Vianney introduces Am erican Sign Language Class

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the official magazine of St. John Vianney High School
Spring 2012
BLACK & GOLD
A Brief Conversation with Principal Dilg
Before coming to Vianney, your experience had been in coed schools.
Aside from the obvious, is there a big
difference?
Dr. Tim Dilg has one Vianney semester in
the rearview mirror, having taken the wheel
from Mr. Larry Keller, who retired last spring
after 16 years as principal. Here’s what Dr.
Dilg had to say about his experience so far:
Really, no. I will say I’m surprised at how
quiet it is around here during the school day.
It was actually a little noisier at Springfield
Catholic, which is half Vianney’s size.
What has surprised you at Vianney?
I’ve been pleasantly surprised at the amount
of support everyone shows for Vianney. Lots
of schools talk about family spirit, but we
really do live it here.
Parents are so committed to things like the
auction, our sports teams or even serving
in the cafeteria line. Our kids are involved
with service outside of school, but also inside
through things like Ambassadors, Griffin
Guides or just taking down chairs after an
assembly. And our faculty! They’re pushing
themselves not just in the classroom 7:45 to
3, but also after school at events and the clubs
they moderate.
It’s clear to me that everyone is really committed
to Vianney’s success.
But at the end of the day, kids are kids and
good teachers are good teachers, so no, not a
big difference.
Dr. Tim Dilg
Is there an experience you’ve particularly enjoyed?
I’ve really enjoyed all the activities our Student
Council has pulled off, with Halloween and
the 12 days of Christmas and pep rallies. The
guys do a great job. On a smaller scale, I enjoyed accompanying our theater kids on the
Charlie Brown tour and getting to spend a
day with them and see them in a different light.
You’ve been promoting the use of
social media for Vianney. How do you
see that shaping how we communicate?
I view it as the new age e-mail. E-mail really
changed the way we communicate, and social
media is changing it again. It allows Vianney
to push out a lot of information, but it allows
the user to select how they want to receive it.
I think we’ll be using social media to reach
more and more people as time goes on.
Vianney Accepts 165 2012 Marianist Awards
for the Class of 2016
Enrollment remains strong for next fall, as
Vianney has accepted 165 students for the
class of 2016. While the actual number of
freshman will likely be a little higher or a
little lower come August, we are pleased
with these numbers.
The graduating class of 2012 has 147 Griffins;
we expect overall enrollment next year to be
around 635.
Among the accepted new students are 25 sons
of alumni. This is consistent with our current
overall average; about one out of every six
Griffins is a “legacy.”
As the cap to Marianist Heritage
Month in January, Vianney
presented 18 Griffins with the
2012 Marianist Award. This
award recognizes sophomores
through seniors who best
exemplify the characteristics
of Marianist education in their
daily lives. It is an award for
which more than 460 boys are
eligible, but which only a very
select few receive.
Where Would We be Without Vianney Moms?
The typical Vianney mom may have one, two
or maybe three Griffins. And then there are
those Vianney moms who have about 630.
These are the moms who volunteer their time
and talent to benefit not only their own son or
sons, but all the Griffins at Vianney. Like most
Catholic schools, Vianney relies heavily on the
talents and willingness of scores of volunteer
moms to keep things running smoothly.
“If we didn’t have so many willing moms —
and dads, of course — things would be very
different at Vianney,” said President Mike
Loyet ’77. “Volunteer moms give us so much
in so many ways. As a Marianist school administrator, I can’t help but feel they are a great
example of Mother Mary’s grace on earth.”
These are just some of the roles moms fill
at Vianney:
Front desk receptionist
Fundraiser
Griffin Gear Store cashier
Griffins’ Café server
Auction — everything from decorations
to banking to bartending!
Phone-a-thon caller
Christmas tree decorator
Media center moderator
mates that these women give Vianney a total
of 942 hours per year.
