Happy New Year! Long-time postmaster Deb (Nelson) Matthiesen has retired; Garretson received a large grant towards reconstruction of 4th Street; Minnehaha County department heads received a 7.5% raise and County Commissioner Dean Karsky was appointed chair for 2024; and the youth wrestling tournament held last week was a success! Plus, boys basketball saw some action and varsity took home a win, and more!
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SIOUX FALLS – Once again, people who supported Minnehaha County Auditor Leah Anderson turned the relatively uneventful commission meeting this week into a series of multiple tense exchanges.
Minnehaha County Commissioner Joe Kippley Auditor Leah Anderson. (Photo by Dave Baumeister)
While much of the regular agenda business dealt with bridge and culvert replacements, one item was a continuation of a presentation from the Dec. 5 meeting by Human Resources Director Carey Deaver on 2024 salary increases for elected department heads.
At that time, Deaver gave a briefing and reminded commissioners that they budgeted for a 5% raise in the 2024 budget.
Several people spoke on the 5th in support of Anderson, who asked for a larger raise.
The year before, the commission had voted for a 14.5% increase for county employees, and, at that time, the newly elected Anderson asked to also receive that raise to her base salary for newly elected officials, even though she wouldn’t begin her duties for three months after that.
Anderson, herself, was not at this week’s meeting, but three of the four people who commented on the auditor salary this week, mainly mentioned the discrepancy between what previous appointed auditor Ben Kyte was making versus Anderson’s wage.
Kyte was appointed in 2021 to replace the retiring elected auditor Bob Litz.
And while the question from Anderson’s supporters was never specifically answered, Commissioner Gerald Beninga did speak to Kyte’s extensive experience as a senior financial officer at Citibank.
“I think comparing the current auditor’s experience with the former auditor’s experience is not even close to being the same,” Beninga said. “You’re talking about an individual that was running a multibillion-dollar company with thousands of employees, with government experience, with bonding experience, with accounting significance that’s not comparable with what the current auditor has.”
Commission Chair Jean Bender added that since the elected auditor’s salary was published, Anderson should have known what the job paid before she ever ran for office.
At the previous meeting, Anderson again asked for last year’s 14.5% increase. She also said she wanted the additional 5% increase the commission was currently talking about for 2024.
Although, she did add, that whatever the pay, she would continue to do the duties of the job.
But after comments from the audience, when commissioners discussed the direction of future salary talks, remarks made by Commissioner Joe Kippley did not go over well with Anderson’s people.
He did not mince words in referring to problems they had with Anderson since last April when she assumed her position.
Kippley then referred to a conference call on Monday, Dec. 4, with Election Systems and Software of Omaha (which sells the ballot tabulating machines the county uses) along with South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson, and Anderson. On that conference call the Minnehaha County Auditor had over two dozen of her supporters sitting in the room listening to the call, but she did not announce their presence until the end of the meeting, according to a story in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader.
Kippley said that Anderson “embarrassed the county.”
“This was unprofessional and not the way to do business,” he added.
He did ask Deaver to draft a resolution with a 7.5% pay increase for all department heads.
He also added that he wanted to see an additional resolution with 7.5% for others, and a “0% increase for the auditor.”
Singling out one person for a raise or freeze is not unheard of, as the commission had most recently done that to former county treasurer Pam Nelson after a bad audit report from the state.
Commissioner Jen Bleyenberg also asked Deaver to prepare a resolution with just the originally suggested 5% raise.
When members of the audience came up later in the meeting during regular public comments, several of them directed their ire at Kippley.
However, Bender did caution those speaking that this was the time for comments about things not on the agenda, since all agenda items had time for public comments built in.
And most of the speakers did center their comments on overall election integrity, although one woman who spoke interrupted her comments to say, “Kippley, are you listening?” to which Bender admonished her to be respectful.
Another speaker did what Bender told everyone not to do and made her comments all about the previous salary agenda item.
Upon the commenter ignoring Bender’s caveat, she was asked to sit down several times, but continued her remarks until a sheriff’s deputy approached her at the podium.
