The Bear Facts
October 12, 2024

Good morning! I’m Thadd Kollasch!

I’m Daniel Meis!

And I’m Trayton Cink! Thanks for joining us for the “Bear Facts”, where we’re celebrating Homecoming, 2024, here at Bishop Garrigan High School.

We began Homecoming week with the big coronation celebration Monday morning. This year’s queen candidates were Hanna Merron, Zoe Montag, Molly Peterson, and Isabella Waechter. The king candidates were Trayton Cink, Andrew Lichter, Daniel Meis, and Nick Thul. When the votes were all counted our winners were King Trayton Cink and Queen Molly Peterson. Congratulations, Molly and Tray!

The Homecoming theme this year was the Bishop Garrigan Olympics. Dress-up days included a U.S.A. Day, favorite Olympic sports, award swag, and the colors of the Olympic rings. We had great participation for all the different dress days—including some very creative outfits like the Statue of Liberty, a banana, boxing and snowboarding gear, and the state football championship rings.

For twenty years now the highlight of Homecoming every year has been the Battle of the Classes, and this year’s class competition took place on Thursday. The seniors are proud that they’re four-year undefeated kickball champions, and they also won trivia, pickleball, and girls tug of war, home run derby, ultimate frisbee, girls tug-of-war, partner egg toss, girls Gatorade chug, and both sections of volleyball.

The juniors used their weight to win the boys tug-of-war. They also won spikeball, kan jam, bucket ball, bean bags, pie eating, and boys Gatorade chug. The freshman also had a good day. Being by far the largest class at Garrigan, it’s no surprise they won dodgeball. Freshman Karson Kramer defended his family’s string of championships in hot dog eating, and the freshen also won class egg relays and bucketball.

There were still a few events up for grabs when we recorded this week’s show—like lip sync, parade banners, and food pantry donations. At the time of recording, though, the seniors had a pretty sizeable lead, followed by the juniors, freshmen, and sophomores. All four classes had a great time during Homecoming 2024.

Today is the state marching band contest, and Garrigan’s Solid Gold Marching Band is hoping to build on the success they had at Algona Band Day last week. Bishop Garrigan took first place in both the 1-A parade and field competitions. The field competition was an improvement from the past thanks partly to the addition of Brooklyn Berte on the flag auxiliary.

This year’s field show is called “Screentime”. The band will play “Disney’s Magical Marches”, “Stadium Jams: Video Games”, “Cartoon Capers”, and the “Captain America March”. Molly Peterson and Isabella Waechter are the drum majors. The Solid Gold Marching Band is slated to compete at 9:30 this morning down at Dodger Stadium in Ft. Dodge. Good luck to director Katherine Wiemers and the band!

The Golden Bear volleyball team wrapped up their conference season last Tuesday with a win in three straight sets over Britt West Hancock. They’ll be taking on Algona High next week, and they start playoffs a week from Monday at Rockford. Good luck, volleyball!

Our Senior Spotlight this week shines on our Homecoming Queen. Here to tell you about Molly Peterson is Brady Galligan.

You may have heard Molly Peterson announcing here on the “Bear Facts”. She keeps busy with volleyball, softball, and track; and she’s also the girls basketball team manager. Molly is an honor society member; and she’s active in DECA, speech, the tech crew, and student council. She plays the oboe in band and is also one of our drum majors this fall. Away from Garrigan you may see her working at the Market in Algona. Next year she plans to major in nursing at the University of Iowa. Congratulations on being named Homecoming Queen, and good luck in the future, Molly P.

Thanks, Brady. On our Golden Bear calendar, this morning the band will be competing at state in Ft. Dodge. Then Monday there’s no school because of a teacher inservice.

Monday night the cross-country team runs at Forest City. There’s also JV football that night, with the Bears traveling to play Ft. Dodge St. Edmond.

Tuesday is the 8th grade retreat at St. Joseph in Wesley. The volleyball team hosts Algona High Tuesday night, and there’s also a swim meet in Spencer.

Wednesday night there will be a meeting for parents of students who are going on the Spanish trip next summer. There’s a board meeting on Wednesday, and that night there’s the conference cross-country meet at NIACC in Mason City.

The first quarter ends on Friday. That night the football team finishes their regular season at Harris—Lake Park. Then on Saturday Garrigan hosts its annual quiz bowl tournament.

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