Focus Magazine XVII

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

Dear Friends,

I hope you enjoyed a wonderful Christmas and that this letter finds you and your loved ones well. As I reflect on the past year, I am filled with gratitude for this community and am pleased to share some highlights that are only possible with your support.

Our students continue to uphold Dowling Catholic’s longstanding tradition of excellence not only in academics, athletics and the arts, but also in their faith lives and service to others. Nothing demonstrates this more than the annual Christmas Baskets service project. Thanks to outstanding leadership from the senior class, our students were able to help 98 local families this Christmas season. This is a testament not only to the giving nature of our families, faculty and staff, but also to the generosity of those in the greater community. It is an honor to carry on this tradition started more than 50 years ago by the BVM Sisters at St. Joseph Academy.

This was just one of the many extraordinary things that took place in recent months. We had excellent representation at the All-State Music Festival in November, and there were many additional opportunities throughout the semester for band and choir students to perform at competitions, concerts and community events. There were also two excellent live theater productions that took place on campus, and the list goes on of the many ways our students shared their many gifts.

Our student-athletes also competed at the highest levels with all fall sports teams qualifying for state. The boys cross country team finished an unprecedented season by defending their state title, the 10th in program history and the eighth in the past 12 seasons. I am continually impressed by the commitment it takes for our students to achieve this level of success in the classroom and in their activities.

Looking ahead, we continue to innovate and find ways to ensure a strong future for our Catholic schools. I am pleased at the progress that has been made as we begin implementing our 2022-2027 Strategic Plan which lays out an ambitious but attainable vision for the future of our school. Additionally, in the pages ahead you will read about the regionalization of the 12 Catholic schools in the Des Moines area. I am honored and humbled to lead this important initiative which builds upon our past success and helps shape the future of our schools.

Ultimately, our goal is to provide an environment where every student discovers and cultivates their God-given talents and graduates with the confidence to lead positive change in the world.

Thank you for your continued support. Your partnership makes our mission possible.

In Christ,

Dr. Dan Ryan President

CONTENTS

Focus magazine is published for Dowling Catholic parents, alumni and donors.

OUR MISSION

Dowling Catholic High School is committed to serving the Greater Des Moines Catholic community and embracing learners of all faiths. In an environment that is faithful, caring and dedicated, Dowling Catholic forms each student to become a Christcentered leader.

ON THE COVER

This year marks 50 years together on Buffalo Road. DCHS celebrates the history and legacy of our founding schools, St. Joseph Academy and Dowling High School.

7 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 14 |

ADVANCEMENT UPDATE

Fulfilling the DCHS mission.

CALENDAR

Find out about upcoming Dowling Catholic events.

ON CAMPUS

DCHS carries on the Christmas Baskets tradition.

REGIONAL UPDATE

Read about the regionalization of Catholic schools in the Des Moines area.

WELL DONE

Success in the classroom and in the arts.

CLASS NOTES

Be in the know about alumni and friends of Dowling Catholic.

16 |

TRUE MAROON

Celebrating the 2022 DCHS Athletic Hall of Fame inductees.

FEATURE

Celebrating 50 years together on Buffalo Road.

SPOTLIGHT

Art Club ofrenda.

IN MEMORIAM

PRESIDENT: Dr. Dan Ryan

DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT: Julie Bell

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Tara Nelson

ART DIRECTOR: Colin Gargano

CONTRIBUTING

WRITERS: Rachel Brown Ted Power

Extending sympathy to the families of alumni who have passed away.

THE PULSE Fall sports recap.

CONTACT 21 |

COPY EDITOR: Kathy Kirby Power ‘80

CONTRIBUTING

PHOTOGRAPHER: Earl Hulst

Dowling Catholic High School 1400 Buffalo Rd. West Des Moines, IA 50265

515.225.3000

COST OF EDUCATION*

Tuition & Fees

“Gap”

Parish Contribution

THE ANNUAL APPEAL IMPACT

Donors make a significant impact at Dowling Catholic, providing crucial support to programs and resources that truly benefit all students. Thanks to the generosity of those who contribute, we are able to fulfill our mission of preparing Leaders for Life, Centered on Christ.

The impact of the We Are Maroons Annual Appeal is reflected in the following ways:

The cost to educate each student for the 2022-2023 school year is

$13,442 $2,754 leaving a “gap” amount of

*Based on parish-participating tuition for the 2022-2023 school year.

Tuition: DCHS is committed to serving the Greater Des Moines community and making a Catholic education accessible to all. Gifts to the Annual Appeal help cover the “gap” between tuition and the cost to educate each student and provided $1.4 million in tuition assistance during the 2021-2022 school year.*

Student Life: Through faith and academics, student activities, athletics and the arts, the Annual Appeal serves the interests of our students. With donor support we are able to grow existing opportunities and launch new initiatives.

The Annual Appeal also supports every aspect of the school’s daily operations. Our commitment to excellence extends to the building and grounds, technology and providing competitive teacher compensation. To make a gift, please visit: www.dowlingcatholic.org/annual-appeal.

WHAT IS THE “GAP”?

Did you know that tuition covers only 80% of the cost to educate each student? The remainder is funded by parishes and the We Are Maroons Annual Appeal. *The per student “gap” amount for the 2022-2023 school year is $2,754.

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Do you own or operate a business in the Des Moines metro? Dowling Catholic has an exciting new initiative that provides the opportunity to be featured in our online Business Directory which is promoted on our website and social media channels and in our parent and alumni newsletters. Make a donation and your business will be shared with thousands of our families, alumni and supporters! As an added bonus, donations may be tax deductible! To join this initiative, please visit: www.dowlingcatholic.org/business-directory.

BOOK OF GRATITUDE

Our tradition of publishing a Book of Gratitude continues with an ‘online’ publication so we can more efficiently acknowledge and celebrate the people and organizations that support our school.

We appreciate the tremendous contributions of our faculty and staff and the support from our families, alumni, volunteers and local business partners. We recognize that the majority of people in our community contribute far more than financial resources. You give of your time and your talent – and for this we are most grateful.

A special thanks to our Board of Education and Foundation Board for their leadership and generosity. We are also grateful to those leaving a legacy through your bequest intentions benefitting generations for years to come. Your support truly helps to keep our mission alive as we prepare students to become Leaders for Life, Centered on Christ. Together, We Are Maroons!

To view a list of donors for fiscal year 2021-2022, please visit: www.dowlingcatholic.org/BoG.