Longtime teacher and administrative assistant
Ms. Judy O’Connell oversees the work of
about 15 volunteers in the Gear Store and
at the front reception desk. Plus she helps
coordinate the activities of the Vianney
Alumni Mothers Club. “My alumni moms
are just terrific,” Ms. O’Connell says. “They
are so loyal, and they really make a difference
for our boys.”
Among the Alumni Mothers Club activities are a Christmas poinsettia sale, a spring
flower sale and a Christmas cookie sale.
Proceeds from these efforts are used to buy
textbooks for Griffins who need this financial
support. Between the Gear Store, front desk
and Alumni Mothers Club activities, the
involved moms give about 800 hours per year
to Vianney, Ms. O’Connell estimates.
“The volunteer moms give the gift of their
time, but they also demonstrate to our boys
the importance of service,” President Loyet
said. “That says a lot about who we are as a
Marianist family. We are really blessed.”
Alumni Mom to be
Inducted into Hall of Fame
Pint-sized Fran
Bader raised seven children, six
of them boys, all
of them Griffins.
Between August
1987 and May
2010, there was
only one year
when Fran Bader Fran Bader
didn’t have a son
or her eldest grandson at Vianney.
She was a Café volunteer for 15 years,
she organized the hospitality rooms for
15 years worth of wrestling tournaments,
and she was a driving force behind the
creation of the Alumni Mothers Club.
She remains a reliable and undauntedly
cheerful front-desk volunteer.
In April, she will take her place as the
first female member of the St. John
Vianney High School Hall of Fame.
“I have 39 moms working in the Café,” said
Griffins’ Café manager Ms. Chris Amelung.
“I don’t know how we’d do it without them.”
Each mom works an average of two lunch
shifts per month. In all, Ms. Amelung esti-
Front row (from left): Kenny Pleimann, Joe LaMartina, Ian Wohlstadter,
Billy Mahfood, Quinn Cochran, Alex Moellering. Middle row: Chris Dougherty, Cullan May, Lelis Djona, Mike Witwer, Drake Cantu. Back row: Paul
Scheipeter, Joe Somogye, Ian Harding, Matt Brown, Chris Brown, Tom
Drazen and Matt Dreyer.
In addition, Mr. Charlie Eisele
was recognized for 50 years (!)
of service and Fr. Don Cahill, S.M. received a faculty/staff Marianist Award.
Alumni who had sons receive Marianist Awards included Ken Pleimann ’80, Steve
Cochran ’80, Steve Dreyer ’82 and Scott Brown ’84.
On the cover: This semester, Vianney launched an American Sign Language class as a foreign language option. Sophomore Andrew Glasscock (left)
and freshmen Andrew LaMartina and Greg Prante practice counting.
2
SPRING 2012
Gearing up for the lunch rush are Vianney moms Julie Basler, Sue
Nickels and Linda Ederle. They are among nearly 40 volunteers who
serve lunch in the Griffins’ Café.
Sometimes, a mom’s commitment to Vianney continues
after her last Griffin has graduated. Ginny Hartman
(Mark ’89, Chris ’00 and Tony ’01), is a regular frontdesk volunteer and President of the Alumni Mothers Club.
Alumni mom Melissa Sczcepan (Andrew ’11), continues to volunteer
in the Griffin Gear Store.
3
BLACK & GOLD
Griffins Sign Up
Without a doubt, it is the quietest class at
Vianney.
The students sit, watching intently, expressions of puzzlement eventually washed away
by slight nods of comprehension as the
teacher repeats the request. With her hands.
It’s a typical scene in Vianney’s American
Sign Language class, which is new this semester. The ASL program was created to give
Griffins another “foreign” language option.
Vianney is the first Catholic high school in
St. Louis to offer ASL.
freshman Andrew Kurt. “It’s harder to
memorize the signs than I thought it would
be, but I think by the end of the semester I’ll
be able to put sentences together.”
The class is taught by a deaf instructor, Ms.
Ella Eakins, who is assisted by Ms. Kara
Simmons.
John Adams ’88 touched base with Vianney
via Facebook after seeing a post about the
ASL class. Adams has worked full-time as
an ASL interpreter since 1998. He said he
became intrigued with sign language as
a child.
