Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media, Author at Big Sioux Media Sports Network

Good Crowd Shows for Chamber Easter Egg Hunt

March 21, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The Dell Rapids Chamber of Commerce held their annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 19th, at the Dell Rapids Elementary School. This year’s event included new features. From 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., Chris’s Cakes served a pancake and sausage breakfast in the elementary school commons area. The Easter Egg Hunt then began at 10:30 a.m. with three different age groups: 3-years-old and under, ages four to six, and 7-years-old and older. The eggs were hidden in three different areas of the elementary school grounds outside.

Along with the breakfast, the Easter Bunny also returned to the Chamber Easter Egg Hunt after being absent the past few years. Children were able to meet the Easter Bunny and take pictures throughout the morning.

“We were very happy with the number of children that came out to the Easter Egg Hunt this year despite it being a little chilly outside. We were also excited with the addition of the breakfast and Easter Bunny this year. We would like to thank the Dell Rapids Elementary School for allowing us to hold the event here. It was a wonderful place to have it,” said chamber treasurer Amber Larson.

Each of the age groups had a “Golden Egg” winner. The Golden Egg was exchanged for a prize package including several prizes from local businesses donated by the Dell Rapids Chamber of Commerce.

Dell Rapids School Board Adds Two Days to 2015-2016 Calendar

March 20, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The Dell Rapids School Board added two more days to the current 2015-2016 school calendar as a make-up for missed days to this point in the year. This decision came during the school board’s regular meeting on Monday, March 14th. Currently Dell Rapids has had school cancelled because of three emergency weather-related days and two days of school closing for the girls state basketball tournament.

School board member Matthew Weiland said, “As a parent of a student and as a taxpayer, either these hours are important for our students, or they’re not important. So what are we saying? Are we saying that these days are unnecessary and in a winter we have no snow days, they are going three unnecessary days to school? Or are we saying they are necessary and we should make them up?”

The school board has added days to the end of the calendar in the past according to Superintendent Dr. Summer Schultz and School Board President Tom Morris, but it was mentioned during the meeting that not all of the school days missed have been made up in years past.

“I think that’s because of the difference between an emergency day and a school closing. Because some of those were in a different quarter, a different semester. It’s unfortunate because they’re emergency days, and they don’t get that day of school. But it’s not necessarily that you can make up that particular day and what needed to be done on that day later in May. It can be a completely different class they’re in. That’s the hard part making it apples to apples, ” said Dr. Schultz.

School board member Steve Stofferahn said, “If we missed a day in November, that’s the second quarter. Those classes are all done and gone. Making our fourth quarter longer is not doing anything extra for those kids. We’re probably not going to miss any days in the fourth quarter for snow days. We should have adjusted those quarters in what we should have done.”

Stofferahn also mentioned, “Going into next year’s calendar, we’ve already set the position that we’re not going to take days off for the basketball tournaments. We have two days built in. We won’t have those issues. It will just be snow days. I don’t think it will be quite as big of an adjustment in future years.”

After a bit more discussion, Stofferahn motioned to move the final day of school from Wednesday, May 25th to Friday, May 27th, and to adjust the third quarter end date to March 24th. The motion was seconded by Schumaker, and the motion passed.

Dell Rapids Boy Scout Pinewood Derby Race

March 20, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Dell Rapids Boys Scout Troop 53 held their annual Pinewood Derby Race on Saturday, March 19th, at the Dell Rapids Elementary School. Boy scouts from dens Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos spent weeks creating their cars for the event. Family members were also able to create cars and enter into a separate race.

Four places were given among the more than thirty entries. Best of show awards were also given to a car from each den along with a overall best of show.

Dylan Aker placed 1st.
Cadyen Leighton placed 2nd.
Orran O’Meara placed 3rd.
Chase Hight placed 4th.
Will Ronshaugen won Overall Best of Show.
Jacob Austin won Best of Show for Tigers.
Sawyer Hebert won Best of Show for Wolves.
Carson Crosby won Best of Show for Bears I.
Dawson Hohn won Best of Show for Bears II.
Oscar Anderson won Best of Show for Webelos.

The Dell Rapids Lions Club officiated the event as well as voted for the Best of Show winners. The top three place winners are able to race their cars at the Scout-O-Rama in Sioux Falls.

