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SALT LAKE CITY — When South Summit High School's basketball team visits rival North Summit, they are competing against each other on the court. But recently South Summit donated $2,300 to a player on its rival team diagnosed with cancer.
North Summit junior Hayden Blonquist was diagnosed with leukemia on Feb. 7. Blonquist has been a star player for the Braves. When South Summit's basketball team heard the news, the prorgam wanted to help Blonquist out in some way.
“It was emotional, I was teary eyed; I know his family very well and it was close to my heart,” said Dustin Hatch, head coach for the South Summit basketball team. “When something like this happens, it makes basketball seem small.”
The team decided to donate money for Blonquist and his family. The funds were raised by the parents and coaches of the team. North Summit's second-year head coach Aaron Preece was in awe of what the team had done.
“It was pretty emotional; I was impressed with the support they offered to Hayden,” Preece said. “Even though there are rivalries in sporting events, when something like this happens and affects a young man who competes in these games against these kids, it can bring a community and schools together.”
North Summit invited the team to its game Friday night to deliver the donation to Blonquist's grandparents. A standing ovation was given to the rival team to express their gratitude. Both coaches believed this was a special experience for their players to be a part of.
“It was emotional even for the kids," Hatch said. "They felt a sense of camaraderie with North Summit. It was a great experience for these boys to be significant in other ways than just winning basketball games.”
Rivalries are a part of the sports world, but Preece said he believes this can impact future rivalries for years to come.
“That memory for my basketball team and his, to see that the rivalry didn’t matter, but that when a young man needs help you can overlook that rivalry to help out a buddy,” he said. Lexi Lewis is studying public relations at Utah Valley University. You can follow her on Twitter @lex_lew1018.
