And I’m Jake Kohlhaas! Welcome to another exciting episode of the “Bear Facts”, where we’re celebrating Homecoming Week at Bishop Garrigan High School.
We’re wrapping up an exciting week at Garrigan. This past week we’ve been “rockin’ to the millennium” as we celebrated Homecoming, 1999. The centerpiece of Homecoming every year comes on Thursday night when we crown our king and queen. When the envelopes were opened last Thursday, the winners were Sam Lickteig and Jillian Trenary. Congratulations, Jillian and Sam.
A major part of Homecoming every year is the traditional class competition, where all four classes are pitted against each other as demonstrate their school spirit. In the hallway competition, the juniors’ winning entry was the Garrigan branch of the Hard Rock Café. The freshmen and seniors tied for second. The freshmen made a timeline of the last thousand years, while the seniors created a rock combo out of balloons and cardboard and set it up right in the Garrigan lobby. The third place sophomores transformed their hallway into a metallic tunnel into the future.
In the float competition, both the freshmen and the seniors captured the idea of “running over the Wolverines”. They finished in first and third places respectively. The juniors again used the Hard Rock Café theme, this time with shredded wolverine as the specialty of the day. Finally there were the sophomores, who created a futuristic rocket blasting its way to both victory and the new millennium.
Another big part of Homecoming was the special dress days. Monday was Pajama Day, and the freshman and sophomore classes had the most people dressed in sleepwear. On Tuesday we saluted our favorite rock stars, and the freshmen, sophomores, and seniors all tied for top honors. Wednesday we could come to school in Halloween costumes, and we had everything from Dracula to fairy godmothers. The class with the highest participation was the seniors. Then on Thursday it was Black and Gold Day, with the freshmen and seniors tying for first place.
Each class also designed hoops that the athletic teams were supposed to run through at the big coronation ceremony Thursday night. The sophomores won the hoop competition, followed by the juniors, with the freshmen and seniors tying for third. Then the four classes presented skits at the pep rally. The seniors won the skit competition, with the juniors, the sophomores, and the freshmen close behind. Finally, the judges watched the classes’ school spirit and awarded five bonus points to the class that cheered the loudest. It was very close between all four classes, and the judges declared a tie between the juniors and the seniors. So, when all the points were tallied for the whole week, the overall winners of the 1999 Homecoming class competition were the juniors, the Class of 2001.
Homecoming isn’t over yet. This morning the volleyball team plays their third match this week, as they travel to Clarion/Goldfield. Then we’ll be wrapping up the festivities tonight, with the big Homecoming dance. In addition to DJ music, Garrigan’s own rock band “Everything Red” will be playing a set in the middle of the dance.
Next week the Golden Bear cross-country team will have the closest thing they have to a home meet. They’ll be running over at the Whittemore Golf Club in the Algona High Invitational. The Golden Bears are off to a good start this season. Twice the girls’ team has set new records for best team score. The top runners for the girls include juniors Heather Stence and Angie Kohlhaas and sophomore Teresa McGuire. Senior Abby Gervais, junior Marian Studer, and sophomores Melissa Lancaster and Cathy Hellman have also been running strong all season.
On the boys’ side, it’s the younger runners who have been taking the lead. The top runners so far this year have been freshmen Matt Studer and Jeff Hellman, and sophomore Greg Fowler. Also scoring points for the team are senior Nate Frideres, junior Tony Schmitt, and sophomores Bob Brandenburg and Jason Walker. Be sure to go over to Whittemore next Wednesday to cheer both the boys and the girls on to cross-country victory!
This week’s Senior Spotlight shines on our Homecoming King and Queen: Sam Lickteig and Jillian Trenary. Here to tell you about them is Corrie Stetzel.
Sam Lickteig comes to Garrigan from St. Benedict. He is a two-year letterwinner in baseball who helped lead the Golden Bears to state last summer. Sam is also active in track, and he played for the Fire Ants intramural basketball team. He’s an honor student who enjoys Model UN and peer helper. You may have seen Sam working at Dairy Queen in Algona. Next year Sam plans to major in radiology or optometry at Loras College in Dubuque. Congratulations, Sam Lickteig—our 1999 Homecoming King!
Jillian Trenary is a Corwith native. She is a four-year letterwinner in danz squad who helped lead the team to nationals last spring. Jillian is also a cheerleading captain, she enjoys pep club, and she’s also lettered in track. She works at Sister Sarah’s Restaurant in Algona. Next year Jillian plans to attend the UNI, where she’ll major in elementary education. Congratulations to our 1999 Homecoming Queen, Jillian Trenary!
On this week’s Golden Bear calendar, this morning the varsity volleyball team is playing at Clarion/Goldfield. Then tonight at 8:00 we’ll have the big Homecoming dance.
Tomorrow the football cheerleaders will sponsor a Belgian waffle breakfast. They’ll be serving at the Rochleau Center at St. Cecelia’s from 8am to 12:30pm.
Also tomorrow, a group of ecology students will be leaving on a field trip. Then on Monday the cross-country team will run in the Algona High meet at the Whittemore Golf Club. Also Monday there’s freshman football, with the Bears travelling to Pocahontas.
Wednesday will be Picture Day at BGHS. We’ll be putting on our colorful clothing to have our mug shots taken. Then on Wednesday night the volleyball team hosts Eagle Grove.
Friday the month of October begins. That night the football Bears will be playing Sioux Central at Sioux Center. Then next Saturday it’s Algona Band Day.
I'm John Mosbach. That’s the “Bear Facts” for September. Thanks for listening, and be sure to join us again next week for more news from Bishop Garrigan High School.
