to expose more kids to being involved in something active, such as playing one of his favorite games: foosball.

“With a generous donation, they were able to get us two tables plus an additional [table] to start getting kids excited,” said Huber.

The hope is that by starting this club kids can be spending less time on their phones and provide them another activity to get them moving. The donor, alongside the McDonald’s Heart2Heart program is sponsoring the tables to help promote student encouragement, building bridges and team mentality, as well as offer an equal opportunity for all students to play.

“There are more things to be done by being active in hands-on activities versus in front of your device, and so their whole vision is to start it as a club,” said Huber.

Due to the limited number of tables, the plan is for kids to start meeting on club day and some kids can watch students play foosball and try for themselves while others play spikeball. There will also be QR codes on the table so students can learn more about the game.

“It’s a chance for them to start learning, so if they see a foosball table they are gonna understand the game, soccer, on the table using their hands,” said Huber.

The club will be associated with the National League Foosball Club USA, and so far, LHS is the first Sioux Falls school to be incorporated; however, Harrisburg and a Northwest Iowa high school already have a set of tables as well. Eventually, as the club grows, Huber hopes that the LHS and Harrisburg team will be able to connect on weekends and play. There is also a state tournament at the end of February that the club might compete in as well as hopefully including the other high schools eventually.

“Let’s get the other three high schools to do it, and maybe at a game find a way to bring them down [to play]...or have parents, draw their names out, to play our top two teams, and see who’s actually good,” said Huber.

For now, the goal is to just get the buzz started. The tables are very valuable and even have built-in LED lights. The physical ed department plans to keep them safely tucked away in a locked room while kids are not playing.

“They (table donors) want to expose more kids, students, to do something with hand-eye coordination, versus being in front of a device,” said Huber.

BYBY JAMES JAMESPLORDE PLORDE

A A

DESIGN BY STELLA SONNICHSEN ARTWORK USED WITH PERMISSION BY FABIAN BIEL

ftersuffering sufferingaarough rough defeat defeat fter theState Statechampionship championship4-1 4-1last last year year ininthe to Rapid City Stevens and losing some to Rapid City Stevens and losing some their key senior players, the stage ofoftheir key senior players, the stage was set for what SDPB Radio called a was set for what SDPB Radio called a “redemption tour” for LHS boys soccer. “redemption tour” for LHS boys soccer.

Drastic changes came with the start Drastic changes came with the start of a new season. New players came into of a new season. New players came into the team to replace the graduates from the team to replace the graduates from last year. One of these new players was last year.defensive One of these new players center midfielder (CDM) was and center defensive midfielder (CDM) andhis LHS junior Ryder Syverson, who had LHS Syverson, who had his firstjunior seasonRyder with LHS this year: first“It season with LHS this year: was hard finding my way with “Itteam was hard finding my waybut with the during the summer, as the during but as theteam season wentthe on summer, I formed good the season went on all I formed relationships with of my good teammates relationships with all of my teammates and coaches,” said Syverson. and The coaches,” said Syverson. regular season went incredibly Thefor regular season wentbyincredibly well LHS, highlighted their Sept. well for LHS, highlighted their Brady Sept.

16 game against OGHS, inbywhich 16Stamp gamescored againstthe OGHS, in which Brady last second game Stamp scored last second game their winning goal,the handing the Knights only lossgoal, of the 2023 regular season. winning handing the Knights their Going playoffs, LHS season. was ranked only lossinto of the 2023 regular number one the conference, along with Going into theinplayoffs, LHS was ranked number one in the conference, along with

being undefeated being undefeated with withaarecord recordofof 10-0-2.

10-0-2.

“We had “We had everything everythingyou youcould couldask askfor for in aa team. in team. A A great great roster rosterthat thatlearned learned to trust trust each to each other other and andthe theway waywe we play, great coaching all around from all play, great coaching all around from all three coaches and overall it was that we three coaches and overall it was that we wanted it more than everyone else,” said wanted it more than everyone else,” said Syverson.

Syverson.

LHS cruised easily through the first LHS cruised easily through the first couple rounds of the state playoffs, with couple rounds of the state playoffs, with victories against Pierre (8-0), Aberdeen victories against (8-0), Aberdeen Central (4-1) and Pierre JHS (1-0).

The Patriots Central (4-1) and JHS (1-0).

The Patriots set themselves up for a rematch with set themselves up for a rematch with the number-two ranked OGHS Knights the number-two ranked OGHS Knights in the Class AA State championship in the Class AA State championship game. game.

LHS went 0-1 down early in the LHSand went 0-1 not down in the game, would let early another goal game, andrest would not let another in for the of regular time, duegoal to in for theperformance rest of regular to a stellar fromtime, LHSdue senior aand stellar performance from LHS senior goalkeeper (GK) Henry Eckert. and (GK) Henry Withgoalkeeper about ten minutes left inEckert. the With about ten minutes inathe game, Syverson tied it upleft with close game, Syverson tied it upwent withinto a close range header.