The final vote on raises for elected department heads will be taken next week, Dec. 26, but from what commissioners asked Deaver to prepare, it seemed that Anderson’s requested 19.5% raise would not be an option.
Like all others, that meeting will begin at 9 a.m. on the third floor of the Minnehaha County Administration Building.
Santa letters from the Garretson Elementary 2nd grade are a huge hit with readers each year, and we are happy to share them with you before we send them to the North Pole to ensure Santa and his elves can read them! Enjoy! (Please note that all spellings have remained true to what was written.)
Miss Lentz' Class
Dear Santa,
How do you get around the world in one night? I want a Lego green Mustang. The second thing I want is a pack of eleven Pokemon cards I really want Dragonite V. I want my family to have a Merry Christmas.
Love, Hudson 7.5
Dear Santa,
You are nice. You are nice to the children. I want an elf. I like that you always have a smile. Have a good Christmas.
Love, Hadley
Dear Santa,
Merry Christmas Santa! I hope you have a happy New Year. Feliz Navidad! Can I have one of you real reindeer please. Can I get a big train that I can sit in and drive arond my house? Good night, Santa Clause HO!HO!HO!
Love, Gracynn
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Enjoy this free article! The Gazette is proud to present the local news of Garretson, South Dakota, giving its subscribers news of interest, school coverage, and local/statewide government coverage. Your support of the Gazette and its advertisers ensures this coverage will continue into the future. Consider getting your subscription today! E-edition subscribers get access to their issues sooner than anyone else, both on this site and in your email inbox.
Thank you for sending your elf. Next Christmas, can I hav more elves? can I have a new mini-camera? can I meet a real Toxicrook? I want a drone with a camera on the bottom so that I can take a picture of my whole yard. Good bye!
best Love Matthew
Dear Santa,
I want a Jack-in-the box for Christmas. Can I have an elf for Christmas? I want a green Power Ranger action figure. Thank you.
Love, Zane
Dear Santa,
I hope you bring presents. I hope that you don't skip my house again. I want a Ruddpf stuffy. Can I have a mini-phone? For Christmas, I want LED lights. I want twenty-five candy canes to have with my brother. Bye Santa.
Love, Vinny
Dear Santa,
I'd like a four wheeler. I'd like some baby mouse books. I'd like a globe to find different countries. I'd like an alarm clock. I'd like an elf. I'd like my oon cat. Thank you.
Love, Norah
Dear Santa,
Thank you for the presints every year. I'd like some of the, "There was an old Lady books." Will you get my mom seeds for growing? Will you get some animal books for my family? Can you get my brother toy cars? Can I have an elf for Christmas please? Please and thank you Santa.
Love, Rosalea
Dear Santa,
I want a new Barbie bike. I'd like it to be pink. Can I have Barbie books. Can I have a dirt bike for my brother? Can I have two tricycles and a tee thing toy for my brothers and sister. Can I have candy canes for me and me and my brother. tank you.
Love, Reese
Dear Santa,
Can I please have a dirt bike? Can I please get sam plant books? Can I get some apple seeds so I can grow an apple tree? Can you please get me baby dolls for my sister? Thank you
Love, Rowan
Dear Santa,
I want gas for my dirt bike. I want three blue candy canes. Can I have an ipad to practice extra math? Can I have a Santa hat please? thank you.
Love, Alex
Dear Santa,
I want a telescope for Christmas because I love space! I want Among Us toys and a remote controlled plane! I want a large roll of bubble wrap to pop. I really want Minecraft toys please.
Love, Conner
Dear Santa,
I want a watch for Christmas. Do you tell your elves where to hide? How many elves do you have? I want a gift card to target for $26.00. I want Dog Man books and Baby-sitters club books. Who is your favorite elft? I want a gift card to Annies so I can get a Blue Dragon drink. Have a good Christmas!
Love, Brae
Dear Santa,
I want a watch for Christmas. Bart is really nice. How many elves do you have? How many Christmas songs are there? How big is your workshop? The stuffed animal chicken you got me last year was really fuzzy! My friends are very nice to me, just so you know. Please get my sister some fun toys too. Have a good Christmas and be safe!
