Category Archives: Local

Warriors open on the road

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Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
Returning lettermen on the Winner High School football team are in front from left Jude Sargent, Broden Duffy, Sam Schulz, Karson Keiser, Konner Osborn, Gus Bartels, Stratton Morehart, Austin Blare. Second row from left are Evan Bartels, Cole Rank, Tayden Mathis, Aiden Barfuss, Jack Peters, Dalton Petersen, Hunter Osborn, Noah Best, Kellen Brozik. In back from left are Aiden Schroeder, Briar Cook, Andrew Henderson, Matt Brozik, Hunter Shippy, Blake Volmer, Ethan Bartels, Jack Kruger, Shawn Hammerbeck, Spencer Calhoon and Riley Orel. Not pictured is Cody Wheadon. The Warriors open the season Aug. 19 at Tri Valley.

By Dan Bechtold

Editor

It’s Winner. It’s football season.

These two combinations will provide a lot of excitement on Friday night lights.

The Winner Warriors are the two time defending 11B state champions and have a record of 23-0.

When you talk about high school football it is a tradition that is engrained in this community.

The Warriors will open the 2022 season this Friday night when they travel to Tri Valley.

Winner has played Tri Valley three times in the Dome and several times in the playoffs and they have never beaten Winner.

“They have a proud program and if there is any game they want to win it is against the Warriors,” explained head coach Trent Olson.

The coach says the Warriors will know right away were they are after playing Tri Valley.

The returning lettermen are: Jude Sargent, Broden Duffy, Sam Schulz, Karson Keiser, Konner Osborn, Gus Bartels, Stratton Morehart, Austin Blare, Evan Bartels, Cole Rank, Tayden Mathis Aiden Barfuss, Jack Peters, Dalton Petersen, Hunter Osborn, Noah Best, Kellen Brozik, Aiden Schroeder, Briar Cook, Andrew Henderson, Matt Brozik, Hunter Shippy, Blake Volmer, Ethan Bartels, Jack Kruger, Shawn Hammerbeck, Spencer Calhoon, Riley Orel, Cody Wheadon.

The Warriors lost 16 seniors.

“We had more seniors last year than we have combined juniors and seniors this year,” said coach Trent Olson. “We will be a much younger team but a lot of those guys have experience from last year. We have confidence the players will step up and fill leadership roles. You will see a lot more younger kids out this year,” he said.

This year there are nine seniors—Peters, Mathis, Orel, Petersen, Wheadon, Osborn, Volmer, Kruger and Bartels.

Leading the offense will be quarterback Blake Volmer. Volmer will replace Joey Cole who was starting QB a year ago.

A lot of veterans are in the running back spot. They include Jack Peters, Riley Orel and Aiden Barfuss. “We return more at the skill positions than we do at the line. The line is where we are going to have the most inexperience.”

The only returning starter on the line is Jack Kruger. “We have lots of guys competing for those spots,” said Olson.

Tight end rolls will be filled by Ethan Bartels and Shawn Hammerbeck.

On defense, Winner returns all three line backers, Jack Peters, Jack Kruger and Aiden Barfuss. They started every game last season.

The defensive line graduated all four starters and all four were all state.

On special teams, the Warriors return starting kicker Ethan Bartels but lost a dynamic weapon in the return game of Kaden Keiser. “Kaden has been our return man for three years and we have to replace that position,” said Olson.

Olson says the schedule is very strange. He said of the six conference games Winner was supposed to have the state only game the Warriors two which basically dissolved the SESD Conference.

“It will be challenging schedule for us this year,” the coach said.

For Olson this is an exciting time of year. “We have big aspirations. It is Winner football and the goals are high every year. The bar is high and we hope to continue that tradition,” said Olson.

The school winning streak is up for grabs. Winner is one game behind that streak. The record is 24 wins and the Warriors now have 23.

The coach added this senior class has a chance to be the most successful senior class in the history of Winner. “That means something to them. They want to go out there and accomplish some big things,” said Olson.

Assistant coaches are Kevin Keiser, Ben Connot, Austin Calhoon. A new volunteer coach is Chris Aid who is a member of the Winner Police Department.

