October 2023 Issue

Kadence Dean PG. 31

Nathan Thompson PG. 26

Lucas Hiatt PG. 16

PHOTO BY CLARA BINSTOCK

April Issue

DESIGN BY ELLEN MERKLEY

Issue No., 6 2023

4

Meet the LHS transfers JD Yunag & Elysse Weber

5

Bob’s back Josie Tollinger

6

LHS’s longest working teacher Kei Vandenbos

7

The newbies Ellen Merkley

12

Twins: A day in the life Lily Gruber

18

Madison Evans

16 Maxwell makes his mark Lucas Hiatt

24 26 27 28

Statesman Crossword Nathan Thompson Fall in the Falls Laila Miller Which study game gets the gold?

Ryan Calhoun

9

35

Steps towards walkability Grace Miner

36

Morphing Murphy Bergen Quello

37

Classroom vs. Canvas Will Hansen

38

Is music becoming disposable?

Hady Cisar

39

Taylor Swift albums: A definitive ranking Nathan Thompson

8

Ode to Bogart Addison Remme

Lincoln’s Latino newspaper Stella Sonnichsen & Leah Mannes

HOCO 2023 Clara Binstock

20

10 The heartbeat behind the band Zoe Larson

The South Dakotan Ghostbusters Shalom Kato & Katya Surendran The Eras Tour: Trends over the decades Kate Barbush & Ciara Velasquez

33 Sunny’s Pizzeria honors local celebrities Delaney Gramlick

14 Morgan Mae Photography

23

Revenge season: LHS football edition Addy Albrecht

30

Vike’s corner: Offseason recap Cooper Schultz & Joseph Tunge

31

Parental pressure in sports Kadence Dean

32 34

Statesman

PAPER EDITORS-IN-CHIEF- Delaney Gramlick, Zoe Larson, Kate Matthes & Ellen Merkley ONLINE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF- Reese Duncan & Laura Heckenlaible FEATURE EDITORS- Josie Tollinger & Reagan Wulf ENTERTAINMENT EDITORS- Clara Binstock & Bergen Quello

Superstitious success Hazel Hughes

PERSPECTIVES EDITORS- Grace Miner & Katya Surendran

Meet the fall sports captains Reagan Wulf

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR- Kadence Dean

SPORTS EDITORS- Lily Gruber & Lucas Hiatt NEWS EDITOR- Nathan Thompson

STAFF WRITERS- Addy Albrecht, Kate Barbush, Ryan Calhoun, Hady Cisar, Madison Evans, Eloise Geraets, Betsy Haft, Will Hansen, Ella Hawks, Ashlyn Hoffman, Caroline Hughes, Hazel Hughes, Shalom Kato, Lillian Kiesow, Leah Mannes, Sara Mathison, Laila Miller, James Plorde, Maddox Raph, Maddy Reents, Addison Remme, Cooper Schultz, Stella Sonnichsen, Joseph Tunge, Kei Vandenbos, Ciara Velasquez, Elysse Weber, JD Yunag ADVISER- Dr. Katie Kroeze

BY JD YUNAG & ELYSSE WEBER

As the 2023-2024 school year has come to a start, many LHS students are returning for classes, while others are coming for a fresh start. Students transfer for many reasons, and this year LHS has its fair share of people who transferred to and from. Sports, academics and friends can all be factors for transferring; however, there can also be different and more complicated reasons for transferring. Either way, here are some of the new LHS transfers!

Blaise Showers is a junior who transferred from HHS to enhance his athletic skills as a football player in the LHS football program.

“It’s more organized here. At Harrisburg it was kind of all over the place,” said Showers.

Showers has enjoyed his time here both on and off the field, while also feeling more comfortable having an organized environment to learn in.

“Just transfer if you want to; don’t be scared,” said Showers.

Jenna Lundquist

Blaise Showers

Jenna Lundquist is a junior who transferred from BVHS. She is involved in the LHS volleyball program, and for her, the relationships she has within the team are why she is thriving here at LHS. She enjoys the environment, as BVHS did not give her what she was looking for in relationships.

“It's a more welcoming environment here. I made a lot of new friends on the volleyball team, and the football games are fun,” said Lundquist.

Lundquist plans on succeeding academically, while also building relationships with new people.

“My goal is to graduate with a good GPA,” said Lundquist.

LaShaya YellowBear is a junior who has been all over when it comes to schools. She spent her freshman year attending OGHS and then transferred to HHS her sophomore year. She finally got accepted into LHS her junior year, and now plans to be here for the rest of her high school career, in hopes to continue building relationships with her friends that have been here since freshman year.

“I've been trying to enroll at Lincoln since before freshman year, and then I finally got accepted in my junior year. A lot of people I know come here, so I just feel better in an environment where I know people,” said YellowBear.

LaShaya YellowBear Not only does YellowBear want to continue maintaining the relationships she has with her current friends, but she wants to also make new ones.

Ryder Zamora-Stark is a senior at LHS, and he transferred “I want to meet new people and become a better person socially,” said all the way from Augusta, Wisconsin with his sister because YellowBear. of family matters. He is taking advantage of the variety of opportunities here as the school he moved from did not have a football team that suited Zamora-Stark.

“The football team here is better. At my last school we were pretty good, but I didn't have the good chemistry with those kids like I do with the ones here,” said Zamora-Stark.

Other than football, another difference is that he is now attending a school double the size, making it challenging to find his way around during the first couple of weeks.

“This school is a lot bigger than I’m used to. The first Ryder Zamora-Stark couple days were hard to find my way around, but after that it was pretty easy,” said Zamora-Stark.

4 4 LHSSTATESMAN.COM LHSSTATESMAN.COM

DESIGN BY ELYESSE WEBER PHOTOS BY LUCAS HIATT

Bob’s Bob’s Back back

BY JOSIE TOLLINGER

He is the guy with the smile on his face 99% of the time. He is the guy who greets everyone he sees. He is the guy who makes everyone feel comfortable, safe, welcomed, important and seen. He is Bob, SpongeBob, Officer Bob, Mr. Draeger, the other guy and luckily for LHS, he is back yet again.

Robert Draeger cannot get enough of LHS. Draeger graduated from LHS back in 1990, then went to college and became a police officer. He spent several years being a police officer, and then made his return to LHS to fill one of the roles of the school

resource officers. During his 10 years at LHS, Draeger made his name known to both students and staff for being a positive, helpful and kind guy. Last year he announced his retirement from the police department, and started to look for something that was worth his while.

Luckily for him and the school, there was a job opening as a behavior facilitator at LHS. It takes a lot to be around teenagers, with their big personalities, loud voices, stubbornness and all the other factors they can bring. For many this job could be very overwhelming and stressful; however, Draeger enjoys the challenges his job brings.

Draeger’s favorite part is being an open ear for kids to vent to him in times of need.

Draeger’s job is to help teachers look at students who need help and work with kids who are having behaviors and who are not functioning well in the classroom.

“I hope they think I’m an okay person they can trust, if they have a problem, come talk to me. My job is to keep kids out of trouble. I’ve got 2 kids of my own; I’m sorta your dad at school,” said Draeger.

Draeger takes a lot of pride with the fact that students can trust him. Students know that if they have a problem, they can always go talk to him.

From being a cop to now a behavior teacher,

Draeger has found that the jobs are pretty similar. The transition has been easy for Draeger, he has a big advantage, due to the fact that he is in the same place around the same people.

“So far it’s been great. The people I work for are fantastic, my boss, Mr. Lynch and Dr. Raeder are great. The teacher I’m working for, Mr. Gosmire, has been helping me out. He actually had this job prior to this, so he’s been helping me with things to do and tactics to use,” said Draeger.

Being only 51, Draeger hopes to keep working for another 14 to 15 years. He hopes he is still here at LHS as long as he still continues to love it. LHS is proud to have Draeger here all the time. LHS would definitely not be the same without him.

OCTOBER ISSUE 5

PHOTOS BY JOSIE TOLLINGER

DESGIN BY JOSIE TOLLINGER

QUESTIONS: 1. If you had a nail polish color named after you, what would it be?

2. What beverage explains you?

BY KEI VANDENBOS

LHS has a long history, first opening on October 16, 1965, which was over 55 years ago.

Along with all those years, changes come not only to the school but to the teachers.

LHS teacher Sarah Wintersheidt has been teaching at LHS for 30 years.

Winterscheidt teaches Drawing I, Drawing II, AP Drawing, AP 2D Design, Photo I, Photo II, Exploring Visual Arts and Independent Study. Prior to working at LHS, Winterscheidt worked at Huron High School for three years and started the photography department which led to all the high schools coming here to learn about photography.

During the summer, Winterscheidt teaches at Minneapolis College of Art and Design.

Winterscheidt’s passion for art is what allows her to keep on teaching.

Teaching is a career that is widely overlooked, yet vital for future generations. However, every teacher has different reasons for becoming a teacher.

3. What are three things that would be in your starter pack?

Winterscheidt’s first yearbook picture (1993).

“My biggest influence was my mom as she was a teacher and as my grandmother was a teacher. I have a passion for art but people recharge my battery.

So, this is a great way for me to be around people and also have the art aspect that I love,” said Winterscheidt. “I couldn’t imagine being an artist in a business where I wouldn’t have all that communication with people.”

Deciding how long someone wants to work depends on many factors such as the subject,

Charnelle Wooledge, 26 years Kathy Ferguson, 25 years Mario Chiarello, 25 years James Jarovski, 25 years

6 LHSSTATESMAN.COM

Winterscheidt’s most recent yearbook picture (2023).

school, students and more. For Winterscheidt, all those factors have led up to her working for as long as she has, and as long as she will.

“If you [had] asked me if I was going to be a teacher: absolutely, positively not, no way. I did not think I would ever be teaching for this long, [and] it’s weird [because] sometimes it feels like I just started again,” said Winterscheidt. “I love to evolve as students evolve, to the best of my ability.”

Deciding what to do after teaching

Josh Smith, 25 years Kaaren Huber, 25 years Dan Carlson, 24 years Sara Klawonn, 23 years

can be difficult for some teachers, but Winterscheidt has her mind set on what she would like to do.

“I would probably work for Habitat for Humanity because it is a beautiful organization, and I would work for Jimmy Carter and his foundation,” said Winterscheidt, “I really believe that young children, especially young children with needs should be read to, so I know when I retire that’s something I want to do because those formative years are essential in building confidence.”

Enrolling in a class that is new and different from one’s personal likes is a great way to find out if that class is something someone is interested in. Winterscheidt offers different classes that everyone is eligible to take.

“Everybody’s welcome.

I think that everybody has that potential to express themselves,” said Winterscheidt.

Joni Bushfield, 22 years Brian Bechard, 21 years Scott Bakken, 21 years Karen Wunder, 20 years DESIGN BY KEI VANDENBOS PHOTOS USED WITH PERMISSION BY SARAH WINTERSCHEIDT

BY ELLEN MERKLEY, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

With the new school year in full effect, an abundance of unknown faces can be found roaming the hallways. A couple of these new timers include: Joel DeHaai, Christine Bossman and Emily Peichel. Let us make these strangers a little less strange.

In the halls, ready to sweep anyone in sight, is DeHaai. DeHaai is newly graduated from Augustana University. He first started at LHS due to an opening as a football coach, later on getting offered the position of Freshman Educational Assistant. DeHaai wants nothing but the best for every student.

“I want to give students the best chance they can get. If that means getting them to class, that’s what I will do,” said DeHaai.

1. Ginger 2. White Monster 3. Hunting supplies, football supplies and fishing supplies

Less of a strange face is Peichel. You may have seen Peichel last year, as she was a stude nt teacher for Mrs. Anderson-Finch here at LHS. However, Peichel is on her own now as she teaches English I. Along with teaching, she is the freshman volleyball coach and middistance assistant coach for LHS track and field . With Peichel being a first year teach er, she has realized that she must always be read y to go. “I had a good experience teach ing here, and I loved the building,” said Peichel. “[En glish I] was open and I was lucky enou gh to receive [this position].”

1. Pinkalicious 2. Watered down coffee that has been sitting on my desk all day 3. M&M’s, my iPhone and a water bottle

After wanting a change in pace, former Patrick Henry Panther, Bossman, made the switch to LHS. She teaches Painting I and II, RISE art and Drawing I. Bossman grew her roots here at LHS back in 2007 when she was a student teacher, and knows that she made the right choice to return to LHS. “ LHS was a natural fit,” said Bossman. “I have found that we are just one big family.”

1. Mayfair Maizey 2. Fountain Coke with rabbit turd ice 3. Tacos, chicken (live) and a plant

OCTOBER ISSUE 7 DESIGN BY ELLEN MERKLEY PHOTOS BY ELLEN MERKLEY

The Statesman covers life at LHS, local events and pop culture, but some students felt that they were not being represented. Therefore, Monica Conover and Latino LHS students decided to take matters into their own hands and create their own newspaper: El Corazón de los Latinos (The Heart of the Latinos).

Last year, Conover and a group of her students felt compelled to share their own thoughts, feelings and culture with the rest of the school through creating a newspaper completely written in Spanish. Conover’s students were familiar with the Statesman and wanted to try writing their own newspaper, something which could be read and understood by Spanish speakers.

Since then, around 10 students have been working on publishing issues with the help of Conover.

“Last year we worked during class... We tried really hard to do it. We were excited,” said LHS junior Monica Solis, who writes for El Corazón de los Latinos.

The class set out to create a newspaper that all Spanish-speaking students could relate to and read in their first language. Conover’s class had a variety of students from all over the world including El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Guatemala. This newspaper gave them a chance to connect with students who had similar experiences adapting to the environment at LHS as well as to the U.S. “They speak Spanish at home, but they’re born here,” said Conover. “The others… are Latino newcomers and…don’t speak English and they want to [try].”

Conover believes that this newspaper provides Spanish-speaking students with an opportunity to connect with their heritage, given that the Midwest is a much different environment than the Spanish-speaking countries their families may be from.

Monica Conover, Aylin Moreno, Monica Solis, Uleily Martinez, Ixen Guido, Diana Solis and Libny Martinez Ramirez.

8 LHSSTATESMAN.COM

BY LEAH MANNES & STELLA SONNICHSEN BYBY ADDISON ADDISON REMME REMME BYBY ADDISON ADDISON REMME REMME BYBY ADDISON ADDISON REMME REMME

The cover of the first edition of El Corazón de los Latinos, designed by David Duran Meyers.

