Cowboys excited to start football season

Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
Returning lettermen on the Colome High School football team are in from from
left Riley Shippy, Allan McKenzie, Kaden Pechota, Billy Looking Cloud, A. J.
Davis, Sully Shippy, Jordan Harter, Taitin Ringing Shield. In back from left are
Michael Supik, Kash Heath, Nathaniel Hansen, Casey Assman, Rhet Bertram, Gavin
Tucker, Brayden Seegers, Tate Luedke and Aidan Muller. The team will open the
season on Aug. 28 at home against Tripp-Delmont/Armour/ACDC

By Dan Bechtold/Editor

The Colome High School football team has a lot of experience returning from last year’steam.The Cowboys only lost three seniors and have nine returning starters. The three seniors who graduated are Jacob Beckers, Adam Cole and James Brumbaugh.

There are 19 Colome athletes out for football this year.The returning lettermen are: Riley Shippy, Allan McKenzie, Kaden Pechota, Billy Looking Cloud, A. J. Davis, Sully Shippy, Jordyn Harter, Taitin Ringing Shield, Michael Supik, Kash Heath, Nathaniel Hansen, Casey Assman, Rhet Bertram, Gavin Tucker, Brayden Seegers, Tate Luedke and Aidan Muller.

Colome was to have opened the season on Aug. 21 at Corsica/Stickney but that has been changed and they will open a week later on Aug. 28 at home with Tripp Delmont Armour/ACDC.

Michael Supik will be the starting quarterback. Riley Shippy will be the running back with Rhet Bertram and Kash Heath also playing running back. Nathaniel Hansen was moved from guard to center. Athletes working hard on the offensive line are Hansen, Sully Shippy and Allan McKenzie. Head coach Gene Bertram says who will play ends is up in the air with some younger players stepping into that role.

Casey Assman will be one of the ends with three others battling for a spot. On defense, Colome will not change much from last year as the team only lost two starters. Linebackers will be Riley Shippy, Michael Supik and Billy Looking Cloud. Defensive ends will be Assman and Bertram. On the defensive line will be Hansen, McKenzie and Shippy.

Last year the Cowboys ended the season with a 1-7 record. “They are upset about only winning one game last year. They wantto prove they are a good football team,” said Bertram. He noted it was hard to go from an undefeated season and being state champs to a 1-7 season.

Along with every other team in the state, Colome is dealing with COVID-19 and making sure everyone is safe. Bertram says it is tough to social distance in football. He stresses if anyone is feeling sick do not come to practice. He advises the players to take their temperature at home and if they have a fever do not come to practice. Everyone brings their own water bottle. “It has not been hard for them to keep track of their own water bottle,” said the coach. “The kids have really bee good.

I stress to the them that I am not as worried about them getting COVID as I am of you passing it along to other people more vulnerable to the illness. They know they have to protest their older family members,” said Bertram.“What scares me is if we get one outbreak by a team and we may have to all shut down like the colleges,” said Bertram.

The coach says he knows the team is ready for football. There is more experience this year and a lot of senior leadership. The team has been working on a lot of fundamentals. Bertram is excited how much these kids have grown. He has coached some of these kids since they were in junior high school. “It is amazing how their coordination and fundamentals have gotten better. This year we are really working on foot work.” Bertram said last year things did not go the team’s way. “This year if we can put of lot of those things behind us and play football it will be a fun year,” said the coach.

Assistant coaches will be Terrance Kinzer and Chase Hrabanek. Bertram hopes the new principal Dustin Christensen will be able to help with the team. The 2020 Colome football schedule includes:

