Catamount Resiliency: Catamounts Fight On
Catamount
Resiliency
Hurricane Helene tore through the mountains of Western North Carolina in late September, leaving unfathomable destruction and devastation in its path. Despite facing their own daunting circumstances, the Catamount community stepped up to help the communities of WNC during an unprecedented time of grief, loss and the unknown, displaying their resiliency and fighting spirit.
WCU softball player Kennedy Stewman could tell you how special this community is. She鈥檚 lived in it her whole life. The Sylva native has seen her home rally together in times of celebration, excitement and, more recently, need.
The impact of Hurricane Helene has left many across WNC in devastation, but Stewman and her fellow Catamounts have pounced at the chance to help.
鈥淚 think that it sends a good message that if you have the means to do something, you should,鈥� Stewman said. 鈥淚 think Cullowhee, our athletic department, and everyone here is doing a great job of understanding what family means and how we should be there for others in times of need."
In the few weeks after Helene hit, members of the Catamount athletic community united to lend a hand to those in distress, most notably at the Jackson County Airport. The WCU men鈥檚 basketball, soccer, football and softball teams and other student-athletes assisted in a community service project dubbed 鈥淥peration Airdrop.鈥�
At the airport, teams unloaded planes, some as far as the West Coast, full of medical materials, baby supplies, canned goods and more. The student-athletes sorted out those items, which were later distributed to different communities.
鈥淚 think it was really cool to see people giving back to the community that I鈥檓 from and love so much,鈥� Stewman said. 鈥淚鈥檓 a lifelong resident of Sylva, so I鈥檝e seen firsthand how amazing this community is and how much this community loves each other.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really awesome to see athletes that aren鈥檛 from here but are a part of this community now give back to it as well.鈥�
Outside of Operation Airdrop, several athletics teams across campus participated in their charitable activities.
Stewman volunteered at Spruce Pine near Burnsville, and the WCU baseball team helped distribute meals in Jackson County and deliver supplies to those in need in Asheville. For WCU baseball player Brody Raleigh, the hour-long trip to the east was an eye-opening experience.
鈥淚t was something different I鈥檝e never seen. Destruction was unbelievable,鈥� Raleigh said. 鈥淵ou see it on TV, but it鈥檚 one thing to see it when you're actually there.
鈥淭hey obviously really needed help, and it felt good to kinda be that person to bring them things they need,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he look on people鈥檚 faces when we鈥檇 open up our trailer and there鈥檚 a bunch of supplies, it鈥檚 something special to see.鈥�
Members of the soccer team also helped sort out supplies at Fairview School in Sylva, and with some teamwork, the Catamounts got the job done in a flash.
鈥淲e got it done pretty quickly. Within an hour, we were in and out of there,鈥� said Kirsten Hahn, a WCU soccer player. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just so amazing to see so many people want to come together and help, regardless of age or anything like that.鈥�
The Catamount football squad also opened car doors at a handful of elementary schools around the area.
鈥淛ust giving them some encouragement and some positivity to start their day with, especially when they鈥檙e going to school during this time because you never know how their home life or relatives or their friends or family are holding up,鈥� said Colby Cross, a WCU football player.
Catamount Athletics also held a 鈥淔ill the Truck鈥� initiative at the team鈥檚 Oct. 12 home game against The Citadel, where fans were encouraged to bring non-perishables and toiletry items. However, WCU supporters didn鈥檛 just fill the truck; they filled three of them.
