We the People is an annual competition that is held every year in Chamberlain. The competition challenges high school students from around the state on their knowledge of the Constitution and citizens’ roles in a democratic government.
This year, in the wake of the spending cuts enforced throughout the state, the competition was held in Mitchell and sponsored by the Cheisman Center for Democracy. Senior students from West Central competed against Spearfish and St. Tomas More in the competition’s 25th running.
Although West Central didn’t punch their ticket to Washington for the national competition, the students did an outstanding job. Joe Schartz won the best speaker award, and Unit Two, made up of Eric Mehlhaff, Dan Kapperman, Justin Erichsen and Michael Becker, won the best unit award for West Central. The team made another notable accomplishment when they outscored both of the opposing teams in the second round of competition. In the second round, the judges usually raise the difficulty of the questions, which typically will favor the school who has prepared for the competition in an AP level course, which would include both Spearfish and St. Thomas More.

Trojan Tribune Staff

Photo by Dustin Ortman

Every year as the temperatures begin to plummet and the first traces of snow begin to fall, the weather team at Keloland news has made predictions on the severity of the coming winter. This year the Keloland winter special was brought to viewers in stunning HD. “Every snowflake looked like a brilliantly sparkling diamond floating through the chilly South Dakota air,” said senior Alex Qualm.

The team at Keloland looks at numerous data sources when making predictions for the upcoming winter, from weather cycles in the current year both local, and abroad, to notable patterns from past decades.

Probably the simplest method to predict upcoming weather is to look at how certain seasons compare to each other in past years. For example, meteorologists will often look at the precipitation and temperatures from the autumn months to give an indication of what the upcoming winter will look like. By looking at past years and noting how the two seasons correlated, they can gain an idea of what may lie ahead. In the past few years, a very dry, warm autumn has been followed with a very wet, cold winter.

Weather patterns across the country and throughout the year are also examined when making seasonal forecasts. This year meteorologist Scott Mundt is looking at the drought in Texas as an indication for the midwest’s upcoming winter. Similar droughts in the 1940s and 1950s brought above average snowfall in the following winters.

Finally, the patterns of La Nina and El Nina probably have the most effect on winter weather. Last winter was a La Nina year, which brought a strong winter. This year will be another La Nina, so another year of cold temperatures and heavy snow will be expected.

Mundt has been ‘spot on’ with his snowfall prediction the last few years, and with the new HD technology his forecast should be even more accurate. Mundt predicts the end of November to be a snowy one with a dry December to follow. January and February will bring the coldest temps and the most snow for the year, and March and April will be about average to above average. The total snowfall prediction comes to 43.2”. Last year’s non-HD forecast came to within a half-inch of the actual snowfall, so this year will be very exciting to see how accurate this incredible HD technology will be.

Trojan Tribune Staff

Photo Courtesy of SDPB

The girls cross country team, along with sophomore Garrett Miles, competed at the state cross country meet on Saturday. The girls finished sixth as a team amongst the strongest class A field in many years. Senior Emily Miles led the team, placing 30th, followed closely by sophomore Summer Smith, who placed 32nd, and freshman Hanna Wahl in 35th. Sophomore McKayla Wieczorek rounded out the point scorers with a 63rd place finish. Seniors Rachel Noonan and Emily Miles were 65th and 111th respectively.

“The girls had a very competitive race, and they ran their hearts out,” said boys team captain Joe Schartz.

Garret Miles also competed on Saturday in his first ever state meet. Miles came into the meet in prime position to peak for the most important meet of the year, and did not disappoint. From the first kilometer of the race to the finish, Miles moved up from about 80th position to finish 49th.

Overall, it was a very good season for the team. Everyone really improved themselves over the season. “The senior leadership has been valuable,” said head coach Becky Wahl. “We have a large crew of seniors that have really made a big impact on the lives of the younger runners, and they will leave big shoes to fill.”

