Mental health is a key factor in performance and trust in sports. According toPhyisopedia Mental health in athletics is defined as “a state of successful performance or mental function that results in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with others, and the ability to adapt to change and cope with adversity” (Wylleman et al 6).
Mental health is a valuable resource on the field. A positive state of mind enables for better decision making and overall performance. However, having a negative mental state might contribute to slow and sluggish play. Pressure’s negative influence begins with slight unhappiness and a minor decline in a person’s ability to perform. When they are under too much strain, they can feel stressed, anxious, and unhappy.
Mental responses such as worry, anxiety, loss of confidence, denial of injury, leading to irrational fear of re-injury, and a setback in performance can all have an impact on the rehabilitation process of an injury. The challenge of keeping it out of your mind. Remaining upbeat, taking advantage of the setback as a chance to grow, and remain loyal to your goals and self. Furthermore, the ability to shatter the stigma lets a great athlete be authentic and divert failure from their path.
Cultural and societal attitudes within sports often stigmatize mental health issues, hindering athletes from seeking help due to expectations of toughness and the perception of weakness associated with mental health struggles. Fear of judgment and career consequences can deter athletes from seeking mental health support, perpetuating silence and stigma in sports. Limited access to mental health resources further compounds the challenges athletes face in addressing their mental well-being, exacerbating the stigma and barriers to seeking help within the sports community.
In sports, fostering a mental health support system entail offering resources and counseling to enhance athletes’ well-being and performance. Each participant plays a critical role in this battle, including coaches, mental health education, and access to services. For instance, in an article written by Gabe Kapler he underscores the pivotal role of coaches, teammates, and support staff in addressing mental health issues in sports. Sharing that they should be a support system not a system where they are conditioned to appear bulletproof, and to suck it up (Paragraph 4).
Kapler also emphasizes the significance of mental health education and training within the sports community to destigmatize mental health issues and provide effective support systems for athletes (Paragraph 9). Additionally, he advocates for the crucial access to professional counseling and therapy services for athletes and individuals facing mental health challenges, emphasizing the need for sports organizations to prioritize mental well-being (Paragraph 10). Mental health presents a significant concern within the realm of elite athletes, where the relentless pursuit of excellence often intersects with unique challenges and pressures.
For example, an article titled Everyone Is Going Through Something by NBA player Kevin Love highlights the distinct challenges faced by elite athletes, including societal expectations of toughness and masculinity, which can discourage them from seeking assistance for mental health issues, perpetuating stigma within the sports community (Paragraph 2).
Love’s experience further underscores the delicate balance athletes must maintain between the demands of performance and the needs of their mental health. His panic attack during a game serves as a key reminder of the strain athletes encounter in navigating these competing priorities, emphasizing the crucial importance of prioritizing self-care and seeking support when facing mental health challenges (Paragraph 4).
Additionally, Love’s decision to seek therapy after his panic attack provides a notable example of successful management of mental health in sports, illustrating the significance of openness and professional help-seeking in addressing mental health concerns within the elite athlete community (Paragraph 11).
In conclusion, the significance of mental health in sports is undeniable. As athletes strive for excellence, they face unique challenges that can impact their mental well-being.
It is essential for athletic communities to prioritize mental health awareness and support, creating a culture where athletes feel empowered to prioritize self-care and seek help when needed. By promoting mental health education, reducing stigma, and ensuring access to resources, athletic communities can foster environments where athletes can thrive both in their sport and in their personal lives.
Sports betting involves placing monetary wagers on the outcomes of sporting events, ranging from mainstream to niche competitions. Its rising popularity has made it a significant aspect of both fan engagement and player involvement in the world of sports.
Fan betting involves placing bets on sports events for entertainment, including friendly wagers, fantasy sports leagues, and online betting, driven by motivations like enhancing excitement and testing sports knowledge, yet it poses risks such as financial losses and gambling-related harm.
