White Bear Lake Area High School

White Bear Lake Area High School
File:WhiteBearHighSchoolLogo.gif
Location
White Bear Lake , Minnesota USA
Information
Type	Public
Motto	Strive for Excellence
Established	1983
Principal	Don Bosch (North Campus) Tim Wald (South Campus) Mollie Wise (South Campus 916 Area)
Enrollment	2900+
Color(s)	Orange and Black
Mascot	Bear
Rival	Hill-Murray School
Website	North Campus South Campus Alternative Learning Center Insight Program White Bear Lake District (624) Website Northeast Metro Intermediate District (916) Website

White Bear Lake Area High School, abbreviated WBLAHS, is a high school in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. The school is known for their class of 2012 and how truely amazing they are. The school was formed by merging White Bear High School and White Bear Lake Mariner High in the 1983-84 school year, and currently consists of two campuses and an alternative learning center. North Campus houses grades nine and ten, while South Campus serves grades eleven and twelve and also contains a special education section separate from the high school. WBLAHS is the only school in the state of Minnesota with grades 9-10 and 11-12 in different buildings.

North Campus

North Campus, the previous White Bear Lake High, is located in north White Bear Lake. The school houses students grades 9-10. North is unique because it is made completely of circles; the 100's, 200's, 300's, 400's, 500's, and 600's (the art hallway). In 2009, Don Bosch became principal of North as Jack Solem retired.

South Campus

What is now known as South Campus was built in 1972 as White Bear Lake Mariner High. In contrast to North Campus, South's floor plan was originally open, consisting of only minimal walls between classrooms. In 1983, upon merging with White Bear High School, the building was remodeled to hold grades eleven and twelve, and a more traditional design was achieved by adding interior walls throughout.

The building was expanded in 1994 to add eight more classrooms and a large group space in the 200s wing. In 2005, the locker room and athletic facilities were remodeled and expanded to provide additional space for all athletes.

Within the 700s wing of South Campus is a self-contained primary special education school, operated and owned by Intermediate District 916 North East Metro School District, a regional body consisting of the White Bear Lake Area Schools and other key local school districts. The White Bear Lake Area High School portion of the building also features special education classrooms.

A Family and Consumer Science Course, The Exceptional Child, is offered in the third quarter of every school year allowing White Bear High School students to gain experiences working with special education students in the 700 wing.

Alternative Learning Center

Housed in the former Golfview Elementary, a few blocks away from South Campus, is White Bear Lake's alternative secondary program. This school houses secondary students grades 10 - 12 who are unable to participate in a traditional high school environment, including those who are not achieving to their potential, are parents, or have a day job. The building also contains the Insight program, a curriculum designed for students recovering from drug abuse and addictions.

Athletics

Football

White Bear High School won the Minnesota State Class AA Football Championship in 1976. The team posted a 12-0 record and finished the season with a 14-13 overtime win over Cloquet. The team held opponents to an average of less than one touchdown per game and ended the year as the only undefeated large school football team in Minnesota. This years 2009 football team is lead by seniors Justin Hauswirth, Brady Combs, Jack Nasvik, Spencer Cummings, and juniors Matt Glasgow, Donny Longendyke and Kris Orloske.

Basketball

The varsity basketball team won Minnesota state titles in 1984 and 1985, posting identical 26-0 records in both seasons, and beating Minneapolis North High School in both finals. Math teacher and varsity basketball coach Jim Galvin, who had a bald spot on the top of his head, much like a medieval friar, approved the distribution of paper "bald spots" for WBL faithful who donned them as part of their fan gear. Coach Galvin painted "Go Bears" inside his bald spot to show his school spirit during the tournaments. The fifty-two game win streak came to an end in the first game of the 1986 season with a loss to conference rival Woodbury High School.

