The Talon Mr. Kish had a close connection to Father Ed Hustedde and says that Father Ed took him under his wing and raised him. He feels this is why he has such a strong connection to Gibault. He treasures that relationship. Mr. Kish is making a positive impact on Gibault by reaching out to the supporters in the area. He is doing this by writing weekly letters about Gibault and our activities. People have been glad to receive these printed letters and he says it is good to keep people updated. He also says that he is working with certain teachers on new classes, as well as growing our band and theatre programs. Paden Schultz was truly one of a kind. With confidence like no other, he was the most outgoing person I have ever met. The people in our friend group can be very shy at first, so it was refreshing to have an excited upperclassman strike up conversations with us the moment we stepped into the room. His self-assuredness and sassy energy were contagious, inspiring me and many others to work on our own selfesteem. No matter the day, nothing could take the smile off his face. Paden loved to put smiles on everyone else’s faces as well, constantly giving people little gifts and poking fun at us. It was rare that he would ever show up to one of our hangouts without bringing food or a gift for the host. He was absolutely the most unique, friendly, and perseverant person I could have had the honor to call one of my best friends. I love you and miss you so much, Paden. Thank you for sharing your authentic self with us and showing me that I can be appreciated as my own authentic self. GCHS | BE THE LIGHT | PAGE 1 Though he has just started at Gibault as the Interim Principal, Mr. Kish's connections run deep. He was principal at Immaculate Conception School for 46 years and retired for one year before coming to Gibault. He is passionate about the school and the kids here. He strives to make positive change and is excited about new opportunities for Gibault. Mr. Kish says, “School is a system, and even from a young age, I loved the process. Sometimes I didn’t always love the books or schoolwork, but I saw the good. I loved school because it was an escape from all my siblings. In middle school I had a teacher that was very passionate about her job. She was very energetic and pushed us to be better. Many people who had this teacher went on to become teachers because of her great example.” He then goes on to explain why he has stayed in education for so long. He says that education is not like a job to him. He loves having a great impact on others and changing their lives through education. The goal for Mr. Kish is to get kids to engage in their education and ask questions. He has always loved kids and working with them. Mr. Kish highlights how small schools like Gibault give kids more opportunities. “Gibault is unique because we honor our students with trust. I think that is one thing that makes us different. We raise good Christians and religion is a big part of who we are. We strive to achieve academic excellence and I love that students step up and take place in the math team, the debate team, and scholar bowl. We have some very smart kids, and I am proud of what they have achieved and what they will achieve.” FOLLOW TO GET THE TALON SENT TO YOUR INBOX Mr. Kish values his relationship with God in his day-to-day life. “God has always been a big part of my life. As a little kid, I loved the altar and being around Jesus in that way. I loved serving, and went on to seminary because I always loved serving and helping others. I always say that God always speaks to us right where we are, and I take time to look at that during the day. How is God talking to me in my life? What can I learn from today’s readings?” He says that, coming from being a principal many years at Immaculate Conception Grade School, high school is different for him. He says in high school your whole life is in front of you. The job that he has to do is lead people along the right path. Growing up in high school is finding yourself. He says he loves to be part of the journey with the students. He is very proud of our school. "Gibault is unique because we honor our students with trust. I think that is one thing that makes us different." GRASPING GIBAULT'S NEWS / SPRING 2023 EDITION #1 Continuing the Legacy Freshman, Sophie Winkeler Senior, Lauren Eichholz
The Talon What started as a vision for collaboration and a technological renewal at Gibault Catholic High School, has now become an upcoming reality for students and faculty members. The Gibault STEM Innovation and Commons Area was first introduced as an idea by former principal Mr. Kidd with assistance from the current director of enrollment and student experience, Mrs. Day. Mrs. Biske, the director of development, has currently taken over renovation planning and directing. Gibault is known as a STEM integrated school, so the project encourages that same STEM aspect in classes, but rather for the whole school. The project offers endless possibilities with Gibault’s current advancement of technology. Rather than being a grand showpiece, the Commons Area is also designed to be completely functional and useful. Publisher: David Schauer Editorial Director: David Schauer Digital Content Coordinator: David Schauer 501 Columbia Ave. Waterloo, IL 62298 618-939-3883 Email: [email protected] Copyright 2023, Gibault Catholic High School GCHS | BE THE LIGHT | PAGE 2 Continued on page 3... New and Current Renovations in the Commons Area Re-Established in 2023 from The Revolution and The New Revolution www.gibaulthawks.com FOLLOW TO GET THE TALON SENT TO YOUR INBOX The cooperative learning lab at Gibault was always intended to be a space where students would be able to collaborate on group projects, working together in preparation for college or the work force. This new Commons Area is a substantial upgrade from the CLL, further encouraging partnership with significant technological advancements. What’s so special about the new area is that each room has its own intended purposes. According to Mrs. Biske, the Commons Area was never intended to be utilized by a single class, but rather multiple classes can use whatever space they want. Every department will be able to find a use for the space. This new Commons Area is a substantial upgrade from the CLL, further encouraging partnership with significant technological advancements. GRASPING GIBAULT'S NEWS / SPRING 2023 EDITION #1 Gibault’s first campaign successfully earned $200,000 enabling the replacement of the walls, while adding paint, and technology upgrades. Currently, Gibault is planning a second campaign in order to cover the finishing touches like furniture, whiteboards, and similar daily elements. These will require funding and donations. The second campaign will have more of a set plan for space utilizations. Currently, there a multiple designated rooms in the Commons Area set up and ready to be utilized, while some are still in the process of getting finishing touches. Sophomore, Grace Lowe The Talon Newspaper
