Focus Magazine XIX

A PUBLICATION FOR THE DOWLING CATHOLIC COMMUNITY

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

Dear Friends,

I hope this letter finds you and your loved ones well. With the second semester underway, I would like to express my gratitude for this community. Whether you are a parent, an alum or a friend, our mission is fueled by you and our dedicated faculty and staff. I am pleased to share some recent highlights that are only possible with your support.

Service to others is one of the many ways our students put their faith into action. There is no better example than the annual Christmas Baskets service project. Thanks to outstanding leadership from the senior class and the generosity of our community, our students were able to help more than 100 local families this Christmas season by providing gifts, groceries, and other household items. It is an honor for us to carry on this tradition started more than 50 years ago by the BVM Sisters at St. Joseph Academy.

The dedication of our students also extends into the classroom. In our efforts to prepare them for life after high school, we have implemented a new program to build communication and leadership skills and are making progress in developing a new career academy track. We will also host our annual college fair later this month with more than 70 schools in attendance and will continue our school-wide testing day in March when every junior will take the ACT on campus while freshmen and sophomores take the pre-ACT. Ultimately, our goal is to help students discover and cultivate their God-given talents and graduate with the confidence to lead positive change in the world.

Activities outside of the classroom are also an important part of the Dowling Catholic experience. I am proud to share that more than 90% of our students are involved in an extracurricular activity. This brings many accolades to celebrate, including the boys cross country team’s 10th state championship title; the dance, swim and dive, and volleyball teams finishing as runners-up at state; as well as successful band, choir and theater performances to name just a few. I hope you enjoy reading about the many ways students shared their gifts and talents in the pages ahead.

We have also faced difficult times together. We rely on our faith as we work to heal from the tragic loss of one of our students, Max Fahnlander. I am grateful for the ongoing prayers and support from so many in our community. We continue to pray for Max’s family, friends and classmates.

We are working to partner with parents to equip students for the unprecedented challenges they face today. In recent years we’ve increased our focus on mental health and have added several new initiatives to provide education and support for students and families. This includes focused time with our counseling staff, additional guest speakers, and a new anonymous reporting tool to share concerns with the administration. A working group continues to meet regularly with a focus on student safety, social media, technology, mental health, and internal protocols.

I am also grateful for our engaged alumni community. In recent months we enjoyed welcoming many of them back to campus for different celebrations including class reunions, Masses, a swim and dive reunion, and the celebration of 50 years of girls basketball with members of the first team. We hope our alumni located in Iowa and across the country know they will always have an important place in this community. Once a Maroon, Always a Maroon.

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

In Christ,

Dr. Dan Ryan President

CONTENTS

ADVANCEMENT UPDATE

Fulfilling the DCHS mission.

CALENDAR

Find out about upcoming Dowling Catholic events.

FEATURE

Students travel on a discernment pilgrimage to Iceland.

ON CAMPUS

Students take the stage.

WELL DONE

Success in and outside of the classroom.

CLASS NOTES

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

TRUE MAROON

Celebrating the 2023 DCHS Athletic Hall of Fame inductees.

FEATURE

A life of prayer, ministry and community.

IN MEMORIAM

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

THE PULSE

Carrying on the legacy. A new era for speech and debate.

OUR MISSION

Preparing Leaders for Life, Centered on Christ. Every Dowling Catholic graduate discovers and cultivates their God-given talents to make positive change in the world.

ON THE COVER

In January a group from DCHS traveled to Iceland for a discernment pilgrimage where they participated in activities related to various vocations to discern God’s call to holiness in their own lives.

PRESIDENT: Dr. Dan Ryan

DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT:

Julie Bell

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR:

Tara Nelson

ART DIRECTOR:

Colin Gargano

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:

Rachel Brown

Ted Power

COPY EDITORS:

Kathy Kirby Power ‘80

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS:

Terry Clark ‘96, Turner Fry ‘24, Colin Gargano, Joe Hartman ‘24, Earl Hulst, Ryland Jones, Jenny Umstead ‘89

UPDATE

Donors make a significant impact at Dowling Catholic High School, 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:

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 to help students in their faith and academic pursuits.

Tuition: DCHS is committed to serving the Greater Des Moines community and making a Catholic education accessible to all. Gifts to the Annual Appeal helped to provide $1.4 million in tuition assistance to DCHS students during the 20222023 school year.

Tuition covers just 70% of the per-student cost, with the remainder funded by parishes and the Annual Appeal. Support of the Annual Appeal also helps to cover the “gap” between tuition and the cost to educate each student.*

School Services: The Annual Appeal supports every aspect of the school’s daily operations. Dowling Catholic’s commitment to excellence extends to the building and grounds, technology and providing competitive teacher compensation.

To donate, please visit: www.dowlingcatholic.org/annual-appeal.

Matching Gifts: Many employers sponsor a matching gift program, providing an easy way to leverage your gift. Some of these employers include MidAmerican Energy, Wellmark and Wells Fargo. To find out if your company participates in a matching gift program, please visit www.dowlingcatholic.org/matching-gifts. The impact of your gift may be doubled or even tripled!

Bishop Dowling & St. Joseph Academy Societies

In recognition of our founding schools, DCHS has established a convenient giving program that 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 at www.dowlingcatholic.org/societies

The cost to educate each student for the 2023-2024 school year is $14,290 $3,088 leaving a “gap” amount of

“My favorite aspect of the Dowling Catholic community is the overall sense of unity. The students, faculty, and staff are always supportive of one another through any adversity or challenges and rally together to achieve many goals. I am so grateful to be a Maroon!”

Alex G. ‘25

Timothy E. Sheaff Speech, Debate and Drama Endowment

A new endowment has been established at Dowling Catholic in honor of Timothy E. Sheaff ‘86. Read a tribute from alumnus Steve Strachota ‘86, who invites others to join him in perpetuating the incredible legacy of Tim Sheaff. To contribute, please visit www.dowlingcatholic.org/debate.

Tim, a member of our graduating class of 1986, recently passed away – far too young and with so much left to offer his students, community, and family. Tim married Christy (Frueh) Sheaff, another graduate of our class – and had six children who all attended DCHS.

Dowling Catholic as well as speech and debate are poorer for his absence. But we can perpetuate his legacy through the support of this special endowment which will be used to support Dowling Catholic drama, speech, and debate activities.

Tim and I participated in many debate and speech tournaments together across the U.S. and I was blessed to call him a friend. I remember him as precocious, animated, talented, and passionate. It was therefore no surprise to hear he had taken over the Dowling Catholic speech and debate program – where he excelled. Tim’s commitment raised Dowling Catholic drama and speech to a new level of participation and exceptionalism. He was broadly recognized across Iowa and national associations. In 2022 Tim was inducted into the Iowa High School Speech Association Hall of Fame.

