Beyond the Books - December 2023
December 13, 2023
At Cretin-Derham Hall, students have important opportunities to grow, learn and thrive both in the classroom and 'beyond the books!' In fact, 98% of students participate in one or more sports or activities.
Formerly known as Heard in the Halls, the new Beyond the Books is our brag book on all of your favorite co-curriculars at CDH: athletics, activities, JROTC and fine arts. This can also be a place for occasional school-wide athletic department updates and current news on some of our activities.
Counseling news will now be found in it's own article every month. Check it out here.
ATHLETICS | ACTIVITIES | THEATER | JROTC | CHOIR
Athletics
Boys Basketball
By Tony Yazbeck, Assistant Coach
The Raiders opened their season on December 9 against state ranked Farmington at the Breakdown Tip Off Classic at Hopkins (CDH 65 Farmington 74). We will play a few games at home in December including our inaugural CDH Holiday Classic in a joint partnership with our girls basketball program December 28 and 29.
Alumni night will be on Thursday, December 28 when we host St. Thomas Academy at 7 pm. Following the game all alumni are invited to attend a post game gathering at J.R Mac’s in St. Paul. In addition to our alumni night, this will also be our Coaches vs. Cancer fundraiser night, as we partner with the girls program in our fight against this horrible disease.
Upcoming Games:
12/12/23 - Park @ Park High School, 7 pm
12/14/23 - Irondale, 7 pm
12/16/23 - Maple Grove @ Park Center High School, 1:45 pm
12/19/23 - East Ridge, 7 pm
12/23/23 - Eden Prairie, 3 pm
12/28/23 - St. Thomas Academy, 7 pm (Alumni Night)
12/29/23 - Holy Family, 7 pm
Girls Basketball
By Tara Seifert, Head Coach
CDH Girls Basketball is off to a 3-1 record to start the basketball season. The Raiders dropped their first contest against Minneapolis Roosevelt losing 40-45. The team bounced back and had an impressive win at Home on December 5 against Stillwater by the score of 65-64 in OT.
Lauren Bengtson ’24 led scoring with 14 points, Sage Gilbert ’26 had 12 points. Suraya Hodges ’24 gathered a game high 15 rebounds in the contest. This is the first girls basketball win over Stillwater since 2018. The Raiders traveled to Tartan High School on December 7 and defeated the Titans 68-31. Ten players contributed in scoring and it was an overall great team win. The following night we defeated Forest Lake 56-39. Lily Hahs ’24 led all scorers with 17 points and Anyirah Gorman ’27 had 13 points. Ten players contributed in scoring and it was an overall great team win. The Raiders will host Park on December 12 and travel to Irondale on December 15.
Competition Dance
By Angie Keske, Program Coordinator
The Dance Team started practice in late October and has already participated in 4 competitions. The Varsity Jazz and Kick teams placed 3rd in the conference meet on Friday, December 8 at Roseville and the Junior Varsity Kick team placed 2nd at the CDH hosted meet on December 1. Our teams are showing significant growth week to week in scores as the athletes and coaches respond well to feedback and work hard to improve their technique and execution of choreography.
This season the CDH Dance Team is dedicated to growing a culture that we are proud to represent. Our Juniors have an opportunity to serve as captains this year. Our Junior Raider program gives middle schoolers the opportunity to join the team earlier than before in a non competitive capacity.
The team is like a second family. The rigorous practice & performance schedule shows a dedication and skill level that requires the girls to know each other and connect deeply. This past Saturday the team volunteered at Feed My Starving Children in Eagan. The team is committed to creating a team culture that gives back to the community and supports all the athletes in the program.
Our dance team is small but fierce. Every single dancer is an example of what it means to be an exceptional student and dedicated athlete. I am so proud of them.
Boys Hockey
By Matt Funk, Head Coach
The Raiders opened their season in front of a packed Highland Arena on December 1. The Raiders got off to a good start with Easton Swift ’24 scoring on rebound from Marcus Matyas ’27 and Cam Autrey ’26. Shots finished 13 -13 after the first period. The Hawks got on the board with a power play marker in the 2nd on a beautiful tic-tac-toe play. The second period ended 1-1 with shots again tied 9-9. The Hawks capitalized on a communication mishap after the Power Play making the score 2-1 and despite all out pressure from the Raiders at the end of the game that goal was the difference. Goaltender Leo Miller ’24 stopped 28 out of the 30 shots he faced.
We learned a lot about the team in that first game and the biggest key will be for us to stay out of the box but continue to play hard and fast. The team jumped into conference play December 7 with a home game win against Woodbury (CDH 5 Woodbury 4) and a road game loss against White Bear Lake (CDH 0 WBL 1) on December 9.