“My first exposure to sign was on Sesame
Street. I thought Linda Bove was amazing,”
he laughed. (Those who watched Sesame
Street between 1972 and 2003 may remember
the deaf actress, who was a regular feature on the
show.) Adams initially pursued a theater
career, but has found his calling in ASL.
In recent years, a number of states have
passed legislation permitting high schools
and universities to accept ASL as satisfying
language requirement for hearing as well as
deaf students. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 underlined the importance
of being able to communicate with deaf and
hearing-impaired citizens, and made knowing ASL a valuable skill.
“Learning sign language is really different
than anything I’ve ever done before,” said
Alumnus Works as
ASL Interpreter
Following the instructor’s lead, freshman Matt Schneider runs
through the ASL alphabet.
“It’s a really rewarding career,” Adams said.
“Like anything else, it can be frustrating at
times, but mostly it’s wonderful.” Adams
works for a company called Deaf Inter-Link
and has provided interpretation services
for a variety of corporate, government and
health care clients over the years. He also
serves on the licensure board for the
Missouri State Committee of Interpreters.
SPRING 2012
Mike Seper ’00 Soars with Zipline Company
Zipping through the air harnessed to a narrow cable 250 feet above woods and ravines
may sound terrifying to many people.
To Mike Seper it sounds like:
A. An outrageous amount of fun and
B. A cool way to make a living.
Seper opened his business, Eco Zipline Tours,
in 2010. The operation is located in New
Florence, Mo, just outside of Hermann and
not far from Interstate 70.
Seper’s inspiration for the business came during the years he lived in Hawaii while attending the University of Hawaii. “At the time, the
only zipline course in the U.S. was on Maui,”
Seper said.
Armed with a degree in Entrepreneurial
Studies and a passion for ziplining, Seper
eventually made his way back to Missouri.
“The business start-up was tough,” he said.
“I maxed out every credit card. It was right
local terrain makes it unsuitable
for many purposes but great for
a zipline course.
at the start of the downturn and
everyone told me it wouldn’t work.”
Eco Zipline Tours is open from
April through the late fall. “All
summer long we are really busy,”
Seper said. “We often book up
three weeks in advance.”
He proved them wrong.
“Business has been just amazing. We
have to turn people away,” Seper
said, the pleasure obvious in his
voice. He notes that
Eco Zipline Tours has
received top ratings from
reviewers on the TripAdvisor travel website.
“Our business is in a
great location, since
folks who are coming out to visit the
Hermann-area wineries
are often looking for
something else to do.
Plus the scenery is just
beautiful,” Seper said.
The rugged nature of the
Seper’s business currently includes a four-line course that
totals about 1,000 feet in length,
as well as a 10-line course that
totals more than a mile. “Nearly anyone
can zip,” said Seper. “We had a 91-yearold great-grandma come out with her
kids, grandkids and great-grandkids.
Everyone rode and everyone had a ball!”
Class of 2000 alumnus Mike Seper’s
career and passion is zipping along
with his zipline company near
Hermann, Mo.
Seper currently is looking at property in
Washington State for a possible second
location, and he’s also writing a book about
his adventures. You can learn more about his
zipline business at www.ecoziplinetours.com.
St. John Vianney High School
Hall of Fame
Induction Ceremony and Dinner
April 29, 2012
The St. John Vianney High School Hall of Fame recognizes those who
have demonstrated outstanding accomplishment in their professional field, in their community or in service to St. John Vianney
High School.
2012 Inductees
Mrs. Fran Bader
Mom to six Griffins,
volunteer, Alumni
Mothers Club member
Fr. Don Cahill, S.M.
Longtime Vianney
teacher and volunteer
Freshmen Dan Plogger, Dominic Biffignani and Andrew Kurt practice American Sign Language letters. Freshman Greg Prante and interpreter Ms. Kara Simmons are behind the boys.
