# White Bear Lake Area High School

White Bear Lake Area High School (abbreviated WBLAHS) is a high school in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, United States. The school was formed by merging White Bear High School (WBHS) and White Bear Mariner High School in the 1983–84 school year. It currently consists of two campuses and an alternative learning center. North Campus houses grades nine and ten, while South Campus serves grades eleven and twelve. The South Campus building also houses an expansion that is owned by Intermediate District 916 which contains a special education program separate from the high school. While WBLAHS is the only school in the state of Minnesota with grades 9–10 and 11–12 in different buildings, the two buildings will unify at the current North Campus site after a 396,000 S/F addition is completed for the fall 2024 opening.
For the academic years of 2019-2020, 2020-2021 and 2021-2022, White Bear Lake Area High School ranked 4543rd in the nation and 75th in Minnesota High Schools. The school district ranks 3,616th nationally and 49th within the state for their graduation rate.

## Campuses
### North Campus

North Campus, the previous White Bear High School, is located in the north side of White Bear Lake, northwest of downtown White Bear Lake, and was built in 1964. The school houses students grades 9–10. The campus features some unique architectural design elements, including circular hallways.

### South Campus

What is now known as South Campus was built in 1971 and opened late in the Summer of '72 as White Bear Mariner High School. In contrast to North Campus, South's floor plan was originally open, consisting of only minimal walls between classrooms. In 1983, upon merging with White Bear High School, the building was remodeled to hold grades eleven and twelve, and a more traditional design was achieved by adding interior walls throughout. The building has since been expanded multiple times. In the early 1990s ten classrooms were added in the southeast corner of the building. A weight room and fitness center was added in 2005. The Mariner Theater stage was renovated in 2010, converting the space from a lecture hall/small stage theater to an acoustic venue.
The South Campus building houses a self-contained secondary special education school, operated and owned by Intermediate District 916 North East Metro School District. This facility was renovated in 2009.
In 2021, the Building our Future bond referendum called for two phases of expansion to the South Campus and future repurposing of the site to become the new location of Sunrise Park Middle. The phase one expansion provided for the construction of a gymnasium on the northwest corner. Phase two provided for a classroom addition on the east side of the building and moved the main entrance from the south side of the building to the east side, facing McKnight Road.
In 2023, a school naming committee was formed to rename the building to be effective when Sunrise Park Middle Schools moves into the current South Campus in 2024. At the February 13, 2023 School Board regular meeting, the White Bear Lake Area School Board approved the committee's recommendation to change the name of Sunrise Park Middle School when it moves from the Sunrise Park neighborhood to the current White Bear Lake Area High School - South Campus building in the fall of 2024. The new name, Mariner Middle School, is a nod to the District’s past.

### Area Learning Center

Housed in the former Golfview Elementary, a few blocks away from South Campus, is White Bear Lake's alternative secondary program. This school houses secondary students grades 10–12 who are unable to participate in a traditional high school environment, including those who are not achieving to their potential, are parents, or have a day job. The building also contains the Insight program, a curriculum designed for students recovering from drug abuse and addictions.

### Planned merger

On November 9, 2019, with a 57.4 positive vote, voters in the White Bear Lake School District approved a plan to provide renovations and construction to make changes to facilities in the district. The project included expanding North Campus for it to become the district's only high school. The South Campus would be repurposed as a middle school as Sunrise Park Middle School will relocate and open in 2024 as Mariner Middle School. Construction for this merger is in progress, and is projected to be completed for the opening of the 2024–25 school year.

## Curriculum

Through the Minnesota state Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program, students are eligible to take classes at state colleges and universities.

## Athletics
### Basketball

White Bear Lake High School won the Boys' Basketball State Championship in 1984 & 1985, with an undefeated record of 52-0. The head coach was Jim Galvin. WBL also made it to state in 1995, after defeating Mounds View in a thrilling 3-overtime game during the Section Championship, 80-78. They went on to lose in the 1st round to eventual State Champion Minneapolis North, who was led by Khalid El-Amin. WBL also made State Tournament appearances in 2000, and most recently 2023, losing to eventual State Champion Wayzata in the 1st round. The '23 group did go on to win the Consolation Championship.

