It’s hard to believe, but this event happened 50 years ago this month. When I taught at Ridgemont High School in Ottawa before returning to Barry’s Bay, I was impressed with some of my students who were on their Reach for the Top team. So, in my second year at Madawaska Valley District High School, 1973-74, I started up a Reach for the Top team. This lasted for me until I retired in 2000. Most of the time, we travelled to TV stations in Pembroke and Renfrew where the games were recorded, and shown on local TV. Above from left: Mr. Corrigan, John Wisniewski, Gerard Beanish, David Lisk, Lawrie Yakabuski – Reach for the Top team (Photo: 1976-77 MVDHS Yearbook)
In 1976, CBC decided to record some of the games in high schools. I immediately requested that they come to Barry’s Bay, and they agreed to come. Brian Smyth was the moderator, and he was in this position for almost 30 years. Another surprise for me was that the adjudicator was Dr. Frank Tierney, one of my English professors from the University of Ottawa.
The MV team consisted of Gerard Beanish, David Lisk, John Wisniewski, and Lawrie Yakabuski. Unfortunately for us, a team was eliminated after losing a game, and that’s exactly what happened to our MVDHS team, losing by a score of 410 – 285 to St. Joseph’s High School of Renfrew.
I have one memory of that day that stands out in my mind. In the middle of recording one of the games, the school bell went off signalling the change of classes. All the students in the cafetorium jumped to their feet, and walked out of the room. They weren’t going to get in trouble for being late to class.
I’m still flabbergasted that half a century has passed since that day!
