The Bear Facts
March 30, 2019


Good morning! I’m Jordan Hansen!

I’m Amanda Miller!

And I’m Reese Rosenmeyer! You’re listening to the “Bear Facts”, the weekly show on KLGA where we keep you in touch with all the news from Bishop Garrigan High School.

Last Tuesday eighteen members of the BGHS choir went down to West Des Moines for the state vocal jazz championships, which were held at Valley High School. This is the first year Garrigan has competed in vocal jazz, and while they had qualified for state, they really weren’t expecting a lot from the competition. They gave it their best, though, and they did an outstanding show. Garrigan not only got a “I”, but they ended up in first place among all 1-A schools in the competition.

The jazz choir, which is called Viva Voce, sang “O Devil Moon”, “Once Upon a Time”, and “Keepers of the Groove”. They were evaluated by judges from Kansas, Pennsylvania, and Mexico. While each judge picked a different school for #1, Garrigan left enough of an impression to finish on top overall. They scored 243 total points, which was 9 points higher than the next best 1-A choir and also more than any 2-A school scored at state.

Students in vocal jazz include seniors Bryce Capesius, Emma Thul, Sam Vaske, Gabe Trainer, Madison Illg, Eric Thul, Logan Heying, Aidan Koob, Megan Bronk, Layah DeLange and Ashlyn Harrington. Other vocalists are juniors Amanda Miller, Jordan Hansen, and Bailey Kollasch; sophomores Aric Laubenthal, Joey Trainer, and Noah Bronk; and freshman Meredith Tigges. Congratulations, jazz choir!

The jazz choir championship will be one of the last honors director David Fog is responsible for. Mr. Fog, who had worked with the choir at Emmetsburg High School for many years, came out of retirement to lead Garrigan’s musicians. He announced this spring that he was retiring—this time for good. We thank Mr. Fog for all the effort he has given, and we wish him a long and happy retirement.

Six members of the BGHS quiz bowl team are down in Des Moines today for the Iowa Quiz Bowl League spring championship. The event is at Central Academy, a school for the gifted in downtown Des Moines. Seniors Gabe Trainer and Sami Darling are captains of the two Golden Bear teams. Joining them are Grant Bormann, Joey Trainer, Aric Laubenthal, and Noah Bronk. Good luck to Coach David Burrow and the quiz bowl team!

Next weekend will be Gala 2019. Believe it or not, this marks the thirtieth year for the event, which has turned into the biggest fundraiser in the area. When Gala started off in 1990, it brought in $85,000 to help out the school. The income has grown and grown, and last year set a new record with $410,000 in income.

In honor of thirty years, the Gala theme this year is “Vintage”, and both the development staff and art students will be working hard on the decorations this coming week. Something new this year will be electronic bidding through a smartphone app. The Gala preview party will be Friday night, and the meal and auction will be next Saturday, starting at 7pm. Good luck to everyone involved in Gala!

Our Senior Spotlight this week shines on Silas Goche. Here to tell you about him is Emma Fogarty.

Silas Goche comes to Garrigan from the Bancroft area. He is one of two seniors who have spent large amounts of time in the hospital, since he underwent heart surgeries earlier in his life. Silas spends much of his school day across town in a vocational construction class, and you may also see him helping out with maintenance at Garrigan. Silas plans to work after high school, and we wish him all the best in the future.

Thanks, Emma! On our Golden Bear calendar this week, there’s qui bowl today in Des Moines. Then Monday there’s a golf triangular scheduled, with Garrigan playing Eagle Grove at Forest City.

Monday is also April Fool’s Day, and that morning we’ll have group activity pictures for the yearbook. The quiz bowl team will have their 3—2—1 online contest that afternoon. Then on Tuesday the girls track team runs at Clear Lake.

There’s a student mass on Wednesday, and the freshman class will also have their retreat that day. Thursday there’s girls track at Eagle Grove, and there’s a golf triangular with the Bears playing Belmond Klemme at Britt.

There’s boys golf at Spencer on Friday, and the boys track team will be running at Clarion. That night is the Gala preview party. Next Saturday there’s state solo and ensemble music contest, and then the vintage Gala 30th anniversary celebration.

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