The Talon A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham: This is an incredible debut thriller about a girl named Chloe who finds evidence that is used to convict her father of the murder of six missing teenage girls. Twenty years later, as teenage girls go missing in a similar way, Chloe fears there is a copy-cat killer and is determined to get answers. What Made Maddy Run: The Secret Struggles and Tragic Death of an AllAmerican Teen by Kate Fagan: Written by an ESPN commentator and journalist, this sports biography focuses on mental health and the stress our young people undergo, specifically in athletics. I believe that while this is a very difficult read, it is an important topic for our students and parents alike. Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988 The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah: Just because this is one of my all-time favorites! Honestly, Kristin Hannah never disappoints if you're looking for a heart-wrenching, yet extremely welldeveloped story (The Four Winds is also great for lovers of historical fiction). GCHS | BE THE LIGHT | PAGE 3 ...Commons English Department Recommends... with Mrs. Lansing FOLLOW TO GET THE TALON SENT TO YOUR INBOX GRASPING GIBAULT'S NEWS / SPRING 2023 EDITION #1 The project itself has five different rooms, each with different intentions of use. The different rooms are the following: Collaborative Learning Space The CLS will include a digital sharing bay where there will be two flat screen monitors. Students and faculty will be able to share screens from laptops, perfect for comparison analysis and even clubs like The Debate Team. The CLS will also include sitting areas like booths for group work which will offer a more private setting, and single, comfortable chairs for students wishing to work independently. Video Production Studio Similar to the CLS, the VPS will target student productivity and collaboration. The space is already equipped with a green screen, video cameras, ring lights, and a digital movie camera. All technology that Gibault already had, but never had space for. Clubs will be able to film videos with the room, and students interested in marketing, reporting, and film will get to put together footage. Half the room is currently being used by Gibault’s new E-Sports Team. Maker Lab Gibault currently has everything needed for the maker lab, which will include a 3-D printer and a CNC machine, which is a metal engraving machine. Technology-Integrated Classroom While all classrooms have technology in them, the T-IC will give students an interactive experience with what they are currently learning. Guests can visit virtually and lecture in that space. Class presentations could also be held in that space adding a more professional setting for students preparing for their futures. Robotics Lab Lastly, the glass room, which is intended to be a robotics lab, is still in mid-process. It is a slow process because of expenses. However, in the meantime, the space can be used as a potential coding area. All in all, the space offers limitless possibilities with opportunities outside the regular classroom. Technology is changing, we need to change with it. Currently, there just needs furnisher to tie it all together. Gibault is still open to new ideas that students have on how to utilize the space. Hopefully, if the second campaign goes well the space will be officially finished and ready by the Fall of 2023.
News Ms. Hayden is a prime example of what a teacher should be. Her willingness to help last minute and her relationship with students makes students adore her. Mrs. Hayden is always able to brighten someone’s day. She should be honored more for how hardworking she is around Gibault. She is often unrecognized due to her role as a filler for others but being available for other teachers when they can’t be present is a big deal. She needs to have the most flexibility all while making time for students in order to have a relationship with them. She is extremely dedicated to the school’s wellbeing. She always makes us laugh and keeps us focused in class. You can tell she does her job well when she knows the subject in that class. Sometimes it seems like she knows everything. GCHS | BE THE LIGHT | PAGE 4 Staff of the Month: Susan Hayden FOLLOW TO GET THE TALON SENT TO YOUR INBOX “We are all called to be disciples but having this opportunity to talk about the most glorious thing in our lives, which is a faith that brings light to everything else that we do.” This sharing of the faith is also why Mrs. Miskell is a big fan of Gibault High School. “My favorite part about Gibault is the faith component.” She believes that learning about our faith at Gibault blesses everything that we do. She also mentioned that the faithcentered education is the reason why she sent her children to Gibault. "We are grateful for the excellent education they have gotten all these years, and the family and community environment at Gibault.” Michelle Miskell is currently the theology director for freshman, sophomore, and senior classes at Gibault Catholic High School. She first started teaching freshman theology in the fall of 2020 and began teaching sophomore and senior classes in 2023. She admits that the additional classes were an adjustment but can see God working through it all. “I have to rely on Him a lot, because in everything that I do, I couldn’t do it if God wasn’t guiding.” Mrs. Miskell is very involved in the Gibault community. Many of her children have attended GCHS. She also leads the Gibault Campus Ministry Club. As an active member of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo, she assists with the adult faith formation program, the Women’s ACTS Retreats, and coordinates the parish email prayer chain. Mrs. Miskell has also been attending theology classes for the past five years with her husband, David Miskell, who is in diaconate formation. He will be ordained as a deacon in the Diocese of Belleville in June of 2023. Growing up in a Catholic family, Mrs. Miskell has chosen to remain Catholic because she has seen God working in her life. “In times of my life that I’ve questioned, God always provided a way to know and understand him.” In seeing God work in her life, she wants to share that message with her students at Gibault. "We are grateful for the excellent education they have gotten all these years, and the family and community environment at Gibault.” GRASPING GIBAULT'S NEWS / SPRING 2023 EDITION #1 From Students: Freshman, Claire Kessler God's Blessings of a Wonderful Theology Teacher
