Falls High Ink
Weekly News Letter - January 17th to 20th
Winter Sports Week NEXT Week! January 23-27
The Dirty Dozen Peps up 75th Anniversary Game
Top Row L to R: Dan Griffith, Eric Earley, Jim Lucachick
Seated: L to R: Lynn Schwankl and Kirby Wilcox
Dirty Dozen Joins FHS Pep Band By: Mitchell Erickson
As hockey alumni and players were recognized on January 13th for the 75th anniversary of Bronco hockey, the Dirty Dozen met together for the first time in about 5 years. Dirty Dozen members from International Falls and across the county (one coming all the way from Colorado) met at Bronco Arena. The Dirty Dozen brought back a level of energy to the FHS band and the arena that hasn’t been felt for several years.
The Dirty Dozen originated in the 60’s and started out with only about 12 people playing at the home sporting events, hence the name Dirty Dozen. As the years progressed, the Dirty Dozen and FHS pep band grew into an amazing program at Falls High School playing at home sporting events.
As a current FHS band member, having the Dirty Dozen players come back was an experience I will not forget. The “old timers” quick temp and style of playing challenged the current pep band and brought back a level of school spirit the arena has felt in many years. Having the dirty dozen come back was amazing and they are welcome to play with the pep-band at any home game!
As the hockey game ended, the pep-band and Dirty Dozen played the school song and closed out with "Diana". Alumni leaving the building were reminded of their high school days in Bronco Arena and current high school students had an idea of what the atmosphere of great band music was like back in the "good old days".
The Boys Hockey Team Has Success vs. St. Paul Johnson By: Landan Snyder
The Bronco Boys hockey team played St. Paul Johnson where 75 years of Bronco hockey was celebrated. The parking lots were packed two hours before the game and the stands were full and electric. Many Bronco players who played in state tournaments were honored in a celebration before the game. The Broncos got to shake hands with the older Bronco players and some luck seemed to rub off. The Broncos started strong with a goal by Royce Allan 14 seconds into the game. Both Royce and Colin Kostiuk had hat tricks. In addition to those goals, other goals were scored by Cody Joslyn, Nate Dremmel, Julius Maish, Max Dremmel, Cooper Crandall, and Aidan McFarland. The Broncos poured on goals consistently throughout the game with a final score of 12-1. Hopefully the momentum from the big game continues throughout the season.
Student Spotlight:
Gracie Swenson Plays is Las Vegas National Softball Tournament
By: Jillian Bilben and Keira Debernardeaux
Falls High School junior Gracie Swenson traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada to compete in a national softball tournament over the weekend. The tournament consisted of over four hundred teams, but she unfortunately only got to play four of her games due to weather conditions. The team she played on consisted of a mixture of girls from around Minnesota and Wisconsin, so she played with girls that she had never met before. She feels they all played really good, despite never playing together before. Gracie played shortstop in all her games, and her team won a game, tied a game, and lost two. She plays softball all year round and is hoping to have the opportunity to do something like this again. Gracie’s biggest supporters are her mom, dad, and her best friend Lola Valenzuela.
Falls Bantam A Team Wins Troy Basaraba Memorial Tournament
This past weekend the Falls Bantam A Team won the Troy Basaraba Memorial Home Tournament. The Falls beat a team from Winnipeg, Roseau, and Denfeld to put them in the Championship game on Sunday afternoon where they again faced off against Roseau. The Falls team ended up winning the tournament in a shootout after a scoreless 3 on 3 overtime.
The program written in remembrance of Troy stated the following:
Troy grew up playing hockey and was a stand up defenseman in his high school years as a Bronco. He was the big guy on the blue line. Troy had a big heart, appreciated the simple things and was full of love - especially for his wife, Amy and kids, Landon and Lauren. His friends and family best described Troy as a family man, a friend, genuine, loyal, deer hunter, fisherman, handyman, and bargain shopper.
Troy was proud of his dual citizenship having family on both sides of the border. He loved fishing north of the border but was equally happy to spend time in MN at the shack where he spent countless hours planning and building.
Troy was admired by all who knew him. He was a kind, gentle giant. The kind of man who was ready to help a friend at a moment's notice. This was evidenced even after he passed as his organs were donated to several people in need.
As we gather at the rink this weekend, let's honor Troy. Have fun, enjoy some laughs with teammates, battle hard, and respect your opponents. In Troy's words, "Giddy Up!"
Knowledge Bowl Succeeds At First Meet of the Season By: Ellen Windels
The younger members of I'Falls Team 1 also had a good first-ever Senior High meet. They had a lower ranking overall, finishing tenth, but held their own throughout rounds. The highlight was scoring 16 points in a single round. "It was okay and then it was less okay," said Andy Davenport in reference to jumping up, then falling back down in the rankings. Still, William Ginter said, "It was fun".
They finished their exciting day with Mexican food and a trip to Target in Virginia. Overall, it was a promising start to the season and left the whole team in anticipation for their next competition, which will take place on February 14th.
