Eagle Review - WE MADE IT! - Summer 2021 - Bishop Watterson High School
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THE MAGAZINE OF BISHOP WATTERSON HIGH SCHOOL
Eagle Review
THE
Summer 2021
WE MADE IT!
p. 4 Dominic Marchi is p. 14 Relationships Make p. 16 O’Dorisio Leads p. 24 Jonathan Smith ‘09
Teacher of the Year the Difference for Baird with Creativity Ordained
ADMINISTRATION
Principal:
Deacon Chris Campbell ’77
Vice Principal:
Andrea Pore
Vice Principal:
Ryan Schwieterman ’01
Vice Principal:
Abby Teeters
Dean of Girls:
Heather Law
Dean of Boys:
Vince Lombardo
DEPARTMENTS
Admissions:
Mary Kate Campbell ’10,
mcampbell@cdeducation.org
IN THIS ISSUE
Alumni Department:
Terri Kernan,
tkernan@cdeducation.org 4 Creativity, Flexibility Keys to a Successful School Year
Athletics:
Doug Etgen, 12 Dominic Marchi Named Teacher of the Year
detgen@cdeducation.org
Chaplain:
13 Students Find Ways to Thrive with Activities
Fr. Paul Noble
pnoble@columbuscatholic.org 14 Relationships Make the Difference for Baird
Communications & Marketing:
Colleen Mar,
16 O’Dorisio Leads BWHS Little Theatre with Creativity
cmar@cdeducation.org
18 Flynn Leads Ga. Tech Football Communications
Development:
Ryan Steinbauer ’01,
rysteinb@cdeducation.org 20 Restaurant Business Not for the Faint of Heart
Facilities:
Tom Long,
22 Home Sweet Home: Alumni Realtors Talk
tlong@cdeducation.org
24 Jonathan Smith ’09 Ordained
Technology:
Jay Forker ’05,
jforker@cdeducation.org
26 Alumni Updates
30 Athletic Hall of Fame
EAGLE REVIEW
Editor: 32 Legends Golf Classic
Colleen Mar,
cmar@cdeducation.org
34 Bishop Watterson Students Using Gifts to Create
Writers:
Colleen Mar, 35 Annual Report
Heather Weekley Lofy ’07,
Jenna Mar ‘19
Alumni Updates:
Terri Kernan,
tkernan@cdeducation.org
Assistant Editors:
Beth Gaines ‘83, Kelly Matthews ‘03
Design:
Liz Viering INK,
lizviering@me.com
To receive the alumni e-newsletter, Eagle
Extra, go to bishopwatterson.com and click
Information Update on the Alumni menu.
2 The Eagle Review | Summer 2021
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Alumni, Parents and Friends,
Unprecedented. It is a word used quite frequently to describe the events happening
around us during the pandemic. A year ago we were going day-by-day, waiting on direction
from health authorities, hoping for an end to the pandemic, and knowing the 2020-21
school year would be challenging.
I’m happy to be on the other side of the unprecedented school year and able to announce:
we made it. We managed to complete a school year in person during a pandemic. I have
found myself describing the experience of running a school during the past year as
something that is truly difficult to describe to folks who are not in education. I hope our
article on pages 4-11 gives you a feel for how we adapted so that our students could have
as much “normal” as we could safely provide.
As with much in the world, some things will go back to the way they were. Others will
change completely because we found a better way and still others will move forward with
adjustments.
It is in adapting that we continue to prepare students to move on to college, work or
military service. One of the ways we are adapting is with a new administrative structure.
Guided by the Diocese of Columbus Office of Catholic Schools, Bishop Watterson is moving
from a Principal and two Assistant Principals format to a structure with a Principal and
three Vice Principals who each have assigned areas of focus.
Vice Principal Andrea Pore will oversee student services, including counseling, technology,
campus ministry, service and activities. Vice Principal Ryan Schwieterman ’01 will oversee
operations, including facilities, athletics, development, admissions, and communications
and marketing. Abby Teeters, who has been an Associate Administrator for the past two
years, will take on the role of Vice Principal for academics.
We ask you to join us in prayer for our school community, our nation and our world, that
we carry forward the lesson our ultimate teacher, Jesus, taught us: to love one another as
he has loved us.
Respectfully,
Deacon Chris Campbell ’77
Principal
ON THE COVER
Sophi Snyder and Anna Sears celebrate Follow us!
graduating with the Class of 2021.
3
Creativity, Flexibility
Feature
Keys to a Successful
2020-21 School Year
by Colleen Mar
4 The Eagle Review | Summer 2021
Creativity, Flexibility Keys to a Successful 2020-21 School Year
Health teacher Trisha Mrs. Hulme said she gets asked by “We were
faculty and alumni if she’s still showing looking at what
Hulme has been showing the movie. we needed to
the movie Outbreak to “I tell them I don’t need to, we’re living
do to get up
to speed with
her students for years. it,” she said. “The students already know everything from
what the CDC is and how viruses are a standpoint of
She didn’t show it to her transmitted.” technology and
classes this year. There professional
Last summer our Eagle Review covered development
was no need. In some the pandemic from the experience of the for teachers,”
ways they were already Spring of 2020. Now, a year later, Bishop said Deacon Campbell. “It was difficult
Watterson has the experience of a year of because we wanted to be able to tell the
living it. schooling during a pandemic behind us. teachers what to expect when we ourselves
As we went to press last summer we had didn’t know what to expect.”
no idea what the 2020-21 school year
“It’s a great movie that would look like. Would we be in person? The technology department had a busy
introduces you to a lot of Hybrid? All online? So much was being summer. Director of Technology Jay
learned about the COVID-19 virus on a Forker ’05 said that they had their usual
health layers,” said Mrs. daily basis and that would impact how, summer maintenance in addition to
Hulme. “Obviously it’s or if, schools could open. prepping for the coming school year
which was still clouded with uncertainties.
unrealistic but also, it’s Planning with Total
fascinating. The kids who Uncertainty “We were in a good position to deal with
“It was a summer filled with anxiety, this because of the focus on technology
were sophomores this year uncertainty and trepidation,” said that this administration had allowed
watched Outbreak last fall. Principal Deacon Chris Campbell ’77. us to implement prior to the pandemic,”
“The trepidation came from wondering said Mr. Forker, who noted that a big
They would just come into things like where the virus was going, challenge for a lot of schools was a
my classroom this year how long it lives on surfaces, what kind microchip shortage due to the global
of ventilation works best and everything supply chains being disrupted. “We were
and say, ‘Outbreak,’ and around masks and looking to the already set one-to-one with student
I’m like, ‘I know.’ Never government and our Office of Catholic laptops and we had an online classroom
presence. In fact, we were able to shift
Schools for direction on all of it. In the
did I think as a teacher meantime, we came up with a million some laptops to another high school.
