Heard in the Halls - April 2017
April 5, 2017
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ATHLETICS || BAND || CAMPUS MINISTRY || CHOIR || JROTC || THEATER
ATHLETICS
Boys Basketball
by Tony Yazbeck, Assistant Coach
March was a magnificent month for the boys basketball team. Entering the Section 4AAAA playoffs as the #4 seed,the Raiders played their best basketball of the season, knocking off defending section champion North St. Paul 78-51 in the quarterfinals to advance to the semi-finals against #1 seed and SEC Champion East Ridge. The drama-filled game was led by 27 points from Daniel Oturu and the game-winning shot by Sy Chatman. CDH defeated the Raptors 80-79 in OT to advance to the section championship vs. Tartan. Again, great play from Oturu, Chatman, Ryan Larson, Jake Prince and Jaeden King propelled CDH to the state tournament with a 76-72 win.
After a tough loss to the eventual state champion Apple Valley, the Raiders bounced back and captured the State AAAA Consolation Championship, defeating Andover 89-80 and then avenging an early season OT loss, defeating Lakeville North 71-61. Daniel Oturu was named to the Minnesota State All-Tournament team averaging 24 points and 17 rebounds in the tournament.
The Raiders finished the season with a 23-9 record and a final state ranking of #7. The future is bright as CDH returns all five starters and two reserves for next season.
The following awards were presented after the season:
All-State
Daniel Oturu
Ryan Larson
All-Metro
Daniel Oturu
Ryan Larson
All-Conference
Daniel Oturu
Ryan Larson
Jake Prince
All-Conference Honorable Mention
Jaeden King
Sy Chatman
Jaylen Newton
Wrestling
by Dan Willaert, Coach
Joshua Goldberg and Nick Neumann represented the Cretin-Derham Hall wrestling team at the MSHSL State Championships this year. Joshua qualified at 170 pounds by winning the section title, while Nick Neumann took runner-up honors at heavyweight.
Josh entered the tournament as the #7 seed. He is the first Raider to earn a seed at State, due to being a section champion and a returning state entrant. In the preliminary round, he scored an early takedown and used two hip tilts to rack up an 8-0 lead over an unseeded wrestler from Willmar. The third time was the charm as Josh used another hip tilt to stack his opponent on his shoulders and earn the victory by fall just after the 1-minute mark in the first period. Josh's pin was the first by a Raider in the State Tournament in over a decade!
A tough loss in the quarterfinals to the #2 seed from St. Francis, who went on to place 5th, sent Josh to the consolation round late on Friday evening. He battled through a re-aggravated shoulder injury and gave it everything he had, but came up just a little short in close decision loss to Maple Grove.
Nick went into the tournament as an unseeded wrestler, despite being a state entrant two years ago – missing his entire junior season due to a knee injury in football. The seeding criteria only include current season and last year's post-season. Ironically, Nick was randomly drawn to face the #2 seed from Willmar, the same opponent he faced in the first round of the 2015 State Tournament when both wrestlers were sophomores.
The first time around, Willmar won by pin, but Nick showed his significant improvement by keeping it close this year, losing by decision and nearly having a chance to pull off the upset with a takedown in the third period. Willmar went on to place 3rd, and Nick waited for his consolation bout late on Friday evening. Nick's next opponent was also a rematch. Lakeville North had pinned Nick in a back-and-forth match in January. An early takedown looked promising, but the lead wouldn't hold up. Nick nearly scored a late escape to tie the match, but ran out of time as he was eliminated from the tournament.
This is the fourth year in a row that the Raiders have been represented in the MSHSL State Tournament. The only other time in school history that the Raiders have been at State four consecutive years was from 1976 to 1979. Nick and Joshua also join an elite group of Raiders who are multiple-time State entrants. Larry Nava '01 and Andy Braun'95 were two-time qualifiers, and Matt Caron'79 was a three-time qualifier. No Raider has ever placed in the MSHSL State Tournament. Several wrestlers won enough matches to qualify for the consolation semifinals, but they didn't wrestle 5th place matches in those years.
BAND
by Donna Novey, Band Director
The start of 3rd trimester involved some March Madness as the Band supported the Boys Basketball team for section finals and into the State Tournaments. (see photos)
The Band attended 4AA Large Group Contest at White Bear Lake North on April 4, earning two ‘Excellent’ and one ‘Superior’ rating from the judges, for an overall ‘Excellent’ rating. It was the first time in 18 years that CDH attended contest as a 9-12 band, having gone to just one band this year. That being said, it was definitely a good showing as the band has come a long way with older musicians leading the way and the younger musicians following in their footsteps.
