‘Coaches-Versus-Cancer’ events at boys, girls basketball games
A lot of “pretty in pink”-accented events during the sixth-annual participation of the Mountain Lake Area (MLA) Wolverine girls and boys basketball teams in Coaches vs. Cancer activities, held last Thursday, January 15 (boys basketball night) and Friday, January 16 (girls basketball night). The cancer-fighting fund-raising program is sponsored by the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
In addition to team players and fans decked out in a variety of shades and hues of pink – and/or specially-designed “Ballin’ For the Cure” T-shirts – the coaching staffs of both the boys and girls celebrated “Suits ‘N’ Sneakers” by “bottoming-out” their dress clothes with sneakers while they walked the bench sideline.
Each night, prior to the tip-off the varsity games, team members distributed roses to members of the audience in honor, or in memory of a life affected by cancer.
Thursday’s boys varsity game’s half-time entertainment – slippery, sliding game of sock basketball was presented by the varsity girls basketball team members. At the varsity half of the girls game, the boys varsity players “hosted” a blindfolded basketball competition.
Wall of Hope decals honoring or memorializing someone whom cancer has affected decorated the north wall of the auditorium.
In addition, a plethora of raffle prizes were awarded each night.
On Thursday, the Mountain Lake Area Wolverine Booster Club dished up an egg roll/crab rangoon fundraising meal, while a chili and chicken noodle soup free will fundraising meal, in support of “Stan The Man” Schroeder, a 1977 Mountain Lake Public High School graduate, former athlete, community member – and cancer patient, sponsored by the Mountain Lake Fire Department, was held Friday in the public school cafeteria.
One hundred percent of funds raised (aside from the Friday fundraising meal for Stan) will go to help support the Cottonwood County American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life – and the lifesaving programs that help people stay well, get well, find cures and fight back against cancer.
Below is a photo gallery from the Thursday and Friday activities.
A PARTIAL LINE-up of the raffle prizes awarded during the two days of Coaches vs. Cancer. At left, Mountain Lake Public Elementary School sixth-grade teacher and Elementary Student Council co-advisor Annette Kunkel explains the variety of prizes to Fletcher Hanson and his mom, Cheri Hanson, while at right, Carol Flaming and Jerry Haberman, place their names in contention for their choices.
CALEB BARGEN, SENIOR forward for the Mountain Lake Area Wolverine boys basketball varsity, hands roses to a special cancer survivor prior to the game’s tip-off against Murray County Central.
PRETTY IN PINK were the socks and shoes of Wolverine boys basketball team members in support of the fight against cancer.
DEMONSTRATING THAT THEY are willing and ready to tackle cancer right along with Coaches vs. Cancer are these colorfully-clad Wolverine boys basketball fans. Front, from left, Chanah Brandt, Lydia Hildebrandt, Brianna Soutthivong and Austin Rogers. Middle, from left, Taylor Naas, Margo Stoesz, Marta Stoesz, Jewel Soutthivong and Jenneel Rodney. Back, from left, Ryan Blomgren (behind), Carly Paulson and Madelyn Regier.
LEVI JAHNKE, WOLVERINE boys basketball senior guard, makes a strong statement of his support in the fight against cancer with his pink socks and pink-accented sneakers.
GOING UP ON tiptoe in order to sink this free throw, sophomore guard Levi Stoesz is wearing a pair of pink socks that are also “right on point.”
ON A NIGHT dedicated raising funds in order to mount a serious attack on the “Big C,” the Mountain Lake Area Wolverine boys basketball coaching staff – clad in suits and ties, bottomed out by sneakers – share comradery for the cause. From left, Steve Thiessen, Paul Metcalf, Assistant Coach Nate Brinkman and Head Coach Shawn Naas.
SOCK-TO-SOCK-to-sock-to-sock-to-sock-to-sock-to-sock-to-sock – varsity boys basketball players make their statement of support for cancer patients and their families. From left, Aaron Walzak, Derek Harder, Jared Saunders and Zachary Palm-Khamvongsa.
PLAYING A FULL-court game of basketball wearing slippery socks led to a lot of sliding – right on past their intended stopping point – during a pick-up game by varsity girls basketball team members during the “A” game’s halftime. Pictured are, at left, Madelyn Regier, front, guarded by Lexia Peters, back, with Lydia Hildebrandt sliding in to make a swipe at the ball and Bailey Swanson, back, observing the fun.
ON FRIDAY NIGHT’S girls basketball game versus Edgerton Public, varsity team members distributed roses to people in the audience who are or have been cancer patients. This included Sheryl Fast, right, who received her flowers and a hug from freshman guard Marta Stoesz, left.
ON THURSDAY, THE varsity girls basketball team presented the National Anthem, and Friday, members of the varsity boys team, above, did the same.
THE GIRLS BASKETBALL coaching staff also came the game prepared with sneakers accenting their dress clothes. From left, Head Coach Wayne Klassen, Kyle Blomgren, Assistant Coach Dave Bucklin and Amber Hughes.
WALKING THE SIDELINES, Head Coach Wayne Klassen, at front left, becomes one with the girls basketball fans, prepped, too, to work for a cure to cancer. Front, from left, Coach Klassen, A. J. Vongsy, Olivia Hopwood, Michaela Cate, Zach Steen, Ian Glassic, Ethan Nickel, Eric Wenner, Ben Grev, Logan Johnson, Melanie Adrian (behind) and Jon Faber. Middle, from left, Taylor Naas, Maurissa Isaacs, Regan Syverson, Carmen Syverson, Travis Willaby and Melissa Lohrenz. Back, from left, Dustin Klassen, Bryce Adrian, Braden Rempel, Ryan Blomgren, Drake Harder, Margo Stoesz, Levi Stoesz, Aaron Walzak, Levi Jahnke, Janessa Johnson, Jared Saunders, Ruben Fentanez, Ryan McCue and Sam Grev.
SENIOR CENTER MADELYN Regier dug in into position under the basket against the Flying Dutchmen’s Mia Wassink, propelled by her pink socks.
JUNIOR FORWARD BAILEY Swanson, right, was also playing in the lane with plenty “pink power” against Edgerton’s top scorer for the night, Mia Wassink, left.
JUNIOR GUARD CHANAH Brandt, left, top team scorer for the night in the Wolverines’ win, sets up the offense – under the watchful eyes of her coaches, fans – and at upper right – her parents, Larry and Lynn Brandt, who took turns creating a game film with their iPad on a tripod.
LOGAN JOHNSON OF the varsity boys team, appears to be having a little too much fun spinning a blindfolded, basketball-holding Jon Faber while prepping to letting him loose on the basketball court.
VARSITY WOLVERINE AARON Walzak, left, gives a blindfold basketball tutorial to his choice to try playing the game in this fashion to the colorfully-clad Regan Syverson, right.
VARSITY BOYS BASKETBALL’S Derek Harder, right, led his blindfold basketball “victim,” Bob Blom, left, to a spot right under the north basket.
