Bulldogs Build Wrestling Program
Written By: Tyler Reichmuth
Recently, the Humphrey Lindsay Bulldogs have competed in multiple wrestling meets, which has helped kickstart the first-ever wrestling program in the short history of the Co-Op. There are currently ten high school students participating, including three girls and seven boys, along with many junior high students. The program is led by Head Coach Jared Weihn.
The junior high students are taking advantage of the opportunity to participate in both wrestling and basketball, which will help them decide which sport they would like to continue with in high school. This is beneficial for the program, as it can lead to a strong pipeline of athletes going out for wrestling in the future.
So far, the athletes have competed in three different meets, and many Bulldogs have earned individual victories. Emma Preister leads the girls with six wins, while Taigent Prorock, Caleb Kloppenborg, Tristan Doupnik, Garret Graham, and Keith Kirby have each earned one win for the boys. This is especially impressive considering many of them had never wrestled before this year. Some had limited experience through clubs at a younger age, but they never had the opportunity to practice and work on their craft daily like they can now through the school program.
Now, they are able to compete regularly against other opponents and continue to develop their skills. In practice, the team is currently focused on improvement, and for an inexperienced team, mastering the basics is the best way to grow. The athletes take what they learn in practice and test those skills at real meets against outside competition.
Even through defeat, many athletes are realizing how close they are to victory and can identify the small steps they need to take to improve. While the learning curve is difficult, many credit the coaches for doing a great job teaching through repetition. There has already been noticeable improvement since the beginning of the season.
Inexperience remains a challenge, especially when it comes to mindset and perseverance. Some athletes are seeded lower because they are new to the sport, which often means facing top competition early in tournaments. This makes wins harder to come by and can be discouraging, especially considering the effort and time they are putting in. At times, it can feel like their hard work has little to show for it, making it difficult to stay motivated.
However, the team is learning to embrace these challenges and view them as opportunities to improve. They are choosing to do something difficult and aim to eventually become the competitors others have to beat.
Cutting weight has also been a new challenge for many wrestlers. This process often requires limiting food and water intake, avoiding certain snacks and treats, and increasing workouts, including running and practicing in hoodies, to reach their desired weight class.
All of these challenges including meets, practices, and daily struggles are bringing the team closer together. The athletes support one another, cheer each other on, and hold each other accountable. When asked why they chose to participate and if they are happy they did, many shared their pride in starting something new at the school. They also expressed how they hope to apply the lessons learned from wrestling to other areas of their lives, such as football and their overall mindset for facing challenges in life.
Lindsay Academy FCCLA Grows in Year Two
Written by: Isabella Gaspers
Our FCCLA program is in full swing this year as we enter our second year as an official chapter under the guidance of advisor Mrs. Blair Kula. Now that FCCLA is no longer in its first year, chapter members have been able to compete in all of the STAR events that FCCLA has to offer. STAR, or Students Taking Action with Recognition, helps students gain important life skills such as teamwork, leadership, determination, and dedication.
Marley Hall, Karly Korth, and Briley Dohmen are competing in a STAR event called Chapter in Review Portfolio at the Level Three division. In this competition, chapters are recognized for developing and implementing a well-balanced program of work while promoting FCCLA. These chapter members have been working for weeks on a speech and creating a portfolio that represents our chapter.
Sierra Reardon, Callista Reichmuth, and Jessica Preister are also competing in Chapter in Review, but at the Level Two division using a display instead of a portfolio. This competition also focuses on recognizing chapters that have developed strong programs promoting FCCLA. Both teams are excited to compete and hope to advance to the state level.
Paisley Weeder and Haydan Beller are competing in the Level Three Interior Design competition. In this event, teams are given a scenario and asked to design the interior space. This year’s scenario is a floral business. Competitors work on everything from selecting carpet and wood samples to choosing paint colors that match the theme they are trying to create.
Zoey Hall, Brielle Wiese, and Kinsey Wiese are competing in Level Two Interior Design. They have the same scenario and are working hard to be prepared for districts. Districts will take place on January 21st and give all competitors the opportunity to advance to state in Lincoln in April. All chapter members are excited to compete for the chance to represent our school and our FCCLA program.
