The Bear Facts

November 9, 2019

Good morning! I’m Noah Bronk!

I’m Jack Snyder!

And I’m Halle Menke! You’re listening to the “Bear Facts”. Thanks for joining us for the latest news from Bishop Garrigan high School.

This weekend the curtain opens on Garrigan’s annual fall musical. This year’s show is Little Women, a musical adaptation of the classic novel by Louisa May Alcott. The play follows the adventures of the March sisters, and it takes place during the Civil War. According to the playwright, Little Women reminds us that “sometimes when you dream, your dreams come true.”

The musical version of Little Women was first performed at Duke University in 2001, and it opened on Broadway in 2005. It’s since become popular in colleges and community theatres, and also in high schools—like here at Garrigan. The cast features Amanda Miller, Bailey Kollasch, Meredith Tigges, and Ava Bartolo as the March sisters; Marguerite Fakler as Marmee; Austin Von Bank as Professor Bhaer; and Joey Trainer as Theodore Lawrence.

Noah Bronk plays Mr. Lawrence, Jordan Hansen is Aunt March, Reese Rosenmeyer stars as Mrs. Kirk, and Aric Laubenthal has the role of Mr. John Brooke. Almost everyone in choir has a supporting role. You’ll even see Garrigan quarterback Marcus Plathe playing a knight. Showtime is 7:00 tonight and 3:00 tomorrow afternoon. So be sure to head out to Friedmann Auditorium to see Little Women.

Last weekend the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association held the state solo dance championships in Newton. It was an especially good day for members of the Golden Bear danz squad. Cora Ricke won the state championship in small school dance, while Lillee Deike took fifth place overall. Meanwhile over in Des Moines the Golden Bear spirit squad took fourth place in the state cheer contest. Congratulations to our dancers and cheerleaders!

The Golden Bear volleyball team went further in playoffs than any other girls team in the area this fall. They advanced through three rounds before falling in the regional semi-finals to Gladbrook—Reinbeck. The volleyball team was led by five very skilled seniors: Amanda Miller, Mackenzie Meister, Maddie Meister, Katie Noonan, and Emma Fogarty. The Bears will miss those girls, but there will be lots of talent back next year in the junior, sophomore, and even freshman classes. Congratulations on a great season to Coach Schurrr and the volleyball team!

After winning the championship at their home tournament last month, the Golden Bear quiz bowl team is back in action today. They’ll be across town at the Algona invitational, one of the oldest quiz bowl tournaments in Iowa. The Bears have two varsity teams entered today. One team includes Grant Bormann, Jenna Heinen, Aric Laubenthal, and Joey Trainer; while the other features Abbi Heying, Reese Rosenmeyer, Meredith Tigges, and Garrett Heying.

There will also be a JV entry at today’s quiz bowl tournament. The members of that team are Gavin Swift, Riley Rosenmeyer, Ava Eisenbarth, Mya Kemna, and Jacob Ward. Good luck in competition today to Coach David Burrow and all the Golden Bear quiz bowl team!

There’s always lots of interesting field trips in Garrigan classes. A couple weeks ago students in Mrs. Vaske’s law class spent a day watching the big murder trial at the Kossuth County Courthouse. Personal Finance students visited Iowa State Bank, health students looked at nutrition labels on groceries at Fareway, and this past week art students visited the MacNider Art Museum in Mason City. Then there’s Mr. Bode’s biology and ecology classes, who always seem to be heading to farms and natural preserves around the area.

Our senior spotlight this week shines on Mackenzie Meister. Here to tell you about her is Kiana Book.

Mackenzie is a third generation Golden Bear who comes to Garrigan from the Burt area. She helped lead the Garrigan softball team to state last summer, she was key part of this year’s volleyball team, and she’s also hoping for a great season in basketball. Mackenzie is also active in Christian Leadership in Action, and last month she was installed as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. She’ll be off to college next fall, and we wish her all the best in the future.

Thanks, Kiana! On our Golden Bear calendar, there’s quiz bowl this morning at Algona High, and tonight is opening night for Little Women on the Garrigan stage.

Your last chance to see the musical will be tomorrow afternoon at 3:00. Then tomorrow night the football and volleyball teams will have their awards potlucks.

Girls basketball practice begins on Monday. Then on Wednesday there will be a special mass where we’ll honor area veterans.

The school board meets on Thursday. Finally next Saturday Garrigan will be hosting the Top of Iowa Conference quiz bowl tournament.

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.