And they love it, especially because it's all for the good cause of raising funds for the team.

Team members turned actors have spent the past two weekends, with two to go, starring in the Haunted House at Zorbaz on Gull in Lake Shore.

For $5, participants who dare can go through the haunted house set up as dark passageways in the basement of Zorbaz. In return, they've donated to a good cause, and they receive a free beverage from Zorbaz.

Temple Barsness of Pequot Lakes organized her first haunted house about 11 years ago to give kids something fun to do on Halloween, a day she enjoys immensely. That first event was held at the Nisswa Community Center, and it moved to various barns over the next few years.

Four years ago, Lee Johnson of Zorbaz on Gull contacted Barsness and asked if she wanted to bring the haunted house to Zorbaz.

Around the year 2000 the haunted house became a fundraiser for Pequot Lakes sports, and later for theater students. One year cheerleaders received funds raised.

Barsness' youngest child will graduate from Pequot Lakes High School next spring, and she is handing off her haunt duties to speech team coach Kim Kairies and assistant coach Ivanna Buchite.

This is Kairies' first year at the haunted house, and she said it's most fun to scare people.

Speech team co-captains Natasha Gallett and Hannah McQueen also are actors at the haunted house for the first time.

"The most fun is hearing people scream when they're not in my room," McQueen said. "You get to hear them having a good time."

Gallett enjoys "waiting for people to get to you and timing it just right." She enjoys the suspense.

Gallett, a junior, and McQueen, a senior, agreed doing hair and makeup also is fun.

Next year, the team plans to add even more creatures, thrills and passages to make the haunted house even scarier.