Good morning! I’m Sarah Schmitt!
And I’m Sarah Erdman! Welcome once again to the “Bear Facts”, the weekly radio show from Bishop Garrigan High School.
Last Saturday we told you about the district speech contest that Garrigan was scheduled to host. Unfortunately, an ice storm hit Algona just before the contest was scheduled to begin. That meant all the plans had to be thrown out the window, and the contest had to be postponed. The make-up date was last Monday, and speech directors Mary McCall and David Burrow worked hard to get everything re-scheduled for that date. In the end, things went remarkably smoothly, and the school received lots of compliments from students and coaches around the area.
Garrigan also did extremely well at district contest. Out of 29 entries, 20 of those received Division “I” ratings, the highest rating they could get. It’s not a big surprise that one of those “I”s went to “Bear Facts” announcer Steven Kellner—who received top marks in Radio News Announcing. Autumn Thompson earned a “I” in Public Address; and Sarah Schmitt, Michael Loebach, Angie Kohlhaas, and Bob Brandenburg all got “I”s in Acting. In Improvisational Acting, Division “I” ratings went to David Murphy and Chris Kohlhaas.
Storytelling was another successful category for the Bears. Nicole Elbert and Amanda Freking both earned “I”s in Storytelling. Then there was Poetry, where Keshar Nadkarni, Mandy Rahm, and Marian Studer all received “I”s. In Literary Program, Division “I” ratings went to Angie Kohlhaas and Amanda Freking, while in After-Dinner Speaking Bob Brandenburg and Rebecca McGuire both took home “I”s. The final category was Prose, where Jennifer Faber, Janet Kramer, and freshman Amber Golwitzer all got top marks from the judges. All these students now advance to the state speech contest, which will be held March 17 at Carroll. Congratulations!
Weather and special events have also wreaked havoc with the intramural basketball schedule. It’s been almost a month since the intramuralers have taken the floor, but hopefully they’ll be back in action tomorrow. So far Bryan McAlpine’s team is in the lead overall, with a perfect 4 – 0 record. Ben Meyer’s team is in second place overall, followed by Chris Missal’s, Scott Black’s, and Mark McGregor’s teams. Garrigan’s version of “March madness” will continue all month long, with play-offs coming at the beginning of April.
This coming week marks a special time for Garrigan senior Andrea Kramer. Andrea hopes to set a first at Garrigan by becoming the first girl ever to compete in wrestling for the Golden Bears. That’s sort of a family tradition at Garrigan, since her brother Phil was the first boy to wrestle for the Bears. Like most of us, you may not have even known girls’ wrestling existed. It did, and the girls’ state finals will be tomorrow, March 4th, at Gilbert. Andrea has been plagued by injuries, but we all hope she’s healthy and able to compete at state. Good luck, Andi!
This coming week is also a big time for the Golden Bear Danz Squad. Today they’re having their annual drill team clinic from 10:00 to 4:00 in the Garrigan gym. Then all next week there will be try-outs for the 2001-2002 danz squad. Dance has traditionally been one of the most successful activities at Garrigan, and there’s a lot of competition among the girls for slots on the squad. Good luck to everyone who’s trying out!
Our Golden Bear senior spotlight this week shines on Andrea Kramer, Deanna Kohlhaas, and Jennifer Faber. Here to fill you in on them is Joe Hellman.
We’ve already told you that Andrea Kramer has been practicing for the state girls’ wrestling tournament. Andi is a year-round athlete who also enjoys volleyball, softball, and track. Earlier in the season she injured herself playing intramural basketball against the boys. Andrea will be off to Iowa State next year, and we wish her all the best.
Deanna Kohlhaas does well in most of her classes, but she especially enjoys her science classes. She plans to major in a science-related career and has taken every chemistry and physics course at the high school. Deanna is also active in sports, and like Andi she’ll be a college girl next year. We wish her the very best of luck.
Jennifer Faber started high school in the Class of 2002, but last fall she decided to accelerate her studies so she could graduate with this year’s seniors. Jenny’s activities include music, speech, and the math team. We wish her all the best in the future.
Thanks, Joe! After tons of activities last week, this is a very quiet week on our Golden Bear calendar. It all begins with the the danz squad clinic today.
Tomorrow intramurals continue, and there’s the state girls’ wrestling tournament at Gilbert. Then Tuesday through Friday we’ll have danz squad try-outs.
Finally next Friday some of Garrigan’s varsity girls’ basketball players will be down in Des Moines to watch the state championship. Garrigan will be in session next Friday, even though the Algona Community Schools will have the day off.
That’s our first “Bear Facts” for March. Thanks for joining us, and be sure to set your dial here again next week for more news from Bishop Garrigan High School.
