A community with the heart of a champion
Owen Athletic Booster Club raises $15,000 for Warhorse state championship rings
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
February 24, 2023
The Owen Warhorses will receive state championship rings later this year, after a fundraising campaign by the Owen Athletic Booster Club raised $15,000 from local donors. Photo by Fred McCormick
Having the opportunity to tell the often touching stories of the people who make the Swannanoa Valley such a special place to live is what I love most about my work as a journalist. What I hear and see when speaking to locals regularly offers glimpses of characteristics I believe largely define this community.
Occasionally, however, I witness a collective act that reinforces my belief that I’m surrounded by generous and caring folks who are also proud to live in the Valley.
That happened recently when Owen Athletic Booster Club President Roger Brown called and said, “we reached our goal.” I didn’t need to ask for more details, I knew instantly the community had rallied to contribute $15,000 for the purchase state championship rings for every member of the Owen cross country and soccer teams. I found out later the GoFundMe page, and additional contributions directly to the booster club, will also cover a second championship ring for Davis Kendall, the sophomore phenom who earned one with the Warhorse soccer team in November and another this month with an individual indoor state track title in the 500 meter dash.
This made me happy, and not just because these players, who have done some unprecedented things in the 2022-23 Owen Athletic season, will get the hardware they deserve, but also because it shines a spotlight on some of my favorite things about the Swannanoa Valley.
The local high school connects a large subsection of citizens from the western side of Swannanoa to Ridgecrest, and from the top of Montreat down to the banks of the Broad River. A lot of people have kids currently attending Owen, or who are recent graduates of the school, while many parents and grandparents went there themselves. Some people here have generational roots in maroon and white, and the institution those colors represents is an integral part of the surrounding community.
Owen Athletic Booster Club members, supporters and school staff celebrate a successful campaign that raised $15,000 to purchase state championship rings for the Owen cross country and soccer teams. Pictured, left to right: (Front row) Wendy, Lewkowicz, Chloe Lunsford, Hope Burk, Courtney King and Principal Dr. Samantha Sircey. Back row, from left to right: Owen soccer head coach Trei Morrison, Matt Robinson and booster club president, Roger Brown. Photo courtesy of Owen Athletics
Few have been invested for as long as Brown, who has been in his current role with Owen Athletic Booster Club for more than a decade. The Black Mountain native and Owen alumnus has been involved in the nonprofit organization that supports the school’s athletics program for at least 30 years. He is a busy man, but he makes time to help his alma mater.
“Something I enjoy doing is helping the kids,” said Brown, when we spoke about the championship ring fundraiser earlier this week. “Somebody did it for me when I was coming up, so it’s my way of giving back.”
It would take thousands of words to fully capture the scope of what this dedicated organization of volunteers does for the kids who represent our community all over the state, but Brown wanted me to understand they wouldn’t be able to do any of it without the support of the people who live in the Valley.
“Sometimes it feels like we have an endless supply of resources here,” he said. “No matter what, there are always people in this valley who will support these kids.”
One example of many is Pepperoni’s Pizza in Black Mountain, which offered a “Warhorse Special” throughout the fundraising campaign and ended up donating $2,200 to the ring fund. It was an important cause, according to owner and Owen alum Matt Robinson, who committed to covering whatever costs remained at the conclusion of the booster club’s fundraising drive.
“We support athletics in the Valley because we’re proud of these kids,” said Robinson, who graduated with the class of 2002 and played football and baseball in a Warhorse uniform. “What these teams and athletes did was a big deal, and they worked hard to get those championships.”
The Owen cross country runners celebrated a lot in 2022, on their way to a state championship in November. The community celebrated them by contributing $15,000 to a championship ring fundraiser, organized by the Owen Athletic Booster Club. Photo by Fred McCormick
There were more than a few businesses, community organizations or individual donors who contributed to the fundraiser.
Another sweet gesture of support came from Hey Hey Cupcake!, which provided cupcakes for half-court shootouts during basketball season. The events were held during halftime of all varsity home games and allowed young children in attendance to pay $1 for an opportunity to shoot a free throw and win a sweet treat. High school students stepped to the middle of the court for their attempts, and the festivities raised an additional $1,100 for the championship rings.
“There is no way we could support these teams without people like Matt (Robinson) and Courtney King, who is the co-owner of Hey Hey Cupcake!” Brown said. “So many people all over the Valley really wanted to show these players they were proud of what they accomplished.”
The community's desire to recognize its champion student-athletes was so great, Brown said, the booster club was able to establish a Championship Fund, which will assist with expenses accrued when players leave the region to represent Owen in regional and state competition.
“The surplus money we raised for the rings will establish this fund,” Brown said. “It gives us some funding to help with transportation, food and even room and board when these students have to travel.”
While the rings have been ordered and will arrive near the end of the school year, the work is never really done for the Owen Boosters. The spring athletic season will be in full swing, Wednesday, March 1, as Warhorses and Warlassies host a tennis match at 4 p.m., with girls soccer, baseball and softball each hosting later that evening.
I encourage you to put on some maroon and go cheer for any, or all of them on. You can thank a volunteer booster for their tireless work while you’re there. You can also support the booster club by contacting Brown at (828) 713-7871, or by sending a check to P.O. Box 141, Black Mountain, N.C. 28711.
Personally, I was moved by the community’s response to a need for our local kids. We live in a time that often feels divisive, but I take tremendous comfort in the abundance of generosity and kindness I see across this valley.
We really do live in a community with the heart of a champion.