Still, it was stressful to prepare with
that we would experience scenarios for the upcoming school year.”
so many unknowns depending on the
a pandemic.” From a logistical standpoint, there have virus.”
certainly been easier school years on
record than 2020-21. His department oversaw the setup of
webcams in every classroom, the
“Last summer Deacon asked the procurement of headsets for every
administrators to think outside the box,” teacher and the setup of Zoom. They
said Assistant Principal Andrea Pore. sorted out alternatives so that faculty
“That’s when we created a return-to- could simultaneously teach students
school task force. While we were waiting in the classroom and at home. The
for guidance from the Office of Catholic technology staff also prepared demon-
Schools, the CDC and the state, we were stration classes for teachers using the
brainstorming ways to give students the new equipment and sorted out how to
best type of school year we could while share screens projected in the classroom
keeping them safe.” with students at home in a way that was
readable.
5
“Those were really challenging meetings
for a variety of reasons,” Mr. Schwieterman
said. “We were trying to reassure
teachers and at the same time be clear
that we’re coming into school, we’re
moving forward.”
“Those opening meetings were very
effective to teach me how to start things
off the right way so I could be consistent
through the school year,” said Steve
Crossin ’04, who was in his first year
at BWHS in the science department.
“Because of that, it helped me to be
consistent about how I did everything in
Opening Decision attend on GOLD days. Students not at-
PowerSchool and Zoom for the whole
On July 29, 2020, the administration tending in person attended online (L-M
year.”
announced reopening plans. A color- on RED days, A-K on GOLD days).
coded system was put in place ranging
Mr. Forker said starting Orange was
from Red (all online learning) to Orange “It became apparent that we all needed
beneficial to the teachers.
(hybrid) to Yellow (on campus blended) to approach the reentry to school
to Green (all on campus) and including gradually,” said Deacon Campbell.
“By putting them in the situation of
a Gray option of all online learning for “Everyone needed to get used to how
needing to use the skills they were
students who needed this option for we had to do things.”
taught on running a hybrid classroom
the sake of their own health or that of a
before going Yellow, it allowed them to
family member. Normally the staff has two days of meet-
effectively teach students in the classroom
ings prior to the start of school but in
and in the auxiliary areas as well as
“We wanted to make sure we gave 2020 that was extended to five days due to
students learning from home when we
families the option to learn from home,” the additional training and also to allow
went to Yellow,” he said.
said Ms. Pore. “That was very important for social distancing in the meetings.
to us. We wanted to retain students who Most sessions were held twice, with
Social studies teacher Dan Bjelac said
had family members who were medically half of the staff attending at a time.
the week of opening meetings and
compromised, or who themselves were Considering that the staff had not been
opening at Orange/hybrid made sense.
at higher risk. That’s why the Gray plan in the building since March 13, it was
was created.” beneficial to help everyone get acclimated
“Opening happening incrementally was
to being back in school.
done pretty well, with half of the kids
The plan was to start at Yellow, all
before you had everyone. It was daunting
students on campus with some students “There was a lot of uncertainty and
to remember and learn everything,”
alternating between in-person learning anxiety among the teachers about
said Mr. Bjelac. “You practice but then
and online in an auxiliary learning what the plan would be,” said Deacon
you put it into use and then it became
space. A mask became a uniform Campbell. “Our faculty was no different
habit-forming. What seemed bizarre to
requirement for everyone in the building. than the students and community …
be doing with cameras became normal.
they were across the spectrum, feeling
Anytime there’s something new that’s
Taking a Step Back everything from we shouldn’t be open to
that drastically different, it’s good to ease
Moving into August, with case numbers we should be open, full go.”
your way into it.”
climbing in Franklin County and a
greater awareness of the hurdles that Assistant Principal Ryan Schwieterman
Mrs. Hulme, as health teacher, tried to
teachers and staff would face to make the ’01 led sessions about COVID-19
be the example of the message she gives
Yellow plan happen, BWHS rolled back protocols, with staff asking questions
to her students each year.
to Orange to start the year on August about pretty much every detail with
30. Students with last names A-K would justified concern and a wide range of
“In my class I try to stress to students
attend in person on RED days and feelings.
that people with good mental health
students with last names L-Z would
6 The Eagle Review | Summer 2021
Creativity, Flexibility Keys to a Successful 2020-21 School Year
have to be flexible and have the ability to
All In Yellow And Then There’s the Virus
adapt and change and be resilient,” she
On September 28, 2020, Bishop “My first thought when we went to
said. “That is how I would describe the
Watterson moved to Yellow with all Yellow was, ‘Wow, this is a lot of people
year for me. It was harder because I am
students on campus who were not on in this building,’” said Deacon Campbell.
not as tech-savvy so it was a matter of
the Gray online learning plan. This on- “Early on we tried to get the kids to
just jumping into this game and figuring
campus, blended-learning format was social distance in the hallways but it
it out. You’re either going in thinking
the brainstorm of Assistant Principal was impossible. They’re like magnets.
this is going to be really difficult or
Andrea Pore last summer. They’re social creatures by nature. There
you’re going in thinking how can I make
were too many people to separate so
the best of it?”
“I was out for a walk and began everybody moved and everybody moved
wondering if it would be possible if we quickly.”