Love, Olivia
Dear Santa,
I have been good this year. Do you tell your elves whair to hide? I want a 35$ gift card to fleet farm. I want a indominus rex. I want a mine craft journal and the book, "Diary of a Minecraft Zombie!" 37 squishies. Thank you buy bye 🙂
Love, Conner J.
Dear Santa,
Can I please have an albino king cobra? Can I get a bigger fish tan tank for a bichir fish? Can I get really good markers for drawing? What are the coordinates of your village? What's all at the village? That's all. Thanks.
Love, Harrison
Dear Santa,
I want a three-wheel scooter- and Poke'mon cards. Please get me a four-wheeler because they are so fun. Thank you for giving us free presents. I want my mom to get a chiefs coffee cup. Good by Santa.
Love, Austin
Dear Santa,
Santa can I please get a four-wheeler? Santa please can my sister get Hatchimals. please can my older brother get Hot-Wheels. please get my little brother Baby Shark stuff. Please get my parents rings for each other. Thank you santa.
Love, Faithlynn
Dear Santa,
I want math books, unicorn books, owl books, Mowille-ms books, and dog books. I want an electric bike. I want Grinch pajamas. I want a bracelet set. I want a Grinch plushy. I want a tractor for my brother. I want an ornament that has my initals on it. Thank you santa.
Love, Ellie
Dear Santa,
Are you telling spackles where to go? For Christmas, I want a fast R boat that is red and Black Drip pants. I want a mini snowmobile I want eveeryone in Garretson to have kindness. For Christmas, Please get Chase newrestling head gear. I love Christmas.
Love, Grady
Dear Santa,
Your Elf has been really nice. Why do evles hide? I want a blue mini-four wheeler. I want a circular sled. I want a three-wheeler. I want an elf that has a pet reinbeer. Please, please can I have all of these? Please get my brother a new four wheeler to make him happy because I want him to be happy too. I want my brother to be happy
Love, Owen I love you Santa
Mrs. Bass' Class
Dear Santa,
I want a makeup set and a LOL Surprise House and a Squishmallow claw machine. Merry Christmas! I love you and all the elves. thank you for visiting. I hope I am not on the naughty list.
Love, Madison G.
Dear Santa,
Can you bring me the games Luigis Mansion, Minecraft, and Mario? If there is room please bring me a gel gun. Thanks for giving me presents last year.
Love, Wyatt H.
Dear Santa,
This year I want a eowk village Lego's. ipad with cyan cover, a huge trampoline, big Mtt, watch. Star Wars Lego's
Love, Lane
Dear Santa,
How are you doing? I'v bin good this year. For Crismis I want a pet lazr lite and a drone and a Lego train set. Thank you.
Love, Cosmo Brim
Dear Santa,
This is my Christmas list. I whant a clorling books and new markers and colored pencills and craonys. sqwooshmellows and a notepad and a fake sanat claws.
Love, Allison
Dear Santa,
For Christmas I would like a youth foot ball, computer, tools, handcuffs, and a bike. What cookies do you like?
Love, Logan B.
Dear Santa,
How is Missis Clos and Roodoff doing. I want an X boxs and a new baske ball. Ana art and crafs and a hoop for the baske ball. blanket for my Grandma
Love, your good girl Ava
Dear Santa,
for christmas I want some make up or some color book pleases and thank you Santa and two more if thats ok I want some sticker and a piggy bank.
Love, Isabella
Dear Santa,
I want a ps5 and laser tag and a tech deck with shoes and a ramp and a tech deck bike please.
Love, Zayden
Dear Santa,
I want a farming set and nintendo and a xbox.
Love, Ethan
Dear Santa,
I wont a x box. and Paine brashes. and a canvases. and lagose. and a new socr boll. a chicin staft anaml. and a woter glas. and a Par of scissors. and Hair clips. and gams.
Love, Hera
Dear Santa,
I want a ps5. and a bb Gun. and a watch.