Hockey

A perennial powerhouse in hockey, WBLAHS has never won a first-round game in the State High School Hockey Tournament either as WBL HS or its current iteration, a streak that as of a loss in the first round of the 2005 tournament stood at 0-17. WBLAHS did take the consolation championship in 2003 and 2005. Mariner HS did advance to the 1982 Minnesota State Hockey Championship game where they were beaten by Edina High School, 6-0. White Bear Lake and Hill Murray, a local private school, have a long-standing rivalry in hockey, which is made even more competitive by the fact that they share their playing space, Aldrich Arena. Unfortunately for all WBL fans, Hill-Murray has been on a run of winning seasons for the last few years. Hopefull, the team will come out with a win from Hill Murray in the near future.

Golf

The Boys Golf team has also won the 1971, 2000 and 2004 State Championship with Grant Lissick (2000) and Andy Paulson (2004) winning the individual titles. The 2004 State Championship came with the distinction that all of the players hailed from public (rather than private) courses.

Track and Cross Country

Lyle Helke was a standout coach in White Bear Mariner and White Bear Lake Area High School for twenty year from 1975-2006.

The Mariner Girls Cross Country Team won the State Cross Country Meet in 1977. (WB Press 11/4/77)

The White Bear Mariner Cross Country Girls won Conference and Regions in 1977 for cross country. (WB Press 10/16/77)

The White Bear Mariner Girls won Conference in 1978 for Track. (WB Press 5/78)

Angie King of White Bear Mariner was 10th in the State Cross Country Meet in 1976 under Lyle Helke. She was a sophomore at the time. (WB Press 11/76)

Kitty Ho was the top runner for Mariner from 1976-77 and was 5th in the State High School Track Meet, 1977. Her best mile was 5:13.

Jane Hammerstrom was 5th in the State Two Mile with 11:24 at the State H.S. Track Finals and set a school record. (WB Press 6/3/78)

Kelly Moss was 2nd in the 800 yards in 1978 with a time of 2:16 at the State High School Track Meet and set a school record. (WB Press 6/2/78)

Mike Gebeke of White Bear Mariner Boys Track Team won the State Track Mile in 4:16 in 1978. Don Glover was his coach.

This information can be verified in White Bear Press from Fall of 1977 to Summer of 1978 and WBL High School Records.

Notable athletes

Other notable athletes include: Madeline Whelan (2012 Olympic hopeful in swimming), Joe Regnier (NDSU basketball hall of fame), Larry Ogden (Texas Rangers minor league), Jamie Ogden (Minnesota Twins minor league), Bill Butters (University of Minnesota and NHL), Brian Bonin (1996 Hobey Baker Award winner and 1992 Minnesota Mr.Hockey award winner), Tony Benshoof (Olympic luge) Matt Henderson (University of North Dakota and NHL hockey), Brian Lemay (USA Rugby), Ryan Carter (NHL 2007 Stanley Cup Winner), Zach Peterson (Kansas City Royals), Angie Neihart (nee Hopkins, NCAA Div II Champion, NCAA Player of the Year and Hall of Fame, Fast Pitch Softball, Augustana College), John Schlecht(Former Minnesota Gopher Great, Former NFL Player with Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers), Jessica Patricelli (National Broomball League (NBL)). Kitty Ho, long distance running (Drake), Jane Hammerstrom (1978 Sr High School Indoor State Mile Champion - Gold Country Classic: UW Lacrosse, North Carolina Central, Mankato State University, 3000m 10:20)

Other Activities

• As of 2006, White Bear Lake has the third ranked classic debate team in Minnesota.
• White Bear's 2007 mock trial team finished second in the state, going 8-0 through regional and state tournament competition but losing their first match in the state championship round.
• The White Bear Lake Mock Trial team took second in state in 2008.
• The White Bear Lake boys Cross Country team finally won their first conference championship on October 10, 2008. The girls team came in second.
• Taco Salad is served on Thursday. Every Thursday.
• Big Daddy's Pizza is served on Friday. Every Friday.