Volume 51 Number 6 Brandon Valley High School - Brandon, SD 57005 Friday, Feb. 22, 2013

The ‘Little Shop of Horrors’

/page 6

By Kinnley ComeauxSports Editor

Even though he is just a senior, Cole Boscaljon has launched his career working on 3D anima-tion, 2D animation, music videos, commentaries, short films, tutori-als, Machinimas and more.

“I don’t know what my biggest project would be,” he said. “I guess I never consider something my biggest project because I always focus on making the next project bigger and better than the last one.”

Boscaljon is currently taking the Career and Technical Education Academy courses for his interest in digital technology design and animation. After graduation, he plans to start at Southeast Technical Institute before transferring to Dakota State University, pursuing a degree in animation and media.

At the CTE Academy, Boscaljon studies animation and film with hands-on experience and with the latest technology. He starts by planning and writing scripts for a day and recording

for one or two days.The machinima-based artists,

sometimes called machinimists or machinimators, are often fan laborers by virtue of their re-use of copyrighted materials.

Machinima is the use of real-life 3D computer graphics rendering engines to create a cinematic production. Video games are mostly used to generate the computer animation.

Boscaljon recently made a non-profit YouTube channel and will be making his own Machinimas. His channel will launch in late February or early March consisting of short skit-

like videos.“I want to start off with this,”

he said, “and, hopefully, I will be able to make a successful documentary someday. That is my life goal.”

The channel will be filled with short films ranging from 30 seconds to 30 minutes. Boscaljon will earn no money from this unless the YouTube viewers enjoy his channel and continue to watch.

Senior Spencer Myrlie and junior Tanner Fjerestad will be assisting him with his YouTube channel and future videos.

All of the profits earned will go towards charity, Boscaljon said. Even people who don’t enjoy the channel still donate to charity while they watch a free video.

“It’s really amazing what you can do with technology. A couple of views can turn into simple donations,” he said. “I’m making this YouTube channel because it is what I love to do. I don’t need any profit from it because I already have all the tools and software to make simple, fun videos.”

Photo courtesy of Cole Boscaljon

Senior Cole Boscaljon practices the design of items and settings that will be featured in his YouTube channel. The channel will make its first appearance in late March.

Boscaljon’s work for charity

Physical therapist Kathy Koehn performs a knee flexibility measurement on senior Hailey Hanisch in anatomy. She also conducted other practices used with physical therapy.

Photos by Kinnley Comeaux

Therapists speak to anatomy classes

House of Reps send sentinel bill to Senate for its consideration

By Kinnley ComeauxSports Editor

Physical therapists Kathy Koehn and Julia Schlekeway spoke to instructor Lisa Fucello’s anatomy students about the medical background information on physical therapy.

“I enjoyed listening to the guest speakers,” senior Samantha Batzler said. “They had a lot of information to help us understand what physical therapy is and what it requires.”

Physical therapy is a rapidly growing field and is highly ranked for the job satisfaction, Koehn said.

The medical job is a health care profession concerned with the remediation of impairments and disabilities and the promotion

of mobility, functional ability, quality of life and movement potential through examination.

Koehn and Schlekeway also explained their work areas that involve hospitals, military hospitals and nursing homes. Physical therapists generally choose their work environment throughout the various places where their skills and knowledge are needed.

Physical therapy degree requires seven years of college and at least 50 hours of hands-on observation with a physical therapist during their work time. The University of South Dakota offers a three-year doctorate program.

The median salary as a physical therapist is around $80,000 a year and an assistant physical therapist’s salary is around

$50,000 a year.Koehn, who has a masters of

physical therapy (MPT), and Schlekeway, who has a doctorate of physical therapy (DPT), work for the Avera McKennan Outpatient Therapy clinic. Both women work full time as a physical therapist who work one-on-one to help recover and rejuvenate what has been damaged, destroyed or disabled in the patient’s body.

After listening to the physical therapists, the students experienced and observed the tools used in physical therapy such as the electronic muscle stimulators, exercise balls, tools to measure flexibility and weight balls. The physical therapists also quizzed the students about random anatomy questions.

By Umaima KochUpdate Editor

In response to the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn., last December, the South Dakota House of Representatives recently voted 42-17 to send the sentinel bill, which would allow school districts to arm administrators and staff with firearms, to the Senate for debate.