NEW AT DOWLING CATHOLIC

BVM/St. Joseph Academy Endowment

The BVM/SJA Endowment was established in 2022 to commemorate the 50th year of the last graduating class of St. Joseph Academy (SJA) in 1972. This endowed fund will support tuition assistance for young women attending Dowling Catholic High School and will live on in perpetuity. The Endowment also serves as a tribute to the alumnae of SJA and the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) who established the school in 1881.

Anyone is welcome to support the Endowment, including alumni, families of SJA graduates and others who embrace the value of Catholic education. There are a number of ways to support the Endowment, including:

• Gifts of cash or stock

• Multi-year pledge

• Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from an IRA

• Donor Advised Fund

• Tribute to a beloved teacher, classmate or family member

• Estate intention (an opportunity to make a significant gift that might not be achievable in your lifetime).

Fiscal year donors of $2,000 or more will be invited to the President’s Council Dinner held in the fall. Fiscal year donors of $1,000 or more will be invited to a luncheon in the spring specifically for Endowment donors and Legacy Society members. In addition, all gifts will be recognized in our Book of Gratitude (online honor roll of donors).

Questions?

Julie Bell

Advancement Director

515.222.1048 | jbell@dowlingcatholic.org

Clare “CeCe” (Tibbetts) Faulkner ‘75

DCHS Foundation Board Member

310.227.7079 | clare@majeccompany.com

Bishop Dowling & St. Joseph Academy Societies

In recognition of our founding schools, DCHS has established a convenient giving program which provides donors with an opportunity to make multi-year gifts and bypass fundraising solicitations.

The Bishop Dowling and St. Joseph Academy Societies recognize multi-year pledges to the We Are Maroons Annual Appeal or Endowment. Donors can pledge $2,000 or more to the Annual Appeal for three or more years. Those wishing to support the endowment can pledge $5,000 per year for three or more years. While creating ease for the donor, members of our giving societies provide DCHS with a reliable revenue stream which allows the school to plan for the future.

For more information or to enroll, please contact Julie Bell, Advancement Director at 515.222.1048 or jbell@dowlingcatholic.org. Additional information is also available on our website: www.dowlingcatholic.org/giving-societies.

PANCAKE BREAKFAST

The Dowling Catholic community came together in late October for the 61st Annual Pancake Breakfast with nearly 2,000 people in attendance. Guests were treated to performances by our very talented choral and band students and had the opportunity to interact with numerous DCHS clubs, groups and representatives from several colleges, universities and local parochial schools.

A special thanks to co-chairs Jen ‘89 and Paul Damge and Matt ‘86 and Bethany Kiernan as well as Elizabeth Colosimo who has served as the Maroon Bake Sale manager for the past 10 years. We are also grateful to the additional 400+ student and adult volunteers who generously donated their time and talent.

This event would not have been possible without the generous support of our local business partners. Global Direct Marketing served as the presenting sponsor while the following businesses also provided sponsorship support: A.J. Allen Mechanical Contractors, Integrity Printing, Qualified Plan Consultants, West Bank, Equitable Advisors - John Schneller, Global Tech Services Inc., Iowa Dental Group, Morrissey’s Fine Jewelry, Oakwood Builders Group, State Farm InsuranceMatt Cale, Willis Nissan and Raising Cane’s Chicken.

Thank you to all who attended. Your support truly makes a difference for our students. To learn more about upcoming community events and volunteer opportunities, please visit; www.dowlingcatholic.org/events.

CATHOLIC

Evening of Style

1200 Warrior Lane, Waukee

Enjoy a fun evening of fashion, food and fellowship where students, faculty and staff hit the runway to benefit the Bash on Buffalo. Groups of eight may purchase a table and decorate with a

BE PART OF THE TRADITION!

Dowling Club boosters have been supporting our student-athletes since 1941! You can be part of this tradition that has been raising awareness, enthusiasm and funding for our beloved Maroons for over 80 years. Dowling Club support allows us to offer a wide variety of athletics, providing students with the opportunity to learn and grow in the sports they love the most. In addition, your support enhances our athletic programs tremendously in a number of ways, ensuring all programs have uniforms and equipment, providing assistance to coaches, allowing us to maintain and upgrade athletic facilities, and more.

Becoming a Dowling Club member has its privileges! Boosters receive a one-time 15% discount in the Campus Store or online, special invitations to appreciation events and tailgates, and sports passes to all home events (excluding tournament play).

To donate or learn more about becoming a member, please visit www.dowlingcatholic.org/dowling-club.

Thank you for your support.

Go Maroons!

>

APR 30

Spring Band Concert

Dowling Catholic High School

1400 Buffalo Road, West Des Moines

The concert will feature performances by the Concert Band, Symphony Band and Outstanding Performer award winners from the State Solo Contest. In addition to musical performances, the annual band awards presentation will also take place.

> APR 15 Bash on Buffalo

Dowling Catholic High School

1400 Buffalo Road, West Des Moines

The Bash on Buffalo features live and silent auctions, a cash raffle and live entertainment. Proceeds support student needs, teacher retirement, technology and tuition assistance. Please save the date and join us for this great community celebration!

> APR 26 Scholastic Achievement Assembly/ Distinguished Alumni Awards

Dowling Catholic High School

1400 Buffalo Road, West Des Moines Dowling Catholic High School proudly bestows alumni of St. Joseph Academy and DCHS with Distinguished Alumni Awards. Honorees will be recognized during the Scholastic Achievement Assembly. The nomination deadline is February 15, 2023. Please submit online at www.dowlingcatholic.org/nominate.

> APR 27 - 29 Spring Musical

Dowling Catholic High School

1400 Buffalo Road, West Des Moines

The spring musical is presented annually by the Dowling Catholic Performing Arts Department. Performances will take place in the DCHS auditorium.

>

MAY 8

Spring Choral Concert

Sheslow Auditorium, Drake University

2507 University Avenue, Des Moines

The Dowling Catholic choirs will present their annual spring concert at 7:00 p.m. in the historic Sheslow Auditorium. The concert will feature performances by the Jazz Choir, Chamber Choir, Mixed Chorus and A Cappella Choir. The evening will conclude with special recognition of senior choir members.

> MAY 25 Baccalaureate

St. Francis of Assisi

Mass

7075 Ashworth Road, West Des Moines

The Class of 2023 will have the opportunity to celebrate the Sacred Mass together and to be sent forth from Dowling Catholic to love and serve the Lord. The celebration of Mass with the graduates and their families will begin at 7:30 p.m.

