SPRING SPORTS 2017: PAGE 3 PRESS & DAKOTAN ? PLAIN TALK Track & Field: Gazelles Aim Higher After Fourth In State In ‘16 finish at state — Sioux Falls Lincoln won last year with 134 points, followed by Bran3/14 Bob Prince Early Bird (Vermillion) don Valley (126) and Rapid EDITOR’S NOTE: This ar3/20 Dan Lennon Class A (Vermillion) City Stevens (95). Yankton, ticle originally appeared in the 4/1 Steve Berseth ESD Indoor (Brookings) 4/4 Sioux City Quad (Olsen Stadium) meanwhile, was fourth at 51. March 20 edition of the Press 4/8 Brandon Valley Inv. 10:30 a.m. Still, though, there’s room & Dakotan. 4/11 vs. Brandon Valley/Mitchell 4 p.m. 4/13 Corn Palace Relays 4 p.m. for growth, Youmans said. 4/18 vs. Brandon Valley/Heelan/O’Gorman/ “This year, we have a lot Second in the Eastern Washington 4 p.m. South Dakota Conference 4/28 Yankton First Dakota Relays 2 p.m. of places where we think 5/2 vs. O’Gorman 4 p.m. things can go our way,” he (ESD). Fourth in the state. Those were the finishes a 5/5 O’Gorman Inv. Dakota Relays 9 a.m. said. 5/5-6 Howard Wood Chief among those areas year ago for the Yankton High (Sioux Falls) 2 p.m./9 a.m. 5/13 ESD Championships (Huron) 11:30 a.m. would be in the field events, School girls’ track and field 5/16 Last Chance (Harrisburg) 4 p.m. team. 5/26 State AA Meet (Brandon) 10 a.m. particularly in the jumps. 5/27 State Meet (Sioux Falls) 9 a.m. Yankton figures to again The Gazelles will tell you boast of the state’s top jumpmatter-of-factly, though, that ing crews, highlighted by they have goals of taking the a surprise for us,” Youmans said. “We should have a girls’ senior Emma Stewart, who next step — in one area in team that truly expects to be won state titles in both the particular — this spring. on the podium.” long jump and triple jump — “We want to win ESD,” First, however, the she’s a two-time Field Events head coach Luke Youmans Gazelles have their eyes on MVP in Class AA. said. “And as far as state, I toppling Brandon Valley for Just don’t expect pressure think you have to set a goal the ESD crown. to be part of the equation, every year of being on the “We’ve been too close for Youmans said. podium. two years in a row now to not “We don’t want to put a lot “To get up there, where of pressure on Emma, but we they only give out four pieces have a little fire in our belly and say, ‘This has to be the don’t have to,” he said. “She’s of hardware, that’s a pretty year,’” Youmans said. one of those kids who is very good testament to your After a second-place finish intrinsically driven herself. program.” to the Lynx at the conference “Even with the success Yankton returns eight she’s had, she still nit-picks girls’ athletes who combined meet last year, the Gazelles certain things,” Youmans for 12 top-eight finishes at the kept on rolling at the state added. “And that’s what state meet last year — not to meet. Trophies are awarded to the top-four teams at state, makes her such a great mention three members of a and there, Yankton surprised athlete.” relay that also reached the many by finishing fourth. Beyond Stewart, the Gapodium. As they look at this year, zelles are rather deep. They Put another way: That’s a the Gazelles realize it’d be a return junior Kate Budig lot of points to have back. “This year, it shouldn’t be challenge to threaten a top-3 (tie-9th in high jump at state), BY JEREMY HOECK TRACK jeremy.hoeck@yankton.net freshman Jaiden Boomsma (5th in long jump), senior Sophie Bisgard (7th in triple jump) and senior Lindsey Hale (12th in triple jump and 23rd in long jump). Those are events where Yankton could score valuable points in certain scored meets — including, of course, the ESD and state meets. They’re also events where the program has become known for success, Youmans said. “It’s not a surprise around the state anymore,” he said. “Everybody knows those girls and what they’ve done, but like everything, you have to capitalize in those areas.” The Gazelles also return one of the state’s top hurdlers in senior Madason Tessier, who was the 100 hurdles runner-up at state last year, along with an eighth-place finish in the 300 hurdles. Also back are senior Kaitlin Guthmiller (tie-10th in pole vault) and junior Aurora Papstein (12th in shot put), while Budig was also ninth in the 100 hurdles. Yankton’s 3200-meter relay quartet, which finished seventh at state, returns juniors Anne Knoff, Tessa Folkers and Carly Vavra. YHS TRACK | PAGE 4 Kinsley Embraces Leadership Role Golf others, though. “If I feel like I’m falling behind, then I take a step back from my extracurriculars and look at what I can do for school,” Cowman said. “That always comes first. “I like to plan ahead, but I know that things happen and things pop up.” While some of her fellow seniors may still be trying to figure out what they want to do after graduation, Cowman has it all mapped out: She will attend the University of South Dakota and pursue a double major in Chemistry and Medical Biology. “With a minor in Spanish,” she added. But no golf in college? “Maybe intramurals,” Cowman said, with a smile. “Maybe something like