BY WSHS JOURNALISM STUDENTS ETHAN AMICK, GAVIN BRANDENBURG, DAMIEN KNIPPLING AND ZANDON BEYER
This past Friday, Wessington Springs High School (WSHS) senior Grady Gran held an event during the home boys basketball game vs. the Sanborn-Central Woonsocket Blackhawks to raise money for the Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central Bucks (WWSSC) football team.
His event featured a silent auction and a freewill donation meal. Gran said he got the idea after last season.
“Last year, many of us weren’t able to attend football camps because of the budget, so I figured I’d do a fundraiser for the team,” he said.
Gran was very happy with the turnout. “We had about 300 people show up, and I only made food for 250,” he said.
The line for the meal stayed busy throughout the night, and community members from all three towns came to support the team. The silent auction included several items, such as a signed jersey from Quinten Christensen, an offensive lineman for the South Dakota State Jackrabbits. Other auction items included gift baskets, certificates to local businesses, and sports memorabilia. By the end of the night, the silent auction and meal raised $6,413.
Many players and coaches expressed their appreciation for the effort he put into the fundraiser. The money raised will help cover the cost of summer football camps and other team expenses, giving more players the opportunity to improve their skills and compete at a higher level. Gran said he was glad he could give back to the program that has meant so much to him throughout high school.
Overall, his Senior Experience project was a big success, raising money for the football team while also bringing the communities together during a rivalry game on the basketball court. The event not only supported the WWSSC football program financially, but it also showed how strong the support is for the team across the three communities.