It was not until Tim’s passing, however, that I experienced the full impact of his life’s work on the debate program across Iowa and the nation. The outpouring of adoration and admiration shook my core. I looked back on the positive impact Dowling and my participation in debate had on my life successes, contemplating the multiplication effect that Tim’s service gave to an entire generation of students throughout the years. In an uncertain world where rigorous analysis and articulate thought often give way to false narratives and closed minds – Tim’s lifelong vocation to speech and debate helped arm students with the skills required to find truth through dialog and discussion.

It is now our turn to carry forward Tim’s work. The establishment of an endowment ensures Tim’s commitment to learning will continue unabated. It will help maintain the level of excellence Tim’s hard work and passion achieved. An endowment will help support student participation, attract the very best teachers/coaches, and ensure Dowling Catholic’s drama, speech and debate programs remain an impactful contributor to student success.

In short, funding the Tim Sheaff endowment is our opportunity to “pay it forward” for future students.

Tim shined a light on those he interacted with and brought meaning to the words of Author Alysha Siddiqi: “Be the person you needed when you were younger.”

Thank you, Tim, it is our turn now.

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 our community members contribute far more than financial resources. You give of your time and talent, and for that, we are incredibly grateful.

A special thanks to our Leadership Council 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 sustains our mission as we prepare Leaders for Life, Centered on Christ. To view a list of donors for fiscal year 2022-2023, please visit www.dowlingcatholic.org/BoG23.

Business Directory

Do you own or operate a local business? Dowling Catholic has a 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 families, alumni and supporters! To learn more, please visit www.dowlingcatholic.org/directory.

Steve Strachota, Dowling class of 1986

The Dowling Catholic community came together in late October for the 62nd Annual Pancake Breakfast with more than 1,800 people in attendance. Guests were treated to performances by band and choir students and had the opportunity to interact with representatives from numerous student clubs and activities. Proceeds from the event will support a new Student Activities Endowment which will provide opportunities for new clubs and groups and enhancements to those already in existence.

A special thanks to Jen ‘89 and Paul Damge and Matt ‘86 and Bethany Kiernan who served as event co-chairs, and to Elizabeth Colosimo who managed the bake sale. We would also like to thank Deb Derry ‘89 who brought the campus store to the event, Colleen Conway-Schiltz who provided the decor, and the nearly 500 additional student and adult volunteers who generously donated their time and talent to help make the event a success. We are also grateful to Mr. Steve Holland, Director of Bands, and Mr.

The event would not have been possible without our presenting sponsors, Global Direct Marketing and Knights of Columbus Bormann Agency, and the following businesses which also provided sponsorship support: A.J. Allen Mechanical Contractors, Beisser Lumber Company, Blue Compass, West Bank, BarrNunn Transportation LLC, Dario Lenarduzzi Terrazzo Co., Fire Creek Grill, Global Tech Services Inc., Graham Construction, Huntington Learning Center, Integrity Printing, Lisa Giudici Travel, Mercedes-Benz of Des Moines, Snyder & Associates, Drake University and Raising Canes.

Thank you to all who attended or contributed to the success of the event in other ways. Your support truly makes a difference for our students. To learn more about upcoming community events, please visit www.dowlingcatholic.org/events. To volunteer or learn about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Bonnie Bronson, Events and Community Engagement Manager, at bbronson@dowlingcatholic.org.

CALENDAR

Be a Part of the Tradition!

Dowling Club boosters have been supporting our student-athletes since 1941! You can be a 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.

Joining the Dowling Club has its privileges! Boosters receive a one-time 15% discount in the Campus Store or online, special invitations to appreciation events, and sports passes to all home events (excluding tournament play). To learn more, please visit www.dowlingcatholic.org/dowling-club. Thank you for your support. Go Maroons!

Athletic Sponsorships

The DCHS Athletic Department has an exciting opportunity underway with a variety of exclusive athletic sponsorships! If you’re interested in helping meet department needs and supporting our student-athletes, while also increasing your brand visibility and giving back to the DCHS community, then look no further. For more information on game day sponsorships, digital advertising, field signage, corporate Dowling Club memberships, or a customized package created just for you, please visit dowlingcatholic.org/athletic-sponsorships.

> APR 6 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. New this year, proceeds will support the purchase of a new bus to transport students to extracurricular activities, retreats, and athletic events.

> APR 24 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 annual nomination deadline is February 15. Please submit at www.dowlingcatholic.org/nominate-now.

> APR 25 - 27 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.

> APR 28 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.

> MAY 6 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, Dowling Catholic Singers and A Cappella Choir. The evening will conclude with special recognition of senior choir members.

> MAY 23 Baccalaureate Mass

St. Francis of Assisi

7075 Ashworth Road, West Des Moines

The Class of 2024 will have the opportunity to celebrate the Sacred Mass together one last time 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 24 Graduation Ceremony

Knapp Center, Drake University

2525 Forest Avenue, Des Moines

Dowling Catholic’s commencement ceremony for the Class of 2024 will take place at the Knapp Center on the Drake Campus at 7:30 p.m.

> AUG 5 DCHS Golf Outing

Terrace Hills Golf Course

8700 NE 46th Ave, Altoona

Each summer the DCHS community comes together for a fun day of golf to raise money for the Coppola Family Endowment. This fund was initiated in the early 1970s and continues to provide tuition assistance to DCHS students. For more information or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Bonnie Bronson at bbronson@dowlingcatholic.org or 515.222.1095.

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

A Divine Adventure

Twelve DCHS seniors began the year with a new perspective as they traveled on a discernment pilgrimage to Iceland the first week in January. Led by Fr. Reed Flood ‘13, Fr. James Downey ‘11, Mr. Terry Clark ‘96 and Mr. Ryland Jones, they discerned God’s call to holiness through exploring Iceland’s wilderness and natural beauty, climbing Mt. Helgafell’s “Holy Mountain,” exploring a volcano tunnel, and visiting with the Carmelites and Servadores religious sisters.

Fr. Flood first traveled to Iceland during seminary. As DCHS chaplain, this was the second year in a row he returned with a group from DCHS, traveling last year with six students and two other chaperones. He believes the location is perfect for a discernment trip as the rugged beauty and dramatic landscape get people’s attention but also provide a perfect image of what a spiritual journey is.

“The purpose behind the Iceland Discernment Pilgrimage is to reveal an essential truth regarding vocations: God calls us on a Divine Adventure,” said Fr. Flood. “The exterior experiences in Iceland reflect an even greater interior experience: the inner spiritual life. Climbing mountains, exploring petrified volcano tunnels, and eating ammoniated sharks contribute to this tangible experience of adventure.”

The group began each day with Mass and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament before participating in activities related to various vocations. They also exercised, listened to a daily talk from each adult related to a different theme, and enjoyed meals together prepared by the students

who served as the kitchen masters, one of several jobs assigned to each of them. With just four hours of daylight, much of their time was spent in darkness.