Aug. 28—Tripp-Delmont/Armour/ACDC inColome

Sept. 4—Platte-Geddes at Platte

Sept. 11—Homecoming– Irene-Wakonda

Sept. 18—Burke, home

Sept. 25—Corsica-Stickney at Corsica

Oct. 2—Hitchcock-Tulare, away

Oct. 9—Wolsey-Wessington at Wolsey

Oct. 16—Conference championship week

Oct. 22—First round of playoffs

Oct. 29—Quarterfinals

Nov. 6—Semifinals

Nov. 13—State Championship in Vermillion

Warriors open football season at Stanley County

Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
Winner High School football returning lettermen are in front from left Aaron
Monk, Aaron Gilchrist, Michael Olson, Tayden Mathis, Owen Duffy, Zach Bohnet,
Achilles Willuweit, Kaleb Osborn, Jack Kruger, Ethan Bartels. Second row from
left are Jack Peters, Evan Farner, Bosten Morehart, Jackson Hanson, Charlie
Pravecek, Kaden Keiser, Jace Brazelton, Riley Orel, Blake Volmer, Dalton
Peterson and Kaden Bennett. Third row from left are Landon Thieman, Preston
Norrid, Jackson Vesely, Adam Bohnet, Brady Fritz, Sam Kruger, Ashton Klein, Joey
Cole, Owen Monk and Hunter Osborn. Not pictured is Finn Bartels. The Warriors open the season on Aug. 21 at Stanley County.

By Dan BechtoldEditor

Winner High School football team is happy to be preparing to play football during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are following certain rules put in place by the South Dakota High School Activities Association. The team’s first game will be Aug 21 when they play Stanley County in Ft. Pierre. The Warriors finished last year with a perfect record in the regular season and made it to the state championship game with Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan.

In an exciting state championship, Winner fell 21-14 after the score had been tied at 14-14. The Warriors ended last year with an 11-1 record. That loss left a bitter taste in the team’s mouth and one they would like to erase and turn their fortunes around this year. “Our juniors and seniors are pretty motivated to work hard and try and get back to that spot and see something different,” said coach Dan Aaker, who is starting his 19th year at the helm of the Warriors.

There are 44 athletes out for football this year including 10 seniors. Returning lettermen for the Warriors will include: Aaron Monk, Aaron Gilchrist, Michael Olson, Tayden Mathis, Owen Duffy, Zach Bohnet, Achilles Willuweit, Kaleb Osborn, Jack Kruger, Ethan Bartels, Jack Peters, Evan Farner, Bosten Morehart, Jackson Hanson, Charlie Pravecek, Kaden Keiser, Jace Brazelton, Riley Orel, Blake Volmer, Dalton Peterson, Kaden Bennett, Landon Thieman, Preston Norrid, Jackson Vesely, Adam Bohnet, Brady Fritz, Sam Kruger, Ashton Klein, Joey Cole, Owen Monk, Hunter Osborn and Finn Bartels.

The Warriors lost 10 seniors due to graduation including four all-state players in Phillip Jorgensen, Trevor Peters, Oscar Pravecek and Joren Bruun. The Warriors will return six starters on both sides of the ball. Winner has three linebackers returning, Preston Norrid, Landon Thieman and Sam Kruger. When Aaker looks at his offensive line he has most everyone back with the exception of Oscar Pravecek who graduated.

Senior Brady Fritz will be in his third year as the starting quarterback. “He is a good athlete and brings some things to the table with his running and throwing ability. He has good athleticism,” explained Aaker.

Lost in the backfield are Trevor Peters and Phillip Jorgensen who both had great seasons a year ago. The team is heavy on running backs and lots of people for Fritz to hand off the ball. Sam Kruger had a good year last year carrying the ball and will be called on this year. Norrid may play some fullback. He played that position as a sophomore and then was moved to guard. Currently, he is working at both positions.“There may be times he is on the line and the next series he is fullback. He is a power guy who can moved pretty good,” said the coach.

Evan Farner has played a lot at running back and started a couple of games last year when Sam Kruger was injured. Aaker says younger guys like Kaden Keiser, Aaron Gilchrist and Riley Orel can also carry the ball. He says there are six guys the team can shuffle in and out at running back.

Some of the players battling for a position on the team are Zach Bohnet, Jackson Hanson and Ashton Klein. Aaker says Ethan Bartels has looked good at tight end.“I feel we have good depth already and we have to continue to build on that.”

The Warriors will again be strong on defense. The front seven have a lot of returners.The secondary is a little different with the loss of Trevor Peters at strong safety and Bruun as an all state corner.

The coach says one place where the defense is in-experienced is in the secondary. Fritz, Farmer, Orel, Keiser and Blake Volmer are good athletes who the coaches can rotate in and out in the secondary.

Aaker likes the numbers on the team with 35 athletes sophomores on up. “We are excited. Some years you have to build a team from scratch but this is one of those veteran years where I feel we are ahead of where we would be most other years because so many kids have experience,” said Aaker.

