Cass Lake-Bena Public Schools - #CLBSPANTHERS

🎯 Pumpkin Launch Challenge in the Makerspace! 🎃

Our 8th grade students put their creativity and engineering skills to the test in the middle school Makerspace Lab last week! Working in teams of two or three, students constructed simple catapults using popsicle sticks and rubber bands. Their goal? To launch candy pumpkins at paper castle targets with precision and power! 🏰💥

Using meter sticks, students measured their launches in centimeters to see how far they could go while still hitting the target. A few groups even launched their candy pumpkins over 200 cm and still struck the castle with impressive accuracy! 👏

Hands-on learning, teamwork, and a touch of friendly competition made for an exciting day in the Makerspace! 🚀✨

CLB Elementary Book Fair is coming November 3rd through the 7th. Family Night is November 6th until 6:00 pm. More information to come, if needed.

Against the Wind: Panthers Earn Every Step

The course was brutal: rolling hills, gusts of 17 mph, and stretches of wind that felt like running through water. But the Panthers showed up ready to battle. This meet was their toughest yet, with a multitude of AA teams competing.

This meet flipped the usual schedule, with the Varsity boys running first instead of last.

Freshman Markis Washington, ranked 30th going in, ran with grit and purpose, moving up to finish 27th in 19:22 (6:14 per mile). He’s been managing some IT band pain, but you wouldn’t have guessed it by the way he powered through the last mile. With a crowded, narrow course, getting around other runners was tough — but the Panthers know the real racing starts after the first mile. Following pre-race instructions to run smart and tuck in behind others to block the wind, Markis stayed relaxed. Even when he found himself around 50th early on, he didn’t panic, instead, he picked off runners one by one.

Freshman Zane Halse proved that patience pays off. Ranked 96th, he ran a smart, steady race, drafting when possible and conserving energy for the second half. By the finish line, he’d climbed an ASTONISHING 50 places to finish 46th in 21:08 (6:48 per mile). He wasn’t ecstatic with his placement, but the strength to maintain that pace through hills and wind is undeniable.

With the promise of chocolate milk at the finish line, freshman Kenny Litzau found another gear, moving past two runners at the end of the race. With each race, his confidence grows, and every small gain adds up over the season. He powered across the line in 26:23 (8:29 per mile).

For a change, the boys’ JH 3200m race ran second.

First across the line for the Panthers was eighth grader Fabian Wittner — better known as Fabian FITtner. Ranked 9th on paper, Fabian ran like a man on a mission, storming to 6th place in 12:32.10 (6:16 per mile), ahead of runners from big schools like Bemidji, Moorhead, and Nevis. After three weeks off to focus on school, one would expect a little rust — but Fabian is fitter than ever. He hovered around 15th through the first half-mile before making his charge, passing runner after runner until he crossed the line amongst the elite of the AA field, earning a blue Bemidji medal. It’s not Cass Lake-Bena maroon, but it will do.

Eighth grader Dashawn Oquist, better known as Dashawn O-QUICK, kept that fighting spirit alive as well, clocking a solid 15:48 (7:55 per mile) despite wind, hills, and every excuse the weather tried to hand him.

After the races, a few Panthers were frustrated. Competitive by nature, they glanced at their times and shook their heads: all part of the process. There’s a difference between excuses and factors. The wind was real. The hills were real. The effort? Even more real. The beauty of cross country is that every course is different: some flat, some hilly, some winding. That’s where inner strength comes in.

Days like this build something deeper than fast times. They build resilience. And today, the Panthers showed plenty of it.

📣 We Want to Hear From YOU, Panther Nation! 🐾

Your voice matters — and your feedback helps us make Cass Lake-Bena Athletics and Activities stronger for every student.

✅ High School Student-Athlete Community Survey
We want to hear directly from our student-athletes and families about their experiences and ideas for improvement.
https://forms.gle/nK1foMLLngCVBmjP6

✅ Parent Survey for Fall Youth Sports
Parents, your input is essential to help us build the best possible youth sports program!
https://forms.gle/Qe14ToyhDwA96dGA6

💬 Take a few minutes to share your thoughts — your feedback shapes the future of Panther Athletics!