“We intentionally did a lot of prayer before the sun came up and after the sun went down,” said Fr. Downey. “The time of prayer in darkness was especially important just to be able to

“The purpose behind the Iceland Discernment Pilgrimage is to reveal an essential truth regarding vocations: God calls us on a Divine Adventure”

FR. REED FLOOD ‘13

set everything aside and have those parts of the day dedicated to it. Part of the retreat pilgrimage is adventure, but there is definitely an important aspect related to pulling away from everything and everyone else. The distance allows you to grow closer to each other, to fraternal bonding.”

He felt that visiting with the religious sisters was very powerful in gaining an understanding of prayer, something he recognizes that many are uncomfortable with or don’t know how to do.

“Discernment prayer is absolutely necessary and an essential part of what we do,” said Fr. Downey. “Going beyond that, prayer is going to be hard when people don’t have the understanding that it can be as simple as sitting there having a casual conversation. If they have the words and a model to follow they will eventually understand that prayer is how you are in a relationship with God.”

“I think everyone took away so much from visiting with the religious sisters,” said Fr. Downey. “At first it might seem that they are just isolated, but after spending an hour with them it becomes very clear that they really have the greatest joy. In dedicating their lives to prayer they are free from everything we are tied to and worry about in our dayto-day lives. They have a freedom that comes from being able to fully focus on what ultimately matters.”

In examining a way of life so different from their own, one student shared the words of a religious sister that explained their calling perfectly: “Our vocation is where our greatest desire meets the world’s greatest need.”

For Terry Clark, chair of the theology department and director of ministry and formation at DCHS, each aspect of the trip provided a unique perspective. He felt the natural landscape helped them get comfortable with sitting in darkness to focus on ways to incorporate prayer into their daily lives.

“The landscape is so unique and stark it’s almost like being on a different planet,” said Clark. “Even when it’s light

it’s almost like dawn. You can’t help but withdraw into yourself, noticing the beauty but also sitting in the darkness in thought and prayer. Everyone had vastly different perspectives going in, so it was great to see how locked into the process the senior guys were by the end of the week. Seeing them want to go on the trip not just for the scenery and experience, but also the faith and discernment was probably the most beautiful aspect.”

As the only chaperone somewhat new to Catholicism and DCHS, Ryland Jones, the male Ut Fidem coordinator at DCHS, had a unique perspective as his path to youth ministry was not necessarily typical. He previously served in the Army as an infantryman with the 10th Mountain Division out of Fort Drum, New York. He returned home after an injury where he met his wife, a DCHS alumna from the Class of 2014, who was stationed in Alaska with the Army. They eventually returned to her hometown and were married in the St. Joseph Chapel. It was on their honeymoon that he began to

feel called to Catholic ministry, which led him to where he is today.

“Growing up in Alaska, I’ve always felt connected to nature and God’s beauty,” said Jones. “The experience alone of climbing Mt. Helgafell was amazing and quite the physical feat. It was icy and super foggy, and the focus of the day was silence with two dedicated periods for thinking and discernment. One was while crossing over a frozen swamp, and the other was on the way down where we sat in silence on a ledge. This was a solid reminder that this was no vacation. We were there for a purpose. I’ve learned that the key is to listen and look. Many people pray, but they never look. I am still learning, and it was amazing to see the growth in the young men over the course of the week.”

“My time in Iceland was one of the highlights of my life,” said senior Adrian Brown. “Being surrounded by beauty, faith, culture and brotherhood has changed me. I will never be the same, and

my life will reflect how I grew through this experience.”

No matter what vocations the students decide to discern, Fr. Flood hopes this trip is just the beginning and can be a catalyst, one that moves people from knowing about God, to knowing God. He would also love to see the trip grow and is open to new possibilities in the future, including a trip for females who want to discern God’s call.

“Somewhere along the line, pursuing one’s vocation and living a life of faith became labeled as boring by today’s society. That is so far from the truth. The greatest adventure we can ever hope to experience is rooted in our God-Given vocations. God created the world and he created us, so he knows what will ultimately fulfill our deepest desires. I pray this pilgrimage will inspire the world to live out their vocations. If God is calling you to the seminary or religious life, then buckle up. I cannot fathom a greater adventure than that.”

School of Magic

In late October, the Performing Arts Department brought the magic of Harry Potter to the stage for the fall play production of Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic. Written by playwright Matt Cox, the play is a parody of the Harry Potter book series by J.K. Rowling but told from the perspective of the Puffs inspired by the Hogwarts house, Hufflepuff.

The play was directed by Sarah Raymond but selected by Tim Sheaff ‘86, the longtime director of drama and debate who passed away in June. For the fall play, Sheaff typically followed a rotation of the American Classics, Shakespeare, and then something more lighthearted every third year. Shakespeare was up in his rotation, but in May, he messaged Raymond, who at the time was assisting with the fall play and spring musical, and said they should look at the Puffs script because he thought more kids would be excited about it.

His intuition was correct, and the production ultimately included a cast and crew of 40, attracting many new students who auditioned because they loved Harry Potter. They produced the Young Wizarding edition, so the kids in the audience knew many of the jokes and were particularly engaged.

“Everyone rallied around the production, including the parents, faculty and staff,” said

Raymond. “People knew the best way to honor Mr. Sheaff would be to continue the legacy and just do a really great show. We talk about him a lot. This is very much the space that he built. If kids want to reminisce, have a moment or a laugh, this is a space where they

They had many such moments during the production, particularly when the unveiling of the ofrenda in his honor was inadvertently scheduled during the first dress rehearsal.

“We had a good chuckle, and the kids said he would be so mad if they missed the dress rehearsal for his ofrenda,” said Raymond.

Junior Ella Johnson is now a fall play veteran but that wasn’t the case when she decided on a whim to audition for the fall play as a freshman.

“I hate chocolate, a sentiment far from the truth, was the opening line in the monologue I used to audition my freshman year,” said Ella. “I had decided to audition the night before, and while I boasted no prior acting experience, I had a love for watching plays and was enchanted by the idea of performing in them. Now as a junior, three years in the fall play has allowed me to adopt the persona of nine different characters, build relationships with three of my closest friends, and work with two extremely gifted directors. As I look to my senior year, the curtain call to my fall play career, I am overjoyed by the prospect of acting alongside the next freshman who decides to pursue high school acting on a whim, getting to hear one more laugh from the audience, and in the words of the late Mr. Sheaff, ‘do art.’”

The Gift of the Magi

The winter play production The Gift of the Magi was presented for the DCHS community in early December with a special matinee performance for more than 400 parochial school fourth-grade students before opening night. The story is a classic Christmas parable about a young couple who deal with the challenge of buying secret gifts for each other with very little money.

The winter play is produced and performed by Acting + students, a class taught by Mrs. Sarah Raymond that includes students at the sophomore level and higher who have completed Acting I and II. Raymond directs the play, and this year there were nine in the cast, four on the crew, and a few additional students outside of the class who volunteered their time.

“These students are like the varsity team of acting,” said Raymond. “They can manage their own time and don’t need a lot of direction. They could be thrown into any situation and would handle it well.”

While this is just her second year at DCHS, Raymond has been teaching and doing theater for 18 years. For the winter play, she was focused on finding a classic Christmas show because of the timing and the excitement the younger audience always brings when it comes to celebrating the season.