“We live in a reactive world,” Principal Gregg Talcott said, “and it is so much more our nature to react to things than to plan ahead of time.”

Talcott’s real concern isn’t so much the prospect of new gun laws as it is the mental health of those who carry out such unwanted actions, stating that shootings are not the acts of rational people.

But the idea of teachers carrying concealed weapons disturbs him.

“I’m concerned about the thought of more guns in school, giving a false sense of security,” Talcott said. “It’s the whole idea of are you willing to pull the trigger?”

Unlike some small schools, Brandon Valley has an armed resource officer.

“If the bill passes,” Talcott said, “it might be something that those who don’t have that response time, it will be valuable for them to have.”

Controversy surrounds gun

law reforms under debate, and in Minnesota, laws requiring background checks for those looking to purchase firearms are being considered.

“People do have a right to own guns,” history instructor Jeremy Risty said, “and it’s inherently the government’s responsibility to protect the people at large.”

Risty would like to see stricter limits on who can own guns and what kinds of guns they can use because assault rifles, he said, are military-style guns for a reason.

“They should only be used by the military,” he said.

In September of 1994, Congress passed the Federal Assault Weapons Ban, a 10-year ban that prohibited the production of semi-automatic firearms for civilian use. It expired in September of 2004. People have tried to re-enact the ban since, but without success.

Given the rural nature of South Dakota and its massive hunting numbers, Risty said, federal resistance against gun control laws is likely to be more vocal here than elsewhere.

“I think that little will be done in the state legislature on the gun issue,” he said. “Our legislature (and people) are very conservative and are unwilling to take a step that could be seen as limiting gun rights.”

Brandon Valley Echo Friday, Feb. 22, 2013

Gun control makes people feel uneasy

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........................................................................ Cylie SvartoienVoices Editor ......................................................................... Austin SadlerA&E Editor ............................................................................ Payton KnollSports Editors .................................Dustin Johnson and Kinnley ComeauxUpdate Editor .......................................................................Umaima KochPhoto Editors ............................ ..Madison McKeown and Casey KoutstaalAd Manager ..................................................................... Jessica MorrisonCirculation Manager .......................................... .......................Troy SmallAdviser ........................................................................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

teachers carrying guns in school?

Instagram forms right decision about sharing users’ photos

Alabama rescueFun Night Minimum wage

By Madison McKeownPhoto Editor

Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom and others made the right decision to reverse the plans of having the right to sell and share their users’ photographs without notification or compensation to the user.

Over the last month the app for the iPhone and Android phones had some upsetting news to its more than 100 million users. Instagram, owned by Facebook, had a new change to its policy in early December.

According to CNN, the new policy claimed the app would have rights to sell and share its users’ photographs without notifying or compensating the photographer

or the user. Also under this new policy Facebook claimed the right to license all public Instagram photos to companies or any other organization, including for advertising purposes, effectively transforming the website into the world’s largest stock photo agency.

Many photographers, celebrities and public figures were upset about the new policy change.

“Pro or not, if a company wants to use your photos for advertising, they need to tell you and pay you,” Noah Kalina, who was Mark Zuckerberg’s wedding photographer, stated on Twitter about the policy.

In late December, just a

few weeks after the revealing of the new policy, Instagram backtracked. Systrom announced that the terms would revert to the original version in place since the service launched in 2010.

“The language we proposed... raised question about whether your photos can be part of an advertisement,” Systom, the Instagram co-founder, wrote in a blog post. “We do not have plans for anything like this and because of that we’re going to remove the language that raised the question.”

Instagram made the right decision to reverse the plans of having the right to sell and share their users’ photographs.

“I think it’s a good idea because if we’re not able to carry, we need protection just in case something would happen.”

-SeniorJacob Hamsa

“If it’s a trusted teacher, I guess it would be okay because in the event of a school shooting, we would need protection.”

-SeniorClay Lippert

“I think they shouldn’t carry guns in school. If they have some kind of mental problem, they could easily kill you.”

-FreshmanGiana Pardee

“I think it’s a bad idea. I think that the resource officer should have guns, but it’s overkill to make the teachers carry.”

-JuniorJack Sternburg

“If we had a few allowed to carry, it would be best. A resource officer should always be on duty rather than on shifts.”

-SophomoreTyler Erck

“I don’t really have an opinion on it. If a school needs to, they could issue it to a certain teacher if they feel necessary.