> MAY 26 Graduation Ceremony

Knapp Center, Drake University

2525 Forest Avenue, Des Moines

Dowling Catholic’s commencement ceremony for the Class of 2023 will take place at the Knapp Center on the Drake Campus at 7:30 p.m.

For the most current event information please visit: www.dowlingcatholic.org/events

CHRISTMAS BASKETS THEN...

The Christmas Basket service project is a longstanding DCHS tradition with components that originate from both of its founding schools. Dating back to the earliest days at St. Joseph Academy (SJA), students were committed to doing what they could to serve others. Even when the Great Depression brought a decline in enrollment, those who were still able to attend continued to focus on helping others. The SJA Social Service Club began bringing clothing, food, toys and religious artifacts to those in need during the holiday season. With leadership from the senior class, the boys from Dowling participated in a similar tradition focused primarily on providing food to those in need at Christmas.

When the new coed school opened on Buffalo Road in 1972, the first Christmas Basket project helped approximately 25 families in need. Tom Diehl ‘73, head of the first project committee, was quoted in the school newspaper about how he hoped the first Christmas at the new Dowling would long be remembered.

“We have tried to set trends for other classes to follow as seniors,” said Diehl. “This project should instill a giving attitude, worthwhile for others to have in them.”

Alumna Audrey (Miller) Masimore ‘72 has fond Christmas Basket memories. She recalls driving in her station wagon accompanied by Sister Fabiola and three or four other students to make a Christmas Basket delivery. The trip took a harrowing turn when they encountered snow and the car spun multiple times on the interstate. The trip ultimately ended with laughter and a safe arrival, something she credits to the fervent prayers coming from Sister Fabiola in the passenger seat. Listen to her Christmas Basket story and other memories on our podcast, Stories from Buffalo Road, streaming now on Spotify and YouTube.

WHAT IS CANDLELIGHTING?

Candlelighting is a unique ceremony carried over from the Academy, marking the beginning of Christmas vacation.

A background of Christmas carols was provided by the Accopiato, who led the entrance procession. The mixed chorus and band performed for the first time in front of an all-school audience, performing sounds of the season. A faculty representative and the presidents of the student council and the classes lit candles. These symbolize virtues characteristic of the Christmas season: Joy, Happiness, Peace, Faith, and Unity.

Photos

...AND NOW

In early November, Dowling Catholic students kicked off the annual Christmas Basket service project. DCHS is proud to carry on the tradition of helping families in need during the Christmas season.

Today, Christmas Baskets is one of the largest school-wide service projects at DCHS. The project is led by the senior class which enlists the help of students in all grade levels as well as their families, faculty and staff, and the greater community.

Each family receives a “Christmas Basket” which includes groceries, toiletries, household items, clothing and other gifts. Capital City Fruit generously donates the produce each year, and Two Men and a Truck provides the boxes for the deliveries. The Art Club also contributes every year, making a monetary donation and creating hand-painted ornaments for each family.

A portion of the monetary donations from faculty and staff also receives matching gift support each year thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor.

The project concludes with the Candlelighting prayer service before the seniors go out into the community to make deliveries to their families. Thanks to their hard work and outstanding leadership, DCHS students were able to help make Christmas brighter for 98 families. In addition to the baskets, students were also able to deliver $6,000 in gift cards to help families at Holy Family School.

“With regards to Christmas Baskets, I don’t think there is anything we do that is a better example of what is good and right at Dowling Catholic,” said Jeff Ferguson, a teacher and director of student activities who has been leading the project for more than thirty years. “Christmas Baskets best exemplifies faithful, caring and dedicated. I couldn’t be more honored or thankful that I get to be a part of this caring project with such a faithful and dedicated community. Thank you to everyone.”

ON CAMPUS

IOWA ALL-STATE MUSIC FESTIVAL

Congratulations to the Dowling Catholic students who participated in the 2022 Iowa All-State Music Festival held in Ames November 1719. The festival takes place annually and features the state’s top high school musicians and vocalists who are selected through a rigorous audition process.

Selected for the 2022 Iowa All-State Chorus were sophomores Zoe Ball, Colin Heaston and Jacob Suresh; junior Grace Hochberger; and seniors Charlotte James and Olivia Tice. Junior Presila Edward (violin) was selected for the All-State Orchestra, and senior Emily Nguyen (clarinet) for the All-State Band.

The All-State Music Festival Concert was presented on November 19, 2022, at Hilton Coliseum and broadcast by Iowa PBS. The concert features performances from more than a thousand of Iowa’s top high school musicians and vocalists and is available to watch online: www.iowapbs.org/shows/musicfestival.

BAND HIGHLIGHTS

In addition to performances at football and basketball games, the Dowling Catholic bands enjoyed a successful competition season and the opportunity to perform at several community events, including the Pancake Breakfast, Christmas Luncheon and the World Food Prize dinner at the Iowa State Capitol.

The Vanguard kicked off the competition season in September earning a second place in class, best percussion and best drum majors at Eden Prairie. They placed third In early October at the annual Valleyfest Showdown, and finished the season at the State Marching Festival with a Division I rating followed by an outstanding performance at the Waukee Invitational that evening where they placed third, earning the highest finish by an Iowa school.

In December four DCHS students were among the top high school musicians selected for the 51st Annual Drake University Honor Band

Festival. Congratulations to seniors John Haus (percussion) and Regan Pietig (clarinet) and sophomores Grace Aerosolphal (trumpet) and Abbie Rodriguez (saxophone) on this great honor. The festival provides high school musicians with the opportunity to work with the nation’s finest conductors and to develop their skills through rehearsals and clinics with Drake music faculty.

An additional highlight in December was

the opportunity for the Jazz II and Jazz Ensemble to perform a Christmas Jazz Recital at Drake’s Fred (‘51) and Patty Turner Jazz Center where they were critiqued by the university’s head of Jazz Studies.

A semester filled with great accomplishments culminated with a performance at the Valero Alamo Bowl in San Antonio where they were one of several marching bands to perform in the halftime show.

REGIONAL UPDATE

In January 2022 Bishop Joensen announced the regionalization of the 12 Catholic schools in the Des Moines metro. Since that time, significant progress has been made in creating a business model that will sustain the collective future of our schools. Pastors, principals and business managers from each school have been working with regional staff to develop a multi-year plan for teacher salaries, tuition and tuition assistance.

Increasing compensation is a regional goal that is necessary to retain and attract the best teachers. On average, first-year teacher salaries at regional K-8 schools are 26% lower than the starting pay in public schools and vary by more than $13,000 across Catholic schools in Des Moines. Over the past several years DCHS has been able to match the public school pay scale and a five-year goal has been established to do the same for all teachers across the region.