Trojan Tribune Staff

Photo courtesy of SDPB.com

A year ago, the West Central girls’ cross country team was running toward their goal of hanging the school’s first ever XC banner in the gym. They entered the state meet as one of many strong teams in class A. By way of their tough pack running abilities, the Lady Trojans ran to a second place finish, resulting in the school’s first XC banner.

With most of their team back this year, the ladies have high hopes of bringing home some more hardware.  It won’t be easy, however; defending state champion Garretson will be looking to take home a second title, and Spearfish will bring a strong team into their first year as a class A school. But first year head coach, Rebecca Wahl, is confident in the team’s pack running abilities. “We don’t have one ‘flashy’ runner, but a solid pack of runners that are consistent and determined,” stated Wahl. “That is what placed them second at state last year.”

Things certainly look to be falling into place at just the right time with a runner-up finish behind Garretson at the region meet a week ago. The girls are poised for a very strong showing in Sioux Falls this Saturday.

The road to get there was not an easy one by any means. Less than halfway through the season, a stress fracture forced freshman Hanna Wahl out of commission. “It’s never easy when you lose one of your lead runners. The girls lost some confidence at the first few meets, but McKayla Wieczorek and Rachel Noonan really stepped up, and that seemed to get the girls back on track,” commented Coach Wahl. Fortunately, after many hours in the pool, on the elliptical and in the weight room, Hanna fought back and ran a phenomenal race at regions.

She wasn’t the only one who had an outstanding meet last Thursday in Deubrook, as five of the girls finished in the top 20. Senior Emily Mammenga placed 4th, sophomores Summer Smith and McKayla Wieczorek placed 7th and 10th respectively, Wahl finished 12th and senior Rachel Noonan came in 19th.

The boys narrowly missed sending a team to state as they placed 4th out of 10 teams. Sophomore Garrett Miles individually qualified for state with a 14th place finish, and less than half a second was all that separated senior Joe Schartz from a trip to state as he finished 21st.

Commenting on the season, Wahl said, “Cross country is a sport that draws a certain crowd; the kids are tough, determined, eager and a bit crazy. I couldn’t have asked for a better crew of kids.”

The girls will run at 1:30pm on Oct. 22, at Yankton Trails Park in Sioux Falls, and the boys will run at 2:30.

Trojan Tribune Staff

Photo courtesy of South Dakota Public Broadcasting

As the boys and girls track team entered the state meet on May 28, much of the talk was focused on the dominance of the Lady Trojans and their quest for the state title. But under the radar, the boys captured a second place finish behind a very strong team from Tea led by Erik Hill. Many were surprised by the runner-up finish, but there was no doubt among the guys on the team that a high finish, or even the state title, was possible, but everything would have to go perfectly; fortunately, everything did.

According to the seeds going into the meet, the boys were projected to score about 40 points. After the final event on Saturday evening, the team’s point total was 61. Seniors Tim Weber, Zach Ely and Tyler Stolsmark led the team’s efforts, amassing 32.5 combined points.

Though the leadership and speed those three seniors brought to the team will be missed, the guys have plenty of young talent returning for next year as they try for one better and their first state title in over 40 years.

Led by the dominant sprinting duo of senior Sami Galliger and freshman Sienah Mulbah, the girls ran away with the meet, tallying 83.5 points. Coach Joan Peters stated she believed from the first day of practice that the girls had a good shot at the state title. “Everything just really fell into place perfectly for us,” said Peters. Of course that is not hard when you have the depth that the Lady Trojans brought to the meet. Thirteen athletes placed in nine events with many others narrowly missing the medal stand. However, even with that depth, the loss of Galliger will be sorely felt in the coming seasons. Peters is confident the girls can meet the challenge. “We will look to some of the younger girls to step up and start contributing right away, and the veterans might have to take on more responsibility and compete in three or four events each meet.”

Overall, the outstanding performances in both the girls’ and boys’ divisions capped off an outstanding 2010-2011 year in sports. There is no doubt that the coming 2011-2012 season will not fail to impress.