The Menasha High School football team’s “unique story” is drawing the eyes of the national T-Mobile “Friday Night 5G Lights” football campaign.
Menasha is one of 40 national finalists and one of 10 from the Midwest Region in the T-Mobile contest. The team has already won $25,000 for its football program and is in play for the $250,000 that is awarded to the finalists from the Midwest, West, South and East regions.
The four finalists from those regions will result in an overall winner that will get $1 million from T-Mobile.
The Menasha community suffered massive devastation from the EF-3 tornado that struck the area July 27, including severe damage to Calder Stadium, the home field of the Menasha football team.
“I think we have a unique story here in Menasha,” Bluejays football coach Jeramie Korth said. “And I think that probably caught the eye of the people at T-Mobile, and I think we also have a lot of community support and pride in our stadium. So I think that initiated it. But we have a ton of community support that’s going to support any initiative that helps move us forward.”
VOTE NOW: Vote for the Cellcom Post-Crescent high school team of the month
As a division finalist, the Bluejays were awarded $25,000 for their football program and have a shot at becoming one of the four “division champions.”
Community members, supporters and fans can vote once per day from Oct. 8 to Oct. 25 at FridayNight5GLights.com or through the T-Life app. Here is the specific voting page: https://fn5gl.t-mobile.com/vote/menasha-high-school.
Four division champions will receive $250,000 for their football program along with a “Gronk” fitness room upgrade, a student spotlight award and the opportunity to compete for the grand prize. Final voting takes place from Oct. 29 to Nov. 8.
The grand prize is $1 million and Korth says the Menasha Joint School District would have authority over that in terms of the dispersal of funds.
“It’s bigger than football, I will say that,” Korth said. “It’s not just to vote football, it’s not just about Calder Stadium. It’s just another thing, another rallying type of opportunity, for people throughout the entire state. We’re the only team in the state that’s in this. So we’re not looking for support in Menasha, but we’ve already received so much support throughout the entire state of Wisconsin. You kind of just feel a sense that it’s a Wisconsin thing now.”
Appleton-area girls volleyball rankings
* RECORDS THROUGH OCT. 6
1, Kimberly (32-4): The Papermakers have an excellent showing at the Neenah Invite, finishing 4-0, including a win over Neenah. The Papermakers are tops in the area and No. 2 overall in D1 in the latest Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association poll.
2, Fox Valley Lutheran (23-3): The Foxes finish 3-1 at the Neenah Invite with their lone loss to Mosinee. Team has Bay Conference title showdown with Xavier on Oct. 8. Foxes are ranked fifth in D2 by the WVCA.
3, Neenah (23-6): The Rockets suffer their first FVA loss in 3-1 defeat against Fond du Lac. Battle for FVA title with Kimberly is Oct. 8 with the team’s regular-season finale Oct. 15 at Appleton North.
4, Xavier (20-9): The Hawks are ranked No. 6 in D2 by the WVCA. Team has won four of its last five with lone loss to D1 power Sussex Hamilton. Bay Conference championship is on the line Oct. 8 in road match at FVL.
5, St. Mary Catholic (23-2): The Zephyrs’ 23-match win streak is snapped as SMC suffers two-match losing streak with defeats against Wrightstown and at Manitowoc Lutheran.
Others: Brillion (20-5), Shiocton (21-2), Hortonville (16-10), Appleton East (15-11), Freedom (17-12), Little Chute (18-13), Winneconne (15-13).
Appleton-area boys soccer rankings
* RECORDS THROUGH OCT. 6
1, Fox Valley Lutheran (11-0-4): The Foxes are coming off a pair of ties with Oostburg (0-0) and Green Bay East (1-1). FVL won the Bay Conference for its fifth conference title.
2, Hortonville (12-1-1): The Polar Bears capture the Fox Valley Association title with an 8-0-1 record. Noah Rindt and Roman Glad lead the team in goals with 11 and 10, respectively.
3, Freedom (14-0-1): The Irish can wrap up outright North Eastern Conference title with a win over Waupaca on Oct. 13. Freedom has outscored its last four opponents 23-1.
4, Appleton North (9-3-2): The Lightning finishes second behind Hortonville in the FVA with a 7-2 record. Team finishes with nonconference games at De Pere (Oct. 9), at Wausau West (Oct. 10) and against Hartford (Oct. 15).
5, Neenah (10-2-2): Rockets down a spot after loss to Appleton North on Oct. 1. Team finishes regular season against Appleton West (Oct. 8) and Pulaski (Oct. 13).
Others: Xavier (10-6), New London (12-3-1), Appleton East (8-4).
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Menasha football team in play for $1 million prize from T-Mobile