Keeping tuition affordable for all families also remains a top priority. Tuition in the Des

Moines region has always been lower than the cost to educate each student. Support from parishes and donors helps offset the gap and continues to make this possible.

Increasing tuition assistance is essential as the region works to develop a more comprehensive tuition model across all schools. Approximately 37% of Catholic school families in Des Moines currently receive some form of tuition assistance. Next year it is anticipated that up to 15% more families may qualify based on expanded guidelines to be released in January and additional funding from the Catholic Tuition Organization (CTO), the Tuition Assistance Endowment established with the Ignite Campaign and other sources. Increased tuition assistance strengthens the mission of our schools by making a Catholic education possible for more families.

Regionalization efforts are also focused on enrollment. With nearly 1,000 open seats across the region, opportunities exist

for more students and families to benefit from the faith-based education and strong community that are unique to Catholic schools. Schools at full capacity also strengthen the budget and ultimately fund our mission.

Much of this progress is the result of the vision and work from our Regional Board of Directors, the Members Board comprised of 24 pastors and Bishop Joensen, as well as committee members who have shared their time and expertise.

“It is exciting to see new levels of collaboration and innovative thinking,” said Dr. Dan Ryan, president of DCHS and the region. “Our goal is to work collectively as we continue to build on the strengths of our schools, each of which plays a critical role in fulfilling our shared mission.”

To learn more about tuition assistance and other regional initiatives, please visit dsmrcsplan.org.

NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS

Dowling Catholic High School is proud to announce that senior Charlotte DeAngelis has been named a 2023 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the names of approximately 16,000 semifinalists in the 68th Annual National Merit Scholarship Program in September.

Students enter the scholarship competition by taking the Preliminary SAT. The nationwide pool of semifinalists includes the highest scoring entrants in each state and represents less than one percent of all high school seniors in the U.S. The students now have the opportunity to compete for National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be offered in the spring. These scholarship recipients will join nearly 368,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title.

AN AMERICAN CLASSIC

The Dowling Catholic Performing Arts Department presented Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Our Town for the community in late October. One of three opportunities for students to participate in live theater at DCHS, the cast and crew enjoyed producing this literary classic.

The fall play is directed each year by Tim Sheaff ‘86, director of drama and debate, who typically follows a rotation that includes the American Classics, Shakespeare and then something more lighthearted every third year. His intention is to help students build a wellrounded resume.

“Our Town is part of the canon of American theater,”

said Sheaff. ”Thornton Wilder is one of the most significant playwrights, but also one of the most influential writers having earned three Pulitzer prizes for two different styles of writing.”

Wilder earned a Pulitzer for the novel The Bridge of San Luis Rey and the plays Our Town and The Skin of Our Teeth. In Our Town, the setting indicates that it’s an ordinary small town with universal appeal. The town is filled with people and places the audience can relate

to, such as the school, the church, the post office and the train station. According to Sheaff, the simplistic setting is deceptively meaningful.

“On the surface, the play looks like it’s about a slice of life in a New England town in the early 1900s,” said Sheaff. “With its tendency to break the fourth wall, it actually asks us to notice the magnitude of the small things. In that way, I would say it’s a piece of adoration, and therefore beyond appropriate for a Catholic school. The cast and crew did an outstanding job with this production. The student performers and technicians on our stage, and even the students in our audience really contemplated the magnitude and mystery of our everyday lives. It was a beautiful, lyrical performance.”

CHARLOTTE DEANGELIS

STUDENTS TAKE THE STAGE

The winter play production of Puss ‘N Boots was presented for the DCHS community on December 2-3 with a special matinee performance for parochial school fourth graders prior to opening night. The story tells the classic tale of how kindness, and a little bit of bravery, help save the day.

The winter play is performed by the Acting + class which is taught by Sarah Raymond and includes students at the sophomore level and higher who have completed Acting I and II. These students dedicate a tremendous amount of time to the production and are typically involved in the performing arts at DCHS in a variety of ways.

“Winter play is a unique experience for students because we work to build a children’s theater production as a part of our coursework,” said Raymond. “The final for the course is the actual show, so students are invested in building the best production possible from the very start! The idea that theater is accessible to everyone is important to the Performing Arts Department here, and children’s theater is the perfect way to share this sentiment with the school and community overall.”

The cast included Abby Eischied, Maggi Doud, Jacqueline Koger, Eva Ruggeri, Parker Ryther and Rachel Talley. Oliver

Sheaff, Lilly Pertzborn, Savannah Givens and Hannah Harclerode were on the production team, and Raymond served as director with assistance in costume design from the cast and crew. In addition to performing on stage, Eva Ruggeri served as dance lead on the production team.

As part of their continued effort to give back to the community, the cast and crew partnered with the Iowa Animal Rescue League (ARL) in effort to raise awareness about cat adoptions in Des Moines and to spread their message. The ARL’s mission is to promote animal welfare, strengthen the human-animal bond and prevent the overpopulation of pets.

The DCHS community came together for an All Souls Day prayer service at the Maroon Memorial where the names of the deceased were read aloud, including prayer intentions for 123 alumni from the old Dowling, SJA and DCHS. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Stories from Buffalo Road

DCHS has launched a new podcast featuring guests with a special place in school history. Episodes one and two feature Coach Ron Gray ‘73, a former teacher with a history at DCHS dating back more than five decades, and Howard Kerr ‘53, a veteran whose distinguished career includes service in the White House under President Gerald Ford. Search “Stories From Buffalo Road” on Spotify and YouTube to find the episodes streaming now!

Mr. Tim Sheaff ‘86, Director of Drama and Debate at DCHS, has been inducted into the Iowa High School Speech Association Hall of Fame, the highest honor the association may confer on an individual. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition!

The school community was blessed to have Bishop Joensen on campus to celebrate Mass of the Holy Spirit at DCHS and to provide a blessing to welcome new faculty and staff. A special thanks to the alumni priests who were able to join us. Pictured L to R: Fr. Christopher Pisut ‘87, Msgr. Steve Orr ‘66, Fr. Alex Kramer ‘14, Fr. Greg Leach ‘67, Fr. David Polich ‘68, Fr. Ryan Andrew ‘04, Fr. Mark Neal ‘81, Fr. P.J. McManus ‘01, Fr. John Frost ‘79, Fr. Reed Flood ‘13, Fr. Nick Smith ‘14, Fr. Michael Amadeo ‘82, Fr. Joe Pins ‘87, Fr. Chris Fontanini ‘80, Fr. Dan Kirby ‘84, Fr. Brad Robey ‘13 and Fr. Ray McHenry ‘70

Fr. Reed Flood ‘13 and Fr. James Downey ‘11 joined the DCHS faculty at the start of the year after being appointed by Bishop Joensen to serve at the school. Fr. Flood is the chaplain, and Fr. Downey is primarily focused on teaching. The school community is blessed to have them back at DCHS!