Features GCHS | BE THE LIGHT | PAGE 5 First and foremost... www FOLLOW TO GET THE TALON SENT TO YOUR INBOX .reallygreatsite.com The Broken Heart of America by Walter Johnson – This is an eye-opening, often shocking history of racism and racial violence in the St. Louis area. I learned so much from this book. It will help you understand how we got to where we are today in terms of policy, sociology, laws, and attitudes surrounding race in the United States via the blueprint created by St. Louis. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte – This classic novel is delightfully weird. The characters are horrible to each other but in a way that resonates as incredibly authentic to human nature. I read it every year. Dream Work by Mary Oliver – I would recommend any of Mary Oliver’s poetry collections, but Dream Work has particularly beautiful poems. This collection is personal, expressive, relational, selfreflective, and joyful in the face of challenges. Oliver’s poetry is both accessible enough for a novice and rich enough for a poetry connoisseur. We asked Hurst how scholar bowl benefits/what does it provide for the students at Gibault, and she answered saying that it “gives the students confidence, they come out of their comfort zones more, and they get to work together as a team.” Hurst said that most of the time students do not think that they are “smart enough” for the team, but they soon come to see that it is not so bad, and the students get a lot out of it. The questions at the meets are designed for a certain age level. For example, freshmen will most likely be tested with biology questions, and upperclassmen, like juniors and seniors, will be questioned with more advanced subjects including different mathematics and sciences. All levels are tested with similar subjects just at a different level. All the subjects are evenly distributed into math, science, social studies, fine arts, and more. This year the team has been pretty successful. They are eight and five. Because of absences, specifically absences of the upperclassmen, the meets get harder to win since there are not as many people there. She has not always been the head coach of the scholar bowl team. At first, she just helped out the team. Her daughter was on the scholar bowl team, which is why she started helping in the first place. The coach before recruited her and then later retired. When she retired, Hurst stepped up since she was already helping out. Hurts said she loves her position as the coach. She gets to see how much all the players have grown and how smart they are in general. She also said that it is impressive how sometimes she does not know an answer to a question, but the students do. It makes her happy how smart they really are. Although she loves her position, she does not plan on staying much longer but has enjoyed the time spent with these students and all the memories made with the team. GRASPING GIBAULT'S NEWS / SPRING 2023 EDITION #1 English Department Recommends... with Mrs. Kovarik Mrs. Hurst’s scholar bowl team at Gibault Catholic high school is currently at twelve students total. She has been the coach of this team for officially eighteen years but twenty-two years unofficially. Buzzing to Victory Sophmore, Claire Higgerson
Features The Sound Squad is a group of students who set up the sound for all GCHS gatherings, weather that is Mass, sports, or special events. Junior, Brock Murphy gave a little insight on the most challenging responsibilities of being in the sound squad are. “Managing new interns. The barrier for entry is pretty high.” Though there are some challenges when asked about the rewarding qualities of being a part of the sound squad Brock stated “I can get out of classes sometimes.” He also went on to express that there is a great sense of community in the sound squad and it opens up opportunities to meet new people. According to Brock there is a very casual and service-based environment. The sound squad can use more members as there are only a few members. Two of them, Nate Nevois, and Jacob Durrer, are Seniors right now, which means there will only be one key member, Murphy, next year if no one else joins. The most wanted recruits are Sophomores and Freshmen. If you wish to join just contact one of the active members and they will be excited to welcome you. GCHS | BE THE LIGHT | PAGE 6 Brennan Wills a Gibault Catholic High School Alumni of the class of 2022, part of the Gibault Jazz, Pep, and Concert Band for all four years, an actor for all four years, and part of many more clubs and activities for his four years at Gibault Catholic High School. Brennan presently attends Diederich College of Communication at Marquette University in Milwaukee Wisconsin majoring in Digital Media and minoring in History with consideration of possibly minoring in journalism. It is Marquette University in which Brennan is a part of many clubs such as Student Government, Filmmakers Association, Mock Trial, Band (which includes the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and the Pep Band), Philosophy Club, Written & Spoken (Poetry Club), Marquette TV and Radio, and Liturgical Ministry. From talking with Brennan, his time spent at Gibault Catholic prepared him for Marquette University as the double credit he was able to get through the dual enrollment program was able to teach him the expectations of collage deadlines. During an interview with Brennan he can be quoted on saying that his time spent at Gibault “Helped me better at mapping a schedule” with the modular schedule system. Some memories that Brennan has of Gibault that he looks fondly back on are the theater days and his old friends from Gibault. After Brennan graduates collage, he is presently not too sure what he is going to do but he is thinking of going into broadcast journalism. FOLLOW TO GET THE TALON SENT TO YOUR INBOX GRASPING GIBAULT'S NEWS / SPRING 2023 EDITION #1 Where are they now? Senior, Stephen-Sara Johns catches up with Alumni, Brennan Wills Behind the Assembly Junior, Blake Powers
Features GCHS | BE THE LIGHT | PAGE 7 First and foremost... www FOLLOW TO GET THE TALON SENT TO YOUR INBOX .reallygreatsite.com Mrs. Hess is the marketing teacher at Gibault Catholic High School. She has been part of the staff at Gibault for four years. Originally Mrs. Hess was hired as the permanent sub in 2019, but then she became the director of marketing. Most recently she has taken over teaching marketing. She said, “I was firstly hired as the permanent sub, but teaching marketing combines my love for Gibault and my college degree.” Mrs. Hess says that her favorite part about Gibault is that it feels like home. Her love for this school started when she was a Gibault student herself. Mrs. Hess is a 2002 Gibault graduate. She said that Gibault is the right place for her, but when she was a student her, if someone told her that she was going to end up working at Gibault she never would have believed them. She enjoys teaching marketing because of how it makes her feel at home. Her favorite subject to teach in marketing class is related to sports. This is because most of her students are athletes, and she feels that they are