The students of Bethlehem Catholic rejoice, as midterms end and the second half of the school year begins. Catholic Schools Week provided a greatly appreciated respite from the stress accumulated during exams. The events of the week consisted of teacher and student appreciation days, dress-down days, the Hawk Trivia Competition, a basketball tournament between classes, a school mass, and a tasting fair during lunches. Catholic Schools Week concluded Saturday with the 46th Annual Diocesan Music Festival, hosted by Bethlehem Catholic. The concert was a great success, with 100 singers and instrumentalists representing six of the high schools in the Diocese of Allentown.

The Bethlehem Catholic girls basketball team finished its regular season with an undefeated record. The girls also set the program record for most consecutive wins (previously 27) and are still increasing that number. However, an undefeated record is not the only reason the girls have to celebrate. Villanova recruit Taliyah Medina (senior) scored her 1000th point on Jan. 17 against Nazareth HS. Medina’s phenomenal accomplishment occurred at home during the Hawk’s youth night. The gym was packed full of Little Hawks and their families, making it a truly special moment for the All-Star athlete. Medina and her father, Coach Jose Medina, were also named to the All-Decade Girls Basketball Team, along with alumni Kalista Walters and Neila Luma. Walters was named First Team, Neila and Taliyah were named Second Team, and Coach Medina was named Coach of the Decade.

Several of Bethlehem Catholic’s football players were named to All-Area Teams. Chris Shelton (senior) was named to the First Team Linebacker, Tavion Banks (senior) made the First Team Defensive Back, Jerry Lyons (senior) made the Second Team Offensive Lineman, Matt Stianche (senior) was an honorable mention Wide Receiver, and Brandon Lysick was an honorable mention Linebacker. Additionally, Tavion Banks was named to the All-State Defensive Back Team. Congratulations also goes out to Bethlehem Catholic wrestler Cole Handlovic (senior) for his 100th career victory. Cole achieved this milestone during the Tony Iasiello Memorial Christmas City Wrestling Tournament.

From Feb. 16-17, Bethlehem Catholic will be holding its second annual Student Body Lock-In. Organized and run by The Movement, a student-run club dedicated to service for charity, the Lock-In is a 12-hour event to raise money for two organizations. Half of the money will go to buy toys for Sassy Massey, a pediatric cancer organization created by a BecaHi alumni, and the other half will go to The Angel 34 Foundation, a non-profit organization that serves children battling cancer within both the Lehigh Valley and surrounding communities. The event will run from 8 p.m.-8 a.m. and contain multiple activities throughout the night.

Bethlehem Catholic is proud to congratulate Keith Neidig (senior), Gabriel Velez (senior), Brooke Bisko (senior), Emma Carreras (senior), Onebelle McFadden (senior), and Rachael Mege (senior). Brooke Bisko was named to the LehighValleyLive All-Area Girls Soccer 2nd Team, and Emma Carreras was named an honorable mention. Keith Neidig and Gabriel Velez were named finalists in the Stand Up for Life essay contest. Congratulations must go out as well to their Theology teacher, Mr. Robert Gowell, whose dedication to helping students prepare for writing in college has taught many how to create original, thoughtful essays. Onebelle McFadden was recently bestowed the YWCA’s Teen of the Year Scholarship Award, and Rachael Mege was accepted into the Music Master Mentor program at Lehigh University. Come see many more of Bethlehem Catholic’s talented students as they perform Seussical the musical, with showtimes on March 27 and 28 at 7 p.m., March 29 at 3 p.m., and April 3 and 4 at 7 p.m.