Winner will be competitive from the very first game as the Warriors have a lot of quick hard running guys. Aaker says if there was one Achilles heal last year, especially in the playoffs, it was big plays over the top. He wants to eliminate that this year.

Football will be different this year with COVID-19. “The whole COVID thing is a challenge. I look at it this way: we are playing and a lot of things were taken away from these kids last year. I remind our guys that we are playing now and I remind them to take advantage of every day they have.” Each day before practice the temperature is taken of each player.

When they get on the bus to travel to out of town games they will have their temperature taken and they will wear masks and have assigned seats.

There is no sharing of water bottles and no driving out of the water fountain during practice breaks. Each player brings their own water bottle.

Assistant coaches will be Trent Olson, Kevin Keiser, Austin Calhoon and Sam Olson with Glenn Carlson helping from time to time.

The 2020 Winner High School football schedule includes:

Aug. 21—at Stanley County

Aug. 28—at St. Thomas More in Rapid City

Sept. 4—Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central, home

Sept. 11—Wagner, home

Sept. 18—Valentine, Neb., away

Sept. 25—Mt. Vernon/Plankinton, away

Oct. 2—Chamberlain, home (Homecoming)

Oct. 9—Miller/Highmore-Harrold, home

Betty (Steffen) Kirwan, 87

Betty (Steffen) Kirwan, 87, passed away at Bethany Lutheran Home in Sioux Falls, SD on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020.

Rosary will be Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020 at 10 am at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Lake Andes, SD with visitation following. Memorial service will be Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020 at 11 am at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Lake Andes, SD following the visitation. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Spencer, NE at a later date. Arrangements by Koehn Bros. Funeral Home.

Betty Ann Steffen was born Aug. 24, 1932 at her parent’s farm south of Colome, SD. She was the fifth of eight children born to Friederich and Josephine (Schroeder) Steffen. She attended rural school and then graduated from Colome High School in 1950.

Betty then attended Southern State Teachers College in Springfield, SD. In August 1951, she started teaching rural school by Colome, SD. Her yearly salary was $1,557. On April 24, 1954, she married Daniel Duane Kirwan.

They farmed in the Randall Valley and she taught rural school south of Lake Andes. They moved to Pickstown, SD in 1970. Throughout her life she enjoyed tending her plants (she had a green thumb) and gardening, canning and baking, word finds and a good game of cribbage or scrabble. She was a member of St. Mark’s Catholic Church, Catholic Daughters, a 4-H leader and VFW Auxiliary.

Betty is survived by her two children: Fred (Sally) Kirwan of Pickstown, SD and Nancy Kirwan of Sioux Falls, SD; grandson Austin (Natalie) Donley of Sioux Falls, SD, brother Jack ‘Fritz’ Steffen of Winner, SD and sister Doris Zimmerle of Huntsville, Ala.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, three brothers: Leonard, Bob and Vic Steffen, two sisters: Helen Steffen and Stella Doty.

Martha Peters, 89

Martha Peters, 89, of Winner SD, passed peacefully into her eternal life on Wednesday Aug, 12, 2020 at the Winner Regional Long-Term Care Center.

A private mass of Christian burial was held on Monday, Aug. 17, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner. Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery. A private Rosary was held on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020 at 5 p.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

Martha was born on Jan. 25, 1931 to George and Margaret (Gierau) Mullen in Wewela, South Dakota. She attended a one room school house there for grades 1 through 8. From there she went to St. Mary’s Academy in O’Neill, Neb., from 1944 to 1948.

After graduation from high school she worked at Marty Mission School in Marty, South Dakota. She then moved to Bloomfield, Neb. and worked at Mullen Market, the family grocery store. She met Jack Peters at a dance in Wewela. They were married on June 7, 1951. They started their married life in Colome, SD, and later moved to Winner.

