Volume 52 Number 1 Brandon Valley High School - Brandon, SD 57005 Friday, Sept. 27, 2013

The Schroeder, Ode reign as royalty

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Students to ‘Be the Change’

Students (above) play a beach ball volleyball game while adult participants cheer them on. Juniors Alex Hamer and Clayton Ebright (left) receive high fives as they begin their Challenge Day. All students came through a tunnel of adults who were screaming and cheering. United Way sponsored the three Challenge Days.

Photos by Becca Goth

Junior Chaerin Lee from South Korea reads in English instructor Taya Sazama’s third period study hall.

Photo by Umaima Koch

In Diane Sturgeon’s class, American Heritage, junior Alejandra Cebria-Miquel of Spain takes notes.

Photo by Umaima Koch

By Becca GothVoices Editor

Over 300 people participated in the three Challenge Day events sponsored by United Way this month.

“It was a great way to start the school year,” junior Caitlynn Schumacher said about Challenge Day. “I hope what we’ve learned the last few days sticks with us for a life time.”

These events were unraveled over the course of three days separating the grade levels.

Leaders Jon Gordon and Lauren Bays talked about how everyone has a “balloon” that they blow all of their hidden feelings into, and how once someone’s balloon becomes too full, they blow those bad feelings into someone else and it creates a chain reaction.

Gordon and Bays challenged all the attendees to “get real.”

Once everyone actually got “real,” junior Halle Doe-Pugh said, “I saw a lot of people dealing with the same things I do.”

Activities included acquiring as many hugs as possible in 30 seconds or playing hug tag with rolls of tape.

“We’re strong believers that everyone needs at least three hugs a day just to get by,” Bays said

before introducing one of the hugging games.

Many of the people who attended the Challenge Days walked in not knowing what to expect and feeling “awkward” and “judgmental.”

However, when Bays asked how they all felt when the day was over, the responses were “more comfortable,” “like my comfort zone is a lot bigger” and “happy.”

“I walked away with a changed attitude towards things,” sophomore Eric Hanson said, “and I think Challenge Day changes how people think about people they pass in the hallway every day.”

Sophomore Calvin Cressman attended Challenge Day for a second time.

“I’d definitely go again,” he said, “and I think if you haven’t gone, you should for sure go if you have the chance.”

The effect the Challenge Days had on the participants will not be forgotten.

“We’re committed to do as many ‘Be the Change’ kind of activities,” Principal Gregg Talcott said. “Some of them will just be fun, just entertaining and fun and no serious message. Some of them might be serious.”

By Umaima KochNews Editor

For the duration of the school year, juniors Chaerin Lee and Alejandra Cebria-Miquel will live in the midst of American culture.

“I want to learn about U.S. culture and I want to improve my English,” Lee from South Korea said.

Korean math classes have a terrible level of difficulty, she said, and she likes the easiness of American math.

“The most difficult thing is eating habits,” Lee said. “Asians eat rice the most and many vegetables.”

American food is too salty for her palate, which is used to spicy cuisine.

Despite Americans’ lack of use of honorable titles for their elders, Lee said they know what real manners are.

“They (Americans) enjoy much spare time with family,” she said. “I want to enjoy more free time with my host family.”

Lee plans to participate in marching band, choir and basketball.

Like Lee, Cebria-Miquel came to the United States searching for new experiences and wanting

to learn English and familiarize herself with American customs.

“It is a very good experience,” Cebria-Miquel from Spain said about being here. “The American people are very friendly.”

Despite geographical differenc-es between Brandon and Cebria-Miquel’s seaside hometown, she finds adjusting to life in America easy because the lifestyle is simi-lar to that of Spain’s.

“At first things are difficult because I don’t understand everything,” she said, “but I hope to improve.”

To adjust, Cebria-Miquel does the same day-to-day things Americans do.

However, her easy adjustment to Brandon doesn’t mean Cebria-Miquel doesn’t find any differences between here and Spain.

“I thought that the buildings were very separated compared to Spain,” she said. “We have bigger buildings, and they are more concentrated than here.”

Cebria-Miquel also wants to learn about the American lifestyle.

