Sportsbeat – Support growing for Momrik’s benefit
The outpouring of support for girls? basketball coach Karl Momrik has reached well beyond the village limits of Posen. The coach, who suffered a heart attack while on the Viking sidelines last winner, is having a benefit chicken dinner and auction Sunday at the school to defray the mounting medical costs from his cardiac bypass surgery in Traverse City. Momrik has been told by his coaching colleagues that they will be there for the event and probably bringing some players.
?THE COACH is coming from Mio, and he?s bringing seven of his girls,? said Momrik. ?I believe Marty Mix is coming from Onaway.? The dinner will be from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. with a live auction and Chinese raffle at 3 p.m. Live auction items include University of Detroit basketball tickets for next season, a fishing charter trip, framed wildlife photos, a Detroit Tiger blanket, a casino package, among a sampling of many items.
There also are separate raffles for a seven-millimeter rifle, as well as a handcrafted gun case made by Momrik?s friend and assistant coach Kevin Romel, who had help from his stepfather, Al Dege. Hincka Logging, a regular contributor to local benefits, always donates a semi-load of firewood, said benefit organizer Marilyn Kaszubowski, which is about 20 cords. THE MAN of the hour has been overwhelmed by the show of support.
?I think it is really great,? said Momrik. ?It really means a lot to me. My friends and people in the community are really coming forward. They are donating all their time and their efforts toward this. It?s really special to me.? If Momrik had a nickel for every time someone asked him how he?s doing, all the medical bills probably would have been paid. One still has to ask. ?It?s been a tough year for me and it?s still tough,? said Momrik. ?Coming off this heart attack is not easy, I?ll tell you. It?s a lot of work, and yet I still feel so lucky that I?m still around.?