Player betting refers to the involvement of athletes or sports professionals in placing bets on sporting events, potentially including those in which they are directly participating. Some players sports bet even though they are playing. For example, in article written by ESPN it highlights Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley who downloaded a gambling app, deposited $1,500, and bet on NBA and NFL games, including betting on his current team at the time the Falcons as a result he was called in front of NFL investigators to be questioned about the bets in November 2021 and ultimately suspended for the entire 2022 NFL season (DiRocco 3). And many people feel as a direct result of any decision like this a player lacks integrity and ethics for a game, they spend their entire life trying to make it too.
The legal status of sports betting varies across jurisdictions, with some countries permitting it under strict regulations, while others have banned or heavily restricted it. Regulatory measures typically include licensing requirements, age restrictions, and consumer protection measures, but their effectiveness can vary depending on enforcement and oversight mechanisms.
Gambling can have the same effect on you as being addicted to drugs or alcohol that can end up leader to many bad habits. For example, an article written by the Mayo Clinic shows these potential problems “Gambling can stimulate the brain’s reward system you may continually chase bets that lead to losses, use up savings and create debt. You may hide your behavior and even turn to theft or fraud to support your addiction” (Compulsive gambling 2). Sports betting can have profound psychological effects on both fans and players, leading to heightened excitement, addictive behaviors, financial stress, ethical dilemmas, and potential damage to reputation. For many people betting is seen as just another form of entertainment but there is the problem. For example, an article titled social influences normalize gambling-related harm among higher risk gamblers highlights this “Social influences are key drivers of gambling and can begin in youth through parental modeling and facilitation. Over time, social influence from friends and colleagues also becomes important” (Russel et al 1).
Sports betting generates substantial revenue globally, contributing to the economic significance of the industry, while its impact on the sports industry includes increased viewership, sponsorship opportunities, and investments in infrastructure and technology. Ethical considerations in sports betting prompt ongoing discussions on regulation and responsible gambling, while the future outlook involves balancing commercial interests with consumer protection and social responsibility amidst technological advancements.
In conclusion, Sports betting encompasses both fan and player involvement, with fans engaging for entertainment and players potentially facing ethical dilemmas. The legal landscape varies across jurisdictions, with regulatory measures aiming to mitigate risks, while the economic significance is underscored by substantial revenue and impacts on the sports industry.
EPISODE 3: The Professional Dream By Jackson Odden Hosted by Abby Smith
Official Transcript:
[THEME SONG – ORGAN.]
Abby Smith:
Hello everyone! This is the Mustang Post: The Home Turf, our new sports podcast, where we dive into not just the home turf of Sheyenne but the home turf of the love of all sports for fans and athletes who invest themselves and their lives in their passion. In this episode, Jackson Odden speaks with two Sheyenne baseball players about how they balance sports with education and their personal lives.
Here’s Jackson.
Jackson Odden:
Hello my Name is Jackson Odden I am a sophomore at Sheyenne High School and I will be interviewing two other sophomores.
Gavin Satrom:
I’m Gavin Satrom I’m a sophomore at Sheyenne high.
Ashton Loe:
My names Ashton Loe I’m a sophomore at Sheyenne High School.
Jackson Odden:
Every child has a dream. Sometimes those dreams are as simple as getting that new toy. However, there are those times where dreams become more complex, more life-impacting, bigger than big. Something like, “I want to be a pro athlete. A pro baseball player.” But what impact would attaining a dream like that have on that child’s life and the lives of his family and friends.
However, there’s a lot that goes into building that road to becoming a pro athlete. Namely, there those seemingly simple stages like preparing for a game. Gavin, a sophomore at Sheyenne High School plays on its C team and prepares for that moment he steps up to bat versus the pitcher.
Gavin Satrom: “Well, like if you scout the pitcher, you can like see how he throws, but um, I don’t really scout pitchers that much. So, I really just get there in the game and, like, see how fast he throws and try to time him up.”
