By John RittenhouseAll three track programs from the Star Herald coverage area met in Pipestone Tuesday for the annual running of the Arrow Relays.Luverne competed in the Class A portion of the meet, where it won 10 meet titles. No point totals were available, but the LHS boys won the team championship and the girls placed second.Adrian and Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth mixed it up in Class B, winning a combined 10 meet championships.The LHS boys won nine events, including four relay races, to help nail down the team title.Luverne won the sprint medley, 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter relays with respective 3:56.8, 45.5, 1:36.4, 3:35.7 and 8:41 efforts.Ryan Wynia, Jordan Siebenahler, Ruston Aaker and Tom Ward ran the medley. Chris Ashby, Ben Uphoff, Siebenahler and Jake Hendricks teamed up in the 400. Scott Goebel, Ward, Nick Otten and Hendricks combined efforts in the 1,600. Goebel, Ward, Aaker and Otten joined forces in the 3,200.Thomas Pinkal (4:49.6 in the 1,600 and 10:37 in the 3,200), Hendricks (51.1 in the 400), Otten (2:09.8 in the 800) and Mike Kunstle (11.1 in the 100) won individual titles for LHS.Luverne’s Ashby, Uphoff, Siebenahler and Hendricks finished second in the 400-meter relay with a time of 45.5. Uphoff placed second in the 300-meter hurdles in 43.9.Lexi Heitkamp established a new meet record by winning the 800-meter run with a time of 2:24.3 to lead the Cardinal girls.Luverne placed second in the 800-, 1,600- and 3,200- meter relays with respective 1:54.4, 4:21.6 and 10:30.4 times.Abby Elbers, Stephanie Hendricks, Brittany Mulder and Nicole Willers ran the 800. Victoria Arends, Amy Herman, Maggie Kuhlman and Heitkamp formed the 1,600-meter ream. Arends, Kayla Raddle, Kelsey Dooyema and Heitkamp competed in the 3,200.Raddle (12:10.5 in the 3,200) and Natalie Willers (101-2 in the discus) placed second individually.The Adrian teams won a combined six meet titles in Pipestone, including a five-victory effort from the girls.Erica Thier, Morgan Lynn and Leslie Stover took top honors in the 400-meter dash and 800- and 1,600-meter runs with respective 1:03.19, 2:27.87 and 5:51.34 times.The Dragons also won the 1,600- and 3,200-meter relays in 4:21.5 and 10:14.4.Reisdorfer, Lynn, Stover and Thier teamed up in the 1,600. Thier, Stover, Megan Henning and Lynn ran the 3,200,Casey Knips, who placed second with a toss of 131-3 in the discus, won the lone meet title for the AHS boys with a distance of 46-4 in the shot put.Adrian’s Billy Anderson and Lee Stover finished second in the 200-meter dash and 800-meter run with respective 24.21 and 4:57 times.Two titles each went to the H-BC-E-E boys and girls squads, which competed in the Class B version of the meet.The highlight of the meet from H-BC-E-E’s standpoint is the effort turned in by Mya Mann, Rosie Lewis, Cassi Tilstra and Kelly Mulder during the 400-meter relay. The foursome won the event with a meet record time of 53.9.The H-BC-E-E girls also won the medley relay with a time of 4:38. Amanda Connors, Ashley Bucher, Tilstra and Mann formed the team.Amanda Tilstra placed second in the 400-meter dash and Rayna Sandoval finished