Back Row L to R: Coach Ariana Zahradka, Andy Davenport, Emma Saxton, Nora Sullivan, Ellen Windels, Jakob Clifford
Front Row: L to R: William Ginter, Douglas Salo, Alaina Gates, Grace Flesland
FHS Cheerleaders Carry On Tradition of Mini Leaders By: Adyson Wallander
In looking back at the history of Bronco Hockey over the past 75 years one reason for the success of the program is the cheerleaders who have stood behind the team. While celebrating 75 years of Bronco Hockey the 2022-2023 Bronco Hockey cheerleaders hosted their annual mini leaders night. There was a great turn out of mini leaders and fans at the game. Maggie McBride started mini leaders 35 years ago. She had some college cheerleaders from UMD come up and do a one day clinic for the cheerleaders before the try outs. The cheer advisor from UMD gave her the idea of mini leaders as a way of fundraising, so that's what Maggie did. There were 125 little kids grades K-6 that participated and performed at the basketball game. It was such a hit that they did it again for football and had close to 150 kids. The tradition has carried on for hockey, basketball, and football ever since. Hopefully this tradition carries on for many more years.
Minnesota Honor Society Update
From Advisor Karla Oldson-Line:
In February, we will be holding two dances. February 3rd will be for 9-12th grade and February 10th will be for 4th - 6th grade.
We will hold another dance on March 15th for grades 1st -3rd. We are also planning to make homemade dog treats for the Humane Society at some point this spring, although no date has been set for that yet. Lastly, we will be holding a dance on April 29th. This was formerly the Father-Daughter Dance but is now called the Someone Special Dance.
FHS Girls Hockey Plays Detroit Lakes on Senior Night
The FHS Girls Hockey team had their senior night this past Thursday, January 19th. As seniors and parents were recognized for all that they do, the fans and hockey players were getting ready for a game against Detroit Lakes.
The Lakers took an early lead, scoring one goal in the first period. Mara Pelland was to put up a strong defense and carry the Broncos to the end of the 1st period. With the Lakers in the lead 1 to 0. In the 2nd period the Broncos were not able to hold off the Lakers and they scored two more goals to end the period. As the third period started, the Broncos fought back and Talor Burns scored the only goal for the Broncos. The Lakers responded by scoring two more to finish off the game with a final score of 5 to 1 in favor of the Lakers.
January Activities and Events
FHS One Act Play
So come out and support the FHS One Act team this Wednesday. Admission is FREE!
We hope to see you there at Backus this Wednesday, January 25th for the humorous 35 minute One Act Play!
Wednesday, Jan 25, 2023, 07:00 PM
Backus Community Center, 5th Street, International Falls, MN, USA
Upcoming Sports/Activities
Thursday, January 19:
Senior High Knowledge Bowl @ Mountain Iron
Girls Hockey HOME vs. Detroit Lakes 7pm
Boys Hockey @ Greenway 7pm
Girls Basketball @ Ely 7:15pm
Boys Basketball HOME vs. Mesabi East @ 7:15pm
Friday, January 20:
Boys Swimming & Diving HOME vs. Rock Ridge 5pm
Boys Hockey HOME vs. Moose Lake 1pm
Boys Basketball HOME vs. Carlton 4pm
Girls Hockey @ Long Prairie-Grey Eagle/Wadena-Deer Creek 3pm
Saturday, January 21:
FHS One Act Festival @ Eveleth
Tuesday, January 24:
Girls Basketball HOME vs. Cherry 7:15pm
Boys Basketball @ Rock Ridge 7:15pm
Wednesday, January 25:
One Act @ Backus 7pm
Thursday, January 26:
Boys Hockey @ North Shore 6pm
Girls Basketball HOME vs. Mesabi East 7:15pm
Boys Basketball @ Greenway 7:15pm
Girls Hockey HOME vs. Rock Ridge 7pm
Friday, January 27:
Boys Swimming & Diving Triangular HOME Meet 5pm
Saturday, January 28:
One Act Sub-Section Meet @ Eveleth
Girls Basketball @ Duluth Marshall 2pm
Boys Hockey @ Red Lake Falls 2pm
Boys Basketball HOME vs. Two Harbors 2:30pm
Monday, January 30:
Girls Basketball HOME vs. Littlefork Big Falls 7pm
Tuesday, January 31:
Girls Hockey @ Thief River Falls 5:30pm
Boys Basketball HOME vs. Mountain Iron Buhl 7:15pm
Boys Hockey HOME vs. Hibbing 7:30pm
School Event Calendar:
No School: Teacher in Service January 16th
End of 2nd Quarter/Semester 1: January 23rd.
Winter Sports Week: January 23-27 **Pepfest Wednesday during 6th and 7th hour
FHS Faculty Birthdays
Lenisha Bublitz- January 9
Mr. Dowty- January 10
Lori Potter- January 26
Mrs. Rudolph- January 29
Mrs. West- January 29
Falls High Ink
Email: fallshighink@isd361.org
Website: isd361.k12.mn.us
Location: 1515 11th Street, International Falls, MN, USA
Phone: 2182832571