PHS cheer team donates to rival

Frontiersman

PALMER — The Lathrop Malemutes and Palmer Moose may be rivals on the field, but on Friday, the PHS cheer squad showed a bit of camaraderie off.

To help ease the loss of more than $4,000 worth of personal items belonging to the Malemutes football team that were stolen during a recent road trip to Kenai Central High School, the Palmer cheer squad donated more than $350 to help replace some of the Lathrop players’ gear.

According to Palmer principal Wolfgang Winter, the PHS cheerleaders raised $351 in the 50/50 drawing during the Lathrop-Palmer football game Friday night at Machentanz Field.

After that sum was collected, the cheer team announced its half of the funds would be donated to Lathrop to help replace items such as iPods and a laptop computer that were stolen.

Shortly after, the winner of the 50/50 drawing also elected to donate their share to LHS.

“It’s another example that shows me what type of community Palmer is really like,” Winter said. “We live in a good community.”

Winter said he was honestly not surprised by the gesture.

“I shouldn’t be surprised anymore,” Winter said. “Those types of things have been happening since I’ve been here. In the big scheme of things, ($351) is not a lot, but it is a lot for some kids.”

Another $296 was also raised for the Lathrop team during the game. John Klapperich, president of KMBQ radio, had a donation box set up at the Machetanz Field admission gate, will all money received donated to the Malemutes.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.