Love, Chase
Dear Santa,
this is my christmas list. I want fake jems that look real and markers and colring suplise and a note pad and a whatch/smart whatch and sqwooshmellows and a santa scrit and a jingul bell headband/neckless.
Love, Ingrid
Dear Santa,
I want a truck outside please a real one I want a roblex cube. I want a toy truck. bring back on tusday- please I want a mario slot car track I want a science kit Lava Lamp and battel ship. a smart watck telescope a claam power bionic hand drone a power scooter
Love, Kade to santa
Dear Santa,
I want for Christmas is a nice big hug thats all for Christmas. and a toy Barbie too. and a blanket too and a rida too that's all for Christmas.
Love, Emmy to Santa
Dear Santa
I been good this year and for Christmas I want a baby dog. Please and one more please and then would want a camera that is teal please.
love Aaliyah
Dear Santa
I have been really good this year. I would like a football. I would like a Justin Jersey. I would like a 10 foot basketball hoop. thank you.
We love seeing all these talented kids showing off their handywork. Above is this year’s 1st place winner Tenley Siemonsma. Judge Ruth Sarar’s Commentary: “This artist captured the peace and cozyness of Christmas - what we all need!”
Thank you to
Alliance Communications,
Blue Dragon Academy,
CHS,
the City of Garretson,
Don’s Auto,
First Bank and Trust,
Garretson Food Center,
Garretson Insurance,
Jesse James Country Store,
Kibble Equipment,
Minnehaha Funeral Home,
Nordstrom’s Automotive,
Palisades Chiropractic,
Peoples Insurance,
Performance Press,
The Sports Cabin,
Steve’s Electric
and Vandersnick Excavating
for sponsoring this holiday drawing contest!
Ruth had one final comment to all the students. “It’s a real pleasure for me to see these drawings every year! Keep drawing sixth graders! You have wonderful ideas!”
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Enjoy this free article! The Gazette is proud to present the local news of Garretson, South Dakota, giving its subscribers news of interest, school coverage, and local/statewide government coverage. Your support of the Gazette and its advertisers ensures this coverage will continue into the future. Consider getting your subscription today! E-edition subscribers get access to their issues sooner than anyone else, both on this site and in your email inbox.
MS/HS Counselor Michelle Pliska has chosen to pursue other interests and commitments including her own business as well as increased family time
by Sam Hansen, GHS Blue Ink
Ms. Pliska, our school counselor, who has been here for seven years has decided that this is her last year here, 2023 will be her last year as she will be leaving after Christmas break.
Pliska stated, “I am leaving for multiple reasons but a lot of it is because I’ve been balancing a lot for the last couple years. I have a business practice in Sioux Falls that’s been really taking off, so it’s been hard to balance that along with being a student counselor. Then I have a son with a chronic illness and sometimes it’s really, really hard. Most days it’s okay, but when it’s tough, it gets really hard.”
Mrs. Pliska made it a priority for students to find ways to give back to the community.
One of the programs she instilled was Random Acts of Kindness. Pliska would take students, including the middle school student council, around to conduct random acts of kindness including picking up litter around town (as seen in the picture) or fill parking meters in Sioux Falls, play with animals at the Sioux Falls Humane Society, and more.
She continued, “My folks this year have both had some health things too. So I looked at all the things I’ve had going on: I have my work, my business, my family, and I have here. Something had to go and I decided to give up Garretson so I could be there more for my family and take my business to the next level.”
Pliska has quite a bit keeping her busy so staying active won’t be any problem.
Concerning counseling work Pliska said, “It is called Dakota Hope Counseling, that’s my practice in Sioux Falls, and I will be practicing mental health. I have a certification in play therapy then I’ll be doing some play therapy work and working on training my next colleague which is a dog named Loki. When he comes, that will be my last day here and if he has the right temperament, he will be a therapy dog.”
With the turn of the year just around the corner, everyone is looking forward to a fresh start and working on something new. For Pliska, her endeavors will be focused on her new primary career path including training her therapy dog, Loki.
“I’m really looking forward to training Loki and getting to know him and learning in a different way,” explained Pliska.
