I'm Sarah Schmitt!
And I’m Jeff Hellman! Welcome to another special edition of the “Bear Facts”, where this Thanksgiving we’re thankful for the outstanding season the Golden Bears have had this fall.
Every year every football team hopes they’ll go all the way. Very few teams do, though. It’s harder to make the play-offs in football than in any other sport, and once you’re in the play-offs, every game is against one of the best teams in the state. The Bears weren’t favored in any of their play-off games, but they did what they had to do. While some teams dominated their play-off competition, most of Garrigan’s wins were by narrow margins. A win is a win, though, and with their solid defense the Bears kept winning and winning and winning. We all knew the Bears would be good this year, but nobody dreamed they’d go all the way to the championship game. They played that game yesterday, and we’re all proud to see another big trophy added to the school collection.
This has been one of the best football seasons ever for Bishop Garrigan. It began with their pre-season games—big wins over Class 2-A St. Edmond and Class 3-A Algona High. Then in district play the Bears soared above almost all the competition. Only one other team—Southern Cal—beat Garrigan in the regular season. The Bears came back and won when it mattered, though, racking up a big 13-6 win over Southern Cal to earn the right to play West Marshall for the state championship. Congratulations to the team of the decade here in Algona—the 1999 Bishop Garrigan Golden Bears!
Everyone at Garrigan would like to say a special thank-you to the thousands of fans who made trip after trip after trip down to Cedar Falls to pack the UNI-Dome for the Golden Bears’ play-off games. It was especially good to see fans from schools like Algona High, West Bend/Mallard, North Kossuth, Sentral, TRV, and CWL, in addition to all the Garrigan students, parents, and alumni. Thanks also to all the people and service groups who chipped in money to help pay the team’s expenses, and to everyone who sent good wishes in person or by letter, phone, or e-mail. It really is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and the team and the whole school want to thank all the Golden Bear fans.
1999 has been a magical year for Golden Bear sports. We ended the millennium with state and national contenders in girls’ track, boys’ track, danz squad, boys’ golf, baseball, cross-country, and now football. We’re hoping that magic continues this winter, as basketball season starts. The girls’ basketball team has already had scrimmages, and they’ll start things off for real next week with a big game against Hampton-Dumont. Senior Angie Froehlich just signed a letter of intent to play college ball for North Dakota State, and we know she’ll be showing everyone why she was so heavily recruited as she leads the team to victory this winter.
The juniors are a key part of this year’s Golden Bear team. They include Sara Reding, Heather Stence, Michelle Vitzthum, Kelly Kohlhaas, Sara Seeley, and Deanna Kohlhaas. Ashley Arndorfer and Jenna Becker are among the top sophomores, together with Teresa McGuire, Mindy Buscher, Jamie Loebig, Allison Dornbier, and Heather Fickbohm. Congratulations to Coaches Wieland, Froehlich, and Elbert, and all the Golden Bear girls!
Last weekend the Golden Bear cross-country team held their awards banquet. Teresa McGuire won All-North Central Conference honors, and she joined Angie Kohlhaas, Heather Stence, and Marian Studer on the All-District team. Teresa and freshman record-setter Matt Studer were named Most Valuable Runners, while Nathan Frideres won the Four-Year Dedication Award. Nate and Angie were named the honorary team captains. Marian Studer and Michael Loebach were the Most Improved Runners, while Heather Stence and Jeff Hellman were named “Rookies of the Year”. Other cross-country letterwinners include Abby Gervais, Bob Brandenburg, Greg Fowler, Cathy Hellman, Melissa Lancaster, Jason Walker, Tony Schmitt; and managers Rebecca McGuire and Sarah Kollasch. Congratulations on a great season to Coaches Kohlhaas and Ahlers and all the cross-country runners.
Last Tuesday twenty-one Garrigan students were inducted into the National Honor Society. The organization is highly selective, and it honors excellence in scholarship, leadership, service, and character. The three new senior members are Sam Lickteig, Bethany Miller, and Corrie Stetzel. Among the juniors inducted were Tanya Broesder, Nick Even, Amanda Freking, Angie Kohlhaas, Deanna Kohlhaas, and Lynn Kohlhaas. Other juniors in N.H.S. include Sarah Kollasch, Andi Kramer, Janet Kramer, Paul Loebach, Annette Long, and Scott McGuire. Rounding out the new members are Brad Nelson, Sara Reding, Ellie Reising, Sara Seeley, Marian Studer, and Chris Thilges. Congratulations to all the National Honor Society inductees.
Seven Garrigan students are in St. Louis this weekend. They’re attending the National Catholic Youth Convention. The group left at 4:15 Thursday morning, and they’ll be gone through Sunday. They include Angie Weber, Brandon Donahe, Wade MacDonald, Jessica Wagner, Sarah Kollasch, Marian Studer, and Angie Kohlhaas.
This week’s Senior Spotlight shines on Justin Reding. Justin is a football captain who has made some key plays, including a big sack that clinched the Bears’ place in the championship game. Justin is an honor student who is also active in basketball and track. He was one of the nominees for Homecoming King last fall. Justin will be a college man next year, and we wish him all the best.
Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, we’ve got two weeks to cover on our Golden Bear calendar. Tomorrow is the feast of the Sisters of the Presentation, who have served Algona’s schools for decades. Tomorrow night the football cheerleaders will have their awards banquet.
Monday health students will take a field trip to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Then on Tuesday the Golden Bear girls start their season against Hampton-Dumont.
Wednesday morning we’ll have an all-school liturgy to celebrate Thanksgiving and remember all the alumni who have passed away. Thursday and Friday are Thanksgiving vacation, and then next Sunday the Advent season begins.
Sunday the 28th the a cappella group Tonic Sol Fa will perform at 6pm in Friedmann Auditorium. Tickets are still available from the BGHS Development Office.
Monday the 29th there’s freshman girls’ basketball, with the Bears hosting Humboldt. Then on Tuesday the 30th the JV and varsity Bears host Humboldt. There’s boys’ freshman basketball on Wednesday, December 1st.
Friday, December 3rd the Golden Bear Danz Squad heads to Des Moines for the state drill team finals. Garrigan’s girls were the state champions last year, and we’re hoping they’ll do well again this year.
Finally, on Friday the 3rd, there’s a four-game basketball match-up, with the Garrigan boys and girls taking on Fort Dodge St. Edmond.
That’s the “Bear Facts” for November. We’ll be off next week for the Thanksgiving holiday, but be sure to catch us again two weeks from today when we’ll be bringing you more news from Bishop Garrigan High School.