Starting Orange also allowed the
could use the gyms and Dominican Hall
administration to build in a couple of
as auxiliary spaces where students could Implementing the new and more-
Yellow test days, the first on September
watch class if they couldn’t safely fit into complicated logistics of the school year
18, 2020.
a classroom because of social distancing because of the pandemic was enough of
requirements,” she said. a herculean task, but there was another
“That first day we had the attitude of
important element: COVID-19 itself.
let’s just try it,” said Mr. Schwieterman.
That could only happen if the auxiliary The question of when the first case of
“That’s how we did everything. Let’s just
areas had enough Wi-Fi bandwidth to exposure among students or staff would
be ready to scramble, which is a foreign
support the number of students that be reported was never far from everyone’s
attitude in schools. Everything is by the
would be utilizing the space. So, while awareness early in that first month. It
calendar, by the bell schedule. It was
the tech department had already begun was only a matter of time. The school
going to be all-hands-on-deck if it didn’t
rewiring the classrooms to work with the notified parents of the first positive
work.
new equipment, they also oversaw the student on September 14. Shortly after,
installation of additional infrastructure a counter could be found on the website
Multiple auxiliary areas were supervised
in the auxiliary areas. reporting new, active and total cases,
for eight class periods by non-teaching
the vast majority contracted outside of
staff and administrators, who took
“If we didn’t already have a culture school hours.
attendance and assisted students.
of being comfortable with the
uncomfortable and learning how to Mr. Schwieterman was the school’s
“I think the task force was pretty
adapt to new conditions on the fly COVID-19 coordinator, a position the
aggressive as a group, but we knew all
we couldn’t have made this work,” Office of Catholic Schools required in
along, too, that we were going to have
said Mr. Forker. “Based on issues we each school. As coordinator, Schwiet-
to utilize every administrator, every
had seen the previous year, we erman was the main contact with the
teacher, every staff member,” said Mr.
standardized how the information school nursing team (Angie Spangler
Schwieterman. “So if staff didn’t buy into
and learning management system, and Emily Mauro covered the five days
covering the auxiliary areas, we couldn’t
PowerSchool, should be displayed to each week), Columbus Public Health
move to Yellow. Deacon said in one of
students, and how assignments could (CPH), and the Diocese. He was respon-
our meetings, ‘If you’re on staff here,
be turned in online and reviewed.” sible for daily tracking, staying apprised
you’re involved. There is no “NO.” If
of CPH guidance and changes, and
you’re here, you’re helping.’ That made it
Mr. Forker and staffers working on coordinating quarantines and return
doable. The staff buy-in to cover the aux
instructional coaching formed a dates.
areas is remarkable to me.”
committee that checked PowerSchool
class pages throughout the year in an “We basically became a little health
effort to maintain high standards and department,” he said. “We were running
consistency. To keep motivation up, a school and a health department and
they had quarterly gift card drawings the only people with a health back-
for teachers who consistently maintained ground were the nurses and they had
a high standard. no experience during a pandemic so the
three of us were doing our absolute best
to stay on top of everything. It was new
for any school to be sending kids home
7
Creativity, Flexibility Keys to a Successful 2020-21 School Year
with a runny nose and cough; before, be released from quarantine but couldn’t
we’d give them a cough drop and send get them back until CPH released them.
them back to class. Now we’re sending So then we had to start releasing. More
them home and they’re out 14 days – or and more ownership just kept coming
when the quarantine rules changed, 10 onto the school. It got to the point that
days.” we did the bulk of the work and we had
a liaison at CPH that we could call with
CPH had to be notified within 24 hours questions.”
of any positive test result reported by
students or staff, including coaches. Challenges a lot of things like student questions. If
COVID coordinator turned out to be a “I was excited to be back. It was better I put the chat up everyone could see the
nearly 24/7 job and could be quite com- than being at home!” Mr. Bjelac said. screen so some kids would email me
plicated. For example, at the start of the “Any type of interaction with the stu- instead of using the chat and I would
year one student was quarantined almost dents is better than being at home.” have to check that on the phone since
30 days because, as family members my laptop was in use. Because students
in the house tested positive, each was Even with that enthusiasm, there were aren’t allowed to use their cell phones in
considered a new exposure which then hurdles along the way. Mr. Bjelac said school, I would tell the kids, ‘If I’m on
restarted the student’s quarantine. By the students put extra effort into staying my phone I’m doing work.”
June the number of BWHS quarantines aware of their rotation to the auxilia-
ended at 314 in total for the 2020-21 ry areas, something that, although it Mr. Crossin, new on staff for 2020-21,
school year. changed daily, he posted it at the start of taught both freshmen and seniors. He
the week. had to rotate a portion of his freshman
“We shared a spreadsheet to track absent classes to the auxiliary area but didn’t
or quarantined students and I don’t “I found more kids missed homework have to do that with his seniors.
know how many times a day I referred or forgot to submit when they weren’t
to it,” said Mr. Schwieterman. “We were in the classroom,” he said. “Maybe not “The freshmen were new to the build-
doing our contact tracing through this being there in person makes it easier to ing so it was more difficult for them
as well. We’d look at the student and say slip away mentally, too. As a teacher I knowing where to go and trying to sort
this kid plays that sport so now what just think you have a better feel for how out each class period whether to go to
does that team’s practice look like, who focused they are when they’re in the the classroom or auxiliary room,” he
does he ride to school with and does he classroom. You’re not seeing their faces said. “With the seniors, if they were in
have a job?” on Zoom because they didn’t use the the building they were in the classroom
camera.” every day. I feel like I developed a better
When the numbers of positive relationship with the students when they
COVID-19 cases were climbing in Ohio With the combination of students in the were present because I was able to see
in November 2020, that was reflected at classroom and students on Zoom, teach- them every day.”
Bishop Watterson. ers had a bit of a juggling act in regards
to keeping up with questions. Mr. Crossin observed that with the class-
“That time through February was really room cameras and Zoom, teachers were
bad in terms of constant communication “It’s definitely easier to address ques- always live.
and changes,” said Mr. Schwieterman. tions in the classroom,” Mr. Bjelac said.
