The Bear Facts
August 27, 2011
Good morning! I’m Alex Boisjolie!
I am John Richter
And I’m Craig Kolhaas! Welcome once again to the
“Bear Facts”, the weekly radio show from Bishop Garrigan High School.
It’s been a busy summer here at Garrigan, and a lot of
changes have happened in the school. This fall seventh and eighth graders are in
the Garrigan building, which is now officially called a junior—senior high
school. The junior high rooms are in the north wing of the building, where
English and art used to be located. That whole wing was completely renovated,
and there was also construction outside to prepare for the seventh and eighth
graders.
The fine arts hallway was completely overhauled, and
the changes there are even more noticeable. The hallway itself has been
lengthened by reducing the size of the band room, and new storage areas have
been added. There’s also new furniture for both band and choir. What used to be
the resource and teachers’ lounge areas is now used for visual art. In addition
we’ve moved around the locker assignments. Freshmen and sophomores are now at
the north end of the building, with juniors and seniors at the south. Some of
our parents will remember that arrangement from when they were here, but it’s a
big change from what we’ve had for the past two decades.
At the beginning of the summer the Golden Bear quiz
bowl team went down to New Orleans to compete in the National Academic
Championships. The Bears’ 3 – 3 record tied their best performance ever at
nationals, and they were among the top small schools competing. Graduating
seniors Jake Rosenmeyer, Anna Kollasch, Michael Hellman, Alex Hamilton, and
Michael Fakler led the team, together with junior Philip Detrick and sophomore
Levi Bernhard. Congratulations, quiz bowl!
This was also a big summer for Garrigan senior Austin
Salz. Last spring Austin and Algona High student Scott Haas worked together on a
video about the Camp Algona POW Museum that took first place in the state Skills
USA competition. The win advanced them to the national Skills USA finals in
Kansas City. At nationals they produced a video about downtown Kansas City that
ended up in thirteenth place nationwide. Congratulations!
A lot has happened with Golden Bear sports since last
spring, too. Both the boys and girls golf teams competed at state, and the girls
brought home another state championship. Seven girls and five boys ran at the
state track meet. Addison Miller set a new school record in the 200-meter
hurdles at state.
The baseball team also had a great summer. They
started out their season slow, but they came on strong and cruised to another
district championship by the end of the season. Kevin Elbert and Austin Vaske
were co-MVPs of this year’s team. Kevin was named to the All-CYO team, and
Austin received three different all-state recognitions. Alex Boisjolie, Jake
Kollasch, and Zach Keith won the Gold Glove award, while Kevin Elbert, John
Burns, and Austin Vaske earned the Silver Slugger award.
The baseball team’s Golden Bear Pride award went to
Grant Reding and Andrew McGuire, while Austin Vaske won the Cy Young award as
most outstanding pitcher. Reece Wadle and Andrew Miller were rookies of the
year, and Dustin Miller and Alex Boisjolie were named the most improved players.
All-conference honors went to Austin Vaske, Kevin Elbert, Alex Boisjolie, Zach
Keith, and Jake Kollasch; and John Burns joined Austin, Zach, and Kevin on the
all-district team. The final honor went to Kevin Elbert, who received honorable
mention on the academic all-state team. Congratulations, baseball players!
The softball team also had many awards this past
summer. Named to the all-conference teams were McKayla Loss, Abbey Reding, and
Addison Miller. McKayla and Abbey also won all-district honors and received
honorable mentions on the all-state team, and they received the team’s Golden
Glove awards. McKayla won the Big Hitter Award, while Kristin Condoleon was
named Pitcher of the Year.
The softball infield award went to Alicia Richter and
Emily Bell, and the outfielders were Abbey Reding and Addison Miller. Kaitlyn
Fogarty was named Rookie of the Year, and Alicia Richter won the Team Leader
award. Taylor Hovey, Kristin Condoleon, and Kara Eischen were named Most
Improved Players, and the Coach’s Award went to Hannah Byrkeland.
Congratulations, softball!
For the past nineteen years we’ve begun our season on
the “Bear Facts” by featuring our student council presidents in the senior
spotlight. This week we’re beginning our twentieth year by saluting Alex
Boisjolie. Here to tell you about him is Austin Salz.
Alex Boisjolie is a four-year member of the student
council who was unopposed when he ran for student council co-president last
spring. Alex was an award-winning catcher in baseball, he’s a lineman in
football, and he’s also been active in basketball and track. He helps serve at
school masses, and he’s also active in Christian Leadership in Action. Alex will
be off to college next year, and we wish him all the best.
Thanks, Austin! On our Golden Bear calendar this week,
there’s parish busing at Garrigan and Seton next Monday, because the Algona
Community Schools are not in session. That night the freshman/sophomore football
team hosts Garner/Hayfield.
Monday and Tuesday the freshmen will have their
student council elections. Tuesday night the volleyball team begins their season
by hosting Estherville. Also that night there’s cross-country at Mason City
Newman.
Wednesday the Garrigan seniors will put on our
all-school mass. Friday we’ll have the kick-off for the annual calendar drive.
We’ll dismiss at 2:15 for the labor day holiday. Then that night the Golden Bear
football team hosts Pocahontas. The cheerleaders will serve a supper at the
game.
That’s the start of our twentieth season here on the
“Bear Facts”. Thanks for joining us, and be sure to tune in next week and all
through the school year, when we’ll keep you in touch with all the latest news
from Bishop Garrigan High School.
VB 82511