Jackson Odden:
Ashton, also a sophomore at Sheyenne high school on the C team, is a bit more focused and determined.
Ashton Loe: “When I am in the dugout or the on-deck circle I try and time him up, look at how he’s throwing what pitches he’s throwing basically all the mechanics of it.”
Jackson Odden:
In order to accomplish the goal of playing professional baseball ball you need to know what goals to have for yourself and for the future. And more specifically the goals you have in life after you have gotten your high school diploma.
Gavin Satrom: “Well, I want go to college to play baseball, and then hopefully we get to the professional level, but like if not, then something probably something in like the accounting business.”
Jackson Odden:
Ashton may share the same goals as Gavin but has a different perspective of life after high school.
Ashton Loe: “First I want to continue my baseball career in college and then if that doesn’t work out somewhere in the medical field like athletic trainer or something like that.”
Jackson Odden:
Having a belief in yourself is a difficult thing to do when your goal is so high as to make it professionally. But it is a requirement in order to have confidence in yourself to accomplish it.
Gavin Satrom: “Well, I would like to say I am pretty good, but, like, you never know what’s going to happen. Its baseball it is up and down a lot of the time. You do good one time, really bad the other.”
Jackson Odden:
Ashton Shares being honest with yourself about your ability can be difficult but necessary in the path of life.
Ashton Loe: ” If I am being honest I don’t really know because a lot of the players around me are really good and watching videos everywhere I see players younger than me that are throwing really hard so I don’t know.”
Jackson Odden:
How does a baseball player maintain their focus amidst adversity, such as when they encounter struggles on the field? Can they find the inner perseverance, despite if they may be struggling in baseball?
Gavin Satrom: ” Well, like honestly you got to leave the last at bat or like batter when pitching behind you. And you just move on next batter, next at bat, all that.”
Jackson Odden:
How can seeking out different environments to practice in help a baseball player regain their focus and improve their performance during tough times?
Ashton Loe: “Whenever I’m struggling on usually I just try and practice that more like go to the Ballyard practice that and get better at it.”
Jackson Odden:
How has the discipline and teamwork learned from playing baseball translated into success? How have skills honed on the field, positively helped you in aspects of your life?
Gavin Satrom: “Baseball’s helped me by like keeping me in like so like for baseball, I have to focus on like on what ever I am doing, and then I can use that like in school too or for like what ever I am doing in my life.”
Jackson Odden:
How does playing giving a person a good mindset in baseball and a peace of mind?
Ashton Loe: ” I like playing baseball because it gives me something to do all the time I am always practicing it.”
Jackson Odden:
In the intricate dance between failure and success on the baseball diamond, how do you navigate the fine line, seeking growth amidst strikeouts and home runs? Can you share the strategies and mindset that help you maintain in your journey as a baseball player?
Gavin Satrom: “Well, Like balance the success is really just how hard I practice and all that, but then with like the failure I can just practice even more and harder to like get that success back.”
Jackson Odden:
Keeping to yourself and working on you can be a great way to challenge yourself.
Ashton Loe: “Well, usually I try to ignore how other people are playing, focus on myself, and make sure I am working hard.”
Jackson Odden:
As the crack of the bat echoes through the air, what specific milestones and improvements do you envision achieving in your upcoming baseball season, both individually and as a team, to make it a truly successful and memorable?
Gavin Satrom: “Well, really, it’s just to win the season and the tournament, so win as much as we can and play as best as we can.”
Jackson Odden:
Self challenges can make you a better leader and player than you think you are.
Ashton Loe: “I want to play really good hit a lot better than last year, and hopeful our team can win the tournament again.”
Jackson Odden:
What aspirations and objectives do you envision for your journey through college and beyond, and how do you plan to achieve them?
Gavin Satrom: ” Well, with college, I hope to still play baseball and keep up good grades, but then after college, I want to play professionally; if it doesn’t work, then something in the accounting business.”
