A fundraiser is going to be held on Thursday, June 27 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Betsy Bowen’s studio for Lily Gruber-Schulz and her Northern Lights basketball teammates. Lily (51), with her team, have qualified to play in the AAU national tournament in Florida this July, and proceeds will help them with expenses.
Summer for some high school kids is often a time to kick back and take time off from their main sport, but for soon-to-be Cook County High School sophomore Lily Gruber-Schulz, summer is a time to hone her basketball skills as she travels across the state to play with her Northern Lights AAU teammates.
At 6 feet tall, strong and fast, Lily is a good ball handler and a terrific rebounder. Indeed, Lily was one of the very best rebounders in Northern Minnesota last winter.
So far Lily has been putting those hoops skills toward helping her Northern Lights ninth-grade teammates in competition. The Northern Lights basketball team competed in the Minnesota AAU Division 1 State Championships May 18-19 in Bloomington, Minnesota and finished 11th out of 16 teams to qualify for the Division II National Championships in Orlando, Florida July 7-13.
While most of her teammates are from the Duluth-Superior area, Lily has to be driven back and forth to practices and games. A spendy endeavor, but worth it, said her father, John Gruber.
“Lily is hoping to play basketball in college, so her mother and I are encouraging her to stick with it. And besides, she loves it. She loves playing basketball and as long as it is important to her, we’ll continue to help her and encourage her,” said Gruber.
But with all of the travel and expense—and the trip to Florida—it costs a pretty penny.
To help this talented, dedicated young basketball player, a benefit is going to be held at Betsy Bowen’s studio on Thursday, June 27 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
A free will offering will be held at the door and music will be provided free of charge by Earth, Wind & Todd, a retro-rock (1970s music) band John Gruber plays in. The music is upbeat, fun and full of energy.
“We’re going to be playing off to the side of the stage so people can dance if they want to or just sit and listen,” said Gruber, noting that his daughter had just come back from a tournament in Wayzata.
When asked how they did, Gruber replied, “They won.”
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