MONROE — Current and former Monroe football players organized the first annual Toby Golembiewski ‘Win the Day’ Memorial Flag Football Tournament Friday, Aug. 2. The event alone raised nearly $5,000 and totals from sponsors and donations throughout the year reach upward of $25,000.

“The amount of support that we’ve gotten from the community is so incredible,” Alex Hernandez said. “We knew that Coach G was a very popular guy, but we didn’t think it would get to the point that we are looking to endow a scholarship fund in the first year. That was more of a five-year goal.”

Originally just for teams, the event opened up to individuals that showed an interest. Combined, they were able to create a hodge podge team. The Rippers — Ryan Mathiason, Ethan Rosenstiel, Gavin Foulker, Gavin Roth, Trenton Wyss and Taylor Herbst — won the tournament.

Despite shattering its goal of $1,000 raised, the organizers have bigger hopes for the upcoming years.

“Our biggest goal next year is to reach more communities, especially Orangeville,” Austin Fuchs said. “We really want this as a community event.”