Cass Lake-Bena Public Schools - #CLBSPANTHERS

🏃 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!

Due to the government shutdown. ASVAB testing has been suspended. That being said the ALC's upcoming ASVAB testing for Wednesday October 8th will be rescheduled at a later time. Any questions please contact the school. Sorry for the inconvenience.

🎉Photo Dump from 21CCLC 🎉

We have been having so much fun lately! On Friday, we had a blast being a part of the first annual Homecoming Unparade event. It was wonderful connecting with students, hearing their ideas, and learning more about what they would like to see from our program and how we can continue to grow together.

On Saturday, we kicked off our first SNL of the year with a fun-filled day of pumpkin painting 🎃, a Halloween movie 🎬, open gym 🏀, open beading and sewing, and a delicious meal featuring sloppy joes, chips, oranges, cookies, and drinks. We were thrilled to have more than 75 attendees join us for the Day Session. Check out some photos of some of the many and amazing pumpkins that were painted!

During the Evening Session, 59 attendees enjoyed an open gym, a movie, board games, beading, and sewing, along with another tasty meal prepared and served by our Student Youth Event Workers.

A huge shout out to our Student Youth Event Workers 🙌 for helping with registration, surveys, pumpkin distribution, setup, cleanup, cooking, and serving food. The 21CCLC would also like to thank Rance and Melissa Bahr Farm, M&M Pumpkins, and Merlin Feeken for providing such a great variety of pumpkins, and we can't forget to thank Cindy Kingbird! Her famous mac & cheese made a delicious addition to the menu. 🧀

Everyone's hard work made this Saturday such a success, and we are excited to keep working with our community and at future school district events.

📣 Fall Youth Sports Families We Want Your Feedback! 🏐🏈

As our Fall Youth Sports season wraps up, we’d love to hear from you! Your input helps us make future programs even better for our Panther athletes and families. 💬

👉 Please take a few minutes to fill out our Parent Feedback Survey:
🔗 https://forms.gle/QCSb5Ecxd1FtzuDJ8

Your feedback helps us grow — thank you for supporting Cass Lake-Bena Youth Sports! 🐾
#PantherPride #YouthSports #CLBStrong #CommunityVoices

No 5th-6th only volleyball practice tonight due to the V & JV volleyball game tonight. There will be practice on Wednesday.

🏐 Game Day (Senior Night/Parents Night)— Panther Volleyball! 🏐

It’s game day, Panther Nation! 🔥 Come pack the stands and cheer on our girls as they take on Pine River-Backus tonight at home!

📍 Cass Lake-Bena High School Gym
🕔 JV – 5:45 PM
🕕 Varsity – 6:45 PM

NO C-Team or JH tonight

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

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

💡 Sponsored by Western Bank, proud supporter of Panther Athletics! 🐾
Let’s fill the gym and show that Panther Pride! 💪

No K-4th volleyball tonight due to the mid-day volleyball game at 2:30pm. Practice will resume next week on Tuesday.

🚨 Parking Reminder – JH Volleyball 🚨

If you are coming to the JH Volleyball game today at 3:30 PM, please do not park in the Middle School parking lot until after 3:25 PM. 🅿️

This will allow for smooth bus loading and student dismissal. ✅

Thank you for your cooperation and support! 🐾🏐