Here is the schedule for the Hockey Alumni Games on December 23:
1-2 pm Girls Game
2:10-3pm Boys Game (’05 and Older)
3:10-4pm Boys Game (’06 and Younger)
Go Raiders!!!
Girls Hockey
By Tony Scheid Head Coach
The Raiders Girls Hockey team has won 4 straight games including victories over Metro South 4-1, Blake 4-2, White Bear Lake 5-2 on Tuesday night at the Bears Den, and Mounds View/Irondale 3-2 at home on December 9.
Captains Casey Coffey ’24, Abby Broz ’25 and McKinley Haycraft ’25, are all tied with a team leading 6 points on the young season.
The team runs deep with talent and is ready to go on a roll in December. Lauren Fisher ’25, Channing Haycraft ’27. Stella Hadac ’25, Hope Hadac ’25, and Delaney Schwab ’25 all are close to the scoring lead with 5 points. Defenseman Ava Perry ’25 has 3 points.
Forward Isabelle Oelrich ’26 and defenseman Regan Flors ’25 each scored their first career high school varsity goals at White Bear Lake in a huge win for CDH!
Captain Lily Vincelli ’24 and forward Josie Vance ’25 have provided excellent support as two of the most highly reliable 200 foot players.
Goalie Grace Kemp ’26 has been stellar between the pipes for the Raiders with 3 wins, and a .919 save percentage and 2.33 goals against average per game.
Katherine Nelson ’24 recorded her first career win against Metro South. She has a .996 save percentage and 2.25 goals against average in 2 games played.
Here is the schedule for the Hockey Alumni Games on December 23:
1-2 pm Girls Game
2:10-3 pm Boys Game (’05 and Older)
3:10-4 pm Boys Game (’06 and Younger)
Go Raiders!!!
Boys Swim and Dive
By Mike Steineman ’92, Head Coach
The Boys Swimming and Diving season is underway. The first meet of the season was Thursday, December 7 as the Raiders traveled to Stillwater Middle School to take on half of the conference teams (Stillwater, Woodbury, Park, and Irondale). No scores are kept at this meet but there were a few great swims by the Raiders. Senior Captains Matt Baumberger '24 and Finn Dougherty '24 will lead the Raiders as they begin their dual meet schedule on Wednesday, December 13 at Oltman Middle School to take on the Raptors of East Ridge. The Home Opener is Tuesday, December 19 as the Raiders host the Knights of Irondale at St. Kate's. Both meets start at 6 pm. Please check out our website Raiders Swim and Dive for the rest of the schedule and the results from all of our meets.
It is not too late to join our team! If you are interested, please contact one of the Captains or Head Coach Mike Steineman '92. We are looking for swimmers and divers! If you are (or know) anyone grades 7-12 that would like more information, please contact us.
Wrestling
By Joe Piazza, Head Coach
“Gold medals are not really made of gold. They are made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts.” – Dan Gable
This quote hangs in the wrestling room as a reminder to each of us to keep going after our goals. Our coaching staff is committed to individual and team development and this is the hallmark that will distinguish our success in the future. Our program is built upon three core principles; know your personal goals, exert maximum effort, and hold an enduring appreciation for the art of wrestling. We have spent the summer months putting on a full court press to build awareness about the sport of wrestling and it has paid off. We have thirty-seven wrestlers ranging from 8 – 12th grade, the most athletes in Raider wrestling program history!
Our first home meeting is December 15 at 5 pm in the Griep Family Gymnasium against East Ridge and Two Rivers High School. We will also be celebrating our seniors, Oskar Bowman ’24, Liam McClay ’24 and Ali Kairolla’24. The team is led by Captains Liam McClay ‘24, Mickey Piazza ‘25, and Evan Stoltz ‘25.
The program is managed by a highly creative team, Lauren Jennrich ’25, Noelle Akins’25, Cecilia Larson ’26, Olivia Kline ’26, and Mackenzie Korb ’26.
Boys Volleyball (New!)
By Ellen Schafer ’10, Co Head Coach
CDH is starting a boys volleyball club this spring! Coaches Schafer and Willaert are excited to get started and want to know who is interested in order to plan for the number of teams. Please fill out the Boys Volleyball Interest Survey so we can contact you with more details. Practices will generally be in the evenings - after 6 pm. Players and managers are needed, so get some friends together and sign up! After Christmas break we will contact those interested and set up an informational meeting.
- Tryouts will be during the week of April 1-5 (right after Easter Break).
- Regular season starts the week of April 8.
- First games are the week of April 15. Potential Playoffs and State Tournament starting on May 29 through June 13.
