Monroe’s Rock Valley Conference opener was more than just a game, as the players and community came together for head coach Toby Golembiewski. 

“Deep down, we knew this was for Coach G tonight,” senior Brady Wyss said. “Being able to do that for him feels great. He’s always had our backs and we showed that we have his back.”

After coaching the team to a state championship in November, Golembiewski was diagnosed with colon cancer in December. The disease then spread to his lymph nodes and liver, forcing a series of chemo treatments. While scans and blood work showed the tumor in remission, he switched treatments this past Tuesday. Although he feels no extreme side effects, Golembiewski has to monitor his energy and dedicate the limited strength he has to “the important things.”

To help mitigate some of the treatment costs and show support, the Monroe community came together Friday to raise $4,014 for the Golembiewski family. Melody Loeffelholz, the Family and Consumer Science teacher at MHS, made wreaths for a silent auction and during halftime, Student Senate members collected money during a Miracle Minute. Justice for a Cure, an organization created by Joan Kamholz in 2008, also donated $500 to the Golembiewski family.

“That’s unbelievable,” Golembiewski said. “Even more than the dollars, it’s the support of the people. Regardless of where someone is from or how close we are, knowing that they are very supportive and they have my back — they are in my corner — I think that is even more powerful.”

The football team, along with Student Senate, also gave back by donating $5,500 to Justice for a Cure. The programs raised this money through discount cards and cancer T-shirt sales.