Bear Facts 2/25/2017

Emerald: Good morning! I’m Emerald Shipler!

Logan: I’m Logan Heying!

Nolan: And I’m Nolan Greene! Thanks for joining us for the “Bear Facts”, your weekly radio updated from Bishop Garrigan High School.

Emerald: Today at Garrigan we’re hosting the district individual speech contest. Students are coming from as far away as Spirit Lake, Spencer, Ft. Dodge, and Laurens to perform their selections for judges in the hopes of advancing to state. Garrigan will have ten entries in the contest. Bryce Capesius will be reading the prose selection “Girls”, while Caitlin Thilges will present a literary program on “Images of Women”.

Logan: Other performers include Layah DeLange with the prose piece “Guys”, and Gabe Trainer will tell the story of “The Musicians of Bremen”. Levi Capesius is performing “If I Can’t Love Her” in Musical Theatre and also acting the scene “How to Get a Date without Joining e-Harmony.com”. Logan Heying will compete in Radio News Announcing and will also present an after-dinner address called “STAR”. Finally Sam Trainer will compete in Improvisation and also tell the story “The Ghost with the One Black Eye”.



Nolan: Last Saturday five members of the Golden Bear quiz bowl team went down to Waukee to compete in the Central Iowa Winter Tournament. The Bears finished with a 5 – 2 overall record, losing only to Ames High and Ankeny. The playoffs were classed, and the Bears managed to beat Boone, Maple Valley—Anthon—Oto, and IKM—Manning to take first place among the small schools entered in the tournament. Ben Degen, Sam Trainer, Trevor Darling, Logan Heying, and Gabe Trainer competed for the Bears.

Emerald: The quiz bowl team is now planning their annual community tournament, which will be head on St. Patrick’s Day—Friday, March 17. The event is open to people of all ages, and we encourage everyone to participate. Money raised from the community quiz bowl will help pay some of the costs for the team’s trip to New Orleans for nationals this summer. For more information, check bggoldenbears.org, or contact quiz bowl captain Ben Degen 515-200-9356.

Logan: Next week is huge for the Golden Bear danz squad. Tuesday they’ll head down to Des Moines to perform at the state basketball tournament. The girls will perform their state championship kick routine at halftime of the 11:45 Class 3-A game. Then Wednesday night they’ll leave for their big trip to the national Contest of Champions in Orlando, Florida. The girls will spend time at Disneyworld, and they’ll perform their state champion pom and kick routines as well as a new lyrical routine set to the song “Hallelujah”.

Nolan: At the core of this year’s danz squad are seniors Courtney Noonan, Chloe Garman, and Danielle Plathe. Other dancers and managers include Kat Willie, Aubrey McEnroe, Olivia Hall, Grace Menke, Aubrey McEnroe, Laurel Degen, Bella Capesius, and Tabi Kollasch. Courtney Kirsch serves as manager, and Colleen Conway—Shiltz and Julie Illg coach the Garrigan danz squad. The girls will be gone through Tuesday, March 9th. Good luck at nationals, danz squad!


Emerald: Both the boys and girls basketball teams ended their seasons this past week, and both fell in playoffs to Newell—Fonda. The boys had an especially exciting game in their second round of districts, going to double overtime before falling to the Mustangs 73 – 68. We’re sorry to see the season come to an end, but we’re proud of the great job both the boys and girls teams did all year long.

Logan: Our Senior Spotlight this week shines on Nick Mergen and Courtney Kirsch. Here to tell you about them is Johnny Zeimet!

Johnny: Nick Mergen is an Algona native who is best known for his accomplishments as an athlete. Nick racked up the tackles while playing line on for the state runner-up Golden Bear football team. He also runs track, and he enjoys intramural basketball.

Courtney Kirsch is skilled at art, and she’s worked hard to decorate the halls and lockers at Garrigan. Courtney also works behind the scenes at plays and concerts, and she’s the captain of one of our intramural basketball teams. Both Courtney and Nick will be off to college next fall, and we wish them all the best in the future.

Nolan: Thanks, Johnny. On this week’s Golden Bear calendar, Garrigan is hosting the district speech contest today. Then tomorrow intramural basketball continues.

Emerald: Tuesday the danz squad will head down to Des Moines to compete at the girls state basketball tournament. They’ll be performing at halftime of the morning 3-A game.

Logna: Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, and we’ll begin the day with a service of prayer and ashes at St. Cecelia’s. That night the danz squad heads up to Minneapolis to begin their trip to nationals.

Nolan: The danz squad will be in Florida starting on Thursday, and they’ll be competing for a national title next Saturday and Sunday. Also next Saturday we’ll host a junior high quiz bowl tournament here at Garrigan.

Johnny: That’s the “Bear Facts” for February. Thanks for joining us, and be sure to tune in again next Saturday to hear more news from Bishop Garrigan High School.