The Blair High School boys soccer team was scheduled to open its postseason run April 27.
Game time would have been less than 24 hours after a tornado ripped through Washington County, impacting many of the Bears' neighbors.
So, when the storms cleared for a period of time that Saturday morning, the soccer players lent a hand instead of competing. Their game postponed to the following Monday, they volunteered their time to the cleanup efforts.
“It wasn't all that hard to pull these guys together,” BHS coach Curt Scott said.
He called the effort “indescribable,” noting it was the personal highlight of his 2024 season.
The Bears concentrated their efforts on a former youth soccer teammate's home, providing manpower to the recovery. It's a day and lesson Scott says his players can take with them as they grow and mature into adulthood.
Several others help out
Blair soccer players weren't the only Washington County student-athletes to get involved after the tornado left many with much to do.
Fort Calhoun baseball coach Roy Prauner said two of his Pioneers had homes affected.
“I know they have both been helping their neighbors,” he said.
One worked late into the night after the storm, into the morning and then played in FCHS' game later that day.
Members of the Pioneers' boys basketball program coordinated an effort to help a family with kids in their team's youth program, too. The family lost its home off of State Highway 133.
FCHS football and basketball players were involved in efforts elsewhere, too.
Additionally, Bears track coach Bryan Soukup said his son, Bode, and some track athletes helped out at a former BHS coach's home in the aftermath as well.
For more information regarding disaster relief, go online to washingtoncountyne.gov/news-info.
