The Bear Facts

March 26, 2022

Good morning! I’m Riley Rosenmeyer!

I’m Maryanne Capesius!

And I’m Veronica Capesius! Welcome once again to the “Bear Facts”, the weekly radio show from Bishop Garrigan High School.

This past week about a third of Garrigan students were gone on a big trip down to Branson, Missouri. The group left around 7:00 Monday morning, and they didn’t return until late last night. Both the band and choir performed while they were down in the Ozarks, and they also saw the sights and had a lot of fun.

Spring officially started last weekend, and spring sports are now officially underway. Today, for the first time ever, Garrigan is hosting the big CYO track meet, where students from all over the Sioux City Diocese compete against each other. Most years this meet has been in Sioux City or Storm Lake, but the new track at Garrigan allows us to host major meets like CYO.

Coach Jared Montag is looking for the girls track team to have a very good year. The Bears return Audi Crooks and Molly Joyce, who were last year’s state champions in the shot put and long jump, and there’s a lot of strong talent in other running and fielding events. The returning seniors in girls track are Emma Grandgenett, Katelyn Cink, Mya Kemna, and Veronica Capesius.

Other girls to watch in track include Reagan Murphy, Zoe Montag, Abbie Capesius, Emma Bacha, Zoey Von Bank, Ellie Rosenmeyer, Ava Kemna, and Violet Bode. Rounding out the squad are Lauren Swift, Molly Peterson, Hanna Merron, Alaina Casey, Morgan Antoine, Madelyn Bronk, Ava Hough, Brooke Ludwig, and Ellie Vipond. Good luck, girls track!

The boys track team also has a good group of athletes. Returning seniors in boys track include distance runners Quinn Swift, Hollis Bode, Saban Meraz; as well as sprinter and hurdler Collin Casey. The boys’ team also features juniors Cal Birkey, Gavin Swift, Jack Grandgenett, and Drew Fogarty; plus Garrett Heying, Drew Casey, Nate Bronk, Connor Davis, Matt Kollasch, Devon Berte, and Caleb Bormann.

Younger guys on the boys team include sophomores Sam Plathe, Justin Bauer, Brody Ludwig, Logan Nemmers, Caden Roethler, and Benjy Trainer. Rounding out the team are freshmen Wyatt Rosenmeyer, Owen Murphy, Drew Muller, Scott Bormann, Isaac DeLange, Thadd Kollasch, Nick Leerar, Daniel Meis, and Andrew Lichter. Good luck to Coach Marty Wadle and the boys track team!

Garrigan’s girls golf team is the defending 1-A state champions, and they’re looking to add another trophy to the case. Almost the entire team is seniors, including Annie Burns, who had the third best score in the state last spring. Ava Eisenbarth and Riley Rosenmeyer were also top twenty state golfers last year, and the other returning seniors are Olivia Arndorfer, Lexi Galligan, and Meredith Illg. Rounding out the team is sophomore Avery Lichter. Good luck to coaches Victor Berte and Steph Ellers, and all the girls golfers!

Victor Berte is also the head boys golf coach, assisted by Tyler Tiffany. This year’s boys team features senior veterans Jacob Leerar and Joey Schumacher. Also out for golf this year are Brady Galligan, Zack Carr, Ben Greteman, Schyler Morse, Ethan Kuper, and Sam Greteman. Golf competitions start at the beginning of April. Good luck golfers!

Next weekend is Gala 2022. This will be the thirty-third year for the biggest fundraiser at Garrigan. The event will be back in person this year after two years of being virtual, and the development staff is hoping that might help us break the record of $410,000 that was spent back in 2018. The Gala theme this year is “Masterpiece Ball”, with fine art featured in the decorations. The preview party is next Friday at 5pm, and the big event will be next Saturday night.

We mentioned last week that seniors Marguerite Fakler and Ava Eisenbarth had been named “outstanding performers” in speech. They’ll perform at the All-State Speech Festival next Monday. Marguerite will perform “Forget About the Boy” for Musical Theatre around 11:30am, and Ava will read her humorous literary program on skiing at 1:30pm. Congratulations to the all-state speech honorees!

Our Senior Spotlight this week shines on Talia Book. Here to tell you about her is Garrett Heying..

Talia Book went through school as a member of the Class of 2023, but she’ll be graduating with the Class of 2022. Throughout school she’s been heavily involved with religious activities like Christian leadership and campus ministry, and also with various service projects. Talia plans to study for a career in welding after she graduates, and we wish her all the best in the future.

Thanks, Garrett. On this week’s Golden Bear calendar, Garrigan is hosting the big CYO track meet this afternoon. Field events start at 11am, and the running events will begin at 11:30.

Garrigan and Seton have parish busing in the afternoon next Monday and Tuesday because the Algona Community Schools have a reduced schedule those days. Monday Ava Eisenbarth and Marguerite Fakler will be performing at the All-State Speech Festival in Cedar Falls.

Tuesday Garrigan’s “Viva Voce” will be participating in the state vocal jazz championships at West Des Moines Valley. Then on Wednesday there’s no school because of a faculty inservice.

Next Thursday and Friday we’ll have parish busing in both the morning and afternoon, because the Algona Community Schools are off those days. The Gala preview party is Friday from 5 – 7pm and next Saturday night will be Gala 33.

That’s the “Bear Facts” for March. Thanks for tuning in, and be sure to join us again next week for more news from Bishop Garrigan High School.