The game extra time, where Syverson scored range header.

The game wentagain intowith extra another header, giving scored the Patriots time, where Syverson againthe with 2-1 lead.header, Later ingiving the extra OGHS another the time, Patriots the 2-1 lead. Later in the extra time, OGHS

tied thethe game into tiedthe thegame gameup,up,ushering ushering game into a apenalty shootout. penalty shootout.

LHS four penalty LHSmade madetheir theirfirst first four penalty shots, and Eckert dove to save one of of shots, and Eckert dove to save one OGHS’s shots. The score in penalties sat OGHS’s shots. The score in penalties sat at 4-3 when LHS junior and left winger at 4-3 when LHS junior and left winger (LW) Camden Thomas stepped up to the (LW) Camden Thomas stepped up to the spot with the opportunity to take home a spot with the opportunity to take home a trophy with his shot. trophy with his shot.

“I was confident walking up, I knew “I was confident walking up, I knew where I was going [to shoot] because where I was going on [topenalties shoot] because we’ve been working every we’ve been working on penalties every practice for like the last month,” said practice for like the last month,” said Thomas.

Thomas.

The shot went in the top right corner The shotjust went in thethe top rightofcorner of the goal, beyond reach of the goal, just beyond the of OGHS’s GK’s hands, winning reach LHS its OGHS’s GK’s hands, winning LHSsince its first boys soccer State championship first boys soccer State championship since 2017.

2017.

After getting so close and ultimately After and ultimately failing lastgetting season,so theclose comeback story failing last season, the comeback story was rewarding. was rewarding.

“The feeling of winning this year was “The feeling of winning thisso year extremely rewarding after going far was last year andrewarding coming into thegoing playoffs extremely after so far undefeated thiscoming year,” said last year and intoThomas. the playoffs undefeated thisWITH year,” said BY Thomas.

PHOTO USED PERMISSION LIAM VANROEKEL DESIGN BY JAMES PLORDE PHOTO USED WITH PERMISSION BY LIAM VANROEKEL

DESIGN BY JAMES PLORDE

BYBY MM ADISON EE VANS ADISON VANS

BY MADISON EVANS

BY MADISON EVANS

UpAug. until1,Aug. 2017,were thereno were no restrictions Up until 2017, there restrictions Up until Aug. 1,1,2017, there were no restrictions regarding college softball recruiting.

College coaches regarding college softball recruiting.

College coaches regarding college softball recruiting.

College coaches were able to contact and commit athletes regardless were were able to contact and commit athletes regardless able to contact and commit athletes regardless ofage, their age,schools some schools committed athletes as of their some committed athletes as of their age, some schools committed athletes as young as sixth graders.

However, that is not the case young as sixth graders.

However, that isthat notisthe young as sixth graders.

However, notcase the case today. is There is an abundance of restricting rules restricting today.today.

There an is abundance of rules There anfrom abundance of rules restricting college coaches contacting young athletes. college coaches from contacting young athletes. college coaches from contacting young athletes.

There are no recruiting rules that apply to NAIA ThereThere are noare recruiting rules rules that apply to NAIA no recruiting that apply to NAIA or Division III colleges and universities.

But Division or Division III colleges and universities. But Division orIDivision III colleges and universities.

But Division and Division II institutions are limited when it I and Division II institutions are limited when it I and Division II institutions are when it to comes to contacting athletes andlimited allowing them comes to contacting athletes and allowing them to comes to contacting athletes and allowing them visit campus.

Division II schools contactto visit campus.

Division II schools cannotcannot contact visituntil campus.

II cannot contact untilDivision theschools summer prior to their athletesathletes June 15June the 15 summer prior to their athletes until June 15 the summer prior to their athletes until Sept. junior high school.

Division I schools nottoable to contact junior year ofyear highofschool.

Division I schools are notare able contact athletes until Sept. junior year of high school.

Division I schools are not able tocoaches contact athletes Sept.

1 ofjunior their year juniorofyear high school. these dates hit, are tountil contact 1 of their highofschool.

WhenWhen these dates hit, coaches are able toable contact 1 of their junior year of on high school.

When these dates coaches are able to contact athletes and host them campus.

This gives Division IIhit, schools a slight advantage athletes and host them on campus.

This gives Division II schools a slight advantage athletes and host them on campus.

This gives Division II schools a slight advantage when it comes to the recruiting calendar. when it comes to the recruiting calendar. when to the recruiting calendar.

