Category Archives: News

Brad Schramm received the Friend of Baseball award at the state Class B tournament in Sioux Falls on May 29.

Schramm has been the life blood of South Dakota High School Baseball since its inception, serving on the original committee that brought baseball club status in this state.

He was responsible for helping form the Winner-Colome Royals in high school baseball’s inaugural year. He has been an active member of Winner baseball his entire life.

In 2004, the South Dakota High School Baseball Association formally organized, electing Schramm as its first president and executive director. He served in that role for 12 seasons before retiring this past fall. During his time at the helm, he was instrumental in instituting a pitch count limit and transitioning from aluminum to wood bats, two of the most significant changes to high school baseball since its inception in 2001.

Under Brad’s leadership, high school baseball flourished with over 52 teams representing 80 different schools across the state.

For all of the time and effort given to the advancement of South Dakota High School Baseball, the SDHSBA board of directors named Schramm the 2017 SDHSBA Friend of Baseball.

“Thank you Brad for all you have done. It is greatly appreciated by more people than you will ever know,” said a board member.

With great success comes lofty expectations.

For Winner, its 85-5 record since joining 11B in 2009 has raised the bar to the “downright implausible” range.

“Quite honestly, I think some of the expectations were very unrealistic at times,” coach Dan Aaker said in November. “Some people think that you just show up and that’s all you have to do. Our guys know better than that… That’s probably what I’m proudest of this group for is how they’ve handled that and just focused on having a good season.”

But no matter the standard you set for the Warriors, their performance in 2016 was nothing short of remarkable.

In claiming its second consecutive state title, Winner, which has won 24 consecutive games, surrendered a total of 35 points, whilst allowing fewer than 100 total yards per game.

But that’s not to say there weren’t challenges.

In late October, the Warriors lost a teammate, junior offensive lineman/linebacker Taylor Watzel, to an accident on the family farm.

“We had some tough things to deal with these last couple weeks,” senior Cameron Kuil said following the state championship game in November. “It brought us together as a team and as a community. We knew what we were playing for and who we were playing for. Taylor Watzel was a teammate and a friend.”

Though it paled in comparison to the heartbreak of losing a teammate, Winner faced adversity on the field, as well.
In the 11B semifinals, Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan became the first team in two years to take a lead on the defending state champs, kicking through a field goal early in the first quarter.

Six minutes later, the Warriors retaliated with the first of three unanswered touchdowns.

“We’ve definitely had a tough road to get back and that’s what we needed – to get challenged, to see the best,” Aaker said. “I think our guys have embraced that, too. They’re the type of crew that wants a challenge. They’re not going to back away from competition.”

At the DakotaDome, the Warriors put the final exclamation point on their phenomenal season, racking up 438 total yards in a 54-0 dismantling of Groton Area.

“We tried to stay humble all the time,” said senior running back Cameron Kuil, who caught three passes for 105 yards and ran nine times for 59 yards in the finale. “We know we have a great football team. People hold us to a higher level and we wanted to reach that level.”

Kuil was one of nine Warriors to crack the 11B All-State team. He was joined by Drew DeMers, Jayden Schroeder, Jordan Turgeon, Wyatt Ewing, Isaac Naasz, Krockett Krolikowski, Chase Kingsbury and Kayleb Brozik.

Kuil and Krolikowski, both of whom are headed to SDSU next season (Kuil for track), were also Elite 45 selections.

“That’s just a great 11-man football team, it doesn’t matter what class you’re talking about,” Groton Area coach Shaun Warner said following the 11B championship. “At least one division up and probably more, they’d be a great team.”

From Sioux Falls Argus Leader
Written by Brian Haenchen

Winner’s Cameron Kuil was named the boys track athlete of the year at the Sioux Falls Argus Leader sports award ceremony on June 3.

The 400-meter dash is not an event Winner senior Cameron Kuil looks forward to running in.

“I always kind of dread it right before the race,” he explained.

However, Kuil’s emotions typically change when he crosses the finish line.

“But after it’s done, I feel good,” he continued. “I’m tall, have long legs and I guess some speed. It’s all contributed to me running some good times.”

Kuil had ample reason to feel good following the 400 at this year’s state meet. The future South Dakota State University Jackrabbit successfully defended his state title, completing his lap in 48.52, a personal best mark which placed him nearly two seconds ahead of the rest of the field.