second in the 3,200-meter run with respective 1:05.39 and 13:02 efforts.The Patriots placed second in the 3,200-meter relay with a time of 10:14.9. Mann, Bucher, Cassi and Amanda Tilstra ran the race.H-BC-E-E’s boys won the 400- and 800-meter relays with respective 46.06 and 1:35.3 times. Jan Sommerling, Jon Klaassen, Cody Scholten and Tyler Bush teamed up in the 400. Sommerling, Darrin Weikamp, Scholten and Bush ran the 800.Scholten, Weikamp, Sommerling and Bush finished second in the medley relay with their 3:44.34 time.Roger DeBoer (18.21 in the 110 hurdles), Weikamp (55.8 in the 400) and John Sandbulte (46.12 in the 300 hurdles) placed second individually.Here is a look at the rest of H-BC-E-E’s, Luverne’s and Adrian’s individual efforts from the Arrow Relays.Luverne boysThird place: Matt Rosin, discus, 120-0; Rosin, shot, 43-0; Kunstle, triple jump, 38-10 1/2.Fourth place: Willers, shot, 42-0 1/2; Ashby, 200, 25.1; Uphoff, 110 hurdles, 18.54.Fifth place: Willers, discus, 116-4.Luverne girlsThird place: Arends, 300 hurdles, 50.1; medley relay (Morgan Bosshart, Nc.Willers, Hendricks, Katie Schneiderman), 4:54.5.Fourth place:Nt.Willers, shot, 31-8; Heitkamp, high jump, 4-8; Dooyema, 1,600, 6:14; Kuhlman, 100 hurdles, 17.6.Fifth place: Kuhlman, triple jump, 29-7; Herman, 400, 1:06.2; 400 relay (Hendricks, Elbers, Mulder and Nc.Willers), 56.1.Sixth place: LaRae Kor, shot, 28-2; Elbers, long jump, 13-8; Elbers, 100, 13.62; Mulder, 200, 29.1.Adrian girlsThird place: 400 relay (Emily Thier, Amanda Lynn, Katy Slater and Reisdorfer), 56.4; 800 relay (Em.Thier, A.Lynn, Sarah Jensen and Reisdorfer), 1:58.56.Fourth place: medley relay (Em.Thier, A.Lynn, Slater and Henning), 4:56.6.Fifth place: Jensen, 100 hurdles, 20.64; Jensen, 300 hurdles, 55.63.Sixth place: Slater, 100, 14.4.Adrian boysThird place: Blake Springman, discus, 115-3; Stover, 800, 2:10.61.Fourth place: Jon Konz, 300 hurdles, 48.47; 1,600 relay (Stover, Jesse Brake, Jordan Brake and Preston Engelkes), 3:51.26.Fifth place: Michael Powell, 110 hurdles, 22.63; Ethan Wieneke, 3,200, 11:30.69; 800 relay (Jr.Brake, Konz, Jory Haken and Anderson), 1:42.86; medley relay (Powell, Haken, Engelkes and Zach Sankey), 4:12.8.Sixth place: Springman, shot, 37-10; Engelkes, 400, 58.09; 400 relay (Jr.Brake, Trent Lutmer, Konz and Anderson), 49.79.H-BC-E-E girlsThird place: C.Tilstra, high jump, 4-6; Kari Roozenboom, 110 hurdles, 18.56.Fourth place: Jocelyn Bucher, 300 hurdles, 55.13; Sandoval, 800, 2:42.5; 1,600 relay (A.Tilstra, J.Bucher, Amanda Connors and A.Bucher), 4:31.42.Fifth place: A.Bucher, long jump, 13-2 1/4; 800 relay (Brittany Helgeson, Roozenboom, J.Bucher, Lewis), 2:01.3; Amanda DeBoer, 1,600, 6:07.9; Mulder, 200, 29.53.Sixth place: Connors, long jump, 13.1;Roozenboom, triple jump, 28-6; Lewis, discus, 87-1.H-BC-E-E boysThird place: Scholten, high jump, 5-10; Derek Haak, 1,600, 5:04.2.Fourth place: Sandbulte, triple jump, 36-2; Dustin Verhey, 3,200, 11:13; Haak, 800, 2:12.Fifth place: 3,200 relay (Tyler Paulsen, Brent Kramer, Cody Penning, Sandbulte), 9:24.21; 1,600 relay (Klaassen, Sandbulte, Cody Schilling, Haak), 3:53.11.Sixth place: Bush, triple jump, 35-1; Kenny Gardner, 200, 27.1.

