USF Vessel Cougar Days Fall 2021

november 2021

volume IX issue II

UNIVERSITY OF SIOUX FALLS STUDENT MEDIA

contents

editors..........................................................................................3 writers.......................................................................................4-5 cougar days 2021......................................................................6-7 usf’s got talent.............................................................................8 succulents at cougar days...........................................................9 usf concert chorale................................................................10-11 movie night: shang-chi and the legend of the ten rings............12 thursday night worship...............................................................13 key to the city: cougars vs vikings.........................................14-15

front cover photos courtesy of Rianna Banik back cover photos courtesy of USF Marketing, Lisa Stahl, and Rianna Banik

a note from the

editors mercede odegaard

It’s a little odd to think about everything that happened last year when considering how comparatively normal this year feels. One thing we’re thinking about a lot this year, however, is just how important it is to be grateful for what we do have.

Sports. Theatre. In person classes.

Stories to write. Pictures to take.

greta smith

Let’s be grateful together?

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4 marko coudreau

brendan schumacher

ashley clausen

writers

peter narrai

kelsey sutton

sam martin

josh werre

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Cougar Days 2021 story by ashley clausen

Cougar Days is a week every student, alum, and faculty member look forward to each year. With a variety of events, including tailgating, award ceremonies, banquets and both athletic and fine art events, there is something for everyone. Events began on September 27 and took place until October 3 and included key events like USF’s got talent, Cougar Days 5K Run/Walk, Homecoming Football game versus Augustana, Grocery Bag Bingo, and USF Sunday at First Baptist Church.

The University of Sioux Falls Football team took an excellent win over the city rival of Augustana on Saturday. The score of the “Key to the City” game was 28-26. Cougar fans from all over showed up to support their team before at the tailgate and throughout the game. The attendance for the game was 5,726 people and more than 2,000 people enjoyed the tailgate beforehand. On Sunday, the University of Sioux Falls Concert Chorale participated in the worship at the First Baptist Church for attendees. The turnout was very impressive, and they performed at both services to accommodate for all the people attending.

photo courtesy of usf cheer

Asking Brittany Hanson about event activities, she stated that it was very well attended considering we are still coming out of a pandemic.

“Throughout the weekend, aside from the homecoming game and tailgate, there were 500 attendees for the events,” said Brittany.

Cougar Days is always a great time for USF alums, parents, staff and students to connect and enjoy the community that USF is, together.

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photo courtesy of rianna banik

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U S F ’s

G o t Ta l e n t

USF’s Got Talent almost didn’t happen this year. That is until one University of Sioux Falls student took it upon himself to make sure the show would go on. The student to thank? Riley Robinson.

Robinson is a junior from Crooks, S.D. majoring in Pre-Professional Exercise Science with a minor in Business Administration. This fall he served as one of the University’s orientation coordinators. Because of this, he was involved with planning events for homecoming week.

In that sense, Robinson was already working behind the scenes, but he would soon find himself playing a much larger role in this year’s talent show.

photo courtesy of josh werre

st

ory

b y Jo

s

Cooper Dixon, a Business Administration major at the University, was one of these eight members. The acapella group also featured the vocal talent of Kelsey Beznoka, Kelsey Brenna, Elijah Hamilton, Isaiah Henderson, Ben Morrison, “Originally,” Robinson explains, “I wasn’t going Sofia Shibly, and Megan Sundvold. “All of us are a part of the Concert Choral,” Dixon explains. to help with USF’s Got Talent at all… out of curiosity, I ended up checking in with Allan [the “One day I got a message from Megan Sundvold Associate Director of Student Life] to see how asking if I wanted to join the group.” many acts signed up. However, he informed me

Dixon says it was the first time he had ever that the talent show probably wasn’t going to competed in a talent show. As it so happened, it happen due to a low amount of interest.” would also be his first time winning a talent show.

“It was very exciting to win! I don’t think any of us To some, this may not have been a big deal. expected it and it made for a great experience,” But to Robinson, it was. “Four acts were he says. Dixon hopes to compete again next already practicing and looking forward to year even though some of the group members performing, and I knew that there was more are graduating this coming spring. He also that USF could offer. So, I took it upon myself encourages other students to compete. “If you’re to reach out to some friends. To make a long unsure of joining the talent show or any future story short, I was able to gather quite a few competition I would say just go for it,” Dixon more acts to make the show happen.” says. “It’s most important to have a fun time.”

Because of Robinson’s quick recruiting, a total of nine acts performed the night of the talent show. They ranged from a traditional Mexican dance to a flag routine, and even a Hallmark Christmas trivia game. Instead of having judges decide on a winner, audience members were able to vote for which act they thought was best. Third place was awarded to Greta Smith W e r re and her performance of her original song, h “Chicago”. Zoe Cigard and Diego Jaimes took second place with their Flips & Tricks routine.

And in first place– the 2021 winners of USF’s Got Talent– was an eight-person acapella group with their performance of “Cracked” by Pentatonix. photo courtesy of

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@usiouxfalls instagram

Succulents

at Cougar Days

Landscape Garden Centers joined in the Cougar Days fun on October 1 and 2, providing a pottery and succulents workshop for USF alum, students, and their families. Participants were provided with pots and plants, and were walked through the process of potting their own cacti and succulents. The two day event in the McDonald Center Conference Room was well attended with every available spot filled.