Congratulations to Coach Mark Crouch who will be inducted into the Iowa High School Swim Coaches Association Hall of Fame and recognized during the boys state meet on February 11 at the University of Iowa.

Crouch began his coaching career at Williamsburg High School in 1975. In 1987 he and his wife Jacque took a leap of faith and relocated to Des Moines where he became the head swimming coach at Dowling Catholic, a position he held for 30 years.

He is a two-time State Coach of the Year and eighteen-time District Coach of the Year. He holds a 229-28 career record and has coached numerous All-Americans, state champions and swimmers who advanced to the collegiate level. He led his teams to 22 conference championships, 20 district championships and four state championships during his tenure.

In 2016 Crouch was inducted into the DCHS Athletic Hall of Fame, the same year the pool was dedicated and renamed the Mark Crouch Pool. He retired from teaching and coaching in 2017, but his expertise, outstanding leadership and dedication to developing student-athletes have had a lasting impact at DCHS.

He has also worked with the Special Olympics in Iowa for 30 years and was recognized as Volunteer of the Year in 2011. In 2019 he was awarded the prestigious Distinctive Service Award by the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association. In 2020 he was inducted into the hall of fame for his alma mater, Hoover High School.

He and his wife Jacque of 45 years have four children and four grandchildren. He has many wonderful memories of high school swimming, but none better than watching his son, Coach Justin Crouch, lead the Ankeny boys swim team to a state championship title in 2019.

Coach Crouch believes all he has accomplished throughout his career has only been possible because former athletic director John Hayes and DCHS took a chance on him. For that he will always be thankful.

Alumni Awards

Dowling Catholic proudly honors deserving alumni of St. Joseph Academy and DCHS with Distinguished Alumni and Distinguished Young Alumni awards. Any member or friend of the DCHS/SJA community may nominate a graduate. The deadline to submit is February 15, 2023. Please visit our website to learn more or submit a nomination: dowlingcatholic.org/distinguished-alumni

Dowling Catholic’s 2022 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees were recognized during a ceremony at DCHS and at the Homecoming football game. Congratulations to Cole Decker ‘12 , Lizzy (Stachon) Delaney ‘11 , Curt Engler ‘88 , Rico Gafford ‘14 , Anne Gradoville ‘17 and Ryan Schweizer ‘16 !

To update your information or share alumni news, please visit: dowlingcatholic.org/alumni or contact Kathy Kirby Power ‘80, alumni manager, at kkirbypower@dowlingcatholic.org.

ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME

DCHS proudly bestows numerous awards on St. Joseph Academy and Dowling Catholic alumni, including selection to the Athletic Hall of Fame. Induction is merited by excellence in athletics, coaching or a related area during high school and/or beyond at the college, amateur or professional level. Please join us in congratulating the 2022 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees.

COLE DECKER ‘12

Cole is one of the most decorated male distance runners from DCHS and still holds the school record in the 3200m with a time of 9:08. He qualified for state cross country three times and finished third in 2011. He was a threetime cross country all-state team member and a member of the 2011 cross country state championship team. He won both the Drake Relays and state in the 3200m in 2012. He earned eight varsity letters during his time at DCHS and was team captain for two years.

He went on to attend Central College where he competed in both cross country and track. In both sports he was a four-year letter winner, team captain his senior year, and became a four-time NCAA All American.

In cross country he was named All-Central Region and All-Iowa Conference four times and was a four-time NCAA D3 national qualifier. In track he was all-conference three times in the 10,000m, a three-time NCAA D3 national qualifier and finished as runner up in 2016. He was a two-time Central College Track and Field MVP and was named Male Athlete of the Year. He graduated from Central College and went on to earn an MBA with an emphasis in management from West Texas A&M University in 2020. He is also a two-time cancer survivor.

His most memorable experiences from his time at DCHS revolve around the training they did day-in and day-out, on the track, bike trails and streets in the community. Having a strong culture and group of friends to grow, develop with and push each other to progress each day has provided him with so much more than he could have done on his own. His teammates became friends in all facets of his high school life and thereafter. No matter how many races he won or medals he received, he believes it would never have been so fulfilling without them by his side, winning on and off the course.

LIZZY (STACHON) DELANEY ‘11

Lizzy was a fouryear letter winner in girls basketball and finished her high school career as an MVP with a total of five school records. She was the KCCI Player of the Game versus Valley High School and was recognized as a DCHS MVP. She was named CIML All-Conference three times, Elite CIML, all-regional and all-district and earned a CIML All-Conference Academic Award. During her time at DCHS she was also named to three allstate teams and the Gatorade All Star team and was included in the inaugural edition of the Best Players of the AAU. She was also the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) five player career leader in blocks.

She currently works as a World Wide Operations recruiter at Amazon and is grateful for the lifelong friendships made during her time at DCHS.

CURT ENGLER ‘88

Curt was a two-time high school state wrestling qualifier and a 1988 state wrestling champion. He was a member of the 1987 and 1988 state champion teams and a Junior National Champion for USA Wrestling. In football he was a member of a state runner-up team and named second team all-state. He was also recognized as an Aquinas Key Excellence Medal recipient.

He went on to wrestle at the University of Notre Dame where he was an NCAA division wrestling tournament qualifier. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Throughout his career he has worked in the investment management industry, primarily in equity trading, for some of the largest asset managers in Chicago, New York and Hong Kong.

What he remembers most about his time at Dowling Catholic is the culture of excellence and the high expectations set by his coaches, teachers and teammates. He also learned the value of putting in the hard work and learned more from defeats than the victories.

She was recruited by several Division 1 basketball teams and went on to attend Columbia University due to the academic opportunities afforded there. She began her college basketball career as a starter and finished sixth in the Ivy League for blocked shots. An injury and surgery forced her into medical retirement, cutting her college basketball career short.

RICO GAFFORD ‘14

During his time at DCHS Rico’s impact was significant. A receiver and defensive back, he was named to the Des Moines Register All-

State football team and helped the Maroons win the first of what would become seven consecutive state championships. In track he won the 100m dash at the Drake Relays as well as the Class 4A state title in both the 200m and 100m dash with a state record time of 10.61.