By John RittenhouseThe Luverne tennis team completed a busy stretch Tuesday that featured the Cardinals competing in four events in a seven-day span.The Cards lost a five-point road decision to Sioux Falls O’Gorman’s junior varsity squad Wednesday, April 27. Luverne won by five points in Redwood Falls Thursday and split matches at the St. James Tournament Saturday.Luverne posted a three-point home win in a non-conference match against Worthington Tuesday.The 7-4 Cardinals play in Clara City today, at the Benson Tournament Saturday and host Yellow Medicine East Tuesday.Luverne 5, Worthington 2The Cardinals bested the Trojans for the second time this season when the teams squared off in Luverne Tuesday.Luverne went 3-1 in singles and took two of three doubles matches from the Trojans to win by three."The match was closer than the final score indicates," said LHS coach Greg Antoine.Luverne’s Dusty Antoine (6-4, 6-0 over Jason Johnson), David Nelson (6-2, 6-3 over Nate Peterson) and Derek Boeve (6-4, 7-6, 8-8 in the tie-breaker) won at No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 singles.Brandon Deragisch and Nick Heronimus pulled out a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win over Ben Clark and Justin Langseth at No. 1 doubles for LHS. Weston Sawtelle and Erik Stegemann upped their record to 4-0 as a doubles team by topping Jordan Willemsen and Cody Neyens by 6-1 and 7-5 scores at No. 2 doubles.Worthington’s Quentin Dudley handed Zach Sanderson 6-2 and 6-4 setbacks at No. 4 singles. Tim Roos and John Roos topped Matt Kreuch and Jamie Vickery by 6-2 and 6-3 tallies at No. 3 doubles.SJ tourneyThe Cardinals went 1-1 and placed second during Saturday’s three-team tournament in St. James.Luverne coasted to a 7-0 win over Yellow Medicine East in the opening match. The host Saints nipped LHS 4-3 in the second round.Dusty Antoine and David Nelson went 2-0 in singles during the tournament. Sawtelle and Stegemann notched a pair of wins at second doubles.Playing at No. 1 singles, Antoine notched 6-1 and 6-3 wins over YME’s Justin Thomas before besting SJ’s Adam Doll by 6-1 and 6-2 tallies.Nelson secured 6-1 and 6-0 wins against YME’s Julian Palacios before topping SJ’s Adrian Reyes by 6-0 and 6-3 scores.Sawtelle and Stegemann recorded 6-3 and 6-1 victories over YME’s Colin Bennett and Eric Lynner in the first round. The Luverne team split sets (6-0, 4-6) with SJ’s Nate Jurgens and Jan Matsufusi before posting a 10-5 win in the tie-breaker that was used to determine the third set.Luverne’s Boeve and Zach Sanderson went 1-1 at No. 2 and No. 4 singles. Deragisch and Heronimus split matches at No. 1 doubles, as did Vickery and Marcos Aguire in the No. 3 slot.Luverne 6, RWV 1The Cardinals improved their record to 3-0 in Southwest Conference play by posting a five-point win over Redwood Valley in Redwood Falls Thursday.Luverne swept the hosts in singles and went 2-1 in doubles to take the match"Our experience carried us through singles without a loss," said Cardinal coach Antoine. "Our No. 1 and No. 2 doubles teams were very aggressive in getting to the net, forcing RWV into many errors when they were trying to deal with two players being at the net."Dusty Antoine (6-1, 6-0 over Cole Smith), Boeve (6-3, 6-4 over Ian Larson), David