Custer County Chronicle

Track team competes in Sturgis

Published by admin on Wed, 05/13/2026 - 2:51pm

Personal records continued to fall and state qualifications continued to be made as the Custer High School track team competed in a pair of track meets in Sturgis last week.
The Wildcats competed against large schools from around the region at last Saturday’s Black Hills Track Classic, and came home with one championship—Karyn Ellerton in the discus. Her toss of 130-0 continued her “winning ways,” head coach Karen Karim said.

Wildcats make progress on the green

Published by admin on Wed, 05/13/2026 - 2:49pm

It was a cold day in Hot Springs for the Custer High School girls golf team at the Southern Hills Invitational May 7.
Head coach Paul Kelley said the golf course was difficult, but the athletes competed well and continued to show improvement.
Maggie Lewison placed 23rd with a 114, and Makeda Sumption placed 29th with a 121.
“Makeda played it for the first time, and Maggie played it for the second time, and they showed the most improvement,” said Kelley.

Wildcats get home course advantage

Published by admin on Wed, 05/06/2026 - 2:19pm

The sudden winter weather put a damper on the Custer Jr./Sr. High School golf plans as the Belle Fourche Pre-Black Hills Conference and Pre-Region Invite as well as the Douglas Golf Meet were cancelled. Unable to practice outdoors, the Wildcats retreated to Xtreme Sports in Custer to use its simulator.
“That’s become a big thing with golf,” said head coach Paul Kelley. “A lot of schools are picking those up. It hurts sometimes. You can putt on a simulator, but it’s just a lot different. ”

Stiefel sets new record at Howard Wood

Published by admin on Wed, 05/06/2026 - 2:18pm

Custer High School freshman Tenlee Stiefel soared to new heights at the Howard Wood Dakota Relays last Saturday in Sioux Falls, breaking her own school record in the pole vault and breaking the meet record as well.
The former meet record holder is the same person whose school record she broke as well—big sister, Ciana.
Stiefel vaulted 13-1 at the meet, grabbing the gold medal and raising the bar on her school record by an inch.
“That is pretty awesome,” head coach Karen Karim said. “She still has room to go higher. You can see it in her clearances.”

’Cats deal with shuffled meets

Published by admin on Wed, 04/29/2026 - 12:42pm

It was a busy week for athletes on the Custer High School track team, as members of the team competed in a meet in some form or fashion for three straight days last week, starting in Rapid City and ending in Pierre.
The American Legion Dakota Relays in Pierre were supposed to be held last Saturday, but were bumped up to Thursday due to weather.

Girls golf team gains experience on course

Published by admin on Wed, 04/22/2026 - 4:45pm

Kicking off the season with a scramble and a quad, the Custer Jr./Sr. High School girls golf team got some good experience last week.
“They gained some experience, which is the important thing. A lot of them have never played 18 holes at those golf courses or even walked them. So it was important for them to get that experience,” said head coach Paul Kelley.

More PRs, medals for track in Rapid City

Published by admin on Wed, 04/22/2026 - 4:44pm

It was another short week of competition for the Custer track team, as it had its meet scheduled for last Saturday in Belle Fourche cancelled due to weather.
The Wildcats did get in a track meet April 14, however, as the team traveled to the campus of the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology in Rapid City for the Track-O-Rama.

Track travels to Spearfish, Edgemont

Published by admin on Wed, 04/15/2026 - 2:15pm

By Jason Ferguson

Girls golf set to tee off season

Published by admin on Wed, 04/15/2026 - 2:13pm

A new lineup of Custer Jr./Sr. High School Wildcats are set to tee off the golf season under the direction of head coach Paul Kelley. Kelley has been coaching in the Custer School District for around 20 years, including 19 years as the boys golf coach. 
Kelley’s favorite part of the sport is that it’s something athletes can do for a lifetime. 
“It’s something you can do regardless of your age,” said Kelley. “It’s about being out there, competing against yourself and enjoying the weather, hopefully.”

Poor weather hampers Newcastle meet

Published by admin on Wed, 04/01/2026 - 2:40pm

One week removed from competing in nearly 90-degree weather in Chadron, Neb., the Custer High School track team traveled to Newcastle, Wyo., for the Laura Chord Memorial Track Meet last Thursday.
They were greeted by more typical Wyoming/South Dakota track weather.
Athletes endured rain, sleet, snow and increasingly decreasing temperatures throughout the day—a day that was made longer by the fact the meet had junior high events throughout, as well.