-FreshmanLogan Helgeson

With so much talk about gun control, many people find themselves confused and uneasy.

State and local legislators across the country are rushing to regulate what types of guns should be banned or if all guns should be banned.

The main debate is how to interpret the Second Amendment in the Bill of Rights and whether or not it still applies to today’s modern weaponry. The amendment reads as “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” So what does that mean?

The amendment should be interpreted as the people having the right to bear arms as long as there is a militia. The whole basis for this amendment is when the country was initially formed, the Founders were afraid of a tyrannous government and/or an omnipotent military. The Founders figured if the military had weapons, then the public should at least have something other than a kitchen knife to take to a gunfight.

Many people claim the Second Amendment is outdated because weapons nowadays are much more lethal and sophisticated than the muskets of the 18th Century. The counter for that may be a bipartisan, Congressional agreement to ban certain types of guns that should not be on the market.

Stricter limits on being able to carry a gun and purchase a gun has been proposed, but the question is will that even solve anything. A potential criminal isn’t going to say, “Oh no, I can’t purchase this assault rifle. I guess I can’t go out and wreak havoc like my intent.” That person will find a way to acquire a weapon or use whatever is available to do what is desired.

People have the right to defend themselves. There is some type of reassuring feeling when they hear a foreign noise in their house, but they know that there is a hand gun inside of their night stand just in case.

Now should military-grade weapons be sold like ice cream? Probably not. But if hunting rifles and concealed handguns start to be restricted, then that’s where the Second Amendment becomes infringed upon.

When put into reality, though, bad people will always try to find a way to execute their malicious plans whether it’s via knife, hammer or assault rifle.

Thumps up to Friday Fun Night Feb. 1.

Approximately 300 students participated in the games and activities

scheduled for the night. The event gave students the opportunity to socialize by having fun together after a basketball game.

Thumps up to six-year-old Ethan Gilman’s

rescue from an underground Alabama bunker Feb. 4. Authorities

shot his kidnapper, Jimmy Lee Dykes, dead in the process, but Gilman was left unharmed. The boy celebrated his birthday two days after his rescue.

Thumps up to President Obama’s proposal to

increase minimum wage from $7.25 to $9. The increase is designed to help decrease the

amount of poverty and the income gap. If initiated, the proposal would result in students working part-time to be able to save and spend more.

Brandon Valley High School Friday, Feb. 22, 2013

Runways: Story, McKeown work as models

For Party Time Formals, senior Madison McKeown models one of this season’s dresses for Prom 2013. McKeown competed in her first pageant at the age of 13.

Photo courtesy of Madison McKeown

‘A Good Day to Die Hard’ is over-the-top sequence

Photo courtesy of Blake Story

Senior Blake Story poses for a senior photo. Story began his modeling career in October of 2011 and makes an average of about $50 an hour per job.

By Umaima KochUpdate Editor

While the majority of working high school students acquire after-school jobs in the fast-food industry or as cashiers, two individuals are already in the midst of the professional work world.

Seniors Blake Story and Madison McKeown work as models.

“I always found interest in it,” Story said about modeling, “but it was one of those things I’d always been told I had that natural confidence to do.”

Story’s modeling career started in October of 2011.

It’s kind of like a hobby, he said, comparing his intrigue with modeling to a football player’s reaction to hearing their sport being mentioned.

Story makes approximately $50 an hour per job, but his work schedule, he said, is unpredictable.

“In a month I could do 10 things,” Story said, “and the next month I could do nothing.”

Story does four types of modeling: runways, such as showing tuxedos at bridal shows; mannequins, which pay the best; commercials at casinos and bridal shows; and photo shoots for photographers.

Story said he’s one of the few people who can say they’ve done it (modeling).

“When I’m up there,” he said, “I feel like I can express myself like some people do with music.”

It’s not about you, he said, but about the materials, the clothes.

“Those in the modeling business, don’t care about your looks,” Story said, “but how you show the clothes. It’s how you

can represent what you wear.”McKeown’s career in modeling

began when she won a pageant at the age of 13.

“I always wanted to compete, and I finally really wanted to do it,” she said. “I was ready.”

In the years following, McKeown worked for Party Time Formals showing homecoming, prom and pageant gowns. She did the 100 Most Beautiful photo shoot, was featured on the cover of Supermodels Unlimited and in a six-page editorial spread while in New York. McKeown also appeared in Seventeen magazine four times and Teen Prom, three times.