In October, the FCCLA chapter held a take-and-bake meals fundraiser. Each chapter member sold homemade take-and-bake meals, with four different options available for purchase. The chapter members worked together for an entire day measuring, assembling, and packaging each individual meal. A pickup day was then held so customers could collect their meals to enjoy at home.
The chapter also held a Christmas party during their December meeting. This allowed the chapter members time to bond and discuss what still needed to be accomplished before the end of the first semester. The chapter members enjoyed food and each other’s company throughout the night.
Lastly, the FCCLA chapter plans to host a Babysitting Night Fundraiser again during the first part of the year. This event was a huge success last year, giving parents a free night off while raising funds for the chapter. Proceeds help support FCCLA events such as state and national competitions. During the event, dinner and snacks are provided for the children, along with games, toys, and a movie. FCCLA chapter members play with the kids throughout the night to create a fun and welcoming environment.
Overall, the FCCLA chapter is in full swing and excited to represent our newly formed program at the district level, with hopes of advancing to state.
Lindsay Academy Kicks Off the New Year
Written By: Braxton Busselman
As we return from winter break, all of our winter sports are starting to get into full swing. Along with basketball, our bowling team has also had a strong start to the season. The new wrestling program has also been going well this year, with many students excited to join the team. The program includes both high school boys and girls teams, along with a junior high team.
The high school boys and girls basketball teams participated in a holiday tournament that took place over Christmas break. The tournament was a two-day event held on December 29th and 30th.
As fall sports recently wrapped up, football finished the season with an improved record of 4-4, which was exciting for the team and showed progress from previous seasons. High school volleyball also concluded its season in November. The team had a strong year, making it to the district final before falling short in a 1-3 match.
As the first semester comes to an end, the school year has been going well overall. Mr. Beranek shared that he has enjoyed finally having consistency this school year. While school in the shed was a fun experience, he appreciates being able to start and finish the school year in the same location. It has also been exciting to have the three new facilities open, allowing students to enjoy them and have more class options.
The new weight room has been a big success, with many people purchasing gym memberships, which has brought money into the facility. The gym has also been fully opened, creating many new opportunities for students and activities. The event center was completed and functional by the end of December, opening up even more possibilities for Lindsay Academy and our community. In December, the National Honor Society hosted a blood drive in the event center, which was a great success and contributed to saving lives. The event center is available for rental, and several future dates have already been scheduled.
Mrs. Hollatz shared her thoughts on the first semester and what she is looking forward to in the second semester. She feels that the school has become more established during the first semester. Students have also been able to take dual-credit college classes, which has been a huge benefit in helping them get a head start on college. Since moving into the new school, she has noticed students becoming more comfortable in their surroundings and enjoying their classes more. She has also appreciated how hard the staff and teachers have worked to provide students with a quality education. Having a full staff this semester has been a blessing, allowing everything to be completed on time and done well.
Mrs. Hollatz hopes to see the momentum both in and out of the classroom continue throughout the second semester as students build on the progress already made. As everyone is now back from break, the excitement and energy in the building show that Lindsay Academy is ready to continue growing and moving forward as a school.
A Lifetime of Giving: Richard Bender’s Commitment to Saving Lives
Written By: Cooper Herchenbach
During Lindsay Academy’s National Honor Society blood drive on December 11, 2025, Richard Bender reached an incredible milestone by donating his 28th gallon of blood in his lifetime. Individuals as committed and generous as Richard are rare, and his donations have potentially helped save hundreds of lives.
Richard attends blood drives approximately every eight weeks, when available, as he works toward his goal of donating 30 gallons and beyond. His compassion and dedication to saving lives serve as an inspiration to young donors throughout the community.
The members of Lindsay Academy’s National Honor Society sincerely thank Richard for his continued support and encouragement. We invite everyone to follow in Richard’s footsteps by participating in blood drives and helping save lives.