4
Mr. Mark Klose ’71
Alumnus, radio personality, volunteer
Dr. David Mueckl ’78
Alumnus, Archdiocesan executive,
recognized by Pope
Benedict for service
Mr. John Shea ’73
Alumnus, community
volunteer, Extreme
Makeover – Home
Edition builder
We invite you to join
us in celebrating these
honorees and the
Marianist spirit they
embody.
Watch the Vianney
website for details,
or contact Mr. Mark
Schuermann ’03,
at mschuermann@
vianney.com or
314.965.4853,
ext. 144, to make
reservations.
5
BLACK & GOLD
SPRING 2012
Classmate Update
Riley (Chris) Schmidt ’94 stars as “Rubberman”
As far as we know, Riley Schmidt (known
in his Vianney days as Chris Schmidt), is the
only Griffin ever to grace the
cover of Entertainment Weekly
magazine. Schmidt starred
last season in the popular FX
series American Horror Story.
In his role as the creepy
“Rubberman,” Riley was
covered head to toe in a
shiny black latex suit. He
had no lines, but he gained
considerable notoriety and
shared the stage with top
actors, including Jessica
Lange, who won a Golden
Globe Award for her role in
the series.
Schmidt said. “I knew it would be in costume,
and basically they said to me, ‘walk around
like you’re in a rubber suit.’ They called me
the next day and told me I
had the role.”
Class of 1994 alumnus Riley Schmidt
as American Horror Story’s Rubberman
was featured on the cover of Entertainment Weekly.
After leaving Vianney, Schmidt studied
journalism at the University of Missouri Columbia. But upon graduation, he decided
to follow his real dream. He moved to Los
Angeles to pursue acting. His first significant
role was on an NBC soap opera called Passions.
He also had parts in NBC’s ER and the A&E
series, Cold Case Files.
Then, last June, he was called to audition for
an unusual role. “The audition was bizarre,”
Schmidt said the latex suit
was specially made to fit only
him. “They took 30 or 40
measurements of me to make
it fit just right. It’s like wearing
a second skin,” he said. Getting
in and out of the suit required
an assistant and special
military-grade lubrication for
“sticking places” like his knees
and elbows. To complete the
costume, he wore custom-made
black contacts. “They are about
the size of quarters!” Schmidt said.
Interestingly, Schmidt was not on stage in his
Vianney days. “I tried out for one Vianney
play — it was ‘10 Little Indians.’ I didn’t get a
part,” he said. Schmidt ended up being on the
stage crew, running lights and sound. Maybe
it didn’t seem like much, but it was a start.
Now, he enjoys some deserved optimism about
his acting career. “The Rubberman role was
a breakthrough for me,” he said. “There’s not
68
The Griffin of the Year is at the top of the list
of prestigious honors at Vianney. These are
the men — chosen by their classmates and
their teachers — who best represent what
Vianney is all about.
6
We’d like to hear what
other Griffins of the
Year are doing. If you
received this honor, or
if you remain in contact
with a friend who did,
please get in touch with
us and let us know
The First Griffin of the
about the path since
Year: Bill Scharf ’61
graduation. We hope to
be able to include a feature story in the summer issue of Black & Gold.
Anthony Garofalo has enjoyed
a long and successful run as an
athletic trainer. His career has
included time as the head athletic trainer for
the Chicago Cubs, and he worked two major
league All-Star games. He’s met prominent
people ranging from then-Vice President
George H.W. Bush to Hall of Famer Bruce
Sutter. He is a founding member of the
Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers
Society. The former Griffin of the Year now
works for AthletiCo in the Chicago area.
19
Riley Schmidt, sans Rubberman costume. In his Vianney days,
he was known as Chris Schmidt.
a whole lot that could be more fun than being
part of something like American Horror Story…
It’s the highlight of my career so far, and I’m
confident it will lead me to other roles.”
You can learn more Schmidt’s career at
www.mrrileyschmidt.com.
Attention Griffins of the Year: What’s Up Now?
The Classmate Updates (see p. 7) on Anthony
Garofalo ’68 and Mike Horn ’08, both Griffins of the Year, got us thinking: What are
other Griffins of the Year up to?