that.” shoot so bad at state,” Cowman said. Instead, she and the Gazelles went out and shot two of their best scores of the season to capture the Class AA state championship. But among the six members of the state squad, there were three seniors who had walked across the commencement stage weeks earlier. And Cowman freely admits that the later season probably has more of an effect on a senior. “Even now thinking about it; I’ll be graduated from high school and still be playing high school golf for another three weeks,” she said. “It’s weird.” Rather than being able Yankton’s Chris Kinsley competes at a meet earlier this season. Kinsley is the top returning competitor for the Bucks, having placed at state in three events last season. STORE Clothing and Shoes for the Entire Family SERVICING ALL BRANDS 42532 298th Street Scotland Ph. 583-4490 Cowman 6/5-6 KINSLEY | PAGE 4 Haase’s Heating RETTEDAL’S & Cooling, Inc. DEPARTMENT 900 Ferdig St. Yankton, SD 665-6500 sports@yankton.net championship. This spring, though, Cowman is now in a much different position: She’s one of the FROM PAGE 2 senior leaders. performances, but his perfor“It’s a little different spot “With him pushing me, mances in any sort of compefor her to be in, but I think that’s always made me push tition. He succeeds with his she’ll be a good leader,” attitude and commitment and myself further,” she said. coach Brett Sime said. There came a point — brings up those around him Yankton graduated three Cowman said it was during to new levels, according to of its six golfers from that her eighth grade year — his coach. state squad — Cowman, “There’s an emphasis this when a realization set in: She senior Darian Tramp and might have a pretty serious year for those select few to freshman Morgan Strahl are future with this sport. be leaders and be the guys back. “My dad always told me, who stand up in a group and “We definitely have big ‘You could so something with shoes to fill,” Cowman said. really help to foster some this. You could get (college) of the young guys,” said Expectations, however, offers for this,’’ Cowman said. are nothing new for Cowman. Youmans. In time, those offers Kinsley will be the man As she would tell you, nohis coaches look to this year started coming in (Cowman body has higher expectations decided against golfing in to model their desired work of her than she does. college, though), but she ethic. According to Youmans, “I’ve never had too much eventually became one of they are looking to him not problem with getting things Yankton’s top golfers. Last only as a great athlete, but a done,” she said. “I’ve been year as a junior, she tied for great leader. Kinsley is lookable to put more time in the th ing to follow in the footsteps 12 place at the Class AA sport I’m in at the time.” state tournament and helped of those before him and be Some days are better than the Gazelles capture the state a great competitor and an even greater leader and role model. SCOTLAND HIGHLANDERS “Being in this leader role Boys’ & Girls’ Golf Track & Field is a big difference,” Kinsley 4/7 Class B Classic 10 a.m. 3/28 Lounsbery Early Bird (Centerville) said. 4/13 Southeast South Dakota 4/4 Scotland Inv. Kinsley does have an Small-School Inv. 9 a.m. 4/7 Avon Inv. 4:30 p.m. (Fox Run, Yankton) 4/11 Centerville Rotary Relays 1 p.m. agenda for this season, he 4/21 B-SC/Gregory Inv. 10 a.m. 4/18 South Dakota-Nebraska Challenge has his eyes set on the top of (Boys at Gregory, Girls at Burke) (Tyndall) 2 p.m. 4/28 Avon/Scotland Inv. 10 a.m. 4/21 Flevares Relays (Tyndall) 4:30 p.m. the Yankton jumping charts, (Boys at Scotland, Girls at Bon Homme CC) 4/25 Great Plains Conf. (Scotland) 1 p.m. namely on Lee Rose’s spot. 5/5 Platte-Geddes/BSC Inv. 10 a.m. 5/2 Little Missouri Valley Conf. (Boys at Burke, Girls at Platte) “There’s the top charts for (Wagner) 2 p.m. 5/12 Avon/Bon Homme Inv. 10 a.m. 5/6 Andes Central-Dakota Christian the whole school, right now (Boys at Spring?eld, Girls at Bon Homme CC) Inv. (Lake Andes) 9 a.m. I’m sitting at about 15th on all 5/19 Pre-Region 10 a.m. 5/9 Southeast South Dakota Conf. (Lakeview, Mitchell) (Mount Vernon) 2 p.m. of my events,” Kinsley said, “I 5/23 Region 4B 10 a.m. 5/12 Parkston-Ethan Inv. 2 p.m. want to beat Lee Rose’s sec(Lakeview, Mitchell) 5/18 Region 5B (Centerville) 10 a.m. FROM PAGE 2 Heating, AC & Plumbing for new or remodeled Dakota State next season and is about to embark on her final season as a Gazelle. The story of Stewart’s What can be said about success started when she the Gazelles’ Emma Stewart that hasn’t already been said? was in seventh grade and she was pulled up to do hurdle Stewart is the two-time training with the older kids Class AA Track MVP and — “That’s how I got thrown owns three state titles — along with two Yankton High in and fell in love with the School records. She has signed to run track at South STEWART | PAGE 4 BY ROGELIO RODRIGUEZ said he sees both sides of the debate. The positive aspect, he said, would be a higher probability of better weather, and that the negative aspect would include interference