Garinger, West Charlotte alumni take to the court to give back

Most who play basketball know it’s more than a sport or a weekend interest. For alumni of Garinger and West Charlotte high schools, the game is a way to give back to the next class.

This weekend, alumni from both schools got on the court for a full-court press to fundraise for the school’s athletic programs.

“We wanted to get out in the community, and we have a ton of alumni doing good things,” said Danielle Witherspoon, president of the Garinger alumni association. “We wanted to showcase who we are and what we’re about.”

The teamwork went beyond the individual schools.

“There are a ton of alumni at the schools, and we wanted to gather them together,” Witherspoon said. “We wanted to show these kids that we can make it, and we can succeed together.”

The intentional way that West Charlotte and Garinger took the court was to win more than a game — but more importantly, set a good example for the next class of Lions and Wildcats to develop into community-minded and successful people.

This was more than a game of skill, compromise and opportunity — it was a lesson about the joy of giving and serving others.

This was a rematch game when the alum played in 2017, and Garinger won.

But this time, West Charlotte took the title 67-62.

“There is a huge rivalry that spans across decades, but we just want to continue to put together the camaraderie,” Witherspoon said. “We want to stay in touch and get together and do the really good things that we know that we’re capable of doing.”

No doubt, this game was a win for everyone.

If you have an inspiring story to share, email Kevin Campbell, WSOC-TV/WAXN-TV/Telemundo Charlotte public affairs manager, at Kevin.Campbell@wsoctv.com.

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