January 29, 2003
Volleyball event nets $2,400 for two area families
CHS tournament benefits student battling leukemia, another recovering from accident
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Bump, set, spike - for hours the gym at Traverse City Central High School hummed with laughter as 27 teams of players raised money to help two area families.
Flinging themselves into the spirit of the game, more than 300 people came to play volleyball Saturday afternoon, with teams rotating among three nets during the five-hour event.
The players in the Third Annual For Our Kids Volleyball Tournament were raising money for two area students and their families who are facing medical crises. Ashley Wysocki, an eighth-grade student at East Junior High, is recovering from an accident, and Christopher Matts, a second-grade student at Norris Elementary School, is battling leukemia. By the day's end, players had raised $2,400 for these families.
Wysocki and her family attended the event, though they did not play volleyball. Wysocki is still recovering from her accident on November 11 that caused a head injury, broken ankle and collapsed lung. Her mother, Teresa North, said the family realizes they are lucky in many ways. Lucky that Ashley is out of the hospital a month ahead of doctors' predictions, lucky she is headed back to school this week and lucky to have so much community support.
"It is amazing," said North of the turnout at the event. "I am shocked at all the support from the school, I couldn't believe how much they pulled together for Christmas."
The school's Student Senate, SADD chapter and the National Honor Society organized the event. The groups rounded up teams, including many from community businesses as well as parent groups, gathered donations for a silent auction and ran a concessions stand.
"I wanted to help because it sounded like fun and was for a good cause," said Justin Hanburry, an 11th grade student at the school who is treasurer of the Student Senate. "I think the reason it is such a good turnout is that it has turned into an annual event and people anticipated it."
Businesses and organizations ranging from LaSenorita and the Elk Rapids Baptist Church to the Kiwanis Club and North Peak fielded teams. Maggie Rothney, who played on a team from the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization, ruefully acknowledged her team's losing status.
"Even though we're one of the worst teams here, we are here to have fun," said Rothney, who is an 11th grade student at Central High School and a Big Sister. "We've lost all three games."
With team names such as Volleyballas and the Mamas and Papas, the level of play ranged from frolicking to very serious. Five of the 27 teams designated themselves in the competitive category, playing heatedly for a winning team until 7 p.m.
A group of parents comprised the Mamas and Papas. Sporting team shirts and a well-oiled rotation, the group made sure they got together to practice one time before the fund-raiser.
"Some of us had to play our own children," noted Dee Grost, whose son, Scott, played on the Student Senate team that narrowly beat the Mamas and Papas.
Senior class advisor Pat Bowen said the event began three years ago and keeps getting stronger.
"We came up with it when Erin Lockman was diagnosed with cancer and we wanted to do something to help the family," said Bowen, who is also the advisor to the SADD chapter. "The participation was just amazing."
"I went up to the bleachers just to listen and it was so nice to hear all the laughter and the cheering," she noted. "There are all ages here, from grade school kids to parents."