Nelson (6-0, 6-0 over Chad Kramer) and Sanderson (6-1, 6-0 over Shane Gewerth) secured singles wins for LHS.The No. 1 doubles team of Deragisch and Heronimus topped Mike Pendleton and Sean Ferguson by 6-1 and 6-3 tallies. Luverne’s Sawtelle and Stegemann earned a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 victory over Devan Blaine and Dan Stephens at No. 2RWV avoided a sweep when Trevor Palusky and Kurt Larson notched a 6-2, 7-6 (7-3 in the tie-breaker) win over Kreuch and Vickery at No. 3 doubles.O’Gorman JV 7, Luverne 2The Cardinals lost their second consecutive match when the dropped a five-point decision to the Knights’ junior varsity team in Sioux Falls Wednesday, April 27.O’Gorman won all six singles matches and went 1-2 in doubles to topple the Cards, who didn’t play a bad match according to their coach."We played really well," said Coach Antoine. "We hit the ball hard and hit some winners because of it. Our doubles teams really communicated well and were very aggressive in their play."Luverne’s wins came at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles. Dusty Antoine and Boeve recorded a 10-3 win against Steve Dix and Dan Philippe at No. 1. Deragisch and Heronimus rolled to a 10-2 victory against Mike Billion and Matt Rippe in the second slot.O’Gorman’s Andrew Billion and Paul Fahrendorf nipped Sawtelle and Sanderson 10-7 in third doubles.Kevin Brennen (10-5 over Antoine), Dix (10-7 over Boeve), Philippe (12-10 over Nelson), Mike Billion (10-5 over Deragisch), Matt Rippe (10-4 over Heronimus) and Andrew Billion (10-2 over Stegemann) prevailed in singles for the hosts.

By John RittenhouseThe Luverne boys captured the team championship at the Worthington Invitational track and field meet Thursday.The Cardinals compiled 196 points to top the eight-team field for the first time at the meet since 2003.Luverne’s girls placed second to Windom at the meet, snapping a three-year run of winning the team title. Adrian’s boys and girls placed seventh in team competition.The Cardinal boys used seven event titles and seven second-place performances to capture their team victory.Luverne won the 400-, 800- and 1,600-meter relays with respective 46.38, 1:38.41 and 3:33.92 efforts. Chris Ashby, Ben Uphoff, Jordan Siebenahler and Mike Kunstle ran the 400. Ruston Aaker, Ryan Wynia, Tom Ward and Siebenahler formed the 800-meter team. Scott Goebel, Aaker, Nick Otten and Jake Hendricks joined forces in the 1,600.Uphoff (43.72 in the 300-meter hurdles), Kunstle (11.7 in the 100-meter dash and 41-0 in the triple jump, a meet record) and Otten (2:08.01 in the 800-meter run) captured individual titles for LHS.Luverne’s Goebel, Ward, Thomas Pinkal and Otten finished second in the 3,200-meter relay with a time of 8:37.98.Michael Nelson (11-0 in the pole vault), Pinkal (4:52.76 in the 1,600), Hendricks (51.63 in the 400 and 25.13 in the 200), Ashby (43.92 in the 300 hurdles) and Kunstle (19-2 1/2 in the long jump) placed second individually.Lexi Heitkamp claimed the lone meet title for the LHS girls. Heitkamp, who placed second in the 1,600-meter run in 5:31.45, won the 800 with a 2:27.57 effort.Victoria Arends (51.37 in the 300 hurdles), Kayla Raddle (12:35.99 in the 3,200) and Erin Hoiland (13-11 in the long jump) placed second individually