It itiscomes a common misconception among the softball community yougood are good It is a common misconception among the softball community that ifthat youifare at at Itthe is acollege common misconception softball community that if you good at the college coaches willamong come you.

While that thefor case for aplayers, feware players, softball,softball, coaches will come to you.tothe While that is the is case a few softball, the college coaches will come to you.

While that is the case for a few players, most of the time, you are going to have to reach out to the coaches yourself.

In most of the time, you are going to have to reach out to the coaches yourself. In orderorder to to most theyour time, you have reach outtotoperform the order get of recruited byschools yourare schools oftointerest, you theyourself. field,there butIn there areto get recruited by ofgoing interest, you to have tohave perform oncoaches theon field, but are many tasks you have to do asyou well.

Trying toattention gainon attention from recruited by to your schools ofthe interest, have perform the field, butcollege there are manyget tasks you have do off theoff field asfield well.

Trying totogain from college coaches behave afrustrating very because they to cannot you June until June many you tofrustrating do off the process, field as well.

Trying gain respond attention from college coaches cantasks be can a very process, because they cannot respond to youtountil 15 or Sept.

1, depending on the school you are contacting.

15 orcoaches Sept. 1, can depending onfrustrating the school process, you are contacting. be a very because they cannot respond to you until June recruiting the summer before my sophomore year of school. high school.

I started my recruiting process theschool summer before my sophomore year of high 15 orI started Sept.

1,my depending onprocess the you are contacting.

There twoimportant very important ways you can coaches show coaches thatare you are interested There are twoare very ways you can show that you interested I started my recruiting process the summer before my sophomore year of in highin school. their are program.

The first is to send them large amounts of emails; the second is to attend their There program.

The first is to send them large amounts of emails; the second is to attend two very important ways you can show coaches that you are interested in thatprogram. school’s prospect Sending isamounts arguably most important that school’s prospect camps.

Sending emails islarge arguably the most important aspectaspect their The firstcamps. is to send thememails ofthe emails; the second is to attend of school’s recruiting, it is also the most time-consuming you areimportant going to to have to of recruiting, but it isbut also the most time-consuming thing thing youthe are going to have that prospect camps.

Sending emails is arguably most aspect do.

When I started sending emails to coaches, I first wrote a basic email introducing do. When I started sending emails to coaches, I first wrote a basic email introducing of recruiting, but it is also the most time-consuming thing you are going to have to

Up until Aug. 1, 2017, there were no restrictions regarding college softball recruiting. College coaches were able to contact and commit athletes regardless of their age, some schools committed athletes as youngdo.asWhen sixth graders. that is tonotcoaches, the caseI first wrote a basic email introducing I startedHowever, sending emails today. There is an abundance of rules restricting college coaches from contacting young athletes.

myself: informing coaches positions, am my on, my myself: informing thethe coaches of of mymy age,age, positions, the the teamteam I amI on, myself:educational informing the coaches ofmy mytournament age, positions, the team Ithe amsummer. on, my I sent interests and schedule for educational interests and my tournament schedule for the summer. I sent educational interests andschool my tournament schedule for time. the summer.

I sent this email I had interest at the After before every this email to to anyany school I had interest in atinthe time.

After that,that, before every this email to any school I had interest in at the time.

After that, before everymy tournament I played, I reached back out to the coaches to send them tournament I played, I reached back out to the coaches to send them my tournament I played, Ifor reached back outweekend. to the coaches to send game schedule upcoming In addition tothem ofmy those emails, game schedule for thethe upcoming weekend. In addition to all ofallthose emails, game schedule for the upcoming weekend. In addition to all of those emails, there was a college scout at our games, I made to reach out after if ifthere was a college scout at our games, I made suresure to reach out after the the if there was a college scout at our games, I made sure to reach out after the weekend and thank them coming to watch team abundance weekend and thank them forfor coming to watch my my team play.play.

TheThe abundance weekend and thank them for coming to watch my team play. The abundance emails may seem a waste of time, consistently contacting of ofemails may seem likelike a waste of time, butbut consistently contacting thesethese of emails may seem like a waste of time, but consistently contacting these coaches ensures that youyou staystay on on their radar. coaches ensures that their radar. coaches ensures that you stay on their radar.

The next way I showed mymy interest in programs was to attend that The next way I showed interest in programs to attend The next way I showed my interest in programs was to was attend that that university’s prospect camps.

Every program usually has a few prospect university’s prospect program hasprospect a few prospect university’s prospect camps.camps.

Every Every program usuallyusually has a few camps a year: one in the fall and one in the summer.

Some teams even hosthost camps a year: one in the fall and one in the summer.

Some teams even camps a year: one in the fall and one in the summer. Some teams even host camps in the winter.

Making an effort to attend one of these camps is a great camps in the winter.