They learned basic growing and care techniques

for the long-lasting green plants. At the end of the sessions, students, alums, and families left happy with new plants to decorate their dorms and homes.

story and photos courtesy of Brendan Schumacher

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Concert Chorale

story by samuel martin

USF

After a one-year hiatus, the University of Sioux Falls Concert Chorale returned to

sing at the First Baptist Church’s worship service on Sunday, October 3rd, during homecoming week. With a setlist of four worship songs that they had been working on since the beginning of the fall semester, the choir sang at both the 9 AM and 10:30 AM church service. Last year, the COVID-19 pandemic sidelined the Chorale’s performance at First Baptist, an annual performance that has taken place since before Dr. David DeHoogh-Kliewer’s tenure as director of the USF Concert Chorale and Collegiate Choir.

ah yes what a great photo

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the USF Concert Chorale preparing for their performance photo courtesy of sam martin

The four songs that made up the choir’s setlist for both worship service

performances included “Let There Be Light”, “Wake, Awake”, “Death Came a-Knocking”, and “You Are Mine.” When asked what his favorite of the four songs in the set, DeHoogh-Kliewer said, “‘Wake, Awake’ is definitely the song we’ve worked most diligently upon because it presents different challenges,” although he followed up his statement by saying that, “choosing my favorite (song) is like choosing my favorite child.” Music education major and Concert Chorale bass section leader Court Anderson, however, was much more direct in saying what his favorite of the four songs were. “My favorite one is probably ‘You Are Mine’, because it’s the one I connect with the most and it’s the most challenging one in our set.”

photo courtesy of mercede odegaard

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movie night

Shang-Chi

and the Legend of the Ten Rings

story by kelsey sutton

After grabbing their popcorn and settling in for the show, students at the

University of Sioux Falls tuned in for an action packed adventure also known as, Shang Chi. On September 28, 2021, Associate Director of Student Life Allan Idjao, coordinated with the Century East movie theater located at Dawley Farm to bring students a new and unique way to celebrate Cougar Days. “I wanted to do something a little different and outside of the box rather than your typical event where you just put on something,” said Idjao. By hosting this event at the theater, it was a way for students to experience what Sioux Falls has to offer and get them off of campus for a homecoming event. Idjao also shared that he “wanted students to be able to take a break from studying” and to just have some fun!

The event was extremely successful with the theater nearly reaching its capacity

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photos courtey of kelsey sutton

of 96 seats!

Thursday Night Worship USF’s Thursday Night Worship has always been a great way for students to take a moment to appreciate and celebrate the Lord, but it has also been a great place to make new friends and meet new people. That was especially true for the September 30, 2021 Cougar Days worship night, held in front of Coopers Café from 9 to 10pm. It marked the event’s being fully back to normal after a year of hiatus.

Senior, Apolonia Davolos said, “I love our worship community and feel the presence of Jesus Christ. The presence here is a true and authentic love for God and one another.”

Austin Ludens, who is part of the worship choir, says he attends because it is important, and he thinks that worship matters for all of us. He said, “God is at the center of this school and our beliefs, and during homecoming week it is a great time to come together and worship God as it also is a stressful week.”

Greta Smith, lead singer for worship said, “It is a very busy week with lots of events happening, which can make you feel less grounded. One of the good things about worship is that it can really help you feel more grounded by reminding yourself who God is and what he can do for you.”

For anyone on campus who has never been to worship before, those who attended say you should not be afraid to try it. You could be very positively surprised and you might end up meeting new friends or even finding out more about yourself.

story by marko coudreau

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Key to the City

story by peter narrai

The Fall, 2021 University of Sioux Falls Cougars homecoming football game was something special.

What made the game so special was the history behind the matchup. The Cougars played the Augustana Vikings, a long-time rival. The Cougars and Vikings have a very close rivalry, some say the closest in all of this region’s college football, with the campus’ being just down the block from each other.

This game has so much meaning behind it, that it is referred to as the key to the city game. It is the biggest game of the season and has an impact on the community, schools, and players. It means so much to past players and alum, that the honorary captains of the game are the Sioux Falls fire chief and police chief. The fire chief is an Augustana alumnus and the police chief is a USF alumnus.

The Vessel asked several Cougars what the win felt like.

photo courtesy of usf cheer

photo courtesy of usf athletics

photo courtesy of usf cheer

Team captain and star receiver Ty Smith said, “It was an extra special victory over those guys since they got to hold on to the key for an extra year due to COVID. Glad to have it back where it belongs.”

Jackson Wright offensive lineman said, “One of the best feelings of my life and the best of my football career. I played terrible in the 2019 game that we lost. So, to play better and beat them this year was an amazing feeling.”

Carter Lohr defensive back said, “It felt really good to beat a team that is right down the street from us, makes it a little sweeter. It was also really fun playing in front of a great crowd. I also feel like we owed it to the seniors to get that one done.”

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Cougars

the cougar football team celebrates the key to the city victory

vs Vikings

thuro reisdorfer runs the ball against augie

Brennan Moran offensive lineman said, “It felt like how it was supposed to be. It felt wrong losing the key to them and getting it back felt like everything was back to how it should be again.”

Cody Jantzen linebacker said, “It always feels good to win a game but beating our biggest rival hits a little different. Especially knowing what the game means not only to us, but to everyone that has ever been a Cougar.”

Starting quarterback Adam Mullen said, “It was one of the most exciting games I’ve ever been apart of. You come to play at USF for games like that. To beat them in the fashion that we did, it was something special that I am going to remember for a very long time.”

Amaurii Grosskopf defensive lineman said, “Honestly I felt a relief once we beat Augie. It felt as if all of the hard work in the off season and preparation for the week paid off.”

Thuro Reisdorfer running back said, “It felt good knowing that we beat Augie, especially after losing the key in 2019. The key came back to its rightful home.”

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