“I hope it will be a very good year,” she said.

Talcott permits cell phones

Coming to AmericaLee, Cebria-Miquel look for experiences By Rachel Boy

Photo EditorOn the first day of school,

Principal Gregg Talcott announced to the student body the new cell phone policy: Students are allowed to use their cell phones between classes.

“We know that cell phones are a reality in the lives of our students,” Talcott said, “and we want to use this pilot as a way to help students to learn the appropriate use of the devices.”

If the students reached 15 violations by Homecoming, the policy would no longer be in effect. There were 12 violations by last Friday. Students are allowed to have their cell phones between classes for the rest of the first semester.

Most students are enjoying this new privilege.

“It’s nice even though everyone use to do it anyways, except now it’s legal,” senior Jordyn Herr said.

Students are also allowed to have their phones out at lunchtime because of only four violations by Sept. 2.

Brandon Valley Echo Friday, Sept. 27, 2013

Challenge Day is eye-opening event

The Echo is published monthly by the publications students of the Brandon Valley High School, 301 S. Splitrock, Brandon, S.D. 57005. Telephone number is 582-3211. It is a state and national award-winning publication affiliated with the South Dakota High School Press Association and the National Scholastic Press Association. News Editor..........................................................................Umaima KochVoices Editor .............................................................................Becca GothA&E Editor .....................................................................Evelyn JorgensonSports Editors ........................................... Dylan Bludorn and Matt PearceUpdate Editors .........................................Taylor Staab and Molly HowardPhoto Editors...........................................Rachel Boy and Jacob BoomsmaAd Manager .........................................................................Umaima KochCirculation Manager ....................................... .......................Ariel SmykleStaff Writers....................Caiti Murphy, Kate Perkinson and Emily HaederAdviser ........................................................................Debra RothenbergerBrandon Valley Echo is a public forum. The editorial content of the Echo expresses the views of the newspaper and not necessarily of the administration, faculty or school board of the Brandon Valley School District. Bylined editorial content is the writer’s opinion and not necessarily of the staff, adviser or school administration. Signed letters to the editor are encouraged, but they may be rejected or edited for grammar, condensation, good taste and/or libel.

What do you thinkabout the new cell phone policy?

Low self-esteem is normal

Echo editors encourage readers to submit letters to the editor, which must be signed. They may be rejected or edited for grammar, condensation, good taste and/or libel. They should be addressed to the Echo editors or dropped off in the publications room, 120.

Heat waveHomecoming Cell phones

“It allows students to get in touch with parents and other students and to check their grades.”

-JuniorBrielle Hogue

“I like it because I am able to play Angry Birds between classes”

-SophomoreChase Kunkel

“I think it is wonderful because it’s good to have some freedom.”

-FreshmanBrianna Skovly

“It is pretty awesome. I get to text people during lunch.”

-SeniorRashel Itangishaka

“It is fantastic. People are going to text, so you might as well give them the freedom.”

-SeniorDavid Swars

“I think it gives high schoolers a chance to reach their parents if they need something.”

-FreshmanAdam Else

By Molly HowardUpdate Editor

No matter what’s been said, having low self-esteem during high school is normal.

To address self-esteem, we teenagers need to start at the root of it: Our environment and our peers.

“Our environment shapes us,” said therapist Gretchen Hartmann of Sioux Falls Psychological Services. “When we are young, about age 5 and under, our parents are the only influences we have.”

We don’t see the world beyond our parents’ arms and they make every decision for us. As we grow older, we continue to see more and more every day. By the time we are of age to attend school, we’re in awe of our new opportunities.

In school, our peers take the place of our parents as the most

influential people in our lives. Classmates now become our peers and school becomes the environment. It’s also at this time when we start to realize our friends and classmates are different from us and we desperately feel the need to fit in and be like our peers.

“Most self-esteem issues occur around age 14,” Hartmann said.

As teenagers, we’re not ourselves yet because we are still growing physically and developing emotionally and mentally. These teenage years are crucial in finding out what our interests are and who we want to become.

“It is normal to be searching for your identity,” Hartmann said. “High school won’t shape you forever.”