During an average summer, McKeown can make anywhere from $1,500 to $3,500.

For one week in August 2012, McKeown attended Fashion Market in Atlanta.

“It was crazy,” she said. “You had nine shows a day, and you

were constantly on your feet.”During her week in Atlanta,

McKeown was recognized by the “King of Crowns,” a pageant coach in the South, while with him in an elevator.

“Being a pageant girl, he’s like your idol,” she said.

McKeown also had another famous encounter.

“I got to finally meet him,” McKeown said about her favorite designer, Jonathan Kayne. “He asked to design a dress for me for my upcoming pageant in June.”

Due to her modeling career, McKeown said, she’s met so many people, which leads to great stories and great experiences.

For being only 17, McKeown said, she’s accomplished much already thanks to her career so far.

“(A model is) a role model for all types of people,” she said. “It’s actually a great career to be involved in.”

By Troy SmallCirculation Manager

The latest installment of the successful Die Hard film series A Good Day to Die Hard follows John McClane (Bruce Willis), a troubled, foul-mouthed, chain-smoking hero who is willing to do literally anything to save the lives of his family as he battles Russian nuclear terrorists in Russia.

The series began with Die Hard (1988), which involved McClane battling international terrorists led by the nefarious Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman). Die Hard with a Vengeance was a much better effort, involving McClane and a streetwise shopkeeper (Samuel L. Jackson) who are forced to play the sick mind games of Simon Gruber (Jeremy Irons).

Finally, we have A Good Day to Die Hard where McClane heads over to Russia to attempt

to reconcile with his estranged son, Jack. He arrives in Moscow to discover that his son is actually a CIA agent, assigned to protect Yuri Komorov, a political prisoner. McClane only makes the situation worse when he tries to help, and the father and son uncover a terrorist plot to siphon uranium from the ruins of Chernobyl.

Throughout the film, I was laughing at the one-liners and clutching my armrest with anticipation even though the film had some glaring logical problems. For example, in two scenes the McClanes jump through large windows and come out with only a few small cuts. Also, the villain was nothing like the previous films. Much like the Bond films, the Die Hard films always presented great villains, but in this one we barely know who the main villain is.

Another problem with this film is how McClane was more like a sidekick than the main hero. Sure, I like the casting of Jai Courtney as Jack McClane, but he’s no Bruce Willis. Hopefully, they won’t make Courtney carry the torch for future films because the series won’t be the same. Also, Russia apparently has no police forces. There is one scene where a helicopter’s chain gun rips through an entire floor of a hotel. Surely this would cause panic and chaos in the street below? No, apparently this is just another day in Moscow.

Unlike the previous Die Hard films, which are story and character driven, this film is definitely action driven.

The film may not live up to its predecessors in quality, but it is entertaining. The cartoonish, over-the-top action sequences fit.

Brandon Valley Echo Friday, Feb. 22, 2013

Bender undefeated

Photo by Jessica Morrison

Senior Mason Bender attempts to pin Dawson Monfore of Pierre. Bender defeated Monfore 10-2.

Photo by Kinnley Comeaux

Senior Caitlin Hammond bowls during practice at Empire Bowl. Both she and the other bowlers are preparing for the state meet today at the Sport Bowl in Sioux Falls.

Bowlers compete in state tournament

10 wrestlers qualify for state meetBy Dustin JohnsonSports Editor

Undefeated senior Mason Bender and seven other wrestlers will compete in the State A Tournament today and Saturday in Watertown.

“If everyone wrestles to their ability, we will bring home a top eight finish,” Bender said.

Last week, Bender pinned Yankton’s C. J. Warren to go 36-0 on the season and was named the tournament’s most outstanding wrestler.

The wrestling team placed sec-ond in the Region 2A competition last week. The team scored 159.5 points behind Washington with 193.5.

“What pleased me the most is that we won seven out of the 10 matches in the last round, which will help us going forward,” coach Kraig Presler said.

The better that a team does within its region gives the individual wrestlers a more favorable seed in the state tournament.

Bender, junior Adam Presler and freshman Connor Rowbotham finished first in their weight class during regions and secured a berth into the state tournament.

Sophomore Wyatt Winter and eighth grader Jackson Pletten were runner-ups and also made the state tournament.