Making an effort to attend one of these camps is a great camps in the winter. Making an effort to attend one of these camps is a great way to show schools that you are interested in their program. toschools show schools that are interested their program. way toway show that you areyou interested in theirinprogram.

I committed to the USD to play softball in September of last year.

I woke I committed to the USD to play softball in September of last year.

I woke I committed to the USD to play softball in September of last year.

I woke up the morning of Sept.

1 with a few text messages from coaches who were up the morning of Sept.

1 with a few text messages from coaches who up the morning of Sept. 1 with a few text messages from coaches who were were finally to to contact These messages basically that they werewere finally contact me.

These messages basically said that they finally able able toable contact me. me.

These messages basically saidsaid that they were interested in me as a player, and that they would love to host me on interested in ame as a player, and thatwould they would mecampus on campus interested in me as player, and that they love to love hostto mehost on campus and show me what life is like at their school.

These campus visits consist andme show melife what life at is like their school.

These campus visits consist and show what is like theiratschool.

These campus visits consist of of of getting a tour of of thethe school, getting to meet some of the current players getting a tour the school, getting to meet ofsome the current players getting aoftour school, getting tosome meet of the current players on the team, taking pictures in uniform and attending a team practice.

TwoTwo on theon team, pictures in uniform and attending a team apractice.

Two the taking team, taking pictures in uniform and attending team practice. days after my visit to Vermillion, I made the decision to commit to their days after visit Vermillion, I madeIthe decision to commit to theirto their daysmy after mytovisit to Vermillion, made the decision to commit program.

I had been working for this moment for the past three years;was it was program.

I had been working for this moment for the past three program. I had been working for this moment for the pastyears; threeityears; it was my biggest accomplishment. my biggest accomplishment. my biggest accomplishment.

For next the next few months my commitment, I found myself struggling For the months afterafter my commitment, I found struggling For thefew next few months after my commitment, Imyself found myself struggling to find motivation to practice, to play games and just to get better a player to findto motivation to practice, to playto games and just to just get better aasplayer find motivation to practice, play games and to get as better as a player in general. felt that I had already accomplished dream of committing in general.

I feltI that I had accomplished my my dream of committing in general.

I felt thatalready I had already accomplished my dream of committing a college softball player I could not help but think that I had nothing as a as college softball player and and I could help but think I had nothing as to a college softball player and Inot could not help butthat think thatsupposed I had nothing else work for and no other reason to get better.

What are you else toelse work for andfor noand other reason to get better.

What are youare supposed to to to toyou work no other reason to what? get better.

What you supposed do after accomplish your dream?

Now On top of the unmotivated do after you accomplish your dream? Now what? On top of the unmotivated do after you Iaccomplish yourofdream?

Now what? top This of thepressure unmotivated mindset I had, a ton extra pressure to great. beOn great. mindset I had, I alsoalso felt felt a ton of extra pressure to be This pressure mindset I had, I myself. also feltI kept a tontelling of extra pressure be to great.

This pressure mostly myself Itohad be perfect. camecame mostly fromfrom myself. I kept telling myself thatthat I had to be perfect.

I I came mostly from myself.

I kept telling myself that I had to be perfect.

I was committed to a Division I softball program, and I needed to play was committed to a Division I softball program, and I needed to play likelike was committed to a Division I softball program, and I needed to play like it. Committing a college ensures more people going to be it. Committing to a to college alsoalso ensures thatthat more people areare going to be it.

Committing to a college also ensures that more people are going toand be watching expecting togreat. be great. of these factors built watching you you and and expecting you you to be All All of these factors built up up and watching you and expecting you to be great.

All of these factors built up me questioning I really good enough I really deserved and oftenoften had had me questioning if I ifreally waswas good enough or iforIifreally deserved often had me questioning if I really was good enough or if I really deserved opportunity. this this opportunity. this opportunity.

It was at this moment where I told myself I needed to mentally be mentally strong, It was at this moment where I told myself I needed to be strong, It was at this moment where I told myself I needed to be mentally strong, I would never escape mindset.

I reassured myself I had worked or I or would never escape thisthis mindset.

I reassured myself thatthat I had worked I life would never escape this Imindset.

I reassured myself that I had worked myorwhole lifethis for this opportunity.

I was given chance a reason my whole for opportunity. was given thisthis chance for for a reason andand myopinion whole life opportunity. was given thisgoing chance for athat. reason nobody’s opinion of this me, no amount ofI pressure, to change that. and nobody’s of for me, no amount of pressure, waswas going to change nobody’s opinion ofsoon me,turned no into amount ofself-confidence. pressure, was My going to change that. period of doubt into self-confidence.

My mindset ThisThis period of doubt soon turned newnew mindset quickly changed “I soon need to be good I am committed,” to “I am This period of from doubt turned intobecause newI self-confidence.