Jackson Odden:
What would you do if everyone didn’t look at you what if baseball doesn’t work out?
Ashton Loe: “For college I want to continue my baseball career hopeful go D1 maybe make it to the majors otherwise probably stay in the medical field like I said before.”
Jackson Odden:
How do you navigate the challenge of resisting comparisons to peers of similar age who might be excelling in various aspects of life?
Gavin Satrom: “When I’m playing the game of baseball, I don’t really look around to see how people are doing; I just care about how I am doing myself and think if I can perform better or, I guess play better.”
Jackson Odden:
Comparing yourself to others can be a tricky thing how do you try to avoid it?
Ashton Loe: “Although I do see a lot of better players I just try and ignore them focus on myself get better get better than them.”
Jackson Odden:
“How do you manage the juggling of your academic studies while also dedicating significant time to practice and play baseball, and what strategies have you found most effective in maintaining a balance between these?”
Gavin Satrom: “Well, I mean If I can focus on the grades, then I can go out and just play baseball.”
Jackson Odden
One of the most beautiful parts of playing sports is you are a student athlete how do you balance being a student and an athlete?
Ashton Loe : “Usually I am pretty good at keeping my grades up keeping eligibility so I just focus on baseballs a ton during school.”
[THEME SONG – ORGAN.]
Abby Smith:
There you have it, with one athlete confident with his rise to the professional level and another riding the wave, who knows what the outcome will be.
This podcast was recorded by Jackson Odden and hosted by Abby Smith and our thanks goes out to Ashton Loe and Gavin Satrom for their time which helped make this podcast possible.
In our next episode of The Home Turf, Reise Berg and Aiden Johnson, take a look at the world of professional basketball.
EPISODE TWO: The Human Element in Baseball Dwindles By Ethan Laabs and Jonah Peterson Hosted by Abby Smith
The Mustang Post’s Ethan Laabs and Jonah Peterson take a critical look baseball’s mix of technology and humanity and where the fine line between the two begins and ends.
PART TWO: THE THRILL OF VICTORY By Jaxson Miller Hosted by Hailey Boehme
Official Transcript:
[THEME SONG – KOLBY THOMPSON.]
Hailey Boehme: Hello everyone. This is Sheyenne perspectives, and I’m your host, Hailey Boehme, with Mustang Post News.
In Jaxson’s last episode of Wins, Losses, and the Unexpected, Sheyenne football’s defeat and heartache was his focus.
If you missed this podcast or any other releases, they’re all free to stream on mustangpost.news.
This week, Jaxson wraps up his two-part podcast by taking a turn toward Sheyenne volleyball’s state championship victory and joy.
Here’s Jaxson.
Jaxson Miller: A couple of weeks later, Sheyenne’s volleyball team was back in the state tournament once again. Even before the Mustangs catapulted themselves into the history books, the season they were having was already historic.
The Mustangs won their first 22 games, their best start in program history, finished undefeated in the EDC conference, which helped them capture the EDC regular season title, and then they went on to win the EDC conference tournament.
Sheyenne entered the state tournament 32-2 and had to face a tough Bismarck St. Mary’s squad. The Mustangs swept the Saints.
Next up was the Jamestown Blue Jays. In another great performance, the Sheyenne Mustangs were able to get the sweep against another solid team. They were heading to the state championship for the first time in program history.
Kennedy Colter, one of the top servers on the team and one of the eight seniors on the team, described what she felt throughout the state tournament.
Kennedy Colter: “I think that whole weekend, I thought I was going to have a million heart attacks. That whole weekend was a lot because every game is so important. But, after winning that second game it still didn’t hit me because… just beating Jamestown, they are really good team, and we had to come out… and that we played really good against Jamestown so taking that whole game in was a lot after the game and I don’t think it hit me until later that night… like… holy cow, this isn’t real… like… we are actually going to the state championship.”
