FIGHTING TOGETHER - Medford and NRHEG volleyball teams and players are pictured together after their match Thursday, Oct. 14. The theme for the game and night was an ‘orange out’ with fans sporting shirts saying ‘Fight together’ and ‘Rourke Chop’

By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor

Every year NRHEG sports teams traditionally set aside one game for senior night and cancer awareness. This year, instead of each team doing individual cancer nights, the football, volleyball, and cross country teams have come together to raise money for Rourke Wacholz, his family and their fight with cancer. Rourke is four years old and battling B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. 

The first of these events was Thursday night, Oct. 14, when the NRHEG Volleyball squad hosted Medford in its traditional senior night. When the Tiger’s heard what was happening, they wanted to support the Wacholz family, and in place of holding their own cancer night, chose instead to come together with NRHEG. 

“It was greatly appreciated that Medford joined us,” coach Onika Peterson said. “It shows the wonderful community they come from.” 

Thursday night was an “orange out” as fans from both schools came dressed in black and orange with students from both schools sporting shirts with the logos reading, “Panthers fight together,” and on the back “RourkeChop, #Panthernation, #NRHEG.” 

“This all came about through the planning of coach Peterson,” NRHEG Athletic Director Dan Stork said. “Once the other coaches heard, they all jumped on board.” 

This was the first of three nights dedicated to help raise money for Rourke and his family. The next two were the conference cross country meet Tuesday and the final home football game for the Panthers Wednesday night. 

“We’re all just trying to do some good for Rourke and the family,” Stork shared. “Some things transcend sports. This idea was another way for us to support one of our fans close to home.”