“This production is special because the cast and crew often remember coming to DCHS to watch when they were young,” said Raymond. “Many of them still have connections and they get excited to perform for their former school.”

The winter play is the second of three productions the Performing Arts Department puts on each year. The spring musical production of Newsies will be presented to the community on April 25-27, 2024.

WELL DONE Christmas Baskets

In early November, Dowling Catholic students kicked off the annual Christmas Basket service project started more than 50 years ago by the BVM Sisters of St. Joseph Academy. Each year DCHS proudly carries on this timehonored tradition of helping local families in need during the Christmas season.

Today, Christmas Baskets is one of the largest school-wide service projects and is led by the senior class which enlists the help of students in all grade levels as well as their families, faculty, staff, and the greater community. Groups of seniors meet with their “adopted families” to determine their needs and wants which are then presented to underclassmen who are invited to contribute or participate in the project in other ways.

In addition to gifts to place under the tree, each family receives groceries, toiletries, household items, clothing, and other necessities. Generous support from local businesses makes much of this possible. Capital City Fruit donated produce as they have for the last 32 years, Two Men and a Truck provided boxes for the deliveries, Kum & Go offered a discount on the purchase of gift cards, and Variety a Children’s Charity donated bikes. The DCHS Art Club also contributes annually, this year making a monetary donation and candles for each family. Two additional student service clubs, Cards for a Cause and Outreach, contributed to this year’s project

National Merit Semifinalists

Dowling Catholic is proud to announce that seniors Mitchell Cook, Brett Gifford and John Thilges have been named 2024 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists. The names of approximately 16,000 semifinalists in the 69th Annual National Merit Scholarship Program were announced in September.

Students enter the scholarship program by taking the Preliminary SAT. The nationwide pool of semifinalists includes the highest-scoring entrants in the state of Iowa who represent 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 that will be offered in the spring.

by making Christmas cards for the families. Faculty and staff supplied 441 gifts for every child attending Moulton Elementary and monetary donations, a portion of which receive matching gift support each year thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor.

The project concludes with the Candlelighting prayer service before 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 103 local families.

“I have been coordinating the Christmas Basket project for 32 years and am continually amazed at the compassion and generosity of the Dowling Catholic students, parents, faculty and staff, and the greater community,” said Jeff Ferguson, a teacher and director of student activities. “It humbles me every year when I look at what we have done, how we have truly lived the mission of Dowling Catholic. Thank you to everyone.”

A Royal Renaissance Celebration

In January the Dowling Catholic Performing Arts Department hosted the annual Madrigal Dinner at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in West Des Moines. Despite challenges presented by a winter storm, the show went on with approximately 100 student vocalists and instrumentalists involved in providing an evening of festive music and entertainment for the community.

The Madrigal Dinner has been a tradition at Dowling Catholic for more than 20 years. Mr. Quinn Tipping ‘09 has been involved in 14 of them, first as a student and now as the director of choral music. Mr. Steve Holland, director of bands, has been involved with the production every year and Mrs. Lindsay Hughes, assistant director of choral music, for the past three.

Students begin rehearsing at the end of October when casting occurs. The Royal Court typically consists of upperclassmen who are selected via audition along with the court jester. Additional roles include the serving chorus, the royal pages, and the royal court which are usually underclassmen.

Historically a madrigal is a secular genre of vocal music that was typical of the Renaissance Era, usually performed a cappella with many different harmonies. Today, madrigals are often hosted by colleges and some high schools and filled with music, pageantry and food, reminiscent of a Renaissance feast. The interactive dinners are typically comedic in nature and include a skit and a meal divided into courses, each of which is heralded with a traditional song.

Iowa All-State Music Festival

Tipping appreciates the opportunity the genre provides for many students to perform as well as the educational aspect of working with centuries-old music.

“Our music today owes a lot to what composers were starting to innovate and create 500 years ago,” said Tipping. “It’s great music that is really at the core of our repertoire for choir and band. I think we have one of the finest madrigals when you add in the costumes, the food and the venue. It feels like walking into a castle and really transports you to a different time. The kids have fun and it’s educational for them to learn this type of music. It’s a unique event that has become one of our greatest traditions.”

Congratulations to the DCHS students who participated in the 2023 Iowa All-State Music Festival held November 16-18, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. A new school record was set with the following 15 students selected for the All-State Chorus: Zoe Ball, Kerigan Creighton, Audrey Doud, Ben Hall, Liv Hall, Colin Heaston, Grace Hochberger, Elizabeth James, Sarah Kinnison, Lewis Lentsch, JD Martin, Mara Mead, Ephraim Messer, Quentin Steinbach and Jacob Suresh. Grace Aerisolphal (trumpet), Presila Edward (violin), and Isabella Rempe (violin) were selected for the All-State Orchestra.

The All-State Music Festival Concert was presented on November 18, 2023, at Hilton Coliseum and broadcast by Iowa PBS on Thanksgiving. Special recognition goes to Presila Edward, a four-year member of the All-State Orchestra, and to Zoe Ball, who was a featured soloist in this year’s All-State Chorus. The concert takes place annually and features performances from more than a thousand of Iowa’s top high school musicians and vocalists.

CLASS NOTES

To share alumni news or update your contact information, please visit www.dowlingcatholic.org/alumni or contact Kathy Kirby Power ‘80, alumni manager, at kkirbypower@dowlingcatholic.org or 515.222.1087.

Congratulations to RJ Hernandez ‘75 who was inducted into the 2023 Iowa Latino Hall of Fame. Each year, six Latino Iowans are recognized for using their talents and skills to improve the quality of life in Iowa. Hernandez was honored for providing family counseling, mentoring young men, coaching basketball for multiple schools, and preserving Latino history, traditions, and customs utilizing music and song as tools to educate and empower thousands of young students. Several of his Dowling classmates attended the ceremony, including Terry Lewton, Mary Menough Bartusek, Nancy Katich Ott, Brian Tracy, Rick Cacciatore, Lisa Hostelka Eittreim and Mark Otto from the Class of 1975.

Listen to Stories From Buffalo Road, a podcast from Dowling Catholic High School featuring guests with a special place in school history. The latest episode features Bob ‘54 and Madeline (Kieler) Harlan ‘56 who talk about their time at Dowling and SJA in the 1950s. Search “Stories From Buffalo Road” on Spotify and YouTube to find the episodes streaming now!

The 2023 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees were recognized during a ceremony at DCHS and the homecoming football game. Congratulations to Cristen (Slings) Clark ‘01, Bill Gaul ‘03, Christopher M. Geneser ‘85, Jim Hallman ‘81, Allison Olberding ‘16, Erica Olberding ‘16 and Bryan Ollie ‘99!

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 more than 100 alumni from the old Dowling, St. Joseph Academy and DCHS. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Save the Date

A Band and Color Guard alumni reunion will take place on September 25th and 26th over homecoming weekend. More details to follow!