57
(Eugene Coyle High School)
As a graduate of Vianney’s
predecessor school, Phil Finder
was pleased to be cheering on the basketball
Griffins at their game against Lafayette in
December. Finder joined about a dozen Coyle
colleagues to witness the Griffin victory.
Phil’s Vianney connections are myriad, with
brother Tony ’62, sons David ’81 and Mike
’87, and nephew Jim Finder ’84 all Griffins.
In addition, his brother Fred (a fellow Coyle
grad) was a Vianney assistant football coach
in the 1960s.
19
There are many ways to define success, and
we are not necessarily looking for news about
how these Griffins set the world on fire. Just
tell us: What’s up now? How did Vianney
help form who you are?
Please send news to Carol Dexter at cdexter@
vianney.com, by mail to the school address, or
contact her by phone at 314.965.4853, ext. 270.
74
The name Neil Fiala usually
is associated with baseball. He
played in the majors, coached
the River City Rascals minor league team and
is currently head coach at Southwest Illinois
College. Last fall, however, he made his mark
as a runner, winning the 50 and older men’s
division in the 6K Cardinal Care Run. Fiala
placed 24th overall among hundreds of
runners; he was recognized at the Cardinals
Care Winter Warm Up in January.
19
81
“Sweet Memories” was the
headline of a St. Louis PostDispatch article featuring the
work of baker Chris Leuther. Leuther owns
the Party Pastry Shop in Fenton, and has
made a mission of collecting, preserving and
using recipes and equipment from historic
St. Louis bakeries such as Lake Forest.
19
84
He’s been chairman of the
St. Louis Democratic Central
Committee since 2004. Now
Brian Wahby has thrown his hat in the ring for
the office of St. Louis City treasurer. His first
test will be the Democratic primary in August.
Another, possibly less-serious contender for
the office, is Joe Holleman ’76, the St. Louis
Post-Dispatch’s “Life Sherpa” columnist.
19
88
second-team All-America honors from the
Associated Press. He is a three-time AllConference offensive lineman.
93
What a great way to wrap up a senior season!
Missouri Baptist University lacrosse goalie
Ben Hughes was named a First Team AllAmerican in the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse
Association. Hughes also was named a
MCLA Scholar-Athlete.
We heard from John Adams
via Facebook that he’s pleased
his alma mater is offering an
American Sign Language class. (See p. 4.)
John works as an ASL interpreter for a
St. Louis company called Deaf Inter-Link.
19
Tim Sedovic and his wife
Karen are living in Quincy, Ill.,
with their daughters, Annabelle
and Elise. Tim is a loan officer for Central
State Bank.
19
94
Jason Furrer now has a position
as an assistant teaching professor
at the University of Missouri –
Columbia. He reports that he’s already had a
few Griffins in class – including Lane Dunne
’09. Incidentally, Lane was also taught by
Jason’s dad, a fellow alumnus, longtime
Vianney faculty member and principal,
Larry Furrer ’68.
19
95
As a head coach for high school
girls’ club soccer, Tony Schmitt
was pleased to help guide many
of his team members through the college
recruiting process. A story in the St. Louis
Post-Dispatch noted 15 girls from Tony’s
roster who were signing to play college soccer.
19
97
And just a short way north of
Vianney, Joe Schoen is teaching
music at Tillman Elementary
School in Kirkwood. He is also the music
director at the Catholic Student Center at
Washington University.
19
99
David Ventimiglia married
Janel Mason last fall in Scott
City, Mo. Dave received
a degree in finance from Lindenwood
University and is an account specialist with
Charter Communications.
19
03
“This Party Will Be Fun” is the
name of the new EP released
by Jeff Nations and his band,
Various Hands. The group recently finished
their first tour. Look for them at Facebook.
com/VariousHands.
20
07
In January, Southern Illinois
University - Carbondale
football center Bryan Boemer
was awarded the 2011 Rimington Award,
given to the top center in the FCS. Bryan has
been named a first-team All-American by
the College Sporting News and the American
Football Coaches Association, and he earned
20
08
A former Griffin of the Year,
Mike Horn, was the student
speaker at Fontbonne University’s
December commencement. He will graduate
summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree
in biology.
