| White Bear Lake Area High School | |
|---|---|
| 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 | 2358 |
| Color(s) | Orange and Black and white |
| Mascot | Bear |
| Rival | Hill-Murray School |
| Website | North Campus South Campus Alternative Learning Center Insight Program |
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 and one of two in the entire country with grades 9-10 and 11-12 in different buildings.
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North Campus, the previous White Bear High School, is located in the north side of White Bear Lake, just NW of the downtown and was built in 1964. The school houses students grades 9-10. The campus features some unique architectural design elements, including circular hallways.
What is now known as South Campus was built in 1972 and opened in the Fall of '73 as White Bear Mariner High School. 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 has since been expanded multiple times. In early 90's ten classrooms were added in the southeast corner of the building. A weight room and fitness center was added in 2005. The Mariner Theater stage was renovated in 2010, converting the space from a lecture hall/small stage theater to an acoustic venue worthy of housing White Bear's award winning vocal and instrumental programs.
The South Campus houses a self-contained secondary special education school, operated and owned by Intermediate District 916 North East Metro School District, as well as special education classrooms. This facility was renovated in 2009.
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]
White Bear High School won the Minnesota State Class AA Football Championship in 1976. Coached by Fred Konrath, 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. As the only undefeated large school class (AA) football team in Minnesota, the 1976 Bears received a ranking of No. 17th in the Nation (http://www.hsfdatabase.com/nsns1976.htm). White Bear Lake has developed and maintained a strong tradition of football from its youth leagues through its High School.
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.
In 2009, the Girls' Basketball team fought their way to the state tournament but lost in the first round, in the 2009-2010 season the bears went undefeated 18-0 in the conference and finished 2nd in the state. So far in the 2010-2011 season the bears have clinched the number one spot in the conference again.
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 2011 tournament stood at 0-18. WBLAHS did take the consolation championship in 1990, 1994, 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. Some consider it amongst the most heated high school rivalries in the nation. In 2011, Hill-Murray was ranked first in the state and the nation entering the section tournament. In a game that will be remembered as one of the greatest in the rivalry, White Bear defeated Hill-Murray 4-3 in front of a capacity crowd to earn it's first state tournament appearance since 2005.
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.
The White Bear Lake Archery team has won the state tournament for Minnesota in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010. They are considered one of the best high school teams in the country.
The 1975 Mariner Boys Track & Field team won the State Track & Field Meet held at St. Cloud Apollo High School. The 1974 White Bear Lake Cross Country team led by coach Joe Tamillo finished second in the state meet. In 1972 distance runner Dennis Fee broke the two mile run record in Minnesota and thrilled long time outstanding track and field coach Ron Sass with his performances. Sass was the track coach of the year in Minnesota and won at least one state meet as coach of the Bears.
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.
The White Bear Lake 4x200 meter relay has also been a threat in the past. They placed in the State Meet in 2008 (6th), 2009 (1st), and 2010(1st). In 2010 the also set a new all time state record with a time of 1:27.63.
Other notable athletes include: Maggie Meyer (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 (née Hopkins, NCAA Div II Champion, NCAA Player of the Year and Hall of Fame, Fast Pitch Softball, Augustana College), Gary Rinehart, All-State and NAIA All-American catcher, John Schlecht(Former Minnesota Gopher Great, Former NFL Player with Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers), Jessica Patricelli (National Broomball League (NBL)). Jane Hammerstrom (1978 Sr High School Indoor State Mile Champion - Gold Country Classic: UW Lacrosse, North Carolina Central, Mankato State University, 3000m 10:20) Matt Bennek, 2005 State Discuss Champion(158'9"), Ryan Konrath (University of North Dakota football team 2005 - 2009. 2008; Dale Greenless Memorial Award winner. 2009; Most Valuable Receiver, Bill Ordway Award, Ira Frendberg Award), Matt Stang (2005-2009 Clarinet player)
White Bear Lake has a state-renown theater program. The program involves White Bear Lake High School students of all grades in musicals and plays. From their award-winning shows, their talent is considered one of the best in the state. In recent years, White Bear Lake has featured such musicals as Grease, Oklahoma!, Beauty and the Beast, Urinetown, West Side Story, and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. They also have captivated audiences with plays such as Much Ado About Nothing, 12 Angry Jurors, and Treasure Island.