MONROE — Friends of Mark “Denim” Mueller held a fundraising event at the end of February to raise money for new scholarships in his honor. The event, dubbed Mark Mueller Scholarship Fund 1st Annual Punt, Throw and Kick, was such a hit that not only will a handful of Monroe seniors get scholarship money this year, but for years to come.

“We were able to raise enough to offer four to five $1,000 scholarships for this year,” said Eric Jubeck, a Monroe teacher and childhood friend of Mueller. “We are also able to ensure that this is both an annual event to offer scholarships every year, and can pursue our goal to turn this into an Endowment Fund so we can ensure scholarships are given indefinitely into the future.”

Jubeck said 100% of the funds raised will be going to scholarships for this year and in those in the future.

“We had over 20 businesses sponsor the event and north of 60 individual donors — not including the almost $1,500 in cash from the day of the event — both as entry fees and additional donations,” Jubeck said. 

Mueller, a 2001 graduate, died unexpectedly as a sophomore at UW-Madison on Jan. 1, 2003. A previous scholarship in his name ended, and Jubeck, along with several other friends of Mueller, revived the campaign a year ago. This year they decided to hold the football skills competition that would be open to all ages — allowing young kids to try to show off their skills, while allowing older generations a chance to “relive the glory days.”

Of those that showed up Feb. 21 to Twining Park to compete or just to watch, many were classmates or friends of Mueller, with several traveling hours by car across the state, and others from across state lines. One friend in attendance, Carl Gille, also a 2001 grad, was back in town from Scottsdale, Arizona, where he currently lives.

The event had originally been scheduled for Super Bowl Sunday two weeks prior, but frigid sub-zero temperatures pushed the organizers to postpone until warmer weather came in. The difference was about 40 degrees. Days prior to the event, the Monroe Parks and Recreation Department cleared an area on the north side of the park. Organizers used a tape measure to mark distance and accuracy, and Jubeck kept a running tally with results on a marker board. Competitors could also compete from home virtually by video recording their results.

There were three categories of competitors: 12 years and under, 13-39, and 40-plus. Sky Steinmann won the 12-under category and a $25 gift card to Dick’s Sporting Goods. Tom Jacobson won the 13-39 grouping and an Alphorn Ford Car Detail. Eric Erickson was the top competitor in the 40-plus group and won a golfing trip to Monroe Golf Club for four with a cart.