When news spread that a tornado had torn through the Fox Cities on July 27, the community was left shaken from the devastation. Miraculously, no fatalities were reported, though dozens of people were injured, and many families were displaced. The tornado moved through Appleton, Menasha, Fox Crossing, and Neenah, with Neenah and Menasha among the hardest-hit communities.
Calder Stadium, Menasha High School’s home football field, was directly in the tornado’s path and sustained extensive damage, requiring significant repairs before being able to host athletic events again.
As cleanup efforts began, Menasha Bluejays head football coach Jeramie Korth started thinking about how to support his players and their families. His goal was to turn a difficult situation into an opportunity to bring people together and provide a sense of stability during an uncertain time.
“Lawrence was the number one thought,” Korth said. “The Banta Bowl has always been a great place to play, and with the updates recently made to the Banta Bowl, our community is absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to play there.”
During a meeting with parents and district leaders, Menasha School District officials shared the news that the Bluejays would play five home games this fall at Lawrence University’s Banta Bowl. Korth said the announcement was met with immediate excitement.
The opportunity to play at the Banta Bowl has also generated enthusiasm among the players.
When asked what his student-athletes thought about playing at the Banta Bowl, Coach Korth laughed and said, “The turf is the same color as ours. It’s a navy-blue turf, and I expect it will feel like home to us.
Securing a consistent home field was a priority for the Bluejays. With many families already dealing with disrupted routines and unexpected challenges, Korth shared the team wanted to avoid playing at a different field each week and provide as much stability as possible throughout the season.
“The fact that we were able to get a college stadium where we’re not sharing it with another high school team is huge,” Korth said. “We don’t have to travel around and play in all these different places that other high school teams are going to be playing in. From the moment we talked to Lawrence, it has been nothing but open arms and support.”
While recovery efforts continue and much work remains, Korth shared the community has been encouraged by the support it has received.
“We are overwhelmed by what has happened, but we are equally overwhelmed by the support that we have,” he said.
Lawrence University leadership has donated use of the Banta Bowl to the Bluejays because it reflects the institution’s commitment to being a steward of place and a support system to our community during times of need.
“Lawrence University is honored to open the Banta Bowl to Menasha High School Football this fall,” shared James Downer, assistant vice president for athletics at Lawrence University. When a neighboring community faces unexpected challenges, our institution believes it’s imperative to step up and help. We hope our campus provides a welcoming home for the Bluejays, and we’re proud to play a small role in supporting their students, families, and community during this difficult time.”