“In the Midwest, it’s different so you feel like you need to have a connection and that’s the reason they said, ‘oh we need to do that,’ and they started to think about it,” said Conover.

El Corazón de los Latinos works to inform people about Latino culture and important current events in Latin America. The previous issue covered topics such as LHS student Uleily Martinez’s Quinceañera, Mexican music styles and culture, the corruption in Nicaragua and feminism.

“I saw everything that was going on in Latin America.

Everyone was talking about it…we got inspired by everyone and wanted to talk about [it],” said Solis.

While the issues have been well developed, the students still have yet to officially publish their first issue. It has been difficult to find enough writers and time to accomplish this task. As of now, the students work after school and Conover works to read over and edit the stories. However, Conover has ideas to solve this dilemma and has set goals for the future.

“Our goal is to include the other high schools [since] you will find more Latinos in Washington, Jefferson or Roosevelt,” said Conover.

They plan to publish the newspaper twice a year and continue having a positive outlet for student writers to be able to celebrate their culture.

“This is for these Latinos…to feel so wonderful about their culture,” said Conover.

DESIGN BY LEAH MANNES & STELLA SONNICHSEN PHOTO BY STELLA SONNICHSEN PHOTO USED WITH PERMISSION BY EL CORAZÓN DE LOS LATINOS

demonstrate what what was was happening happening in in thethe scene scene they they were were Shawn Shawn Bogart Bogart was was practically practically a celebrity a celebrity at at LHS, LHS, butbut recently recently demonstrate demonstrate demonstrate what what was was happening happening inmood in thethe scene scene they they were Shawn Shawn Bogart Bogart was was practically practically a his celebrity a his celebrity atofat LHS, LHS, butbut recently reading that that day. day.

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Bogart. aproper habit aproper habit of of going going on on tangents tangents to to discuss discuss the the Despite Despite the the fact fact that that many many at at pronunciation pronunciation ofdemonstration ofthe the word word ‘GIF’ ‘GIF’ LHS LHS miss miss Bogart Bogart dearly, dearly, nono one one to to give give anan accurate accurate demonstration of or of or Despite Despite the the fact fact that that many many at at proper proper pronunciation pronunciation ofdemonstration ofthe the word word ‘GIF’ ‘GIF’ oron LHS LHS miss miss Bogart Bogart dearly, dearly, no no one one tohow to give give anchildhood an accurate accurate demonstration of or ofon could could be be more more proud proud of ofBogart Bogart how his his childhood friend friend would would stomp stomp LHS LHS miss miss Bogart Bogart dearly, dearly, no no one to to give give an an accurate accurate demonstration demonstration of of could could be be more more proud proud of of Bogart Bogart how how his his childhood childhood friend friend would would stomp stomp on on than than thethe students students and and staff staffone him. him.

Every Every day day was was something something new new and and could could be be more more proud proud of of Bogart Bogart how how his his childhood childhood friend friend would would stomp stomp on on than thethe students students and and staff staff him. him.

Every Every day day was was something something new and and at than at LHS LHS and and allall areare wishing wishing entertaining entertaining in in Bogart’s Bogart’s class. class.new than than the the students students and and staff staff him. him.

Every Every day day was was something something new new and and at him at LHS LHS and allhis all arenew are wishing wishing entertaining entertaining intangents] in Bogart’s Bogart’s class. class. him well well inand in his new journey journey “[Bogart’s “[Bogart’s tangents] never never really really at at LHS LHS and and all all arenew are wishing entertaining entertaining in in Bogart’s Bogart’s class. class. him him well well in in his his new journey journey “[Bogart’s “[Bogart’s tangents] tangents] never never really pursuing pursuing his his dream dream ofwishing ofworking working stopped, stopped, and and when when they they did, did, hereally he kinda kinda him him well well in in his his new new journey “[Bogart’s “[Bogart’s never never really really pursuing pursuing his his dream dream of journey ofworking working stopped, stopped, and and when when they they did, did, he he kinda kinda as as a nurse. a nurse. got got angry, angry, in in atangents] funny atangents] funny way, way, at at the the pursuing pursuing his dream dream of ofworking working stopped, stopped, and and when when they they did, did, he he kinda as as a nurse. a nurse.hisyour got got angry, in in a funny afor funny way, way, at at the the “Challenge “Challenge your teachers teachers and and rest rest of angry, ofthe the class class for letting letting him him getkinda get as as a nurse. a nurse. got got angry, in in asaid funny aMerlande funny way, way, athim at the the “Challenge “Challenge your your teachers teachers and and rest rest of angry, ofthethe class class for for letting letting him get challenge challenge yourself. yourself.

The The world world will will distracted,” distracted,” said Merlande Roney, Roney, aget a “Challenge “Challenge your teachers teachers and and rest rest of in ofthe the class class for for letting letting him him challenge challenge The The world world will will distracted,” distracted,” said said Merlande Merlande Roney, Roney, a be be yours yours inyourself. in ayourself. few ayour few short short years; years; start start student student in Bogart’s Bogart’s Accelerated Accelerated llget class. llaget class. challenge challenge yourself.

The The world world will will distracted,” distracted,” said said Merlande Merlande Roney, Roney, a be be yours yours in anow!” few a few short short years; years; start start student student inwas in Bogart’s Bogart’s Accelerated Accelerated ll class. lla class. owning owning itin now!” ityourself. said said Bogart.

Bogart.

Bogart Bogart was also also quite quite passionate passionate be be yours yours in in a few a few short short years; years; start start student student in in Bogart’s Bogart’s Accelerated Accelerated ll class. ll class. owning owning it now!” it now!” said said Bogart.

Bogart.

Bogart Bogart was was also also quite quite passionate passionate about about thethe topics topics he he would would teach teach in in class. class. owning owning it 1: now!” it Bogart now!” said Bogart.

Bogart.

Bogart Bogart was was also also quite passionate passionate about about the the topics topics he would would teach teach inwhich in class. class.

Photo Photo 1: Bogart fitsaid fit check. check.

Roney Roney describes describes ahe scenario a quite scenario in in which thethe about about the the topics topics he he would would teach teach in in class. class.

Photo Photo 1: 1: Bogart Bogart fit fit check. check.

Roney Roney describes describes a scenario a scenario in in which which the the 2: 2: acting acting outout class class was was learning learning about about Macbeth Macbeth and and Photo Photo 1: Bogart Bogart fit fit check. check.

Roney Roney describes describes a scenario aabout scenario inMacbeth in which which the the Photo Photo 2: 1: 2: Bogart Bogart acting acting outout class class was was learning learning about Macbeth and and “Macbeth.”

“Macbeth.” to to help help Photo Photo 2:3:2: Bogart Bogart acting outout class class was was learning learning about about Macbeth Macbeth and and “Macbeth.”

“Macbeth.” to to help help Photo Photo 3: Bogart Bogart inacting in class class the the class class better better understand understand what what was was “Macbeth.”

“Macbeth.” to to help help Photo Photo 3:4: 3: Bogart Bogart infirst in class class the the class class better better understand understand what what was was Photo Photo 4: Bogart’s Bogart’s first day day of of happening happening in in the the story, story, hehe would would act act Photo Photo 3:4: 3: Bogart Bogart infirst in class class the the class class better understand understand what what was was Photo Photo 4: Bogart’s Bogart’s first day day of of happening happening inwould in the the story, story, hehave he would would act act nursing nursing school. school. it out. it out.

Hebetter He would often often have students students Photo Photo 4: 4: Bogart’s Bogart’s first first day day of of happening happening in in the the story, story, he he would would act act PHOTOS PHOTOS USED USED WITH WITH PERMISSION PERMISSION

BY BY nursing nursing school. school. it out. it out.

He He would would often often have have students students play play characters characters from from thethe book book and and DDISON R EMME R EMME & S & HAWN S HAWN BOGART BOGART ADDISON APHOTOS nursing nursing school. school. it out. it out.

He He would would often often have have students students PHOTOS USED USED WITH WITH PERMISSION PERMISSION

BY BY play play characters characters from from thethe book book and and RTWORK A RTWORK A BY DDISON DDISON RBEMME RBEMME DDISON REMME RBY EMME & SA & HAWN SHAWN OGART OGART ADDISON AA PHOTOS PHOTOS USED USED WITH WITH PERMISSION PERMISSION

BY BY OCTOBER OCTOBER play play characters characters from from thethe book book and and RTWORK ARTWORK A BY DDISON DDISON RBEMME RBEMME REMME RBY EMME & SA & HAWN SHAWN OGART OGART ADDISON AADDISON OCTOBER OCTOBER ARTWORK

BY A BY DDISON ADDISON REMME REMME OCTOBER OCTOBER ARTWORK

BY ZOE LARSON, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

After After having their having their most successful most successful year in 2022, the LHS year in 2022, the LHS marching band has earned marching band has earned its place of being one of its place of being one of the greatest high school the greatest high school marching bands in the marching bands in the country. country.

For all of the moving For all of the moving parts and different parts and different instruments in the show, instruments in the show, there is one group of there is one group of people that make it people that make it possible for the audience possible for the audience to hear; the sound crew. to hear; the sound crew.

Sitting in front of the Sitting in front of the front ensemble, senior front ensemble, senior Trinity Endsley, the Trinity Endsley, the section leader of the section leader of the sound crew can be found. sound crew can be found.

Having grown up with a Having grown up with a family involved in band, family involved in band, Endsley made the simple Endsley made the simple decision to join this crew. decision to join this crew.

Although she makes Although she makes it look easy, there is a it look easy, there is a notable amount of work notable amount of work that goes into the ninethat goes into the nineminute show. minute show.

“Sound crew is “Sound crew is especially stressful especially stressful because anything that because anything that goes wrong in the show, goes wrong in the show, everyone is looking everyone is looking at you,” said Endsley. at you,” said Endsley.

“Keeping a cool and “Keeping a cool and

10 LHSSTATESMAN.COM 10 LHSSTATESMAN.COM

BY Z OE LARSON, Eto DITOR -IN-Conce HIEF again. collected demeanor greatness collected demeanor to greatness once again. is really hard, it’s a lot Drew Balta, co-director of is really hard, it’s a lot Drew Balta, co-director of of pressure, but we’re all the band, is in his second of pressure, but we’re all the band, is in his second in it together.” year at LHS and his 10th in it together.” year at LHS and his 10th Endsley does not year in education. The Endsley does not year in education. The play an instrument, but leadership in the band play an instrument, but leadership in the band her role in the show is program along with the her role in the show is program along with the equally as important. incredible work ethic of equally as important. incredible work ethic of The musicians and the all members in the band The musicians and the all members in the band color guard take care of has brought South Dakota color guard take care of has brought South Dakota the visual aspect of the to the national spotlight. the visual aspect of the to the national spotlight. show, while Endsley is in With all eyes on the band, show, while Endsley is in With all eyes on the band, charge of the auditory Balta has felt pressure to charge of the auditory Balta has felt pressure to aspect. Because she is not succeed, but the pressure aspect. Because she is not succeed, but the pressure technically a ‘performer,’ is entirely from within. technically a ‘performer,’ is entirely from within. the recognition is not “We put a lot of the recognition is not “We put a lot of always reached to the pressure on ourselves to always reached to the pressure on ourselves to sound crew as it is to the try and match what was sound crew as it is to the try and match what was musicians, but Endsley done the year before. We musicians, but Endsley done the year before. We recognises that her role in tell the kids and ourselves recognises that her role in tell the kids and ourselves the show is crucial to the that we’re only trying to the show is crucial to the that we’re only trying to performances success. be the best version of this performances success. be the best version of this “There’s a lot that goes year’s band,” said Balta.

“There’s a lot that goes year’s band,” said Balta. on behind the scenes “That’s our message to on behind the scenes “That’s our message to that nobody sees. A lot our students everyday, and that nobody sees. A lot our students everyday, and of people don’t even that goes to every part of people don’t even that goes to every part think about the mics, the of our program, even the think about the mics, the of our program, even the frequencies or how long sound crew.” frequencies or how long sound crew.” it takes to set up and tear Practice makes perfect, it takes to set up and tear Practice makes perfect, down. Marching band is and this is evident when down. Marching band is and this is evident when such a crazy thing, and watching the marching such a crazy thing, and watching the marching it’s such an art form. I’m band perform. A sum of it’s such an art form. I’m band perform. A sum of so glad to be a part of it,” over 300 hours of practice so glad to be a part of it,” over 300 hours of practice said Endsley. have gone into perfecting said Endsley. have gone into perfecting Following their recordevery detail of Following their recordevery detail of breaking success at the show. breaking success at the show. several championships However, several championships However, both at the regional and Balta makes both at the regional and Balta makes national level, the LHS sure that national level, the LHS sure that marching band is on track having marching band is on track having

fun is also a part of fun is also a part of their regimen. Nothing their regimen. Nothing is perfect, and every is perfect, and every program runs into program runs into challenges. Everything challenges. Everything to do with the band is to do with the band is expensive, and this has expensive, and this has left the marching band left the marching band to fundraise 94% of their to fundraise 94% of their budget each year. The budget each year. The students’ benefit and students’ benefit and takeaway is in Balta’s takeaway is in Balta’s top priority, and every top priority, and every decision is made with this decision is made with this in mind. in mind.

“Every challenge we “Every challenge we go through is worth it, go through is worth it, because it means that our because it means that our students here get the best students here get the best possible music education possible music education that we can offer them,” that we can offer them,” said Balta. “Our senior said Balta. “Our senior class is filled with some class is filled with some pretty special people this pretty special people this year. We’re going to miss year. We’re going to miss them, all of our success them, all of our success this year will be because this year will be because of them, they are so of them, they are so impressive and their work impressive and their work ethic is remarkable.” ethic is remarkable.”

ARTWORK BY ZOE LARSON ARTWORK ZOELARSON LARSON PHOTOS BYBY ZOE PHOTOS

BY Z ZOE OE L LARSON ARSON DESIGN BY DESIGN BY ZOE LARSON

Questions: Question 1: What is your favorite part of your day and why?

Question 2: What is your least favorite part of your day and why?

Question 3: If you could switch days with your twin would you? Why or why not?

BY LILY GRUBER

Twin /twin/ noun “one of two children or animals born at the same birth.”