Ty Hoglund Named Gatorade® SD Boys Basketball Player of the Year

March 17, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

CHICAGO (March 17, 2016)—In its 31st year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with USA TODAY High School Sports, today announced Ty Hoglund of Dell Rapids High School as its 2015-16 Gatorade South Dakota Boys Basketball Player of the Year. Hoglund is the first Gatorade South Dakota Boys Basketball Player of the Year to be chosen from Dell Rapids High School.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the court, distinguishes Hoglund as South Dakota’s best high school boys basketball player. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year award to be announced in March, Hoglund joins an elite alumni association of past state boys basketball award winners, including Dwight Howard (2003-04, SW Atlanta Christian Academy, Ga.), Chauncey Billups (1993-94 & 1994-95, George Washington HS, Colo.), Jason Kidd (1991-92, St. Joseph Notre Dame HS, Calif.), Paul Pierce (1994-95, Inglewood HS, Calif.) and Chris Bosh (2001-02, Lincoln HS, Texas).

The 6-foot-3, 170-pound senior guard led the Quarriers to a 20-3 record and the regional championship game this past season. Hoglund averaged 26.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 3.1 steals per game. A First Team All-State selection, he was also the Dakota XII Conference Player of the Year. Hoglund has maintained a 4.09 GPA in the classroom. Also a golf and track standout, he is a member of his school’s student council and has volunteered locally on behalf of a food pantry and youth sports programs.

“Any coach would love to have Ty Hoglund as the leader of his team,” said Alex Langner, head coach at Baltic High. “He has the ball-handling skills to run the show and he has the ability to score from anywhere on the floor. He’s progressed from being a good shooter as a young player to a complete, all-around player as a senior.”

Hoglund has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball on scholarship at Dakota Wesleyan University this fall.

The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade high school sports leadership team in partnership with USA TODAY High School Sports,which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of

accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.

Hoglund joins recent Gatorade South Dakota Boys Basketball Players of the Year Deng Geu (2014-15, Washington High School), Justin Decker (2013-14, Huron High School), Zach Hanson (2012-13, 2011-12 & 2010-11, TF Riggs High School), Jared Hannigan (2009-10, Central), Tony Fiegen (2008-09, Madison High School), Louie Krogman (2007-08 ,White River High School), and Dale Moss (2006–07, Brandon Valley) among the state’s list of former award winners.

Two other Dell Rapids HS students won this award recently. Cole Langer won the award for football in 2012, and Adam Wolff also won the award for football in 2002.

To keep up to date on the latest happenings, become a fan of Gatorade Player of the Year on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information, a complete list of past winners and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit www.gatorade.com/poy.

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DR 5th Graders Host Living History Fair

March 16, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The Dell Rapids fifth graders held their annual Living History Fair on Wednesday, March 9th, in the Dell Rapids Middle School commons area. The students showcased their costumes and reports two different times during the day. The first session was held from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m., and the second session was held from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Students had coin cans at their station. When visitors put coins in the jar, the students “came to life” and read a report about the life of the person they were portraying. The students were able to raise $833.77 during the event. All the money raised was donated to a charity that the students picked. The donation this year went to JDRF, which is a foundation for juvenile diabetes.

This was the fifth year the Dell Rapids fifth graders have done the Living History Fair.

Eileen Donahue

March 15, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Eileen Donahue, 92, Wakonda, SD passed away Monday, March 14, 2016 at Wakonda Heritage Manor. On-Line Condolences may be left at Hansen Funeral Home.

Eileen Rose Fitzgerald was born October 2, 1923 at home in Mayfield Twp Yankton, South Dakota, the daughter of Nell Christopher and Mike Fitzgerald. She grew up in Mayfield and attended country school, Irene high school and graduated from Scotland in 1940. She studied two years at Mount Marty in Yankton and received a teaching certificate. She taught at country schools in the Mayfield area and one year at Wakonda. She married James W. Donahue of Wakonda June 25, 1947. James, who always called Eileen “Fitz” died April 10, 2011. They lived and farmed east of Wakonda and raised six children. She always had a large garden, many chickens and her children remember her delicious homemade bread.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, four brothers, Claire, Roy, Kenneth and infant Harold Fitzgerald, two sisters Veronica Freimuth and Colette Kehrwald and a grandson, Kevin Koenig. She is survived by two sons, Patrick (Teresa) Donahue of Wakonda, Jim Donahue, of San Francisco, CA, four daughters, Kathleen (Jim) Koenig, of Tyndall, Mary (Wayne) O’Connor, of Faribault, MN, JoEllen (Virgil) Klein of Dell Rapids and Brigetta (Steve) Klein of Sioux Falls, 16 grandchildren: Christine Schelske, John Donahue, Brian Donahue; Carolyn Gleason, Maureen McFarlane; Angela Cina, Mike O’Connor, Nicholas O’Connor, Maureen Hauge, James O’Connor; Sister Marie Estelle Klein O.C.D, Theresa Kutz, Erin Fernandez; Mary Wuestewald, Sister Laura Klein P.C. and Tony Klein; 17 greatgrandchildren; nieces and nephews.