#PantherPride #GoPanthers #YouthSports #StudentAthletes #CommunityVoice

🏐 Panther Playoff Volleyball — Let’s Pack the Gym! 🐾 Cass Lake-Bena has officially earned the #8 seed in the 5A Playoffs and will take on #9 seed Browerville in the first round! 📅 Sunday, October 20 🕖 7:00 PM 📍 Cass Lake-Bena High School Gym 🎟️ Ticket Information (set by Region 5A): • Adults: $10 • Students: $5 • No Elder Discount Two ways to purchase: 1️⃣ Cash at the Gate (Prices are above) 2️⃣ Online: https://www.gobound.com/mn/mshl/regions/5a/tickets (links are still being added — check frequently, and prices may vary from cash at the gate and online) 📺 Live Stream: Cass Lake-Bena Hudl Fan https://fan.hudl.com/usa/mn/cass-lake/organization/79119/cass-lake-bena-high-school Let’s pack the gym, Panther Nation, and create a true home-court advantage! 🐾🔥 #PantherPride #VolleyballPlayoffs #GoPanthers #WesternBankGameDay

🏈🏐 Panther Game Day Football & Volleyball Action! 🐾 It’s another packed night for Panther Athletics with football at home and volleyball on the road! Let’s bring the energy, Panther Nation! 📍 Football — Cass Lake-Bena 🏈 JH — 4:30 PM vs. Ada-Borup-West 📍 HS Football Field 📍 Volleyball — Kelliher/Northome in Northome 🏐 JH — 4:45 PM 🏐 JV — 5:45 PM 🏐 Varsity — 6:45 PM 🔥 Sponsored by Western Bank — proud supporter of Panther Athletics!

Dear Cass Lake-Bena Community and Fans, We wanted to share an important update regarding our varsity football program. After careful consideration and with the best interest of our student-athletes in mind, we have made the difficult decision to conclude our varsity football season today 10/14/25. We know this may come as a disappointment, especially given all the dedication and support from our players, families, and fans. However, we believe this is the right step to ensure the well-being of our students and to focus on their overall growth and safety. We appreciate your understanding and continued support. Thank you for being a part of our Panther family, and we look forward to coming back stronger in the seasons to come. With gratitude, Caleb Travis Athletic Director, Cass Lake-Bena High School

ALC staff and students will travel to Itasca State Park for a field trip on Tuesday, October 14, 2025. Students need to be at the school by 8:30 am to leave for the field trip. Students need to dress warm and in layers of clothes as the temperature will vary throughout the day.

🏃 Panther Game Day — Cross Country & Volleyball Action! 🏐🐾 It’s a big night for Panther Athletics with Cross Country in Bemidji and Volleyball in Red Lake let’s cheer on all our athletes! 📍 Cross Country Invitational – Bemidji (Greenwood Golf Course) 🕞 3:30 PM Start • Boys Varsity • Girls Varsity • Boys JH • Girls JH 📍 Volleyball – Red Lake 🏐 JH — 4:30 PM 🏐 JV — 5:30 PM 🏐 Varsity — 7:00 PM

The CLB volleyball team traveled to Nevis for the junior high conference tournament. Both teams took third place! Congratulations Panthers.

WEDNESDAY, NOV 5 — Winter Activities/Athletics Meeting

CLB presents our Winter Activities/Athletics Meeting for all Panthers and families. This is your one-stop kickoff:
• Meet the coaching staffs
• Pick up team schedules
• Hear highlights from the updated handbook
• Get paperwork done on the spot

🕕 6:00–7:00 PM
📍 CLBHS Commons

Show up, get set, and be ready for winter. Go Panthers!

CLB High School Conferences are scheduled for October 22, 2025, from 3:45 to 7:45. This is an opportunity to meet with teachers and enjoy a meal.

🏈 Western Bank Game Day Panther Football at Home! 🐾

Panther Nation, it’s Friday Night Lights at Cass Lake-Bena! Our Panthers are ready to battle Polk County West in a big home matchup let’s pack the stands and bring the energy!

📅 Friday, October 10th
🕠 Kickoff: 5:30 PM
📍 Cass Lake-Bena High School – Football Field

🎟️ Tickets: https://www.vancoevents.com/us/eventlist/clbtickets?embed

📺 Live Stream: https://fan.hudl.com/usa/mn/cass-lake/organization/79119/cass-lake-bena-high-school

🔥 Sponsored by Western Bank, proud supporter of Panther Athletics!

#PantherPride #FridayNightLights #GoPanthers #WesternBankGameDay 🐾🏈

While Markis Washington was earning All-Conference honors, the rest of the Panthers definitely are no slouches.

The conference meet called for some new apparel, and the boys debuted their arm warmers in style. The “Men in Black” were thrilled—they were in their FAVORITE color. The team joked that the sleeves were their power. And while the sleeves may have helped, with every race the Panthers are learning that true power comes from within.

The day kicked off with the boys’ JH 3200m race, where Dashawn Oquist and Gavin Fineday led the charge.