To this union, four sons were born. Martha is survived by her sons and their families. Pat (Marjo), Larissa (Josh Luther), Hallie, Marrie, Ainsley, Travis (Lyndsey), Camden, Bo, Tyler (Brittany), Cavan; Kevin (Cindy), Dale (Jacey), Kelby, Karley; Steve (Darcie), Sydnie, Trevor, Jack, Hudson; Laura Root (Jamie) , Addy, Rylee, Gracie; Dan (Lenore) John, Beth (Bobby Bruinsma), Wesley; Brad (Joan), Katie (ErikPedersen), Kelli, Kasey (Keith Miller), Ava, Nora, Case, Kami (Ryan Trainer). Her sisters Marcella (Jess)Wills, Bernadette (Bill) Skrivan, and brother Bernard (Nona) Mullen.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Jack, great granddaughter Esther Grace, brother-in-law Chuck Bohart and nephew, John Mullen. Martha exemplified what a true Catholic Christian is. Her faith was a strong foundation for how she lived her life. She was a faithful member of the Immaculate Conception Church choir, sharing her beautiful soprano voice.

She was a 50 year member of the Catholic Daughters. She was active in supporting St. Mary’s School in Winner. She was a regular volunteer serving dinners at the church. Jack and Martha along with close friends, Bill and Betty Pistulka, headed the annual Fall Festival when Father Arnie Kari was pastor back in the 1980’s. Martha could strike up a conversation with anyone. She loved to visit.

Martha always made sure friends and family never left her home without a meal. That squeaky back door was always a welcoming sound. And the people she cared for stretched far and wide. Martha kept an incredible network of distant cousins and old friends who would visit frequently. As her mind began to fail her, she shared stories and old memories of her childhood.

Perhaps she embellished the details where she drew a blank. But we didn’t care – we were grateful for the stories and “the visit”. Martha was a golfer – and had the tan lines to prove it. And when she couldn’t golf, she filled her time with bridge club.

She loved to spend time with her grandchildren, and was always grateful that so many of them were close by as they grew up. Martha – thank you for dedicating your life to making sure everyone around you was taken care of, well-fed and entertained.

You’ve set an incredible example for the rest of us. You were, and will continue to be, a bright light in our lives.

Shooters place in youth event

Submitted Photo
Tripp County individual places at the South Dakota state youth trap shooting
championship are from left Faith Covey, Jack Anderson and Katie Welker.

Ten shooters from Tripp County competed in the South Dakota State Youth Trap Shooting championship in Mitchell on Aug. 2. The senior team was comprised of Katie Welker, Jesse Larson, Elijah Everette, George Clark and Austin Olson. The junior team included Faith Covey, Hunter Osborn, Hunter Shippy, Cole Rank and Jack Anderson.

The youth competed as a team and also as individuals. The individual placers were Katie Welker, 1st in senior girls singles, handicap and doubles and was also named the high overallgirl.

Covey placed first in junior girls singes and handicap. Jack Anderson was the runner up in the junior boys singles.This year was the largest number of shooters to compete at the youth open. There were 143 shooters from South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota.

Pheasants defeat Flandreau

Winner/Colome amateur baseball team took their first winning step in the state Class B amateur baseball tournament Friday in Mitchell. The Pheasants defeated Flandreau 6-2. With the win, Winner/Colome played Garretson in the second round on Monday, Aug. 10.

Connor Hopkins was powerful on the mound as he pitched the Pheasants to victory. “We scratched a couple across early and my defense played well behind me,” said Hopkins in a story in the Mitchell Republic.Winner/Colome did not commit a error during a sound defensive performance. Hopkins struck out the side twice as he fanned 11 batters.The Pheasants hit the ball well.

Zach Harter, the No. 8 hitter, finished 2-3 with an RBI and No. 9 hitter Lakin Neugebauer drive in two runs Neugebauer hit his second RBI in the fourth inning to give the Pheasants a 5-0 lead. “The bottom half of our order really did it for us,” said manager Austin Richey.Harter said it was a complete team win and Hopkins was awesome on the mound.

Cowgirls, cowboys named all arounds

Submitted Photo
Saydee Heath of Colome, left, was crowned the senior girls all around at the
Central South Dakota 4-H rodeo in Ft. Pierre on Aug. 1. Seth Heath was named the
junior boys all around around on Aug. 1 at the rodeo.