However as much as Pliska has on her plate, she is leaving a big gap here in Garretson. Not only was she the middle and high school counselor but she advised middle school student council, helped with transcripts, scholarships, and testing, organized class scheduling for next year, and had a middle school STET group, among other responsibilities.
There are some questions as to who will be taking over her various responsibilities for the remainder of the school year. While the school has posted for her open position, Garretson will be dividing responsibilities until that gets squared away but Pliska has faith in the Garretson staff.
“We have a lot of people that know a lot of stuff here so I would say Mr. McGregor is going to be a good go to. Miss Waldner is trained as a school counselor and she did her internship with me; I showed her how to do a lot of stuff.”
She also mentioned that teachers such as Mr. Hughes and Mr. TerWee know a lot about different colleges and have helped navigate many kids, including their own through that process.
Pliska emphasized, “All the teachers here care about you, when they care about you and they don’t know the answer to something they will still help you find the answer.”
She also mentioned that her school website currently has multiple resources for students including mental health, career planning, academic planning, Dakota Dreams resources, and SD My Life.
Another aspect that Mrs. Pliska has been involved in bringing to Garretson are travel abroad opportunities through EF Travel Tour. She currently has a trip to Scandinavia planned and has partnered with Mr. Moehlenbrink to show him the ropes, so they will tag team this current trip with him taking over afterward.
Mrs. Pliska explained, “The travel program here has never been affiliated with the school and I have been blessed to have Garretson high school let me use this space and send emails out about it to promote it, but it is not a school sponsored activity.”
Most of all Pliska reiterated her gratefulness for her time in Garretson.
“I am so thankful for this opportunity to work here. I hope I have left some kind of a positive legacy to be kind to each other. I hope when people think of me they can think of kindness and love. Some girls at the beginning of the year started a little project where they put sticky notes on a mirror with sayings and it’s made an impact and made other peoples’ days and even mine when I went in there while having a bad day and I am just so glad I said yes to that.”
Pliska has definitely left her mark on Garretson through her involvement and focus on understanding and giving back to others.
“Something I am really proud of when I look back is the student council and the culture club. We have had some really cool events and trips and I have always made it a tradition to do a random act of kindness field trip and I’m proud of that. I look back at the photos with all the smiles that we created in our community by the work that we were doing. So the random acts of kindness field trip is something that I am really proud of.”
Garretson wishes Mrs. Pliska the best of luck on her next adventure.
Season’s greetings from the Gazette staff! This has been quite a year, and like you, we are reveling in this season of celebration and reflection.
Unlike a lot of rural communities across the Midwest, we have a newspaper with an active readership and solid community engagement. Your ideas, your feedback, and your contributions are the best. My wife and I have been grateful for your support since we bought the paper in 2015.
Unfortunately, this last year has been trying on everybody’s wallets and we at the Gazette are far from the exception. Postage and mailing costs have increased 40% over the past two years, with another increase happening on Jan. 1, 2024. Printing costs have likewise gone up at just about 30% as well.
Obviously, if we want to stay in business, we have no choice but to raise prices on everything, so effective January 1, 2024 we’re raising the cost of subscriptions, our ad rates and even our single-issue copies. Local and statewide subscriptions will now be $45 per year and single-issue copies will be $1.50. The way things are going, I may have to raise them more in the near future. I never like raising rates, but I also have to face reality that if I don’t do it, I won’t be able to pay my salary or pay our bills.
However, our online edition will be staying at the same rate of $40 per year, so for tech savvy folks, you’ll be getting a good break as we won’t have to send yours through the mail since the server space has been already paid for. We do have a growing customer base that gets their Garretson area news on their smartphone/tablet/home computer, but the vast majority of our readers and customers want the printed product, and I want to continue to provide that product to you. If the higher cost truly is a burden for you, please do not hesitate to contact us at 605-594-2006 or email .
If you know of someone who does not receive the paper and would benefit, please consider getting them a gift subscription. It's a gift that gives all year long.