The football schedule includes:

Aug. 19—at Tri Valley

Aug. 26—Wagner, home

Sept. 2—at Webster Area

Sept. 9—Beresford, home

Sept. 17—Lead-Deadwood, home

Sept. 30—at Bridgewater/Emery-Ethan

Oct. 7—West Central, Winner homecoming

Oct. 14-at Mount Vernon/Plankinton

Colome opens at home

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Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
Colome football returning lettermen are in front
from left Taitin Ringing Shield, Jordyn Harter, Kaden Pechota, Sully Shippy, Kash Heath, Jordan Musser. In back from left are Eli Vobr, Trey Thieman, Aidan Muller, Jack Anderson, Allie Spellman, Jonah Musser, Klayton Heath. Not pictured are Billy Looking Cloud, Shae Munroe and Lane Leighton. The Cowboys will open the season Aug. 19 at home against Avon.

The Colome Cowboys football team will open the season Friday, Aug. 19 against Avon in a Great Plains Conference game. This will be a home game.

New head coach this year is Chase Hrabanek who was the assistant coach for four years.

Hrabanek is a 2015 graduate of Colome High School where he played football for four years.

He received a degree in animal science from Mitchell Tech.

There are 20 players on the football team including seven seniors.

The returning lettermen are: Taitin Ringing Shield, Jordyn Harter, Kaden Pechota, Sully Shippy, Kash Heath, Jordan Musser, Eli Vobr, Trey Thieman, Aiden Muller, Jack Anderson, Allie Spellman, Jonah Musser, Klayton Heath, Billy Looking Cloud, Shae Munroe and Lane Leighton.

Also on the team are Alec Thieman, Seth Heath and Sam Brandsgaard.

The Cowboys have the entire team back as there were no seniors last year.

Starting at quarterback this year will be Eli Vobr. As a freshman last year Vobr took on the quarterback role. “He did well last year for being a freshman,” said Hrabanek. “That experience will carry over this year. This is the sixth day of practice and I have already seen he is much further along from last year.”

Trey Thieman will also be taking some snaps for Colome.

Running backs will be Kash Heath, Kaden Pechota, Trey Thieman, Jonah Musser and Lane Leighton. Seth Heath as a freshman will also carry the ball.

Last year, Kash Heath was the leading rusher.

The three big guys on the offensive line will be Shippy, Muller and Anderson.

Hrabanek said assistant coach Logan Jager is working with the defense.

“We have a lot of players who can play different spots and that is nice,” said Hrabanek.

“It is nice having everyone back and everyone has starting experience,” added the coach.

Hrabanek has lofty goals. He would like to see his team make it to the DakotaDome. It has been a few years since the Cowboys were in the state championship. The last time was in 2018.

“We have had a few tough years where the kids have not won a lot of games. Our goal each year is to make it as far as we can go.

While it is cooler in the mornings the team has been practicing from 6:30 to 9 a.m.

Hrabanek says the team has been working on a lot of conditioning.

The coach says the team is excited for this season. “There is just a look in the team’s eyes that they are tired of losing and want to change it.

Hrabanek talked about being named the head coach.
“Since a little kid I have dreamed of this. When I was little I was always on the field. I was water boy for many years and then played through my high school career. Football on Friday nights in a small town is nice,” he said.

In addition to Jager being the assistant coach, Duane Wetzel will help and is the junior high coach.

The Colome football schedule includes:

Aug. 19—Avon, home

Aug. 26—Gayville-Volin, home

Sept. 2—open

Sept. 9—at Burke

Sept. 16—Sully Buttes (Homecoming)

Sept. 23—at Freeman/Freeman Academy/Marion (afternoon game)

Sept. 30—Sunshine Bible, home

Oct. 7—at Centerville

Oct. 14—Hanson at Alexandria

Oct. 20—First round of playoff

Oct. 27—Quarter final

Nov. 4—semifinal

Nov 10-12 –state championship in Vermillion

New Staff in the Winner School

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Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
New staff in the Winner School District are in front from left Tracy Childress, ag teacher and FFA advisor; Madyson Morehart, speech pathologist; Morgan Juracek, special education and Lucas Fredrick, band and chorus. In back from left are paraprofessionals Daesha Klein, Shelia Rice-Engemann and Kasie Leighton. Not pictured is Megan Mead, paraprofessional. Classes in the Winner School District start on Aug. 18.