Rico went on to play football for two years at Iowa Western Community College and then two years at the University of Wyoming where he was named second-team AllMountain West Conference. He has been a regular participant in NFL preseason training camps and on practice squad rosters as either a defensive back or wide receiver. He made the Oakland Raiders’ roster in 2019 and caught a 49-yard touchdown pass for his first career reception. He is currently on the practice squad of the Green Bay Packers.

Rico and partners have opened two restaurants in Des Moines — Rico’s at Drake and Vibes Kitchen and Bar downtown — and is often a visitor at the restaurants. He enjoys sharing his story with kids and strives to be someone people can talk to and learn from. In 2019, he launched the Gafford Foundation in 2019 to provide financial and meal support to families in need.

ANNE GRADOVILLE ‘17

Anne was an essential contributor, leader and captain of the girls golf team which qualified for the state tournament four consecutive years and won the first and only team state golf championship in school history. She is the only four-time place winner at the state golf tournament in DCHS history. She was an individual conference champion, a two-time regional champion, and a coed state champion. She was named to the all-tournament team all four years, as

well as the all-state team all four years. She was also a letter winner and captain of the swim team. She received the Herman Sani scholarship, an award based on academic performance, extracurricular activities and leadership qualities, and the Ann Griffel scholarship from the Iowa Golf Association.

She went on to golf at the University of Northern Iowa where she received a women’s golf athletic scholarship and a presidential scholarship. She was a varsity starter and the recipient of the State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award which honors the achievements of exceptional studentathletes in the conference. She was also a member of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee and the Executive Committee. She graduated Summa Cum Laude and currently serves as a missionary for the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) at Ohio State University.

What Anne remembers most about her experience at DCHS is the community. She felt extremely supported and encouraged by the faculty, staff, and students and was greatly impacted by the DCHS family that was always behind her, offering encouragement in academics, athletics and extracurricular activities.

RYAN SCHWEIZER ‘16

As a track and field athlete, Ryan earned a total of 12 state championships during high school. He was an eight-time state track and field champion, an individual state cross country champion, a twotime member of championship state cross country teams, and a five-time Drake Relays champion. He set the Drake Relays and state records in the 800m, was a two-time Drake Relays Outstanding High School Performer,

an All-Iowa Cross Country performer, a twotime All-Iowa track and field performer, and a two-time Iowa Gatorade Athlete of the Year. He currently holds the Iowa State Meet and Drake Relays records in the 800m and is the all-time fastest in the 1600m. At the Adidas Dream Mile in Boston, he placed third in 4:05.1 against the best high school runners in America. As a senior he was also a member of a state 200 freestyle relay swim team and was elected team captain for cross country, swimming and track and field.

Ryan went on to compete for four years at Notre Dame, graduating with a degree in business analytics and a minor in design. Though injured for most of his collegiate career, he still recorded the all-time best in the 800m and 1500m, made the All-ACC team in indoor and outdoor track, and was a twotime Monogram winner earning MVC honors. He transferred and competed for Drake University for a fifth year of cross country and track and field and to earn an MBA which he is in the process of completing. He currently works for Accenture as a Strategy and Consulting Analyst.

He will always remember the practices and competitions with teammates and the memories they made together during their time at DCHS, whether that was winning a team state championship or eating an unhealthy amount of McDonald’s breakfast after a brutally long swim practice. Through the highs and lows, he believes the relationships created are what truly matters and what he is most thankful for.

For a complete list of Athletic Hall of Fame inductees, please visit:

www.dowlingcatholic.org/ahof.

Fifty years ago, the new Dowling Catholic High School, freshly merged with St. Joseph Academy, opened with a coed student body of 1,647 students, a faculty that included 25 sisters from various religious orders and 14 priests.

And seven Homecoming queens.

A review of the student newspapers of that first semester on Buffalo Road finds a bit of snarky cynicism but, on the whole, the

newspaper staff, led by co-editors-in-chief Sue Boesen and Dan Mueller, celebrated the merger, move and successful launch of the new Dowling.

“Many things could have gone wrong on the new Dowling’s opening day, but the hard work and support of many people ensured its great success,” The Paper, as it was known in the day, opined in its first issue of the school year.

The band was celebrated that fall and consoled when the Iowa High School Athletic Association allowed only a drummer and trumpeter at the brand new state high school football championship game.

“Mr. Vince Nelson, beginning his fifth year as director … said this year’s band has the finest potential of any Dowling band he has directed,” The Paper reported.

Bishop Dingman laid the cornerstone of

the new building in October with Margo Munoz and Tom Diehl serving as student representatives.

Christmas baskets for the less fortunate, a tradition for years at St. Joseph Academy, continued and 25 families received gifts.

Tom Diehl, head of the senior class project, was joined on the committee by Rocky Graziano, Paul De Phillips, Joe Longo, Rick Pinneke, Pat McHenry, Bob Callaghan, Paul Duwelius, Andy Dieter, Sue Northrup, LuAnn Allender, Sheila Connolly, Meg Tibbetts, Anne Meng, Cece Lynch and Peggy Mauro.

The debate team was No. 1 in the state and the football team went to the championship game of the first Iowa state playoffs ever. The Stepperettes practiced that fall to march in the January inauguration parade in Washington, D.C., for Richard Nixon, and 95 seniors went west to Florida to see the launch of Apollo 17 and visit Disney World.

Dowling beat East in the Homecoming football game and the dance was held at the Val Air Ballroom. All seven nominees — Andrea Dieter, Ann Gladfelder, Molly Maloney, Cindy Steffen, Devin Thimesch, Susie Tutsi and Cathy Vonderhaar — were named Homecoming Queens in a show of spirit and unity at the new school.

“We pray for unity; we die to be united in Heaven with all the saints and our God,’’ Monsignor John George Weber wrote in a letter to The Paper, congratulating the seniors for naming the seven queens.

“Why not show it in a practical way which drives home the lesson that Christ Himself prayed for: that they may all be on … may they be one, so that the world will believe that you sent me. [John, 17, 21-22].”

A month or so later, Mary Gallo and Chris

Donahue reigned over the Christmas Formal at the Hotel Fort Des Moines as Snow Queen and King.

So did anything go wrong that fall?

The parking lot was crowded and the traffic jams often delayed student arrivals and departures. Mr. Bass thanked those students who voluntarily carpooled each day.

A cricket infestation left ears chirping for a few weeks. Sister Diane found them heavily matted in the music center. Rev. Stephany considered offering a five-cent bounty for each cricket killed in the religion center.

