PHS Athletic Feats
This 2021 graduate holds the PHS record for most receiving yards in a single game.
Who is Zach Letellier? Zach's record is 229 yards received in a single game. This record was made at a September 11, 2020 against Yankton. Zach is the big brother of Spencer and Levi Letellier.
In 1926, Ohio State University students elected this animal to hold the title of Homecoming Queen.
What is a Holstein cow? Named Maudine Ormsby, the world record holding cow was nominated by bovine fans at the OSU College of Ag. to hold the title of Homecoming Queen. Sadly, Maudine’s handlers did not allow her to attend any of the homecoming events for fear that the excitement would curdle her milk. Maudine is at the center of one of the most notorious pranks in U.S. college history.
This Capitol City Landmark is 161 feet tall, 190 feet wide, and 292 feet long. That is almost as long as one football field! Views from this building include Phil Trautner Stadium. Go Govs!
What is the Capitol building? South Dakota bought the blueprints for the Capitol from the State of Montana for only $15 in 1905.
These two staff members were Homecoming King and Queen at their respective South Dakota high schools. (Hint: One loves taking care of people, while the other teaches in the science field).
Who are Mrs. Wiebe and Mr. Brandt?
Mrs. Wiebe was Homecoming Queen of Sully Buttes High School in 1988.
Mr. Brandt was Homecoming King of Avon High School in 1984.
Pierre High School plays this "feline" football team on Friday at Trautner Stadium for Homecoming 2021.
Who are the Huron Tigers? Go Govs!
This 1960 Pierre High School graduate was named a Football All State athlete his senior year. Hint: There is a reading room dedicated in his honor in the Riggs library.
Who is Michael Isenburg? Mike Isenburg who played halfback for the Governors was one of four Riggs students who made All State for football in 1959. Mike Isenburg went on to serve in the Navy and was a popular professor of history at the US Naval Academy. To learn more about him, visit the Riggs library and grab a seat in the Reading Room.
While the University of Missouri is credited by the NCAA with having the first Homecoming event in 1911, the University of Illinois claims to have the longest running homecoming tradition only missing one year for this reason since they started in 1910.
What is 1918? The University of Illinois did not hold a Homecoming game in 1918 because the Spanish Influenza pandemic prevented people from gathering in large crowds.
In 2015, Monopoly released an 80th anniversary edition of their famous board game highlighting US cities. Pierre, SD beat out these four major cities to earn the coveted "Boardwalk" spot on the game board.
What are New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston?
These two staff members are former student athletes (one was a cheerleader and one was a basketball player) and were a part of their schools' Homecoming Royalty. (Hint: One loves art while the other loves technology).
Who are Ms. Kokesh & Mrs. Olson?
Ms. Kokesh was a cheerleader and member of the Stanley County High School Homecoming Royalty in 1983. During Homecoming Week at SCHS, students dressed as hobos.
Mrs. Olson participated in basketball which was a fall sport when she was a senior in 1994. For Homecoming, she and her teammates were invited to ride on top of a fire truck during the Miller Homecoming Parade. As a part of the Miller Homecoming Royalty, she was required by MHS to wear a white dress.
The PHS Homecoming game starts at this time.
What is 7:00 p.m.?
These 2021 graduates hold the Riggs records for most career set assists and best serving percentage in Volleyball.
Who are Miah Kienholz and Raegan Wiebe? Miah holds the Career Set Assist record with 1, 140 assists during her Riggs volleyball career. Miah is the big sister of Lincoln Kienholz.
Reagan Wiebe holds the Best Serving Percentage Record for her senior year season (2020) at 96%. She completed 232 out of 242 serves. Reagan is the daughter of Mrs. Wiebe, T.F. Riggs' Nurse.
Not only is it credited with hosting the first Homecoming game, but since 1985 the University of Missouri has hosted this socially conscious event as a major part of their annual Homecoming celebration.
What is a blood drive? Every year since 1985, the University of Missouri has teamed up with the American Red Cross to collect life saving blood from students, faculty and alumni during Homecoming week. In 1999, they broke the Guinness World Record for most blood donations given in a single day. Now that's a homecoming tradition with heart!
66 Italian stone masonry artists each put one of these in the terrazzo floors at the Capitol as their signature stone.
What is a blue tile? So far, only 55 blue tiles have been found and documented. Maybe you will be the one to find number 56! While you are looking for blue tiles, make sure you don't miss the upside down pillar on the grand staircase.
This staff member and PHS graduate was the very first "PHS Governor First Lady" in the fall of 1986 during her senior year. (Hint: She loves to help people get to know their school).