When one thinks of a twin, they frequently think of identical siblings who wear matching clothes and like/dislike the same things. However, most twins are separate, different and uniquely individual bodies.

At LHS, there are several twins found in the halls. Most of the time, being a twin is not even their most defining feature. Here are how their interests and extracurricular activities differ, as well as their daily schedule when it comes to school.

Tyrus Needles

Maudelia Needles

Schedule: 6:30 a.m. Wake up 8:20 a.m.-3:15 p.m. School 3:30-5:30 p.m. Cross-country practice 6-10 p.m. Hangout around the house 10 p.m. Go to bed Questions: 1. School. “It’s pretty fun and you get to see all your friends.”

2. Waking up 3. “Probably not. Because we’re in different sports.”

Schedule: 7 a.m. Wake up 7:45 a.m.-3:15p.m. School 3:30-6 p.m. Volleyball 6:30 p.m. Homework and hang out at home 9:30-10 p.m. Go to bed Questions: 1. School. “I like seeing all my friends.”

2. Tests and Waking up 3. “I would not, because he seems pretty boring.”

Owen Lechtenberg

Miles Lechtenberg

Schedule: 6 a.m. Wake up 7:15 a.m.-3:15 p.m. School 3:30 p.m. Go home, eat Afterschool Gym, Xbox, Homework 11 p.m. Go to bed Questions: 1. Seventh Period. “I have Mr. Jensen, and he’s the best.”

2. English “It’s really boring and no one talks in there.”

3. No “He runs crosscountry and running sucks.”

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Ethan White

Zoey White

Schedule: 7 a.m. Wake up 7:40 a.m.-3:15 p.m. School Afterschool Homework 10:30 p.m. Go to bed

Schedule: 7 a.m. Wake up 8 a.m.-3:15 p.m. School 3:30-5:30 p.m. Soccer 6 p.m. Homework and hangout 12 a.m. Go to bed Questions: 1. Lunch or Afterschool 2. “Waking up and having to go to school.”

3. No “Because he has harder classes than me.”

Questions: 1.“My two free periods.”

2. Mornings “I’m not a morning person.”

3. No “I’ve got my schedule set up how I like it.”

Marisa Riddle Schedule: 7 a.m. Has sister wake her up 7:55 a.m.-3:15 p.m. School 5 p.m. Lifting/practice/ games for softball 6:30 p.m. Eat dinner/ hangout with friends 11 p.m. Go to bed Questions: 1. Going to school together.

“We’re close. Car rides in the morning and after school are good.”

2. Waking up because “I hate waking up early.”

3. Depends on the time of year “If I could switch during the [softball] season… yeah I would. I think it would be fun.”

Schedule: 6:10 a.m. Wake up and shower 7:15 a.m.-3:15 p.m. School 3:30-5:30 p.m. Cross Country 6-9:00 p.m. Shower, eat dinner, more homework 9:30 p.m. Go to bed Questions: 1. “2nd Period Accelerated Chemistry because I like my teacher (it’s Coach Strand)” 2. “Journalism and English because I’m not much of an English guy.”

3. No “I don’t know if I’d want to be in the same classes as him.”

Trina Riddle Schedule: 7 a.m. Wake up and wake Marisa up 7:55 a.m.-3:15 p.m. School Afterschool Chill/hangout 11:30 p.m. Go to bed Questions: 1. “Coming home and seeing my dog.”

2. “Waking up to come to school.”

3. “I would do it just to see what her classes are like.”

Most of the twins would not switch places. It all comes down to their difference in interests as well as athletics. Some twins answered similarly, such as the Riddles who both enjoy going to school to see their friends, or the Lechtenbergs who both are not fond of English. Others responded differently, saying that their classes may keep them from switching with the other twin, like the Whites. Overall, the consensus is that waking up is not enjoyable at all, whether you are a twin or not.

DESIGN BY LILY GRUBER

DESIGN ELEMENTS USED WITH PERMISSION BY SPARKLESTROKE

OCTOBER ISSUE 13

BY BYM M ADISON ADISONEE VANS VANS BY BYM M ADISON ADISONEE VANS VANS

Morgan MorganJohnson, Johnson,known knownonon Morgan MorganJohnson, Johnson,known knownonon social socialmedia mediaasasMorgan MorganMae Mae social socialmedia mediaasasMorgan MorganMae Mae Photography, Photography,is isone oneofofthe the Photography, Photography,is isone oneofofthe the most mostpopular popularsenior seniorpicture picture most mostpopular popularsenior seniorpicture picture photographers photographersininthe theSioux Sioux photographers photographersininthe theSioux Sioux Falls Fallsarea. area.

Falls Fallsarea. area.

Johnson Johnsonshoots shootsthree threetoto Johnson Johnsonshoots shootsthree threetoto four foursenior seniorsessions sessionsa aday, day, four foursenior seniorsessions sessionsa aday, day, each eachone onelasting lastingabout abouttwo two each eachone onelasting lastingabout abouttwo two hours. hours.However, However,photography photography hours. hours.However, However,photography photography is isnot nother herfull-time full-timecareer. career.InIn is isnot nother herfull-time full-timecareer. career.InIn addition, addition,she sheworks worksfull-time full-time addition, addition,she sheworks worksfull-time full-time asasa amortgage mortgageloan loanpartner, partner, asasa amortgage mortgageloan loanpartner, partner, and andrecently recentlyhad hadher herfirst firstbaby. baby. and andrecently recentlyhad hadher herfirst firstbaby. baby.

Johnson’s Johnson’ssenior seniorpicture picturejourney journey Johnson’s Johnson’ssenior seniorpicture picturejourney journey started startedwhen whenshe shehad hada abad bad started startedwhen whenshe shehad hada abad bad experience experiencewith withher herown ownsenior senior experience experiencewith withher herown ownsenior senior photos. photos. photos. photos.

“My “Mysenior seniorpicture picture “My “Mysenior seniorpicture picture experience experiencewas wasnot nottoo too experience experiencewas wasnot nottoo too great,” great,”said saidJohnson Johnson“[my “[my great,” great,”said saidJohnson Johnson“[my “[my photographer] photographer]didn’t didn’treally reallypose pose photographer] photographer]didn’t didn’treally reallypose pose me meororgive giveme memuch muchguidance, guidance, me meororgive giveme memuch muchguidance, guidance, and andsosoI kind I kindofofjust justfelt feltlike likeI I and andsosoI kind I kindofofjust justfelt feltlike likeI I was wasleft leftout outininthe theopen openwhen when was wasleft leftout outininthe theopen openwhen when it itcame cametotomy mysenior seniorpicture picture it itcame cametotomy mysenior seniorpicture picture experience.” experience.” experience.” experience.”

Johnson Johnsondecided decidedthat thatshe she Johnson Johnsondecided decidedthat thatshe she did didnot notwant wantanyone anyoneelse elsetoto did didnot notwant wantanyone anyoneelse elsetoto have havea anegative negativeexperience experiencewith with have havea anegative negativeexperience experiencewith with their theirsenior seniorpictures, pictures,sosowhen whenit it their theirsenior seniorpictures, pictures,sosowhen whenit it was wastime timeforforher hersister’s sister’ssenior senior was wastime timeforforher hersister’s sister’ssenior senior pictures, pictures,she shewanted wantedtototake take pictures, pictures,she shewanted wantedtototake take them. them. them. them.

“When “Whenmy mysister sisterwas wasgoing going “When “Whenmy mysister sisterwas wasgoing going tototake takeher her[senior [seniorpictures], pictures], tototake takeher her[senior [seniorpictures], pictures], I asked I askedmy mymom momand anddad dadif ifI I I asked I askedmy mymom momand anddad dadif ifI I could couldjust justdodothem themforforher. her.I’ve I’ve could couldjust justdodothem themforforher. her.I’ve I’ve always alwaysbeen beenkind kindofofcreative creative always alwaysbeen beenkind kindofofcreative creative and andit’s it’ssomething somethingI’ve I’veenjoyed enjoyed and andit’s it’ssomething somethingI’ve I’veenjoyed enjoyed

doing,” doing,”said saidJohnson.

Johnson. doing,” doing,”said saidJohnson.

Johnson.

After Afterher herfirst firstphotoshoot, photoshoot, After Afterher herfirst firstphotoshoot, photoshoot, Johnson Johnsonmade madeananInstagram Instagram Johnson Johnsonmade madeananInstagram Instagram account accounttotopost postthe thesenior senior account accounttotopost postthe thesenior senior pictures pictureson. on.AsAsa aresult, result, pictures pictureson. on.AsAsa aresult, result, she shestarted startedgetting gettinga alotlotofof she shestarted startedgetting gettinga alotlotofof attention. attention.This Thisis iswhere whereher her attention. attention.This Thisis iswhere whereher her photography photographycareer careerreally reallytook took photography photographycareer careerreally reallytook took off. off. off. off.

“After “AfterI posted I postedthose, those,a a “After “AfterI posted I postedthose, those,a a bunch bunchofof[my [mysister’s] sister’s]friends friends bunch bunchofof[my [mysister’s] sister’s]friends friends started startedtotoreach reachout outand andasked asked started startedtotoreach reachout outand andasked asked me metotododotheirs theirsasaswell, well,I just I just me metotododotheirs theirsasaswell, well,I just I just did didthem themforforfree, free,forforfun. fun. did didthem themforforfree, free,forforfun. fun.

Then, Then,[my [myInstagram] Instagram]just just Then, Then,[my [myInstagram] Instagram]just just kind kindofofgrew grewfrom fromthere, there,it it kind kindofofgrew grewfrom fromthere, there,it it started startedgetting gettingmore moretraction, traction, started startedgetting gettingmore moretraction, traction, more morepeople…that people…thatyear yearI think I think more morepeople…that people…thatyear yearI think I think I ended I endedupupdoing doingabout about2020 I ended I endedupupdoing doingabout about2020 seniors. seniors.The Thenext nextyear, year,I had I hada a seniors. seniors.The Thenext nextyear, year,I had I hada a legit legitbusiness. business.My MyInstagram Instagram legit legitbusiness. business.My MyInstagram Instagram had hadgrown growna alot, lot,and andeach eachyear year had hadgrown growna alot, lot,and andeach eachyear year I’ve I’vekind kindofofjust justgrown grownmore more I’ve I’vekind kindofofjust justgrown grownmore more and andmore,” more,”said saidJohnson.

Johnson. and andmore,” more,”said saidJohnson.

Johnson.

Because Becausethis thiscareer careerstarted started Because Becausethis thiscareer careerstarted started out outasasa ahobby hobbyforforJohnson, Johnson,she she out outasasa ahobby hobbyforforJohnson, Johnson,she she did didnot nothave haveany anyprofessional professional did didnot nothave haveany anyprofessional professional training trainingwhen whenit itcame cametoto training trainingwhen whenit itcame cametoto taking takingororediting editingphotos; photos;she she taking takingororediting editingphotos; photos;she she was wasentirely entirelyself-taught, self-taught,using using was wasentirely entirelyself-taught, self-taught,using using the theinternet internettototeach teachherself. herself. the theinternet internettototeach teachherself. herself.

Johnson Johnsonfinds findsinspiration inspiration Johnson Johnsonfinds findsinspiration inspiration from fromher hercreativity; creativity;she shealso also from fromher hercreativity; creativity;she shealso also studies studiesthe thephotos photosofofother other studies studiesthe thephotos photosofofother other professional professionalphotographers photographers professional professionalphotographers photographers and andshe sheincorporates incorporatesdetails details and andshe sheincorporates incorporatesdetails details ofoftheir theirphotos photosinto intoher herown. own. ofoftheir theirphotos photosinto intoher herown. own.

Aside Asidefrom fromher herphotography photography Aside Asidefrom fromher herphotography photography business businessand andher herfull-time full-timejob, job, business businessand andher herfull-time full-timejob, job, Johnson Johnsonhad hadher herfirst firstbaby babyinin Johnson Johnsonhad hadher herfirst firstbaby babyinin

14 14 LHSSTATESMAN.COM 14 14 LHSSTATESMAN.COM LHSSTATESMAN.COM LHSSTATESMAN.COM

June.

June.

June.

June.

“Recently, “Recently,when whenI had I had “Recently, “Recently,when whenI had I had my myfirst firstbaby babyI actually I actuallytook took my myfirst firstbaby babyI actually I actuallytook took maternity maternityleave, leave,sosoit’s it’sbeen been maternity maternityleave, leave,sosoit’s it’sbeen been pretty prettynice nicetotobebeable abletotojust just pretty prettynice nicetotobebeable abletotojust just raise raisemy myson, son,and andjust justdodo raise raisemy myson, son,and andjust justdodo photography photographyatatthe thesame same photography photographyatatthe thesame same time,” time,”said saidJohnson.

Johnson. time,” time,”said saidJohnson.

Johnson.

With Withthe theamount amountofoftime time With Withthe theamount amountofoftime time Johnson Johnsonwas wasputting puttinginto intoher her Johnson Johnsonwas wasputting puttinginto intoher her job, job,her herphotography photographyand and job, job,her herphotography photographyand and taking takingcare careofofher herbaby, baby,she she taking takingcare careofofher herbaby, baby,she she was wasbasically basicallyworking workingthree three was wasbasically basicallyworking workingthree three full-time full-timejobs. jobs.She Sherecently recently full-time full-timejobs. jobs.She Sherecently recently decided decidedthat thatshe sheis isgoing goingtotobebe decided decidedthat thatshe sheis isgoing goingtotobebe a afull-time full-timephotographer photographerand anda a a afull-time full-timephotographer photographerand anda a stay-at-home stay-at-homemom. mom. stay-at-home stay-at-homemom. mom.

Growing Growingup, up,Johnson Johnson Growing Growingup, up,Johnson Johnson did didnot notplan planononbecoming becominga a did didnot notplan planononbecoming becominga a photographer. photographer.AtAtthe thetime, time, photographer. photographer.AtAtthe thetime, time, photography photographywas wasjust justa ahobby hobby photography photographywas wasjust justa ahobby hobby forforher, her,sososhe shewent wenttotocollege college forforher, her,sososhe shewent wenttotocollege college without withoutplans plansofofpursuing pursuingit it without withoutplans plansofofpursuing pursuingit it professionally. professionally. professionally. professionally.

