Girl’s 100 Meter Dash – Bekka Schell, 13.24, 3^rd

Girl’s High Jump – ErinKenzy 4’5”, 4^th; Brett Steffen, 4’5”, 5^th

Girl’s Medley Relay (Erin Kenzy, Bekka Schell, Brett Steffen, Paxten Johnson) – 4:57.24, 3^rd

Girl’s 1600 Meter Relay ( Lexi McCallister, Codi Horst, Brett Steffen, Paxten Johnson) – 4:58.51, 4^th

Boy’s 110 Meter Hurdles – Scott Shoemaker – 18.30, 5^th

Boy’s 300 Meter Hurdles – Scott Shoemaker – 46.57, 5^th

Boy’s High Jump – Nolyn Mikkelsen, 6’2”, 1^st

Boy’s High Jump – Mason Juracek, 5’3, 6^th

Boy’s Triple Jump – Ty Klein, 37’6.5, 2^nd

Boy’s 800 Meter Run – Gavin Thomas – 2:19.19, 6^th

Boy’s 1600 Meter Run – Ty Klein, 5:11.65, 3^rd

Boy’s 800 Meter Run – Dylan Voigt, 2:15.20, 4^th

Boy’s 1600 Meter Relay (Mason Juracek, Gavin Thomas, Mitchel Klundt, JordanBakke) – 4.31.46, 5^th

Boy’s 800 Meter Relay (Joe Beck, Jonah Beck, Scott Shoemaker, Nolyn Mikkelsen) – 1:44.44, 5^th

Boy’s 400 Meter Relay (Derek Stukel, Jonah Beck, Brody Boes, Joe Beck) – 49.18, 5^th

             The next meet for the Gorilla Tracksters will be districts in Winner on May 13^th.

After Mike’s talk, all of the schools headed back toGregoryHigh Schoolto split up into groups to go to different sessions.  Donahue also spoke Wednesday night at the community room for the parents to be able to attend and listen. 

One of the sessions included self-defense with former Army National Guard Captain Tony Timanus.  He taught the student several different techniques to be able to better defend themselves.  He showed them a couple different chokes and how to be in a more dominant position if you were ever to be attacked. 

Another session was with Katie Biggins fromGregoryAveraHospital.  She talked about distracted driving and the dangers and risks that it brings.  Texting is of course one of the highest risk factors you can take but also anything else that’ll distract the driver.  She said it takes all but 3 – 5 seconds of looking away to possibly hit the shoulder and have a crash. 

Val Johnson and Sue Hogue from the Connect group talked about suicide and suicide prevention and about all of the warning signs and how to get someone help.  One of the techniques they shared was called QPR, or Question, Persuade, Refer.  To question someone about it in a well – put way, then persuade them to get help or to not do it, then refer them to a counselor. 

Sandra Fortuna and Liz Jacobsen put on a social media lecture about online posts staying there forever, it will always stay there.  They shared the risks of online sharing and social media.  Also colleges and certain jobs may ask for your password to Facebook or other social media networking, so you should be extremely careful as to what you comment on or are tagged in or anything else.

Jeff and Amanda Determan put on a nutrition and health class.  They talked about BMI’s (Body Mass Index’s) and how you should portion your food and stay active.  They showed the servings you need for each day and the serving sizes.

Sergeant First Class Corey Rabenberg of the National Guard gave a class talking about the effects of alcohol during driving.  He brought ‘drunk goggles’ to give to kids to show them what it would be like to see when impaired, also he had the kids try to walk a straight line. 

Mike Donahue also gave a class on top of his speech that morning.  He talked about dealing with emotions and hurt.  He said that if you had a bad childhood or something happened to you, you should reinvent your normal.  Because what may have happened to you, you will more than likely do that to your children unless you make the decision to change the way you see and do things.  He was always very good at keeping the humor and energy up and keeping it lighter, but still serious. 

Over all, the ‘Challenge Day’ that we had here at GHS was a great turnout with lots of students showing up and great volunteers to help.  Special thanks go out to the volunteers who gave up their days to help students out.  It was a great day and will hopefully become an annual event.

Girls High Jump: Erin Kenzy, 4’7”, 5th
Girls 100 M Dash: Bekka Schell, 13.22, 2nd
Girls 400 M Relay: 57.41, 4th, (Bekka Schell, Paxten Johnson, Brett Steffen, Erin Kenzy)
Girls Medley Relay: 4.59.5, 5th, (Erin Kenzy, Bekka Schell, Paxten Johnson, Sierra Thomas)
Boys High Jump: Nolyn Mikkelsen, 5’7, 1st ; Mason Juracek, 5’5, 3rd ; Cody Kafka, 5’3, 5th
Boys Triple Jump: Mason Juracek, 35’13/4, 6th
Boys 200 Meter Dash: Scott Shoemaker, 25.59, 6th
Boys 3200 Meter Relay: ( Dylan Voigt, Ty Klien, Sam Voigt, Gavin Thomas)9.20, 2nd
Boys 400 Relay: (Derek Stukel, Jonah Beck, Brody Boes, Scott Shoemaker) 49.52, 3rd
Boys Medley Relay: (Derek Stukel, Joe Beck, Dylan Voigt, Ty Klien) 4:07.7, 3rd

Personal Records:
Dillon Fenenga- 110 & 300 Hurdles
Bekka Schell- 100 m dash
Madyson Berendes- 100 m dash
Kim Nguyen- Shot Put, Long Jump, & 400
Codi Horst- 400
Briana Leber-Triple Jump
Mason Juracek-High Jump, & Triple Jump
Cody Kafka- High Jump
Brody Boes- 100 m dash
Mitchel Klundt-400 m dash
Jordan Bakke- 400 m dash
Scott Shoemaker-200 m dash
Nolyn Mikkelsen-400
Dowain Kerner-Disc

        Throughout the testing time, students are encouraged to do their best while being provided with short snack and drink breaks. Students are not to work ahead or go back to previous tests. Circles are shaded in on answer sheets supplied with the booklets. Many different test booklet forms are handed out to eliminate the urge of cheating among the students. STEP test scores are averaged up in each class to display how well and where students stand on educational levels. These test scores also determine whether or not juniors will have an open for their senior year. The South Dakota STEP test is taken every year in April.

By: Desiree Stephen

Sam Voigt and Allie Wilson directed a feature video and received an Honorable Mention for their work.  The actors in the feature video are Paxten Johnson, April Herrlein, Lexie Kafka, Kim Nguyen, Bridget Stukel, Ashlie Steppat and Sam Voigt.