My mindset quickly changed from “I need to be good because am committed,” to “I am I good.” am good.”

I to came to learn that overcoming period committed because quickly changed “I need be learn good because I am committed,” to “I am committed because that overcoming thisthis period I amfrom I came to of committed self-doubt helped me grow a player as much asovercoming the countless hours because I am I came to that this period of self-doubt helped me grow asgood.” aas player justjust as learn much as the countless hours of practice I had put into this sport. of practice I had puthelped into this of self-doubt mesport. grow as a player just as much as the countless hours goput through a long and tedious recruiting process, it all While While Ipractice hadI had to go through a long and tedious recruiting process, it all of Ito had into this sport. became worth itthe intoend. the lesson I came to learn through became worth itI in OneOne important lesson I came to learn through While had go end. through aimportant long and tedious recruiting process, it all process was that one pitch, one at-bat, one game or even one tournament this this process was that one pitch, one at-bat, one game or even one tournament became worth it in the end. One important lesson I came to learn through not define you as a one player.

One of at-bat, the biggest qualities that coaches doesdoes not youwas as athat player.

One of one the biggest qualities that coaches thisdefine process pitch, one game or even one tournament DESIGN BY MADISON EVANS DESIGN

BY M ADISON EVANS for in a player is not how many times you get a hit, but how you pick looklook for in a player is not how many times you get a hit, but how you pick does not define you as a player. One of the biggest qualities that coaches PHOTOS BY MADISON EVANS PHOTOS

BY M ADISON EVANS yourself upinafter you yourself upfor after fail. fail.

DESIGN BY MADISON EVANS look ayou player is not how many times you get a hit, but how you pick PHOTOS BY MADISON EVANS yourself up after you fail.

myself: informing the coaches of my age, positions, the team I am on, my educational interests and my tournament schedule for the summer. I sent this email to any school I had interest in at the time. After that, before every tournament I played, I reached back out to the coaches to send them my game schedule for the upcoming weekend. In addition to all of those emails, if there was a college scout at our games, I made sure to reach out after the weekend and thank them for coming to watch my team play. The abundance of emails may seem like a waste of time, but consistently contacting these coaches ensures that you stay on their radar.

The next way I showed my interest in programs was to attend that university’s prospect camps. Every program usually has a few prospect camps a year: one in the fall and one in the summer. Some teams even host camps in the winter. Making an effort to attend one of these camps is a great way to show schools that you are interested in their program.

I committed to the USD to play softball in September of last year. I woke up the morning of Sept. 1 with a few text messages from coaches who were finally able to contact me. These messages basically said that they were interested in me as a player, and that they would love to host me on campus and show me what life is like at their school. These campus visits consist of getting a tour of the school, getting to meet some of the current players on the team, taking pictures in uniform and attending a team practice. Two days after my visit to Vermillion, I made the decision to commit to their program. I had been working for this moment for the past three years; it was my biggest accomplishment.

For the next few months after my commitment, I found myself struggling to find motivation to practice, to play games and just to get better as a player in general. I felt that I had already accomplished my dream of committing as a college softball player and I could not help but think that I had nothing else to work for and no other reason to get better. What are you supposed to

wwww

LHS sports seasons coming a close, athletes transition into offseason.

During this time, ithith LHS fallfall sports seasons coming to to a close, athletes transition into thethe offseason.

During this time, they need maintain strength they have gained throughout season.

Everyone watches athletes they need to to maintain thethe strength they have gained throughout thethe season.

Everyone watches thethe athletes in in their prime time during season, ever talks about hard work they rest year. their prime time during thethe season, butbut nono oneone ever talks about thethe hard work they putput in in thethe rest of ofthethe year.

Take a closer look into LHS athletes’ offseason.

Take a closer look into LHS athletes’ offseason.

BY LILLIAN KIESOW

JULIA BAUER VOLLEYBALL BAUER (9)(9) VOLLEYBALL JULIA Julia Bauer began first year high Julia Bauer began herher first year of ofhigh school this year.

Before attended LHS, school this year.

Before sheshe attended LHS, sheshe was a student and athlete EMS. Bauer was a student and anan athlete at at EMS. Bauer continued volleyball journey joining continued herher volleyball journey byby joining the 2023 LHS girls volleyball team.

She hopes the 2023 LHS girls volleyball team. She hopes to attend LHS and carry on with her athletic to attend LHS and carry on with her athletic path until senior year. noticed I work path until herher senior year.

“I “I noticed I work harder season.

Although outside season harder in in season.

Although outside of ofseason constantly training, playing LHS I’mI’m constantly training, playing forfor LHS outweighs amount training. involves outweighs thethe amount of oftraining.

