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Mueller event raises more than $11,000 total
mueller-scholarship
Organizers of the Mark Mueller Scholarship Fund held an event Feb. 13 at Twining Park in Monroe to raise money for scholarships for local seniors. More than $11,000 were donated this year in total.

MONROE — The annual punt, throw, and kick fundraiser for the Mark Mueller Scholarship Fund was held Feb. 13 at Twining Park. Organizers said the day brought in $3,000 in entry fees and additional donations, with another $8,000 coming to the fund from sponsors, additional donations and a silent auction. 

“It’s overwhelming the number of people that are so generous in their donations and time,” said Eric Jubeck, one of the Fund organizers and friend of Mueller.

Over $1,200 worth of prizes were given away to competition winners. There were 78 total participants covering six divisions — with more than half of those competitors children in school.

“A highlight of the event was Mark’s parents, Pete and Vickie Mueller, not only making an appearance but staying for a majority of the event — even as the temperature barely made it above single digits,” Jubeck said.

Ian-Stormont
Dr. Ian Stormont competed in the annual event, finishing in seventh place in the 35-years-plus age bracket with a total score of 252 feet, a vast improvement from 2021. - photo by Adam Krebs

There were four participants under the age of 5, with another 23 in the 6-10 bracket. There were four competitors between 11-15, 10 from 16-34, 32 ages 32-plus, and five more in the women’s division.

First place finishers included Bodhi Riese (age 5, 23 feet total), Jordan Herbst (10, 187 feet), Peyton Herbst (14, 199 feet), Aaron Ritschard (34, 291 feet) and Justin Blackburn (38, 337 feet).

The Fund is in honor of Mark “Denim” Mueller, a 2001 Monroe graduate that tragically died in 2003. Sports were a central theme for Mueller. A three-sport athlete, he was an all-conference football player with the Cheesemakers, a state tennis qualifier, and a starter on the basketball team. He worked for UW Athletics in college before he died.

“Mark was very involved in youth sports, and he was a kid that would show up to compete, volunteer, and anything in between,” said Jim Curran, friend of Mueller and another organizer of the event. Curran said the amount of participation from today’s youth was one of the things the organizers were hoping for. “Over half of the participants were kids. We had several high school students (and younger) volunteer to help with the event.”

Curran said the amount of money raised helps guarantee the scholarship program will continue years into the future.

“Our aim is to give more scholarship dollars each year, while also ensuring the scholarship endures for years to come,” Curran said.

In 2021, there were five scholarships given away.