With football alumni taking to the field at Hockinson High School for a seven-on-seven game, community members supported the current team as they raised money for equipment and to charter a bus for a road trip in the upcoming football season.
The Hockinson High School football team and Hockinson Touchdown Club hosted its third annual kickoff event on Saturday, Aug. 24, to raise funds to travel almost 270 miles in style.
The Hawks’ week two road game on Friday, Sept. 13, against Mount Baker High School in Deming, Washington, is 268 miles away, or roughly four hours and 36 minutes by car. Saturday’s event raised funds to charter a bus instead of a school bus.
“This football kick off event is something we started a few years ago as a way to just get the community involved and get everyone excited about the upcoming football season,” head coach Clint LeCount said. “We have a group of alumni that come back every year so we can just do like a two-hand touch friendly little seven-on-seven with the players. It’s a nice fun game.”
For the players, the charter bus isn’t so much a luxury as it is an opportunity for the team members to sleep in their own beds the same night, LeCount said.
“Taking those yellow buses, they can only drive so long, and then you’re going to have to stay the night,” he said. “So, being able to get the charter bus, it is obviously a little more comfortable, but it also allows us to get these kids back early Saturday morning from a long trip like that and get them into their own bed. So that’s always a benefit.”
LeCount enjoys the kick off event as it connects past, present and future Hockinson Hawks football players. Along with alumni who were part of state championship success, current players are joined by athletes from Hockinson’s Clark County Youth Football team.
“It’s always nice to have somebody from the Hockinson family come back to just enjoy football again,” LeCount said. “One of the things we’re really happy about is that we not only have our alumni and our players here, but we also have the local CCYF team come for those up-and-coming young kids to enjoy football and to get them excited. They have their first game the same week we have our first game. So everyone’s getting really excited about football here in Hockinson.”
Along with action on the field, other events included agility courses, field goal kicking competitions, corn hole and vendors and face painting.
“We are a small community so it’s nice to bring everybody together,” Hockinson Touchdown Club President Kara Kadow said. “It’s also one of our main fundraisers for the year.”
With four home games this season, the booster club is excited for Friday nights to light up the field and for people to watch the athletes play, Kadow said.
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