20
In Memory
Mary Lu Adams – Mother of Griffin diving
coach Mark Adams, and grandmother of
Tim ’04 and Tom ’08.
Carol Alexander – Mother of Bill
Alexander, faculty member.
Audrey Alles – Mother of Tom Stevision,
retired staff and grandmother of Joe ’94
and Tom ’05.
Frank Carraher – Father of Dennis ’64 and
Patrick ’64.
Elizabeth Cullen, Mother of Meghan
Ploesser, staff
Janith Giegling – Grandmother of senior
Josh Giegling.
Jim Greubel ’83 – Brother of Bob ’77,
Bill ’80, Ed ’86 and uncle of freshman
Andrew.
Tom Horan – Son of Robert Horan ’75.
William Krumrey – Father-in-law of Dave
Gauvain, faculty.
Dylan McSpadden ’03.
Vince O’Brien Sr. – Father of Vince ’71.
Clay Pfeiffer ’11 – Son of Dan Chinnici ’92.
Mary E. Sly – Mother of Pat Sly ’68 ,
mother-in-law of Charlie Hoffman ’67
and grandmother of Matt Hoffman ’87
and Todd Hoffman ’89.
Genevieve Tevlin – Grandmother of Carrie
Mitchell, faculty.
Mark Uptegrove ’80.
Stay connected to Vianney! Be sure to
check out our Facebook page at Facebook.
com/vianneygriffins, or just click on the Facebook icon on our homepage.
It’s great to hear from alumni! Please send your news to Tim Peniston, Director of Constituent Relations, at tpeniston@vianney.com, or by
mail to the school address.
7
BLACK & GOLD
A Record-smashing Season
By Kevin Walsh ’91, coach
The 2011-12 Vianney basketball team
entered the season with high expectations,
with all five starters and several key reserves
returning. At the team retreat in November,
assistant coach Ty Cochran ’05 spoke to
the team about becoming a “select few” and
how it could make its mark in the Vianney
basketball record book.
The season started off well as the Griffins
captured the Jerry Boeckman Memorial
Tournament with a 63-54 victory over Belleville West in the championship game. The
team became a “select few,” as this was just
the third time (1977, 2003) that the Griffins
won their own tourney.
In December, the Griffins
faced three straight conference opponents. They
secured a big road victory
over then-No. 2 De Smet
64-61. The win made casual
fans aware that Vianney
was a team to watch. The
Griffins then knocked off
CBC 59-56, marking the
first time Vianney had
started a season 5-0.
The Griffin basketball coaching staff included
alumni Mike Paradoski ’99, Kevin Walsh
’91 and Ty Cochran ’05.
The wins continued to come with victories
over Chaminade and Jackson before Christmas. At Meramec Holiday Tourney, the No. 2
seed Griffins dispatched Parkway West 54-34, beat Lafayette
58-47, and defeated previously
unbeaten Webster Groves 7367 to move into the finals for
just the second time in school
history. In the championship
game, Vianney defeated CBC
66-57 to earn its first Meramec
title, becoming “the only few”
with that accomplishment.
To kick off the new year, the
Griffins handed Breese Central its first defeat
of the season at the Highland Shootout. The
Griffins were now treading uncharted waters:
SPRING 2012
a school record 18-game winning streak; a
No. 1 ranking by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch;
a No. 1 ranking in the state of Missouri; and
for the first time ever, a top 25 ranking in the
USA Today High School Poll.
The winning streak was snapped by Cardinal
Ritter in the Coaches vs. Cancer Shootout,
but the team regrouped and set its focus on
other goals. With a third victory over CBC
63-58 in the regular season finale, the Griffins completed an undefeated conference
season and earned their first MCC league
title, reinforcing its position as “the only few.”
