I came from a family of eight so it was a big family. My mom was more lenient towards it [BMX] and she finally convinced him [Dad] that it was a good sport that was enjoyable. This was back in ‘96 when we were still outcasts or hoodlums. My mom was really supportive of all the broken bones, I guess. She allowed me to continue doing it when I was a kid. I was a spitfire, had a lot of energy, and liked to move around. I was a people person, played a lot of sports and had a lot of friends in different genres. I traveled a lot all the way through high school. I was sponsored when I was 16 years old, so my teachers thought I was kind of a rowdy youngster.

What made you want to get involved in BMX?

When I first started racing, that was back in the day, and pretty much the opportunity to be able to ride in a dirt field all day long when I was a kid and then of course money got into it and once I got sponsored I was like This is cool…you can make money and you ride a bike. Mainly I had just been racing and I loved it so much and my parents approved it so I was able to ride as much as possible.

Did you ever want to do anything else?

Actually, I wanted to be a biological engineer. But kind of a funny thing is I didn’t think I would become famous or I wouldn’t be in a position to make money. It was like a fun hobby and it just kind of fell in my lap, but once I started getting into it, I really enjoyed it. I just became so passionate that I couldn’t think about doing anything else.

What is your favorite trick?

My favorite trick is a superman decade. I still can’t figure that one out yet. As you’re on the bike, if you’re straddling it and you go off the lip, jump off the front, spin around to the front of the bike, and shoot your feet straight out kind of like an opposite superman and somehow get back on.

What was your most dangerous moment?

Probably when I was on the mega ramp and I was trying to land a decade, a 90 ft.. decade. I was going about 53 miles an hour and just scary fly off the ramp or some thing take a digger. When you hit something going that fast you know you’re going to feel it.

What has your greatest career achievement been?

Greatest career achievement would probably be developing programs for the youth out in Henderson, putting together programs and parks and dealing with skateboarding and BMX. Well, if you want to go into my archives of things I achieved as a pro, it would probably be the double back flip. I was the first person to land a double back flip.

What have been some of your accomplishments?

I’ve won the European X-Games in 2000, world champion in ’99. I’ve won bronze or 3rd X-Games United States,4th place. I’ve competed 100–almost 200 times in national events like basketball. I’m a show rider so I do a lot of shows and appearances. I was on the cover of Boys Life and TIME magazine; I’ve done multiple covers of BMX magazines and ride magazines.

What made you want to come to Sioux Falls?

It’s the quality of life. We enjoy people and actually just to save a little money and to regroup and develop some programs. We spend a lot of money doing that and being in the Midwest helps me to travel and move around.

Do you have any advice for aspiring extreme athletes?

Screw your head on tight. I think the biggest thing is just learn about the sport and really enjoy it for what it is. Don’t take advantage of it. Be courteous to people below you, enjoy the sport and just really respect it.

What have you learned from your experience as a professional athlete?

I’ve learned a lot of different things and met a lot of different people. The biggest thing is that I learned a lot about karma and just how to keep yourself organized and fit. We don’t really have team managers, we kind of do it all by ourselves.

Sponsored by RHS Wrestling

Photo by Matt Carey

            A high kill record is nothing new to Chambers.  Her season high kill record this year is 12, and although she makes it look easy, it’s not, according to Chambers.  She receives support from her teammates on the court to get the job done.

            “There’s people behind me who are yelling where to hit it, like Line or Cross, and I think about what spots I want to hit it at,” said Chambers.  “There’s a lot of things you have to do.  Once you get the hang of it, you just go and hit it.  You have to get a good approach in and make sure you stay behind the ball so you can get a good kill.”

            The Rider girls travel West River tomorrow for the Greater Dakota Conference, where they will play Rapid City Stevens and Sturgis on Friday, and dual Rapid City Central and Spearfish on Saturday.

Written by Brian Martin

Photo by Ayda Alemayehu

To draw even more attention to their cause, the boys cross country team, along with coaches Mr. Jason Wagoner and Mr. Chad Backsen, agreed to have their heads shaved during the fundraising over lunch periods Thursday. While the razors were buzzing on the boys, cross country girls collected free will donations.  

“I’m proud of my kids for wanting to give something back and help their community,” said Coach Wagoner.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of South Dakota is an organization that grants wishes to children with life threatening medical conditions. According to president & CEO, Mary Olinger, 30% of all Make-A-Wish recipients are granted a trip to Walt Disney World, while many others may meet their favorite celebrities, go shopping, or get their dream vacations.