“My “Mydegree degreeis isinineconomics economics “My “Mydegree degreeis isinineconomics economics from fromSDSU, SDSU,but butI have I havedouble double from fromSDSU, SDSU,but butI have I havedouble double minors minorsininmarketing marketingand and minors minorsininmarketing marketingand and communications. communications.With Withmy my communications. communications.With Withmy my major, major,it’s it’sreally reallytaught taughtme me major, major,it’s it’sreally reallytaught taughtme me how howtotonot notonly onlyrestructure restructure how howtotonot notonly onlyrestructure restructure my mybusiness businessbut butplan planit it my mybusiness businessbut butplan planit it financially. financially.My Mymarketing marketing financially. financially.My Mymarketing marketing minor minorhas hasreally reallyhelped helpedme me minor minorhas hasreally reallyhelped helpedme me asasfarfarasasfinding findingmy mytarget target asasfarfarasasfinding findingmy mytarget target market marketasasfarfarasasclients, clients,and and market marketasasfarfarasasclients, clients,and and marketing marketingmyself myselftotothem. them.My My marketing marketingmyself myselftotothem. them.My My other otherminor, minor,communications, communications, other otherminor, minor,communications, communications, has hashelped helpedme memore morethan thanI I has hashelped helpedme memore morethan thanI I even evenrealize. realize.I do I doa alotlotofof even evenrealize. realize.I do I doa alotlotofof communicating communicatingwith withpeople, people, communicating communicatingwith withpeople, people,

whether whetherit itbebescheduling, scheduling,oror whether whetherit itbebescheduling, scheduling,oror helping helpingthem themplan planout outtheir their helping helpingthem themplan planout outtheir their shoot; shoot;when whenI am I amshooting shootingand and shoot; shoot;when whenI am I amshooting shootingand and just justgetting gettingtotoknow knowthem, them,I’m I’m just justgetting gettingtotoknow knowthem, them,I’m I’m just justsosothankful thankfulthat thatI have I havethat that just justsosothankful thankfulthat thatI have I havethat that little littlebitbitofofknowledge knowledgeabout about little littlebitbitofofknowledge knowledgeabout about communication, communication,and andhow howtoto communication, communication,and andhow howtoto read readpeople peopleand andmake makethem themfeel feel read readpeople peopleand andmake makethem themfeel feel comfortable,” comfortable,”said saidJohnson.

Johnson. comfortable,” comfortable,”said saidJohnson.

Johnson.

The Thecommunications communications The Thecommunications communications aspect aspectis isone oneofofJohnson’s Johnson’s aspect aspectis isone oneofofJohnson’s Johnson’s favorite favoriteparts partsabout aboutshooting shooting favorite favoriteparts partsabout aboutshooting shooting senior seniorpictures. pictures.She Sheis isa avery very senior seniorpictures. pictures.She Sheis isa avery very social socialperson, person,and andlikes likestotobebe social socialperson, person,and andlikes likestotobebe able abletotoexperience experiencethe thefun funofof able abletotoexperience experiencethe thefun funofof taking takingsenior seniorpictures pictureswith withher her taking takingsenior seniorpictures pictureswith withher her clients. clients.She Sheunderstands understandsthat that clients. clients.She Sheunderstands understandsthat that senior seniorpictures picturesmark marka amajor major senior seniorpictures picturesmark marka amajor major transition transitionininpeople’s people’slives, lives,and and transition transitionininpeople’s people’slives, lives,and and wants wantstotomake makethe theexperience experience wants wantstotomake makethe theexperience experience memorable memorableand andenjoyable enjoyableforfor memorable memorableand andenjoyable enjoyableforfor them. them. them. them.

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DESIGN DESIGN BYBY MM ADISON ADISON EVANS EVANS DESIGN DESIGN BYBY MM ADISON ADISON EPERMISSION VANS EVANS BYBY PHOTOS PHOTOS USED USED WITH WITH PERMISSION MM ORGAN ORGAN JOHNSON JOHNSON PHOTOS PHOTOS USED USED WITH WITH PERMISSION PERMISSION BYBY MM ORGAN ORGAN JOHNSON JOHNSON

BYBY LBY UCAS LUCAS LUCAS HIATT HIATT HIATT

This This This school school school year year year introduces introduces introduces LHS LHS LHS tototo new new new Activities Activities Activities Director Director Director (AD), (AD), (AD), David David David Maxwell, Maxwell, Maxwell, who who who brings brings brings a philosophy a philosophy a philosophy forfor teaching for teaching teaching students students students useful useful useful lessons lessons lessons through through through athletics. athletics. athletics.

Before Before Before the the 2022-2023 the 2022-2023 2022-2023 school school school year year year ended, ended, ended, LHS LHS LHS found found found itsits new its new new AD AD AD after after after Joey Joey Joey Struwe Struwe Struwe retired retired retired from from from athletic athletic athletic directing. directing. directing.

Maxwell Maxwell Maxwell started started started asas AD as AD AD forfor LHS for LHS LHS inin July in July July and and and has has been has been been developing developing developing hishishis relationships relationships relationships with with with the thethe department department department since. since. since.

Maxwell’s Maxwell’s Maxwell’s athletic athletic athletic background background background began began began atat the at the high the high high school school school level level level where where where hehehe played played played basketball basketball basketball atat Parkston at Parkston Parkston High High High School.

School.

School.

After After After high high high school, school, school, Maxwell Maxwell Maxwell brought brought brought hishis skills his skills skills tototo the the college the college college level level level where where where hehe played he played played atat USF at USF USF and and and later later later spent spent spent time time time there there there asas anas anan assistant assistant assistant coach. coach. coach.

His His His connections connections connections toto the to the SFSD the SFSD SFSD began began began atat RHS at RHS RHS where where where hehehe coached coached coached girls girls girls basketball basketball basketball atat the at the same the same same time time time that that that current current current LHS LHS LHS Head Head Head Principal Principal Principal Laura Laura Laura Raeder Raeder Raeder was was was atat RHS at RHS RHS asas anas anan

assistant assistant assistant principal. principal. principal.

Maxwell Maxwell Maxwell found found found hishis fit his fitfit atat LHS at LHS LHS with with with these these these previous previous previous connections, connections, connections, eventually eventually eventually leading leading leading him him him toto the to the athletic the athletic athletic program. program. program.

The The The role role role ofofathletics ofathletics athletics is is huge is huge huge inin building in building building a school’s a school’s a school’s community community community and and and Maxwell Maxwell Maxwell plans plans plans toto use to use his use his prior his prior prior experience experience experience toto develop to develop develop LHS’s LHS’s LHS’s culture. culture. culture.

“I “I took “I took took this this this jobjob [for] job [for] [for] the the opportunity the opportunity opportunity toto impact to impact impact school school school culture,” culture,” culture,” said said said Maxwell.

Maxwell.

Maxwell.

“Helping “Helping “Helping instill instill instill the the values the values values and and and lifelife lessons life lessons lessons that that that will will will serve serve serve students students students when when when they they they leave leave leave our our our doors doors doors is is something is something something that that that I am I am I am super super super passionate passionate passionate about.” about.” about.”

Maxwell Maxwell Maxwell has has spent has spent spent hishishis time time time atat LHS at LHS LHS soso far so far building far building building relationships relationships relationships with with with the thethe leaders leaders leaders that that that make make make upup the up thethe activities activities activities department. department. department.

For For For hishis first his first first year, year, year, Maxwell Maxwell Maxwell plans plans plans toto observe to observe observe and and and trytry to try to fitto fit infit in in with with with LHS’s LHS’s LHS’s culture culture culture inin order in order order tototo seesee how see how how the the programs the programs programs operate. operate. operate.

LHS LHS LHS is is a large is a large a large community community community toto meet to meet meet and and and grow grow grow connections connections connections with. with. with.

There There There areare countless are countless countless people people people atat the at the school the school school who who who have have have made made made their their their lasting lasting lasting mark mark mark ononon the the school’s the school’s school’s culture. culture. culture.

These These These athletic athletic athletic traditions traditions traditions have have have been been been setset into set into into place place place bybyby many many many previous previous previous administrators, administrators, administrators, coaches coaches coaches

part athlete high school butbut part part ofofbeing ofbeing being anan athlete an athlete inin high in high school school but a practice that can help students down thethe is is a practice is a practice that that can can help help students students down down the line.

Maxwell wants the adversity that student line. line.

Maxwell Maxwell wants wants the adversity the adversity that that student student athletes face prepare them life outside athletes athletes face face toto prepare to prepare them them forfor life for outside life outside ofof of high school. high high school. school.

“The most important skill that I want kids “The “The most most important important skill skill that that I want I want kids kids have when they leave LHS I want them toto have to have when when they they leave leave LHS LHS is is I want is I want them them tototo have a belief that they can hard things,” said have have a belief a belief that that they they can can dodo hard do hard things,” things,” said said Maxwell.

Maxwell.

Maxwell. unrealistic expectation that many have AnAn unrealistic An unrealistic expectation expectation that that many many have have forforfor AD that they will the one bring anan AD an AD is is that is that they they will will bebe the be one the one toto bring to bring inin in the people necessary win state championships. the people the people necessary necessary toto win to win state state championships. championships.

However, Maxwell’s focus not just winning However, However, Maxwell’s Maxwell’s focus focus is is not is just not just onon winning on winning state titles but on building students through state state titles titles but on but building on building upup students up students through through lessons and leadership.

His philosophy high lessons lessons and and leadership. leadership.

His His philosophy philosophy onon high on high school activities building relationships with school school activities activities is is building is building relationships relationships with with coaches who will then build relationships with coaches coaches who who will will then then build build relationships relationships with with their athletes.

High school activities, especially their their athletes. athletes.

High High school school activities, activities, especially especially LHS promote many lessons and build many atat LHS at LHS promote promote many many lessons lessons and and build build many many people into who they become a person people people upup into up into who who they they become become asas a as person a person through the relationships that made. through through the relationships the relationships that that areare made. are made.

Maxwell wants help LHS coaches build Maxwell Maxwell wants wants toto help to help LHS LHS coaches coaches build build upupup their athletes have success when they done their their athletes athletes toto have to have success success when when they they areare done are done LHS, which the core purpose school atat LHS, at LHS, which which is is the is core the core purpose purpose ofofhigh ofhigh high school school activities, whether students to college activities, activities, whether whether students students gogo togo college to college forforfor activities not.

Once students leave LHS, thethe activities activities oror not. or not.

Once Once students students leave leave LHS, LHS, the lessons they have learned an athlete will lessons lessons they they have have learned learned asas anas athlete an athlete will will bebebe much more valuable them than the experience much much more more valuable valuable toto them to them than than the experience the experience and and and players. players. players.

Maxwell Maxwell Maxwell expects expects expects hishis first his first first year year year toto beto be one be one one of winning a championship. of winning of winning a championship. a championship. ofoftrial oftrial trial and and and error. error. error.

His His His approach approach approach will will will bebe getting be getting getting advice advice advice “We gonna talk about being disciplined, “We “We areare gonna are gonna talk talk about about being being disciplined, disciplined, from from from hishis fellow his fellow fellow administrators administrators administrators and and and observing observing observing how how how LHS LHS LHS being accountable, being a great teammate and being being accountable, accountable, being being a great a great teammate teammate and and programs programs programs operate operate operate instead instead instead ofofstepping ofstepping stepping inin and in and and making making making giving perfect effort,” said Maxwell.

“Winning giving giving perfect perfect effort,” effort,” said said Maxwell.

Maxwell.

“Winning “Winning big big changes big changes changes right right right away. away. away. is something that happens because of all those is something is something that that happens happens because because of all of those all those “I “I was “I was was soso impressed so impressed impressed with with with the the coaches the coaches coaches and and and directors directors directors things.” things.” that that that wewe have we have have here,” here,” here,” said said said Maxwell.

Maxwell.

Maxwell.

“We “We “We have have have tremendous tremendous tremendous things.”

This new direction LHS activities means This This new new direction direction forfor LHS for LHS activities activities means means leaders leaders leaders atat our at our our school. school. school.

The The The last last last thing thing thing I am I am I going am going going toto try to trytry combining relationships from the past in order combining combining relationships relationships from from the past the past in order in order toto doto do isdo is say is say that say that that everything everything everything needs needs needs toto change.” to change.” change.” better our athletic future.

Maxwell plans better to better our our athletic athletic future. future.

Maxwell Maxwell plans plans Many Many Many student student student athletes athletes athletes often often often hear hear hear that that that student student student comes comes comes toto to promote hard work and determination to promote to promote hard hard work work and and determination determination before before before athlete, athlete, athlete, a saying a saying a saying that that that LHS LHS LHS administrators administrators administrators push push push throughout every program the LHS activities throughout throughout every every program program inin the in LHS the LHS activities activities onto onto onto their their their students students students when when when they they they fall fall behind fall behind behind inin class in class class ororor scene.

Students will be pushed to grow in their scene. scene.

Students Students will will be pushed be pushed to grow to grow in their in their make make make mistakes mistakes mistakes outside outside outside ofoftheir oftheir their athletics. athletics. athletics.

LHS LHS LHS will will will ability adapt adversity.

Maxwell hopes ability ability toto adapt to adapt toto adversity. to adversity.

Maxwell Maxwell hopes hopes tototo continue continue continue toto promote to promote promote success success success outside outside outside ofofthe ofthe classroom the classroom classroom make his mark by showing every student the make make his mark his mark by showing by showing every every student student the the and and and outside outside outside the the walls the walls walls ofofthe ofthe school the school school when when when students students students lessons that activities will teach them their lessons lessons that that activities activities will will teach teach them them inin their in their lifelifelife graduate. graduate. graduate.

Athletics Athletics Athletics and and and activities activities activities bring bring bring adversity adversity adversity tototo beyond the walls of LHS. beyond beyond the walls the walls of LHS. of LHS. students students students asas they as they they consume consume consume a great a great a great deal deal deal ofoftheir oftheir their time time time outside outside outside ofofthe ofthe classroom. the classroom. classroom.

