JEREMY WALTNER - PUBLISHER No action was taken, but officials from Freeman Public are considering having new LED lights installed throughout its buildings either in phases or all at once — a capital project that would cost just over $100,000 for the entire elementary/middle school/high school. That would include both gyms, hallways and classrooms.

JEREMY WALTNER - PUBLISHER A tough basketball season for the Freeman High School boys came to an end at Gayville-Volin last week Monday, March 1 as the No. 11 Flyers lost to the No. 6 Raiders 58-39. The loss sent Freeman home winless on the season at 0-21 while Gayville-Volin moved to 9-12. Head coach Mitch Johnson knows it was a tough year for the Flyers, who have won just five games the past three seasons, but also believes that better days are ahead.

JEREMY WALTNER - PUBLISHER A sports cooperative between Freeman’s two schools and Marion took another step forward Monday night, March 8 when the Freeman Public School Board reviewed a document outlining what the partnership could mean for all three schools involved. While not finalized, and while no action was taken, members of the Freeman School Board appeared to support what they saw and agreed to take the next step — hosting a special school board meeting and inviting the public to learn more and ask questions.

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER The Freeman Academy/Marion boys saved their best game of the season for the biggest game of their lives and nearly upset top-seed and Class B’s No. 5 team in the process. Facing Viborg-Hurley Friday night, March 5 in third and final round of the Region 5B Tournament at Freeman Public, the No. 3-seed Bearcats took the Cougars to overtime, only to fall short in the final four-minute frame. Viborg-Hurley survived FA/Marion 66-59 to advance to the SoDak 16 with a 16-5 record. The Bearcats finish their season 15-7.

JEREMY WALTNER - PUBLISHER It should come as no surprise that Jesse Munkvold made a B-line in the direction of teammate Morgan Edelman immediately following Menno’s heart-wrenching loss to Herried/Selby Area in last week’s SoDak 16. The seniors started playing basketball together when they were in the third grade and quickly developed a relationship on the hardwood that went beyond their friendship off the court.

JEREMY WALTNER - PUBLISHER It may not have been the finish he was hoping for, but Clayton Smith ended his prep career in a spot most wrestlers never get to — the podium at state.

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER Just 32 minutes of solid, well-played basketball is all that separates the Menno girls from what would be their first State Basketball Tournament in more than 20 years. It’s a scenario that is possible at worst and plausible at best. That’s the assessment from head coach Doug Hall, who will be pacing the sidelines when the Wolves take the court against Herried/Selby Area at James Valley Christian in Huron Thursday, March 4 in the SoDak 16. Tipoff is 6:30 p.m.

JEREMY WALTNER - PUBLISHER A game that went back and forth in the first half gave way to a Freeman Public surge in the second as the No. 8 Flyers ran away with a 55-40 win over No. 9 Canistota in the first round of the Region 5B Girls Basketball Tournament Monday night, Feb. 22 in Freeman.

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER Two veteran leaders and a star on the rise will represent Marion/Freeman at 2021 State Wrestling Tournament in Rapid City this week. Action starts Thursday morning, Feb. 25 and continues Friday and Saturday. Freeman seniors Ethan Ortman and Clayton Smith, along with Freeman seventh-grader Riley Tschetter, all advanced to state with top-four finishes at the Region 2B Tournament in Salem Saturday, Feb. 20. Smith and Tschetter were third in the 215 and 106 lb. divisions and Ortman was fourth at 160 lbs.

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER Morgan Edelman sensed something was up during the school day last Thursday when a number of people asked if she was excited about that night’s game in which the Wolves were to travel to Marion for their regular-season finale — a game in which the senior would surpass 2,000 career points.