Kennedy Colter serving during Sheyenne’s matchup against Fargo Shanley on September 27, 2022. Photo courtesy Mustang Media.
Jaxson Miller: Sheyenne had to face Bismarck Century, a team that was in the state championship for the 12th straight year, a team that was looking for their 10th state title, and their 8th in the last 12 seasons. An absolute dynasty.
Did that bring a lot of pressure or nerves to the Mustangs? Of course. That is part of being an athlete. If there are not any nerves, there is something wrong.
The best athletes in the world get nervous. The players or teams that win are the ones that are equipped to handle it. So how did Kennedy and her teammates manage their nerves?
Kennedy Colter: Our team has two songs that we like to play before big games and to get us into the mindset of how important volleyball is to us and how much we care about each other. We play “I Lived” and “Halo.” And we were like, ‘Okay we have all this extra time’ before the game ‘Let’s play the song’ so we turned off the lights, we all got in a circle, and you could just feel that everyone wanted to win, and that everyone loved each other… we still do. It was a really good feeling and I think that helped calm my nerves down. I think all of us were crying, bawling our eyes out before the game, so that was great, but it was just that moment where we all got together, looked at each other, and it was like… this is the last game we will ever play together as a team, and for some of us, ever again, so it just meant a lot to know that everyone in that huddle had each other’s backs.”
Jaxson Miller: Sheyenne had faith that they could beat this dynasty of a team that Bismarck Century was.
Sheyenne beat Bismarck Century at the Bismarck Crossover, where the teams from the EDC, the Eastern Dakota Conference, travel West to play teams from the WDA, the Western Dakota Association.
Century got the upper hand against Sheyenne at the Fargo Invite towards the middle part of the regular season.
The Mustangs and the Patriots were the top two teams in the Class A state poll all season long. With each team splitting the amount of time spent at the number one spot, it was the perfect matchup for a state championship game.
[VOLLEYBALL BROADCAST SOUND – FREESOUND]
And the Mustangs did not shy away. They came out with a great amount of intensity and won the first set 25-21. Century responded with an early lead in the second set and won the second set 25-22.
Throughout the third set, Sheyenne and Century traded points with each other until Sheyenne was able to pull away. At this point, they were just one set away from their first ever state title, in their first ever state title game.
[VOLLEYBALL BROADCAST SOUND – FREESOUND]
Jaxson Miller: As a winning program, Century was simply not going to back down. With their backs against the walls, Century responded with clutch defense and minimal errors in the fourth set.
However, despite taking the fourth set, the momentum did shift back towards Sheyenne late in the set.
The Patriots had a lead of 24-18, but the Mustangs went on a five-point run to get the lead down to one before Century setter, Geneva Ding, faked out the Mustangs and got the point to close out the fourth set, 25-23.
[VOLLEYBALL BROADCAST SOUND – FREESOUND]
Jaxson Miller: The next set could have gone either way as it was a winner-takes-all scenario. What more could you have asked for as a fan? There was not a lot of room for errors. It came down to who wanted it more.
After the first half of the fifth set went back and forth, Sheyenne went on 5-1 run to go up 12-7. Century called timeout.
That momentum for Sheyenne did not stop. The Mustangs did not collapse and kept their foot on the gas pedal. Great setting by Kennedy led to Isabelle Albrecht and Lexus Terhark each getting a kill to make it a 14-8 game.
Sheyenne was now just one point away from knocking off Century and capturing their first ever state championship.
On the last serve of the game, Century was able to return the ball over the net. Khloe Brown passed to Brooke Johnson, who was serving to close out the game. Brooke Johnson gave outside hitter Reagan Bogenreif a great set.
Bogenreif rose and hit the ball with great power. Century’s front row almost blocked it but… the ball made contact with the ground. At that moment, just a little after midnight, Sheyenne reached the summit at long last. They dethroned the Patriots.