Another way to support the Gazette is to support our local business community, as their advertising helps keep this paper alive. The stronger the businesses here are, the stronger our community is, and the stronger this newspaper becomes.
We take a lot of pride in our content and our community. It truly is my privilege to work here, and to have such a high participation and community involvement in your weekly newspaper. Having served on the board of directors of the South Dakota NewsMedia Association for five years now, I tell my colleagues all the time that I have the most invested community of readers that I have ever seen or experienced in all my 30-plus years in the business. So, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and ask for your continued support of our hometown newspaper.
The Boys’ Varsity Basketball home opener was last Tuesday, December 12 in a double header against Canton.
In what proved to be a rough night for all of the Blue Dragon teams, Canton took down the home team 39-82. The Dragons fought valiantly against the C-Hawks, but the opponents took charge from the tip-off and didn't let off.
Brecken Weir looks to pass to a teammate. //Carrie Moritz, Gazette
Ramsey Schweitzer scored the first points for the Dragons, sinking a three-pointer after a solid pass from teammate Ian Buettner. Shortly after, Blaine Trower stole the ball from the C-Hawks to transfer the game back into the Dragons' hands. After a successful 3-point shot from Buettner, though, the opponents again took charge, gathering several more points and widening the lead.
Garretson had a total of 39 points to Canton's 82, but successfully pulled off 28 rebounds, 2 blocks, 8 assists, and 8 steals.
On Friday, the team traveled to Hartford to take on Tri-Valley, and again were unsuccessful at taking down the opponents, ending the game with a score of 36-64.
Brecken Weir opened the game with a 3-pointer early in the first quarter, followed soon by another 3-pointer from Buettner, bringing the score to 6-5. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough as the Mustangs gathered steam and took the lead. The Dragons found themselves 20 points behind in the third quarter and were unable to catch up.
Monday, the team hoped to come out victorious on the home court against West Central, but were again thwarted in that attempt as the Trojans took the win, 25-69.
Ramsey Schweitzer shoots from the corner court while Tyler Edmundson attempts to stop the block. //Carrie Moritz, Gazette
The Dragons played a good rebound game with 21 rebounds, and netted 86% of their free throws to West Centrals' 73%. Unfortunately, they just couldn't get the ball to sink into the basket on their 3-point game, and West Central took full advantage.
The team will hit the road for the Entringer Classic in Brookings right before New Year's on December 30, then play Dell Rapids St. Mary's on Tuesday, January 2 in Dell Rapids.
Last week, the Garretson Girls Basketball team took on Canton and Deubrook, the first of which was in the Dragons' Lair. While the game against Canton was a difficult one for the team, the athletes were victorious in their fight against the Dolphins.
Against Canton, the team lost 33-57 on the home court.
Adi Fink goes for a shot. //Carrie Moritz, Gazette
"We talked about getting off to a hotter start than we did Saturday [against Chester], and that wasn’t the case for the home team," said Head Coach Matt Schrank. "They (Canton) came out with a great offensive start to the game out-scoring us 20-8 in the first quarter.”
The powerhouse opponents drove the Dragons into the ground, causing the athletes to start flagging early.
"Their inside game proved to be too much, and they shot great from the outside to match it," said Schrank.
Adi Fink carried the game with 10 points, followed by Jordyn Williams with 8 points and Sydney Olson with 6.
Sydney Olson attempts to block Shelbie Olseth of Canton. //Carrie Moritz, Gazette
The team then played on Saturday, December 16th in the Entringer Classic in Colman. There, they showed their prowess. The Dragons played against the 3-1 Deubrook Dolphins, and were able to come from behind in the fourth quarter to take home the win.
"The game was back and forth early on, and Deubrook built a 6-point lead at halftime," said Coach Schrank. "Deubrook started early in the 3rd quarter and we were down by 10 points."
It wasn't over until the final buzzer, though.
"We fought back to trail only by 1 going into the 4th quarter," said Schrank. "We came alive offensively in the last quarter, outscoring Deubrook 23 to 11."
The final score was 60 to 49, bringing the team's season score to 3-2.