Quarrier Boys Honored by Dak-12

March 15, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The Dell Rapids Quarrier boys basketball team had three players receive Dak-12 Conference post-season awards this year.

Ty Hoglund was name the Dak-12 Most Valuable Player and also was a First Team All-Conference selection. Sheldon Siemonsma was a Third Team All-Conference selection. Jeffrey Schuch was an Honorable Mention.

Dell Rapids won the regular season Dak-12 Conference title with a conference record of 10-1. The Quarriers also won the Dak-12 Conference Classic. Dell Rapids finished with a 20-3 overall record and an 18-2 regular season record.

Dak-12 MVP: Ty Hoglund, Dell Rapids

Dak-12 First Team:

Chad Barkema, F – SF Christian
Ethan Freidel, G – Tea Area
Jacob Hinker, G/F – Lennox
Ty Hoglund, G – Dell Rapids
Noah Vetrrus, G – West Central
Cooper Williams, C – Vermillion

Dak-12 Second Team:

Tanner Burg, G – Madison
Logan Busch, F/C – Beresford
Tyler Johnson, G – Dakota Valley
Robert Rosenquist, G – Dakota Valley
Will Steineke, G/F – Tri-Valley
Keegan Van Egdom, G – SF Christian

Dak-12 Third Team:

Tanner DenHoed, G/F – Madison
Noah Freidel, G/F – Tea Area
Jacob Manger, F/C – Vermillion
Michael Murphy, G – Elk Point-Jefferson
Paul Schwasinger, G – Vermillion
Sheldon Siemonsma, G – Dell Rapids

Dak-12 Honorable Mention:

Christian Beachler, F – Canton
Jayden Burggraff, G/F – Tri-Valley
Dejay Fykstra, F – SF Christian
Connor Henze, F – Elk Point-Jefferson
Jonah Larson, G/F – Beresford
John Oldenkamp, G/F – Lennox
Jacob Peterson, G/F – Canton
John Prochello, C – Dakota Valley
Austin Schreur, C – SF Christian
Jeffrey Schuch, F – Dell Rapids
Marcus VandenBosch, F – Madison

Veterans Park Pavers Available

March 14, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Construction has begun on the Dell Rapids Veterans Park on Hwy 115 next to the car wash. For $100, you may purchase an engraved, 6 x 12 paver to honor a Veteran in your family history, or to contribute as a family or a business. The Veterans pavers will be placed in front of the memorial specific to the war era the Veteran served/or is serving in; the family and business pavers will be in an area designated for contributors. This is a wonderful community project, and the Legion wants to get as many pavers done as possible before Memorial Day.

The forms to complete can be picked up at County Fair or Tand C’s. You can also call Larry Hovde at 351-9337, Tom Reecy at 359-9313, or Bob Risty at 201-7035 and get a form from them. Forms can also be downloaded by clicking here. Orders will only be placed once a year, so if you want to get one for this Memorial Day, please plan to contact someone within the next couple of weeks!

Quarrier Girls End Season with Win, Place 7th

March 13, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The Dell Rapids Quarriers ended their season with a win and placed 7th at the 2016 Girls State A Tournament in Watertown on Saturday, March 12th. The Quarriers defeated McLaughlin 71-62. The game was back-and-forth throughout its entirety.

Dell Rapids had an early 13-12 lead at the end of the first quarter. Both teams scored over 20 points in the second quarter, and it was McLaughlin that held a one-point lead of 34-33 at halftime. Dell Rapids regained the lead late in the third quarter and led 50-48 by quarter’s end. The Quarriers pushed their lead to 60-50 midway through the quarter, but McLaughlin tied the game at 62-62 after a 12-2 run late in the quarter. The Quarriers answered with a 9-0 run to close out the game for the win.

Four players scored in double-figures for Dell Rapids. Mikaela Stofferahn finished with 21 points, nine rebounds, and two assists. Arial Hoffman had 14 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Lindsey Morris scored 13 points and had four assists. Emma Paul added 10 points along with six rebounds. Kali Graham finished with eight points, and Kaylee Hennen had five points. Sami Reider dished out three assists in the game.

Dell Rapids finishes the 2015-2016 season with a 15-10 record and a 7th place finish.

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