Usually, around age 25, we become our solid selves because we decide who we are, we

become more comfortable and confident with our self-esteem, and we start to worry more about how we view ourselves rather than our peers. Of course, even adults still have their low days but they are more likely to pick themselves up and move on from it.

Teenagers are changing. We all feel awkward at some point, and we all want to fit in. Unfortunately, sometimes the environments break people instead of make them. Some teenagers feel as if they are restricted by the way their peers classify them and they cannot be who they are.

All teenagers have their low days. We all question our self esteem at some point. But, it’s important to remember that it’s normal and life does move on after high school.

Challenge Day was a fun, eye-opening experience. It taught participants that they’re not alone, and that we all, like it or not, have something going on in our lives that we hide.

So why does everyone treat people differently when in reality everyone’s on the same team?

The leaders at Challenge Day, Jon Gordon and Lauren Bays, told the groups that they’ve never seen a “bad kid.” They believe that everyone deals with things in different ways and that no one should judge them for it, the way they do now.

“We’re all judging each other, all the time, it’s normal,” Bays said, “but that doesn’t mean it’s okay.”

At Brandon Valley, the students are all a team, a “family” if you will. The family has gone through many struggles, but every time has managed to come back stronger. Through the experiences at Challenge Day, BV should grow even stronger. This school should be a place where no one feels alone and no one feels like they have nowhere to turn to.

The three Challenge Days taught participants to be there for each other even more so than they already are. It also taught people to be nicer and less judgmental. No one at this school should feel like they’re being judged all the time or like no one cares.

Thumbs up to the new Homecoming theme days.

When I grow up, Disney/Character, and Animal day gave the students a new opportunity to

be creative. Each grade showed its class spirit by wearing their colors on Thursday. The student body showed school pride by wearing red and black.

Thumbs down to the heat wave from early August to

early September. Students in outdoor activities felt the heat. Football players, marching

band members and the cross country teams stayed hydrated. Activities Director Randy Marso cut practices down by half an hour to 45 minutes and added in heat timeouts.

Thumbs up for being able to use phones during the lunch periods.

With fewer than 15 cell phone violations by Homecoming, students will be allowed to use their phones during the

30-minute lunch periods without having their phones being confiscated.

Brandon Valley High School Friday, Sept. 27, 2013

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‘Epic’ Homecoming

Senior Taylor, sophomore Cole Christensen and their mother, Janean, (top left) warn about the consequences of texting and driving. Sophomore Dana Schroeder (above) helps out with the Homecoming food drive. Seniors Kara Schroeder and Erik Ode (left) are crowned Homecoming royalty.

Photos by Taylor Staab, Umaima Koch and Becca Goth

‘Despicable Me 2’ is improvement

Bass guitarist Corey Gross, ’06 (left) and lead vocalist Bryan Wehrkamp, ’06 (right), give a concert on Homecoming day. They returned with their alternative rock band, Avian, for an epic surprise performance.

Photo by Umaima Koch

Avian performs live at BVBy Umaima KochNews Editor

Bryan Wehrkamp, ’06, and Corey Gross, ’06, returned to Brandon Valley with their piano-based alternative rock band, Avian, to give a concert for an epic Homecoming day.

In March of 2008, Wehrkamp began writing a song for his sister, Lyndsey Wehrkamp, who was struggling with depression. He couldn’t get through to her any other way.

“I knew she liked music,” Wehrkamp said, “and I had to reach her that way.”

On Nov. 1 of that year, Lyndsey lost her battle against depression. “I never got a chance to play that song for her,” Wehrkamp said.

The band’s first live performance was at Lyndsey’s funeral. It was a dark start to Avian’s beginning, Wehrkamp said. Following that, they decided they were going to write music to help others.

“It wasn’t going to be about us or what we could gain from it,” he said. “It would be just pouring into others.”

Alhough it was originally named Avian Sunrise, a title which conveyed the feeling of not being tethered and the freedom to create, the band shortened its name to Avian.

“We felt like we were going through changes as individuals and as a band,” Wehrkamp said. “We just started thinking of a more simplistic approach to defining our mission.”

For him, the best part of

being on stage is the moment he connects with his listeners.