Year-End Band Events:
May 10-JROTC Twilight Parade; 6:00 p.m. on the South Field
May 11-Spring Jazz Concert; 7:00 p.m. in the Band Room
May 17-Spring Concert and Senior Recognition; 7:00 p.m. in the Lillian Theater
May 20-WSP Parade; 1:00 p.m. in West St. Paul
CAMPUS MINISTRY
by Peter Gleich, Campus Minister
Empty Bowls 2017
Another year, and another successful Empty Bowls lunch and supper fundraiser has come and gone. After months and months of preparation, and the normal “last minute” moments of panic, many bowls of delicious soups were enjoyed, lots of hearty bread was dunked, beautiful handmade ceramic bowls were selected, talented band students performed, silent auction items were bid upon, awards were presented, funds were raised, and awareness was increased. And all this was done in support of the life-saving, and life-changing work of Heifer International.
Now, after 15 years, for our students and staff, and many parents, grandparents and grandkids, as well as alumni and friends, Empty Bowls each February has become part of the fabric of what it means to be Cretin-Derham Hall. And while the over $120,000.00 raised these last 15 years has helped provide many goats and cows, rabbits and chickens, water buffalo and alpaca’s, as well as water wells and microloans, have enriched the lives of others across the world, we too at CDH have been richly blessed to support the work of Heifer International.
Empty Bowls success has been made possible because of the generosity of many individuals, groups, and businesses partners and friends including:
At Last Gourmet Foods, The Original Gabe’s By The Park, O’Gara’s, Pat Norusis, Plum’s, Ruhland’s Strudel Haus, Shamrock’s, Sharon O’Connor, the CDH Science Dept., Tony Leseman, Eagle Street Grill, Cherokee Sirloin, Casper’s Cherokee of Eagan, Helen Haas, Axel’s Bonfire, Joseph’s Grill,Katherine Johnson, Luci Ancori, Trotter’s, The Exchange Food and Drink, Kincaid’s, Gary Davis,Montse LaVelle, Colossal Café, Great Harvest Bakery, Br. Michael Rivers, Sammy Casalenda, Andrea Sisel and Nativity of our Lord students, Café Latte, Anita Burg and the Convent of the Visitation, Chanhassen Dinner Theatre, Creighton University, DBA, Dale Studios Photography, Kelly DeRosier, Data Transformed, Davinni’s, Ervasti Sales, The Exchange Food and Drink, Fast Frame, Thomas Finn Company, Gerten’s, Rose Marie Gleich, Katherine & Scott Goldenstein, GoldCom., Great Harvest Breads, Sherry and Stephen Kampa, Kincaid’s, Kortes, Leintner’s, Joe and Teresa Mauer, Mark McGuire, Pat Norusis, Donna Novey, Jim O’Neill, Panera, Park Square Theatre, Peak Printing, St. Patrick’s Guild, St. Paul Hotel, Janet Watson, Tim Teuber, Joe Miley, Sam Vetch and the CDH Band, Ceramics and Drawing students, Custodial staff, Taher Food Service, and any donors we may have missed, and all of you who joined us during Justice Week for soup and bread, conversations and support, and a commitment to help end hunger and starvation in our world.
And as always, thanks to our student coordinators, Seniors Molly Johnson, Amanda Reding, Ellie Salmen, Elizabeth Schindler, Izzy Schreier, Marina Tschida, and Julia Waters, Juniors Megan Commers, Claire McMahon, Frannie Nicolo, Katherine Kruser, Amy Rueter, and Katie Schearer, and Sophomores Lilly Deschene’, Elizabeth Everson, Allison Reding, Carolina Schuster, Andrew Theisen, and Karissa Tschida.
Together with over 75 student volunteers, their work on behalf of Heifer International will help many families from all corners of the earth become increasingly self-sufficient.
Again, thanks to all who helped make Empty Bowls 2017 a great success. Please add February 7, 2018 to your calendars for Empty Bowls 2018!
If you have any questions or wish become a “Empty Bowls Partner”, please contact Peter Gleich at PGleich@c-dh.org.
Wilder Foundation “Leap Forward for Children”
Thanks to the following students and staff who participated in the winter and spring’s “Leap Forward for Children” at the Wilder Foundation’s Child Development Center:
Steven Budka, Nora Graf, Haidyn Kruse, Olivia Link, Delaney Lynch, Annabelle Sullivan, Madison Veverka, Sam Clausen, Liam Dean, Ella Dickson, Adam Ernster, Mia Gardner, John Gunderson, Lucille Johnson, Rory King, Sam Nelson, Gina Neumann, Abby Reeder, Samantha Salmen, Zachary Sommerfeld, Brenna Taylor, Emily Wheeler, Brian Williams, Caroline Greenheck, Anna Klein, Alexa Savard, Maddy Smothers, Emma Strong, Jennifer Chavez, Althea Gutzmann, Kate Kohler, Mary Miller, Isabel Schreier, Clare Shaw, Mr. Sam Vetch, Mr. Mike Steineman, and Mr. Bryce Polus.