for summer workouts for other sports. “For smaller schools, it’s also difficult to get kids to attend practice once school is out because of family or summer jobs,” Lawrence said, “which makes it difficult for some coaches to have kids continue to come out for golf.” Ultimately, the decision to revert back to the old format or keep the current change will be up to the Golf Advisory Committee, but either way, the Gazelles will adjust, Sime said. “I am hoping it goes back, and so are the girls,” he said. “I think it’s a possibility, but I don’t know.” sports@yankton.net I’m that guy,” Kinsley said. “There’s only one junior so we have to control the team ourselves.” However, the story of Kinsley isn’t just about his abilities on the track, it’s about his willingness to try everything. He played football for four years, did basketball and band for three years, and was in two musicals throughout his high school career. “The arts are great, you learn better when you have something else going on behind you,” Kinsley said. “Those people are always a fan and super accepting of you because you’re all on the same level, there’s no competition.” With his openness to extracurricular activities and willingness to help others, it’s no secret that Kinsley embodies the role of a leader. Others around him benefit from his attitude and charisma. “Chris is a kid who doesn’t just work hard in track, he works hard in his other activities as well, he’s just a kid who loves to compete,” Youmans said. “This is just another arena for him to get out there and work hard.” Kinsley is a kid who wants nothing more than to put his full heart into everything he does, not only his athletic Stewart Works To Add One More Chapter To Her Story to schedule a practice after a school day (which meant everyone would be in one place), the later season creates more stress, Sime said. “You have to be a little creative and you have to rely on the girls to keep up with things,” he said. While it’s probably true that golfers would experience better weather later in the spring, it’s an unpredictable aspect to the sport, Sime said — as an example, March has its fair share of rain-free, warm days. “I’ve been playing golf long enough and I’ve lived in South Dakota long enough to know that the end of May and into June, there’s not a lot of difference,” Sime said. The season switch doesn’t just affect Yankton, though. It affects every golfer in the state, including those at nearby Bon Homme High School in Tyndall. Coach Drew Lawrence BY ROGELIO RODRIGUEZ Growing up, Chris Kinsley had many role models to look up to on the track team. Now a senior, he is the one being looked up to. Kinsley, a senior at Yankton High School, is one of the pillars that track and field head coach Luke Youmans will be looking to for leadership this season for more than his athletic abilities. “There’s a difference between a good athlete and a great athlete, and the difference is the willingness to compete,” said Youmans. Kinsley is on the latter of that that statement, as he wants to compete all of the time. Last year, Kinsley had himself a solid outing at Class AA State Meet: He placed third in the high jump (6-2), fifth in the long jump (275.75), and eighth in the triple jump (42-6.5). “At the state track meet my long and my triple jump were a little shorter than usual but my high jump for some reason I got two inches better than my PR that day, that kind of just set me off on a good run,” Kinsley said. Kinsley says that his dad, also a jumper, got him into track and field at a young age. He joined the school team in seventh grade — “I wasn’t great,” he said with a laugh. “My dad comes to every single track meet, he takes pictures of me, and helps coach me when coaches aren’t always around because they’re so spread out, he’s just always helping me,” Kinsley said. Up until freshman year Kinsley was flying below the radar, but he met someone who took him under his wing and taught him things that would stick with him. “JJ Henja was a senior at this point and he was an inspiration to me, he’s on all the top charts” Kinsley said. “He taught me my work ethic.” Henja holds the YHS high jump record (6-8.25). Kinsley said that Matt Fitzgerald, also a jumper, was the guy who helped him his sophomore year. It wasn’t until his junior year that Kinsley realized he was now “that guy” who was being looked at for leadership and guidance. “Last year I had Kenneth Schroeder, he was a great support guy, this year Yankton’s Emma Stewart has three state titles and two school records under her belt as she enters her senior season. Scotland, SD • 583-4115 State B at Sioux Falls TBD (Girls at Prairie Green, Boys at Spring Creek) Kronaizl Insurance, LLC 621 Main Scotland, SD 605-583-4272 5/26-27 State B (Sioux Falls) 9:30/9 a.m. Follow @jhoeck on Twitter Follow @jhoeck on Twitter MENNO WOLVES 3/21 4/4 4/7 4/11 4/13 4/18 4/21 Track & Field Dan Lennon Relays (Vermillion) Scotland Inv. Avon Inv. 4:30 p.m. Centerville Rotary Relays 1 p.m. Menno Relays 9:30 a.m. Tri-State Inv. 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