PARTS OF NORTH TEXAS WAS hit hard by severe storms in May, which resulted in multiple deaths, injuries and an enormous amount of damage. With a massive clean-up job on hand, Ponder and Sanger High School decided to chip in. Tornadoes went through several counties, including Denton and Collin county, and Ray Roberts Marina in Sanger. According to WFAA, Sanger opened its gym to help shelter those in trouble while student-athletes from Ponder helped clean the marina.
Thousands of outrages occurred while over 50,000 people were without power. It was estimated that the tornado was an EF-4 with winds up to 200 miles per hour. Ponder sent over 140 athletes with four buses loaded – roughly with 60 kids from football, 15 from volleyball, 20 from track and field, 20 from tennis/cross country, 15 from baseball and 10 from softball. The school was able to fill around 15 dumpsters of trash and debris.
Head football coach and athletic director Marcus Schulz said they stayed at the marina for clean-up efforts and even helped build back the lake’s entry sign. Among the athletes there was junior Taelynn Harrison, who is also on the school’s bass fishing team and was the only student-athlete there that was both on the fishing and volleyball teams.
Other volleyball players included junior Hali Clearman, senior Heather Crumpton and senior Sophia Vargas. Harrison said the lake is a sponsor for the bass fishing team. “We saw they needed help after the damage from the tornado & we wanted to help,” Harrison said. “It made me feel really happy to help, but also sad to see all of the damage done to people’s homes.”