James Harland Schramm, 83

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James Harland Schramm, 83, of Winner SD passed away peacefully Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022 at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD due to kidney disease complications.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, Aug. 19, 2022 at 10:30 a.m.  at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Winner, SD. Burial will follow in the Winner City Cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022 from 6:30-8 p.m. with the family present from 7-8 p.m. at the Mason Funeral Home in Winner, SD. 

Jim was born in Winner South Dakota Nov. 7,  1938 to Herbert F. and Harriet C. (Hanson) Schramm. James was raised and spent his adult life in Winner South Dakota. He was blessed to be surrounded by a large family and to grow up with multiple cousins. The Schramm Family Christmas party was an event!

Jim graduated from Winner HS in 1956. He was an outstanding athlete and excelled in baseball, football and track.  He earned a football scholarship at South Dakota State College.   He also went on to throw discus for the Track Team, including being able to throw at the national meet in San Diego, CA. Baseball did remain his favorite sport. Jim was a pitcher and threw several no hitters for the local Legion teams. And he always loved the New York Yankees.

James graduated with a degree in Wildlife and Fisheries and a teaching degree from SDSU.   Summers were spent working for the Game Fish and Parks, poisoning prairie dogs and trapping beavers, in the Black Hills.  He moved to Mission SD where he taught biology and coached track for three years.  James was recruited into the insurance industry and served as an independent agent in his hometown.  He served as president of the Independent Insurance Agents of SD and remained actively engaged up to his retirement in 2000. Many of his colleagues became great friends.

While attending State, Jim heard the news of the other Johanson twin joining her sister on campus.  Dearest Cousin Janet Bruun was instrumental in their introduction. Jim and Karen’s first date was a double date in his famous 1950 white, Chevy station wagon with his life-long friend Roger Garrett.  On Aug. 4, 1962 James was united in marriage to Karen Laree Johanson in Aberdeen, South Dakota.  To this union, four children were born Grant, Laura, Jane and Mark.  James and Karen were fortunate to celebrate the 60th anniversary just a week prior to his passing on to his eternal rest

Jim was a baptized active lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church. In his free time James loved to garden, pheasant and goose hunt, golf and work on his meticulously preened lawn. After retirement he enjoyed guiding groups of pheasant hunters and showing off his beloved hometown. He also spent decades with his great friends, perfecting his pitch game at Mel’s Auto (Cahoy’s) and lowering his handicap at the Winner CC.  He spent many years practicing his love of outdoor stewardship as the president of the local branch of the Isaac Walton League.

A beloved father, grandfather, great grandfather and uncle, James was preceded in death by an infant brother, his parents, his step-father Bill Bergman, his much loved and sorely missed daughter Jane, and his sister Nancy Giessinger and numerous aunts and uncles.

He is survived by his wife Karen, his sister Cindy (Neil) Quitch of South Carolina and his children Grant (Wendy) Schramm, Laura (Sam) Goodhope and Mark (Bobbi) Schramm. His grandchildren Valerie (Jim) Birch, Eric (Taylor) Schramm, Trevor (Chelsea) Schramm, Chloe (Austin) McPhilamy, Anna Goodhope, Sadie Goodhope, Charlotte Goodhope, Aiden Schramm, Carter Schramm, Spencer Schramm, 5 great- grandchildren; Emily, Caleb, & Daniel Birch, & Amelia, Charlie Jo Schramm. The smile he had when he held the babies will always be remembered.

Amelia Pusl, 107

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Amelia Pusl, 107, passed away on July 31, 2022 in Omaha, NE.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, Aug. 22, 2022 at 10 a.m.  at the Winner United Methodist Church in Winner, SD. Burial will follow in the Colome City Cemetery in Colome, SD with a lunch to follow back at the Winner United Methodist Church basement. Visitation will be held on Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022 from 5-6:30 p.m. with a 6:30 p.m. prayer service at the Winner United Methodist Church.

Amelia C. Pusl, always known as Pat or Patsy, was the oldest child of George and Alvina Manthey.