The 2023 Swim & Dive Reunion was held at Dowling Catholic on October 28, 2023, in celebration of the decades-long tradition of DCHS swim and dive excellence. The festivities began with a social hour and included a photo booth, a video of alumni swimmers and coaches, and an overview of the current program and plans for the future. The DCHS Swim & Dive Team and Riptide also displayed their many talents in the pool. Kristin Hall ‘95 served as emcee and speakers included Coach Crouch, Paul Eure ‘83 (DCHS girls/boys coach), Ann Peterson ‘98 (Riptide coach), Dr. Ryan and current swimmers.

Dowling Catholic High School was blessed to celebrate the start of a new school year with a new processional cross and candles which were a 50-year reunion gift from the class of 1972, the last classes to graduate from the “old” Dowling and St. Joseph Academy. They were blessed by Bishop Joensen and

As a student at Ave Maria University in Florida, Dylan Smidt ‘21 founded a brand inspired by his Catholic faith which has amassed a following of buyers from his former peers at DCHS to professional athletes. He became interested in graphic design as a junior at DCHS and designed clothing and a children’s book called “God’s Little Kiddo.” His interest grew from there and led to the start of Radical Love, a clothing company that combines scripture and style. Learn more about his company at radicallovecommunity.com.

Dowling Catholic partnered with LifeServe Blood Center to host a blood drive on campus in honor of Ava Vaske ‘21, an alumna who lost her battle with cancer in 2022. The drive included 30 firsttime donors and 50 units of blood were collected which will save or sustain up to 150 lives. A special thanks to the Vaske family for letting us be a part of honoring Ava’s memory in this meaningful way.

used for the first time liturgically during Mass of the Holy Spirit.

The shields of Dowling Catholic High School and St. Joseph Academy adorn the bases, honoring the history and traditions of both schools. The hand-carved Cimabue Corpus and wood “Dowling Cross” were created in northern Italy, a region known for nurturing generations of artists who are masters of blending artistic creativity and devotional expression. A special thanks to The Cosgrave Company which coordinated the design, implementation, and completion of this project, and to Mike ‘72 and Donna Egan who represented the alumni class at Mass.

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 2023 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees.

CRISTEN (SLINGS) CLARK ‘01

In softball, Cristen had a 12:1 strikeout-towalk ratio, played in four state tournaments and held a 97-11 record. She was named allconference four times and all-district and allstate three times. In 2001 she earned elite allstate recognition and was named to the Iowa 3A All-Star Team and the Elite All-Star Team.

She played in four state basketball tournaments and was a member of the 1998 and 2000 championship teams coached by Bob and Sharon Hanson. She was also a Bernie Saggau Award winner and earned allconference honors in volleyball.

Cristen is the owner of Fastpitch Farm Softball and works as an agricultural communications consultant, a food editor, and farmer. She resides in Runnells, Iowa, with her husband and two children.

She is very thankful for the sacrifices her parents made for her to be able to attend DCHS. Having active children of her own, she can’t imagine what a 31-mile drive to school each day would be like. She is also grateful for the incredible experiences and outstanding education she received. Among the many wonderful coaches and teachers she had the opportunity to learn from, Coach Sharon Hanson is the person who stands out as she praised hard work, appreciated her farming background, and had a way of getting the best out of every player. Cristen tries to emulate those qualities as a coach and would still run through a brick wall for Coach Hanson to this day.

BILL GAUL ‘03

Bill was a four-year varsity swimmer who helped his team to four consecutive state championships. He was state runner-up in the 100 breaststroke his senior year which set a new school record. He was also part of a medley relay team that set a new school record the same year. Bill also excelled in academics and was a member of the National Honor Society and an Aquinas Key and Academic Letter recipient.

He also swam for local and travel teams and has a trophy case full of memories. He earned his Eagle Scout Award in 2002, using his project to raise money and complete enhancements for the Camp Sunnyside swimming facilities.

Bill continued his swimming career at the University of Missouri Rolla where he participated in the NCAA national championships all four years and helped his team to a fourth-place finish in 2007. He was

recognized twice by ESPN The Magazine as Academic All-American Team Member of the Year and once as Academic All-American Athlete of the Year. At the conclusion of his college career he had earned ten All-American swims and four Academic All-American recognitions.

He graduated with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and accepted an assistantship at Iowa State University where he earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering. He currently lives in Ames, Iowa, and works for Syngenta as a technical analyst.

CHRISTOPHER M. GENESER ‘85

Christopher was a three-time state wrestling qualifier who earned a third-place finish two of those years. His team earned the state championship title in 1984 and finished as runnerup in 1985. He was a State Junior Freestyle place winner (4th - USA Wrestling), a USA Junior Freestyle World Team member, a Junior Freestyle World Champion (USA Wrestling, FILA), a two-time National Junior Freestyle place winner (3rd & 4th, USA Wrestling), a State Junior Freestyle Champion (USA Wrestling), and a 1985 High School All-American who was recognized by Amateur Wrestling News.

He went on to wrestle at Notre Dame where he was a four-year starter. He was a three-time Western Regional finalist (two-time champion, NCAA qualifying tournament), a three-time NCAA Division-I tournament qualifier, a National Freestyle place winner (6th place, Espoir college level), and ranks second all-time in wins in Notre Dame Wrestling history. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and became a certified CPA.

He currently resides in Chicago with his wife, Lisa, and their four children. He is a partner and CFO with CIVC Partners, LP.

What he remembers most about his time at Dowling Catholic are the relationships created in the classroom with teachers and his friendships with classmates and teammates.

JIM HALLMAN ‘81

Jim played in two state high school baseball tournaments and helped his team to the state championship game his senior year. He was recognized with all-conference, all-district and all-state honors in baseball.

He went on to play baseball at Grand View University where he earned alldistrict, All-Area 4 (Midwest Region) and All-American honors. He played

in two College World Series and holds school records for total bases in a career and most games played as a catcher in a season and in a career. He was inducted into the Grand View University Hall of fame in 2011.

He served as a professional baseball scout for the Chicago Cubs and as a baseball coach at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kansas, at the University of Northern Iowa, and at Dowling Catholic.

Jim currently serves as the assistant baseball coach at Grand View University and is the owner and lead instructor at Grand Slam USA, an indoor baseball and softball training facility. During his tenure at Grand View his teams have made five national tournament appearances and he has coached or instructed more than 40 players who have signed professional baseball contracts. He resides in Urbandale, Iowa, with his wife Margaret and their children, Abby, Megan and Amanda.

During his time at DCHS he really enjoyed getting to know new students every year who came from different parochial schools and the faith-based learning environment which was very important to him. He is always proud to tell people he is a graduate of Dowling Catholic High School.

ALLISON OLBERDING ‘16

Allison was a four-time golf letter winner, named to the 2015 women’s golf all-tournament team, the 2016 all-state golf team, and was a finalist for All-Iowa Elite women’s golfer of the year in 2016. She was the 5A team state champion in 2015, the 2015 regional team winner, the 2016 state team runner-up, and placed fourth individually in 2016. She was also a member of the National Honor Society.