### Football

White Bear High School won the Minnesota State Class AA Football Championship in 1976. The team posted a 12–0 record and finished the season with a 14–13 overtime win over Cloquet. The team held opponents to an average of less than one touchdown per game. As the only undefeated large school class (AA) football team in Minnesota, the 1976 Bears received a ranking of No. 17th in the nation.

### Lacrosse

The 2007 boys Lacrosse team won the MBSLA State Championship with an undefeated season going 15–0. The Bears outscored their opponents with a 199 to 46 goal differential. 2007 was the first year that the Minnesota State High School League recognized Lacrosse as a state sanctioned sport leaving it up to the individual school districts to determine whether or not it was feasible to enter the MSHSL. Prior to the 2007 year each high school team played in the Minnesota Boys Scholastic Lacrosse Association (MBSLA), White Bear Lake Area H.S. officials cited budgetary issues as the reason for waiting to officially join the MSHSL in 2008. The Bears officially entered the MBSLA for competition in 2005. The Bears went to the MSHsL State semi-finals in 2013. The Bears went on to win the 2015 MSHSL State Championship.

### Archery

The White Bear Lake Archery team won the state tournament for Minnesota in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010.
The White Bear Lake Archery team has competed in the National tournament held in Kentucky since 2004. The team ranked 40th of 192 high school teams in 2015.

### Bowling

The White Bear Lake Bowling Team won the state title in 2005. White Bear Lake also posted a state championship in 2008. It had two top 6 athletes in the state in 2009.

### Wrestling

The White Bear Lake High School wrestling team finished in 7th overall at the 2007 ASICS/ USA Wrestling Folkstyle National Championship. Donny Longendyke won the School Boy category.

### Other athletics offered

| Fall | Winter | Spring |
| Adapted Soccer | Adapted Floor Hockey | Adapted Softball |
| Cross Country | Alpine Ski | Baseball |
| Soccer | Basketball | Golf |
| Swim and Dive | Gymnastics | Softball |
| Tennis | Hockey | Tennis |
| Volleyball | Nordic Ski | Track and Field |
| Football | Swim and Dive | Lacrosse |
| | Wrestling | |

## Other activities
### FIRST Robotics

The White Bear Lake FIRST robotics team #2207, the Bright Bears, was added as a school activity during the 2007 school year. Every year the team builds a single robot to compete in the FIRST Robotics Competition hosted at the University of Minnesota. At the 2017 North Star Regional, in Mariucci Arena, University of Minnesota, the team was ranked 35 out of 60 teams competing, with 4 wins, and 4 losses.

### Drumline

The White Bear Lake Drumline took part in the 2018 Super Bowl parade held at U.S. Bank Stadium for Super Bowl LII.

### Theater

The program involves White Bear Lake High School students of all grades in musicals and plays. In recent years, White Bear Lake has featured such musicals as Grease, Oklahoma!, Beauty and the Beast, Urinetown, West Side Story, and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Addams Family, Nice Work If You Can Get It, and Mary Poppins. They have also produced plays such as Much Ado About Nothing, Twelve Angry Men, and Treasure Island.

## Sister schools

Hangzhou Foreign Language School

## Alumni

* Ami Wazlawik - Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
* John Kriesel - Motivational speaker, radio Personality and former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
* Paul M Nakasone - Four-star general, Commander of United States Cyber Command, Director of the National Security Agency, and Chief of the Central Security Service
* Michael R. Djuptstrom- acclaimed pianist and composer
* Dr. King K. Holmes- world leader in AIDS and infectious disease research
* John A. Cassada- NASA Astronaut

### Athletes

* Jim Brunzell (University of Minnesota and AWA and WWE)
* Bill Butters (University of Minnesota and NHL)
* Justin Braun (UMass and NHL)
* Brian Bonin (1996 Hobey Baker Award winner and 1992 Minnesota Mr. Hockey award winner)
* Tony Benshoof (Olympic luge)
* Matt Henderson (University of North Dakota and NHL)
* Ryan Carter Minnesota State University, Mankato (NHL 2007 Stanley Cup Winner)
* Jeff Parker (WB Mariner 83) Michigan State University and NHL.
* Rick Danmeier, Minnesota Vikings, NFL placekicker