more interested in that topic. "Marketing offers so many career paths and opportunities. It is a combination of so many things – graphic design, advertising, promotion, writing, research – that every student will find an area of this class that they will do well in." GRASPING GIBAULT'S NEWS / SPRING 2023 EDITION #1 English Department Recommends... with Mr. Schauer The Map of Time by Felix J. Palma: Time-bending steampunk, historical fiction, and mystery blend together into a twisting meta-fiction where the reader gets involved. Bonus for being part one in a three-part series. A wild ride! Leonardo Da Vinci by Walter Isaacson: Arguably the best biographer to date encapsulates the life and adventures of perhaps the greatest mind in academia. Art, science, math, history, and literature intertwine mirroring Leonardo's brilliance, all from a proven storyteller. Swamplandia! by Karen Russell: Authentic contemporary Southern Gothic writing that pulls readers into a narrative that blurs what's real and what isn't. Creepy, eerie, strange, and a little heartbreaking as we follow a young girl dealing with family struggles and finding compassion through the troubled American South. Also, alligators make an appearance... Freshman, Hope Chambers Marketing Her Way to the Classroom Since she has only been the marketing teacher this school year, she didn’t quite have enough time to decorate her classroom. “If I continue to teach marketing next year, I would like to make my room more of my own.” She says. As a Gibault graduate, Mrs. Hess benefits this school with her prior knowledge of knowing what it’s like to be a student at Gibault. This also helps her as the director of marketing because she can promote Gibault to all the schools that feed into Gibault. Overall, Mrs. Hess continues to benefit this school as an excellent teacher and staff member. She is always working hard, and she continues to strive to bring the Gibault community together.
The Arts GCHS | BE THE LIGHT | PAGE 8 When asked if she likes her job, Mrs. LeSaulnier responded “Yeah, I love it! I’ve been an art teacher before.” Her passion stems from her undergraduate degree in art. Although she likes her job, it was a little hard to take over the position from someone who had been in Gibault’s art program for so long. She said, “it was a little awkward, but Bev’s encouragement to become the art teacher helped.” Mrs. LeSaulnier and Bev maintained a good relationship. Bev was Mrs. Lesaulnier’s art teacher in high school, and she was proud of Mrs. LeSaulnier for taking over the art program. Mrs. LeSaulnier has a lot of future plans for the art program. She said, “I’d like to introduce different, more involved ceramic projects,” building further into the medium she enjoys. She is working on little changes to this program, hopefully bringing more guys into in the art program. In fact, she has already assigned new projects. For example, she said, “in Drawing 2, we have already worked on a creative playing card project.” Her Drawing 2 and advanced classes will build further when she introduces new mediums. Finally, she’d think about having an art club. Mrs. LeSaulnier said, “there has been one in the past, but it all depends on students’ interest.” Art Department Gets a Makeover FOLLOW TO GET THE TALON SENT TO YOUR INBOX The art room is experiencing a little bit of change just as the curriculum is. New murals are being painted on the wall. Mrs. LeSaulnier said, “I would like to recognize female and artists of color with the murals.” Senior Maria Biske is replacing the biggest mural. She is painting a piece by Sonia Delaunay, a French painter from the 1920s who was popular for her art style, orphism. The other mural currently being painted is a painting of portraits by Margaret Garcia, a Mexican painter born in 1951 who started painting portraits at ten years old. Juniors Kate Kreps and Brie Baldrige are painting this mural. "I would like to recognize female and artists of color with murals" GRASPING GIBAULT'S NEWS / SPRING 2023 EDITION #1 Freshman, Gabby Vause
The Arts GCHS | BE THE LIGHT | PAGE 9 Two members of the Gibault faculty embarked on an experience neither the staff members or students will forget. Gibault’s chemistry and math teacher, Mr. Martel and Mr. Skaer acted in Gibault’s winter play, The Curious Savage. Both teachers did an outstanding job in their acting, and it remains as one of the most successful Gibault plays to this day. Mr. Martel previously had experience with acting and felt decently comfortable on stage. Mr. Martel’s acting experience goes all the way back to when he was in college. He has done a handful of shows in the past, one of them being Grease. He not only has acted before, but he also has directed two shows. Mr. Martel also has had experience being a paid actor in a MASC safety video. On their other hand, Mr. Skaer had no experience acting prior to the show, however both teachers shared the same amount of enthusiasm when participating and helping out. Gibault has always had an issue with getting males involved in theater, so when the cast list came out for The Curious Savage, there were multiple male roles needing to be filled. Gibault’s theater director, MaryBeth Babcock, had personally asked Mr. Martel to help fill a role in the play, knowing about his prior acting experience and limited staff members with experience in theater. Understanding the struggles of doing a show with limited cast members, Mr. Martel stepped up and did Gibault’s theater department a great favor. From the Classroom to the Stage FOLLOW TO GET THE TALON SENT TO YOUR INBOX Mr. Skaer had also been asked by MaryBeth through email and also in person. Originally, Mr. Skaer first thought MaryBeth was asking for recommendations for boys interested in theater or suggestions, but he was surprised when she outright asked him to be in the play. Knowing about the limited people available, Mr. Skaer also agreed to be in the play. The show itself went extremely smoothly with only minor hiccups, which can be expected with live theater. Both Mr. Skaer and Mr. Martel did an excellent job portraying their characters “Titus” and “Samuel,” comical villains. Mr. Skaer described his favorite part of the experience being able to see Gibault students in their element where the roles were reversed as the Gibault students acting were “experts” while he was more of an outsider. Being able to see students he typically would not see outside of class in their world was eyeopening. Both faculty members agreed they had a great time acting both in and out of their comfort zones. Both Mr. Martel and Mr. Skaer hope that their experience in acting and going on stage will encourage other Gibault’s students to go out of their comfort zone and do the same thing. GRASPING GIBAULT'S NEWS / SPRING 2023 EDITION #1 Sophomore, Grace Lowe Being able to see students he typically would not see outside of class in their world was eyeopening.