Adi Fink was named game MVP with 16 points and 15 rebounds. Sydney Olson had 17 points, Jordyn Williams had 10, Tayler Benson had 8, Kylie Christensen with 6, and Ava Ockenga chipped in with 3.
The team then traveled to Dell Rapids to take on the Quarriers on Tuesday (results not available at press time), before heading into the holiday break. Their next game will be on January 2 in Dell Rapids again, this time with Dell Rapids St. Mary's.
This past weekend the high school boys wrestlers traveled to Mount Vernon/Plankinton for their tournament.
Brock Bonte, Cole Scheuter and Carsten Rozeboom, placed at MVPCS on Sat. Dec. 16th. //photo submitted
"The group wrestled well against some tough competition but there is still room to improve," Coach Schleuter said.
Cole Schleuter ended up with a 5th place finish as he picked up three wins on the day!
Brock Bonte came away with a 6th place finish.
Senior Carsten Rozeboom had a great draw in the bracket and took advantage of it, coming home with a 4th place finish.
"Carsten had a good day," said Schleuter. "He was aggressive, which was nice to see. He took care of business on the mat which a senior is supposed to do."
Coach Schleuter was happy with the results.
Cole Schleuter //photo submitted
"Overall, the day was good. More mat time and more time in the practice room will really help where we are at as a team right now," he said.
The girls wrestlers are back in action on December 21st in Salem. The boys won't be in action until the 29th as they travel to Webster.
On December 12th, 2023, the JV Blue Dragons played host to the Canton C-Hawks, which turned out to be an exciting game for the fans in the stands. Both teams came out and battled for 24 minutes, but when the dust settled the scoreboard showed the Blue Dragons victorious 48 to 44!!
“We once again came out executing our offense and finished well at the rim,” stated Coach Heitkamp. “We didn’t give them a lot of second chance scoring opportunities, which ultimately gave us a victory at the end of the night.”
The Blue Dragons could have put this game away mid-way through the 4th period, but struggles at the charity stripe made the outcome a little closer than it should have been.
“We didn’t shoot well from the free-throw line going 3 for 11 on the night,” mentioned Heitkamp. “We need to take advantage of those situation, which was just a lack of focus and follow through on our free-throws. This will be something we will continue to work on throughout the season.”
Collin Olson led the way with 15 points for the Blue Dragons, as Treyton Decker followed closely with 12 points of his own. Josh Gilbert had a nice night with 7 points, while Carter Siemonsma and Cole Jessen netted 6 points each. Ethan McGregor rounded out the scoring with 2 points on the night.
Mustangs Take Two from the Blue Dragons
The C and JV Teams traveled to Tri Valley on December 15th, 2023, to take on the Mustangs. In the opening C game, the Mustangs came out firing on all cylinders as they jumped out to an early lead and never looked back as they defeated the Blue Dragons 19 to 46.
“This team physically manhandled us all night long, which prevented us getting into any sort of rhythm on the offensive side of the ball,” stated Head Coach Tad Heitkamp. “I was proud that we never gave up and kept fighting, but Tri Valley was just a much better team than us on this night.”
Isaiah Coburn led the way with 6 points, while Noah Schotzko added 4 points of his own. Tyler Erickson and Ethan McGregor netted 3 points each, as Joey Tonsay and Riley Lafferty-Maack rounded out the scoring with 2 and 1 point respectively.
Unfortunately, things didn’t get much better for the Blue Dragons in the JV game as the home town Mustangs dismantled the Blue Dragons 23-46. It was much of the same as Tri Valley took an early lead in the first stanza and cruised to an easy win when the final horn sounded.
“We knew going into this game that the Mustangs were going to be physical, which we were not able to match,” mentioned Coach Heitkamp. “I truly don’t believe that Tri Valley is a better basketball team than us, but when they physically force us out of our offensive sets…it’s tough to get things going on that end of the court.”
Carter Siemonsma had a nice night as he led the Blue Dragons with 9 points, while Cole Jessen connected for 5 points. Collin Olson, Treyton Decker, and Josh Gilbert all finished the night with 3 points.