for the Cards.Luverne finished second in the 400- and 800-meter relays with respective 54.47 and 1:56.22 efforts. Morgan Bosshart, Abby Elbers, Brittany Mulder and Nicole Willers ran the 400. Hoiland, Elbers, Mulder and Willers teamed up in the 800.The Adrian girls won three event championships and established one new school record during the meet.Morgan Lynn etched her name into the AHS record book by winning the 1,600-meter run with a time of 5:21.48. Lynn also ran with Adrian’s winning 1,600-meter relay, which recorded a time of 4:23.49. Jolene Reisdorfer, Sarah Jensen and Erica Thier ran with Lynn in the relay.Thier took top honors in the 400-meter dash with a personal best time of 1:02.47.Thier, Leslie Stover, Megan Henning and Lynn placed second in the 3,200-meter relay in 10:17.43.Casey Knips won the shot put and discus titles with respective 47-5 and 144-5 tosses to lead the AHS boys at the meet.Here is a look at the team standings and the rest of the point-producing efforts turned in by LHS and AHS athletes at the meet.Boys standings: Luverne 196, Fulda 116, Worthington 91, Southwest Christian 86, Windom 83, Southwest United 53, Adrian 43, Westbrook-Walnut Grove-Red Rock Central 30.Girls standings: Windom 173, Luverne 125.5, SWU 78, W-WG-RRC 76, Worthington 71.5, SWC 65.5, Adrian 57, Fulda 54.5.Luverne boysThird place: Wynia, pole vault, 10-6; Uphoff, 110 hurdles, 18.56; Ashby, 100, 12.16; Goebel, 800, 2:11.51.Fourth place: Ward, 400, 53.99; Steve Schneiderman, 3,200, 11:00.78; Matt Rosin, discus, 123-8.Fifth place: Aaker, 400, 54.49; Tony Willers, discus, 117-8; Willers, shot, 40-4 1/2; Aaker, high jump, 5-2.Sixth place: Schneiderman, 1,600, 5:04.23; Siebenahler, 200, 25.13; Rosin, shot, 39-10;Tim Miller, triple jump, 36-7.Seventh place: Miller, high jump, 5-0.Eighth place: Jimmy Broomfield, pole vault, 9-0; Ryan Jacobsma, 100, 12.72.Luverne girlsThird place: Elbers, 100, 14.16.Fourth place: Arends, 100 hurdles, 18.02; Hoiland, 100, 14.38; Katie Schneiderman, 3,200, 13:08.42; 1,600 relay (Arends, Amy Herman, Maggie Kuhlman and Heitkamp), 4:30.86; Natalie Willers, discus, 100-10.Fifth place: 3,200 relay (Kelsey Dooyema, Tara Muck, Schneiderman, Raddle), 10:58.82; Kuhlman, 100 hurdles, 18.1; Mulder, 200, 29.76.Sixth place: Herman, 400, 1:06.87; Jessica Willers, 300 hurdles, 52.88; Natalie Willers, shot, 30-4 1/2; Schneiderman, pole vault, 7-6.Seventh place: Stephanie Hendricks, 100, 14.47; Amanda Kannas, 1,600, 6:07.75; Herman, 200, 30.14.Eighth place: Alyssa Stegenga, 100, 14.63; Dooyema, 1,600, 6:08.33; Kuhlman, 300 hurdles, 53.36; Elbers, long jump, 13-11; Heitkamp, high jump, 5-4; Mulder, pole vault, 7-0.Adrian girlsThird place: Stover, 3,200, 12:42.64; 400 relay (Emily Thier, Amanda Lynn, Katy Slater and Reisdorfer), 55.33.Fourth place: 800 relay (Reisdorfer, Em.Thier, A.Lynn and Jensen), 1:57.62.Seventh place: Henning, 800, 2:51.53.Adrian boysFifth place: Lee Stover, 1,600, 5:02.98; Billy Anderson, 200, 24.69.Sixth place: 800 relay (Jordan Brake, Jon Konz, Jory Haken and Anderson), 1:42.76; 1,600 relay (Stover, Jesse Brake, Jr.Brake, Preston Engelkes), 3:48.72.Seventh place: 3,200 relay (Js.Brake, Jarod Boltjes, Nate Reyne and Stover), 9:07.76; 400 relay (Jr.Brake, Konz, Haken and Stover), 49.66; Haken, high jump, 5-0.

