Coach Amy Hammer with 2009 student, player and friend Megan Koppenhoffer Martenies.
Antwerp has been a supporting community for years. For most of the events in recent memory the volleyball team has been supporting breast cancer research through Volley for the Cure. This year it was different.
The Lady Golden Bears travelled down to the Archer court for “Rally for Remembrance”. The Bryan girls have also been great about the support and they are usually the team that Antwerp works with on the fundraiser events.
Altogether, $974.20 was raised to bring awareness to infant loss. One of our own has been personally effected. Megan Koppenhoffer married Jarod Martenies, both graduates of Antwerp, and together they were ready to deliver their first child last year. At 40 weeks, baby Harper was ready to meet her parents when suddenly and without any warning she died. The family was devastated and without answers. Megan said they never found the reason because the test revealed no problems. The community was there to support her and Jarod.
It’s been six years since Megan played on the volleyball team as a senior for the Archers. Amy Hammer just began her career as coach at the same time. She also knew that the team is so good at supporting important things and they talked about changing the support this year to something new—Tiny Purposes.
The organization of Tiny Purposes’ goal is to bring awareness to something that is somewhat taboo to talk about—infant death. Reality shows it does happen and it shouldn’t be ignored. They bring realization, comfort, healing and encouragement to families who have experienced such loss.
Monies raised will go to education, outreach, memorials and help for families. “There is a place of refuge in this storm of life after the loss of your baby – a place to find others who will share the pain and grief that those close to you don’t understand. There is a place where you can feel the presence of God and the compassion he wants to show you.” from their website.
The game itself had Antwerp winning over Bryan: 25-23, 25-18, 25-9.
Archer stats:
Williamson 20 kills, 1 block; Hawley 10-10 serving, 1 ace, 7 digs; Barnhouse 9-9 serving, 4 digs; Derck 21 assists, 6 digs; Short 12 assists, 7 kills, 4 digs; Smith 8-8 hitting, 1 kill, 1 dig; Recker 8 kills, 29-29 serving, 3 aces, 11 digs; Longardner 9 digs; Sheedy 18-19 hitting, 7 kills, 6 digs; Braaten 4 digs.
The Lady Archers are now 12-2.
Everyone in the Antwerp Community should be proud of this team who is willing to give and raise money for one of their own!