The school newspaper declared reports of a freshman being carried away by crickets was

inaccurate and Larry Chicchelly, the school’s chief engineer, predicted the crickets would be gone within a week. “We have sprayed and it should do an effective job,” he said.

Principal William Baas speculated cricket nests were enclosed in the school’s footprint, leaving the crickets to hatch in the new building. He said Dowling was lucky compared to its rival.

“At Valley’s new building, they built in a colony of garter snakes,” he said.

And the fall play, Camelot , originally scheduled for November, was delayed until January as the new auditorium waited on lighting, rigging and other stage components. The performance was so popular it was staged six times the final week of January, the last being a command performance so that those turned away at the door the previous nights could see the show.

Sean Sullivan was King Arthur. Cindy Steffen and Liz Gallogly were double cast at Guenivere and Bill Tell was Lancelot. Other seniors in the show included Albert McCann, Michael McDonald, Rose Bocella and Joe Phelan.

To sum up that first semester, The Paper included a Letter to the Editor from Tim Bognanno who moved to Arizona the summer before his senior year. It read, in part, “When I think of Dowling, I think of love, friendship, togetherness, spirit, it’s Fr. Culver, Mr. Nizzi, Mr. Flynn and other gentle teachers, but also all of the students that make my heart pain and make me go into a dream world…. Of being back at Dowling, being with everyone again. … be thankful that all who attend, will attend, or have attended are some of the most beautiful people in this troubled world.”

“WHEN I THINK OF DOWLING, I THINK OF LOVE, FRIENDSHIP, TOGETHERNESS, SPIRIT, IT’S FR. CULVER, MR. NIZZI, MR. FLYNN AND OTHER GENTLE TEACHERS, BUT ALSO ALL OF THE STUDENTS THAT MAKE MY HEART PAIN AND MAKE ME GO INTO A DREAM WORLD….”

TIM BOGNANNO

ART CLUB OFRENDA

Each fall students in Dowling Catholic’s Art Club create an ofrenda in celebration of Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, a Latin American holiday observed on November 1 and 2. The ofrenda is an essential part of this celebration, serving as a visual reminder of the deceased. This year’s ofrenda was created in honor of Marshal McManus who passed away in May and would have been a senior this year. Nearly 50 students contributed to this meaningful tribute which was on display during the month of November following the unveiling and prayer service.

The focal point of the ofrenda was a stunning monochromatic acrylic portrait of Marshal, hand painted by senior Sophia I Mauro with dramatic effect to convey simplicity, peacefulness and the blue feelings that occur with loss. The ofrenda also included a variety of items ranging from gear with his favorite sports teams to gaming equipment and food items, many of which were handmade by students to represent the things he enjoyed during his time on earth. During the prayer service, Fr. Reed Flood ‘13 spoke of the importance of these tangible reminders of loved ones that point us to eternity where death is not the end, but rather the doorway into eternal life.

This is the 19th year DCHS students have created an ofrenda under the guidance of Mrs. Brenda Kane, art teacher and moderator of the Art Club. Kane believes the tradition of creating an ofrenda is an example of how DCHS brings individuals together as a community of faith, uniting those from different cultures in remembrance and reverence for the souls of the dead.

“We specifically set aside November to pray for the departed,” said Kane. “When entering DCHS through the Narthex, the ofrenda honoring Marshal stopped us in our tracks and allowed us to take in the vivid visual reminder of our obligation to pray for the dead. I believe this outstanding artistic tribute created by our Art Club members urged us to spend some additional time in prayer.”

IN MEMORY OF LAURIE DOWIE

The Dowling Catholic community mourns the loss of Laurie Dowie, an administrative assistant at DCHS who passed away on August 31, 2022. Anyone who called or visited the school was always warmly greeted by Laurie. She was also a 1977 graduate of Dowling High School and an important part of the DCHS family.

Laurie was born May 4, 1959, in Racine, WI, to Lloyd and Barbara (Gaines) Zeman. Laurie married Christopher Dowie on March 12, 2000, and they made their home in Des Moines but also resided at the Lake of the Ozarks where they enjoyed hosting family and friends. She could often be found watching the Packers and also

IN MEMORIAM

Dowling Catholic extends its sympathy to the families of the following alumni who have passed away.

Dorthea (Fisher) Pender ‘44 SJA

James “Jim” Stark ‘47

James Patrick “Pat” Downey ‘48

Michael “Mike” Cunningham ‘49

Larry Dunphy ‘49

Theresa (Leonetti) Ferin ‘51 SJA

Sally (Donovan) Latta ‘51 SJA

JoAnn “Josie” (Bruning) Roorda ‘51 SJA

Michael Papian ‘52

Gloria (Music) Coverdell ‘53 SJA

Samuel “Sammy” Cataldo ‘55

Barbara (Comito) Belew ‘57 SJA

Glen Mankowski ‘57

Roger Stefani ‘57

Harold “Hal” Stronach ‘58

William “Bill” Beigger ‘59

Betty (Maxwell) Grask ‘59 SJA

Laurie is survived by her husband, Chris; her children, Nicholas (Chelsea) Porter, Ryan Dowie, and Shannon Marie Buttrey; four grandchildren, Palmer Porter, Lily Dowie, Devin Buttrey, and Eva Buttrey; her parents, Barb and Mike Arkwright; and her siblings Sue (Christopher) Guttin ‘78, MiKyung Cunningham, Jena (Brian Woolf) Schmidt, Michael Zeman ‘90, and Amanda (Dan

Sharon (Rissman) Baldwin ‘61 SJA

Sally (Schoonover) Faber ‘61 SJA

Richard Kimbro ‘61

Elizabeth “Liz” (Evans) Boswell ‘62 SJA

Karen (Holmes) McBride ‘62 SJA

Norman Seib ‘62

David Prior ‘63

Peter Dale ‘64

Edward “Ed” McIlhon ‘65

Richard “Mike” Sandie ‘65

She is remembered fondly and greatly missed by all who were privileged to know her. To read more about Laurie, please visit: www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/laura-dowie.

