The Bear Facts
February 18, 2017
Andrew: Good morning! I’m Andrew Thilges!
Danielle: I’m Danielle Plathe!
Logan: And I’m Logan Capesius! Thanks for tuning in to the “Bear Facts”, the
weekly radio update from Bishop Garrigan High School.
Andrew: Last Saturday members of the Bishop Garrigan math team went to Ames for
a Great Plains Math League tournament that was hosted by Iowa State University.
Large and small schools from all over Iowa competed, and there were even
competitors visiting from China. The “small school” division for math includes
all schools with less than 1,000 students, so Garrigan was the smallest of the
small schools competing. Nevertheless, they held their own in competition.
Danielle: The Bears’ top competitors were junior Sam Trainer and sophomore Gabe
Trainer. They took home individual awards, and they also helped lead Garrigan to
a third place finish as a team. Others competing for the Bears were senior
Andrew Thilges and junior Ben Degen. Congratulations, math team!
Logan: The quiz bowl team had a long break since their last competition, but
they’re back in action today. Six Golden Bears are headed down to Waukee for the
Iowa Quiz Bowl League winter tournament. Junior Ben Degen will serve as team
captain today. Also competing is senior Mark Mather, juniors Sam Trainer and
Trevor Darling, and sophomores Logan Heying and Gabe Trainer. Good luck to Coach
David Burrow and the quiz bowl team!
Andrew: Again this year the quiz bowl team is hosting an event that has become
very popular—the community quiz bowl. This year’s event will be Friday evening,
March 17. Groups of all ages from throughout the area are welcome to
participate, and the money raised will help pay expenses for the team’s trip to
New Orleans this summer. Ben Degen is in charge of organizing the event, and
more information will be coming out soon. Mark your calendar for March 17 and
the Garrigan Community Quiz Bowl.
Danielle: Basketball playoffs began this past week. While the girls struggled a
bit in their opening win, the victory over Graettinger Terril Ruthven Ayrshire
marked a big milestone for junior Jenna Boelter. During the game Jenna scored
her 1,000th career point. Congratulations on the accomplishment, Jenna!
Logan: Jenna was also one of six Garrigan students who went down to Des Moines
last Wednesday. Members of the Bishop Garrigan student council made the trip as
part of Catholic Education Week at the state legislature. Jenna Boelter, Levi
Capesius, Megan Wadle, Ben Degen, Miranda Book, and Aidan Koob met with state
legislator Ted Gassman. They discussed the need for educational savings accounts
to help parents save for tuition and also issues with busing that affect
Catholic schools. Student council moderator David Burrow accompanied the group
to Des Moines.
Andrew: Tomorrow the Golden Bear danz squad will present their annual spring
show. The show will feature the state championship kick and pom routines that
qualified the team for nationals, as well as the coed and friends routines and
several other dances. It will also include guest performances by other area
schools and by students at local dance studios. Show time is 4:30 tomorrow
afternoon in the new Garrigan gym. Be sure to be there for the danz squad spring
show!
Danielle: There are two other special trips happening next Tuesday. The
sophomore class will be going to Mason City to see a special performance of the
play Little Women. That same day members of Garrigan’s Christian Leadership in
Action group will head to Minneapolis to help out at the Caring and Sharing
Hands Mission. They’ll prepare and help serve a meal for the homeless and also
get a tour of the facilities at Mary’s Place. Religion teachers Rob Meister and
Jake Rosenmeyer will be taking the group to Minneapolis.
Logan: Our Senior Spotlight this week shines on Ben Fogarty. Ben was last week’s
top-scoring intramural basketball player, putting up more than forty points
including a lot of key threes. Ben is also one of our student council
co-presidents. He keeps busy with cross-country and track, and he’s also active
on the Algona swim team. Over the years he’s also been active in music, quiz
bowl, and math team. Away from school you may see him working as a lifeguard.
Ben will be off to college next year, and we wish him all the best in the
future.
Andrew: On our Golden Bear calendar, there’s quiz bowl today in Waukee.
Intramurals are cancelled tomorrow, but be sure to catch the danz squad spring
show at 4:30pm.
Danielle: There’s registration for next year’s classes on Monday, and girls
regional basketball continues on Monday night. Tuesday Christian Leadership
students will head to the mission in Minneapolis, and the sophomore class will
see Little Women in Mason City.
Logan: Next Wednesday we’ll have mass in the morning, and there’s an early
dismissal for teacher inservice in the afternoon. We’ll have parent—teacher
conferences Wednesday night. Then on Thursday boys district basketball
continues.
Andrew: We’ll have an out-of-uniform day next Friday to raise money for the
student gift to Gala. Then next Saturday Garrigan will host the district
individual speech contest.
Danielle: That’s the “Bear Facts” for this week. Thanks for joining us, and be
sure to tune in again next week for more news from Bishop Garrigan High School.