Balancing Balancing Balancing education, education, education, activities activities activities and and and other other other engagements engagements engagements outside outside outside ofofschool ofschool school is is a stressful is a stressful a stressful

DESIGN DESIGN DESIGN

BY L BY UCAS LBY UCAS H LUCAS IATT HIATT HIATT PHOTO PHOTO PHOTO USED USED WITH USED WITH PERMISSION WITH PERMISSION PERMISSION

BY D BYAVID DBYAVID M DAVID AXWSELL MAXWSELL MAXWSELL

161616 LHSSTATESMAN.COM LHSSTATESMAN.COM LHSSTATESMAN.COM

OCTOBER OCTOBER OCTOBER ISSUE ISSUE ISSUE 171717

BY DELANEY GRAMLICK, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

PHOTOS BY DELANEY GRAMLICK

DESIGN BY DELANEY GRAMLICK

The mascot for Augustana University.

Fictional character played

by Keloland weatherman Dave Dedrick for over 41 years.

The Sioux Falls Skyforce mascot.

TV personality, musician and sportscaster.

Has a reputation in Sioux Falls for being an incredible attorney, but he was nationally recognized in 2014 with his viral “please stop” campaign, which aired on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.”

A giant statue outside of Automotive Brake and Exhaust.

Professional football player and captain of the Minnesota Vikings.

Known for walking around the city while reading a book, which she does to ruminate on spiritual topics.

Jon and Katy Oppold’s French Bulldog and namesake of the pizza shop.

The mascot of the Sioux Falls Storm indoor football team.

Was a professional baseball player, earning the World Series MVP trophy while playing for the New York Mets.

The Gigglebees mascot.

Owner of Sanaa’s Gourmet Mediterranean, which was featured on “Beat Bobby Flay” on Food Network.

Chief Meteorologist at Dakota News Now.

The mascot for the Sioux Falls Canaries independent league baseball team.

Leading Marine fighter ace in World War II who received the Medal of Honor.

Actress and TV personality best known for her accomplishment as longest running host of “Entertainment Tonight.”

The mascot for the Sioux Falls Stampede Hockey Club.

The first U.S. Senator of ArabAmerican descent.

The mascot for the University of Sioux Falls.

Replica of Michelangelo’s Statue of David, located in downtown Sioux Falls.

An accomplished actress and model, best known for her role as Betty Draper from “Mad Men.”

Inspired by a blank wall and a desire to showcase local “We created this place as a community gathering place: it’s fun and every year we have an event that people can art, Sunny’s Pizzeria’s “Wall of Notability” showcases it’s in a neighborhood, it’s in between two colleges. I come to,” said Oppold.

22 local celebrities, granting local fame to residents and think the mural is just kind of a further extension of Originally painted with 21 showcased individuals inspiring the community around them. that,” said Oppold. last year, the mural completed its first annual induction Two years ago, Sunny’s Pizzeria owner Jon Oppold The mural offers an opportunity to expose the lesser this September. The 22nd member of the “Wall of decided he wanted to add a bit of spunk to his building. known aspects of Sioux Falls that make the city what it Notability,” Chief Meteorologist at Dakota News Now Oppold settled on the addition of a mural, having no real is. Showing off influential individuals local to the city, Phil Schreck is the first and most recent celebrity to be idea for what it should be of, apart from that he wanted visitors and community members alike are able to gain a inducted into the mural. it to have a bit of local flavor. He created a competition clearer picture of what Sioux Falls is all about.

“I just loved the concept of being immortalized on a for local artists to submit their ideas, and after receiving “The other fun part is getting to share Sioux Falls with mural, so it’s great,” said Phil Schreck. more than 15 submissions, Oppold decided on artist After being a weatherman for 35 years, Phil Schreck Wyatt Dickson. Dickson’s idea centered on a mural has made innumerable connections and become known which highlighted prominent figures in the Sioux for his sociability, which is reflected on his picture on the Falls community. After being selected, Oppold and mural.

Dickson worked through which local celebrities “I’m kind of like [the depiction on the mural], just should be on the mural together. The two considered smiling and happy, a good guy to be around,” said Phil individuals who would be a good representation of Schreck.

Sioux Falls, also factoring in elements of diversity, Phil Schreck’s son, LHS senior Lucas Schreck is more ensuring everyone was represented. The mural itself familiar with a side of his dad that is not showcased when serves as a reflection of life in Sioux Falls, the people he’s giving weather reports. and the community.

“He’s so put together on the news, and at home he’s “[The mural is] kind of the history of the town, just the goofiest guy, and hilarious. I’m really lucky that or maybe folklore of different characters, and kind I have him, and such a good relationship with him,” said of [demonstrates] a universal experience about Lucas Schreck. what it’s like to live in Sioux Falls,” said Dickson.

Lucas Schreck is inspired by his dad’s passion for The mural encourages community relations, his job, and his ability to forge important relationships Sunny’s Pizzeria owner Jon Oppold and mural artist Wyatt Dickson in front and connections in a community that he is now a local bringing people together over shared interest in of the mural. artwork and the unique concept of local celebrities. celebrity of.

“The pizza place has been sort of a community “I think about how [the mural is] going to be there for hub, and the mural has been something that kind of adds people that aren’t familiar,” said Oppold. so long, and I’ll get to tell my kids about it… this kind of to the area, brightens it up,” said Dickson.

Every year, a new member will be inducted into the puts into perspective that he is actually known. It makes Oppold originally opened the pizza place with the goal mural. Oppold and Dickson have a process by which they me want to make an impact and do the same…maybe one of uniting people over one of the most popular comfort decide on the new member, and once they decide, Dickson day I’ll be on there next to him,” said Lucas Schreck. foods, and the mural continues to uphold that unifying paints the most recent celebrity onto the wall. aspect.

“I feel like it’s kind of the mural that keeps on giving:

OCTOBER ISSUE 19

BY CLARA BINSTOCK

BY CLARA BINSTOCK

Homecoming week is aisbig dealdeal here at LHS; from dress up up days throughout thethe week to to activities Homecoming week a big here at LHS; from dress days throughout week activities happening every night, LHS students have their schedules filled up.

Take a peek into some of highlights of of happening every night, LHS students have their schedules filled up. Take a peek into some ofthethe highlights Homecoming 2023.

Homecoming 2023.

LHSSTATESMAN.COM 20 20LHSSTATESMAN.COM

DESIGN BYLARA CLARA BINSTOCK DESIGN

BY C BINSTOCK PHOTOS BYLARA CLARA BINSTOCK PHOTOS

BY C BINSTOCK

ARTWORK BYLARA CLARA BINSTOCK ARTWORK

BY C BINSTOCK

OCTOBERISSUE ISSUE 21 21 OCTOBER

www www

THE THEGITCHIE GITCHIEMANITOU MANITOUWOODS WOODS SPOOK SPOOKROAD ROAD BYBY SHALOM SHALOM KATO KATO && KATYA KATYA SURENDRAN SURENDRAN

AsAs fans fans of ofthethe movie movie “Ghostbusters,” “Ghostbusters,” wewe took took it it upon upon ourselves ourselves toto research research thethe paranormal paranormal folklore folklore of ofthethe Rushmore Rushmore State.

State.

It It should should bebe noted noted that that going going into into this, this, wewe were were not not expecting expecting toto bebe scared scared oror put put off.off.

We We have have walked walked thethe halls halls of of“the “the most most haunted haunted school school in in thethe nation” nation” forfor years years and, and, soso far,far, thethe stories stories of ofoldold ghosts ghosts roaming roaming around around LHS LHS have have been been nothing nothing more more than than poppycock. poppycock.

It It was was not not bravery, bravery, but but doubt doubt in in oldold wives’ wives’ tales, tales, that that enabled enabled usus toto explore explore thethe supernatural supernatural happenings happenings of ofour our city. city.

THE THEOLD OLDCOURTHOUSE COURTHOUSEMUSEUM MUSEUM The The first first stop stop onon our our haunted haunted tour tour of of South South Dakota Dakota was was thethe Old Old Courthouse Courthouse Museum Museum in in Sioux Sioux Falls.

Falls.

According According toto Catherine Catherine Armstrong Armstrong from from Only Only in in Your Your State, State, thethe Old Old Minehaha Minehaha Court Court House House is is “Among “Among thethe most most haunted haunted places places in in thethe nation.” nation.”

Legend Legend has has it it that that a plethora a plethora of ofparanormal paranormal activity activity runs runs rampant rampant 18th 18th century century dolls dolls at the at the Old Old Courthouse Courthouse Museum Museum Which oneone is creepier, thethe taxidermy or or thethe idiot?

Which is creepier, taxidermy idiot? throughout throughout this this building. building.

Civilians Civilians report report watching watching visitors visitors enter enter andand leave. leave. anan elderly elderly custodian custodian cleaning cleaning thethe floors floors of of The The first first stop stop onon our our haunted haunted tour tour of vanishing, ofSouth South Dakota Dakota was was thethe Old Old Courthouse Courthouse Museum Museum in in Sioux Sioux Falls.

Falls.

According According to to the the courtrooms courtrooms and and mysteriously mysteriously vanishing,

Catherine Catherine Armstrong Armstrong from from Only Only in in Your Your State, State, thethe Old Old Minnehaha Minnehaha Courthouse Courthouse is “Among is “Among thethe most most haunted haunted places places in in thethe nation.” nation.”

Legend Legend hashas it that it that a plethora a plethora of ofparanormal paranormal activity activity runs runs rampant rampant throughout throughout this this building. building.

Civilians Civilians report report anan elderly elderly custodian custodian cleaning cleaning thethe floors floors of ofthethe courtrooms courtrooms and and mysteriously mysteriously vanishing, vanishing, thethe sounds sounds of ofa woman’s a woman’s cries cries in in thethe bathroom bathroom that that dissipate dissipate when when you you walk walk in in and and thethe echo echo of offootsteps footsteps trailing trailing behind behind visitors visitors despite despite nobody nobody behind behind them. them.

Like Like thethe ghost ghost busters busters that that wewe were, were, wewe obviously obviously had had to to test test if ifthese these rumors rumors were were a sham a sham or or legitimate, legitimate, so so wewe paid paid a a little little visit. visit.

“There “There were were some some things things in in [the] [the] office office that that people people were were saying, saying, like like they they would would feel feel a weird a weird presence, presence, or or thethe phone phone would would turn turn onon when when nono one one was was there,” there,” said said Paavo Paavo Rasmussen, Rasmussen, anan educator educator forfor thethe Old Old Minnehaha Minnehaha Courthouse Courthouse Museum.

Museum.

AsAs wewe walked walked into into thethe entrance entrance of ofthethe Old Old Minnehaha Minnehaha Courthouse, Courthouse, a cheerful a cheerful receptionist receptionist greeted greeted us.us.

ToTo ourour surprise, surprise, thethe courthouse courthouse feltfelt as as if ifwewe were were visiting visiting ourour grandmother’s grandmother’s house. house.

It It was was notnot very very haunted haunted museum museum material. material.

WeWe walked walked through through thethe corridors, corridors, looking looking at at thethe displays displays of ofhistorical historical items items and and paraphernalia. paraphernalia.

It It was was pretty pretty normal: normal: thethe water water fountains fountains diddid notnot randomly randomly turn turn on,on, a creepy a creepy oldold janitor janitor diddid notnot appear appear and and waltz waltz around around (to(to ourour knowledge) knowledge) and and nono odd odd sounds sounds were were coming coming from from anywhere. anywhere.

The The creepiest creepiest artifact artifact in in thethe museum museum was was probably probably thethe collection collection of ofdolls dolls in in glass glass cases cases staring staring at at usus with with their their soulless soulless eyes. eyes.

Based Based onon that, that, wewe started started to to believe believe thethe legend legend may may have have been been phony. phony.

Rasmussen Rasmussen claims claims thethe rumors rumors of ofparanormal paranormal activity activity likely likely have have logical logical reasons reasons forfor them them and and notnot some some supernatural supernatural force. force.

“Whether “Whether or or notnot you’re you’re a big a big believer—and believer—and I’mI’m not—I’m not—I’m pretty pretty open open onon saying saying that, that, I’mI’m sure sure a lot a lot of ofthethe stories stories have have explanations. explanations.

I think I think that that unfortunately unfortunately forfor a lot a lot of ofus,us, stress stress cancan bebe a big a big part part of ofwhy why wewe seesee or or hear hear things,” things,” said said Rasmussen.

Rasmussen.

Sadly, Sadly, wewe had had to to agree. agree.

Although Although it is it well is well known known forfor itsits paranormal paranormal activity, activity, nothing nothing noteworthy noteworthy happened. happened.

2222 LHSSTATESMAN.COM LHSSTATESMAN.COM

PHOTOS PHOTOS

BY S BY HALOM SHALOM KATO KATO & K&ATYA KATYA SURENDRAN SURENDRAN

BY S BY HALOM SHALOM KATO KATO & K&ATYA KATYA SURENDRAN SURENDRAN DESIGN DESIGN

The The beautiful beautiful view view seen seen right right before before Katya Katya ditched ditched Shalom Shalom in in thethe woods woods because because sheshe “heard “heard something.” something.”

Once Once thethe setting setting of ofnumerous numerous high high school school parties, parties, these these woods woods now now offer offer little little more more than than a horror a horror story story asas thethe sight sight of of a heartbreaking a heartbreaking tragedy. tragedy.

This This horrific horrific event event occurred occurred onon a Saturday a Saturday night, night, Nov. Nov. 17,17, 1973, 1973, when when five five Sioux Sioux Falls Falls teenagers teenagers went went toto thethe park park toto have have a quiet a quiet campfire campfire byby thethe woods. woods.

Interrupting Interrupting their their singing singing and and guitar guitar playing, playing, something something was was rustling rustling in in thethe bushes bushes around around their their clearing clearing and and gunshots gunshots were were echoing echoing into into thethe night. night.

But But when when they they realized realized that that thethe bullets bullets were were coming coming towards towards them, them, it it was was tootoo late. late.

AA group group of ofthree three psychopathic psychopathic brothers brothers massacred massacred thethe four four teenage teenage boys boys in in thethe park park and and kidnapped kidnapped thethe thirteen-year-old thirteen-year-old girl. girl.

Despite Despite this this wretched wretched event event 5050 years years ago, ago, thethe Gitchie Gitchie Manitou Manitou Preserve Preserve is is still still open open toto hikers hikers during during thethe day. day.

Originally Originally thethe thought thought of ofanyone anyone desiring desiring toto visit visit this this area area seemed seemed strange, strange, but but when when thethe autumn autumn scenery scenery welcomed welcomed usus with with anan unmatched unmatched level level of ofserenity, serenity, wewe realized realized wewe wanted wanted toto stay stay there there too. too.