“The winter was our highest rate of “Sometimes I had the mic open for on- “It was one of the odd things about the
quarantine and positive cases. We had to line students and sometimes not so then year,” he said. “It’s a unique feeling when
notify another school if we had an ath- I had to consistently check on whether you feel like you’re always being watched
lete test positive or we would get a call students were asking questions in the through a screen.”
from a school our team played saying, chat feature.”
‘Hey, our number 22 was positive,’ so Mrs. Hulme said her freshman class
then we had to decide what to do from “You had kids who could talk on Zoom tends to be more discussion-based so
there. I struggled early on and when it from home, kids who couldn’t talk on during the Orange days and with the
got bad in the winter because we wanted Zoom because they were in the aux students on Gray it was more difficult to
no cases. You wanted that number at area and kids in the classroom,” English draw them out and feel comfortable to
zero. Columbus Public Health was teacher Jen Rush said. “I had to reiterate talk on the computer.
overwhelmed and we had people due to
8 The Eagle Review | Summer 2021
Photo courtesy of James Carwile ‘05, 9 www.timeandchangestudios.com
Creativity, Flexibility Keys to a Successful 2020-21 School Year
many lessons learned from the 2020-21 vaccine starting in early February. By the
school year. end of February any staff who wished
to receive the vaccine had received both
“We already knew students aren’t learning doses.
the same way they did five or ten years
ago. We have to adapt to meet their “I think the comfort level for some
needs and there is a whole tool kit out people on staff, once they had the
there filled with resources to reach all opportunity get vaccinated, shifted to
types of student learners,” she said. now I’m safe, so some of the worry and
“I would tell them to use emojis or “This year we had more teachers take anxiety people had decreased,” said Mr.
thumbs-up when I asked do you the opportunity to work with us to Schwieterman.
understand or have any questions,” she reflect and brainstorm on new ways to
said. “That was fun for the kids in the approach lesson planning.” By the start of fourth quarter on March
29, 2021, the Centers for Disease
classroom to watch all of that happen.”
Mrs. Hulme said one of the positives Control had downgraded the distance
of the year was how teachers pulled required between students from six feet
Lessons Learned
together to make their way through. to three so Bishop Watterson moved
With 314 total quarantines of mostly
to Green with Gray still an option and
students with either cold-like symptoms
“One of the things that was really nice masks still a uniform requirement. All
or none at all, Zoom was a blessing.
was that we were all in this together,” students in the building were back in the
she said. “We talked and asked each classrooms.
“For a student who would normally
other how did you do this and what did
be in school but was quarantined,
you do about that? When I would get “This year I never felt unsafe,” said Mrs.
Zoom was a massive advantage,” said
together with other teachers it was a Rush. “I thought I would feel leery
Mr. Crossin. “They were able to sign
lot more collaborative.” but because of the way we’ve handled
on and attend class even if they were
things with the cleanliness I’ve never
quarantined with a sniffle.”
Associate Administrator Abby Teeters
Wrapping Up the Year felt unsafe. When we brought all of the
In January Governor DeWine announced students back into the classroom like
worked with social studies teacher Alex
that all school employees would be a normal year, it felt like so many kids
Golonka ’13 on BWHS instructional
given priority to receive the COVID-19 which was weird.”
coaching efforts and said that there were
10 The Eagle Review | Summer 2021The administration came up with “Looking back, it’s the proudest Flexibility seemed to be the key to
different plans for baccalaureate and I’ve ever been of a school, keeping the school doors open and
graduation and waited until May 14 academics on track.
to make final decisions based on state
students and staff because we
regulations on that day. Seniors were were able to constantly keep “You learn people can adapt,” said Mr.
hoping to be able to graduate together students’ best interests at the Bjelac. “We all can. We had to.”
as a class and were relieved to learn that forefront for the benefit of their
would be the case, with just two guests
safety and education. Because
per student and both events held in the
south gymnasium. everyone bought in and focused
on the end goal of what’s best
Deacon Campbell credits the buy-in for our families, it became one
of students, parents and faculty as the
of our triumphs,” said Ms. Pore.
reason Bishop Watterson had a full,
productive school year. “Our senior class was flexible
and positive and great leaders,
“Our students wore a mask 8 hours a day willing to go with the flow
with a break at lunch,” he said. “That is and be excited about anything
exceptional.”
they were able to do and the
underclassmen followed suit.”
11Dominic Marchi Named
Teacher of the Year
By Jenna Mar
Bishop Watterson High School “The one time I felt comfortable talking in
front of people was when I was up at the
is celebrating mathematics board explaining math problems,” he said.
educator Dominic Marchi who “It all just fell into place.”
recently won a local Teacher After teaching for one year at Zanesville
of the Year award at the high High School and one year as a substitute
school level. for suburban districts in central Ohio,
Marchi found his way to Bishop Watter-
son where he can share his Catholic faith
Marchi, who is the school’s math depart- with his students.
ment chair, has taught a variety of math
classes at Bishop Watterson for 14 years. “I’ve used the opportunity to grow in my
faith because one of the benefits of being
He was nominated for the award by Abby a teacher at a Catholic school is that you
Teeters, associate administrator at Bishop get to pray with your students,” Marchi
Watterson. said. “Your faith becomes part of your
daily routine at work.”
“Dominic was an easy pick on my part
because of his professionalism, dedica- In addition to teaching, Marchi is an
tion, faithfulness, rigor and expectations,” advisor for the St. Joseph of Arimathea
Teeters said. “He is someone you can rely Society and chaperones student retreats.
on, and he’s always going the extra mile to
provide for the Watterson community.” “It is clearly displayed through Dominic’s
demeanor that he is a faith-filled educator,”
Marchi graduated from Bowling Green Teeters said. “He doesn’t hesitate to speak
State University with a Bachelor of Science openly about his love for his faith to
degree in education and earned his students and staff alike.”
Master of Arts in education from Ohio
State University. But he originally was a Marchi, 39, who grew up in Gahanna,
biology major. lives with his wife, Angela, and children,
Clara, 5, and Peter, 2, in Columbus. He
Marchi said he eventually realized hopes that his students see him not only
“biology was not what I wanted to do. I as a math teacher but also as someone
started praying to God, asking, ‘What is living out his Catholic faith.
your plan for me?’”