If you have any questions regarding the Wilder Foundation “Leap Forward for Children” Child Development Center experience, please contact Peter Gleich at PGleich@c-dh.org.
Habitat for Humanity
In a perfect world, all would know the blessing of a safe, quality, affordable home. It is with that goal in mind that Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity and Cretin-Derham Hall stand as partners, committed to do what our part in helping bring about that reality.
This past year, over many CDH students, staff, parents and alumni were working across the Twin Cities helping families know the blessings of a home. A special thanks to our spring Habitat builders: Hailey Anderson, Joe Clark, Hannah Hernandez, Kylie Lydon, Jacob Waters, Eden Wells, Dr. Steve Humbert, Mr. Jerry Macken, Mr. Peter Gleich
If you have any questions regarding Habitat for Humanity, please contact Peter Gleich at PGleich@c-dh.org.
by Andrew Bourgoin, Choir Director
The year is coming to a close with lots of performances! First, plan to come see IN THE HEIGHTS running in the Lillian Theater from April 22-30. On April 25, you can find a Musical Theater Showcase (also in the Lillian Theater) highlighting the talents of many students in the vocal music program. They'll present solos, duets, and a special performance by the pops choir. On May 8, the entire vocal music program will present its final concert of the year in the Lillian Theater. It'll be an evening to share music, reflect on our time together, and look toward new beginnings. Hope to see you there!
by David Berrisford, Sergeants Major, U.S. Army, Retired, Army Instructor
The social highlight of the year for the Raider Brigade is the Military Ball, which was held at TST Catering Hall in St. Paul on March 24. We had 235 cadets and guests attend and they enjoyed the semi-formal evening of dining, dancing and socializing. A good time was had by all.
Co-curriculars continue to meet in the morning to increase participation among our busy students.
Our Armed Precision Drill team is tossing its rifles higher and higher as it prepares for the Twilight Parade on May 10. Regulation Drill Team Captain Allison Rudolph led the Regulation Drill team to a very strong showing in the Upper Midwest JROTC Challenge in February, and her goal is get the team to a national championship next year.
The Rifle Team continues to be very busy. Our final postal match was a grand success. We competed nationally in the American Legion Post 86, hosted out of North Carolina. Our team finished third overall. This match concluded our season and it was a mighty success.
The Honor Guard has been extremely busy this year. We have assisted families at wakes and funerals, performed multiple school services at open houses and concerts, and the Honor Guard helped at the A Taste of CDH held on April 1.
The Orienteering Team began its season on April 15. There will be three meets this year with the next two occurring April 29 and May 15. Come join us out there!
Our Color Guard helped the Holy Spirit Brownie Troop learn about the U.S. flag and how to honor it.
The Flight Club toured the MSP International Airport and watched ground operations. We will head to the Air National Guard Museum to see classic jets in late April.
The following students have earned the Varsity Letter in the following JROTC Co-Curricular Teams.
Congratulations to our Junior Officers-
Shane Benick
Michael Burke
Gigi Centeno
Jackie Carroll
Kevin Downes
Jack Engstrom
Alexis Feist
Teddy Gray
Dan Guild
Patrick Hahn
Drew Kampmeier
Andrew Keis
Tom Knops
John Koop
Drew Ostermann
Leland Pornschloegl
Gia Postiglione
Joe Seifert
Bryce Vevey
By passing the first round of JO test, these Cadets have shown they have the knowledge necessary to lead other Cadets and earned the rank of Cadet Second Lieutenant. We conducted round two of the test at the beginning of April. Cadets will also be able to take the test during the summer. Those who earn JO are eligible to compete for Diamond Officers next fall.
We continue to receive results of the process for ROTC scholarships and Academy appointments. We will recognize those winners at the Twilight Parade and a homeroom assembly in May.
THEATER
by Katie Kreitzer, Theater Director
Rehearsals are now in full swing for the spring musical, In the Heights. The story is set in New York City, taking place over three days during the hottest time of the year in the Hispanic community of Manhattan’s Washington Heights. A bodega owner, Usnavi, is in love with Vanessa, who works at the neighboring hair salon.
With music and lyrics created by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the show entertains and inspires with its young energy, Latin rhymes, and dances with hip-hop lyrics. It won the Tony Award for Best Musical of 2008.
In the Heights honors the Hispanic culture, and gives us the challenge and the opportunity to be sensitive about producing a play that is not a part of our dominant culture. We have spent Tuesdays learning Spanish (correct pronunciation of lines and interpretations from the show) and Thursdays talking about Authenticity. We are also looking at the issue of Gentrification which happens in the show. The House Managers are building a display comparing lines from the show to gentrification in the Twin Cites.
Performances will be April 21, 22, 28 and 29 at 7:00 p.m., and April 23 and 30 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets for this must-see show can be purchased online or at the door.