However, However, thethe silence silence in in thethe preserve preserve was was deafening deafening toto a fault, a fault, asas allall wewe heard heard was was thethe wind wind whispering whispering through through thethe branches branches of ofthethe trees. trees.

InIn short, short, it it was was offoffputting putting toto thethe point point where where wewe diddid not not spend spend more more than than 2020 minutes minutes walking walking thethe trails. trails.

Deemed Deemed “one “one of ofthethe most most infamous infamous crimes crimes in in Iowa’s Iowa’s history,” history,” thethe tale tale of ofthese these South South Dakotan Dakotan teenagers teenagers is is difficult difficult toto separate separate from from thethe surreal surreal surroundings. surroundings.

While While seemingly seemingly illogical, illogical, wewe were were disturbed disturbed byby thethe location location before before wewe even even got got out out of ofthethe car. car.

But But this this feeling feeling might might have have less less toto dodo with with actual actual hauntings hauntings and and more more toto dodo with with usus inventing inventing thethe ghosts ghosts of ofthethe past past in in our our minds. minds.

If Ifwewe diddid not not know know any any better, better, this this would would bebe a lovely a lovely place place toto take take a dog a dog onon a walk. a walk.

Nothing Nothing unusual unusual oror mysterious mysterious happened happened toto usus in in thethe deserted deserted pathways, pathways, but but wewe definitely definitely diddid jump jump at at every every noise noise that that came came from from thethe woods. woods.

The The moment moment when when wewe accidentally accidentally crossed crossed state state lines lines into into Iowa.

Iowa.

Spooky Spooky vibes vibes still still lingered lingered in in thethe airair after after wewe left left Gitchie Gitchie Manitou, Manitou, soso wewe were were expecting expecting toto getget at at least least a little a little scared scared onon our our drive drive down down Spook Spook Road.

Road.

The The urban urban legends legends of ofSpook Spook Road Road link link thethe dirt dirt trail trail toto thethe occult occult asas well well asas several several hangings. hangings.

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OCTOBER OCTOBERISSUE ISSUE 2323

Composed of songs from all 10 her previous albums, Taylor Swift’s sold-out stadium tour reflects on all the unique aesthetics of each of her musical “eras” that make up her vast music career while simultaneously bringing popularity back to these old tracks. In a similar fashion, recent decades of American history are defined by their distinctive aesthetics and fashion trends that often recycle their way back into popularity, some even ending up in the closets of LHS students. Coincidentally, each modern decade’s cultural trends parallel each of Swift’s defining eras.

24 LHSSTATESMAN.COM

BY KATE BARBUSH & CIARA VELASQUEZ

PHOTOS BY KATE BARBUSH DESIGN BY KATE BARBUSH

Economic prosperity in America gave way to the “debut” of modern materialism, similar to the debut of Swift’s musical career. As society moved towards conformity, nationwide trends in fashion, music, etc. emerged like never before.

Trends that have come back: miniskirts, headbands and statement sunglasses.

‘70s culture was defined by “fearlessly” breaking social standards through unconventional clothing, drugs and music. New social movements gained support and had people “speaking up” for minority rights across the nation.

Trends that have come back: band t-shirts, bell sleeves and wide-leg pants.

Much like Swift’s transition into pop music with these two albums, America moved into a new era of mainstream pop culture, bringing us iconic pop songs that our parents still love today.

Trends that have come back: mom jeans, scrunchies, hoops, mullets and perms.

With her sixth studio album, Swift reinvents her image with an angsty, grunge undertone, adding notes of hip-hop to her discography. Likewise, ‘90s counterculture embraced this aesthetic and gave this decade its “reputation” for kickstarting the revolution of hip-hop.

Trends that have come back: Doc Martens, overalls and plaid skirts.

With her seventh studio album and her first album with a new record label, Swift moves from black and angsty to pink and girly.

As the world transitioned into a new millennium, the hyper feminine Y2K style that young female celebrities “loved” heavily contrasted the previous decade’s tomboy style.

Trends that have come back: low-rise pants, cargo pants, baby tees and cami tanks.

In these sister albums, Swift dips back into a slightly grunge and folksy vibe with her collection of alternative indie folk songs.

With the popularity of Tumblr, the moody “Tumblr aesthetic” became the basis of this decade’s alternative style that “folklore” and “evermore” embody.

Trends that have come back: flannels, leather jackets, off-the-shoulder tops, Abercrombie and Converse.

Written in her bedroom in the middle of the night, Swift’s most recent album records all her late-night thoughts into a collection of moody, bedroom pop tracks.

Most people in 2020 could relate, for most of the world sat isolated in their bedrooms while COVID-19 ran rampant outside. Looking at the musical component, the bedroom pop genre has currently been on the rise in national charts as smaller artists have been able to popularize their songs through social media platforms such as TikTok.

OCTOBER ISSUE 25

BY LAILA MILLER

Fall is a favorite time of year for many. The leaves are changing colors, the weather is getting cooler and everything is pumpkin spice flavored. The fall season also brings along many fun events to attend. These are some of the most popular activities and events to go to in Sioux Falls and around the area.

BY NATHAN THOMPSON

Going apple and pumpkin picking is a great activity to do with your family. You can create yummy fall foods with your picks, such as apple crisp, caramel apples, pie, pumpkin seeds and more. Many people also love carving or decorating their pumpkins. Two great places to visit in the area are Cherry Rock farms, which has a pumpkin and gourd patch along with a lot of other fresh produce to choose from, and the Country Apple Orchard, which hosts a fall festival every year. The Fall Festival has a variety of activities ranging from hayrides to zip lines.

The Heartland Country and Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Corn Maze are great opportunities for people who love a challenge. To create a more memorable and frightening experience, the Heartland Country Corn Maze hosts a haunted maze on Oct. 27 and Oct. 28.

Although this may not be your cup of tea (or cider), many love the excitement and thrill that comes along with walking through a haunted house. Some haunted houses include Terror 29 and Jaycees Feargrounds (which is a more kid-friendly option). If you are willing to put in the extra miles, take a trip to the Fear Asylum in Brookings. Silverstar also offers a fright while you wash your car in their haunted car wash.

The first person to turn in a completed Crossword to Kroeze in room A404 will receive a $5 Bagel Boy gift card.

There are many things to do in downtown Sioux Falls. You can visit the variety of shops, admire all of the unique sculptures and take a walk through Falls Park. Although this can be enjoyed at any time of the year, the different colors of the trees and the not-too-cold but not-too-warm weather make walking around during fall a more delightful experience. In addition, on Oct. 28 the Sioux Falls Roller Dollz is hosting the Zombie Walk, which is a fun event where people dress like zombies and parade through the downtown streets.

Across

2. Like a knight, or a gas 6. Actor Ford 10. Red plus Blue 11. Composer Michael 13. Author King 14. Element 15 15. Scotch, or worm 16. Run DMC hit “It’s _____” 17. Dos + Tres 18. “Citizen ________” 20. Mojo Dojo Casa ______ 22. Villain in “Lego Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu” 23. Hughes, who built the Spruce Goose 26. Rose, or cereal 28. Actress Shirley, or place of worship 30. Barred instrument 31. Watch again 33. Actor Stallone, informally 35. B, in PB&J 36. Kurt, of the Rams 37. Richard Donner film “Lady______”

26 LHSSTATESMAN.COM

Some of LHS students’ favorite things to do during the fall season:

Down

1. Michael who fought a fake shark 3. My favorite Taylor Swift Album (Hint: Page 39) 4. Nixon’s hotel 5. LHS Mascot 7. “Last American ______” 8. 39th president 9. “Back to the Future” director Robert 10. Spice Girl Victoria 12. Had breakfast 14. Like Christopher Guest, in The Princess Bride 19. Garfield’s owner 21. Boss 24. Big rig’s fuel, or Shaq informally 25. Flying homophone 27. Month before Oct. 29. What is 100% in the school basement 32. Museum with a pyramid 33. Pizzeria with SF wall of fame (Page 18) 34. Third letter DESIGN BY NATHAN THOMPSON

“Walking downtown and going to the Apple Orchard.”

-Taelor Blankenfeld, 12th grade

“I love to go to the pumpkin patch or the apple orchard with my friends and family. I also love to [go to] Falls Park when the leaves are all the bright colors; it’s so beautiful.” -Isabella Abels, 11th grade

“I love going to the apple orchard this time of year because the trees are starting to change colors and [they] look so pretty together.

I also love to go into a coffee shop downtown and read a good book while drinking a pumpkin spice latte.”

-Haily Hernandez, 9th grade

“Apple picking is fun. I also love haunted houses.”

-Logan Sanborn, 10th grade

“Haunted houses, haunted corn mazes, pumpkin carving [and] Halloween parties.”

-Aydn Calhoun, 12th

“Going to the pumpkin patch with friends, drinking hot apple cider while reading a good book, decorating my room for fall [and] lighting my fall candles.”

-Marrie Luther, 9th grade

To check out more events in the area, visit the 2023 Fall Fun Guide at The ‘Hood Magazine website.

DESIGN BY LAILA MILLER ARTWORK BY LAIILA MILLER & ELLEN MERKLEY

OCTOBER ISSUE 27

BY RYAN CALHOUN

Ever since the introduction of chromebooks in classrooms across the district, teachers and students alike have been striving to find the best ways to incorporate technology into the learning process. Somehow, they first landed on Kahoot. As one could imagine, a lot has changed since the first kahoot game was played within the walls of LHS. Nowadays, it’s not just jolly ranchers on the line, but it’s also pride. It’s also not just Kahoot anymore. Study sites like Gimkit, Blooket and Quizlet Live have joined the conversation and have won over the hearts of many students looking to study for their next test only to fail again. With all the assortment of options available, it was a mystery which one is the best for students. Until now.

40 27

24 3

Gimkit received 29% of the votes for students’ favorite study game, and 21% of votes for students’ least favorite, proving the most divisive of the four options. While the feedback on Gimkit was generally positive, it received the least votes of all four options for its effectiveness when studying alone. One drawback to Gimkit is that some of its extravagant game modes can distract from real learning. “I don’t like Gimkit because it’s more of a strategy game than a normal game like most Blooket games,” said one anonymous LHS Student.

Quizlet Live received only 3% of the votes for students’ favorite study game, and received a whopping 59% of votes in the opposite direction. The hatred towards Quizlet Live as a study platform was almost unanimous among those who responded, though the blow was softened by the 20% of voters who prefer it for studying alone. Quizlet Live was described by students as “awkward,” “awful,” “bland,” “the worst” and “stupid.”

One student went so far as to say “If I have to play one more Quizlet Live, I am going to snap.”

Blooket received the most positive votes of all the options, with 43% of respondents saying it is their favorite. On the other hand, it received only 10% of the votes for students’ least favorite study game. Blooket was also widely chosen as the most efficient and effective for students studying alone, winning 43% of votes in that category. The only criticism that Blooket faced was the occasional accusation of overuse by teachers. Otherwise, most comments were along the lines of “Blooket is by far the best study game of all time,” as one student said.

While Kahoot came in third place when it came to students’ favorite study game with a lackluster 26% of votes, it received the least amount of votes in the opposite respect, which essentially proved its status as “mid,” as one student said. While it has fallen out of favor in the minds of many students and teachers, Kahoot is thought of fondly in retrospect. “Kahoot is THE classic, and the move to other platforms is incredibly sad,” said one student. Kahoot was only the preference for individual studying for 20% of students, one of many reasons it continues to lose popularity.

28 LHSSTATESMAN.COM

DESIGN BY RYAN CALHOUN

OFFSEASON

ARTWORK BY JOSEPH TUNGE

The Athletic projects that the Vikings will win 8.5 games this season. This number is down from 9.5 wins for the 2022 season despite having blown away expectations by winning 13 games.

This projection is due to the big names the Vikings lost such as: Dalvin Cook, Patrick Peterson, Adam Thielen and Za’Darius Smith. On the other hand, Vikings fans are optimistic due to the fact that the youth movement general manager Kwesi AdofoMensah is starting and new defensive coordinator Brian Flores.

Adofo-Mensah had an underwhelming offseason compared to other general managers. He made minor defensive signings such as Byron Murphy Jr. and Marcus Davenport: decent players, but nothing game-changing. The real game changer for the Vikings on defense this year will be the new defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who helped coach for the New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers. He coached behind Bill Belichick and Mike Tomlin, two of the greatest defensive head coaches in NFL history. Flores will bring an aggressive edge to the defense that the Vikings were lacking last year with Ed Donnatel (previous defensive coordinator).

Aside from signing Flores, Adofo-Mensah attempted to improve the defense through the draft with his six draft picks.

The Vikings drafted the 2021 Biletnikoff award (the best wide receiver in college award) winner, Jordan Addison with their first pick to replace Adam Thielen. After that, they used the next three picks on defensive players. Cornerback Mekhi Blackmon, safety Jay Ward and defensive lineman Jaquelin Roy. The team hopes these players can develop into quality starters and help turn the defense around.

The Vikings made up for other holes in the roster with UDFA (undrafted free agent) signings. Of the 15 UDFA’s trying out for the team, three players ended up making the team including NaJee Thompson as a defensive back, Andre Carter II on the defensive line and Ivan Pace Jr. as a linebacker. NaJee Thompson played for Georgia Southern University and impressed during the preseason by making hustle plays on special teams. Andre Carter II played for Army during college, finishing with 20 career sacks, which is the second most in Army history. This signing is seen as more of an investment, as now that he does not have to condition for Army he will put on muscle mass. Ivan Pace Jr. has made such a big impression that he is going to be a starting inside linebacker this season. Pace Jr.

PHOTOS BY COOPER SCHULTZ

DESIGN BY JOSEPH TUNGE & COOPER

SCHULTZ

BY COOPER SCHULTZ & JOSEPH TUNGE

30 LHSSTATESMAN.COM

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RECAP started his career in Miami, went to Cincinnati and then ended up on the Vikings.

The Vikings have $5,386,080 of $224,800,000 in salary cap left for the 2023 season. This includes $39,700,237 in dead cap which really hurt the Vikings in free agency this year. Dead cap is money that was guaranteed to a player that was later cut. This $39 million amount has hurt the Vikings in free agency this year, preventing the Vikings from making changes on the offensive line. Because of the lack of money, Vikings fans are sending up prayers that the offensive line has developed in the offseason, hopefully able to be the catalyst that lets the offense explode.