We would like to express our appreciation to more than 100 businesses and organizations that donated to the Luverne Junior/Senior After-Prom activity. There were 91 students who attended and more than 25 parents that helped with this activity. It would not have been possible to provide this activity without this generous support. As mentioned in the Star Herald last week, it was disappointing that more students did not attend after-prom. We were encouraged by the fact that the students that came did enjoy themselves. They liked the entertainment, music, games, food, and prizes. It was fun! So next year when the junior/senior prom rolls around, we would encourage parents to support the banquet and after-prom activities. Both are organized by the parents, endorsed by the school, reasonably priced at $10 each, generously supported by the community, and the kids do have a good time! After Prom Parent CommitteeJean SchneeklothShirley SandagerSharon DeutschLynn RichtersPatti NelsonPam ChristensenCindy Arends

I was just writing to express my joy in Mrs. (Mary Jo) Graphenteen's new position at Adrian. As a graduate of Luverne and veteran of the Luverne Volleyball program, I feel I can fully appreciate the impact Coach "G" has had on my life. Graphenteen has acted as a leader and a friend to me for years, on and off the court. It is unfortunate that Luverne has to lose such a wonderful influence, but I think it is great that Graphenteen will be able to share her passion with other volleyball enthusiasts once again. I wish her only the best of luck and look foward to seeing the direction "G" will take the Adrian volleyball program in. Stephanie Morgan,Former LHS volleyball player

I am a parent of a 2005-06 kindergarten child. I am extremely frustrated with the Luverne School Board’s decision to cut the all day every day program and also with the decision to add an enrichment course. This course will only force parents to pay for their child's PUBLIC education.My belief is that the school board and administration should have had a public meeting for the parents to voice their opinions. I am saddened by the idea that the board and administration are using my child to make a point.Stacy Mente,Adrian

We are parents who are concerned about the School Board’s decision to eliminate all day every day kindergarten. The School Board’s decision to go to morning kindergarten and charge tuition for the afternoon class just isn’t fair. There are parents who cannot afford to pay this tuition and their children will miss out on the additional educationally based activities that the Kinder Plus program will offer. Will those students who cannot attend Kinder Plus be behind those that do attend and how will this affect their education in the future? In the years to come what will it cost the school to help those students who are behind because they could not attend Kinder Plus? Are we going to discriminate against those who cannot afford tuition or find financial assistance?At a time when we hear about "No child left behind," we would ask the School Board to reconsider their decision and allow the same educational opportunities for all students, even the kindergarteners. Kevin and Julie FickLuverne

First, let me say that I am extremely disappointed that our State government does not see the need to fund all-day kindergarten for all kindergarten students in the state. Parents, contact your legislators and urge them to support full funding for kindergarten. Secondly, I am extremely disappointed that our school district, administration and school board would make the choice to cut the all-day kindergarten program in spite of all the benefits it provides. It is even more upsetting that they would vote to provide enrichment to those students that can afford $1,350 a year. The district is not "cutting" any money, only taking in additional revenue from parents. I firmly believe that the all day program is beneficial to all students. ALL kindergarteners need physical education to develop gross motor skills, music to enhance learning from rhythm and rhyme which helps with reading and math skills. How can we provide equal education for all students when music, art, physical education, social activities and curriculum extension are reserved for those that can pay?What exactly is the district’s spending priorities? What is important to our community? Parents, make your voice known!Paula JelkenLuverne

I'm a concerned parent that has a child that was planning on going to kindergarten next fall. But the decision the School Board has made has possibly changed our minds.We are in the Ellsworth School District and open enrolled to Luverne. Since both my husband and myself graduated from Luverne we felt that we wanted the same for our kids. We are considering sending our son and daughter (which is in second grade) to Ellsworth. We have sent our son to Discovery Time for two years for him to get used to going to every day all day and now that was all for nothing.I would like to know how the School Board came up with dollar amount for the Kinder Plus? A lot of families will not be able to afford to send their child to this program. I thought Luverne has a policy of No Child Left Behind! But I guess we can for the Kindergarten kids. Disappointed Future Kindergarten Parent,Jeff and Missy FickEllsworth