Seniors Grant Dougherty and Gabe Langner, freshman Andrew Sorensen, and sophomore Brandan Burkhart finished third in their class and earned a chance to compete in the state tournament.

Junior Erik Ode placed fourth

and attained a state tournament berth, making him the eighth wrestler to compete today.

Before regions, the Lynx placed fifth in the Eastern South Dakota Conference Tournament Feb. 9. They were only 2.5 points away from taking fourth place.

“ESD set the table for us coming into districts,” Presler said. “We wrestled about as well at ESD as we did at regions.”

Bender remained undefeated as he placed first in his weight class. He, Presler, Rowbotham and Jackson Pletten achieved All-Conference status.

Photo by Kinnley Comeaux

Freshman Andrew Sorensen pins his foe during the Region 2A competition. Sorensen along with nine other wrestlers will compete in the State A Tournament today and Saturday.

By Casey KoutstaalPhoto Editor

Both bowling teams will be competing in the state tournament today at Sport Bowl in Sioux Falls.

“Unfortunately, this year we are short handed,” senior Caitlin Hammond said. “We only have four girls, but we recruited a girl from Lincoln so we will have the five girls it takes to make it to state. However, it will be hard to bowl against the tougher teams in the tournament unless the team makes the Lincoln girl feel at home. Then we will have a fighting chance.”

Boys bowling team lost against O’Gorman last Monday.

“We are very excited about state,” junior Micheal Hillman

said. “We have no idea how we are gong to do because we are not at state yet. We think we could do good, but it is still too early to tell.”

Against West Central the boys lost and the girls won.

Hillman was the leader scoring a 501 series, followed by sophomore Alex Hamer and junior Luke Laycock.

The highest bowler for the girls was junior Emily Steinhouse, who bowled a 587 series, followed by junior Mariah Clark, with a 410 series. Hammond rolled a 375 series and sophomore Kelsey Nimick, a 309 series.

“Our season is coming to an end, and I am really sad about it,” Hammond said. “It is definitely a bitter-sweet moment.”

Brandon Valley Echo Friday, Feb. 22, 2013

USF cuts soccer program

Sandoval places third in heavyweight

Photo by Kinnley Comeaux

Sophomore Jacob Nachreiner bench presses 190 pounds at the O’Gorman Invite. The Lynx placed one man in the heavyweight division. The state meet is next Saturday in Madison.

By Dustin JohnsonSports Editor

University of Sioux Falls Cougars cut their soccer program for the 2013-2014 academic year, which makes sense, but hurts many student athletes.

Interim Athletic Director Kevin Hesser announced the change Feb. 4. The discontinuation occurred just two weeks after USF agreed to go into the Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

This change affects not only the college, but also current students and former students at Brandon Valley High School. Seniors Kenny Mattson and Phil Volk both had scholarships to attend USF and play soccer for the Cougars in the upcoming fall season. This also affects alumni Garret Reta, ’12, and Brandyn Henderson, ’12, who were on scholarship at USF.

Because of the cancellation of the men’s soccer program, there will be no scholarships whatsoever to any new recruits and the current players will be awarded very little scholarship money for the remainder of their college career. However, Hesser’s reasoning behind the discontinuation of the men’s soccer program is understandable.

Logistically, it doesn’t make sense to be in a conference where traveling across the country for almost two weeks at a time. That’s too much money for a school to shell out for a team that hasn’t been winning at a steady rate, only a 1-13-3 season last year.

The time away from school can negatively affect the student athletes. Last year the soccer team traveled to Kansas and after that to Washington over the course of nine days. That’s an entire week away from classes and two weekends. The situation of being in the MIAA is strange, especially since all other USF teams are in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

Colleges are noted for having entertaining sports teams, but many forget that colleges are institutions for empowering young minds, not just for athletics. Rightfully, Hesser understands how fiscally and academically this makes sense.

USF should have an effective way to distribute the initially granted scholarship money to the players and, hopefully, it will take care of the soccer players who have invested their time into the program along with those committed to the program already.

By Kinnley ComeauxSports Editor

The powerlifting team will compete in the state powerlifting meet next Saturday at Madison.

The powerlifters last competed at the O’Gorman Invite. Although only one man placed, many set their personal best records. Senior Joseph Sandoval placed third in the heavyweight division.

“I feel very accomplished placing third,” he said. “All the time I put into the weight room has really paid off.”