She went on to play golf at William & Mary where she was a fouryear starter. She played 97 career rounds, the most in school history, and graduated with the third-lowest career scoring average in school history. She was the Hound Ears Individual Champion, the Richmond Individual Champion, and named to the All-CAA tournament team with three top-five and 11 top-10 finishes. She also holds the record for the fifth-lowest round in W&M history. She was named to the dean’s list twice, to the Spring 2020 CAA Commissioner’s Honor Roll, and was a four-time W&M Provost Award winner. She was also a two-time member of the Women’s Golf Leadership Council.

She currently resides in Arlington, Virginia, where she is the Senior Audit Associate in the Federal Audit Practice for KPMG in Washington, D.C.

Her favorite memories from DCHS center around the team camaraderie during long travel trips to golf tournaments.

ERICA OLBERDING ‘16

During her time at Dowling Catholic Erica played golf and volleyball She was a four-year letter winner in golf, a member of the 2015 state championship team, and a member of the National Honor Society.

She went on to play two years of collegiate golf at the University of North Carolina at Asheville where she served as a representative for the UNC Asheville Student Athletic Advisory Committee, a leadership group consisting of student-athletes representing all sports at UNC Asheville.

She then attended Drake University for two years where she continued her golf career and was a Women’s Golf Coaches Association All American Scholar and member of the dean’s list from 2016-2019. She is currently a fourth-year dental student at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry.

Many of her favorite memories from Dowling Catholic include all of the early mornings spent at Waveland Cafe with her golf teammates before going to practice at Blank Golf Course.

BRYAN OLLIE ‘99

Bryan Ollie was a successful running back and runner. During his senior year in football, he rushed for 1,348 yards, ran for at least 100 yards in all but one regular-season game, averaged over 10 yards per carry, and had six multitouchdown games. He was also named to the All-Central Iowa Metropolitan League team and the Des Moines Register’s second-team All-Iowa squad.

During his career, he rushed for 2,726 yards, had 46 touchdowns, and led the Maroons to the Class 4A playoffs each season. He is also a two-time All-Central Iowa Metropolitan League Team Member who helped his team to a state championship game appearance in 1998 where they finished as Class 4A runner-up.

In track he won a state title as a member of the 4x100-meter relay team. He was also a member of the 4x100 team that ran the fastest time in school history, a school record they held for over 20 years. At the Drake Relays he ran on the 4x100 team that finished fourth and the 4x200 team that finished third.

He received a scholarship to play defensive back at Iowa State University where he was a member of the Dan McCarney-coached teams that went to bowl games three consecutive seasons. He was a four-year letter winner at defensive back and special teams.

Bryan graduated from Iowa State with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Media Studies. He appeared on the CBS reality television show Big Brother 10. He currently lives in Gilbert, Arizona, with his wife and daughter. He is the owner of Ollie Athletic Training, a digital marketer for OpenX and a real estate investor.

For a complete list of Athletic Hall of Fame inductees, please visit: www.dowlingcatholic.org/ahof.

A Life of Prayer, Ministry and Community

Sister Carol Marie Baum, who graduated from St. Joseph Academy in 1960, has one disappointment about growing old.

“There’s lots to learn,” Sister Carol Marie said about her religious studies and formation. “I’m a little disappointed to be as old as I am because it seems like there is a lot out there yet that I don’t know.”

But she has no doubt from where her endless curiosity stems.

“Those seeds were planted by the [Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary], very definitely, in grade school and high school both,” she said.

Carol Marie Baum grew up in Des Moines, attended the now-closed St. John’s Elementary School and then went to St. Joseph Academy.

She made her profession and formally joined the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVMs), following in the footsteps of her teachers and mentors at St. Joseph.

“They were always trying to draw you out to be really independent, well-schooled and willing to step up to the plate and do the things you know you can do and not expect someone else to pick you up,” she says of the encouragement she received at St. Joseph.

St. Joseph Academy was founded in 1885 by the BVM sisters, who first settled in Philadelphia and later established their headquarters in Dubuque. St. Joseph served as Des Moines’ girls Catholic high school for almost a century. In 1972, it merged with Dowling High School, which until that time had been a boys school.

Sister Carol Marie remembers the many sisters who served as role models and mentors.

Sister Mary Thomasette helped her discern her vocation with the BVMs.

“She was excited to work with freshman girls, wanting them to learn all that they can and be the best that they can,” she said.

“She taught me the wonderful importance of being responsible for what choices you make and that every choice has a consequence.”

Window originally located at St. Joseph Academy Des Moines, Iowa Gift from Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center and SJA Class of 1951

Sister Lorette made sure the 400 or so students were fed every day and made enough in the kitchen to donate to the less fortunate.

“She was such a saintly person. The work she did in that cafeteria was phenomenal,” said Sister Carol Marie.

And at St. John’s, there was Sister Erna, whom Sister Carol Marie remembers helping after school, dusting erasers, cleaning chalkboards and just chatting and visiting.

“I often wonder if she ever got into any trouble being late for prayers because we would just be goofing off,” she said.

Anchored by faithful Catholic parents who fostered an environment of giving and inspired by an older sister who also joined the BVMs, Sister Carol Marie began her vocation as an elementary school teacher. She taught first through third graders in Chicago and San Francisco for more than 20 years.

“Little kids are so exuberant. They are like little sponges,” she said.

But God had another mission for her: to be there for senior citizens.

Called back to Des Moines to help care for her sister who had developed a brain tumor, Sister Carol Marie went from serving youngsters to serving seniors. She worked helping the residents of Mercy Park Apartments, which stood near Mercy Hospital.

“There is the whole emotional piece that goes with anything. But I do believe that nothing happens by happenstance. There is a reason for everything.”

It was a change, but certainly not the first nor the last that Sister Carol Marie has experienced.

In 1960, Sister Carol Marie was one of 118 young women across the country to enter the BVMs. Not all of them stayed the three years to their canonical year, but compare the number to today, where there is just one BVM candidate in her canonical year.

BVM/SJA 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 supports 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. To date, nearly 60 alumna have supported the fund.

Anyone is welcome to support the endowment, including alumni, families of SJA graduates and others who embrace the value of Catholic education. To learn more, please visit www.dowlingcatholic.org/endowment.

But amidst that reality, Sister Carol Marie still marvels at the BVM story, one started almost 200 years ago when an Irish nun led four others to the United States to serve emigrant children.

“I’m sure Mary Frances Clarke never thought this was going to be her legacy. One-hundred ninety years, starting with five women, coming to the United States and now here we are in various roles and places still and doing good work,” said Sister Carol Marie.

It is with that same spirit that she thinks of the closing of St. Joseph and the merger with Dowling.

“There is the whole emotional piece that goes with anything. But I do believe that nothing happens by happenstance. There is a reason for everything,” she said.