“I’m thrilled that students were willing to donate to our charity,” said Olinger.  “We have never seen this particular event before for Make-A-Wish.”

Olinger commented that the funds raised by the cross country team may benefit a child in South Dakota.

For more information on the Make-A-Wish Foundation of South Dakota, log into www.wishsd.org.

            Written by Amanda Lapka

            Photo by Dani Peterson

            “Our season tournament goal would be placing 9^th with at least 245 points,” said Coach Terry Grove. “Instead we placed 8^th with 267 points, so we definitely exceeded our goal.”

            Given the youth of the varsity team, leadership may be challenging next year. With seniors Amanda Stenge and Jessica Johnson graduating, girls to step up next year may likely be freshmen Kara Bunkers, Abby Seigenthaler, or Brittany Kortan.

            “I’m ready to take on anything” said freshman Kara Bunkers.

            Individual tournament results for the RHS players are as follows: 

• Kara Bunkers and Abby Seigenthaler – 6^th place at No. 1 doubles
• Amanda Strenge and Brittany Kortan – Consolation champions at No. 2 doubles
• Jessica Johnson and Kasey Shogren – Consolation champtions at No. 3 doubles
• Amanda Strenge – 7^th place at Flight 2 singles
• Abby Seigenthaler – 7^th placed in Flight 3 singles
• Brittany Kortan – 4^th in Flight 4 singles
• Jessica Johnson – Consolation champion in Flight 5 singles

 Written by Jacob Krienert and Brian Martin, staff writer

Photo by Shelby Christopherson

            Improving upon each game throughout the season, the team went into the tournament in the eighth seed.  After a disappointing loss the first tournament game against the defending 2008 state champions, Rapid City Stevens, and then another loss in round two to O’Gorman, the team won their final game 2 – 1 against Yankton 

The girls were faced with harsh weather conditions that led to “playing in muddy fields and temperatures below freezing,” according to team captain senior Ashley Moeller.  

               Junior Natalie Holter said that the team’s strength was their chemistry, as was proven when the girls received the Sportsmanship Award from tournament referees. 

               Holter, who will be a senior next year and hopes to play varsity, has already formulated goals for next year’s season.

               “[We’ll] try to place higher in state and to score more goals,” said Holter.

Written by Ayda Alemayehu and Kelsey Heier, staff writers

Photo by Patrick West

Although they lost 0-3 in their first game against home-town rival O’Gorman, they turned it around in the second game against Sioux Falls Washington.  The game was tied up 2-2 and went into overtime, resulting in a shoot-out. 

“There was a lot of stress, because how would it feel if you were the one who lost it for your team?” said junior Tanner McCleerey. “You couldn’t really blame anyone but yourself, so the stress felt terrible.”

All RHS players involved in the shoot-out, seniors Brain Simons, Garrett Hillestad, and Jace Bunkers, McCleerey, and sophomore Zach Schneider, scored against the Washington goalie.   RHS goalie junior Tyler Grilley successfully blocked one of the WHS shots, winning the game for RHS.

In the third and final game, Roosevelt won against Yankton, 1-0, with Simons scoring the goal.              

“It was fairly cold,” Simons said. “For having such a young team, we did very well.”

Written by Ayda Alemayehu and Kelsey Heier, staff writers

Photo by Megan Robertson

            This year, Ticket Blitz was held the evening of August 27.  Everyone who gathered had the same goal in mind: sell as many tickets as possible, ideally more than either WHS or LHS, and have fun doing it. 

            “I enjoyed how all the activities and sports got together and sold tickets,” said senior Kevin Lagang. “It’s fun to see people compete.”

            Booster Club members are responsible for the behind-the-scenes planning and organization to make this event run smoothly.  Each group of students and a parent driver were designated an area in the RHS community for ticket sales.  The groups returned for refreshments and prizes once they had canvassed their assigned area. 

            “I only sold 12 tickets compared to other people that sold way over 30,” said junior Samantha Wagner, “but it’s the cause that matters.”

            Ticket sales continue through the end of this week. Last year the RHS Booster Club earned the coveted traveling trophy for top ticket sales for Presidents Bowl, and they want to hold onto that trophy another year longer.  Everyone is encouraged to lend their support in this fundraising endeavor by buying tickets and supporting the Rough Riders at Presidents Bowl on Saturday, September 5.

 Staff Writer Kaylnn Slavik