Vicki (Himrick) Smith ‘65 SJA

Dwight “Bud” Carter ‘66

Marilyn (Grasso) Carter ‘66 SJA

Kathy (Lord) Coffin ‘66 SJA

Thomas “Tom” Gilbreath ‘66

Patricia (Cook) Murray ‘66 SJA

Mary (Funaro) White ‘66 SJA

James “Jim” Davis ‘67

Margaret “Mimi” (Halbert) Downing ‘67 SJA

Judith “Judy” (Bukofski) Gangestad ‘67 SJA

Christopher “Chris” Lamberto ‘67

Catherine Murphy ‘67 SJA

Michael “Mike” Prey ‘67

Kathleen “Kathy” Bowen ‘68 SJA

Mary Desmond ‘68 SJA

Carol (Steward) Fraizer ‘68 SJA

Michael “Mike” Proctor ‘68

Craig Tingwald ‘68

Michael Gabriel ‘71

Terrence “Terry” Hogan ‘71

Michael J. Nesbit ‘71

Michael “Mike” Caffrey ‘73

David “Dave” Freylack ‘73

Patricia “Pat” (Vranich) Henderson ‘74

Cheri (Voss) Fernandez ‘75

Brian Floden ‘75

Connie (McClavy) Hellmann ‘75

Laura “Laurie” (Zeman) Dowie ‘77

John Gaps III ‘77

James “Jim” Stark ‘78

Angela (Barillas) Howerton ‘79

John McLaughlin ‘80

Patrick “Pat” Morris ‘80

Michael “Mike” Senn ‘80

Ramona “Moni” (Kosbau) Gaukel ‘88

Rochelle (Carson) Hoopes ‘88

Paul Wieser ‘90

Paul Fisher ‘94

Dominic Bonanno ‘20

Ava Vaske ‘21

The tradition of excellence continues for the Dowling Catholic boys cross country program as the team defended its state title with a victory at the Class 4A Championships in late October. The team placed five runners in the top 25 and defeated runner-up Johnston by 73 points. This victory marked the 10th team title in program history and the eighth in the past 12 seasons.

Senior Jackson Heidesch repeated as the Class 4A individual champion and set a new state meet record as the first runner to finish in under 15:00. Also running at state were Flynn Milligan who finished fifth, Jack Flori and Max DeRocher who were in the top 15, and Owen Wolfe, Matthew Bootman and Nick Klocke. This was the 14th consecutive season DCHS had qualified.

DANCE TEAM EARNS STATE TITLES

The Dowling Catholic dance team earned two state titles at the Iowa State Dance Team Association (ISDTA) Championships held at Wells Fargo Arena on Friday, December 2. The team finished as state champions in jazz and lyrical and placed second in pom.

The team also had seven soloists compete for titles, all of whom finished with division I ratings. Brooklyn O’Conner was crowned solo state champion, Charlotte James placed third, Caroline Maucieri placed sixth, Brooklyn Coen finished ninth, and Abby O’Hara, Evelyn Mazur and Jolissa Thomas also had excellent performances.

Head coach Tim Ives was recognized as the Class 4A Boys State Coach of the Year and Kelly McCarty was named Boys Assistant Coach of the Year. Additional state team members included Matthew Dietrich, Johnny Fox, Charlie Leto, Josh Mohan, Cole Nelson, Owen Palmer, Tim Sullivan, Patrick Wainwright, Patrick Warren and Joe Wilwerding.

The state championship capped off an incredibly successful season in which the team won every meet it entered, including the prestigious Roy Griak Invitational in Minnesota which the Maroons last won in 2015. There, the team competed against many of the top teams from Iowa and throughout the entire Midwest.

Members of the team continued to compete postseason with an outstanding performance at the Nike Cross Regional in Sioux Falls where the varsity team finished third, JV was fourth and Jackson Heidesch won the individual race. The win qualified Jackson to compete in the Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Oregon, where he finished an incredible high school cross country career as an All-American with a fifth place finish, the highest by an Iowa runner since the meet’s inception.

“Our fall cross country season was one we won’t soon forget,” said Ives. “From winning the Roy Griak Invitational to defending our team state championship to Jackson Heidesch’s 5th place finish at nationals, it truly was one of our best seasons in program history.”

“Our dancers were outstanding this year! They worked really hard to prepare for state, especially with adding a third routine,” said coach Taylor Schulte. “Dowling Catholic has not competed in Pom in a

number of years so we were all excited for the challenge. The girls went into state day feeling prepared and they were confident in their abilities. They came together as a team and Courtney and I could not be more proud of them.”

The team is coached by Taylor Schulte and Courtney Greteman and includes 25 members.

FALL SPORTS RECAP

BOYS GOLF: Season highlights from the boys golf team included finishing as champions of the Ankeny and SE Polk Invitationals. They qualified for the state tournament with the team of Tate Berns, Carter Yurgae, Charlie Ferrari, Henry Ferrari, Landon Cody, Matt Dorsey and Jack Freking.

GIRLS SWIM & DIVE: Capping off a season filled with many accomplishments, the girls swim and dive team finished as runners-up at state. The state team included seniors Bri Evans, Emma Foth, Julia Sweetman and Zarah Worth; juniors Annie Honkamp, Sasha Gisi, Allie Nedved, Ryann Rossi and Abby Wilcox; sophomores Audrey Doud, Anna Huss, Berit Kallemeier and Natalie Salazar; and freshmen Mary Honkamp, Mia Halaczkiewicz, Sassy Hassett and Nina Spanovic.

FOOTBALL: The top-ranked football team finished the regular season with a 10-1 record. The team defeated Waukee Northwest in the state quarterfinals but fell to Valley 21-22 in the semifinals.

VOLLEYBALL: The volleyball team finished an outstanding season with a 31-9 record. A highlight from the season was earning three straight tournament wins, something that has never been done by any DCHS varsity volleyball team. The team advanced to the state tournament after a 3-1 victory over Sioux City North but fell to Ankeny Centennial 3-2 in the quarterfinals.

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY: The girls cross country team earned a second place finish at the district meet and qualified for state for the 17th consecutive year. The state team included Liv Hall, Avery Muller, Sally Gaskell, Lauryn Frerichs, Abby Ziegert, Meredith Schultz and Elise Huegerich.

Congratulations to all of our student-athletes and coaches on an outstanding fall season! Please visit dowlingcatholic.org/athletics for a schedule of upcoming events. Go Maroons!

SAVE 15% ON YOUR NEXT PURCHASE

Please present this coupon or use code WINTER2023 online

PLANNED GIVING

We kindly ask you to consider remembering Dowling Catholic when planning your estate, defining your legacy, and evaluating your charitable interests. Your planned gift could change the world for students you will never have the opportunity to meet.

For more information, please visit: dowlingcatholic.plannedgiving.org

Some exclusions apply; uniform items, spirit signs, yard signs and activity specific apparel are not eligible for discount. Offer cannot be applied to previous purchases. Coupon expires March 1, 2023.