THE BEAR FACTS

December 5, 2020

 Good morning! I’m Kelle Bormann!

 I’m Meredith Tigges!

 And I’m Joseph Trainer! You’re listening to the “Bear Facts”, the weekly radio update from Bishop Garrigan High School.

 A couple weeks ago seventeen Garrigan students participated in the district competition for DECA, an organization that prepares future leaders and entrepreneurs. Like pretty much everything else this year, DECA was different because of the pandemic. The competition was held virtually, with students competing over a video link from school. While DECA is a relatively new activity at Garrigan, our students have done very well with it.

 Students involved in DECA this year include seniors Anna Berke, Amanda Thilges, Gracie Elsbecker, Kellen Murphy, Reese Rosenmeyer, Kyle Schaaf, Joe Meis, and Noah Bronk. Younger DECA participants are Violet Bode, Ben Greteman, Ella Schaaf, Elena Salinas, Riley Rosenmeyer, Mya Kemna, Avery Lichter, and Sam Plathe. Erin Miller and Christy Peterson are in charge of DECA at Bishop Garrigan.

 Right before Thanksgiving the quiz bowl team competed in the fall 3—2—1, an online event that features around 200 academic teams from all over the country. The Bears’ score of 287 points placed them second in the state of Iowa, behind only Iowa City West. They were also in the top third of all schools in America. Congratulations, quiz bowl!

 Today is a big day for the Golden Bear danz squad. While they competed more than two weeks ago, it’s today that the results from state dance contest will be announced. Three Garrigan dancers—Cora Ricke, Ella Schaaf, and Lillee Deike—were part of the solo competition, while the whole Garrigan danz squad competed with pom and jazz routines.

 Besides the solo dancers, other girls in danz squad this year include Grace Delange, Savannah Waechter, Violet Bode, Halle Menke, Ella Nelson, Katelyn Cink, and Kyra Deike. Rounding out the group are Emma Bacha, Avery Lichter, Ava Kemna, Ellie Rosenmeyer, Meredith Illg, Eva Snyder, Zoey Von Bank, and Riley Rosenmeyer. You can see the danz squad during livestreams of the Golden Bear basketball home games this winter.

 Large group speech practices have begun. Like many activities this year, speech will compete virtually, with judges watching videos of the events. Garrigan’s entries include the choral reading “Oh! The Places You’ll Go”, which features Lillee Deike, Lexi Galligan, Annie Burns, Isabel Casey, and Veronica Capesius; as well as Ella Muller, Maryanne Capesius, Ella Nelson, Molly Bormann, and Mya Kemna.

 In Readers’ Theatre the Bears will be producing the melodrama “Wait ‘Til the Sun Shines, Nellie”. Cast Members include Meredith Tigges, Emily Lappe, Annie Burns, Violet Bode, Jack Snyder, and Joey Trainer; plus Katelyn Cink, Sam Plathe, Emma Grandgenett, Ella Nelson, Tara Kron, Ella Muller, and Riley Rosenmeyer.

 Garrigan will also be entering two Ensemble Acting scenes. “The Mouse and the Raven” features Anna Berke, Reese Rosenmeyer, Gracie Elsbecker, Bailey Meister, and Riley Rosenmeyer; while “The Eskimos Have Landed” includes Ava Eisenbarth, Eva Snyder, Abbi Heying, Meredith Illg, and Kelle Bormann.

 The Bears will also have multiple musical theatre entries. The groups include Joey Trainer, Meredith Tigges, Kelle Bormann, Jack Snyder, Marguerite Fakler, Eva Snyder, Brendan Plathe, and Benjy Trainer. Finally there’s an improvisation group with Brendan Plathe, Benjy Trainer, and Mya Kemna. Good luck, group speech!

 Our Senior Spotlight this week shines on Joe Merron. Here to tell you about him is Aric Laubenthal.

 Joe Merron is a Bancroft native who enjoys life on the farm. He’s probably best known as a lineman for the Golden Bear football team, and he’s also been successful as a first baseman in baseball. After high school Joe would like to study at Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon, and he hopes to be a diesel mechanic in the future. Good luck, Joe!

Thanks, Aric! On our Golden Bear calendar today the basketball teams begin their home season with a five-game match-up vs. Mason City Newman. The JJV and JV games start at 2pm, with the varsity beginning at 4:15.

Tomorrow is the second Sunday of Advent. There’s JJV basketball Monday, with the Bears hosting Lake Mills. Tuesday we’ll have mass for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

 The JV and varsity Bears play at Lake Mills Tuesday night. Wednesday there’s an early dismissal for teacher inservice, and that night the Christmas band concert will be livestreamed on YouTube.

 The girls basketball team hosts Newell—Fonda Thursday night. Next Friday we’ll be packaging food for needy people, and that night the Bears host a quad vs. Eagle Grove.

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