This photo tells the story of Freeman Public this week as a number of extra-curricular activities are planned. The Freeman High School girls open up their 2022-23 basketball season at home tonight against Platte-Geddes; the JV game is set to tip at 6:15 p.m., followed by the varsity girls. Freeman Public is also making plans for its Christmas concerts on Thursday night, with the K-6 program starting at 6 p.m., followed by the 7-12 concert at approximately 7:30 p.m. Watch this week's Courier for more information on upcoming concerts and athletic events.

JEREMY WALTNER - EDITOR & PUBLISHER A brand-new wrestling facility like The Hangar at Freeman Public certainly doesn’t equate to success on the mat, but it certainly doesn’t hurt in building energy for the program, and that’s what head coach Chris Sayler is seeing at the onset of his 15th year as a coach for the Rebels.

For those looking to get into the Christmas spirit, the Freeman Community Center on Wipf Street will be the place to be next Thursday, Dec. 1 where a host of holiday-related activities will take place from 4 to 8 p.m.

JEREMY WALTNER - EDITOR & PUBLISHER Nothing was stolen, but a break-in at Norm’s Thrifty White Pharmacy over the weekend has local law enforcement asking if anybody saw anything suspicious. According to Freeman Police Officer Jay Slevin, the break-in occurred around 7 a.m. Sunday when the perpetrators gained access by using a hatchet to break a back window. Slevin said he suspects the security motion alarm that sounded once they were in the Main Street pharmacy “scared them and they took off.

JEREMY WALTNER  - EDITOR & PUBLISHER When Maria (Tschetter) Paff moved back to Freeman with her husband, Brian and their two young sons in July of 2021, they did so primarily to be closer to family. But the opportunity to enjoy the fine arts that runs so deeply through Maria’s home community was certainly part of the appeal, which is why the 40-year-old couldn’t contain her excitement following the first rehearsal of the Swiss Choral Society the third Sunday night of October.

For the second season in a row, Freeman High School seniors Kate Miller and Erin Uecker have been selected to the Cornbelt Conference First Team. They are joined by Viborg-Hurley’s Coral Mason (MVP), Kate Connor and Piper Thompson of Howard, and Annalyse Weber of Hanson. Freeman junior Cami Fransen was named to the third team and junior Ashlin Jacobsen was the Flyers’ honorable mention.

Marion-Freeman head wrestling coach Chris Sayler visits with his team at the conclusion of practice Monday evening, Dec. 21 inside The Hanger — the Rebels' new practice facility that is part of the Freeman Public campus. Wrestlers have been practicing since last week and will open their season at Kimball on Saturday, Dec. 3. Girls basketball practices are also underway — the first day was Monday — while boys basketball begins next week. Watch The Courier for more information on the upcoming seasons at Freeman Academy/Marion, Freeman Public and Menno.

When the Freeman High School girls volleyball team stepped foot on the Class B volleyball court at the Sanford Premier Center late Thursday morning, they did so as the No. 8 seed. A little more than 48 hours later, early Saturday afternoon, the Flyers walked off the same court in the same arena in the same position — eighth.

Twenty-five: That’s the number of kills posted by Northwestern standout Ella Haven. Four: That’s the number of aces the senior had.

In February of 1998, when South Dakota high school volleyball was still played in the winter and sets were played to 15 in a best-of-three format, No. 8-seed Freeman High School knocked off No. 1 Sioux Falls Christian in the opening round of the Class B state tournament.