Cordell High School’s recent sports fundraisers were met with overwhelming success, thanks to the unwavering support from the community. Throughout three separate events, the football, cheerleading, softball, and wrestling teams raised impressive funds that will significantly enhance their programs.
On Thursday, August 8th, the football and cheerleading teams held their much-anticipated Meet the Players and Pie Auction event. The football team raised roughly under $8,000, while the cheerleaders raised a little over $9,000. The event was filled with excitement as cheerleaders and players were introduced, pies were auctioned, and the community rallied to show its support.
“The pie auction is something I have never [participated in] before. It is a great culmination of community and team, and the support I saw was outstanding. I am proud to be part of a community that is as generous as this one. I believe our kids are ready for change; I believe our community is ready for change. That is what I felt standing there. I am not sure if it was excitement, but more anticipation for what’s to come,” Cordell Head Football Coach Bruce Munden expressed.
Earlier in the week, on Tuesday, August 6th, the Cordell High School softball team hosted their own Meet the Players Auction, coupled with a $20 homerun derby. The event drew in softball enthusiasts from all corners of the community, resulting in an impressive $3,000 raised for the team. With the help of the All Sports Booster Club, the funds will go towards player packs for the high school softball team; each HS player will receive a hoodie, a long-sleeved performance shirt, a short-sleeved performance shirt, and shorts. The junior high softball team will receive shirts and shorts to sport on game day.
“Our idea for Meet the Players came from a latenight conversation with my wife. We were talking, and I mentioned how we needed to try to raise some money to pay for the various expenses that come with softball. We have seen how successful Meet the Players was for our football and basketball programs. So we started talking about a combination of Meet the Players and a player auction, and the rest fell into place. We added a homemade baked goods sale, and Karli Davis and the Cordell Summer League also sold hot dog meals and made their famous ice-chest tea; Great Plains Bank donated water. We went into the fundraiser with an amount in mind to cover the various things we wanted to try and do for our program. With everyone who came out and supported us, we nearly doubled what we anticipated! We have a great group of girls who make up our softball program, and the amount of parental support is amazing! The girls were nervous introducing themselves, but they did very well when it was time to hit the ball! We also added a homerun derby that included 15 entries. Overall, meeting our teams and raising a little over $3000 for our program was a fun night for everyone! Being in Western Oklahoma, we have to travel quite a bit for games, so some funds will be used to feed the players. We also have some ideas for purchasing equipment to help with the practices and training of our athletes,” said Cordell Head Softball Coach Buddy Holman.
The fundraising efforts began with the Cordell High School wrestling team, which hosted a cornhole tournament on Saturday, August 3rd. The event was a fun-filled day for participants and a tremendous financial success. The wrestling team raised significant funds to provide the wrestlers with essential practice gear, including shirts and shorts, and could extend to warmup pullovers for tournaments and duals.
“The fundraiser went great. We started shortly after 10:00 a.m. and went until about 2:00 p.m. I was lucky to have some help figuring out how to run the tournament being my first time doing something like that. We had about 12 teams enter the tournament and [had] a few people that showed up to watch and donate to the program. We are lucky to have some great people in this community who have a connection to wrestling and the school; they care about the success of our students! That is something I benefited from being a student here, and now I am able to see on a different level being a head coach here! It was nice to be able to have people together and have a little fun competition before we return back to school and start the school year,” said Head Wrestling Coach Jacolby Mitchell.
Each of these fundraisers highlights the strong community spirit in Cordell, where residents eagerly support their school’s athletic programs. The successful outcomes of these events are a testament to the organizers’ dedication, the participants’ enthusiasm, and the community’s generosity.
Cordell High School’s athletic programs are now better equipped to face the upcoming season, thanks to the collective efforts of everyone involved. The community’s support will undoubtedly have a lasting impact, ensuring that the student-athletes have the resources they need to excel both on and off the field.