“When I sing the very first note that I sing, it’s like being on a first date,” he said. “It’s fresh and sometimes that’s intimidating, but overcoming that hump and being able to connect is the best part.”

Wehrkamp describes perform-ing as giving back to others what has been given to him.

“I’ve been very blessed with talents and people in my life,” he said. “I just want to take those blessings and expound on them by way of giving back.”

As long as he has a heartbeat and is breathing, Wehrkamp is careful about how he treats others.

“I look at every opportunity for everything I do as an opportunity to impact others positively,” he said, describing the method of im-pact as a ripple effect. “If we can

impact one person, that one person can take it and spread it to others.”

The band is comprised of lead vocalist Wehrkamp, drummer Tanner Farmen, guitarist and vo-calist Luke Volden, guitarist Matt Bump and bass guitarist Gross.

For four-and-a-half years, Avian maintained its philosophy of drawing inspiration from experiences and writing about ways to uplift people.

“If you truly love something and truly have a passion about it,” he said, “then you’ll be able to stay standing when people try to push you down.”

Wehrkamp hopes Avian can make an impact on the world by sharing its experiences.

“Any dream is possible,” he said. “I don’t think that for a second that you can be torn away from a dream that you have.”

Students help feed studentsBy Evelyn JorgensonA&E Editor

Homecoming is a time to mix fun events with serious issues, Dr. Gregg Talcott said.

“This year we picked a local thing,” he said.

The students participated in a service project to help Feeding South Dakota and the school district BackPack program.

Feeding South Dakota had the need and Talcott wanted to see students helping students.

Through the BackPack program, Feeding South Dakota gives food to those students who otherwise would not have any over the weekend. It takes about $10,000 to cover the cost of backpacks throughout the school district.

“The typical backpack contains easy-to-open, easy-to-fix and easy-to-eat foods,” said Susan Foster, principal of Fred Assam Elementary.

Each backpack costs about $4. In order to provide a backpack a week for an entire school year, the program

pays about $145 for each student. Last year the Brandon Valley School District had 107 students in need of help with food over the weekend.

Feeding South Dakota, with the help of United Way, covers the cost of 35 backpacks in the district. The school district covers any additional costs.

At coronation the students lined the stage with 1,000 pounds of food to be donated to the Brandon Food Pantry.

“Some people need the visual,” Talcott said. “It is hard to stack cash on stage.”

Over $1,100 raised at coronation was donated to the Feeding South Dakota BackPack program.

By Rachel BoyPhoto Editor

Despicable Me 2 is an improve-ment of Despicable Me.

The animation is more eye popping than the first film, full of color and detail. The humor may be slightly dull because it is meant for younger children.

In the first film, actor Steve Carrell starred as Gru, a villain on a mission to steal a shrink ray. But this time he returns as a sweet, caring single father with three little girls to tend to.

Actress Kristy Wiig pops in as

Lucy, the cunning, witty partner in crime, who kidnaps Gru for an undercover mission to discover who stole a secret lab near the Arctic Circle. The two detectives have romantic feelings towards each other that they constantly deny, but the three daughters are convinced otherwise.

The recurrence of the minions is comical. They provide more silly jokes and endless laughs than Despicable Me.

Despicable Me 2 is showing at Century Stadium 14 and West Mall 7.

Brandon Valley Echo Friday, Sept. 27, 2013

Girls cross countrysport young team

Competing in the Lynx Invite, eighth grader Mikaela Birath and seventh grader Danica Kocer run for varsity. They placed 18 and 24. Both teams will compete in the Griak Invite.

Photo by Taylor Staab

Freshman Elsie Zajicek spikes the ball against Yankton. The girls won 3-1. The girls will compete against Brookings Tuesday.

Photo by Jacob Boomsma

Senior Ellie Williams dribbles the ball up the field against O’Gorman. The girls lost 3-1. They play Stevens today.

Photo by Taylor Staab

Golfers go for three peat

Sophomore Joel Kocer putts on the 18th hole at the Lynx Invite against the Roosevelt Rough Riders.

Photo by Dylan Bludorn

Volleyball to face Brookings

Soccer prepares for state

By Evelyn JogensonA&E Editor

Despite being young, the Lady Lynx cross country team still finds itself placing among the top schools at the meets.