While the overall win total might go down, especially at the start of the season, the Vikings are hoping to improve with young players stepping up to the plate, leading the Vikings to make a run in the playoffs.

Teacher opinions:

Is the prediction of an 8.5 win total doing the Vikings justice, and why?

Joel DeHaai (LHS Education Assistant): Yes, the Vikings let go of a lot of talent in free agency. While it was old talent that was probably ready to move on, they are going to be a young team, especially on defense this year.

They are going to have to figure some things out.

Jared Jansen (LHS Math Teacher): [I’m] not very optimistic

for the Vikings, they won a lot of onescore games last year. A lot of games they shouldn’t have won, I’d put them at about 6.5 wins. The law of averages always wins.

(Left) Ivan Pace Jr., Linebacker (Right) Jordan Addison, Wide-receiver

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OCTOBER OCTOBER ISSUE ISSUE31 31 OCTOBER OCTOBER ISSUE ISSUE31 31

BY HAZEL HUGHES

Questions 1. What does your pregame routine look like?

2. What is your go-to song before a game?

3. What is something you consistently do before every game?

4. Do you think if you did something different or changed up your routine, you would not be successful?

5. How many hours of sleep do you need before game day?

6. In your pregame routine, are you an energy drink type of person? If not, what do you drink?

7. Do you have different pregame rituals for different sports?

8. How do you like to celebrate a win?

PRESTON HUWE, 12TH

1.“Do whatever to make sure I am locked in.”

2.“‘Dreams and Nightmares, by Meek Mill.”

3.“I always eat two bananas before every game.”

4.“Yes, if I am not focused and locked in to perform.”

5.“I normally get six hours of sleep.”

6.“Yes, I drink an Orange Dreamsicle Reign.”

7.“No, my routine doesn’t change, it makes sure I’m prepared for the game.”

8.“I like to celebrate by going out with the team afterwards.”

BY ADDY

ALBRECHT

BLAISE SHOWERS, 11TH

1. “I do team stretch and then go through the normal game routine of throwing to the wide receivers.”

2. “I listen to whatever the team puts on in the locker room.”

3. “Make sure I’m mentally and physically ready to play in the game.”

4. “Yes, changing my pregame routine would most likely make me less successful.”

5. “I like to get around eight to nine hours of sleep before games.”

6. “No, I like to drink water and Gatorade before games to stay hydrated.”

7. “Football is the only sport I play.”

8. “We always go to Buffalo Wild Wings.”

MARIE HORSTED, 11TH

1. “Do my hair, eat a snack, put on my cleats and shin guards, then jam out to music in the locker room.”

2. “Run This Town’ by Jay-Z.” 3. “I always prepare myself mentally for every game.”

4. “Not everything stays the same, but my structure of the routine needs to stay in order.”

5. “Nine hours.”

6. “No, I typically drink a Liquid Iv before games.”

7. “Yes, my routine is different when it comes to soccer versus basketball or even track.”

8. “I like to celebrate a win by getting food with the team.”

SEYLAH WIKA, 10TH

1. “My game day routine usually starts the night before with ice wraps and eating pizza bagels in the morning.”

2. “My go-to song is ‘Low’ by Flo Rida.”

3. “Something I do before every game is pray.”

4. “Yes, because those pizza bagels are a necessity.”

5. “At least nine hours of sleep.”

6. “No, I’m not an energy drink type of person. I always drink red Gatorade.”

7. “No, my pregame rituals stay the same for each sport I play.”

8. “Qdoba or Noodles & Company.”

32 LHSSTATESMAN.COM

DESIGN BY HAZEL HUGHES PHOTOS PROVIDED BY LHS ATHLETEES

With arguably the best wide receiver-quarterback duo in the state, the LHS football team is projected to win it all this season according to Midco Sports.

Going from 4th to 1st over the offseason, the LHS football team has made an incredible comeback and has established itself as the lineup to beat this season. Seniors Tate Schafer and Jack Smith have played a huge role in leading the team over the years with their impressive playing abilities and outstanding statistics. Other senior players like Dawson Siem and Brycen Mitchell have stepped up this year, filling leadership positions that were once occupied by the 2023 seniors. Mitchell, who is no stranger to the field, credits that the team veterans with “more experience” have shaped the teams’ “better offense” compared to previous years.

With the loss of past seniors, the team dynamic was bound to change, and it was unknown how the team would adjust. Over the summer, the entire team came together, forming a cohesive unit instead of separate players like last year. This year, the team is like a family, and everyone is friends with each other. “[There is] a lot less drama this year. It seems like the players from top to bottom [are] even keeled and really mature,” said head coach, Jared Fredenburg.

Returning after a 7-4 season, the team has most recently defeated the number two seed, OGHS, in an exciting 58-35 game. Part of the teams’ success rate this year comes from the growing confidence they get with every game they win.

“They knew coming into the season that we were gonna be pretty good… they hold themselves to that expectation,” said Fredenburg.

The team has remained level-headed and humble, even when acknowledging that they are expected to have an undefeated season. This year, the program as a whole is preaching the 1% mindset, meaning that each day they will get 1% better than they were the day before.

“The goal is to win a state title and we plan on achieving it by being better tomorrow than we were today,” said Fredenburg.

Because of the relationships that the boys have been able to build over not only the last few months but the past four years, they have learned that the accomplishments they strive for are so much more than a state title. Some of these boys have played over 30 varsity games for LHS throughout their high school career, and still bring their all to every game. Each player individually brings different strengths and weaknesses to the field, all of which the team has witnessed firsthand. Of course, a trophy would be nice, but when it comes to winning, what matters most is that they are victorious for each other.

“We make sure that we are playing for and representing the name on the front (Lincoln),” said Schafer.

PHOTO BY CLARA BINSTOCK DESIGN BY ADDY ALBRECHT

BY REAGAN WULF

BY REAGAN WULF

BY REAGAN WULF

BY GRACE MINER

A new school year means new classes, new friends and new sports captains. On top of managing their schoolwork, these students take new school year means new classes, new friends new sports captains.

On top of help managing their sports schoolwork, students take on A the challenge of being a leader for their teams.

Letand us meet some senior athletes who lead LHS’s teamsthese to success. new school year means new classes, new friends new sports captains.

On top of help managing their sports schoolwork, students take on A the challenge of being a leader for their teams.

Letand us meet some senior athletes who lead LHS’s teamsthese to success. on the challenge of being a leader for their teams. Let us meet some senior athletes who help lead LHS’s sports teams to success.

Kaitlyn Ludens, Kaitlyn Ludens, Kaitlyn Ludens, Dance Dance 1. 14 years Dance 1. 14 years

1. How many years have you been playing your sport?

1. How How many many years years have have you you been been on playing your sport?

2. the team?

1.

How many years have you been your sport?

2.

How many years havepart you about been playing on the team?

3.

What is your favorite being a captain on the team?

2. years havepart you about been on the team?

3. How Whatmany is your favorite being a captain on the team?

3. What is your favorite part about being a captain on the team?

Tallen Dobson, Tallen Dobson, Tallen Dobson, Boys Soccer Boys Soccer years Boys Soccer1.2.1. 10 10years years 4

Henry Eckert, Henry Eckert, Henry Eckert, Boys Soccer Boys Soccer years Boys Soccer 1.1.2. 12 12 years 4 years

Jack Smith, Jack Smith, Jack Smith, Football Football 1. 9 years Football 1. 4 9 years years 2.

Linnea Nesheim, Linnea Nesheim, Linnea Nesheim, Volleyball Volleyball Volleyball 1.1. 66 years years

Ella Ready, Ella Ready, Ella Ready, Girls Soccer Girls Soccer 1. 10 years Girls Soccer 1. 10 years

Lily Dahler, Lily Dahler, Lily Dahler, Girls Soccer Girls years Girls Soccer Soccer1.1. 13 13 years

2.

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“Leading my team to wins and helping them when are to wins and they helping them when they are down.” them when they are down.” down.”

34 LHSSTATESMAN.COM 34 LHSSTATESMAN.COM 34 LHSSTATESMAN.COM

2.

2 years 1. years 2. 14 2 years 3.

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PHOTOS BY REAGAN WULF practice.”

PHOTOS BY REAGAN WULF DESIGN BY REAGAN WULF

DESIGN BY PHOTOS

BY R REAGAN EAGAN W WULF ULF DESIGN BY REAGAN WULF

instead of car by 2050.

That shift could result in 2.83–3.51 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas emissions and reduce costs associated with car ownership by US$3.18–3.94 trillion,” said Project Drawdown, a group dedicated to increasing walkability.

Furthermore, the decreased carbon emissions combined with frequent walking and biking greatly improve the health of its citizens, both mentally and physically. They have the ability to protect citizens from long and short-term illnesses associated with inactivity, such as heart disease and obesity, while also promoting happiness through fulfilling a sense of community. “Residents of sprawling counties were likely to walk less during leisure time, weigh more, and have greater prevalence of hypertension than residents of compact counties,” said Reid Ewing in a study for the American Journal of Health Promotion.

Most importantly, these cities protect their citizens from dangers that non-walkable cities are unable to. With cars being

used less frequently car accidents will decrease as pedestrian safety increases.

There are several notable solutions to promoting safety through walkability. “…building well-lit and tree-lined sidewalks and safe pedestrian crossings.

Implementing traffic calming measures,” said The Climate Reality Project. “Building onstreet, diagonal parking can create positive friction to slow down traffic, while simultaneously acting as a buffer between the sidewalk and the road.”

Ultimately, the benefits of walkable cities become more desired by the day.

While Sioux Falls is taking steps towards becoming more walkable, such as repainting crosswalks and adding street cams, they must do more to achieve it.

The actions necessary may be costly, yet the end result will yield a lower cost of living for citizens, along with higher safety rates.

In the long run, the small steps taken by the City to create walkability will give billions of small steps towards happiness, health and safety for its citizens.

OCTOBER ISSUE 35

ARTWORK USED WITH PERMISSION BY CANVA & SKETCHIFY

Dawson Seim, Dawson Seim, Dawson Seim, Football Football 1.11 years Football 1.11 years

less populated areas. It’s difficult to find sufficient funds to make an urban area more walkable, and it is significantly more difficult in a less populated area. However, as the population of Sioux Falls grows, the potential for higher walkability does as well. Although the additions to do so may be costly, ultimately walkable cities have proven to be more cost effective, especially for lower income citizens. “While the average American spends roughly 13% of household expenditure on transportation, this cost is not similar across incomes. Lower income households generally pay a larger portion of their expenditure on transportation and as people move up in income brackets, they pay a smaller portion on transportation,” said the Institute For Transportation & Development Policy.

Additionally, walkability has the potential to combat global warming by providing a lower carbon footprint due to the decreased car usage. “...5 percent of urban mobility can be provided by foot

DESIGN BY GRACE MINER

Ava Wornson, Ava Wornson, Ava Wornson, Dance Dance 1. 14 years Dance 1. 14 years

Cars yield efficient travel, while walking yields effective exercise. For non-walkable cities, such as Sioux Falls, this proves true. However, for walkable cities, walking provides both efficient travel and exercise, and driving provides neither.

The popularity of walkable cities has been growing in recent years, due to their health and environmental benefits, high safety rates and close proximity to businesses.

Because Sioux Falls has a walk score of 38, which is based on a 100-point scale with 100 being the most walkable, the city has been looking to improve it through several projects.

“The City is doing its part by repainting crosswalks. ADA compliant ramps were recently installed at a mid-block crossing on Phillips and on River Road. The City is also in the middle of assessing downtown’s inventory of street trees, which help calm traffic,” said Joe Batcheller, a journalist for Downtown Sioux Falls.

While the city is taking steps to improve its walkability, it still falls short, more so in

BY BERGEN QUELLO

Have you ever noticed how many logos LHS has throughout the school? Could you name every single one of the Murphy’s?

From the football Murphy, to the marching patriot, there is no consistency, so many may be confused on which one represents LHS as a whole. This year the new Activities Director, David Maxwell, has brought up the topic of the logos and wants to see change.

He is hoping to elevate branding and pick out one main Murphy to be the face of the school.

“I am brand new, so the last thing I am trying to do is come in and tell the vets who have been here a long time how to act or think. So, my approach for the logo, and goal for unification, is to get people’s opinions and learn about the traditions of them,” said Maxwell.

Murphy has gone through many different stages and has evolved throughout the years.

He is growing up along with the students that he embodies. While the changes of Murphy still

36 LHSSTATESMAN.COM

might occur without everyone in agreement, Maxwell hopes to reach an overall consensus with the students and faculty of the school, which will take more time than one school year.

Some students shared their opinions on whether or not Murphy should change, which logo it would change to and if having one unified logo would help LHS’s identity.

One student shared “I would be upset because I think that it is fun for all sports to have a creative freedom to be able to create a Murphy that best represents their sport.” Each activity having their one logo means dozens of representations throughout the school.

Would the opposing team recognize who they are playing?

Other than the five logos, there are multiple activities that put it in their own power just creating new logos as a whole. Volleyball has a ball with LV on it, while dance has a complete opposite one with the soldier Murphy holding

pom poms. LHS might be unrecognizable to their rivals and one student tried to come up with a compromise. “I think there should be an overall one and then each activity can have its own version.”

Maxwell’s hope is to have immediate recognition from others but also bring in some core pillars that can help make LHS students leave with the same core beliefs.

“What is a LHS Patriot, and what will they look back on and say they learned in their activities once they’ve graduated? My goal is no matter what, if it’s a football player or someone in oral interp, they can have a common ground and leave the school knowing how it truly feels to be a Pat,” said Maxwell.

James Jarovski concurs with Maxwell that the branding for LHS does need to improve, yet he thinks the animated

Murphy needs to be the main design.

“Many of the other logos are soldiers, or figures that aren’t Murphy’s and with the student body deciding on the Murphy as their mascot in the 1960s, I think it should stay that way as it is unique to LHS and builds on tradition,” said Jarovski.

Along with being a chemistry teacher, Jarovski, is also a football and track coach, and thinks there should still be some free reign to put adjustments on Murphy, along with consistency throughout all the activities.