She was raised as a child of pioneers who were among the first homesteaders to acquire land in 1912 in the newly opened Rosebud Reservation in Tripp County, South Dakota. Their new town, Colome, six miles away, was at the end of the newly constructed Chicago and Northwestern Railroad line.

There were no roads, only trails or other community improvements. Her parents, together with other new families, helped establish roads, build a school, church, and a telephone system along with other improvements needed to establish a community.

She attended Colome’s new country school, (Liberty School District No. 25), then in 1932 graduated from Colome’s newly established high school. Following that she spent a year with an uncle and aunt in Altamont, Kansas while attending a vocational school. Then the Depression years came, and she was unable to find immediate employment. When she did, her first job was at the Tripp County Courthouse as one of the clerks of President Roosevelt’s National highway building programs. She made $12.00 a week.

In 1935 Pat and Frank Pusl were married in Winner, SD. Shortly afterward they moved to the Rosebud Indian Agency in South Dakota where Frank opened a barber shop, and they established a home. Pat found a job as Clerk of the Todd County Selective Service Board. They lived in Rosebud until the first month of WWII when Frank enlisted in the Coast Guard and was stationed in St. Louis, MO. While living in St Louis, she became an employee of the Corps of Engineers involved in inspection and shipping of war supplies.

After the war ended, they made their home in Omaha, NE where their daughter Beth was born. A few years later, she gained employment once again with the Corps of Engineers. She worked for the district office, retiring in 1976 after 29 years. Retirement provided time to better enjoy her beloved family. She always felt having them close by was a special blessing.

Pat was a member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE), American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), and RODEO (an association of Corps of Engineers retirees). For ten years she served on the Board of Habitat for Humanity.

She enjoyed several things including traveling with family or bus groups, collecting rocks, fossils, and family ‘treasures’ entrusted to her and now a welcome source of information for the younger members of her family. She refinished all the woodwork, removed wallpaper, and painted the walls in their home numerous times over the years. This was a source of considerable pride to her. She corresponded with quite a few people including some from her country school years and remained close to her South Dakota land and roots. Gardening, yard work and maintaining quite a few varieties of plants both inside and out were a special source of fun to her throughout the years. She always had a beautifully groomed yard! She enjoyed listening to music and entertaining guests, both family and friends throughout the years, yet always set aside time for sewing, knitting, crocheting, reading, a bit of volunteering and devoting time to her beloved church.

Pat was preceded in death by her husband Frank Pusl, parents George and Alvina Manthey, her brothers, and sisters-in-law Jack (Donna) and Mike (Vivian) Manthey, and son-in-law Jerry Schueler Sr.

She leaves behind those loved ones who were part of her life: Daughter Beth Schueler, granddaughter Dawn (Keith) Nelson, grandsons Skip (Sarah) Schueler and Jay (Meggie Bravo) Schueler, great-grandchildren Heather (Zach) Gerch, Derick Nelson, and Jilliann Schueler, and great-great-grandchildren Amelia and Maddux Gerch, along with nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

She will be laid to rest in her hometown of Colome, SD, Aug. 22, 2022.

Our loved one asked to be remembered by contributing to your favorite charity in lieu of flowers.

Park committee raising funds

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Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
The Colome park committee served lunch at the Cowboy Fair on Saturday, Aug. 13. The committee is raising money for new playground equipment at the park. Pictured from left are Nancy McKenzie, Kristi Hauf and Candy Cahoy.

The Colome park committee is raising funds to purchase new playground equipment for the Colome park.

The committee wants to add new equipment to the park.

The committee served lunch at the Cowboy Fair on Saturday with a free will donation.

Persons who would like to donate money for new playground equipment can send a donation to First Fidelity Bank of Colome P. O. Box 407, Colome, S.D. 57528.

Golf team opens season

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Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
Returning letterwinners on the Winner High School golf team are in front from left Max Brozik, Karson Keiser, Brody Calhoon. In back from left are Landon Calhoon, Ryder Halligan, Carter Craven and Mason Beehler.

By Dan Bechtold/ Editor

Winner boys golf team opened the season on Monday, Aug. 15 at the invitational in Hartford.