Marchi’s award was one of three sponsored
After switching from biology to math, he by Columbus Parent and ThisWeek
continued his education with a “feeling of Community News publications. The
peace.” awards, based on 152 nominations, Photo by Tim Johnson,
were given to outstanding central Ohio courtesy of Columbus Parent
Marchi said he then found his calling in educators at the elementary, middle
teaching. school and high school levels.
12 The Eagle Review | Summer 2021Seniors Find Closure Despite School Closure
Photo courtesy of Diane Spagnuolo Photography, www.dianesphotography.com
Students Find Ways to Thrive with Activities
Athletics Arts Other Activities
The Eagles won four district titles during While there were no marching band Student Council continued to provide
the Fall 2020 season: field hockey, boys cross competitions held last fall, our band leadership throughout the year, working
country, girls volleyball, girls soccer. The continued to practice. The band performed with administration to hold some of the
boys soccer team finished district runner-up at a festival and hosted a performance traditional dress down days like costumes
and the girls soccer team finished regional evening on the back field for their families. for Halloween and a fall food drive for
runner-up. St. Stephen’s Community House.
BWHS choirs found a way to perform as
The field hockey team went on to win the well, with a recorded fall concert, held in Campus Ministry pulled off three Kairos
state title and the girls volleyball team won a large church with singers wearing masks retreats in the spring, with individual
the regional title and made it to the final four which was then viewable online by family sleeping rooms at Maria Stein Retreat
in the state. The boys cross country team also and friends. By spring the choir was able to House. Students created Made for More,
competed at states and finished 17th. spread out in our North gymnasium and a 20-minute reflect and connect session
perform for a limited number of family after school on Tuesdays, and an “Emmaus
In the winter our boys basketball team had an members. A unique opportunity resulting Lunch” program gave students the opportu-
amazing tournament run, finishing from the pandemic and the proliferation of nity to connect outside over lunch.
regional runner-up. The swim team sent a online meeting platforms was a week of
relay team to states. review by Broadway producers in which Business Club hosted a toy drive for
choir students could perform a number on Nationwide Children’s Hospital in the fall
Spring brought more excitement as two girls stage and receive immediate feedback. and a cleaning supplies drive for St. Stephen’s
track relay teams won state titles, the girls Community House in the spring.
team finished third overall and the boys and As the show must go on, so it did for our fall
girls lacrosse teams both made it to the state drama. Students performed My Man Godfrey, A new Spikeball Club formed which drew
semifinals. The boys track team finished which was recorded and viewed online with a lot of students to the back fields to play
regional runner-up. ticketed performance times. The cast of the in the fresh air after school on select days.
spring musical, Pippin!, was honored with a While not a club activity, French III and IV
CAPA Marquee Award for Best Ensemble. students gathered at The Refectory restaurant
in March 2021 for a private tour and cooking
A creative showing of Pippin! was held at a demonstration.
drive-in theater.
The Dance Team performed outside at a
nursing home.
13together. They realized they needed
Relationships Christ to get through the year.”
Make the It seems the Eagles’ prayers were heard
as the end result was a state championship,
Difference the third for Baird as head coach. The
team defeated Thomas Worthington 2-1
for Baird in the district final, then went on to get
past Columbus Academy 1-0 in the state
by Colleen Mar semifinal that went into two overtimes
before shutting out Hudson 3-0 in the
It was field hockey playoff time state championship game. It is the fourth
in the fall of 2020 and Janet field hockey state title for Bishop
Watterson (1995, 2005, 2009, 2020).
Janet Baird Baird noticed her players were
stuffing something in their Bishop Watterson was placed in a state
shoes. She quickly learned that bracket in which the Eagles had to
Baird coaches Anne Marie Reuss on it was a slip of paper with two beat the best teams en route to the
the sideline during the 2020 state things written on it: on one championship.
championship game. side, they wrote the name of
“This team played probably three of
Photo by Shane Flanigan, the person they were playing
This Week Community News the most amazing field hockey games
for, whether a family member, I’ve ever seen, against three of the best
a teammate or the seniors; on teams in the state. They literally had
the other side, each player wrote to go through the best teams in the
what she wanted to do better state to win. It was a beautiful week.
that day. That week was also so surreal. Their
performance in every single game was
Baird said the field hockey seniors in beyond expectations, from the time
the Class of 2021 possessed a deep they arrived at the field to their
and unique gratitude for having the celebrations and when they left.”
opportunity to play their senior season
and that drove their leadership of the After sports were cancelled during the
team. That gratitude was expressed in spring of 2020 due to the COVID-19
acts of faith, like the theme of “Christ pandemic, Baird said her team
Guide Us In Our Journey” for the recognized the gift of being able to get
season, and in how they carried back on the field in the fall.
themselves with a combination of
confidence and humility throughout “The kids truly had grateful hearts.
the playoffs. As underclassmen, they They played that way. They practiced
had lost three district championships that way,” she said. “Every single day
in a row, including an especially we got to practice and had another
painful one their junior year. day, we were happy just to be there.
Every day we were walking a
“They were hoping to get back on the tightrope of do we have another day?
field and have a chance at that district The governor was making new
championship again,” said Baird. “This announcements every day it seemed.”
was a team that really took bringing
Christ into the team very seriously. The Ohio High School Athletic
I didn’t have to remind them of the Association set a phase-in process with
philosophy this year. We needed to protocols for pre-workout screenings,
be saying prayers that we were going the size of gatherings, facilities cleaning,
to make it through without a pause and equipment, among other things.
