Jackson, Wellston teams in Relay for Life
Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 12:23 am
The Jackson Ironladies volleyball team and the Wellston Lady Rockets athletic teams participated in this past weekend's Jackson County Relay for Life.
Below is the report for Tuesday's Times-Journal.
Enjoy the article, but let's give these young ladies and their support groups a hand for doing such a good thing for the community.
Two teams take on common enemy
Ironladies, Lady Rockets part of Relay for Life
By PAUL BOGGS
Sports Editor
This year’s Jackson County Relay for Life just happened to fall on the proverbial dreaded date of Friday the 13th.
But, it was definitely a good day — and night — for two Relay for Life teams which went head-to-head against cancer this past weekend.
The Jackson High School volleyball team served up another kill against cancer, while Wellston’s Lady Rockets joined in the battle and also formed a team for the Relay for Life, which was held Friday night and Saturday morning at the Jackson High School/Middle School track.
The Ironladies and Lady Rockets represented two of 38 teams at this year’s annual American Cancer Society Jackson County Relay, which took place amid the heat and humidity in the heart of Jackson.
After their initial appearance and formation for last year’s Relay, in which they raised $2,125, the Ironladies’ volleyball program was back again at this year’s event — and even better than a year ago.
That’s because the varsity and junior varsity Ironladies — under the leadership of their support group — amassed an evening’s worth of honors, including capturing a pair of prominent Relay contests.
It was also a fun night of team bonding, and even impromptu practice.
But most importantly, as the Ironladies admitted, they raised a grand total of $2,825 toward the fight against cancer.
The Ironladies earned the Relay’s “Silver Award†level, which is won by those teams which raise between $2,500 and $4,999.
The team topped the $2,500 mark just prior to their introduction by Relay emcee Pete Wilson.
“We are very proud of the girls and all of their hard work,†said Kim Harless, President of the Ironladies’ volleyball support group.
The Red and White, with its six seniors carrying the team banner, proudly displayed its “Silver Award†sign as it walked its opening lap Friday evening.
In addition, the team took first place in the Most Luminaries Sold Contest, selling a total of 205 luminaries, which were lighted on Friday night in honor of cancer survivors or in memory of those who have died as a result of the disease.
The Ironladies also repeated in winning the Relay’s Spirit Stick Award, which is won by gaining the most votes by those in attendance on Friday.
At Friday’s purse auction, the Ironladies’ duffel bag sold for $325.
The Ironladies initially joined the Relay to honor the late Paula Erwin, the longtime coach at Jackson High School who battled breast cancer and passed away four years ago.
Seniors Emileigh Cooper and Nicole Chapman said the girls enjoyed the entire experience of the Relay last August, and wanted to return this year.
“This is a good thing for us to do as a team,†said Cooper. “We started it last year because of Paula Erwin. But it was fun, because we worked to help people and it helped us bond as a team.â€
Cooper cited the Ironladies’ activities such as making bracelets and glow-sticks, which were sold along with cookies and popcorn at the team’s tent.
She added that selling luminaries was a greater focus for the group this year, as the father of Ironlady Caitlin Osborne is battling throat cancer.
Of their 205 luminaries, the Ironladies sold exactly 100 to individuals at Osborne’s Equipment.
According to junior Meredith Harless, the Ironladies got the “volleyball†rolling earlier this year.
“We did a lot of the same things with making bracelets and asking for donations, but we were more prepared this year and raised more money because we started earlier,†she said. “And we sold a lot more luminaries this year.â€
Harless added that the Relay “is a fun time for us as a team.â€
“We stay after practice and make bracelets, we stay all night here tonight (at Relay), we really bond together as a team with this,†she said. “We’re glad to do this because it’s a good thing for us and for the community.â€
The Ironladies’ experience last season also included a challenge to other high school sports teams to form Relay teams of their own.
“We challenged other teams to get involved and we’d still like to see Oak Hill here,†said Harless.
One team, actually a combination of Wellston Lady Rocket teams, did accept that challenge.
Members of all Wellston Lady Rocket teams, primarily the three major girls seasonal sports of volleyball, basketball and softball, joined forces for one Relay team.
Several Lady Rockets which participated play all three sports.
The Lady Rockets sported pink t-shirts, and their own banner, which both read in part “Happy Birthday is our Fight Song.â€
Hilary Patrick, Wellston’s junior varsity coach for both volleyball and basketball, said the Lady Rockets’ Relay team was the latest in a series of battles against cancer.
“We’ve had softball ‘Strike Out Cancer’ games and last year for basketball, we had a ‘Coaches versus Cancer’ game. That’s where the majority of our money raised came from this year,†said Patrick.
The Lady Rockets raised money also by baking goods and busing tables at Cardo’s in Jackson.
Patrick said the Wellston girls “are really excited†about being involved in the Relay, and “hopefully, this is a building block for next year.â€
“This is our first year here so we’re learning the ropes, but we had a really good turnout as you can see. We cover all of the sports, which is good and important. It’s important that they all be involved in the community. I think the biggest way we can do that as a team is be part of the Relay,†she said.
Patrick estimated that the Lady Rockets raised an estimated $1,200.
Both the Ironladies and Lady Rockets also accepted online donations.
Despite being rival schools, members of the Ironladies and Lady Rockets were on the same team against a common enemy — cancer — at the Relay for Life.
On the court, the Jackson and Wellston volleyball teams will be on opposite sides in the annual Apple Festival Tournament, which is slated for Saturday, Sept. 25 at Jackson High School.
The annual four-team tournament — which also features Vinton County and Oak Hill — is held every autumn in conjunction with the annual Apple Festival in Jackson.