When MCC honors were announced, the
Griffins were well represented: senior Tony
Cochran was the first Griffin basketball
player to be chosen Player of the Year, senior
George Suggs was named to the MCC First
Team, and senior Richard Dorhauer and
junior Brad Woodson earned MCC Second
Team honors.
The Griffins defeated Oakville and Lindbergh
to earn Vianney its 12th district championship
in school history. The district victories set
a new record for the most wins in school
history and moved Vianney into the state
sectional playoffs. The Griffins were clicking
on all cylinders against Class 5 powerhouse
Troy Buchanan, knocking them off 65-42 to
move to the Elite 8 of the Class 5 state tournament
for just the fourth time in school history.
Senior George Suggs looks for the pass in the game against
Kirkwood. A leading scorer, George was named to the MCC
First Team.
The Griffins’ extraordinary season came
to an end in early March as they bowed to
McCluer North 63-54. (McCluer North went
on to capture its second consecutive state
championship.)
It wasn’t the conclusion the Griffins hoped
for, but clearly, the team lived up to Coach
Cochran’s challenge of becoming the “select
few” and making its mark in the record books.
Season Accomplishments
Boeckman Tournament Champions
Meramec Tournament Champions
Metro Catholic Conference Champions
District Champions
USA Today Top 25 in Nation
Record-shattering 27-2 season
State Quarterfinalists
Tony Cochran: MCC Player of the
Year, ESPN-HS Player of the Week,
Vianney career scoring record holder
Pink and Proud Griffins Help
Cancer Patients
For the third year running, Vianney athletics helped
deliver hope for cancer patients. The Griffin basketball
team was joined this year by the wrestling squad in
sponsoring events to benefit Hope Lodge, a residential facility operated by the American Cancer Society.
Among the titles earned by the 2011-2012 Griffins was District Champions. In the front row from left, are assistant TJ Cochran, Tanner Cochran, Richard Dorhauer (with trophy) Billy Mahfood,
Quinn Cochran, Dominic Mueller and Tony Cochran. In the second row are Brad Woodson, Lelis Djona, Sean O’Brien, George Suggs, Joe Zoellner, Joe Whitman and Mike Witwer.
8
Senior Tony Cochran heads for the hoop in the “Paint it Pink” game
against Lindbergh, while Lelis Djona (#10) and Brad Woodson (#4)
wait for the rebound. The pink and white jerseys were donated by parents.
Right: At the “Paint it Pink” basketball game in January, seniors Danny Scheetz,
Tommy Dwyer, Tom Brown, Andrew Auer, Tyler Picha and Greg Evens
cheer on the Griffins.
In addition to the basketball team’s “Paint it Pink”
event, the wrestlers sponsored “Take Down Against
Cancer.” Through t-shirt
sales, raffles and concession stand proceeds, Vianney was able to donate
nearly $6,000.
Senior Mark Smith was the driving
force behind the wrestling squad’s
“Take Down Against Cancer”
event. He also earned a victory
in his 138 lb. class. The pink and
white singlets were donated by a
local business.
9
BLACK & GOLD
SPRING 2012
The Night of the Griffin Shines Again for Vianney
Vianney is blessed to enjoy the support of so many parents,
alumni and friends. The 2012 Night of the Griffin auction
and dinner was again a great example of this blessing.
The show must go on!
It would be true to say that Griffin Theatre’s
production of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie
Brown,” went on … and on … and on!
A near-record 525 people attended the Feb. 18 event.
Considering that around 150 more were in the wings volunteering, it is clearly the biggest “family” event at Vianney.
For the first time in decades, Griffin Theatre
took a full-fledged show on the road, providing free performances at eight area Catholic
grade schools.
While the Night of the Griffin is an elegant event, it’s also
an essential fundraiser for Vianney. The auction accounts
for around 30 percent of our annual fundraising total.
It goes a long way toward keeping education at Vianney
strong. Thank you to all those who volunteered, donated
or raised a bid paddle for this important event.
