Courtney Wheelock, BCHS Class of 2012 and a third-year PhD student in the Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences (ENS), University at Buffalo, has received several awards and scholarships for her research involving altitude-acclimation. Whitney is looking at whether heat acclimation, which takes less time than altitude acclimation, might be a good substitute if someone needs to quickly get used to a high altitude.

“She calls it “cross acclimation” between a hot environment and hyperbaric (high altitude) exposure. The theory, she says, “is that heat acclimation might improve conditioning in high altitudes.” She is studying the idea at a specific height of 8,000 feet above sea level, roughly the altitude of Afghanistan. Once you get above 2,500 feet, she explains, physical performance declines in people who aren’t acclimated.” ¹

Whitney became interested in the field as she shadowed sport medicine doctors and athletic trainers, then helped in a research lab. Her career path enables her to explore a range of environments. She can explore what happens in hot or cold environments in the department’s environmental chamber, and can simulate environments of different heights in the hypobaric chamber.

¹Read the full story at buffalo.edu.

Congratulations to Meredith (McGregor) Nyberg, BCHS Class of 2004, who was recently married to Jonathan Nyberg on July 31, 2021!

Congratulations to Rachel (Strattman) Roberts, BCHS Class of 2011, and her husband Blaine on the birth of their first-born daughter, Emerson, in June.

Congratulations to Denise Morrow, BCHS Class of 1992! In June 2021, she graduated with her Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Western Governors University.

David Dessauer, BCHS Class of 1976, debuts with his first book, Harper Lee and Me, the result of 5 years of study into the ‘secrets’ found within Harper Lee’s book, To Kill A Mockingbird.

The screenplay of this book won best screenplay and best writer at the 2021 Christian Online Film Festival. Congratulations David.

Interested in reading his book? Find out more at Amazon.com

Joey Annee, BCHS Class of 2018, has become one of the top Division III punters during his career at Wabash College. Just starting his punting career as a sophomore at Bishop Chatard and only appearing in 3 games as a freshman at Wabash, he has excelled to be a huge force for the Wabash team. By the end of his Wabash sophomore season, he was named to the Division III All-America Honorable Mention Team. Prior to the 2020 season that was wiped out from COVID, Annee was named an All-American by multiple publications.

Through three games in the 2021 season, Annee has the second-longest punting average in Division III. That mark would rank him 25th among Division I punters in the top level of college football.

Read his story at Wabash.edu

Congratulations Joey!

On Sept. 10, 2021, BCHS hosted a Mass in partnership with the Indianapolis Fire Department’s Emerald Society on the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Dozens of firefighters came to the school to pay tribute to the first responders who gave their lives to help others after the terrorist attacks on 9/11.BCHS

The Sept. 10 Mass was also an occasion to pay tribute to Warren Smith, a 1990 Bishop Chatard graduate who went on to become an IFD firefighter.

He died in the line of duty in 2000 during a diving exercise. A plaque honoring Smith was given to school leaders after the Mass so that its students can remember the self-sacrifice of the school’s graduate.

Smith’s brother Marc Smith, a member of St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Indianapolis, attended the Mass.

“Throughout the years, I’ve known how they felt about him,” said Smith of the way IFD firefighters have honored his brother. “It means a great deal. To me, he was my big brother. But to see how other people see what kind of person he was is very fulfilling and uplifting.”

IFD battalion chief Dudley Taylor, who served with Warren Smith, spoke about his fallen comrade.

“Many may only remember the tragic day on which he lost his life,” said Taylor. “But we’re here today to remember and honor all the days of his life, especially those within Bishop Chatard High School. The lessons he learned at Bishop Chatard served him far beyond the confines of his classroom.”

Read the full story in The Criterion.

Colin McSharar, BCHS Class of 2007, has been named the Head Coach for Uganda’s Women’s Senior Lacrosse Team. Team Uganda will be the first African nation to compete at the World Championship, June 29 through July 9, 2022, in Towson, MD. This will also be the first time Uganda has ever sponsored a women’s team to compete internationally.

Colin was a four-year letter winner as goalie at BCHS and went on to an illustrious college career at NCAA DIII Mount St. Joseph University. There he was a four-year letter winner and two-year starter. He holds the university record for wins in a season and total goals against the average. He holds the NCAA record for career points as a goalie with 3. He has coached at BCHS, Butler U., Franklin College and Anderson U. – helping start or develop new programs in many places.

Congratulations Colin!