It It involves daily practices, LHS lifting twice a week and daily practices, LHS lifting twice a week and weekly games,” said Bauer. weekly games,” said Bauer.

After winning the 2023-2024 state championship, the LHS girls tennis team has been on cloud nine. Eloise Geraets, Charlotte Crawford, Bergen Quello, Grace Miner, Julia Hedrick, Angela Ge, Lauryn Gohl and Betsy Haft all helped pave the way toward winning the state championship. The coaches Tom Krueger and Scott Embry pushed the girls to win, since their last championship was won in 2020. The girls give us a little insight on what their weeks leading up to state looked like as well as how they felt after the big win.

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HAZEL HUGHES SARA ATHISON BYBY HAZEL HUGHES && SARA MM ATHISON

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1. “The week before state, I usually take it easy and just go to school practice. I do take these practices seriously though.”

2. “My favorite memory from state is when I came back in my semifinal match. I lost the first set 6-2, then won the second set 6-1.”

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1. “Coach Kruger prepared us all year for what to expect at the state tournament.”

2. “My favorite moment was watching the girls do their best against every opponent.”

Max Hilgenberg (11) Soccer Max Hilgenberg (11) Soccer Max Hilgenberg is currently a junior Max Hilgenberg is currently a junior at at LHS. From freshman year, been LHS. From hishis freshman year, hehe hashas been listed varsity roster LHS boys' listed onon thethe varsity roster forfor thethe LHS boys' soccer team.

Recently, and team took soccer team.

Recently, hehe and hishis team took home state championship title home thethe state championship title forfor thethe 2023 season.

Although Hilgenberg enjoys 2023 season.

Although Hilgenberg enjoys in-season training because consistent in-season training because of ofthethe consistent and hardworking practices, season is still and hardworking practices, offoffseason is still valuable to him.

“Training every day during valuable to him. “Training every day during season definitely makes team more thethe season definitely makes ourour team more successful because we do a lot of conditioning, successful because we do a lot of conditioning, and game-situation related drills, games and game-situation related drills, so so thethe games second nature said Hilgenberg. feelfeel likelike second nature to to us,”us,” said Hilgenberg.

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1. “I prepared for state by working hard every day, mentally getting myself in the right place to play well.”

2. “Winning flight 3 doubles with my partner Angela.”

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1. “As a team we prepared by practicing every day after school and continued with footwork drills to keep loose.”

2. “ My favorite moment from state week was having all of my friends come and support me and cheer me on during my semifinals match.”

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1. “We prepared for state by having our usual practice and working on areas that we needed to improve on ahead of the tournament.”

2. My favorite memory was playing doubles at match point, surrounded by a great atmosphere.”

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1. “Outside of practice we tried to take the pressure off of state by filling our traditional snack boxes with our favorite treats, opening state gifts, and having a final team meal. Separately, I had a couple of private lessons to not only help me prepare but to also combat any overthinking.”

2. “My favorite moment would be calculating points and realizing

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1. “We got together to trade snacks and get out swag bags. We also had team practice outside of regular practice.”

2. “My favorite moment at state was when a whole big group of Lincoln students showed up to support.”

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1. “I actually was sick the week before, so it was not fun being home. But the week before we did lots of drills.”

2. “My favorite moment from state week was probably my first doubles match.”

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QUESTIONS 1. How did you prepare for state? What did you do outside of school practice?

2. What was your favorite memory from state week?

Ava Hurt (10) Soccer Ava Hurt (10) Soccer Ava Hurt is a member Dakota Ava Hurt is a member of ofthethe Dakota Alliance Soccer Club and easily started Alliance Soccer Club and easily started herher freshman and sophomore year LHS freshman and sophomore year onon thethe LHS girls' soccer team.

Outside LHS, Hurt lifts girls' soccer team.

Outside of ofLHS, Hurt lifts three times a week well practices three three times a week as as well as as practices three times a week. schedule, to to fivefive times a week.

ToTo addadd to to herher schedule, during summer does powerlifting, during thethe summer sheshe does powerlifting, speed training and Avera workouts during speed training and Avera workouts during the winter.

“Putting in this much time helps the winter. “Putting in this much time helps make me more successful because it makes make me more successful because it makes better every and makes more meme better every dayday and makes meme more competitive,” said Hurt. competitive,” said Hurt.

PHOTOS USED WITH PERMISSION BY LHS TENNIS DESIGN BY LHS STATESMAN

DESIGN BY HAZEL HUGHES & SARA MATHISON DESIGN

BY H AZEL HUGHES & SARA MATHISON PHOTOS USED WITH PERMISSION BYAX MHAX HILGENBERG HURT PHOTOS USED WITH PERMISSION

BY M ILGENBERG & A& VAA HVA URT

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Sawyer Tolk (12) Football Sawyer Tolk (12) Football Sawyer Tolk has been a big part Sawyer Tolk has been a big part of of LHS football team starting thethe LHS football team duedue to to starting hishis sophomore year and keeping it that way sophomore year and keeping it that way upup until senior season.