2012 Night of the Griffin Key Stats
• Attendees: 525
• Volunteers: 240 (students/parents/alumni)
• Preliminary net receipts: $220,000
• Fund A Need (designated for tuition assistance): $82,000
• Highest live auction bid: $4,000 for trip for two to see
Ellen DeGeneres in Los Angeles.
Good Grief! What a Tour!
“The staging and props were
simple,” said Griffin Theatre Director and teacher Mr. Al Book. “The
big challenge for the performers
was keeping the characters fresh
and believable for six weeks.”
Sustaining a character for three or
four nights would be a typical high
school theater experience Mr. Book
The run began with a traditional set of weekend performances in early February. From
there, the cast and two-man crew put on
two shows a day on successive Mondays,
plus an extra matinee performance at Vianney
for students from Annunziata and Holy
Infant schools.
The Night of the Griffin is a truly special event because
of the work of scores of volunteers, including Kim Tackes
(co-chair), Nancy Beffa (decorations) and Debbie McGuire
(co-chair).
A big crowd made it a tight
fit in the field house and
required extra finesse from
student servers. Juniors Dan
Reilly and Ryan Wood were
up to the task.
The set was designed to be easy to set up and
break down. In fact, the troupe could have
everything — including Snoopy’s doghouse
and Lucy’s psychiatrist booth — taken down
and loaded in the truck in about 15 minutes.
Senior Mike Hegger sings the title song for his role, “Snoopy.”
noted. The Charlie Brown performers took
on a much bigger task.
“I have been really impressed with how well
they’ve held it together,” Mr. Book said. “It’s
been a neat opportunity for these kids, which
they’ll appreciate a few years down the road.”
Senior Ian Wohlstadter, who played Schroeder, dives into
dismantling Snoopy’s doghouse at the close of the production.
The cast and two-man crew were able to set up and tear
down within minutes.
Four-year Griffin Theatre veteran Mitch
Wise, a senior, said the most rewarding part
of the show was watching the young audience members’ reaction. “The kindergartners
through second graders were usually the
most fun, because they really understood
the characters,” Mitch said. “Charlie Brown
and Linus are basically their age, so I think it
really made sense to them.”
Before the final performance at St. Francis
of Assisi, all of the Charlie Brown cast members, including Mitch, began rehearsing for
the next show, Griffin Theatre’s production
of “Damn Yankees.”
The show must go on.
The auction gave David Ringwald ’86 a chance to catch
up with Vianney Board Chairman Don Eggleston.
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Scores of student volunteers help make the auction a success.
Among the Griffins on serving duty were senior Danny
Scheetz, sophomore Marques Caldwell, senior Tim Agne
and junior Jason Hackett.
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The cast of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” gives the production its final bow at St. Francis of Assisi School in March. The
performers included senior Mitch Wise, Meghan Rintoul (Kirkwood High), sophomore Joe LaMartina, Alicen Moser (Ursuline
Academy), and seniors Ian Wohlstadter and Mike Hegger. Sophomore pianist Mike Schmidt was the accompanist, and senior
Dustin Biondo and junior Alex Muenster served as stage crew.
Editor: Carol Dexter
For information, please contact Carol
Dexter 314.965.4853, ext. 270,
cdexter@vianney.com.
Back cover and basketball photos courtesy
of Frank Woodson
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Classic Vianney
In mythology, the Greeks defeated Troy through their cunning use
of a warrior-filled wooden horse. In St. Louis high school basketball,
Vianney defeated Troy by having the better team on the court, and by
having the most spirited fans in the stands. Vianney students, clad in
Greek togas, turned out in force to cheer another defeat of the Trojans
in February. Final score: 65-42. No wooden horse required.
The Griffins, all seniors, include, front center: Blake Mueller. First
row: Sam Clark, Connor Sparrow, Dan Owens, Tommy Dapron,
Danny Lohse. Second row: Tom Brown, Jack O’Brien, Danny
Scheetz, Greg Evens, Aaron Bossi, Dan Brady, Paul Scheipeter.
Upper right: Joey Vander Pluym, Evan Johnson, Greg Eilerman
and Josh Giegling.