“And I think for us the reason is to say ‘You know, look at what has come as a result of what took place.’ We have a thriving, flourishing Dowling St Joseph education opportunity. We have a great staff. And they too are providing an atmosphere and an education that will go far and wide.”

Honoring the Departed

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 departed. This year’s 20th annual ofrenda was created in honor of Mr. Tim Sheaff, an alumnus from the Class of 1986 and a beloved teacher and director of drama and debate who passed away on June 21, 2023.

More than 50 students contributed their time and talent to creating the meaningful tribute that honored Sheaff’s tremendous legacy at DCHS where he had served since 1997 when he returned to his alma mater to teach drama, debate, speech and film. Students began working on the ofrenda in early September under the direction of Mrs. Brenda Kane, an art teacher at DCHS and moderator of the Art Club who has led the project since its inception with guidance also provided by Mrs. Paula Plasencia,

community and cultural liaison at DCHS. This year the newly founded club HERO (Hispanic Empowerment Resource Organization) also contributed greatly to the project along with several alumni and adult volunteers.

Among his many roles, Sheaff was chair of the Performing Arts Department and director of the fall play and award-winning spring musicals. In tribute, the ofrenda was constructed with pieces from theater sets and included a faux stained glass window of Saint Genesius, the patron saint of actors Sheaff prayed to before every performance. These were just a few of the visual elements created to demonstrate his tremendous impact on the lives of countless students in the classroom, on the stage, and through speech and debate.

The ofrenda was on display in the Narthex following the unveiling and prayer service on October 24, offering a place of remembrance and welcoming those who visited the chapel

to pray for the departed during the month of November.

“We care for people from womb to tomb... AND beyond!” said Kane. “We are reminded to always pray for the deceased, but especially in November when we begin our month with All Souls and All Saints days. Tim Sheaff’s character was larger than life. This ofrenda paid tribute to him and the scale of it beckoned us to come to the chapel from all the way across the Narthex! It was difficult to pass through the north end of the school without seeing it and remembering Tim’s impact. It also urged us to go into the chapel and pray for our departed. I feel humbled and honored to help students create these temporary memorials….our students do such an incredible job installing them and paying close attention to the details. Our ofrendas are beautiful and leave a lasting impression, just like those we honor.”

In Memory of Max Fahnlander

The Dowling Catholic community mourns the loss of Max Kenton Fahnlander, who passed away on October 27, 2023.

He was the third child born to Matt and Tami Fahnlander on October 27, 2007. His siblings are Noelle, Brady, Timmy and Bridget. Max attended Holy Trinity Catholic School and was a sophomore at Dowling Catholic. Max cherished his faith, family and country and had mentioned interest in joining the U.S. Army. He chose St. Francis of Assisi as his saint for his upcoming confirmation as they both shared a love of nature and animals. Max loved trying to make his peers laugh, listening to and making music, and going for long walks on the many trails in Urbandale. He enjoyed family time, making up games and adventures with his many cousins, and spending time on the family farm. He also loved sports, watching his beloved Green Bay Packers and Iowa State Cyclones, and playing football through his freshman year at Dowling Catholic. Additionally, he enjoyed playing baseball, basketball, swimming and golf.

Max was deeply loved and will be profoundly missed. He saved many lives as an organ donor, leaving this world the true hero he always wanted to be. To read Max’s full obituary, please visit www.desmoinesregister.com/obituaries/dmr134840.

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

Theresa (Ausilio) Riccelli ‘43 SJA

John “Jack” Northup ‘47

Elizabeth “Betty” (Forrer) Rooney ‘47 SJA

Shirley (Bennett) Burdock ‘49 SJA

Joseph “Duane” Biegger ‘50

Joseph “Joe” Joyce ‘50

Samuel “Sam” Rizzuti ‘50

Robert “Bob” Brandser ‘51

Cyril “Pat” Duff ‘52

Elizabeth “June” (Theiler) Maley ‘52 SJA

Ruth (Fitzsenry) Woodward ‘52 SJA

Gayle Moon ‘53 SJA

Rose Pigneri ‘53 SJA

Donald “Don” Dorrian, Sr. ‘54

Colleen (Vivone) Breheny ‘54 SJA

Richard “Roy” Tibbetts ‘55

Charles “Chuck” Young ‘55

Patrick “Pat” Crawford ‘56

Jody (Broderick) McCarthy ‘56 SJA

Thomas “Tom” Gordon Cota ‘58

Julie (Harrington) Best ‘59 SJA

Frank Severino ‘59

Joan (Barsetti) Smith ‘59 SJA

William “Bill” Curry ‘60

Maurice “Maurie” Maher ‘60

Richard “Dick” Prey ‘60

Donald Cain ‘61

Martin “Marty” McGrane ‘61

Edward Cunningham ‘63

Richard “Dick” Kinley ‘63

Julie (O’Neil) Siberz ‘63 SJA

Jack Scrignoli ‘65

Paul Doke ‘65

Robert “Bobby” Graham ‘66

Daniel “Dan” Moore ‘66

Ruth (Schuler) Quinn ‘66 SJA

Ron Drey ‘67

Joseph “Joe” Fazio ‘67

Msgr Frank Chiodo ‘68

John “Jack” Sauer ‘68

Diane Sokolik ‘69 SJA

Richard “Rich” Croskey ‘70

Mike Timmons ‘73

Kevin Hamilton ‘74

Daniel “Dan” Thornton ‘74

Daina (Voskans) Young ‘74

Mark Conley ‘77

Brian Hutchens ‘79

Mike Sitroneto ‘79

Paul Lakers ‘82

David Nelson ‘82

Robin Hrubetz ‘83

Rachel Dubec ‘96

Thomas “Matt” Carlson ‘09

Sean Pattschull ‘19

Be The GIANTS

“Be The Giants” is the mantra for this year’s speech and debate team as the program embarks on a new era with Simon Sheaff ‘13 at the helm. He established the theme in homage to a famous quote while mindfully honoring the legacy of his father, Tim Sheaff ‘86, as he took over the program following his passing in June of 2023.

Simon is no stranger to speech and debate having achieved great success himself, first at DCHS and then at Baylor where he attended college on a debate scholarship. After graduation, he went on to coach policy debate at the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis while earning his master’s degree and working towards his Ph.D. He occasionally helped his father with the team at DCHS before he began serving as the assistant coach upon his return to Des Moines three years ago. Those students he first helped to coach are now seniors preparing to graduate in May.

The season began in September with two tournaments hosted by DCHS. First was The Paradigm, an annual tournament founded by Tim Sheaff that included 80 schools from 12 different states. The second was a new tournament, the Maroon Maelstrom, that kicked off the Iowa competition circuit.

After several months of competing locally and throughout the state, the team’s success continued into January when DCHS won two state championships at the Iowa High School Speech Association State Tournament. Seniors Suzanne Bigelow and Collin Comito won their second consecutive state championship in Policy Debate, making them the first back-toback policy state champions in more than a decade, and juniors Leonard Klemm and Cate Sullivan won their first state championship in Public Forum Debate. There were also great performances from Jack McGuire, Betzy Sandoval, John Thilges, Ethan Stanley, Toby Nielsen, Jackson Smith, Matthew Pierson, and dozens of other students who contributed to the team’s success.