Tolk pushes himself until hishis senior season.

Tolk pushes himself work just hard during season to to work just as as hard during season as as hehe does offseason. offseason, focuses does offseason.

In In thethe offseason, hehe focuses building strength, speed and mobility. onon building strength, speed and mobility.

In In season, perfects craft and strives season, hehe perfects hishis craft and strives to to best athlete possible.

“Putting this be be thethe best athlete possible.

“Putting in in this much effort and time absolutely makes me much effort and time absolutely makes me more successful; saying ‘practice makes more successful; thethe saying ‘practice makes perfect’ is very true. you work perfect’ is very true.

If Ifyou work onon thethe things you weak it will make you things you areare weak at,at, it will make you a a better athlete,” said Tolk. better athlete,” said Tolk.

BY LILY GRUBER

Warning: this is satire and I am not to blame for the consequences of using my advice.

Day one: Evaluate your feelings. Ask yourself some important questions. Does he make you happy?

Do your friends approve of him? Does he send good morning, good afternoon, good evening AND good night texts? If the answer to any of these questions is no, keep reading. If the answer is yes, keep reading (please) but disregard the advice because he is your soulmate and you should not do anything to him.

Day two: Take all of his sweatshirts. Every. Single. One. Bonus points if you take them during the cold season. Typically, wearing his sweatshirt is cute. Taking his whole stock? Crazy. If someone stole my collection, I would be more than a little bit aggravated.

Day three: Aww a movie theater date. A classic and easy thing to do in Sioux Falls where there is not much to do together indoors. Get tickets to “PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie” because chances are even if you secretly really want to see it, he does not. This allows for easy distraction. While the movie is playing, start talking to him. Get going with a conversation that he is passionate about. Maybe women’s rights or how famous Travis Kelce was before he started dating Taylor Swift. Hopefully, he gets kicked out. But you are not leaving that movie. That should show him. Either he leaves and you have to find a ride with someone else (side note: plan this beforehand), or he stays because he is a king. Still, this is pretty annoying.

Day four: You have to go to the football game. LHS is undefeated (this is a fact) and the game is supposed to be close. When there are two minutes left and the game is tied, send him to get ice cream for you. He will, and then he misses the winning touchdown. Oops.

Day five: Get him some extremely cringy gift and add a mushy message. Bonus points if you give it to him in public (preferably the LHS Cafeteria). Now I will be honest, this could backfire. Some guys might like this or think it is really cute. Try this one at your own risk.

Day six: First, you have to tell him to get you Starbucks, specifically, a venti brown sugar oat milk shaken espresso with pumpkin cream cold foam and light ice. There goes his $8.04. When he brings it to you, tell him you will get it from his car. Once you go to grab it, “accidentally” dump it on him and his car. Make up some lame, clumsy excuse and immediately ask him to buy you another drink.

Day seven: This one takes some previous planning. Tell him you guys are going out to dinner somewhere fancy. He will dress up and be all excited. It will be so cute. But, instead of your average dinner date for two, you are taking him to the family reunion that only occurs once every 10 years (if your family does not do this, substitute an extended family dinner instead). Every one of your aunts who do not understand personal space will be there. Extremely awkward.

Day eight: Somehow, he is still around by day eight. When you are hanging out, the BeReal goes off. Grab his phone to take his. Quickly find a hard surface to take said photo over. That way, when you “accidentally” (but totally on purpose) drop his phone, the screen shatters. This time do not apologize.

That is a sign of weakness.

Day nine: Finally, a pretty extreme event for the last hurrah. Snap his friends more than you snap him (while he is with them). If he says anything, say you did not even see he snapped you. Pretty hurtful.

Day 10: He (hopefully) breaks up with you. Too bad, so sad.

DESIGN BY LILY GRUBER ARTWORK BY LILY GRUBER

Objective: In honor of turkey month, find out how often and in what context LHS students say “thank you” or express gratitude.

Procedures: I performed actions deemed “thank-able,” from opening doors for people to giving well-deserved compliments. I logged all of said actions and the responses from several different LHS students along with any time I got a “thank you” from someone without doing a thank-able action.

7:57 a.m. : A lonely little car was trying to turn right onto Cliff Avenue, so I stopped my car to commit my act of kindness for the day.

Making the several drivers behind angry, I let this white Honda through.

Unfortunately, I received no reward for my actions. The driver did not give me the wave or the nod to signify their thanks; they simply turned right. This driver just so happened to be an LHS senior. I won’t name names but you know who you are.