He also ran to victory in the 200 and was .01 second away from finishing first in the 100 as well.

For his performance, Kuil was named the MVP Class A in track.

Other Winner nominees for the Argus Leader awards were: Krockett Krokikowski as football player of the year; Dan Aaker as coach year and Winner as the football team of the year.

By Dan Bechtold, Editor

Two college students spent a month in Winner learning about rural medicine.

Elizabeth Scholl, Brookings, is a medical lab science student at South Dakota State University and Jodi Sutton, Sioux Falls, is a family nurse practitioner student, also at SDSU.

Both women took part in the Rural Experiences for Health Professions Students (REHPS). The program places college students who are enrolled in a health program in a four week experience with preceptors established in rural areas of South Dakota. The students are exposed to all areas of a rural healthcare community.

The last day for the two women was on May 31 and they gave a presentation on what they have learned in the month spent in Winner.

They both said the experience was amazing.

Sutton said they were able to observe surgical procedures, see patients in the clinic, help in the lab and pharmacy and watch a couple of births.

Sutton noted in a larger city like Sioux Falls she would not have had the opportunity to see all he things she saw in Winner.

“The community of Winner has really welcomed us and we got to do a lot of fun things like attend a little kids baseball game, attend a movie at the Winner Drive-In Theater and tour the fire hall and ambulance bay,” said Sutton. They also had a chance to visit a farm.

Scholl said she likes chemistry and started out as a chemistry major. She wanted to do something in the medical field so switched to medical lab science.

As part of the REHPS program the students are required to do a community project. They presented a sun safety lesson to second graders and gave each one a pair of sunglasses.

Cole Shippy grew up in Colome, SD and graduated in 2011. He then attended Western Dakota Technical Institute in Rapid City for diesel mechanics in which he achieved his AAS degree. After high school graduation Cole didn’t know if he would return to the family feedlot. “I kind of picked something where I could leave and have a job somewhere else, but I also picked something that would help with the feedlot in case I did come back.” During college, Cole had an internship for a semester and worked in a truck shop. While working there, Cole decided he didn’t think it was his thing to lie underneath trucks fixing all day while it was nice outside. He decided he would rather be outside instead of in a shop all day. “That’s when I decided I knew I was headed back (to the feedlot).”

Cole’s wife, Lacey, grew up in Dayton, VA and graduated from high school in 2011.
She attended a community college for 2 years and then attended Virginia Tech for 2 years and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness. She didn’t plan on going back to the family farm where they raised dairy, poultry, pigs, and a little bit of everything. Growing up Lacey participated in 4-H by showing steers and hogs. She was very active in the livestock judging aspect.

Before Lacey graduated from Virginia Tech, she was on the hunt for a job. While attending the National Association of Farm Broadcasters convention, she gathered numerous business cards for possible jobs. From those business cards, she sent emails to all inquiring about job openings. She heard back specifically from WNAX in Yankton with a job opening in the Ag News Department. WNAX wanted her to come out and see the area. Lacey states, “They figured if I was going to take a job out here, I should see what I am getting into because South Dakota is kind of foreign for me from where I am from.” In December 2013 she visited South Dakota for 3 days and got offered the job at WNAX. Lacey took the job and came back to South Dakota in March 2014 with a friend to do some house hunting and drive around. While house hunting, Lacey and her friend wanted to see how far west they could go and drove as far west as Winner and ate at Dairy Queen. “I had no idea I would be living somewhere in between! We thought it was the middle of nowhere!”

Lacey stated WNAX ran ads for the Burke Stampede. She told her news director that it sounded like fun and she was going to go! He said to her “do you even know where Burke is?” She said, “No but I’m going to find it.” While at the Burke Stampede she heard about a dance hall in Norden, NE. She again said “that sounds fun” and found her way to Norden, NE. It wasn’t the first dance she went to, but Norden Dance Hall is where Cole and Lacey met.

Lacey compares Winner to where she grew up in Virginia. She says life here is very different. “It is laid back, slow, no rush to get places and do things, and the people are a lot more laid back. Harrisonburg, VA is such a busy place and there are so many different types of people. It made it hard to interact with your neighbors. Out here you can trust the people in town. It’s a big difference.”