“Having a young team has its ups and downs,” coach Larry Beesley said.

Since Beesley has been coach, the varsity girls team has consisted partially of middle schoolers. Girls seem to reach their peak for distance running at this young age.

The good thing about the team being so young is the potential for the outstanding runners to be on the team for six years, Beesley said. However, they can be loud, easily excited and sometimes all over the place.

The girls team includes senior Kaija Nitz, two seniors on JV,

no juniors and one sophomore; the rest are freshmen and middle schoolers.

Eighth grader Haylee Waterfall is one of these young runners. She not only has placed consistently among the top 25 runners, but also received the honor of being varsity girls captain along with Nitz.

On the contrary, the boys varsity team has not included a middle school runner since freshman Jakob Hanna ran as an eighth grader last year. It is much less common for boys to be brought up to varsity.

Beesley contributes this to the boys not having the maturity and ability at the younger ages.

Both boys and girls varsity teams will compete at the Griak Invite in St. Paul, Minn., Saturday. There they will compete against

over 50 teams. Next Thursday they will attend

the first Metro Conference cross-country meet at Kuehn Park in Sioux Falls. The team will compete in the Metro Conference meet and the Eastern South Dakota Conference meet within a week and a half.

“I’m excited about it,” Beesley said. It is easier for the team to be focused for a conference meet than it is for any other meet.

At their own Lynx Invite at McHardy Park, the boys placed first and the girls placed second among six teams competing.

The top 10 boys runners included sophomore Jacob Hegland, fifth; Hanna, seventh; junior Cody Dutson, ninth; and junior Mitch Selken, 10th.

None of the varsity girls placed in the top 10.

By Dylan BludornSports Editor

Boys golf team will compete for its third Eastern South Dakota Conference title Saturday at Pierre.

“It’s going to take my top two guys to shoot around even par and the rest of the guys to continue to shoot consistent scores in the mid to upper 70s,” coach Scott Carroll said. “If we shoot a score around 290 or 295, I think we have a shot.”

Junior Greg Koehn said it is going to take smart play.

“It’s a big thing for our team to keep it in the fairway and putt well,” he said. “Everyone is going to have to play well to win it again.”

After losing five seniors, Trevor Tobin, Michael Whitney, Tanner Wehrkamp, Nate Welch and Tyler Anderson, the Lynx are led by returning varsity players Koehn and junior Riley Duncanson. The new varsity players are senior Tanner Fjerestad, senior Ryan Sjoberg, junior Alex Hamer and freshman Zane Swenson.

The Lynx placed at the Mitchell Invite Friday where they finished fourth with a score of 317.

With the season almost over, Koehn said, the team has been up and down.

“One match we are in contention to win, and the next we struggle as a whole,” he said. “We just need to start playing more as a team.”

By Dylan BludornSports Editor

Girls soccer team prepares to return to the state tournament where last year they finished sixth.

“It is going to take hard work, determination and teamwork to get back to the state tournament,” junior Sam Sperlich said.

Both the girls and boys teams play Brookings Tuesday.

“I feel that we are a much better team than Brookings. They have only one win and we have three,” junior Tyler Limmer said. “I am expecting a big win against them when we meet.”

The Lynx play Rapid City

Stevens tonight at 8 p.m.“I think we match up well with

Stevens because we have come a long way from where we started,” Sperlich said. “We just have to set our mind to it.”

The teams played Sioux Falls Roosevelt last Monday. The girls lost 5-0, and the boys lost 6-2.

With the season almost over, the boys coach Chris Limmer said the team has done well.

“Overall, I am pleased with how we have played, but we have been inconsistent,” he said. “We have already won more games this year than we did last year, but we need to perform better overall to get into the state tournament.”

By Ariel SmykleCirculation Manager

After beating Mitchell 3-2 on Saturday, the girls play Brookings at home Tuesday.

“Brookings will hopefully be a good win at home,” senior Briana Grage said, “but we have to keep our heads in the game and play hard to make sure that happens.”

Some challenges the girls will have playing some tougher teams is the height of the Lynx players, coach Lindsey Smith said.

