United for a cause!
Photo by JOSH McDONALD Members of the Kellogg and Wallace Volleyball Programs gather for a picture during Dig Pink Night at Kellogg High School.
KELLOGG — Two local volleyball teams once again put rivalry aside for the sake of honoring and supporting National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The annual Dig Pink Night volleyball game between the Kellogg Wildcats and the Wallace Miners was a huge hit as Andrews Gymnasium had one of its biggest crowds in recent memory, complete with two battling student sections that made sure the event felt like the big deal it was.
Head coaches Steph Brunner and Katie Bauer both felt like the environment made the entire event feel special, which is exactly what the goal was.
“The environment was amazing,” Brunner said. “I thought both crowds were fired up and made the night extra fun and special.”
“The noise and energy of the crowd always gives us a boost,” Bauer said. “Both student sections were amazing and we always want to rise to the occasion when we have that support.”
While Brunner’s Wildcats did come out on top, both teams played hard for a cause that currently affects one in eight (roughly 12%) of U.S. women.
Many of the girls playing donated locks of their hair to be made into wigs prior to the match.
“I think Dig Pink (Night) is important because it gets people talking about things like mammograms and other prevention and takes away any stigma or embarrassment,” Bauer said. “It was also amazing to see so many girls generously donate their hair.”
While October doubles down on all things pink in support of breast cancer awareness, the Kellogg Volleyball Program decided to honor a recent cancer victim, Heidi Keele. Keele passed away last year from pancreatic cancer.
The Wildcats wore a special shirt with a bright pink ribbon on the front to support breast cancer awareness, but their sleeves were for Heidi.
Keele had been a huge volleyball fan and a supporter of the Wildcat program.
“On the right arm, which is our hitting arm, we had Keel’in it for Heidi,” Brunner said. “On our left arm, we had a purple ribbon. Which was the ribbon showing support for pancreatic cancer.”
All in all, the night served its purpose as two communities came together to show support for multiple causes greater than them.