After a brief pause to focus on school, Dashawn hit the treadmill hard—and it PAID off. He didn’t let time off slow him down, rising to the challenge for himself and his teammates. He came back stronger than ever, crushing his PR from 17:31 to 14:57 at a 7:28 per mile pace, responding to every urge to move up.

Gavin also DESTROYED his PR, shaving over three minutes off his previous time—from 20:34 down to 17:09. He finished with a strong kick, running 8:38 per mile. Gavin learns with every race what he is capable of, even battling Roseau’s Johnathon Rusek to the line.

After the JH boys finished, Dashawn and Gavin came over to wish the Varsity boys good luck, reminding them to “lock in.” And the Varsity boys took that seriously.

On the start line for the boys’ Varsity race, Markis Washington, Zane Halse, and Kenny Litzau reflected on Cass Lake-Bena’s first appearance in the conference meet. Coaches couldn’t help but smile at the boys’ growing confidence and belief in themselves. They talked about putting Cass Lake-Bena on the map—and after today, a BIG STAR should definitely be placed next to the team’s name.

Before the race, Zane admitted he had worried last week that he went out too fast and didn’t belong. HE BELONGS! Zane ANNIHILATED his time from last week’s Marshall meet, finishing the 5K in 20:40 and smashing his PR by 39 seconds—running an average pace of 6:40 per mile. After strategizing with his coaches, Zane started slower, running his first mile in 6:48. He steadily reeled in competitors and, in the final stretch, unleashed a LETHAL KICK, passing Roseau’s Tristan Carrizales to finish in the top half of the race.

Kenny Litzau approached the race like a video game, knowing his teammates were counting on him. His focus was next-LEVEL—knees up, elbows in, pace steady. Having learned last week that he had more in the tank than he realized, Kenny pushed the pace from start to finish, finishing in 20:34—DECIMATING his previous PR by 2 MINUTES and 13 seconds at a 7:36 per mile 5K. He didn’t save his kick for the end; he went hard the whole way. Now in driver’s education, let’s hope all that speed doesn’t translate into a need for speed on the road!

Walking away all smiles, the team gathered to watch Markis receive his award, exchanging high fives that carried the energy of their hard work. As the boys say, it was “PR (personal record) CITY” for the Panthers. Pride radiated through them. While the coaches had always recognized the talent and spark within these kids, it was heart warming for the team to see it for themselves—to witness belief, dedication, and heart come together in one moment.

The Panthers proved they’re a force to be reckoned with, showing that faith in themselves and relentless effort pay off—both on the course and in life. Next up: the Bemidji Invite, Monday, October 12th, 2025, at Greenwood Golf Course, with Varsity Boys running first at 4:00 PM.

FRESHMAN MARKIS WASHINGTON MAKES HISTORY

Congratulations to FRESHMAN Markis Washington on finishing 10th in the Northwest Cross Country Conference, earning ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS—an incredible feat in a conference stacked with multiple Class AA teams.

Entering the race ranked 22nd, Markis rewrote the record books, finishing 10th in 18:24.8—a blazing 5:56 per mile pace, improving his previous SCHOOL RECORD by 1 minute and 11 seconds. With half a mile to go in a tight pack of four, it would have been easy to settle—but that’s not his style.

Competitors from Roseau and Fertile-Beltrami threw in surge after surge, trying to break him. Good thing he’s a BALLER! Markis fought back, pushed forward, and moved into the next pack—making history and leaving everything on the course.

Markis Washington is Cass Lake-Bena’s FIRST-ever All-Conference honoree.

CONGRATULATIONS, MARKIS! The Cass Lake-Bena community couldn’t be prouder of you!

🏐 Panther Volleyball on the Road! 🐾

Panther Nation, our girls are back in action tonight as they head to Blackduck for a big conference matchup! Let’s bring the energy and cheer them on!

📍 Blackduck High School
🕔 JH – 5:00 PM
🕔 JV – 5:45 PM
🕕 Varsity – 6:45 PM

💡 Sponsored by Western Bank, proud supporter of Panther Athletics!

#PantherPride #GoPanthers #WesternBankGameDay #Volleyball 🏐

The Cass Lake-Bena High School is hosting a FAFSA night during conferences on October 22nd from 3:45-7:45 in the media center. Ms. Voge and Ms. Hillukka will be available to help seniors and their parents/guardians with their financial aid application. Students should bring their charged Chromebook, social security number, and phones with them in order to successfully complete their portion of the FAFSA. Parents should bring their social security number, phone, and their 2024 taxes if filed. Students will also have an opportunity for help in the afternoon on October 21st. Questions? Contact Jen Voge at 2183352203 ext. 1323 or Alisha Hillukka at 2183352203 ext. 1337. We hope to see you there!