Members of the wrestling program and other guests distributed the 10,000th book to Sorensen Elementary students on June 6 as part of the Shirley Parker Reading Program. The Shirley Parker Reading Program was established in 2002 by the North Idaho College wrestling program in partnership with Parker Toyota in honor of Doug Parker’s late wife, Shirley, who was a supporter of both wrestling and reading.
The wrestling team holds a fundraiser at the end of its preseason to support the program. The players collect pledges toward their completion of a mountain climb in Hope, Idaho, typically raising about $1,000 that goes toward the purchase of books for every first-grader in the Coeur d’Alene School District.
Adults pictured are, from left, NIC wrestlers Jake Mason and Ryan Zumwalt, philanthropist Doug Parker, NIC Wrestling Head Coach Pat Whitcomb, NIC Athletic Randy Boswell, NIC Assistant Coach Keri Stanley, Sorensen Teacher Holly Weymouth and Sorensen Principal Jim Gray.
