APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) – Menasha had their first chance to play some football at their temporary home field at their community night scrimmage against Xavier on Thursday night.
The tornado at the end of July severely damaged Calder Stadium forcing the Menasha High School football program to make alternative arrangements for their home games for at least this season. Lawrence University stepped up and will allow Menasha to play their home games at the Banta Bowl.
“To see everybody come together and enjoy something that is really huge for our school is really amazing,” Menasha student Kaylee Akey said.
The football team holds a community night each year, but fans said this year was extra special given the adversity the city had been through the last couple weeks.
“There were a lot of questions over what football is going to look like, so the fact we were able to pull this off on short notice is really huge,” Akey said.
The Menasha fans said that in an ideal world they’d be able to play this season at Calder Stadium. However, they said they’re extremely grateful that they can play at the Banta Bowl. Head football coach Jeramie Korth described getting to play here as a ‘home run.’
Menasha football fans agreed with this assessment.
“To have this wonderful, beautiful stadium, a place to call home after these boys have been through so much,” Menasha football parent Kristin Cates said. “It’s just a wonderful thing to see these communities come together. I think it really tells these boys that the community is rallying behind them.”
Cates said being able to play football again has been huge for her son and the rest of the boys on the team.
“It really gives them a sense of normalcy and that’s what we need for them,” she said. “At a time where it’s been so hard for so many people in our community it’s just really nice to have a place to come together and cheer on our football team.”
The Bluejays play their first regular season game next Friday at the Banta Bowl.
“Show that we are Menasha strong, that we are resilient and we can overcome adversity,” coach Korth said. “Lawrence University has made this (the Banta Bowl) feel like home for us.”
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