“The girls have improved this year by playing volleyball outside of the season,” she said. “They are learning more about the game and becoming smarter about the game.”

The games they lost have been very close, Grage said.

“My impression on this season is that we will be the team to beat,” she said. “We are not scared to play anyone because we are a very strong defensive team.”

Brandon Valley Echo Friday, Sept. 27, 2013

Former Lynx find successBy Matt PearceSports Editor

With six state championships, the Lynx football program is developing into one of the best in the state, and now former players are finding success at the next level.

The most prominent successful Brandon Valley player has been Dale Moss, ’07. While at Brandon Valley, Moss was better known for his basketball skills than football. His talent on the basketball court led to a scholarship at South Dakota State University. After four years of basketball for the Jackrabbits, Moss decided to use his last year of eligibility to play football. In this one season, he recorded 61 catches for 949 yards and six touchdowns.

Entering the 2012 NFL Draft, Moss was considered to be a late-round prospect, but due to his lack of football experience, he went undrafted, eventually signing with the Green Bay Packers. After not making the Packers’ team, Moss signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but was soon cut and signed with the Chicago Bears, where he finished the season on their practice squad. This offseason, he was released by the Bears and signed with the Carolina Panthers, who cut him right before the season began. Currently, Moss is a free agent.

Throwing those passes to Moss at SDSU was another Brandon Valley graduate, Austin Sumner, ’09. For the Lynx, Sumner set 14 school records and eight state passing records, the most noteworthy being 7,612 career passing yards and 88 career touchdowns. For the 2009-2010 season, Sumner was named the Gatorade South Dakota Football Player of the Year.

After redshirting his freshman year, Sumner started eight games in 2011 and won the Missouri Valley Football Conference Freshman of the Year Award for his 2,382 passing yards and 19 total touchdowns. The following season he started 12 games and threw for 2,443 yards and touchdowns. This year, through four games, Sumner has thrown for 908 yards and five touchdowns while leading the Jackrabbits to a 3-1 record. He needs just 291 yards to break the career passing yards record at SDSU. If he keeps up his current pace of 227 yards per game, this will likely happen next Saturday against Southern Illinois, on Hobo Day.

Continuing with offensive players—no doubt because of the high-powered offense run by head coach Chad Garrow—Matt Vandeberg, ’13, is playing at the University of Iowa. Initially, Vandeberg was greyshirted, meaning he would be part of the 2014 recruiting class, but his play during practice led the Hawkeyes to offer him a scholarship this season. Through four games, Vandeberg caught two passes for 17 yards, impressive for a true freshman who the Hawkeyes weren’t even counting on to contribute.

These three players’ success will lead to college coaches looking for more Lynx football players, which means, more Lynx will be heading off to play college football.

Football faces Warriors

Junior quarterback Jake Comeaux (left) tries to avoid a Brookings defender last Friday. Comeaux threw for 231 yards and one touchdown as the Lynx defeated the Bobcats 16-7 on Homecoming. The Lynx take on the Washington Warriors tonight at Howard Wood.

Photo by Umaima Koch

Freshman Emily Konz forehands a return to her Pipestone opponent. Konz plays number six singles and number three doubles. The Lady Lynx won 9-0.

Photo by Taylor Staab

Buse records her 100th win in singles

Cheer, dance teams place in top three

By Matt PearceSports Editor

Just under a year ago, the Lynx football team lost to Sioux Falls Washington for the state championship. Tonight is their rematch against the Warriors.

“The game against Washington is going to be one of the biggest games of the year,” senior Cam Holmes said. “Revenge is part of it, but a bigger factor is showing that we can compete with Sioux Falls and the rest of the state.”

Head coach Chad Garrow downplayed the rematch saying that the teams are completely different from last year.

Last Friday at Homecoming, the Lynx beat the Brookings Bobcats 16-7.

The defense led the way to victory giving

up just 129 total yards and six first downs. Junior linebacker Wyatt Winter had the only forced turnover, an interception which he returned for two yards.

On offense, the Lynx overcame four turnovers, including two inside the Bobcats’ 10-yard line. The offense was able to move the ball for a total of 268 yards.

