Jill's Journal: It's always a good day to be a Lynx!

With two Lady Lynx sports teams knocking at the door to win their respective state titles, I had to divide and conquer on Saturday.

Journal writer Tom A. Savage and my photography sidekick Wilma Kirkeby covered the step by step action of our Lynx cross country teams at Yankton Trail Park in Sioux Falls, and I headed to the ‘Denny’ to capture our competitive cheer and dance teams in action, also in Sioux Falls.

Have no doubt, I sincerely wanted to be on the sidelines of both events. (Note to the SDHSAA: Please refrain from scheduling two state championships on the same day at the same time, especially when the Lynx are in the hunt.)

As the headline says, it’s always a great day to be a Lynx, and from the outcome of Saturday, it surely was a great day to be a Lynx.

I wore my Lynx gear to the cheer and dance championships, and during the course of the day, complete strangers came up to me and told me how impressed they are by our student-athletes and the effort that each and every one of them puts into their performances.

I smiled big as I heard their complimentary comments. No, I beamed. Although I don’t put an ounce of energy into what all of our student-athletes and coaches work to bring to the competition floor and course – land knows I can’t do a cartwheel or a handstand for the life of me, nor can I can a run a mile, for that matter a city block. I’m well aware of the work that goes into what they do, and I am in awe.

To the coaches, thanks for what you do day in and day out to help our kids be the best that they can be. That goes for the band and orchestra directors, the theatre directors, the choir directors, the bus drivers, pareents, Booster Club volunteers and even the lunch ladies and janitorial staff. I know I heard Tony Kuck’s name mentioned a few times in Sunday’s celebration speeches by the dance team captains. Apparently, his humor – and his pulled pork – have inspired the girls to keep kicking up their heels toward yet another state championship.

I don’t know how long our Lady Lynx dancers and runners can keep it up, butwith a handful of seniors departing from each team, I have no doubt that Tom, Wilma and I will be dividing and conquering for years to come – that is, unless the SDHSAA changes things up.

Until then, I’ll relish in the fact that it’s always a good day to be a Lynx.