Many students agree with keeping a specific Murphy, yet most seem to lean towards the logo that represents their own activities. Whether the change happens this year, or in 10 years, LHS is hoping to have a better overall representation of the school with a logo the students help decide on.

BY WILL HANSEN

The change from Google Classroom to Canvas is one that many students were shocked by. The real question is, was the switch really necessary?

At the beginning of this year, LHS students were surprised to see that Google Classroom has been switched to Canvas, a new application that is used for assignments, grades, etc. This change was quite unnecessary and made things more difficult for students to understand, as navigating a completely new application is confusing and difficult. Furthered by the syncing issue with Infinite Campus, students have been confused on how to check their grades which makes the switch a bit messy for the beginning of the school year.

While Canvas already sounds bad enough, accessing assignments is another issue. Some assignments that teachers have made in past years don’t show up properly like they did in Google Classroom, which can be frustrating for teachers and students. This forces teachers to change their lesson plan or figure out how to make assignments appear properly on Canvas, which can be a hassle.

Another problem with Canvas is the entire layout.

The homepage is similar to Google Classroom,

but once you click into a specific class, there are many buttons that students can get confused pretty easily. This can be difficult especially with finding specific assignments. For example, if you need to access a textbook, there are so many different buttons that make it very complex. Overall, navigating assignments and textbooks on Canvas has been tough due to the amount of buttons and not being sure on where to click.

In addition to the layout being messy, there are also some flaws within the application itself.

One flaw that’s stuck out the most is the to-do list feature. Sometimes, even when an assignment has been submitted and has been graded, it’s still under the to-do list. This is a huge problem as students may be perplexed when it says they have multiple assignments to do, even when they’ve all been submitted.

Ultimately, Canvas has a lot of drawbacks, and Google Classroom provided a much simpler way to access assignments with a nicer and less complex layout. Change can be good, but in this case, it’s not.

DESIGN ELEMENTS BY CANVA ARTWORK BY ELLEN MERKLEY

DESIGN BY WILL HANSEN

DESIGN BY BERGEN QUELLO ARTWORK BY ELLEN MERKLEY

SOURCES PROVIDED BY REMOTEWORKLEARNING.MEDIUM.COM

DESIGN BY BERGEN QUELLO

& COPYLEAKS.COM

OCTOBER ISSUE 37

10This“Fearless” was the spot that was hardest to decide. Every album seemed to be begging for the coveted title of “worst.” Honestly, I wish I could give it to all of them, but that is not how these rankings work. This album is only remembered for two songs, and two songs only. And they are the two most overplayed songs in the entire Swift discography (“You belong with me,” and “Love Story”). And there is not much positive to look towards with this album. Overall, “Fearless” is an easy last place. I am not sorry.

Is Is music music becoming becoming disposable? disposable?

“Debut” 9 Believe it or not, this was actually

BY HADY CISAR BY

BY H HADY ADY C CISAR ISAR

Think of your favorite song as of right now.

Think Think of of your your favorite favorite song song as as of of right right now. now.

Now think of your favorite song from last Now think of your favorite song from Now think of your favorite song from last last week.

How about your favorite song from last week. week. How How about about your your favorite favorite song song from from last last month?

Are they all the same? month? month? Are Are they they all all the the same? same?

Chances are, the songs you listen to are Chances Chances are, are, the the songs songs you you listen listen to to are are constantly changing.

Not only are the songs constantly constantly changing. changing. Not Not only only are are the the songs songs changing, the artists are too.

In an LHS changing, changing, the the artists artists are are too. too. In In an an LHS LHS survey of 113 students, over 60% of students survey of 113 students, over 60% of survey of 113 students, over 60% of students students said that they do not follow the same artists said said that that they they do do not not follow follow the the same same artists artists or songs, but would rather listen to whatever or songs, but would rather listen to whatever or songs, but would rather listen to whatever they feel like listening to.

This leads to aa they they feel feel like like listening listening to. to. This This leads leads to to a phenomenon that many are beginning to phenomenon that many are beginning phenomenon that many are beginning to to describe as disposable music. describe describe as as disposable disposable music. music.

Disposable music commonly refers to music Disposable Disposable music music commonly commonly refers refers to to music music that is trendy for aa short period of time and that is trendy for short period of time that is trendy for a short period of time and and then forgotten about less than a year later. then then forgotten forgotten about about less less than than aa year year later. later.

According to aa blog by “Swim Into The According According to to a blog blog by by “Swim “Swim Into Into The The Sound” Daniel Ek, CEO of Spotify, states, “you Sound” Daniel Ek, CEO of Spotify, Sound” Daniel Ek, CEO of Spotify, states, states, “you “you can’t record music every three or four years can’t record music every three or four years can’t record music every three or four years and think that’s going to be enough.”

Due to and and think think that’s that’s going going to to be be enough.” enough.” Due Due to to short lived trends and fads, not only is new short lived trends and fads, not only is short lived trends and fads, not only is new new music being released every day, it is also being music music being being released released every every day, day, it it is is also also being being forgotten just as easily.

PR Newswire states, forgotten just as easily.

PR Newswire forgotten just as easily. PR Newswire states, states, “the average lifespan of aa music track in the “the “the average average lifespan lifespan of of a music music track track in in the the TOP-100 charts is 45.3 days,” meaning that a TOP-100 TOP-100 charts charts is is 45.3 45.3 days,” days,” meaning meaning that that aa song will get just over a month of recognition song song will will get get just just over over aa month month of of recognition recognition before falling into the bottomless pit of before before falling falling into into the the bottomless bottomless pit pit of of disregarded music. disregarded disregarded music. music.

38 LHSSTATESMAN.COM 38 38 LHSSTATESMAN.COM LHSSTATESMAN.COM

Many students at LHS are beginning to Many Many students students at at LHS LHS are are beginning beginning to to question whether or not the songs that we question whether or not the songs question whether or not the songs that that we we listen to today will beat the odds of the listen listen to to today today will will beat beat the the odds odds of of the the threatening future it might face in the music threatening future it might face in threatening future it might face in the the music music industry.

One student claims, “music is industry.

One student claims, “music is industry. One student claims, “music is constantly being released, so it doesn't have as constantly constantly being being released, released, so so it it doesn't doesn't have have as as much of an opportunity to be remembered.” much much of of an an opportunity opportunity to to be be remembered.” remembered.”

Another adds, “there is aa lot more social media Another Another adds, adds, “there “there is is a lot lot more more social social media media marketing.

Honestly all the good songs you marketing. marketing. Honestly Honestly all all the the good good songs songs you you don't find on the radio, you find on social don't don't find find on on the the radio, radio, you you find find on on social social media.

I think because the scope has widened, media.

I think because the scope media. I think because the scope has has widened, widened, there is so much music available.” there is so much music available.” there is so much music available.”

So how do we fix this problem?

In all So So how how do do we we fix fix this this problem? problem? In In all all honesty, there's not much we can do.

It seems honesty, there's not much we can do. honesty, there's not much we can do. It It seems seems daft to assume that we can tell people what daft to assume that we can tell people what daft to assume that we can tell people what artists they can and cannot listen to, or to tell artists artists they they can can and and cannot cannot listen listen to, to, or or to to tell tell those who spend most of their day listening those who spend most of their day listening those who spend most of their day listening to music to listen even more. In the end, no to to music music to to listen listen even even more. more. In In the the end, end, no no one person has complete control over the one person has complete control over the one person has complete control over the music industry and what songs listeners are music music industry industry and and what what songs songs listeners listeners are are consuming.

One LHS student said it best, consuming.

One LHS student said consuming. One LHS student said it it best, best, “there are so many songs written [that] it can “there “there are are so so many many songs songs written written [that] [that] it it can can be hard to stand out.

But for major artists, I do be hard to stand out.

But for major artists, be hard to stand out. But for major artists, II do do think some of their songs will stand the test think some of their songs will stand the test think some of their songs will stand the test of time.” of of time.” time.”

DESIGN BY HADY CISAR DESIGN BY HADY CISAR ARTWORK DESIGN BYUSED HADYWITH CISAR PERMISSION BY ARTWORK USED WITH PERMISSION BY ARTWORK USED WITH PERMISSION BY CANVA & K AISORN CANVA & KAISORN CANVA & KAISORN

Taylor Swift’s first album (her debut, if you will). This was almost the number 10 album, but at least its popular songs are not played over and over again. However, this album does not really fit into any categories. It is not (real) country, it is not really Taylor Swift music, and it does not really fit into any categories. Honestly, this album just does not have a place in this world.

8 “Lover”

“I barely even know ‘er.” But in all seriousness, this album does not have much to write home about. It at least has a few bearable songs, and even some worth (*gasp*) a relisten.

However, this album falls into the pit of mediocrity too often, with all of its songs being mostly “meh.” And do not even get me started on the preachy nature of this album. Politics and pop just do not mix like they did in the ‘60s. I know this album has a lot of fans, and I am sorry that I cannot understand the hype. If “Lover” is your favorite, sorry for ranking it so low, but soon you’ll get better.

7 “1989”

Maybe Swift’s most famous album to date. Its presence can be felt almost immediately upon walking into a mall, examining pop culture from that era (or the junior class T-shirt.) So why then, would this album be ranked so low??? Well, its cultural prowess is what carried this album up to number seven. It is a good thing that Swift did not name this album “Fine Wine,” because it did not age well.

The problem with this album is that everybody and everything wanted to imitate this album, or use this album or reference this album. It has been overdone. The looming presence of this album is just too much for my ears to bear. This album cannot be erased and it will haunt me forever even into my wildest dreams.

ARTWORK BY NATHAN THOMPSON DESIGN BY LHS STATESMAN

6 “Midnights”

More like less than mid-nights, amiright? (Please drop everything and clap for this incredible joke I have written). The newest addition to the discography, but that does not win it any points. A recurring theme in the album is Swift would have ME believe that SHE is an anti-hero! Experts put the amount of money Swift made from Eras between one to one and a half BILLION dollars. The next highest was Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, raking in $853 million. A cool 647 million dollars off from Swift. She is not Tyler Durden, she is Atticus Finch (who the internet is telling me is the best film hero ever). While I actually do not mind a lot of the songs on the album, and I think featuring Lana Del Ray was a nice touch, I just cannot bring myself to put this kind of pandering in the top 50% of my ranking. I guess that is just Karma.

5 “Reputation”

This album has some popular songs, and some really good songs.

However, it also has some songs that I do not prefer. This album gets the number five spot because (as far as Taylor Swift albums go) it is just in the middle for me. I am not going to complain about it, but I am not super thrilled about it either. I understand that maybe this is a benchmark album for Swift, but it is definitely in the middle of the pack for me. At the end of the day, I can live with this, and not feel like I did something bad.

4 “Red”

The thing that catapults Red ahead of other albums is the fact that while it has songs that I feel are overplayed, or bad, it also features songs that I do not actually mind. I spent over an hour and a half listening to this album, and I can honestly say that I do not regret at least 25 of those minutes. I would be remiss if I did not address the elephant in the room that is “All Too Well 10 minute version.”

While it is an absolute test of will power for me to sit and listen to a song for 10 minutes, I have to respect a creator who can get a song past eight minutes (“American Pie”) and I really like the lyrics, and the tune is not all bad. This song alone puts the album above “reputation,” because it is one of the few times I feel like Swift has gone against the mainstream, as long songs are not always as popular across a broad audience. The reason it is not higher is because a lot of the album is still pretty basic, nothing new.

Taylor Swift albums: A definitive ranking SOMEBODY HAD TO DO IT

BY NATHAN THOMPSON

With the Eras tour making waves with audiences with expendable incomes nationwide, I decided to see what the buzz was all about.

Being far too cynical to actually like anything popular, naturally I was absolutely dumbfounded. But wasted time that can be used to meet a deadline is not wasted time at all. So, without further ado, here is the official and only valid ranking of every Taylor Swift album. Be sure to leave a comment telling me how absolutely wrong I am and how I did not pick up on a subtle nuance in your favorite album.

3 “Folklore”

This album is fine. But why it is not up there with its sister album is because “Exile,” the best song on the album, one of the best songs in her whole discography, is absolutely carried by Bon Iver. The man absolutely steals Swift’s thunder.

Getting upstaged on your album is going to lose you serious points.

What puts it this high, is the fact that its mediocre songs (relatively speaking) are far better than many of her other albums’ mediocre songs.

It was a shaky landing, but a landing nonetheless, as if the “plane” was carried down attached to God’s invisible string.

2 “Speak Now”

Speak Now? I am not a fan of women speaking ever, much less now. (Author’s Note: That was a joke. I actually respect women a lot. I was born out of one after all). This album is set apart from the rest for two reasons. One, there are some good songs. “Better than Revenge” is top five Swift songs for me, and “Mean” is actually one of my first interactions with Swift’s music outside of “1989”’s commanding presence. Another thing I really like about this album is the style.

Swift fan or not, I have to admit, she is a genius when it comes to maintaining relevance, and this album is really a smoking gun evincing this fact. Swift’s third album features country styled music in the form of her first two albums (ex. Mean) but also pop styled songs that feel more like her next few albums genre (ex.

Better than Revenge). Rather than pull a 180 on fans, it was more

gradual. My ears are thankful for this, because it is a tonal shift, and makes the mainstream nonsense of this album at least feel fresh at times. As far as Taylor Swift goes, this album will always be a favorite of mine.

1 “Evermore”

The title of this album means forever and ever, in a chiefly ecclesiastical sense. And any reader of ecclesiastes (or fan of The Byrds) will tell you, there is a time for everything. (Prepare yourself for an incredible, seamless transition). And the time has now come for me to reveal why this is my favorite Swift album. It breaks down to three points. One, I actually really like TWO songs on this album as opposed to one (or zero). Two, I do not have any strong opinions against any of the songs on this album. And three, “Champagne Problems”! This song just blew me away the first time I heard it. It was a Taylor Swift song AND I ACTUALLY LOVED IT?!?!? I knew right away that this was going to be my favorite album. The contest was over from this point forward. It is not very often you find a song that is immediately one of your favorites, and when you do all you feel is happiness.

There you have it. The official Nathan Thompson ranking of every Taylor Swift album. If you do not agree with my opinion, then you are just not smart enough to understand it.

OCTOBER ISSUE

39

April Issue

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Statesman LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL

Issue No., 6 2023