Hannah Mumpower, @Hlmump01
WHS sports teams are in search of funding.
Many sports teams at Wabaunsee hold annual fundraisers each year such as T-shirt sales, golf tournaments, sporting clay tournaments, Hit-a-Thons and working the concession stand at home sporting events.
“These funds are used to cover costs that come up and are not included in board policy,” athletic director Jeron Weisshaar said, “such as additional meals, overnight trips, team awards and team meals. My understanding is that there is one overall budget that covers all of the sports for necessities. There really isn’t a set amount for each team.”
Funds pay for tents or canopies for outdoor sports, additional jerseys or uniforms, summer sport events, additional equipment, travel gear such as bags, hoodies, and sweats and any other small or unexpected purchases that are not covered by district funds.
Fall sports have already held the majority of their fundraising events.
The Football team added a new fundraiser this year in addition to their annual fundraiser at the Wabaunsee Pines Golf Course. They used Snap-Raise.com, a website that asks for monetary donations rather than asking donors to purchase items. The team used funds to purchase new practice jerseys, a water cooler, water bottles and summer weight room attendance rewards. They also hope to be able to purchase team travel bags, more practice bags, hand shields and eventually a new blocking sled to replace equipment.
“Most of what we have now is falling apart and barely able to be used,” head football coach Jess Rutledge said, “The big reason why we fundraise is not just to pay for these items, but because it is extremely expensive. It is no secret that football is the most expensive sport there is available to students in this school. The district will pay for items that are deemed a necessity. However, I would not feel that it is fair to use the majority of our school-allocated funds on one sport.”
Volleyball held a golf tournament, sold T-shirts and plans to run both a Rec volleyball tournament and a Club volleyball tournament this winter. All funds go towards additional jerseys, equipment, and summer volleyball league registration fees. The team also raises funds for Relay for Life by selling Pink Out T-shirts.
The Cross Country team has a different view on fundraising. “I really try to avoid fundraising, so the only thing we do is make a little bit of money off of our T-shirt orders,” cross country coach Roger Alderman said. Tennis also sold T-Shirts, and works a concession stand each year.
Other fundraisers that have already taken place are the Boys Basketball Sporting Clay tournament September 16, the Little Charger Spirit Clinic last summer, and participation in working the concession stand at home sport functions.
Girls Basketball plans to fundraise for travel and practice gear using Snap-Raise.com as well as selling burritos. Wrestling hosts a kids club wrestling tournament every year and sells T-shirts to purchase singlets, headgear, coaches cards, and insurance. The track team also sells T-shirts annually for unexpected costs. The Cheer squad raises money by selling Red Wheel and putting on the Little Charger Cheer Clinic, as well as working all home baseball and softball concessions in the spring and summer. The Cheer squad raises funds to pay for uniform pieces, pom-poms, and fees for summer cheer camp.
Every spring softball or baseball participates in a Hit-a-Thon. Each member bats and donors can either donate a flat fee or chose to donate per feet their player hits. Softball has a Hit-a-Thon during odd years, and baseball has one during even years.
The Charger 
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