(due to COVID cases). There were a Spectators were very limited to allow for
lot of teams that had a pause and we social distancing and ticketing moved
never had a pause. The senior class was online.
amazing at setting the tone of coming
14 The Eagle Review | Summer 2021“When your season isn’t in jeopardy you timers to keep the accountability piece When Baird enrolled at Ohio State,
take it for granted but I think this year in place and that’s because they do play Brosmer brought her back to Bishop
the kids were super excited and we had a heavy influence on kids and can assist Watterson as the JV coach.
an overwhelming amount of support that child in becoming a better person
from the parents,” Baird said. “We had and a better player.” “We complimented each other because
to adjust a lot of logistics like no ride Janet had such a rapport with the kids.
sharing and limited fans and parents Another change in coaching in recent We both really care about the kids but
had to be ok with that. The season was years has been a greater level of attention we showed it differently,” said Brosmer.
full of joy from beginning to end. It was to the mental health of this generation of Baird, who currently teaches at South
probably one of the most amazing students, especially during the pandemic. Middle School, holds a B.S. in K-8
experiences of my life. The kids made Education from OSU. At OSU she did
it that because they really did play and “It has become important to parents. an urban studies program because she
practice with grateful hearts for the They want their child to have a positive wanted to work with underprivileged
sport. Their love of the game and their experience besides just playing,” said
team just poured out of them.” Baird. “Parents want coaches to help
their daughters become not just better
Baird said maintaining discipline was players but better people. If you coach
the key to dealing with the numerous at Watterson you should be different in
protocols as a coach. that way. You have a platform to bring
the Christianity aspect into the sport.”
“Last year we all got tested,” she said.
“If you were going to get through a When Baird’s family moved from upstate
season without a forfeit, you had to be New York to Columbus at the end of her
disciplined. You had to set expectations freshman year, she was less than thrilled
not just on the field but for off the field that her parents chose Bishop Watterson
as well. If you weren’t a disciplined coach and they made it non-negotiable because
you had to become that or you weren’t the family did not have the opportunity
going to make it through the season to attend Catholic schools in New York
without a pause. If you needed to build due to distance. Baird’s brothers also
more discipline into your program, last graduated from BWHS: John ’85, Steve kids. She credits working with the
fall was a good springboard. You had ’89, Joe ’91 and Anthony ’93. nuns at Our Lady of Bethlehem’s daycare
to instill that in your team. They had to for her BWHS service requirement as
understand that their actions off the field Baird had played field hockey in New York the inspiration for this interest. Baird
would have an impact on the team.” from an early age, so it became a bit of an did her student teaching at Windsor
oasis for her as sophomore year began. Elementary and then spent her first 12
It’s pretty well known that Baird years in education there.
normally runs a disciplined program. “Katie got me as a player when I was
She has been at the helm of the Eagles having one of the worst years of my life “That is the time in my life when I
field hockey program since 1997, when as a teenager because we had moved and realized that kids really want to know how
she took over for Katie Brosmer. She I was really upset and had a lot of anger,” much you care and love them as opposed
said coaching has changed over the she said. “I still had some of that ‘I wish to how much you know,” she said. “If you
past 25 years. I was somewhere else’ attitude but Katie don’t have the relationship piece with
was a positive influence on me. She was the child you’re teaching, it’s not going to
“The game itself has changed,” she said. super calming and willing to meet me work. Any child you’re working with, they
“As a coach you have to be willing to where I was at and also give me a great first need to know that you care about
listen more to your players now. It can’t be example as a model and mentor.” them as a person rather than reading or
old school my way or the highway. There writing or how to get the ball.”
are always some things all coaches have “I was so excited because it was the first
that are non-negotiable but I also think time anyone who had previously played That belief in building relationships is
it’s good for a coach to be a good listener, field hockey had come to Watterson,” why, when Baird was inducted into the
especially when your veteran players are Brosmer said. “Janet was by far the best Bishop Watterson Athletic Hall of Fame
coming to you. The art of coaching is player I ever had. On the field she was in 2014, there was a sea of Janet Baird
maintaining high expectations without just great. She really did whatever she Fatheads in the crowd at Hagely Field.
sacrificing the integrity of your program. needed to do to play better. Field hockey
You have to be willing to change, to listen. gave her a focus, something that she “I’m sure somebody paid somebody to
You have to be willing to ask if you don’t loved and a routine.” do that,” she joked. “It was nice, it was
know. I think it’s important even for old funny, it was sweet!”
15O’Dorisio Leads BWHS
Little Theatre with Creativity
By Jenna Mar
Liz O’Dorisio ’87 grew up in a family that loved to entertain. Raised on variety shows
such as The Lawrence Welk Show and Hee Haw, as well as all things vaudeville, O’Dorisio
shared her family’s special love for entertainment. When she and her brother Michael ’85
saw The Little Rascals, they saw their own chance to entertain. To create their own
productions, the duo would use whatever costumes, props and materials they had on
hand, including their mother’s curtains.
16 The Eagle Review | Summer 2021“We were very inspired by these little “After a year of loss, challenge, and Liz’s father, John Thomas ’58, and her
kids who came from nothing and were struggle we wanted a show that involved uncles Jim and Joe participated in
putting on productions in their garage,” ‘the meaning of life and pursuit of BWHS theatre. John passed on his love
said O’Dorisio. “We would create our happiness,’” said O’Dorisio. “We chose for entertaining to his children Mandy
own little vaudeville shows and invite Pippin because it focused on rites of ’83, Michael ’85, Ann Marie ’86, and Liz
our neighbors.” passage, soul searching, and finding ’87. Liz’s children Angelo ‘21, Olive ‘23,
happiness.” and Gigi ’25 now carry on the family
Though their audience numbers were tradition as third generation entertain-
low, Liz and Michael were happy just to According to O’Dorisio, many of the ers. Her appreciation for the legacy
have the chance to perform. students performing in Pippin were able of the BWHS Little Theatre led her to
to relate to the story. establishing the BWHS Performing and
“We would bring in picnic table benches Visual Arts Hall of Fame in 2019.
and we would do this full-on production “We had a large number of seniors who
for a couple kids, under ten years old, not only lost their junior musical, but “I have a huge philanthropic heart when
who probably had a quarter between most of the rites of passage common to it comes to Watterson and seeing their
them to pay for admission,” she said. the final year of high school,” she said. artists find avenues to success,” said
“We focused on the talent and the rela- O’Dorisio, who wants students to feel
O’Dorisio relates these experiences of tionships. It helped us hone in on what’s comfortable being themselves. “I’m
using every creative angle to bring about important about our process.” very open-minded and I’m very much
a production to her adventures as the a goofball myself. It’s taking chances or
Artistic Director at BWHS, particularly The students worked with what they taking risks, but the culture allows for us
during the 2020-2021 school year. had and their passion carried them to do that in this space.”
far, eventually earning them the
“It was not easy, but I think our desire to Outstanding Ensemble in the 2021 O’Dorisio hopes for the theatre program
continue to entertain and my own desire CAPA Marquee Awards program. at BWHS to be a place where students
to create helped us,” O’Dorisio said. “My can try new things without judgement.
job during COVID was to figure out a O’Dorisio started an annual summer “Our message to our students is to love
way.” theatre camp in 2016 to draw future what you’re doing,” she said.