Sports Sophomore, Ryan Biffar broke the GCHS record for the 400-meter race with a time of 52.22. With the old school record being a time of 53.33 seconds, Biffar bested the time by over a full second, an impressive feat for a sophomore. Even with his time, he was only able to place fifth in the Mascoutah Military Classic Invitational. With Biffar accelerating in this event at the rate that he is, he will be the school record holder for years to come. “To be honest, I thought I did poorly because I got fifth, but then I looked up at the scoreboard and saw, Ryan Biffar – 52.22 - and became ecstatic.”Ryan didn’t care what place he got, he was competing against himself and the record and when he got it he was so proud of himself. Biffar is doing better and better every meet. In his last meet, he ran in a 4x4 relay and ran it in 51.40 seconds. Although this time doesn’t count towards his personal record or the school record, it still hints at his potential. It is safe to say that Biffar is set on continuing his impressive showing. GCHS | BE THE LIGHT | PAGE 10 Mr. Skaer is currently the cross-country coach at Gibault and has been doing it for three years now. The runners that participated in the fall season of 2022 are Nate Nevois, Charles Mathews, Jacob Durrer, Austin Stern, Jackson Goedeke, Regan Gerteisen, Aja Bernardino, Mariska Lyle, Charlee Lumpkins, and Manager Lauren Eichholz. One of the best performers from the fall season was Nate Nevois who had a strong start to the season but was unable to run for awhile after being hindered by a concussion. Another one was Regan Gerteisen who was having a good year and needing to win one race to go to sectionals but fell off on her last mile and came up a little short. Coach Skaer expects to see improvements next season and is excited to see the progress his runners have made. It could be possible for a state-run next season if current runners put in the work and if incoming freshmen can step up. He has never had a runner go to state in his three years so it would be very exciting for him if one of his runners could do that. Biffar Leaves Tracks Sophomore, Tristan Wilkens FOLLOW TO GET THE TALON SENT TO YOUR INBOX He wants to see his runners committing themselves to the sport and putting in the miles. “Just like anything, you got to practice to get better at it,” said coach Skaer. Coach Skaer encourages people to come out and try cross country because it can be fun, its good cardiovascular exercise, and its good for long term health. It’s different than other sports because not only are you racing against others, you’re racing against yourself to improve your times. There is a lot more support from other competitors that coach Skaer thinks is awesome because runners from other schools are supposed to be “competing” against each other. It’s a lifelong exercise that you can always do that is good for your health. Mr. Skaer would like to see some new faces and people coming out to try at least one practice. It's different than other sports...you're racing against yourself. GRASPING GIBAULT'S NEWS / SPRING 2023 EDITION #1 Cross-Country Upcoming Season Junior, Dustin Swindle
Sports Gibault alumni love to see current students succeed and have fun doing the activities they participated in as students. English teachers Haley Kovarik (‘10) and Julie Lansing (‘10) when shared their thoughts about this past season of girls’ basketball, along with their hopes for the next season. Both Kovarik and Lansing played on the girls’ team when they attended Gibault, but did not express much excitement about their days on the court. “When I played girls basketball at Gibault, we didn’t really care if we won or lost, and it showed,” said Kovarik. The Lady Hawks have since turned over a new leaf. “The team seems to have a lot of comradery and a special teamwork bond that you don’t necessarily see on other squads,” Kovarik explained. Lansing agrees, adding that some of the best successes of this season were “the athleticism of the players, and the effort and heart that was given.” GCHS | BE THE LIGHT | PAGE 11 Plenty of promise surrounded the Gibault Girls Basketball team for the 2022-23 season. Expectations were high for due to several starters returnung for the 2022-23 squad. The team got off to a hot start by winning 11 games in a row. A Dupo tournament Championship was part of this amazing run. This was the first Dupo tournament Championship in years. This winning streak grabbed the attention of the media as Gibault Girls Basketball received a few honorable mentions votes for class A Illinois state rankings. The middle of the season was a roller coaster of wins and losses. The highlight was a 5th place placing at the Candy Cane Classic tournament where class 2A and 3A teams competed. Kaylynn Smalls received one of the outstanding player awards from her performance at the tournament. “It was a cool honor to receive the award. However, I could not have received it without the help of my teammates,” Kaylynn humbly stated. The middle and late part of the season saw a rash of injures occur to key contributors. Senior Emma Schmidt torn her ACL. Emma’s season was lost for the year. “It was tough to lose my Senior year to injury.” Emma said. “I was really looking forward to this year and playing with my teammates.” The injury bug did not stop with Emma. Junior, Bri Baldridge suffered a bad high ankle strain and missed almost a month. Junior, Libby Mech suffered an ankle injury as well. Lady Hawks Show Promise Lady Hawk Alumni Watch on Eagerly Junior, Allison Stark FOLLOW TO GET THE TALON SENT TO YOUR INBOX Three of the five starters were out for key stretches of the season. Also sidelined for the year was Junior, Maya Tycer who suffered a ACL injury during the previous softball season. The season ended on a tough note with an early exit in the regional tournament. Ultimately the injuries and youth replacement inexperience were too much to overcome. The end of the season also marked the end of Coach Juenger’s time as head coach. Coach Mike’s busy schedule and current obligations to SWIC where he still served as the AD were too much to juggle. The girls team will now be on the lookout for their third different coach in three years. Even though the ending of the 2022- 23 season was not the way the girls wanted it to end, the season was still very successful. The girls won nearly 20 wins. That amount of wins has not been accomplished in some time. GRASPING GIBAULT'S NEWS / SPRING 2023 EDITION #1 Junior, Brianna Baldrige Continued on page 12 ...
