Juniors at Mariner High will face off in a flag football tournament Saturday to benefit the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.
Briska Wolfe, a teacher at Mariner High, said the tournament is a new way to raise money for cancer and motivate the students under the guise of a harmless rivalry. Today, March 13, from 1-5 p.m., two female and two male teams will compete in the tournament held within the Tony McKenna Football Stadium.
“This is our first football tournament,” said Wolfe. “All of the profits will go to Relay for Life for the Mariner team.”
Tickets for the event are $3 at the door and $2 if they are bought at the school.
The school’s current junior class and the Volunteens, a community service club, organized the fund-raiser, she said. All students were invited to register for the tournament for $5 each and teams of seven to 10 players are guaranteed to play three games on Saturday.
Football coaches from Mariner High will serve as officials at the tournament.
Wolfe said the students are hoping to raise $500 for the American Cancer Society and if it’s popular they want to make it an ongoing event. Next year they want to organize a tournament between students at Mariner High and Ida S. Baker high, Mariner’s main rival and host of the Relay for Life on April 23.
“Maybe next year we’ll have it as Ida Baker versus Mariner as a rivalry event,” she said.
Mariner High also has a Relay for Life team that raises money at the event each year.
A concession stand will be open during the event and the high school is inviting everyone from the community to watch.