[VOLLEYBALL BROADCAST SOUND – FREESOUND]
KENNEDY COLTER: “I personally didn’t even see Reagan’s hit hit the ground. I didn’t even know, I was in an awkward spot, I couldn’t see, so I was like, ‘If everyone starts running, we won.’ And then everyone started running, and I just followed them. I was like, ‘This is not real’ and it was crazy. The best part of it was… I was sitting there… I think it was the fourth set and only in front of me, I could see our parents, our fans, and the Century fans. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh’ so I was like, ‘You know what? I need to take this all in.’ I stand up, I look around, and behind us is all the teams from the East, the West, and just everyone watching the game, cheering for us, so excited that they were jumping up for every single point. To have that feeling of everyone in the gym besides the Century fans cheering for you is something I will never forget, and that was a really cool experience too.”
Jaxson Miller: Kennedy says that what went on in all the huddles that occurred during the timeouts throughout the course of the match were a big factor.
Kennedy Colter: “I think that she (Newton) was just telling us to keep playing our game and to not get scared or tighten up because that is not going to help you win at all. I think when we got that run at the end of the fourth set, that really helped our momentum coming into the fifth set. I think that is really important and a huge thing in volleyball, is having the momentum of the game and although we did lose the fourth set, we did bring a lot of momentum into the fifth set, which was very helpful and that did push us to win the fifth set.
Jaxson Miller: Aiden Knodel was one of the many fans in the Bismarck Event Center that evening. He was in the student section with some friends.
Aiden Knodel: “Just seeing the redemption that the volleyball team was able to make up for our shortcomings, it was a really cool experience to witness and probably out of all the sporting events I have been to, it honestly was just like… crazy to watch, just the amount of energy that was inside the gym and just watching the emotions of the players, it was really cool to watch. And it kind of makes your heart ache because it is something that you wanted for yourself, but to see someone else go do that for you, was also a really cool experience.”
Jaxson Miller: It took Sheyenne’s volleyball team nine years to finally bring home a state championship trophy. The next step is to build off of this. They will have a good number of seniors to lead the team next year and will look to repeat as state champions.
The football team is hoping to rebound from the disappointing end to the 2022 season and return with vengeance next season.
Here’s the thing with sports, whether you achieve your storybook ending or not, it is important to understand that sports offer us the life-changing lessons that we need to grow as people and to make this world a better place. And for us to bounce back from our failures and our shortcomings.
[THEME SONG – KOLBY THOMPSON.]
Hailey Boehme: This podcast was recorded and edited by Jaxson Miller and hosted by Hailey Boehme. Sheyenne Perspectives theme music was composed and performed by Kolby Thompson under the direction of Mark Berntson (BURNT-son). Our thanks goes to Aiden Knodel and Kennedy Colter for their insight and time interviewing as well as Mustang Media and BEK Sports Network for providing the sports broadcast audio in this two-part podcast.
In our next episode of Sheyenne Perspectives, Carter Phillips returns for part two of his feature on creativity.
PART ONE: THE PAIN OF THE UNEXPECTED By Jaxson Miller Hosted by Hailey Boehme
Official Transcript:
[THEME SONG – KOLBY THOMPSON.]
Hailey Boehme: Hey everyone! It’s your host, Hailey Boehme, and I’m here to welcome you back to another episode of Sheyenne Perspectives from Mustang Post News.
In our last episode of Sheyenne Perspectives, Carter Phillips delved into the human desire to create and share those creations.
This week Jaxson Miller continues our series by taking a look at Sheyenne High School’s volleyball and football teams and how wins, losses, and the unexpected affected them.
Here’s Jaxson.
Jaxson Miller: The court.
[VOLLEYBALL BROADCAST SOUND – FREESOUND]
Jaxson Miller: The field.
[FOOTBALL BROADCAST SOUND – FREESOUND]
Jaxson Miller: Sports. They make the world a better place. They relate to the GAME we call LIFE.