Sports GCHS | BE THE LIGHT | PAGE 12 This upcoming school year will also be a time of change and renewal for the girls with their new head coach, Dakota Street, who, as Ms. Lansing describes, “is already pretty invested and dedicated to the team.” Street comes with 10 years of coaching experience from a few other Southern Illinois high schools. Mrs. Kovarik hopes “that the new coach can push the team to the next level, find more success, and build a program that people are excited to play for,” and is “really excited to see where their program can go next under new leadership.” She also shared her thoughts on the upcoming basketball season, saying that the type of season they will have is “entirely up to them.” FOLLOW TO GET THE TALON SENT TO YOUR INBOX GRASPING GIBAULT'S NEWS / SPRING 2023 EDITION #1 Haley Kovarik and Julie Lansing are prime examples of the Gibault pride that every hawk carries on, even after graduation. Lansing says that watching the current girls team play makes her proud, and that her former teammates would feel the same. It is rare to find such a lasting impact and pride for a high school, but Gibault never ceases to produce the best alumni Hawk fans. Lady Hawks Alumni Cont'd Ms. Lansing has high hopes for the girls “because they’ll be older, more mature, and more disciplined.” However, she also believes that in order to win and reach their goals, they should keep their composure because “they are really good when they are playing smart.”
Sports GCHS | BE THE LIGHT | PAGE 13 The 2022-2023 Gibault Hawks basketball team will be remembered for decades. None of the team’s success would be possible without coach, Mr. Dennis Rueter. There’s no one else we’d want on that sideline. The boys basketball team had an unsure start to the season but then started turning it up during the holidays. I knew pretty quickly this team was capable of being the best team in 1A,though hit the middle of the season struggling with confidence, awareness, and toughness. We had to refocus. At the beginning of the post-season, we felt very confident, but once we got to the Super Sectional we began to feel nervous because it was new territory. The team tried to keep our mood as usual on the bus, but you could just tell things didn’t feel the same. That changed when we took the court. It was business as usual. Illini Bluffs was a much bigger, formidable opponent, making it hard for us to score. At the end of the day our defense kept us going and our ball handlers gave us the opportunity to take a few shots late and we hit them. Kameron Hanvey’s 3 point shot at the buzzer is the stuff legends are made of, but again wouldn’t have been possible without Kaden or Kanen hitting their shots just minutes before. The ride to Champaign was an amazing experience because you could feel us becoming closer as a group and we’re purely happy just for the opportunity to make this trip as a team FOLLOW TO GET THE TALON SENT TO YOUR INBOX There were a few nerves in the locker room, although not as many as the Super Sectional. As soon as the buzzer sounded for warmups, the Hawks never looked back. When it was time to be serious, I’d never seen the team so focused in my life. All we had to do was play basketball. Saturday’s Championship game displayed what we’d been working for all year which included finding the right shots and making it uncomfortable for the opponent on offense. "All we had to do was play basketball." GRASPING GIBAULT'S NEWS / SPRING 2023 EDITION #1 Legendary Senior, Brian Stark For us seniors, we were sad because we won’t get the chance to play Gibault Hawks basketball under Dennis Rueter again. The rest of the team felt a similar sadness, because the ride home on the bus together would be the last team ride home. The team will be forever thankful to all our supporters and the opportunities we had this year. Your 2022-2023 Gibault Hawks are the only boys in Monroe County history to ever win a basketball state championship.
