THE BEAR FACTS

MARCH 4, 2023

Good morning! I’m Joey Doerning!

And I’m Gavin Swift! You’re listening to the “Bear Facts”, the weekly radio show from Bishop Garrigan High School.

The Golden Bear girls played their first game at state last Wednesday, and they poured things on big in their opening win against Martensdale—St. Mary’s. Audi Crooks scored 42 points against the Blue Devils, which broke two state records. It was the most points scored by one player in a state tournament game, and it also put her in first place in scoring all time among state tournament players. Congratulations, Audi!

Molly Joyce, Ashlyn Hovey, Emmi Bartolo, Sacha Alesch, Abbie Capesius, and Haley Nemmers also contributed points to the Bears’ 67 – 44 victory over the Blue Devils, and the whole team played tough defense throughout the game. The Bears advanced to play Remsen St. Mary’s in the semi-finals. We had to record this week’s show before that game, but we know the Bears have what it takes to go all the way at state.

Basketball is far from the only news this week. Garrigan’s danz squad also had a big week down at Wells—Fargo. The Bears were one of only a handful of dance teams invited to perform at halftime of the tournament games. They performed their state champion pom and kick routines. Junior Ella Schaaf also performed at state as part of the All-Iowa Honor Drill Team. Congratulations, dancers!

Last Saturday the Golden Bear speech team competed at the district individual speech contest up in Okoboji. They had an outstanding day, bringing home eleven Division One (or “excellent”) ratings and two Division two (or “good”) ratings. Three Bears earned ones in Spontaneous Speaking, where contestants have to think on their feet and answer questions on current events topics. Brooke Ludwig talked about gas prices, Sam Plathe discussed whether schools should implement mental health checks, and Violet Bode addressed the question of whether Wal-Mart is good for American cities.

Two Garrigan students got I’s in Improvisation. Gavin Swift acted out a scene where an author and an Uber driver are solving a puzzle, and Benjy Trainer showed a photographer and a wedding planner fighting a fire. In Prose Violet Bode received a one for reading “The Squirrel and the Chipmunk”, and Savannah Waechter got top honors for “Scuba Lessons”. Savannah also earned a one in Literary Program with “Images of Women”.

Molly Peterson got a one for her review of “Mean Girls”, and Brooke Ludwig earned a one with an Expository Address on CPR. Tate Foertsch received his one in Radio News Announcing. All those events now advance to the state contest next Saturday in Ft. Dodge. Students earning II’s at district were Thadd Kollasch and Lauren Swift. Congratulations, speech!

Sunday and Monday Garrigan students were down at Southeast Polk for the state DECA competition, and the Bears placed in eight different events. Brooke Ludwig took first place in Hotel and Lodging Management, while Violet Bode was first in Human Resource Management. Zach Warren was second in Restaurant and Food Service Management, and Logan Nemmers won the third place medal for Automotive Services Marketing.

Other DECA students who placed at state include Hailee Reutzel (4th in Retail Merchandising), Avery Lichter and Brendan Plathe (6th in Entrepreneurship Team Decision Making), Molly Peterson (6th in Apparel and Accessories), and Ben Greteman and Sam Plathe (7th in Sports and Entertainment Marketing Team). Many of these students will advance to the international DECA conference next month in Orlando. Congratulations, DECA!

Tomorrow twelve Bishop Garrigan seniors will be headed southward for a week-long mission trip to Mississippi. For the past eight years we’ve been working together with Franciscan sisters who run food pantries and community centers in the towns of Morton and Okolona, Mississippi. Making the trip this year are Audi Crooks, Drew Casey, Maggie Vaske, Gavin Swift, Joey Doerning, Nate Bronk, Avery Berte, Matt Kollasch, Eva Snyder, Garrett Heying, Darius Goche, and Ali Lallier. They’re leaving tomorrow and will return next Friday afternoon. We hope their work really makes a difference for those in need.

Our Senior Spotlight this week shines on Ava Kemna. Ava is one of the dancers who performed at the state basketball tournament this past week. She’s also been in cheerleading all through school. Ava is part of the Campus Ministries class, and she enjoys helping out with the younger kids at Seton. She already has a number of college credits under her belt, and we wish her all the best when she heads off to college full-time next year.

On our Golden Bear calendar, the state basketball championship is tonight at Wells—Fargo Arena. Today and tomorrow Brooke Ludwig and Matt Besch will be in the YMCA state swim  meet.  There’s a welcome back event planned to honor the Golden Bear girls basketball team tomorrow at 1pm.

Right after the welcome back a group of seniors will leave on the mission trip to Mississippi. There’s no school at Garrigan Monday or Tuesday, though girls track practice begins. Wednesday classes resume, and there’s a Gala meeting that night.

Students from the mission trip will return Friday afternoon. Then on Saturday there’s the state individual speech contest at Fort Dodge Senior High.

That’s the “Bear Facts” for another week. Thanks for tuning in, and be sure to catch the show again next week for more news from Bishop Garrigan High School.