The Bear Facts

May 24, 2003




Good morning! I'm Amber Golwitzer!

And I'm Scott Stence! Welcome to our last edition of the "Bear Facts" for the 2002 - 2003 school year.


The school year is over, but things are definitely not slowing down with activities at Garrigan. Most of the talk lately has been about the boys track team, who qualified seven different events for state. First-time runner Adam Gisch qualified in the 110-meter high hurdles, Lee Elbert made state in the 200-meter dash, Scott Stence is going in the 800-meter run, and Jeff Hellman qualified in the mile. The two sprint relays-which include Lee Elbert, Justin Fickbohm, Adam Gisch, Joe Hellman, and Aaron O'Kane-both qualified for state, as did the medley relay, with Joe Hellman, Aaron O'Kane, Justin Fickbohm, and Jeff Hellman. The state track meet will be next weekend, May 30 and 31, at Drake University in Des Moines. We wish good luck to Coach Marty Wadle and all the runners!


With track season nearing the end, it's time to start thinking about summer sports. Baseball starts next week, and the Bears are looking forward to another great year. Returning veterans on this year's squad include seniors Joe Hellman and Alex Vaske; and juniors Ben Geelan, Aaron O'Kane, Brent Shillington, Jason Lallier, Andrew Thilges, Jon Hanig, Tim Arndorfer, Grant Smith, and Stoney Wagner. Also out for baseball are sophomores Matt Vitzthum, Anthony McGuire, Mitch Buscher, Chris Reinhart, and Bill Vaske; and freshmen Gavin Freking and Dan Garman. The season starts Tuesday with the traditional double-header against West Bend/Mallard. Good luck to Coaches Rob and Gene Meister and the baseball team.

Softball starts at the beginning of June, and Coach Wendi Meister is hoping for a good year. Returning seniors on this year's team are Jenni Erpelding, Lisa Even, and Chelsie Wood. Other players include juniors Ashley McGuire, Molly Black, and Nettie McGuire; sophomores Rose Mayer, Emily DeWaard, Miranda Boekelman, Holly Lancaster, and Nicole Reding; and freshmen Alison Brandenburg, Kelly Schmidt, Ashley Waller, Allison Even, Denise Kohlhaas, and Sadie Foertsch. Good luck to the softball team!

The big events of the summer are the baseball and softball tournaments. The boys CYO tournament will be Saturday, June 7, at Carroll, while the girls have CYO at Storm Lake on June 14. Baseball playoffs begin July 14, with Garrigan hosting West Bend/Mallard. For the girls districts start Saturday, July 19. State baseball is the last week of July, with softball the first week of August.


There are some other big events this summer, too. June 12 the quiz bowl team leaves for their sixth trip to the National Academic Championships. This year they're going to St. Louis, and according to Coach David Burrow Garrigan's team is the strongest it's ever been. Players going to nationals include Captain John Kohlhaas, Mike Blocker, Steven Kellner, Jeff Hellman, David Murphy, and Matt Courtney. Good luck to them.


Later in the summer three health occupations students will be going to Atlanta to compete at the national HOSA convention. Senior Matt Studer qualified for nationals by taking first place in Iowa in the medical math competition, while sophomore Katelyn Besch qualified with a second place finish in veterinary assistance. Nationals will be June 19 - 22 in Atlanta. Good luck to Matt and Katelyn and to their coach, Jeanne Wunder.


By far the biggest trip of the summer is to Spain. Many of Garrigan's Spanish III and IV students are joining students from Twin River Valley on a trip to Madrid, Córdoba, Granada, and the sunny Costa del Sol. The students leave for Spain on Monday, June 9, and they'll be gone through June 17. While in Spain they'll see museums, castles, cathedrals, and ancient ruins-while getting a chance to practice a bit of the Spanish they've learned, too. We hope all the Spanish students have a wonderful trip.


On our Golden Bear calendar, next Monday the Garrigan band will play for the Memorial Day festivities in Algona. Tuesday is girls golf regionals, and that night baseball begins with the Bears hosting a varsity doubleheader against West Bend/Mallard.

Wednesday the baseball team hosts Estherville. Thursday is the Feast of the Ascension, and that night the baseball Bears travel to North Kossuth. Next Friday and Saturday there's state track in Des Moines, as well as the state golf meet in Ankeny.

Friday night the baseball team travels to Spencer. Then Monday, June 2, softball season begins, with the Bears traveling to Humboldt. Highlights of the June calendar include the Spanish club trip to Spain and the quiz bowl and HOSA national competitions.

In July there are baseball and softball playoffs, and then the cross-country team starts their training camp. The football and volleyball teams follow in August, and then it won't be long until Wednesday, August 20, when school starts up once again.


Finally this week we'd like to say goodbye to two staff members who are leaving Garrigan. Pat Roethler and Julie Herbst-Ulmer have both served the school for many years. Mrs. Roethler worked in the kitchen, and Mrs. Herbst-Ulmer was our librarian. We wish both of them all the best in the future.


That wraps up our eleventh season of the "Bear Facts". Thanks to all thirty-seven students who helped out with announcing and technical work this year and to our faculty producer David Burrow. Thanks to KLGA for airing our show and to all the sponsors who help us stay on the air.

Thanks also to all of you for tuning in to listen each week. We'll be off for the summer, but we plan to be back Saturday, August 29, to tell you all about a whole new school year at Bishop Garrigan High School.


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