Powerlifting has been a sport here for four years and has grown from five lifters to over 25.

“I’m very happy how the season has gone so far,” coach Adam Bobzien said. “As a coach, I need to find new lifts and continue to improve the work outs. It’s not enough to just go in the weight room and expect results. Each person needs to approach it with a goal of getting better in mind.”

Girls basketballset for districts

Photo by Jessica Morrison

Senior Brynne Rist goes up for a shot against Yankton. The girls lost 46-37. Districts are Monday and Thursday.

Photo by Kinnley Comeaux

Senior Chase Marso drives to the basket against the Yankton Bucks. The boys won 53-39. District action start Tuesday.

Boys basketball ready for districts

By Jessica MorrisonAd Manager

Districts start Monday for the girls basketball team, and the second round is Thursday.

“I feel our team has improved greatly since the beginning of the season,” senior Allison Koehn said. “We are playing well now, and I believe we have a good chance at winning a game or two in districts.”

The Lady Lynx lost to the Brookings Bobcats 50-39 Tuesday. Senior Brynne Rist scored nine points. Junior Becca Long had eight points.

The girls lost 66-37 against Aberdeen Central last Friday. Koehn scored eight points and had three assists. Senior Val Peltier also had eight points and five rebounds.

The girls lost to Huron 54-46

Feb. 9. Koehn scored 26 points and made 10 of her 12 free throws. She also had nine rebounds. Peltier had five points.

Lady Lynx lost 46-37 to Yankton. Koehn scored 16 points and made seven of her nine free throws. Sophomore Carley Kueter had seven points and made three of four free throws.

The Lady Lynx lost to Watertown 47-40. Koehn scored 14 points and five rebounds. Kueter had seven points and six rebounds. Senior Jordyn Griffith had six points.

The girls lost 56-37 against Pierre Feb. 2.

Koehn led the girls with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Junior Kara Schroeder had seven points. Sophomore Lilli Jasper scored six points by making six of her eight free throws.

By Jessica MorrisonAd Manager

With upcoming districts next Tuesday and Friday, coach Brent Deckert is hoping for two wins.

“We are confident going into districts because we have been playing well in the month of February,” senior Chase Marso said. “Right now we are looking forward to getting another win to lock up home court advantage in pursuit of a district championship.”

Results were unavailable at press time for the game against O’Gorman Thursday.

Last Saturday, the boys beat Aberdeen Central 47-44. Marso scored 26 points and snagged six rebounds. Junior Jacob Adams

had seven points and seven rebounds.

Boys beat Yankton 53-39. Adams scored 18 points and 10 rebounds. Junior Nic Peterson had 12 points. Marso had 11 points and four rebounds.

Boys also beat Huron 50-40. Peterson scored 19 points and had seven rebounds. Marso had 11 points. Senior Adam Bauer had 10 points and made all four free throws. Bauer also had three assists and seven rebounds. Adams had nine points and made five of his eight free throws.

The boys beat Watertown 56-47. Peterson scored 17 points. Marso had 15 points and made four of his five free throws. Adams had 13 points.

Brandon Valley Echo Friday, Feb. 22, 2013

Interpers to compete at NFL Districts

Did you know...?

FFA set for contests

n SeniorsBrendanGalloandChaseMarsoareNationalMeritScholarFinalists.n BoardofeducationmeetingisMondayat6:30p.m.n LargeGroupOrchestraFestivalisThursdayinthePerformingArtsCenter.n WrestlingawardsdinnerisMarch4at6:30p.m.n EndofthirdquarterisMarch8.n AprilACTregistrationdeadlineisMarch8.n BoardofeducationmeetingisMarch11at6:30p.m.n GirlsbasketballawardsdinnerisMarch18at6:30p.m.n TrackteamwillcompeteintheBobPrinceInviteattheDakotaDomeMarch19at4p.m.n BrandonValleyHealthFairisMarch21from3:30-7p.m.inthehighschoolcommons.

Senior Alex Rogen (top left) receives an Outstanding Individual award at the State One-Act Play Festival for his performance as Mr. Mushnik, the flower shop owner. Lead roles, sophomore Matt Skadsen and senior Malle Stephens (above) pick up a shattered flower pot. Stephens also received an Outstanding Individual award. Senior Zach Van Ede, the dentist, sings with the Ronettes. Both the Ronettes and Audrey II received an Outstanding Ensemble award.

