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White Bear Lake Area High School
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White Bear Lake Area High School, abbreviated WBLAHS, is a high school in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. 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 2008, Jack Solem became principal of North as Bill Soltys travelled to South to take an Associate Principal position.
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. [1]
The building was expanded in 1992 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, allowing them to interact with the needy students.
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. [2]
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.
In recent years, the Bears have been one of the dominant teams in the Suburban East Conference.citation needed Since joining the conference in 2001, perennial state powerhouse Cretin-Derham Hall High School has dominated the conference. White Bear is the only team in the conference that has defeated CDH since the Raiders joined the conference (2005).
Current Head Coach Bob Jackson is the winningest coach in White Bear Lake history.citation needed His teams are known for their physical play, tenacious defense, and powerful running offense.
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.citation needed 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, 6-0. White Bear Lake and Hill Murray, a local private school, have a long-standing rivalry in hockey, which is made worse by the fact that they share their playing space, Aldrich Arena.
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.citation needed The 2004 State Championship came with the distinction that all of the players hailed from public (rather than private) courses.
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), 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), Justin Charpenter Olympic Weightlifter 97, 2000, and 2001 Minnesota State Champion, Qualified and competed in the 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000 American Open Championships, Qualified and competed in 1999 and 2000 National championships (2000 National Championships were a U.S Olympic Team Qualifying meet for Sydney, Australia), Qualified and competed in 2002 Colligiate Championships in 2002. While in the U.S. Marines From 1993 - 2001 Justin Charpenter was on the All Marine Weightlifting Team.
Other Activities
- White Bear Senior High School won the state debate championship in 1977 and 1978.
- As of 2006, White Bear Lake has the third ranked classic debate team in Minnesota.citation needed
- 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 won their first conference championship on October 10, 2008. The girls team came in second.
References
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