S01 E04: Breaking Ground and Breaking Records: Swimmer, Diver, or Bowler 

Release Date: March 13, 2026

Duration: ~103 minutes 

Show Notes: Link

In this jam-packed episode, Superintendent Mark Rairigh and host Chris Malanga bridge the gap between Bryan’s storied past and a record-breaking present. As heavy machinery moves in for the A&E building demolition, we celebrate a historic winter sports season that saw Golden Bears competing on the state’s biggest stages in Canton and Columbus.

This episode covers:

The News Feed: A major update on the A&E demolition progress and essential safety reminders for the community. We also take a long-range look at the 2027-28 school calendar and provide the official "Calamity Day" count to see where the district stands with its state-mandated hours.

District Deep Dive: A "house full" of state qualifiers joins the show for an athletic takeover. We sit down with State Champion Nora Kunsman, our record-breaking relay teams, and individual standouts Griffin Boehm. We also hear from our state divers and history-making bowler, including Zoey Gillett, to recap their journey to the state tournament.

Community Mailbag: A tip from a former custodian leads to a fascinating discovery beneath the A&E floor. We discuss the unearthing of the original 1917 gym hardwood and the district’s exciting plans to salvage and repurpose this century-old piece of Bryan history.

The Fun Segment: Things get competitive as Chris puts Mark to the test in the first-ever "Swimmer, Diver, or Bowler?" challenge. Mark has to identify legendary athletes from a "Perfect 10" roster to see if he can claim the title of #BryanBuilt Brainiac.

We wrap up the show by honoring our Golden Bear Standout, Makenzie Luce, for being named the Ohio Division II Swim Coach of the Year and for the championship culture she has built within the Bryan swim program.