Eagles into the BWHS theatre community.
The students and staff worked diligently Her work-around during the pandemic
to make their performances possible this summer of 2020 was to host a virtual
year. summer camp, cleverly named “Theatre
in a Box.”
“Innovation was the “We created and distributed ‘theatre kits’
name of the game,” to feeder school students so that they
could participate in an online version
said O’Dorisio. “Theatre of BWHS theatre,” said O’Dorisio as she
people are not only reflected on the success of the program.
creative but resilient – The continuation of the BWHS theatre
especially this group!” program is important to O’Dorisio and
she has dedicated much of her time to
making sure that it remained possible
O’Dorisio strategically chose the show through the pandemic. O’Dorisio has
My Man Godfrey for the Fall 2020 been the Artistic Director of the theatre
drama. program since 2016. The tradition of ex-
cellence in theatre is not only upheld by
“We knew we couldn’t go wrong with her direction and dedication, but also by
this title! It was written for all medi- her family’s dedication to the program.
ums – stage, film, radio – and it helped
to know that Zoom performances were “You could say that my love for the
happening and people were watching performing arts is genetic,” said
online,” O’Dorisio explained. O’Dorisio.“I can’t remember a time
where my father’s side of the family
The Spring 2021 musical was chosen less wasn’t entertaining each other at holiday
for its logistics and more for the depth gatherings.”
of story.
17Flynn Leads
Ga. Tech Football
Communications
said I didn’t think the whole thing was crumbling down on us
by Colleen Mar that day. I give a lot of credit to the presidents in the ACC, Big
12 and SEC to decide to give it a go. What we were able to do is
Mike Flynn ’97 stood in the press box of the Carrier Dome at give our student athletes the opportunity to do what they love to
Syracuse University counting the minutes. As Georgia Tech’s do and we were able to give our students and fans a little bit of
Assistant Athletics Director for Communications, Flynn normalcy and an escape from what was going on in the world.”
looked down at the field when his team should have been
running out and … nothing. It was strange enough to watch Flynn said safety was the number one priority for the athletics
the team warming up in a stadium with no spectators and now department.
he was forced to wait and wonder why the teams were still in
the locker rooms. “So many people did so much work to be able to, in our mind,
safely bring our student athletes back and safely have a season,”
“I called an assistant on the field and asked what was going he said. “There’s some skepticism about money being the
on and he said, ‘I don’t know but it isn’t good,’” said Flynn. “I priority but safety was the number one priority. Second was to
called our AD and it wasn’t good. There were some issues with give our student athletes the opportunity to compete. Nobody
COVID testing with the Syracuse team and they had to re-test could have ever possibly anticipated all of this, especially in
some players. If any of them were positive, we were not playing athletics as much as we are planners and stuck to routines.”
the game. As our team was getting ready to run out on the field,
they were told to go back in the locker room, that they might Flexibility became a constant theme around the world because
not be playing.” of the pandemic and that was also true in college athletics,
according to Flynn.
As the minutes ticked by, he wondered if they had flown to
Syracuse and gone through pregame warmups only to turn “How much we had to adjust on the fly has been a little
around and fly home. disconcerting but it’s rewarding to know that we can do it if we
need to,” he said. “We plan football games 10 years out and last
About a half hour later, Flynn got word that the game would go on. year we were scheduling games a week out!”
“This was the first time we were playing in front of zero fans,” Flynn has been in his current position with Georgia Tech
said Flynn. “Every place at home and on the road before this since 2016. He is the primary contact for football, the athletics
we had some fans, but it was kind of eerie that the stadium was department’s chief spokesperson, and he oversees the day-to-
empty.” day operations of the athletics department’s communications
and public relations office. He arrived in Atlanta after 13 years
Flynn had a front-row seat to observe how the 2020 college at Appalachian State where he started as an Assistant Sports
football season played out for a Division I team. At a Saturday Information Director in 2003 and then was promoted to Director
practice that August, word spread that the in 2004 and eventually Assistant Athletics Director in 2006.
Pac-12 and Big 10 were cancelling their seasons.
During his tenure at Appalachian State, the Mountaineers
“We started wondering, are we next? Are we not going to play? gained national attention with a victory over 5th-ranked
What does this mean for us?” he said. “Selfishly, I wondered Michigan in the season opener in 2007, causing Michigan to
if I would have a job. That day really sticks out. I’d be lying if I drop out of the top 25. The game was the lead story on ESPN’s
18 The Eagle Review | Summer 2021Sports Center and the cover story on Sports Illustrated. It also “When I first got into this business you could help your beat
resulted in the Associated Press changing its poll policy to writer out with news and ask them to hold it until tomorrow
allow non-Football Bowl Subdivision teams to earn spots in the morning. The internet was still in its infancy. But now we’re in a
national poll. minute-to-minute news cycle,” said Flynn. “I’ve been fortunate
over my career to watch how that has evolved.”
“Somebody did a story that week and asked me when I slept
that week,” said Flynn. “I realized it was a couple of hours.” Flynn’s interest in sports began even before his years at Bishop
Now at Georgia Tech a “normal” workday depends on the Watterson.
season. During football season he’s at work 60-80 hours.
