The 2011-12 school year at Baldwin High School was filled with success and new faces.
BHS started off the school year with two new administrators. Frank Perbeck, the assistant principal, and Rob McKim, the principal, both started at BHS in August. Now that the school year is coming to a close they both have comments about how they think their first year went.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my first year at Baldwin,” McKim said. “The school has done some great things while I’ve been here. I wouldn’t say my job is easy but the great staff and students here have certainly made it easier.”
The administrators agree that they had a successful and memorable year here at BHS.
“For me, this has been a memorable first year at Baldwin,” Perbeck said. “Throughout the year, I have enjoyed the efforts of everyone involved in creating a positive atmosphere in the building while continuing a climate of high expectations at Baldwin. What really stands out for me is our students and their efforts to be successful in everything they do. Our school is really about the kids.”
Also starting off the year with a bang was the BHS girls and boys cross country teams. The girls brought home their fifth straight State Title and the boys finished fourth. The cross country teams also had two girls who made the all-area first team and one girl who was honorable mention all-area. There were also 9 girls recognized as All-League and five boys who were recognized as All-League.
The BHS boys soccer team continued the success with a record breaking season. The team went 14-4-1, the best record the program has ever had. They were also Regional Champions and made it to the State Quarterfinals. The soccer team had four athletes make the All-League first team, one athlete make the All-League second team. Three athletes made the All-Region first team, two made the All-Region second team, and one made the All-Region honorable mention team. They had one athlete recognized as first team All-State, and one athlete as honorable mention All-State.
Seniors Hayley Schwartz and Kara Hoegerl brought success to the BHS girls tennis team this year. The doubles team qualified for the state tournament for the second year in a row.
The BHS football team finished its season 6-4. They had two athletes recognized on the honorable mention All-Area team, one athlete recognized on the All-League first team, six athletes on the All-League second team, and eight athletes on the All-League honorable mention team.
The BHS volleyball team finished their season with a record of 11-38. The volleyball team had one make athlete make the All-League second team, two athletes make the All-League honorable mention, and three athletes made the All-Area honorable mention team.
Kicking off the new semester in January was the debate team. Partners Sarah Kramps and Mackenzie Johnson qualified for state debate for the second year in a row. The girls went 14-8 overall and 3-3 at the state meet.
The BHS wrestling team had a record breaking season as well. The wrestling team had two state champions, seniors Andrew Morgan (132 lbs.) and Colton Bonner (220 lbs.) Junior Bryce Shoemaker was the state runner-up in the 126 lbs. weight class. Four other BHS wrestlers qualified for the state tournament as well. Three BHS wrestlers were named first team All-Area.
The BHS boys basketball team went 13-8 this season under first year coach Dustin Leochner. They had one athlete who made the All-League second team and honorable mention All-Area team, and another athlete made the honorable mention All-League team.
The BHS girls basketball team had a winning record this season. The girls went 12-10 overall and 6-6 in league play. The team had one athlete make the All-League first team, one make the All-League second team, and one make the honorable mention All-League team. The team also had two athletes make the All-Area first team and another make the honorable mention All-Area team, and one athlete make the All-State honorable mention team.
The Real World Design Team continued their dynasty by winning the state competition for the fourth year in a row. They traveled to Washington D.C. for the national competition April 20-22 and won the National Championship for the second time in three years.
The BHS Culinary and Culinary Management team competed in the state competition and both were successful. The Culinary team took second place and the Management team took third.
The BHS band and choir were also successful in their state competitions. The band came home with three one ratings, one three rating, and a handful of two ratings. The BHS choir brought home an overall one rating, the highest rating you can receive.
Six BHS journalism students will be competing in ten different categories at the State Journalism competition Saturday, May 5. Also competing on May 5 will be the BHS forensics team, four students will be competing in the state forensics tournament.
The BHS golf, boys tennis, girls soccer, boys and girls track and field teams, softball and the baseball teams are all still competing. Good luck to the teams still in their seasons and congratulations to all of the BHS students, athletes, teachers, and coaches that made this year such a success.