Activities
Art Club
By Suzanne Cranston, Moderator
Art Club has been busy making Christmas wreaths and miniature Christmas trees! Students used found nature objects & design decor to design their own Holiday decorations.
Model UN
By Jody Cornett, Moderator
On Friday, November 17, over 25 CDH students participated in the MN Model UN Conference at Macalester College. Model UN is a simulation of the UN General Assembly and its other multilateral bodies, where students perform an ambassador role while debating topics such as gender equality, climate action, global health, and more. Each year UNA-MN hosts fall and spring conferences where students from across the state come together to debate important, real world issues that the United Nations faces. CDH students will start preparing for the Spring Conference in January.
Robotics
By Jeff Winsor '09, Moderator
Now is the time to join Robotics. The CDH Robotics season kicks off on Saturday, January 6, 10 am in the Ryan STEM Center. We have eight and a half weeks before our first competition. During this time we design and build the robot, program it, make merch, and plan how to market our team at the competition. Competitions are March 7-9 in Grand Forks at the Alerus Center, and April 4-6 at the University of Minnesota in the Williams Arena. The competitions are free and open to the public. Come cheer us on and see what the students will have accomplished!
Meetings are Wednesdays during Flex in the STEM Center all year. During the season, practices are Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays starting at 4:30 pm, and Saturdays at 9 am.
To join the team, talk to Mr. Winsor or our captains Michael Loeffler ’24, Mary Musolf ’24, MJ Dougherty ’25, and Owen Graeve ’25.
Theater
By Penelope Parsons Lord, Theater Director
In the Lillian Theater we are starting rehearsals for our winter production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. It's going to be a wonderful show that should brighten up the dark winter months. Come and see it when it opens in our black box theater! Finalized dates will be posted soon.
JROTC
By SGM David Berrisford '91, MSG Ken Peloski, COL Scrocca, and SFC Thingvold
The Raider Brigade Corps of Cadets successfully completed the 1st Trimester with some great events and is already off and running in the first couple weeks of the 2nd Trimester.
On Friday, December 18, the entire Raider Brigade Corps of Cadets will participate in its annual Service Learning Project - Junior Achievement. As part of the program, in teams of about six cadets each, the entire Corps of Cadets will go to three local elementary schools - The Heights, Hazel Park and Highland - to teach Kindergarten through 5th Grade civics classes for the day. During the two weeks of class preparation and during the execution of the event, cadets have the opportunity to put much of what they learn in class and lab into action as they plan and organize for the project, develop lesson plans, serve as group leaders, managers, supervisors & followers, conduct rehearsals, and have the opportunity to stand up and speak in front of others. Most of all though, they serve as role models and inspirations for other young people in our city as they demonstrated CDH and Army Values at work. The cadets are super excited for this annual event and we can’t wait to see them in action!
On February 2, the Cretin-Derham Hall Raider Brigade will host the Upper Midwest JROTC Challenge (UMJC). The Raider Brigade is excited to host about 350 cadets from 12 local and regional JROTC programs, some from as far away as the UP and Chicago. Cadets will compete in a variety of activities: Regulation Drill, Color Guard, Rifle Marksmanship, Archery, Physical Fitness, Knowledge Bowl, and always a crowd favorite, the Tug-O-War. Everyone is welcome to attend to cheer on the cadets between 10:00 am-3:00 pm in the CDH Field House.
While the Orienteering team closed out its Fall season in November, the JROTC Robotics team is “gearing up” (get it?) for their first-ever competition in January! The Air Rifle Team competed in the Army JROTC Regional Competition and continues to compete in many postal events while it and the CDH JROTC Archery Team set their sights (get it?) on taking home first place trophies at the UMJC in February!
On behalf of the CDH JROTC Faculty and the entire CDH Raider Brigade Corps of Cadets, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Choir
By Delilah Schuster, Choir Director
December is always a busy month for musicians, and this year has been no exception for the CDH Choir! On December 4, the choir hosted their annual Christmas Dinner/Cabaret Fundraiser where friends and faculty enjoyed the singers' holiday solos and duets. The event also featured a delicious meal from Pajarito and a silent art auction. Thank you to the talent and generosity of Ms. Cranston and her art students. On December 9, CDH Choir students joined choirs from the University of Mary and other Twin Cities Catholic schools to sing in the Luminosa concert at the Cathedral of Saint Paul. This is an annual festival of sacred choral music for the Advent/Christmas season.
One performance remains for 2023: the Band & Choir Christmas Concert! Join us at 7 pm on December 18, in the CDH Lillian Theatre, to enjoy some beautiful Christmas repertoire before school winds down for break. This concert is free and open to all. See you there!