‘Little Shop of Horrors’

Photos by Cylie Svartoien

11 qualify for All-State Band

Science Bowl teams win first round

Photo courtesy of Lisa Fuccello

Science Bowl members are (front row) Sean Hicks, Billy Trevillyan, Brian Albertson, Long Pham; (back row) Nick Wilde, Zach Van Ede, Cade Dawn and Sean Rollag. Both teams, which won their first round, competed against 26 other teams.

SALSA members walk for MDA cause

FFA members are preparing fortheir spring contests that will be inmid-March.

The first competition will be atTri-Valley,thenFlandreau,followedbystateatBrookings.Thedifferentcategories are horse judging, dairycattle judging, dairy products,livestock judging,natural resources,landscape nursery, ag mechanics,foods,cropsandfloriculture.

NationalFFAWeekendsSaturday.ThemembersplayedboardgamesatBethanyMeadowsonMonday,hadapancakefeedTuesdayandhadfarmerdress-updayWednesday.Tonight isamovienightat7p.m.

SALSAmemberswillparticipateintheMuscularDystrophyAssociationmusclewalknextSaturday.

The members also served at TheBanquet Thursday and assistedwiththeIHateWinterPartyforBigBrothers and Big Sisters. SALSAmembersmanageddifferentstationsandactivities.

ThenextmeetingisMarch6.

By Payton KnollA&E Editor

ElevenmusicianswillperformintheAll-StateBandConcertattheRushmorePlazaCivicCenterinRapidCityMarch23.

The musicians are freshman EthanBrown,sophomoresEmilyOyos,KjerstinWilliams,BrockHanson,GregLundberg,Eden Burch, Chelsey Schmeling, PatrickGallo; seniors Brendan Gallo, three yearall-stater;AnthonyPederson,threeyearall-stater;andKaraShroll,fouryearall-stater.

ThealternativesarefreshmenKailyDavis,Sabrina Simons, Dawson Kremlacek andseniorToriWestcott.

“We’re very proud by the number ofstudents that auditioned,” band directorJesse Miller said. “They all scored verywell,eventhosethatdidn’tmakeit.”

JazzBandwillalsobecompetingintheAugustanaJazzFestivalagainstBrookings,MitchellandO’GormanMarch5.

Jazz Band 1 soloists who will beperforming are seniors Brendan Gallo,

NationalForensicsLeaguedistrictroundsstarttodayandwillcontinueSaturday at Washington HighSchool.

This tournament is different thanthe others. Instead of holding threeroundsandafinalsround,thenumberof rounds isunlimited.Competitorsmayadvance as long as they are inthetophalfrankingoftheround.

Ifaninterperisinthebottomhalf,he receives a “down.” After twodowns,theparticipantisdisqualified.Thetournamentcontinuesuntilonlysevencompetitorsareleft.However,thewinnerof thefinal round is notnecessarily the winner. The twoparticipants with the lowest scoresadvancetonationals.

“Ihavecriedmore tears forNFLdistricts over any other tournamentI go to,” coach Gina Koehn said,“becauseit’spossibletowinthefinalroundandnotqualifyfornationals.”

Haley Ullom; junior Coleton Ginger;sophomores Matt Skadsen, Burch,SchmelingandLundberg.

Jazz Band 2 soloists performing areseniors Dillon Dutson, Haley Hammond;sophomores Weston Meyer, BethanyHeadrick, Marina Gillespie; freshmenIsaiahDietzandKatieWright.

The Symphonic Band will performMarch11,andtheRedandBlackconcertbands, March 12, in the PerformingArtsCenter.

By Madison McKeownPhoto Editor

BothScienceBowl teamswonthefirstroundoftheirtournamentSaturdayattheHuronPlainsman.

Thefirstteamincludedcaptainsenior Sean Rollag, senior ZachVan Ede, senior Long Pham,senior Brian Albertson andalternatejuniorKofiGunu.

Team two was led by captainsenior Nick Wilde, senior CadeDawn,sophomoreBillyTrevillyanandfreshmanSeanHicks.

Neither of the teams made itinto the finals. Twenty-six otherteamsalsocompeted.

“We would prepare afterschoolonceaweek,”adviserLisaFuccello said. “During practiceswe would run through practicequestions and became familiarwith the question formats andtimings.”