The defending national champion North Idaho College wrestlers showed their big hearts on the mat last season. They also displayed their big hearts before this season in the community.
The NIC wrestling team handed out free school supplies to local kids at Riverstone near Escape Outdoors Thursday.
The wrestlers gave away folders, notebooks, pencils and other school essentials to kids as a part of the “We Care” program.
About 400 people came to the event as the line stretched around the corner at times.
Head coach Pat Whitcomb said people gathered at 8:30, an hour and one-half before the 10:00 start time of the event.
Whitcomb said they made a total of six runs for school supplies, three Wednesday and three Thursday to keep students’ bags full.
Whitcomb didn’t know exactly what kind of turnout to expect as it is the first year the wrestling program has hosted this event, but figured it would be a good show of people because students are in need of school supplies, people could meet the wrestlers and it’s a new event.
Besides school supplies, the wrestlers also offered people free pizza and water while they were waiting in line.
Whitcomb said he wanted to give back to the community since the community greatly supports NIC and its wrestling team.
The wrestlers also found enjoyment in helping some of the kids in the area and positively impacting their lives.
Freshman Adrian Cordova said his favorite part of the day was seeing the kids’ faces after he gave them free shirts.
Another wrestler, Kenton Walker, said he was excited to help out with the event and wanted to come as early as possible to assist. But then he remembered he had class so he had to arrive later than he wanted.
Whitcomb said the wrestling program also sells T-shirts in October to raise breast cancer awareness through the “We Care” program.
On top of that, since 2002, the wrestling program has given away more than 11,000 books to elementary students through the Shirley Parker Reading program. The program is aimed at promoting early childhood reading.
Whitcomb said that whenever he and his team go to an elementary school to read to first-graders, they each receive a free book. Whitcomb also gives away books to children in Michigan, where he is from, when recruiting.