Who is Mrs. Johnson? Mrs. Johnson's senior class of 1987 was instrumental in changing the PHS Homecoming festivities from Minneshosho Days to Governor Homecoming Days. 1986 was the first time that the Homecoming candidates were crowned as Governor and First Lady.
This fun, free activity is open to all Riggs students (grades 9-12) & staff in the Riggs Main Gym after school dismissal at 12:30 on Friday.
What are the Homecoming Olympics? All Riggs students & staff are welcome to participate.
This 1996 Riggs graduate was inducted into the Riggs High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2020 for his outstanding contributions to the Riggs High School track, cross country and wrestling teams. He was also elected Homecoming King in 1995.
Who is Torry Zeller? Mr. Zeller, who is dad to Riggs' students Ella and Mason Zeller, was and continues to be a devoted long distance runner who once tried out for an Olympics marathon race. While a senior at Riggs, he placed third at the South Dakota State Cross Country meet. Mr. Zeller also holds numerous records and accolades for x-country and track from the University of Sioux Falls.
The first well-documented Powder Puff football game was played by female students at this South Dakota college due to a lack of available male student athletes who were off fighting in WWII.
What is Eastern State Teacher's College in Madison, SD? Due to a lack of male student athletes who were still overseas for WWII and still hoping to have a Homecoming football game, several female students got together to stage an exhibition game in September 1945. At halftime the players applied a fresh coat of makeup and became known as "Powder Puffs" in the media.
A fossil of this ancient, extinct animal was discovered in Pierre shale by Dr. G.R. Wieland in 1895. It is considered to be the first and one of the largest examples of its species ever found. It is such an impressive fossil, that South Dakota holds a Guinness World Record for it!
What is an Archelon ischyros, or an extinct species of marine turtle? The specimen dating to the late Cretaceous Period measured over 13 ft. long, 15 ft. wide and weighed 4,850 pounds. Pierre shale is a geologic formation of upper Cretaceous rocks named for Fort Pierre where it was first studied.
This staff member's senior year Homecoming football game was stopped in the second quarter when the lights to his Michigan high school's stadium short circuited and wouldn't come back on! (Hint: He teaches in the science field).
Who is Mr. Steele? The Homecoming game was carried over and finished the next day at noon. Mr. Steele and his teammates won the game 14-0 with his team scoring all their points on Saturday afternoon. Now that is a senior Homecoming game to remember!
The theme of this dress up day is school colors.
What is Friday's green and white dress up day? Show your school spirit by dressing up in green and white on Friday!
This female athletic team which got its start at Riggs High School last year produced 7 State Champions! Go Govs!
What is the Girls' Wrestling Team? Our State Champions were: Ciara McFarling (1st); Marlee Shorter (1st); Gianna Stangeland (2nd); Hattie Baldwin (2nd); Mary Mehlhaff (3rd); Emalee Larson (3rd); and Sydney Uhrig (3rd). Way to go ladies!
This "tasty" Homecoming tradition started during the American Civil War at the Battle of Bull Run in 1861.
What is tailgating? At the Battle of Bull Run in 1861, civilians showed up with food and drinks and loudly cheered on the soldiers while hanging out in their carriages. They sang fight songs, took bets on how long the battle would take and even caused a traffic jam when the battle was over!
From June to September 1989, the Pierre area hosted an A-list celebrity and was the site of a movie that won 7 Academy awards including one for best picture.
Who are Kevin Costner and Dances with Wolves? Kevin Costner was frequently sighted around town and many PHS students, staff and their families worked on the film as well!
These two staff members made Homecoming memories that will not be forgotten and involve a heart breaking loss on the football field and a canoe ride across a stage as Homecoming Royalty. (Hint: Think athletics and music).
Who are Mr. Bauck and Mr. Moser?
As a junior, Mr. Bauck attended the PHS Homecoming game as a fan. Pierre was beating Mitchell (12-10) until the final seconds of the game when Mitchell kicked a 52-yd field goal to win the game. The silence at Trautner Stadium was deafening.
As a senior at Yankton High School, Mr. Moser was involved in helping plan his school's homecoming events. The highlight of the week for him was being rowed across the stage in a canoe as a part of YHS Homecoming Royalty. Their Homecoming theme that year was: "Row To Victory!"
This activity takes place on the Riggs High School front steps promptly at 8 a.m. on Friday morning.
What is the Senior class picture? If you are a senior and you want to be immortalized in your class picture make sure you are on the front steps of Riggs High at 8 a.m. on Friday. The photographer waits for no one, so don't be late!