There are highs. After a thrilling state title victory, the team is on top of the world.
Yet, there are lows. There is agony. There is loss. And that loss is made even worse when it’s unexpected.
In this podcast, we’ll look at those losses AND the wins. But really, we’re focusing on the unexpected and how that truly impacts teams and teammates.
Sheyenne wide receiver Aiden Knodel looking to block during an offensive play against Bismarck Century during their 11AA quarterfinal game on Friday, October 28, 2022, at Essentia Health Mustang Stadium.
Jaxson Miller: When our expectations are not met, how do we react and why do we react the way we do? Change or the unexpected is hard, challenging. And yet, in that change, or in the unexpected, there’s more to learn, more to achieve, more to reflect upon, more to look forward to.
The Sheyenne football and volleyball teams’ seasons ended just a few weeks apart. One team achieved state title glory for the first time in program history and the other suffered an agonizing defeat in the first round of the playoffs.
The football team was upset in the quarterfinal round of the 11AA playoffs by Bismarck Century, who won 27-8 on Sheyenne’s turf at Essentia Health Mustang Stadium. The Mustangs were the number one seed and were looking to win their second consecutive title after taking home their first crown last year.
Aiden Knodel, who is a senior at Sheyenne High School, was pumped throughout the week leading up to that Friday night playoff game against Bismarck Century.
The Mustangs finished the regular season strong by beating Mandan at home, 28-17, in the regular season finale. The Mustangs and the Braves were the top two ranked teams in the state at the time and the Mustangs captured the number one seed for the playoffs with the win and extended their winning streak to seven games in a row.
[FOOTBALL BROADCAST SOUND – FREESOUND]
Aiden Knodel: Throughout the week we knew it was a playoff game, a playoff atmosphere. The week prior, we played Mandan, which was a team that we thought we would be able to see later in the playoffs, potentially a championship level team, and we were pretty high coming off that win, but our preparation was definitely serious for Century knowing that they have gotten the better of us before in years prior. During the regular season we were able to beat them 42-14. So in that element I feel like we maybe could have underestimated them, but because it was a playoff scenario I feel like everyone was locked in and ready to go.
Jaxson Miller: The Mustangs were looking to jump start another playoff run to reach their fourth consecutive Dakota Bowl and have a shot at winning back-to-back state titles.
However, the Patriots came out firing on all cylinders to start the game. The Mustangs fumbled on their second drive of the game and the Patriots capitalized. Throughout the first half, Sheyenne’s offense could not get anything rolling and they trailed 14-0 at halftime… something they were not used to all season.
[FOOTBALL BROADCAST SOUND – FREESOUND]
Jaxson Miller: And the momentum for Bismarck Century continued into the beginning of the second half. On 3rd & 8, with a little over nine minutes to go in the third quarter, quarterback, Kyan Barth, connected with running back, Peyton Arndt, for a 38-yard touchdown to extend Century’s lead to 20.
[FOOTBALL BROADCAST SOUND – FREESOUND]
Jaxson Miller: Trailing 20-0 in the third quarter, the Mustangs’ offense was finally able to find a spark on their next drive. They responded by marching down the field easily. The drive was capped off by a Kaden Rahr rushing touchdown. Sheyenne converted on the two-point conversion to make it a 20-8 ballgame.
[FOOTBALL BROADCAST SOUND – FREESOUND]
Jaxson Miller: However, that spark would not last long. The offense stalled again. Despite the defense keeping the Patriots at 20 points for most of the second half, the Mustangs could not climb themselves out of the hole that they were in. Aiden could not believe what was happening.
Aiden Knodel: Never did it cross my mind that we would be in that situation where we would be down, and it was just like… we were getting beat pretty bad at that point. Never in my mind did I think that we would lose that game. So, as the clock was ticking down, it was a shock to me as I was just standing there. It felt out of my control. Nothing I could do. It just felt like a bad dream.
