NMU sports talent show for charity

Wildcat athletes put on their own talent show Sunday night as a fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“We actually partnered with Make-A-Wish Foundation last year, and we usually just donate a sum of money to the foundation, but this year we’re also partnering with (Michigan) Tech and we’re sponsoring a single person this year,” NMU skier and cross-country runner Jordyn Ross said.

That single person is Madison, a six-year-old girl from Hancock.

“The Student Athletic Advisory Committee is sponsoring Madison with her Make-A-Wish to go to Disney World,” NMU skier Rosie Frankowski said. “She has a genetic muscular disorder, and with life-threatening side effects.”

From a dunk contest by the men’s basketball team, to several dance numbers by the volleyball team, to a sketch called “You Know You’re A Cross-Country Runner If”, the teams were having fun trying to outdo one another.

“Each team has put together an act, and they will be performing and we’ll have judges judging, and at the end, we’ll award a winner of the talent show,” Frankowski said.

“For the ski team, we’re putting on a synchronized diving team tonight, so that’s going to be kind of entertaining,” Ross said. “Most of the teams are coming here; they’re just saying they’re going to surprise us, so nobody wanted to give away their surprises tonight.”

The skiers’ synchronized swimming was the winning performance.

They may not be the second coming of the late Esther Williams, but that’s fine, because Madison is the real winner.