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Mar. 13—BROOKINGS — When the Ethan High School girls basketball team takes the court Friday at the Class B state tournament, the team's fans very likely won't be representing the school colors of maroon, gold and white.
No, the day has already been set aside in the Rustlers' color-coordinating plans: Everyone is to wear blue, to pay tribute to their teacher-coach gone too early.
On Jan. 16, the Ethan community lost Reed Harter, who died in a crash on Interstate 90 near Reliance. Harter, 28, and his friend Chandler Bakley, 27, were both victims of the fatal crash in which weather was a factor. In that light, the Ethan girls basketball team has played more than half of their season with a purpose that extends far beyond the court.
Harter's presence is still deeply felt in Ethan, especially inside the girls basketball program. As the team prepares for the Class B state tournament semifinals, his memory remains at the center of their game.
"There were really two pieces of motivation all year," Ethan head coach Tom Young said after the team's SoDak 16 win. "One was last year and the way it ended. We got in the gym and worked and worked and worked. And the second thing was losing our dear teacher and coach. We miss him a lot. And the girls were locked in and focused."
The No. 4-seeded Rustlers used the extra motivation to advance to the Class B state semifinals with a 51-42 victory over No. 5 Colman-Egan in Thursday afternoon's quarterfinal round at First Bank and Trust Arena, earning a matchup with No. 8 Corsica-Stickney at 5 p.m. Friday in Brookings.
Harter was part of the Ethan school community since 2021, serving as a social studies teacher and assistant coach for the Rustlers' boys basketball team. His impact reached beyond the classroom or gymnasium.
The former Colome High School standout was a gifted athlete. Harter played baseball for Winner/Colome during his high school career before continuing at Dakota Wesleyan University, where he graduated in 2020 with a degree in history education. While at DWU, he played for the baseball program and later served as a part-time assistant coach.
Both of those baseball teams have blue uniforms, which served the inspiration of the blue T-shirts and messages that individuals in Ethan and surrounding communities have rallied around. On Harter's birthday, Feb. 27, Ethan students and teachers were encouraged to wear their "Live Like Harter" shirts, to honor his impact on the school and students.
And those who knew him best often described him by the intensity and heart he brought to everything he did, which were traits Young sees reflected in this year's Rustlers girls basketball team.
"Reed just embodied a competitive spirit, you know, he was small in stature but he was big in heart and big in effort," Young said. "And that's kind of who we are. We are small in stature and we're not very big. But we have a big heart and it's one heart."
That message is being worn on the Rustlers' sleeves at the state tournament. Their warmup shirts have the message of "One way, one team, one family," on the front, and with Harter's name on the back.
That collective heart has carried Ethan through the regular season and onto the state's biggest stage, winning 17 of its past 18 games heading into the semifinal round.
"Honestly, just look at our community and look at how our community rallies behind us," senior Rachel Klock said. "And that is what Reed believed in, too. They just build us up, and then we can build each other up. Our community is just our base."
Now, with a chance to reach the Class B championship game Saturday evening for the first time since 2015, the Rustlers carry that motivation with them once again. Every moment together has served as another reminder of the mentor they lost but still cherish.
"We use him as motivation every single day. Yes, we do," Young said.
Continue reading...
No, the day has already been set aside in the Rustlers' color-coordinating plans: Everyone is to wear blue, to pay tribute to their teacher-coach gone too early.
On Jan. 16, the Ethan community lost Reed Harter, who died in a crash on Interstate 90 near Reliance. Harter, 28, and his friend Chandler Bakley, 27, were both victims of the fatal crash in which weather was a factor. In that light, the Ethan girls basketball team has played more than half of their season with a purpose that extends far beyond the court.
Harter's presence is still deeply felt in Ethan, especially inside the girls basketball program. As the team prepares for the Class B state tournament semifinals, his memory remains at the center of their game.
"There were really two pieces of motivation all year," Ethan head coach Tom Young said after the team's SoDak 16 win. "One was last year and the way it ended. We got in the gym and worked and worked and worked. And the second thing was losing our dear teacher and coach. We miss him a lot. And the girls were locked in and focused."
The No. 4-seeded Rustlers used the extra motivation to advance to the Class B state semifinals with a 51-42 victory over No. 5 Colman-Egan in Thursday afternoon's quarterfinal round at First Bank and Trust Arena, earning a matchup with No. 8 Corsica-Stickney at 5 p.m. Friday in Brookings.
Harter was part of the Ethan school community since 2021, serving as a social studies teacher and assistant coach for the Rustlers' boys basketball team. His impact reached beyond the classroom or gymnasium.
The former Colome High School standout was a gifted athlete. Harter played baseball for Winner/Colome during his high school career before continuing at Dakota Wesleyan University, where he graduated in 2020 with a degree in history education. While at DWU, he played for the baseball program and later served as a part-time assistant coach.
Both of those baseball teams have blue uniforms, which served the inspiration of the blue T-shirts and messages that individuals in Ethan and surrounding communities have rallied around. On Harter's birthday, Feb. 27, Ethan students and teachers were encouraged to wear their "Live Like Harter" shirts, to honor his impact on the school and students.
And those who knew him best often described him by the intensity and heart he brought to everything he did, which were traits Young sees reflected in this year's Rustlers girls basketball team.
"Reed just embodied a competitive spirit, you know, he was small in stature but he was big in heart and big in effort," Young said. "And that's kind of who we are. We are small in stature and we're not very big. But we have a big heart and it's one heart."
That message is being worn on the Rustlers' sleeves at the state tournament. Their warmup shirts have the message of "One way, one team, one family," on the front, and with Harter's name on the back.
That collective heart has carried Ethan through the regular season and onto the state's biggest stage, winning 17 of its past 18 games heading into the semifinal round.
"Honestly, just look at our community and look at how our community rallies behind us," senior Rachel Klock said. "And that is what Reed believed in, too. They just build us up, and then we can build each other up. Our community is just our base."
Now, with a chance to reach the Class B championship game Saturday evening for the first time since 2015, the Rustlers carry that motivation with them once again. Every moment together has served as another reminder of the mentor they lost but still cherish.
"We use him as motivation every single day. Yes, we do," Young said.
Continue reading...