S P E C I A L S E C T I O N 2 0 2 2 - 2 0 2 3 IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS, FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD. -1 THESSALONIANS 5:18 GIBAULT HAWKS VARSITY BASKETBALL ILLINOIS STATE CHAMPIONS
"Expecting good things to just happen is unhealthy, something truly good can only be earned through hard work" HAWKS SPECIAL SECTION BRIAN STARK 2022 2023 First, I would like to say thank you to the players for sticking with the program all these years even though there were a lot of downs along the way and for finally coming together at the end to bring home first place which I’ve literally been waiting to say for the past 8 years. I would also like to say thank you to coach Trevor and Augustine for being the greatest assistants ever and for always treating me equal to the players. I owe a big Thank You to coach Souchek for trusting me with the stat books for the past 3 years and for being a good friend and someone to talk to on the bench. Gibault will never find an assistant as good as him. Going to Gibault wouldn’t be special to me without Coach Rueter. I’ve cherished the program since I was little, going to games with my grandparents and hearing all the good stories. I quickly fell in love with Gibault basketball and couldn’t wait to be a part of it. I’m so thankful that coach let me be with the team these last 3 years. I’ve watched a lot of basketball at all levels and you can always pick out flaws, but with Coach Rueter on your side, he always has an answer. This gave everyone a sense of protection and strength. The biggest thing I can take away from my time at Gibault is Coach showing us that expecting good things to just happen is unhealthy, something truly good can only be earned through hard work. "I’ve cherished the program since I was little, going to games with my grandparents and hearing all the good stories." STATE CHAMPS
HAWKS SPECIAL SECTION Kaden Augustine 2022 2023 The 2022-2023 Gibault basketball team will be always remembered for our historic state run. Us players have received a ton of praise and most of it ends up going to the players who started and played. Though people don’t realize it, the players who didn’t play during the games, were just as important as those who did play in the games. These players who didn’t start, played hard in practice and made us all better each day. Without these players, we wouldn’t have been as good as we were. Our coaches had a major impact on us too because they prepared us for everything and treated every practice the same, regardless if we were six months away from our first game. All of the fans are major part of the reason why we were able to do what we did. The fans brought so much energy to our games, especially the games in the post-season when it matter most. We all fed off their energy and it gave us energy. Not only did the fans help, but our school, community, and other local businesses supported us throughout our run. We will be forever grateful for everyone who helped us and supported us, without them, we wouldn’t of been able to make history. Lastly, none of this would have been possible without God, thanks to Him we were able to make history. "None of this would have been possible without God, thanks to Him we were able to make history." 10 STATE CHAMPS
HAWKS SPECIAL SECTION KAMERON hANVEY 2022 2023 First, I want to thank God for everything that I was blessed with that allowed me to excel in basketball. I would also like to thank my parents for sending me to Gibault and also supporting me through everything. Lastly, I want to thank my coaches and my teammates for pushing me to be better every practice. 11 "I want to thank God for everything that I was blessed with that allowed me to excel in basketball." STATE CHAMPS
HAWKS SPECIAL SECTION kANEN aUGUSTINE 2022 2023 It was a great moment in my life and something I am very appreciative of. I would like to thank God for blessing me with these opportunities and the ability to have this wonderful experience. I would also like to thank my friends and family. They were at every game supporting and encouraging the team as we went through the year. The coaching staff pushed us all year and helped us get to where we ended up. It was not always fun, especially in the summer, but it was all worth it. 12 Lastly, teammates made the run a great time with many great memories I will never forget. "I would like to thank God for blessing me with these opportunities and the ability to have this wonderful experience." STATE CHAMPS
HAWKS SPECIAL SECTION oWEN MECHLER 2022 2023 Where do I begin? To start this season was something that couldn’t have gone any better and I don’t think anyone could disagree. The moments we had will be ones we will remember forever. This season didn’t come without challenges, yet with the help of family and staff, the team and I were able to overcome them and achieve the goals we set at the start of the year. Whether it was a tough loss or a setback dealing with injuries, the encouragement from fans and loved ones gave me and the team belief to push through and get us to the end goal. I’m proud to have been a part of this team and to have had you all by my side throughout the journey. Thank you again to all involved with this run that will be forever engraved in history, I look forward to continuing to work with you all and achieve even greater things in the future. 14 STATE CHAMPS "This season didn’t come without challenges, yet with the help of family and staff, the team and I were able to overcome them and achieve the goals we set at the start of the year." "I’m proud to have been a part of this team and to have had you all by my side throughout the journey."
