SOUTH WAYNE - Hailey Meier can't forget her third-grade teacher - Cindy Kaster.
Kaster died in 2005 after a battle with cancer. Now Meier and her Black Hawk girls basketball team want to pay tribute to Kaster and so many others who fought cancer with a fund-raiser for Gilda's Club in Madison. Gilda's Club is an organization that provides support and education for individuals fighting cancer in southern Wisconsin.
"She (Kaster) cared about all of her students," Meier said. "She had a big impact on every student's life."
Black Hawk (13-1, 6-0 Six Rivers East), ranked sixth in the Associated Press Division 4 state poll, will take on Barneveld (13-1, 7-0), ranked fifth, in a matchup of conference unbeatens Saturday night. However, breast cancer research will take center stage and basketball will be just the icing on the cake.
"It's good to see that there are so many other things that take precedence," Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan said. "Even though we are battling, we are working together at the same time. That's a good lesson for high school athletes."
Fellow Black Hawk senior Gabi Lehner recalls how Kaster selected themes for her classes. Lehner remembers the space cadet theme from her third-grade class.
"She was a really good teacher," Lehner said. "She was always happy and cheerful."
Black Hawk has been raising money by selling pink T-shirts in support of breast cancer research, hosted a penny war at school and will donate 40 percent of the proceeds from Saturday's game to Guilda's Club.
The Black Hawk player who raises the most money in the penny war will get to throw a pie in the face of a local celebrity. The player who raises the least amount of money will be the target of a pie thrower.
Meier wants to have bragging rights in the penny war. She said her container is full of pennies.
"Most people will probably wait to add the silver in there," Meier said.
Black Hawk also will host pie and basket raffles.
Barneveld coach Jim Myers pitched the idea of a game for breast cancer research to Flanagan before the season. Flanagan agreed and Saturday will be just the first of a two-game fund-raising event. It will continue Feb. 17 when the Warriors play at Barneveld. Barneveld set a goal of raising $2,500.
"It was his brainchild," Flanagan said of Myers.
Flanagan said he isn't worried about any distractions in preparing for a pivotal game that will put the winner in the driver's seat for a Six Rivers East Conference title.
"We are just reminding the girls to stay humbled and focused," Flanagan said. "We want a conference championship. It has eluded us the last couple of years. We know how good they are. We know how good they have been."
The Warriors beat the Golden Eagles twice last year.
"That just doesn't happen often," he said.
Flanagan knows Kaster is in the hearts of many fans and will be a reminder of what they are playing for.
"She touched a lot of peoples' lives," Flanagan said. "It's a case that is close to home for just about everybody. The fringe benefit is they will get a really good show on the court as well."
Kaster died in 2005 after a battle with cancer. Now Meier and her Black Hawk girls basketball team want to pay tribute to Kaster and so many others who fought cancer with a fund-raiser for Gilda's Club in Madison. Gilda's Club is an organization that provides support and education for individuals fighting cancer in southern Wisconsin.
"She (Kaster) cared about all of her students," Meier said. "She had a big impact on every student's life."
Black Hawk (13-1, 6-0 Six Rivers East), ranked sixth in the Associated Press Division 4 state poll, will take on Barneveld (13-1, 7-0), ranked fifth, in a matchup of conference unbeatens Saturday night. However, breast cancer research will take center stage and basketball will be just the icing on the cake.
"It's good to see that there are so many other things that take precedence," Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan said. "Even though we are battling, we are working together at the same time. That's a good lesson for high school athletes."
Fellow Black Hawk senior Gabi Lehner recalls how Kaster selected themes for her classes. Lehner remembers the space cadet theme from her third-grade class.
"She was a really good teacher," Lehner said. "She was always happy and cheerful."
Black Hawk has been raising money by selling pink T-shirts in support of breast cancer research, hosted a penny war at school and will donate 40 percent of the proceeds from Saturday's game to Guilda's Club.
The Black Hawk player who raises the most money in the penny war will get to throw a pie in the face of a local celebrity. The player who raises the least amount of money will be the target of a pie thrower.
Meier wants to have bragging rights in the penny war. She said her container is full of pennies.
"Most people will probably wait to add the silver in there," Meier said.
Black Hawk also will host pie and basket raffles.
Barneveld coach Jim Myers pitched the idea of a game for breast cancer research to Flanagan before the season. Flanagan agreed and Saturday will be just the first of a two-game fund-raising event. It will continue Feb. 17 when the Warriors play at Barneveld. Barneveld set a goal of raising $2,500.
"It was his brainchild," Flanagan said of Myers.
Flanagan said he isn't worried about any distractions in preparing for a pivotal game that will put the winner in the driver's seat for a Six Rivers East Conference title.
"We are just reminding the girls to stay humbled and focused," Flanagan said. "We want a conference championship. It has eluded us the last couple of years. We know how good they are. We know how good they have been."
The Warriors beat the Golden Eagles twice last year.
"That just doesn't happen often," he said.
Flanagan knows Kaster is in the hearts of many fans and will be a reminder of what they are playing for.
"She touched a lot of peoples' lives," Flanagan said. "It's a case that is close to home for just about everybody. The fringe benefit is they will get a really good show on the court as well."