Jaxson Miller: Bismarck Century went on to win 27-8. Just like that, Sheyenne’s season… was over. There would be no back-to-back champion. There was not much to say.
Aiden Knodel: After the game, the locker room was honestly really quiet. Nobody had much to say. There was lots of hugs, some tears. It was definitely the most emotional I have ever had in sports where you have been growing up with these kids your entire life and it is like the last time you are going to be able to share a field, share a court, like any of that, with lots of those kids. It is really surreal, and you are realizing that your sports career is coming to an end. All the friends, all the relationships, every practice you go to, you start to miss that type of stuff and miss those connections that you used to have.
Jaxson Miller: It is hard to describe the amount of agony an athlete feels after an upset loss. It is like getting punched in the gut, like something that you wanted for so long just suddenly becomes out of reach.
But yet, in these agonizing moments, sports offer us life changing lessons that can prepare us for tough times in the future.
Aiden Knodel: Never take anything granted. I thought my football career would end with playing in a state championship where I would know that it is the last game I will every play. Luckily for you, when you got to that championship, you knew this was the last game I was going to be playing these girls, last game I was going to be playing with these guys. That is what I thought I was going to be feeling. I felt like that was stripped away from me so suddenly, so shockingly, I definitely thought that I kind of took things for granted. I didn’t really love every moment that I should have. Just don’t take anything for granted.
[THEME SONG – KOLBY THOMPSON.]
Hailey Boehme: Sheyenne’s football team may have suffered from over confidence. And maybe that led to the unexpected… their early exit from the playoffs. But what if confidence is completely justified? What if the outcome defies the expected, defies defeat? That’s where Jaxson Miller will continue, next time in Part Two of Wins, Losses, and the Unexpected on Sheyenne Perspectives.
Coming off of a great 2021-22 season last year, the Mustang Girls’ Basketball team has continued to make some noise. Six seniors returned to the court this year with head coach, Kenyon Wingenbach. Since joining the Mustangs, Wingenbach has led them to 20 victories in the 21-22 season and 12 so far this year, as of February 22, 2023.
Hoping to end this season on another positive note, the Mustangs gear up for the end of season EDC and State Competitions. Their last run came close with a 5th place finish.
The recent senior night, celebrated on February 21st, honored players Kaitlyn Haas, Peyton Breidenbach, Maya Metcalf, Brooke Johnson, Karson Sanders, and Alayna Holder, as well as student managers Maddy Hustad, Karli Urlacher, Connor Anderson, Lexy Terhark, Kyra Narum, and Jordyn Beyl.
With the graduating class being so large, many wonder what Wingenbach will bring to the table next year, however, the roster looks promising even beyond the talented class of 2023.
Coaches across the state are familiar with one in particular, the record breaking Brenna Dick. Brenna has demonstrated her phenomenal ability to make shots from any place on the court and play with incredible speed. Within the current season, she has shattered school scoring records numerous times.
In a game against the Shanley Deacons, Brenna put up 34 points, passing the 2021 graduate, Jadyn Feist (33 points). Despite the accomplishment, Brenna knew she could push herself even harder, and break her own record. On January 23rd at Horace High School, fans and the team yelled out in celebration following her 35th point. To no one’s surprise, she didn’t stop there. She ended the night with 41 points and rivalry game victory.
Aside from her total points, Brenna also holds a record for most 3-point makes in a game with 7 versus Valley City High School. Being only a junior, Brenna is well on her to becoming a 1,000 career point scorer. Her teammates and coaches couldn’t be more proud of her, and can’t wait to see what the future holds for her – on and off the court.
Access link to view updated Sheyenne GBB Program stats!Sheyenne GBB Program Statistics as of 9:30 AM, 2/22/23. Current 22-23 season is highlighted in yellow.
Featured image photos are courtesy of Mustang Media. Thank you to Ruth and Lillian Wirtz for capturing so many amazing moments this season!
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