“I’ve always had a love for sports and I knew I wanted to stay
“My normal day in May is a lot different than my normal day involved so that was the big thing: how can I stay involved?”
in September or October,” he said. “In-season we start practice Flynn said. “I decided that if I was going to pursue something it
at 8 a.m. Sometimes I’m there for the whole practice if we have was going to be on the administrative support end and I found
media present at the beginning but I’ll normally catch the last PR an interesting way that I could do that. Then I was able to
hour of practice and then work with the media after practice. land an internship in the athletic department at the end of my
And then I have to get on with the rest of my work, whether sophomore year at Miami.”
that’s helping to prepare the TV crew for the upcoming game or
anything communication-wise from our department. A typical While writing is an integral part of his current profession, Flynn
day doesn’t end until 8 or 9:00 and Saturdays are probably the said he didn’t exactly have a love of writing during his years at
busiest day of the week. Mondays are next busiest.” Bishop Watterson.
Flynn said sports dominates not only his schedule but those of “Mr. Farrenkopf really made an impression on me,” he said.
his wife, Erin, who is a club and high school volleyball coach, “I enjoyed his teaching. I enjoyed his sense of humor and he
and their daughters Kellan, 14, and Annie, 8. was someone who put me on the right path from an English
standpoint.”
In spite of his own busy schedule, Flynn makes time to help
coach Annie’s softball team and watch her other activities as The solid foundation in writing that he received at BWHS
well as to watch Kellan play volleyball and softball. Heading into was eclipsed by the relationships established with not only
her freshman year of high school, Kellan has already made the classmates but staff, too.
varsity volleyball team and is considered a top-400 recruit for
the class of 2025 in softball. “My freshman year I got cut from the basketball team. I was
pretty devastated and mad at the world and decided not to even
He and Erin met while they were undergrads at Miami University try out for baseball,” he said. “Coach Golden, who was also a
in Oxford where he interned in the sports information parishioner at St. Tim’s, got word about that somehow and
department while working toward a bachelor’s degree in speech pulled me aside one day and asked me … well, strongly suggested
communication. Flynn went on to Texas Christian University … that I come out for football. I’m unbelievably thankful for
where he worked in sports information while earning a master’s that. Him taking the time to do that was probably a life-
degree in advertising/public relations. changing thing for me. It kept me involved in sports and on the
right track. I certainly wouldn’t be involved in this profession.”
A lot has changed in sports communications since Flynn’s
graduation from Miami in 2001, including the rise of social Flynn said BWHS classmates and teammates have become
media and the need to adapt how to communicate with all lifelong friends.
constituents.
“I think the world of Watterson as an all-around institution. If
I lived there I’d be hard-pressed to think my kids wouldn’t go
Mike Flynn on the football field conferring with Georgia Tech Head
Coach Geoff Collins. GT AD Todd Stansbury is at left. there because of how much I valued my time there,” said Flynn.
“The administration was always very caring to me. Mr. Durant
and Mr. Silcott were always looking out for me. The care people
had for me made a difference. I’d like to think that it didn’t go
unnoticed at the time and certainly as I look back I hope that
it’s something I can pay forward, the genuine care of people that
need it.”
19Restaurant Business Not
lot of other restaurants didn’t make it
through.”
for the Faint of Heart
Ziliak and Lopez both emphasized that
the need to be flexible and adapt to the
changing circumstances was key to
by Colleen Mar moving forward.
Bishop Watterson alumni in the
restaurant business in Columbus “We followed the mandates within 24
are used to adapting on the fly to hours every time and neither restaurant
place delicious food in front of closed,” said Ziliak. “When the governor
Rick Lopez ’86 said carryout only, we did. When he said
customers, but even they were not patio only, we went to carryout plus
prepared for the ups and downs patio. When he said dine-in with
they have experienced during the distance, we did.”
pandemic. It has been quite the
roller coaster ride as they have “That Sunday when everything was
found ways to remain open and closing I had a lot of customers coming
up and expressing concern and saying
serving the community. they hoped everything would be alright.
No one had any idea what was going
Rick Ziliak ‘88 and Rick Lopez ‘86 each
to occur next,” said Lopez. “We started
own two restaurants that are still serving.
doing carryout right away and people
Sue Preston ‘79 and Amber Preston ’14
really came out and supported us. We
shifted their business from catering plus
had to do little things like add a phone
grab-and-go meals to grab-and-go and a
line. We tried to remain fluid because
small café. Lindsey Bigler-Teetor ‘07 was
the situation changed so much.”
a part of the corporate staff at Cameron
Mitchell Restaurants as the company
Lopez found his way through by making
paused operations during the shutdown.
menu changes at La Tavola in Upper
Matt Phelan’s ‘06 first restaurant was
Arlington and Lupo in Powell.
under construction when the shutdown
occurred and still he managed to open
“We had two different concepts: one that
last fall.
worked well with carryout and one that
didn’t,” he said. “At La Tavola we serve a
Ziliak has two Z Cucina locations. The
lot of Italian food which is kind of made
first opened in Grandview in 2005 and a
for carryout with the pizzas and other
second opened in Dublin’s Bridge Park
dishes. We can’t go back to our original
about 18 months before the shutdown
format because we have to maintain a
occurred.
menu that’s good in the dining room
and also travels well. At Lupo the menu
“It was really a little over a year to build
had been tapas, small plates and raw
a brand in Dublin,” he said. “There are a
oysters and that doesn’t travel well so we
lot of Eagle alumni in Dublin and that’s
had to redefine the concept. We moved
super helpful to me. I think people like
to more pasta and then more seasonal
to support Watterson alumni and people
dishes once we were able to have people
like to support small businesses. I’m here
on our patio.”
every night and I think people appreciate
that to some degree. There’s not a lot of
The Prestons, whose business predom-
fine dining restaurants in town where
inantly focused on catering, also found
the owner is on site every night and I
themselves at a crossroads.
think people appreciate that and want
to support something that has a face
“When the pandemic hit everybody was
and not just a name. There’s been a lot
working from home and there were no
of support getting us through. Without
Rick Ziliak ’88 luncheons or big gatherings so we were
those people we might have been another
looking at each other wondering if this
hash mark in the closure category. A
might be the end,” said Amber. “We
20 The Eagle Review | Summer 2021You can also read
