The Wellness Center’s Mini-Triathlon was a success for many runners, swimmers and bikers on Sunday, April 24.

Starting at noon, individuals and teams of two and three competed in a 500-yard swim in the HPER pool, a 12-mile bike race around town and finished with a 3.1-mile run around campus.

RS Racing came in first place in the team event with a time of 1 hour, 6 minutes and 39 seconds followed closely by VB&B with a time of 1 hour, 7 minutes. The Sinister Ones finished with a time of 1 hour, 7 minutes and 40 seconds.

In the individual competition, first place in the men’s division went to 17-year-old Sam Dannenbring of Yankton with a time of 58 minutes and 22 seconds. Second place went to Tracy Schaefer of Watertown with a time of 1 hour, 2 minutes and 46 seconds. Robert Alwin of Brooklyn Park, MN finished in third place with a time of 1 hour, 2 minutes and 46 seconds.

The individual women’s event found Laura Wilcox, 17, of Yankton in first place with a time of 1 hour, 14 minutes and 56 seconds followed by Amy Dunkle of Brookings with 1 hour, 15 minutes and 57 seconds. Third place went to Denise Pietig of Olivia, Minn., finishing in 1 hour, 16 minutes and 13 seconds.

Fifteen teams, 64 men and 29 women of all ages competed in the 7-mph wind and low 46-degree temperature. All proceeds went to the Wellness Center. Participants received tank tops while the winners received t-shirts, water bottles and coupons.

#1.885050:865898206.jpg:HTriathalonAa.jpg:A participant of the spring triathlon adjusts his shoes to begin the bike portion of the competition. :

The SDSU spring volleyball tournament held Saturday, April 9 was a warm-up for the upcoming fall season.

The six volleyball teams competing were SDSU, Southwest Minnesota State University, Dakota Wesleyan University, University of South Dakota and Morningside College. Each team played four matches against one another but in the end no official champion was named as the whole experience was intended for practice. The tournament provided an informal atmosphere for off-season teams to keep in shape both mentally and physically. SDSU head coach Andrew Palileo said he coached with the same intensity as a regular season match and the experience was “just the way it would be in the fall.”

Winning all four of their matches, the Jacks hope to carry that momentum into the fall for another season of Division I play. Even with the loss of three seniors this year, Palileo expects a decent season next fall as the team now already has one year of experience at the D-I level.

They will use their spring training to help the underclassmen get ready for the fall season. According to Palileo, this tournament is a good way for younger players to get the experience they need, learn new techniques and be able to learn team strategy.

To add to the informal atmosphere, the players refereed each other’s matches. Some players thought it was quite a difficult task and said it was “not fun at all.”

SDSU team member Minette Ridenour said that the tournament was a little slower paced than a regular season match because some of the teams did not have all their players with them. Although the tournament was somewhat less demanding, Ridenour still enjoyed it.

“Any kind of competition is good.”

#1.885154:3138635661.jpg:volleyball1_jerry.jpg:Outside hitter Minette Ridenour hits the ball hard over defenders´ hands.:

Les Schmeichel, a resident at Advance, an assisted living program in Brookings, finds inspiration and excitement listening to the SDSU Jazz Band rehearsals.

Confined to a wheelchair, Les is blind and does not communicate with words. Therefore, sound is very important to him. After noting Les’s positive reactions to music, Advance employee, Janelle Wellnite contacted the SDSU music department in order to get him involved with live music. Jazz director, Corliss Johnson agreed to the arrangement.

“We’re happy to accommodate him,” he says.

Two years later, Les still attends the rehearsals with excitement. Every week an Advance employee drives him to campus so he can listen to the jazz rehearsals.

Les is in his 20s, and just like most other people his age, listens to a variety of music and usually has something playing in his room at home. Anything goes, but the more rhythm a tune has, the better. He has also been to performances by the Brookings High School Band and the SDSU Pride of the Dakotas drum line. Wellnite says that she once had him situated so that the drum line marched right past him during the performance.

“He loved it from his head to his toes.”

Native American Storyteller Ambrose Little Ghost will speak about the Native American culture Thursday, Feb. 24, at the United Methodist Center at 7 p.m.

Sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Ambrose Little Ghost will provide cultural awareness with his teachings and stories. He is a member of the Dakota Sioux Nation, but is fluent in the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota dialects. He will speak about his culture and experiences as well as sharing stories that have been told for generations.

Little Ghost is a well-known spiritual and cultural leader throughout the northern plains region. He is a respected tribal elder of the Spirit Lake Dakota Nation in Ft. Totten, North Dakota, and a Korean War veteran. He has spoken at various universities and wherever he is requested. Ambrose Little Ghost will set the pace for a few upcoming cultural events, including the Wacipi PowWow, and speaker Molly Springer, a Native American woman.