Savage Words: Nobody celebrates a win like Brandon Valley

I gotta hand it to you, Brandon Valley. Nobody celebrates a win quite like you.

I’ve covered sports on the high school, college and professional level for more than three decades. Outside of a championship parade through the streets of a major metro area, I’ve never seen an institution – or city – celebrate its competitors like Brandon Valley.

And it’s so cool.

On Sunday, I made my way to the Brandon Valley gymnasium to watch a large group of parents, fans, peers, coaches, families and administrators celebrate the state championships won a day earlier by the dance team and girls cross country team.

I got there early, and the setting was as pristine as any I’ve seen on any level. Chairs aligned. Podium set with microphone and BRANDON VALLEY proudly displayed on the front.

Clearly, the school has done this before.

A highlight video of the dance and cross country teams played as the 100 or so people found their seats on the bleachers.

Administrators, coaches and players all took their turn at the mic, all resulting in a respectful round of applause.

The boys cross country title was won by Sioux Falls Lincoln. I doubt very much – in fact, I know – nothing like Sunday’s event in Brandon happened in Sioux Falls.

I doubt many schools in South Dakota celebrate their competitors the way Brandon Valley does. Maybe I’m wrong, but I feel confident in saying few – if any – on the AA level beam with pride the way the Lynx faithful do.

The school year is just 10 weeks old, but Sunday’s celebration wasn’t Brandon Valley’s first. The marching band was welcomed home several times throughout their season. Specifically, last week when they returned from Minneapolis after finishing third in the Youth in Music Championships, they got a Valley Springs Fire Department escort from Interstate 90 to the high school where they were met with honking car horns, flashing lights, and ‘Welcome Home’ signage.

Last week, tennis player Abby Boersma was recognized at halftime of the football game against Sioux Falls Washington. The senior was seeded No. 4 in Flight 5 singles and worked her way through the field to claim Brandon Valley’s first girls’ individual tennis title in school history. 

It likely wasn’t a comfortable minute for Boersma, standing alone at midfield with a thousand eyeballs on her. But when you win at Brandon Valley, you get recognized.

It makes me wonder about the 13 State runner up banners that hang from the rafters at Brandon Valley High School. In the end, all that’s doing is pointing out a loss.

At Sunday’s dance and cross country championship celebration, Brandon Valley Activities Director Bill Freking said they’d be hanging two more banners.

“I don’t know where, but we’ll find a spot,” he said.

I’d suggest bringing the runner up banners down. There are 28 championship banners already displayed for all Lynx to see, with two more to come. Keep this pace up, Brandon Valley, and you’ll fill that space in a hurry, too.

Nobody celebrates a win quite like you.