For the second straight season, the Ironladies will hold their Susan G. Komen Volley for the Cure activities at the Apple Festival tournament.
sports@timesjournal.com
Below is the report for Tuesday's Times-Journal.
Enjoy the article, but let's give these young ladies and their support groups a hand for doing such a good thing for the community.
Two teams take on common enemy
Ironladies, Lady Rockets part of Relay for Life
By PAUL BOGGS
Sports Editor
This year’s Jackson County Relay for Life just happened to fall on the proverbial dreaded date of Friday the 13th.
But, it was definitely a good day — and night — for two Relay for Life teams which went head-to-head against cancer this past weekend.
The Jackson High School volleyball team served up another kill against cancer, while Wellston’s Lady Rockets joined in the battle and also formed a team for the Relay for Life, which was held Friday night and Saturday morning at the Jackson High School/Middle School track.
The Ironladies and Lady Rockets represented two of 38 teams at this year’s annual American Cancer Society Jackson County Relay, which took place amid the heat and humidity in the heart of Jackson.
After their initial appearance and formation for last year’s Relay, in which they raised $2,125, the Ironladies’ volleyball program was back again at this year’s event — and even better than a year ago.
That’s because the varsity and junior varsity Ironladies — under the leadership of their support group — amassed an evening’s worth of honors, including capturing a pair of prominent Relay contests.
It was also a fun night of team bonding, and even impromptu practice.
But most importantly, as the Ironladies admitted, they raised a grand total of $2,825 toward the fight against cancer.
The Ironladies earned the Relay’s “Silver Award†level, which is won by those teams which raise between $2,500 and $4,999.
The team topped the $2,500 mark just prior to their introduction by Relay emcee Pete Wilson.
“We are very proud of the girls and all of their hard work,†said Kim Harless, President of the Ironladies’ volleyball support group.
The Red and White, with its six seniors carrying the team banner, proudly displayed its “Silver Award†sign as it walked its opening lap Friday evening.
In addition, the team took first place in the Most Luminaries Sold Contest, selling a total of 205 luminaries, which were lighted on Friday night in honor of cancer survivors or in memory of those who have died as a result of the disease.
The Ironladies also repeated in winning the Relay’s Spirit Stick Award, which is won by gaining the most votes by those in attendance on Friday.
At Friday’s purse auction, the Ironladies’ duffel bag sold for $325.
The Ironladies initially joined the Relay to honor the late Paula Erwin, the longtime coach at Jackson High School who battled breast cancer and passed away four years ago.
Seniors Emileigh Cooper and Nicole Chapman said the girls enjoyed the entire experience of the Relay last August, and wanted to return this year.
“This is a good thing for us to do as a team,†said Cooper. “We started it last year because of Paula Erwin. But it was fun, because we worked to help people and it helped us bond as a team.â€
Cooper cited the Ironladies’ activities such as making bracelets and glow-sticks, which were sold along with cookies and popcorn at the team’s tent.
She added that selling luminaries was a greater focus for the group this year, as the father of Ironlady Caitlin Osborne is battling throat cancer.
Of their 205 luminaries, the Ironladies sold exactly 100 to individuals at Osborne’s Equipment.
According to junior Meredith Harless, the Ironladies got the “volleyball†rolling earlier this year.
“We did a lot of the same things with making bracelets and asking for donations, but we were more prepared this year and raised more money because we started earlier,†she said. “And we sold a lot more luminaries this year.â€
Harless added that the Relay “is a fun time for us as a team.â€
“We stay after practice and make bracelets, we stay all night here tonight (at Relay), we really bond together as a team with this,†she said. “We’re glad to do this because it’s a good thing for us and for the community.â€
The Ironladies’ experience last season also included a challenge to other high school sports teams to form Relay teams of their own.
“We challenged other teams to get involved and we’d still like to see Oak Hill here,†said Harless.
One team, actually a combination of Wellston Lady Rocket teams, did accept that challenge.
Members of all Wellston Lady Rocket teams, primarily the three major girls seasonal sports of volleyball, basketball and softball, joined forces for one Relay team.
Several Lady Rockets which participated play all three sports.
The Lady Rockets sported pink t-shirts, and their own banner, which both read in part “Happy Birthday is our Fight Song.â€
Hilary Patrick, Wellston’s junior varsity coach for both volleyball and basketball, said the Lady Rockets’ Relay team was the latest in a series of battles against cancer.
“We’ve had softball ‘Strike Out Cancer’ games and last year for basketball, we had a ‘Coaches versus Cancer’ game. That’s where the majority of our money raised came from this year,†said Patrick.
The Lady Rockets raised money also by baking goods and busing tables at Cardo’s in Jackson.
Patrick said the Wellston girls “are really excited†about being involved in the Relay, and “hopefully, this is a building block for next year.â€
“This is our first year here so we’re learning the ropes, but we had a really good turnout as you can see. We cover all of the sports, which is good and important. It’s important that they all be involved in the community. I think the biggest way we can do that as a team is be part of the Relay,†she said.
Patrick estimated that the Lady Rockets raised an estimated $1,200.
Both the Ironladies and Lady Rockets also accepted online donations.
Despite being rival schools, members of the Ironladies and Lady Rockets were on the same team against a common enemy — cancer — at the Relay for Life.
On the court, the Jackson and Wellston volleyball teams will be on opposite sides in the annual Apple Festival Tournament, which is slated for Saturday, Sept. 25 at Jackson High School.
The annual four-team tournament — which also features Vinton County and Oak Hill — is held every autumn in conjunction with the annual Apple Festival in Jackson.
For the second straight season, the Ironladies will hold their Susan G. Komen Volley for the Cure activities at the Apple Festival tournament.
sports@timesjournal.com