25 guns were among the prizes raffled and auctioned off at a banquet held last Friday to support Malad Dragon wrestlers.  The event was a fantastic success, as the Event Center was filled to capacity Friday night to support the local athletes.  Ward’s Ace was on hand to help complete paperwork for raffles firearms so that they could be received at the end of the event.  The IronDoor Smokehouse catered the event, and the wrestlers themselves helped with food service.  A list of donors and supporters is listed below.  

Merridee Morrison, one of the organizers of the event, said “The money raised will be used for travel to the northern part of the state to compete against the other 3A schools that we do not usually have the opportunity to wrestle against until the state tournament.   Getting these match ups will help ensure our wrestlers are getting their best seedings at the state tournament.” 

She continued, “The Dragon wrestlers will have new championship singlets for the finals at the tournaments this season thanks to the money raised. 

We will also be purchasing new supplies and equipment that makes practices safer for our wrestlers when they are practicing advanced moves. 

The generosity of the community made this event a bigger success than we ever could have hoped for. All of the items auctioned and raffled were donations from local businesses and individuals. We had a goal to raise money for more travel and thanks to the success of the dinner we surpassed that goal and will be able to make even more plans for the future.  

We are humbled by the support our team received from the community and the families that love our coaches and wrestlers. Tony and Jenny McClain gave us this amazing opportunity and made it all come together. The coaches wives and moms of the wrestlers put in countless hours and we want them all to know how loved and appreciated they are. The success of the fundraiser and our wrestling program as a whole is thanks to the people that love this team and want to see them succeed both on and off the wrestling mat.  

Thank you to everyone that donated, purchased tables and bought tickets and items at the banquet. Thank you to Ace Hardware for being there all night doing paperwork so that people could take home the guns they won, it was exciting being able to give away 25 guns! Central Service hosted the big gun raffle for the past several weeks and we appreciate them for doing that.  Thank you Erik Bartholomew from Idaho Fish and Game for coming to measure and score mounts throughout the evening. Thank you to the Malad Enterprise for running the ads and stories about our banquet. 

This was our first year hosting this amazing event, we learned a lot and are excited to continue the tradition in the future.”

Sponsors and donors for the event include: The Komrofske family, Jacaway family (RedOx), Trent Vanvalkenburg, Brett Felter (Summit Hauling), Travis Hanks, Curtis Morrison (4Gauge), Malad Chamber of Commerce, Julie Colton, The Idaho Enterprise, Kevin Higley, Hess Pumice, John Blaisdell, Devin Morrison, Central Service, JcimagineD, Ward’s Ace Hardware, Kallie Rindlisbaker, Potter Ranches, Annie Wangsgard, Davis Sod, Mark Arnout, James Rindlisbaker, Quincy Asay, Baby Booners, Chloe Mills, Post, Jim Everson, Joel Pilcher Art, State Line Electric, Ron Keller Tires, Oneida Family Dental, Chat and Chew, Hess Napa Auto, Bamma’s, Ganache, Daisy Hollow, Edith’s Collective, US Bank, Ron Spomer, Kents, Samantha Henderson, Kirk Smith, Devil Creek Hunting Reserve (Jeff Semrad), Jan Willardson, Studio A Dance, Nell J. Redfield Memorial Hospital, Nanci Ball, Thomas Market, Ashley Givens, Sherry and Jon Blaisdell, Sportsmans Warehouse, Alice’s Beauty Shop, Bingham Family, Amber Willie, Ty Berry (Idaho’s Edge Archery), Casey Higley, Hess Lumber, Mary Jo Davis, Allen Drug, Doug Adams, BC Timbers, Camo and Heart Boutique.