The people is what Lacey enjoys most about living in Tripp County. “Just a super friendly place to be. I feel safe and I feel welcomed. This is a much different culture than where I came from and I like it.” Cole agrees with enjoying the people. He states the community is like one big family.

The biggest challenge for Lacey living in a rural area is tornadoes! She doesn’t do those very well! She says people need to appreciate what they have living in Tripp County.

Cole doesn’t feel there are too many challenges living in a rural community. He states “with the internet, you can get anything you need in a couple of days. There are lots of jobs and work if people are willing to do it.”

Lacey is glad she is raising her family here and not where she grew up. She states, “It is a safe place. I look out the window during the day and there are kids running up and down the streets. Their parents aren’t running after them or afraid they are going to get hit by a car or picked up by a gang member. This is a good, wholesome place to raise a family. There are a lot of opportunities (for kids) if you seek them out.” Cole feels there are many opportunities to keep children busy in their community as well.

When asked what advice each would have for someone contemplating moving to Tripp County, Cole states, “I have never regretted moving back.” Lacey states, “You have to see it to appreciate it. I’ve been happy with the decision to come out here. Don’t worry about Walmart not being 5 minutes away!”

Cole and Lacey Shippy live in Colome with their newborn son, Mason. They both work at Shippy Cattle Company.

By Dan Bechtold, Editor

The local chapter of Pheasants Forever is working to promote the hunting in this part of South Dakota with a special project.

The national Pheasant Fest will be in Sioux Falls Feb. 16, 17 and 18, 2018. This is the first time this national outdoor show has been in South Dakota.

Local members of Pheasants Forever came up with the idea to put together a publication that features hunting and local Pheasants Forever member.

It is a way for local hunters and /or lodges to get their name in front of a national audience.

“We are trying to do something to promote our area,” said Mike Scott, president of the local chapter of Pheasant Forever.
Scott added they are not competing with the Winner Area Chamber of Commerce as this will be a one shot deal.

In this brochure will be stories and picture of Tripp County Pheasant Forever members and lodges.

This summer, Molly Sperlich, a graduate of Winner High School, will be conducting interviews, writing stories and taking pictures.

Persons who would like to be in this publication need to call Sperlich as soon as possible so she can set up a schedule. Persons can call her at 605-430-4730. They can also call Scott at 840-9992.

Sperlich will be a freshman at the University of South Dakota where she will be majoring in journalism. Since she is going to college in mid-August, all interviews need to be conducted prior to this time.

The deadline for new people to contact Sperlich is the first week of August.

The high school graduate is excited to be starting this project and be able to learn journalism skills.

Persons who are not members Pheasants Forever members and want to be in this publication can pay the Pheasants Forever dues and they will be included.

Sperlich will come to the landowner’s lodge or ranch to conduct the interviews and learn more about their hunting operations.

A unique feature of this project is that the picture to be used on the front cover will be auctioned off at the local Pheasants Forever banquet in October.

Scott says once all the material is collected and the brochure is printed it will be taken to Pheasants Fest for hunters from across the nation to see the hunting opportunities that are available is area of South Dakota.

Scott sees it as a great promotional tool but also to encourage local people to go to Sioux Falls in February and experience Pheasant Fest.

Scott says all types of hunting can be featured, it just does not not just have to be pheasants.

So, persons interested in being a part of this special project are urged to give Sperlich a call and set up a time for an interview.

By Dan Bechtold, Editor

Three teachers who have retired from the Colome Consolidated School District have a combined total of 130 years of teaching.

Greg Sherman has taught for 43 years, his wife, Renee, has taught for 44 years and Cindy Sealey has taught for 43 years.
They have dedicated nearly four decades to providing a good education to students.

Greg Sherman and Sealey both started teaching in 1974 and Renee started in 1973.

Trevor Sachtjen of Winner graduated from Western Dakota Tech. He received a degree in business management and marketing.

Shayden Drey of Winner has been named to the dean’s list at the University of Sioux Falls for the spring semester.

Tawny Barry of Carter, has been named to Eastern New Mexico University’s dean’s List for the spring 2017 semester.

Tawny Sherman of Winner has been named to the spring semester honors list at Dakota State University, Madison.