Jill's Journal: ‘We’ve come a long way, Brandon Valley’
It was 20 years ago this past September that I made Brandon my home. As I think about the past two decades that have seemed to go by in the blink of an eye, I can honestly say, “We’ve come a long way, Brandon Valley.”
Now, what I mean by that is the growth of our Brandon Valley Lynx athletic programs, and the success stories they’ve written over the last 20 years. Take for instance, when I arrived on scene for my first season of Lynx athletics – more specifically the 2005-06 school year – Brandon Valley hadn’t quite reached their “big man on campus” status among their Eastern South Dakota Conference counterparts. And more often that naught, we served as a “punching bag” – if you will – for the Sioux Falls teams, which at the time didn’t include Sioux Falls Jefferson.
Going back to my beginning here, I well remember a volleyball program that was eager to win, but for the life of them, if they came out on top of a match or two, the excitement nearly matched that of winning a state title. And as the seasons mounted up, Brandon Valley’s success in the volleyball world also mounted up.
But things have certainly changed.
In 2017-18, the Lady Lynx did not make the SoDak 16, but surprisingly so, were only eight points shy of winning the five-team Metro Conference.
A year later, they improved on their record, but lost in the SoDak 16.
In 2019 season, when Marette Grage took the helm, the team compiled a 15-13 mark. They faced the reigning AA state champs Rapid City Stevens in the SoDak 16, were a mere two points away from punching their ticket to state.
The Lynx qualified for state in 2020, the first time in three season, and the next year, they claimed fourth place behind a solid 23-11 record. The program took a step back in 2022, going 10-21 that year, and. followed up with a 16-15 mark in 2023, qualifying for state that season.
BV came home with the seventh-place plaque in 2024, sporting an improved 18-13 record.
And of course, if you haven’t heard, this season, they’ve been making some big noise. Ranked No. 2 in Class AA, the team heads to Rapid City with a 25-3 record and a whole lot of determination to get the job done this year.
Volleyball hasn’t been the only BV sports program that had little to no success when I arrived here two decades ago. I think back to our boys’ and girl’s tennis teams, who, like the volleyball team, rarely could compete against their AA colleagues. Sure, there were individual standouts along the way, but as far putting together an entire team of sure-bet athletes, the Lynx programs took plenty of hits.
I saw some of the same happening in cross country, in soccer and wrestling, all of which have elevated to state championship-worthy programs, both team-wise and individual. Who can forget five-time state champion Navarro Schunke? Certainly not every wrestler he faced in his stellar prep career.
Under the longtime guidance of cross country coaches Tony Thoreson and Larry Beesley – both with a passion for the sport and the kids they coach – are now in the chatter as state title contenders. I’ve captured the success stories of many BV front-of-the-pack runners over the last 20 seasons: Greg Beesley, Ben Schultz and Ben VanDeBerg, the Brockmueller brother, AL H (teacher’s boy), Zach Hentschel, Jakob Hanna, the Elkin boys, Kylie Foss, Haylee Waterfall, Lauren Wells, the Bergan sisters, Mia Wentzy, Sarah VanDeBerg, Addison Scholten – and the list goes on and on.
This season, however, Mikah Peters has been the headline-maker. I interviewed him last week at his ceremonial signing, as he’s committed to run for the Iowa State Cyclones. (See next week’s Journal for his story).
Although success isn’t solely determined on wins and losses and trophies in the trophy case, it sure makes it a lot more fun for this gal on the sidelines – yesterday, today and for many seasons yet to come.