After going down 7-0 early, the Lynx scored the final 16 points of the game on a 14-yard touchdown catch from junior Drew Reinschmidt, a nine-yard touchdown run from Holmes and a 20-yard field goal from senior Devan West.

Junior quarterback Jake Comeaux went 19 for 31 for 231 yards with one touchdown pass and two interceptions. Holmes ran

21 times for 71 yards. Reinschmidt had six catches for 84 yards and junior Alex Wilde caught five passes for 88 yards.

Senior defensive end Alex Maassen and sophomore linebacker Andrew Sorensen led the defense with seven tackles. Winter and senior defensive tackle Erik Ode both had six tackles.

“It is an incredible feeling [to win on Homecoming] and the win capped off an incredible week,” Holmes said.

Currently, the Lynx are ranked third in the state.

“We’re right where we want to be right now,” Holmes said. “Our offense is starting to come together, and our defense is playing outstanding so we just have to keep after it and win out.”

By Emily HaederStaff Writer

After senior Erin Buse recorded her 100th singles career varsity win at Madison Monday, she and the girls tennis team will compete in the Metro Conference Meet at McKennan Park Saturday.

“Going into this season I had 86 varsity singles wins and part way through this season I lost track of my record and I think that was the best thing for me: just focusing on each match and not the 100 wins,” Buse said about her 100th singles game.

“The season is going great so far,” coach Jesse Gladis said. “We are 16-4. In two of our losses the score was 4-5.

The girls faced both Madison and Yankton at Madison Monday. They won 8-1 against Yankton and 8-1 against Madison.

The girls also beat Pipestone 9-0 last Tuesday.

By Caiti MurphyStaff Writer

Cheer placed first overall and dance placed second overall Tuesday in Huron.

“I’m proud of the progress our team has made since our first competition,” coach Tracy Kuhn said. “We have made major changes to all three routines, which is challenging in between events. The team has been able to learn quickly and stay focused on our season goals of winning ESD and state.”

About the cheer competition, senior Jamie Peterson said she was not expecting the first place results at all.

“I was barely even squeezing the person’s hand next to me because I thought we had been overruled,” she said. “Then when they announced Brandon Valley for first place, I screamed so loud. It was the best feeling ever.”

The teams compete next Thursday at O’Gorman.

Brandon Valley Echo Friday, Sept. 27, 2013

Fall concert Monday

Did you know...?

GSA provides safe space for students

SALSA participates in Hunger Awareness

SALSA members participated in Hunger Awareness Week last Saturday.

Students held signs with the Feeding South Dakota logo and statistics about hunger. They stood at various intersections around Sioux Falls.

The members will plan their next project, Wide Awake to Help Sleepy Hallow, at their meeting Oct. 8. Their adviser is instructor Allen Hogie.

Gay-Straight Alliance goals are to provide a safe space for students and staff to hang out and work towards making the school a better place, adviser Louisa Otto said.

“What I want is a place without labels,” she said.

The GSA, which has hosted guest speakers and a Straight Ally Day, meets after school on Mondays in room 254.

n Blood Mobile will be here Tuesday and Wednesday.n Early dismissal for elementary and high school parent/teacher conferences is Oct. 7 and for middle school conferences, Oct 8.n O’Gorman oral interp novice tournament is Oct. 10.n No school is on Oct. 11 because of an in-service/workshop day.n No school on Oct. 14 for Native American Day.n First quarter ends Oct. 18.n Senior portraits are due Dec. 1 in the high school office; otherwise, junior pictures will be used.n Seniors Ally Dykstra and Adam Presler have been named semi-finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program.n Student Council officers are senior Cam Holmes, president; senior Luke Laycock, vice president; and junior Rob Haggar, treasurer/secretary.

By Kate PerkinsonStaff Writers

FFA members volunteered during the annual Vintage Power Threshing Bee Sept. 7-8.

“Vintage Power was a lot of fun.” vice president Karlie Kirkpatrick said. “I love to go and see everyone that loves farming and is willing to tolerate the heat.”

Volunteers could make rope, bail hay, throw bundles and shovel corn. They also demonstrated how to shell corn and thresh wheat.