The Warriors are young but along with that youth comes a lot of experience.

There are 13 boys on the team including three sixth graders.

There are seven returning lettermen—Max Brozik, Karson Keiser, Landon Calhoon, Ryder Halligan, Brody Calhoon, Mason Beehler and Carter Craven.

Also on the team are Gus Tobin, Jalin Tideman and Levi Heenan.

The sixth graders are Cooper Craven, Gage Tucker and Tatum Swan.

The team only lost one senior—Kaden Keiser. There are no seniors on the team. The Warriors return four of the five guys who finished runner-up at regions a year ago.

“We area fairly young team,” said coach Larry Aaker. “ A lot of these guys played a lot of baseball this summer and did not get on the course a lot but that might be to our advantage. They spent all summer swinging a baseball bat. As the season gets going we will get better and better and see our scores getting lower,” said Aaker.

In practice the team has been working a lot on the short game such as putting and chipping. “We will work hard on the short game that is where you see a lot of strokes. If they can be good putters, good chippers they have a chance of being really good,” explained the coach.

Colome school opens today

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The Colome Consolidated School District opened classes today (Aug. 17).

The school hours are 8:15 a.m. to 3:25 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Friday 8:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

The new leader of the school district is Dave Nicholas who is the new superintendent. He comes to Colome after many years as superintendent in Worland, Wyo.

Nicholas is no stranger to Colome as his wife is the former Kathy Bertram.

Zana DeJong was hired as the ag teacher and will be the FFA advisor.

Michael Vowell was hired as a 4th grade teacher.

Kent Nelsen will be a special guest teacher for ag mechanics.

Several coaching contracts have been approved for the fall season. Chase Hrabanek is the new head football coach and Taylor Hrabanek is the head volleyball coach. There are 23 out for high school volleyball and 21 for high school football. Nicholas says these are good numbers for Colome.

Tracy Dehning was hired as junior high girls basketball head coach, Lexie Nedved as junior high girls basketball assistant coach; Marcia Haukaas as junior volleyball assistant coach.

Jarred Bingen was hired as a custodian and Lori Kalenda as part time custodian.

Buses will run as scheduled. The bus will pick up students in Winner at Ace Hardware between 7:30 and 7:40 a.m.

Nicholas said the staff is excited and are looking for a great year.

Winner School opens Aug. 18

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The opening of the 2022-2023 school year in the Winner School District will be Thursday, Aug. 18. Classes will be from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

There will be school all day on Friday, Aug. 19.

New teachers are: Morgan Juracek, elementary special education; Lucas Fredrick, high school & middle school band and chorus; Tracy Childress, ag teacher and FFA advisor; Madyson Morehart, speech pathologist.

New para professionals will be Kasie Leighton, kindergarten; Megan Mead, Daesha Klein, elementary special education; Shelia Egemann, middle school, high school special education.

This year the new addition to the elementary school will open. This will feature four classrooms. There will be three 5th grade classrooms plus a resource room.

The second grade classrooms that were on the north end have moved to the west end.

Supt. Keven Morehart said the preschool will be located in the north wing. Sarah Novotny will be the pre school teacher but she is doing her student teaching. Morehart said she will be hired in December as the teacher. The long term sub for pre school will be Marcia Bertram.

There will be new geo thermal heat and air conditioning in the elementary school.

At the high school, the art room was moved upstairs and is now in the former chorus room.

The downstairs art room will be LeGrande Woods science room. Also downstairs will be a new office for middle school guidance counselor Haley Barfuss.

Even thought school is in session, there will be some construction. There will be a new wrestling and cheer/dance room built to the west of the administration building. It will be approximately 100×50 and will provide plenty of room for these three sports to practice.

Bids will be opened in October with construction starting that month.

Completion date is fall of 2023.

The staging area for construction equipment and supplies will be in front of the administration building on 7th St. Persons will not be able to drive through the area in front of the administration building as it will be fenced off.

Morehart says he is excited for the start of school. “It is always good to get the kids back,” he said.

The superintendent says enrollment is higher than expected. The enrollment is estimated at 734 where the district was expecting 710 students.

The Winner Out of School time program will start on Aug. 18.