Saydee Heath of Colome put together multiple first place finishes at the Central South Dakota 4-H Rodeo in Ft. Pierre. She won the senior girls all-around on Aug. 1. She won the senior girl breakaway roping in 2.99 and also won the senior girl ribbon roping in 8.35. Heath teamed up with Weston Vander Pol for a championship in senior team roping in 8.01. Colome’s Seth Heath won the junior boys all around on Aug. 1. Heath was fourth in junior boys breakaway in 4.02. He placed third in goat tying in 11.19 and Roper Moore took second in goat tying in 10.87.Heath took third in junior boys flag race in 9.6.

In the rodeo on Aug. 2, Heath was second in junior boys flag race in 8.633. First place in flag race went to Moore in 8.44. Linkyn Petersek won the senior boys calf roping in 9.36.On Aug. 2, Petersek was named the senior boys all around. He won the senior boys calf roping in 9.67. In steer wrestling, Petersek placed third in 7.48. Denton Good and Petersek teamed up in team roping and took second place. Other Tripp County 4-Hers placed in the rodeo in Ft. Pierre. Athena Willuweit took fourth in junior girls flag race in 10.167. Saige Schuyler was fourth in senior girls pole bending in 21.368.

New superintendent, principal to greet Colome students

By Dan Bechtold/ Editor

When students return to classes in the Colome Consolidated School District they will be greeted by a new superintendent and a new principal.Dr. Debbie O’Doan is the new superintendent. She served as the Colome principal last year.Joining the staff as the new K-12 principal is Dustin Christensen. Classes in the Colome district will start on Aug. 18 with in class face to face instruction.

O’Doan says she wants students and parents to know that the staff can’t wait to see the students. “We are excited to have them back and we are going to do everything we can to keep them safe.” The students are returning to school during the COVID-19 pandemic. The school has a reopen plan in place. O’Doan says the plan is to open the school in the best way possible, keeping everyone as safe as possible.“We will continue to monitor the situation with COVID-19 and pay attention to changes in local cases,” said the superintendent. O’Doan has 21 years in education. She has taught at every grade level. She has taught, trained teachers including graduate courses.She received her bachelor’s degree from Black Hills State University in K-8 elementary/middle school education in 1998.

In 2002, O’Doan received her master’s degree from the University of South Dakota in technology. She received her doctorate in adult and higher education administration from USD. In 2018, she received a master’s in K-12 principalship from Chadron State. The following year O’Doan received an education specialist degree in K12 superintendency from Wayne State College.In addition to teaching, O’Doan worked at the TIE office Rapid City. In this job she did a lot of training of teachers. For a couple years O’Doan was the gifted and talented coordinator for the Meade School District. Then, she moved to Gillette,Wyo., where she taught for five years prior to coming to Colome. In Wyoming, she was training teachers in technology and helped to open the new Thunder Basic High School. O’Doan loves the small school and loves the great community of Colome.

The superintendent says it is an exciting time in education. “I am excited to make sure we have a good school here,” said noted.

Christensen grew up in Arlington and graduated from Arlington High School in 2009. He went to Black Hills State University where he received his degree in K-12 special education graduating in 2013. In 2019, he received his master’s degree in educational administration from Fort Hayes State University. Christensen started teaching special education in Rapid City then moved to Cowley, Wyo., where he taught middle school special education and was the middle school and high school basketball coach. He was in Wyoming from 2014 to 2017 and then took a special education job in Edgemont for two years. Christensen was the head football coach in Edgemont.

This past year he taught high school special education in Custer and was the 8th grade girls basketball coach.He and his wife Samantha, have a 2 year olddaughter, Desirae. Samantha will be the high school English teacher at Colome. Christensen followed in the footsteps of his parents into the education field. His father is a math professor at South Dakota State University and his mother works in the Arlington School District. “I enjoy the whole education field and just being able to work with kids. I like working not only with kids but also the staff.”The inspiration for teaching special education came from his mother who was a Special Olympics swimming coach for many years. “I remember going to meets with my mom. I felt like I wanted to do this some day.”Christensen has ties to the Winner area as he is related to the Gregg family.

When asked what he wants kids to know coming back to school. He said: “I want them to know we have their best interest at heart and we have been thinking about them.We are in a good spot to have the kids come back to school,” he said. “If COVID comes, we have a plan.”

The young education leader is looking forward to his first year as a school administrator. “I am excited to come in and work with the staff and students to create a good learning atmosphere.”