Events included a tractor pull with different weight classes and a kiddy tractor pull. The parades on both days included 30 tractors.

Students are also preparing for fall contests in ag/broadcasting, journalism, business salesmanship, public speaking and job interviews.

FFAers volunteer at Vintage Power

Photo by Kate Perkinson

Senior Maggie Kramer throws wheat bundles into the threshing machine at the Threshing Bee. FFA members also shoveled corn into the sheller.

Photo by Umaima Koch

Trombonist Spencer Brandsrud stands on the sideline and plays Sky, the first movement, during the half-time show at Homecoming last Friday. The nature-based show “Earthly Cathedrals” is inspired by choral music that represents each movement.

Marching Lynx to host review

Four new staff members join faculty

Attendance is 1,006

Jacob Shoup

Anne Jundt

Mary Erickson

Sonja Merrigan

By Caiti MurphyStaff Writer

New staff members include math instructor Jacob Shoup, band director Anne Jundt, Guidance Counselor Sonja Merrigan and librarian Mary Erickson.

Shoup, who teaches Algebra II and integrative math, graduated from Pierre High School in 2005. He attended the University of Sioux Falls for sports psychology, hated the class and decided teaching was a better choice. He graduated in 2010.

“Building relationships with the students is most important,” he said. “My professor said relationships are primary or the students won’t trust you.”

Jundt’s past experiences growing up inspired her career choice. She played the piano and clarinet from elementary school

to college. She graduated from St. Mary’s in Bismark, N.D., and earned her master’s degree at Northern State University.

“I always wanted to be a teacher,” she said, “and the older I got, the more I realized my love for music.”

Erickson was a Brandon Valley Middle School teacher. She graduated from Brandon Valley High School in 1980. She attended college at the University of Colorado and graduated in 1984.

Erickson said she likes to help students find the perfect book; however, this is different from being a teacher because she no longer has her own group of students whom she sees daily.

“It is a lot of fun to see kids I’ve had in the past,” she said, “although I don’t always recognize them.”

Merrigan said her own personal experiences and passion for helping others make positive decisions for their future inspired her to be a counselor.

Merrigan, who graduated from Vermillion High School in 2004 and the University of South Dakota, received her bachelor’s degree for counseling in 2009 and a master’s degree in counseling in 2012.

“The most important thing about this job, “she said, “is communication.”

By Taylor StaabUpdate Editor

Marching Lynx will host The Big Sioux Review Saturday, perform exhibition and compete in Luverne, Minn.

Last Saturday the Marching Lynx competed in the Waseca Marching Classic and performed an epic parade and field show. The band received first in parade, parade sweepstakes, first in field, best horn line, auxiliary and drum majors and overall

sweepstakes between the parade and field scores.

“We did an amazing job on Saturday,” senior commander Colin Entinger said. “The freshmen set a high bar for themselves at their first competition.”

“Earthly Cathedrals” is a show about the beauty of nature. The four movements: sky, water, desert and mountain are represented through choral-inspired music, and the drill creates images depicting each element.

“It’s amazing to see how far our band has come this season,” sophomore commander Kaily Davis said. “We’ve all worked so hard everyday to get to this point, and we’ll continue working to improve. I can’t wait to see where we’ll be by the end of this season.”

The band has overcome new develop-ments. Underclassmen out number upper-classmen on the field and it has one veteran commander, junior Kjerstin Williams.

Fall choir and orchestra concert is Monday at 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center.

Orchestra will play “Symphonia,” “Abuade” and “Viva la Vida.”

All-State choir auditions are Oct. 2. and the orchestra auditions, Oct. 17.

“We have a good chance of getting both string and band in,” orchestra director Shelly Berg said.

For the first time, the high school enrollment surpassed 1,000 with 1,006 including the East Dakota students. As a result, class seating is sparse in some rooms.

“Yes, our class has been pushing some limits,” biology instructor Justin Lovrien said.

In all but one of his biology classes, all 24 seats are occupied leaving others to sit at lab tables.

“On most days, this is no problem,” he said, “but on lab days these students often are working at lab tables filled with lab materials.”