10:43 a.m. : I liked a shirt that one LHS senior was wearing, so I gave them a compliment.

Instead of saying thank you they said, “You know, I actually got this off of the Converse Website.”

I then gave another compliment commenting on the shininess of the shirt, and how I would have never guessed it was made by a shoe company. We then proceeded to have an entire conversation about Converse and how most of their clothing items are subpar.

Although this was not a negative experience, I did not get the “thank you” that I was hunting for.

3:54 p.m. : With a slur of “pleases” but no “thank yous,” one LHS junior and one LHS sophomore asked me to grab pairs of scissors for them so they could finish making their cat tie blankets for the humane society (at SALSA). Expecting my first “thank you” of the day when I returned with their precious scissors, I was instead greeted with empty stares from both of them. I got no head nod, no nothing, just a look (which is not a thank you). You should never do this, it’s creepy and scary.

4:03 p.m. : At this time, I saw an LHS junior waving frantically through the library windows and knocking on the door. I rushed over to the doors to let them in the room.

Instead of a “thank you” for my light, two-foot jog, this person brushed past me and said, “I left my backpack in here on accident.”

4:11 p.m. : This was my first “thank you” of the day. At SALSA, I complimented LHS freshman Lauren Huber on the cat toy she was making.

Albeit very quiet, and a little under her breath, Huber said, “thanks.”

8:07 a.m. : I held the door open while walking into school, and I got a head nod from an unknown LHS student. I nodded my head back as a “you’re welcome” and the two of us went our separate ways in opposite directions.

8:19 a.m. : I held the door of Aubrey Windish’s classroom open for an LHS junior. I did not get a “thank you,” although, in their defense, they were sucking on a tootsie pop pretty hard. They still could’ve given me a head nod though.

2:16 p.m. : At the end of Señora Tollinger’s class, an LHS sophomore dropped their dry erase marker on the floor. I noticed this, picked it up and handed the marker to them. I received no response other than the blink of an eye and a light stare.

2:53 p.m. : I had left school to get a pomegranate milk tea with raspberry popping boba from Tasteas before debate practice started, when I saw a poor, sad football player carrying his uniform and helmet. Obviously, I opened the doors for this person, and received a “thank you” after opening the second one 8:02 a.m. : I wished Jacalyn Bechard, an LHS junior, a happy birthday, and she said, “thank you, Katya.”

8:04 a.m. : I forgot that I had already wished Bechard a happy birthday two minutes ago and wished her again.

In response she said, “thanks, but you literally just told me that.”

9:23 a.m. : A certain LHS senior always wears cool pants, and I usually compliment them because I love their pants.

However, I may have complimented this person on their pants on too much of a regular basis because the LHS senior simply said, “thanks,” in response to my compliment. Although a perfectly good response, they usually go into a little more detail about the pants of the day.

12:30 p.m. : I felt pretty good about myself at this moment because today, I was three for three. However, this LHS junior decided to ruin my streak.

After complimenting their outfit, they said, “oh, so I only look good enough for a compliment today, huh.”

Usually they only wear hoodies, which under most circumstances, do not warrant a compliment. I was confused for a second and did not appreciate the sarcasm.

2:35 p.m. : I stopped by the debate room before heading to work to talk to LHS debate coach, Anthony Welter, and my debate partner, LHS senior, Shalom Kato.

Kato was sick, so I called her to talk about our debate case. After telling her the impacts on her part of the case were bad, she said, “wow, thanks guys.”

I was the only person talking to her, so it was strange that she was talking to multiple people. The sarcasm was on brand for her though.

Whether it was sarcastic, non-verbal or under someone’s breath, out of 15 “thank-able” acts, seven received a “thank you.” Based on the context of each situation, an LHS student was most likely to respond with gratitude when complimented.

While not an accurate representation of the LHS student body as a whole and subject to massive amounts of human error, these results showcase a variety of reactions, from stares to murmurs.

About the stares: I know it takes some of you a while to process your surroundings, but we should all try harder to not just stare at people with dead eyes when they hand you something.

This experiment can teach us that even though it is the time to be thankful, how you receive “thanks” is far more important than giving it out. It’s important to know that we all show gratitude to others in different ways, and one way is not better than another (just don’t stare).

DESIGN BY KATYA SURENDRAN

Congratulations! You have successfully lost a guy in 10 days. Now, you might be a little sad because you have recently broken up, but cheer up because he was not worth it if he broke up with you in 10 days and did not even see anything was off. I blame the guys on this one because clearly, they cannot understand females. Until boys’ brain cells mature, this is what we have to deal with as women.

BY KATYA SURENDRAN

SS ISSUE NO. 2 NOVEMBER 2023 ISSUE

Statesman LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL

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