HAWKS SPECIAL SECTION tYLER fRIERDICH 2022 2023 I would like to thank my parents, my teammates, and my coaches. My parents have always been there to support me, no matter how bad I play, and that has become a big part for me in playing all sports, not just basketball. It is always helpful to receive support, especially from the people you love the most. My parents always want what is best for me on and off the court, and I cannot thank them enough for that. Next, I would like to thank all my teammates for making me better, but I really want to thank the upperclassmen. In the first half of the season, I really didn’t talk to the juniors and seniors often, but in the second half of the season that began to change. I started to talk with them before and after practice, and it made the game a lot more fun. I was able to talk with everyone on the court and laugh with more people and overall enjoy practice more. Enjoying my time on the court more allowed me to want to practice harder and make the six main players better as much as I could. Finally, I would like to thank my coaches for pushing me in practices and games. My coaches expect a lot out of me, and I love it. I love getting coached up and told how to improve whether that is in practice or in a game. My coaches want nothing but the best for us kids, and that makes for a great team. I cannot say thank you enough to everyone who supports me. 20 "My parents always want what is best for me on and off the court, and I cannot thank them enough for that." "My coaches expect a lot out of me, and I love it." STATE CHAMPS
HAWKS SPECIAL SECTION hUDSON bLANK 2022 2023 First, I want to thank God for giving me my athletic ability to compete and play sports. Secondly, I would like to thank my family for sending me to Gibault and giving me the opportunity for this experience. I would also like to thank my coaches and teammates for pushing me everyday in practice to get better. Finally, I would like to thank everyone that supported us on this long journey and for a great basketball season. 22 "I would like to thank my family for sending me to Gibault and giving me the opportunity for this experience." STATE CHAMPS
HAWKS SPECIAL SECTION rYAN bIFFAR 2022 2023 I would like to take this time to thank my coaches, family, and friends. I would like to thank my coaches for always pushing me to become a better player and a better person in general. They taught me that in order to become a better player, it doesn’t start when the season begins. It starts now. I would also like to thank the upper classmen for pushing me to become a better player and preparing me for next year. They always made it hard on me in practice but that is a good thing and it really helped me out. I would also like to thank my parents. They were at pretty much at every game and were always there to tell me good game at the end of the game even if I didn’t have one. "They taught me that in order to become a better player, it doesn’t start when the season begins. It starts now. " 24 STATE CHAMPS
HAWKS SPECIAL SECTION mANUEL mANNES 2022 2023 I would really love to thank my parents, they made it possible for me to attend school at Gibault this year and have this awesome experience! I'm here because they supported me in this, and it couldn't have gone much better with the experiences I've made, the people I've met and especially the team & our state Championship. Thank you Mom & Dad! "I'm here because they supported me in this, and it couldn't have gone much better with the experiences I've made." 30 STATE CHAMPS
HAWKS SPECIAL SECTION gAVIN kESLER 2022 2023 Winning a state championship for basketball is something that Gibault had never done before which made it such a massive event. In a school as small as Gibault, everybody is family. Therefore, everyone that is part of this loving community is always very supportive of all the activities that take place. Everybody loves to give glory to all of the players that “made it happen”, but truly it is the fans and the Gibault community that allowed for this event to happen. Every time we step onto Dennis Rueter court, we look out into the stands and see not one open seat. Seeing all of these people coming to watch us perform gives all of us a great boost. The energy that resonates from the crowd fuels us game in and game out. To have this type of atmosphere at a home game is one thing, but to see the same environment all the way in Champaign is something that not many schools can say that they have. The Gibault community is like no other and is one of the soul reasons that we were able to do something that nobody in Monroe County had ever done before. Stepping out onto that court is a feeling like no other and I can not thank the Gibault community enough for providing that experience. 32 "In a school as small as Gibault, everybody is family." "The energy that resonates from the crowd fuels us game in and game out." STATE CHAMPS
HAWKS SPECIAL SECTION mICHAEL wESSEL 2022 2023 I would like to thank Coach Rueter by driving me to get better. Along with Coach Rueter, my fellow Sophomores, Ryan Biffar, Tyler Frierdich, and Peyton Schaefer inspired me to get better so I didn’t drag them down. The people on the bench were the people who prepared the varsity for the upcoming teams that we battled down to the last minute. I would like to thank all four of the Juniors. Not all the work they did was on the court. Brian Stark helped us keep stats at every game because of his love for the game. 34 STATE CHAMPS Finally, I would like to thank our three Seniors who were on the court, Kaden Augustine, Kameron Hanvey, and Owen Mechler. They put in a lot of hard work during practice and would go back and put extra time on the court and in the weight room. All these people have helped us have the experience of a lifetime by winning state. "The people on the bench were the people who prepared the varsity for the upcoming teams that we battled down to the last minute."
HAWKS SPECIAL SECTION PEYTON sCHAEFER 2022 2023 I would like to thank all of my previous coaches. Every coach I’ve ever had including baseball, basketball, and track coaches. Next, I would like to thank my teachers for pushing me to be my best. Not only in the classroom but also as a person. I would also like to thank my friends for pushing me to be my best self and supporting me throughout this crazy ride. My teammates played a big part in this season for me. As a sophomore I was pretty nervous coming into the season. I had never played in a big varsity basketball game before and they supported me and made sure that I was mentally capable of playing in a game like that. This really showed in the super sectional game when I had to play a good chunk of the game. 40 STATE CHAMPS I would like to thank all of my teammates for giving me the confidence to play and perform well in that game. Lastly, I would like to thank my parents for everything. Putting food on the table for me to be able to be strong enough to play in that game. Supporting me was another big factor in my ability to play. All of these people supported me and helped me throughout this fun, crazy ride and I want to thank all of them for it. "As a sophomore I was pretty nervous coming into the season. I had never played in a big varsity basketball game before and they supported me and made sure that I was mentally capable of playing in a game like that." "I would like to thank my parents for everything. Putting food on the table for me to be able to be strong enough to play in that game."
HAWKS SPECIAL SECTION aNDY aLTES 2022 2023 I would like to start off by saying thank you to all of my teammates this year for being great and sharing this experience with me. I wasn’t even sure if I was going to play this year, but they convinced me to come out and keep playing. I would also like to thank our coaches as they pushed us hard every day in practice which really paid off. I would also like to thank my family for coming out and supporting me. Lastly, I would like to thank all of our peers for coming out and being a great student section supporting all our players. 42 STATE CHAMPS "I wasn’t even sure if I was going to play this year, but they convinced me to come out and keep playing."
HAWKS STATE CHAMPS SPECIAL SECTION 2022 2023