Next, the team will compete at districts for the opportunity to qualify for nationals followed by the IFL State Tournament where they will attempt to repeat as state speech champions.

In the article below Simon writes about the “bittersweet honor” of taking over for his father and what it means to be considered a giant. The original article is from the 2024 February/ March issue of Rostrum magazine, a publication of the National Speech & Debate Association: www.speechanddebate.org/rostrum-archive.

As the tributes to Tim Sheaff rolled in last summer on Facebook, in newspapers, and in this very magazine, he was called many things. An icon. A legend. The GOAT. A giant.

The truth is, he was a man - a human being, like anyone else in our community and world. So what does it take for a man to be considered a giant?

This is a question I have pondered as I have had the bittersweet honor of taking over the Dowling Catholic Speech and Debate program from Tim Sheaff, who also happened to be my father. What did my father do that made himself a “giant?”

Across the country, certainly what my father was most well known for was his voice booming out over hotel ballrooms as he announced the names of NSDA national champions. His talent as an announcer was matched only by his joy at getting the honor of saying the names of thousands of students who stood on the Nationals stage. What others did not see was the hard work

that he put into his announcing duties. If he got the script in time, he would practice, over and over again, names that he knew he might have trouble with. When he got on the bus at the end of the awards ceremony to drive back to Iowa, his voice would be hoarse and his feet would be tired. Being a giant on the stage took hard work.

In the midwest, Tim Sheaff achieved the status of “giant” by starting The Paradigm at Dowling Catholic. The Paradigm is the largest speech and debate tournament in the state of Iowa and one of the largest in the region that offers all NSDA main events. “Paradigm” is a strange name for a tournament. The tournament is so named because, when the Paradigm was founded, it was an attempt to bridge the gap between two worlds in Iowa speech and debate. Two opposing camps thought much differently about speech and debate and generally despised each other. The two camps essentially traveled two different circuits in the state and refused to compete against one another. The Paradigm was created to reconcile these two opposing paradigms into one new paradigm - that everyone should debate everyone. That competition was about the search for Truth, not bound by ideological blinders.

The Paradigm achieved its goal and has since become one of the premier tournaments in the region, known for its hospitality and highquality competition. That level of hospitality and competition is not easy to maintain, as anyone who runs an annual tournament can tell you - it took a lot of hard work. But my father’s constant refrain about the tournament was not to complain but to say (or post on

Facebook) “I LOVE HOSTING THIS EVENT!!!” and that love was evident in every decision he made about the tournament. It is that love that I still use as the guiding principle for directing the tournament.

In Iowa, there are few active coaches who would not have counted Tim Sheaff as a mentor. He deliberately searched out young coaches or young potential coaches to offer his own version of sage, sarcastic advice. You knew Tim Sheaff believed in your ability to coach when he would yell at you in a tabroom or judges lounge about some success that your student had achieved. “SEE?! SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LISTEN TO ME?!,” I heard him hurl at more than one young coach. The Tim Sheaff coaching tree is keeping Iowa speech and debate alive and thriving - something of which he was immensely proud. He always wanted his teams to win, but he also loved watching coaches he had encouraged and guided succeed as well.

Here at Dowling Catholic, Tim Sheaff was a giant because of his hard work towards success. When he was hired at Dowling Catholic in 1997, he was hired as a theater director, which was, after all, what his education was in. However, before accepting the role, he insisted that Dowling allow him to restart the speech and debate team, which had withered since he graduated as a member of the Dowling team 10 years earlier. His decision to re-start the team paid off - with a half-dozen top-10 finishes at Nationals, including a National Championship in Humorous Interpretation, TOC qualifiers, and so many state and district champions that he stopped keeping track. This success did not come easy - as the current coach of the team, I can attest that the administrative burden alone could be a full-time job. Finding time to actually coach requires immense dedicationand I don’t even have to find the time to direct two plays and a musical a year!

All of these things make my father a giant to others. But to me and my siblings, he was a giant for so many other reasons which I cannot possibly list. His unwavering love of our mother was a model for all of our relationships. His constant support (even

if sometimes delivered sarcastically) gave us the ability to pursue our dreams. He was tough on us to be sure, but we never felt that he did not have our best interests at heart. He lived the mantra from his favorite movie to never take sides against the family.

As I prepared for this season, the first season of Dowling Catholic Speech and Debate without my father’s involvement in more than 30 years, I kept thinking about him as a giant. I also continually came back to a quotation often attributed to Isaac Newton (though its origins may be from far before Newton’s time): “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.” In homage to this quotation and mindful of my father’s legacy, I chose for our team’s theme for the year: Be The Giants.

This phrase was not a mantra of my father’s or in any way an important saying to him. But “Be The Giants” I think sums up some of my father’s philosophies about the speech and debate community, and the evidence of this can be seen all around me as I attempt to honor his legacy in the very classroom where he taught me the difference between a link and an internal link.

One thing that my father would be furious with me for not including is the giants on whose shoulders he stood. He would want this article to mention Fr. John Acrea, who founded the speech and debate team at Dowling Catholic. He would want me to mention Dowling’s previous coaches, Fred Sternhagen and (especially) Dave Huston. He would want it to be clear that everything he achieved was in some way attributable to my mother, who allowed him the late nights and long weekends away. He would want you to know that his idea of art came from Hopper and Wood and The Cars and Magrite and Elaine Stritch and Jimmy Stewart and Sondheim and VanderRoe and Sam Cooke and The Go Gos.

He would want me to mention that all of these pursuits were guided by his Catholic faith and that he often drew on the strength of St. John Chrysostom, St. Thomas Aquinas, and St. Genesius.

But standing on the shoulders of giants does not automatically make one a giant. This is why the phrase Be The Giants is an imperative statement - that is, it instructs or orders the hearer to action. Here we find the first reason that such a phrase well suits my father. The man did love to order people to do stuff. But more importantly, because it is an imperative phrase, it implies that being a giant is a choice. It is something that you can do or not do, a decision that you can consciously make. If it is true, as Shakespeare wrote that “some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them,” Be The Giants urges us to accept the second choice for ourselves - to work to achieve greatness.

For a man with such a loud voice, my father’s life was quietly dedicated to such pursuits. Ask the thousands of students he taught, the hundreds he coached in speech and debate or directed in the theater, and they will tell you he had high standards and expected them to work hard.

But being a giant is so much more than “achieving greatness.” The common theme among the ways that made my father a giant is hard work and love. Love for this community. Love for the pursuit of Truth. Love for the students of Iowa (and across the country). Love for his family.

If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of a giant. I may never coach a national champion. I may never become a Hall of Famer. But I will stand on the shoulders of a great giant and approach my family, my community, my job, and my pursuit of excellence with love.

So for those of you who knew and loved Tim Sheaff, I’ll give you a great way to honor him: Be The Giants.