By Anna Skinner
Karen Olinger has a desire to support people. The retired Westfield school bus driver attended Westfield High School football games when her nephew played for the team. After meeting WHS Head Coach Jake Gilbert, her passion for supporting the players continued well past her nephew’s graduation.
Olinger, of Westfield, attends all the football games, home and away, and cheers with a cowbell from 1992. She makes knick-knacks for the players with her woodworking, such as wood helmets with the player’s name and number engraved on them and keychains. She cheers for players even when the team is down.
“It started in 1988. I started driving a bus for Westfield and I always liked football, so I started coming to the games,” she said. “The first season I just went around to all the places, and I saw people putting cups up and I thought that was really neat. I started putting cups in the fence (spelling out encouraging messages). It got easier when we went to state because then it was fun.”
In 2011, when her nephew began playing for WHS, she met Gilbert and knew she wanted to become more involved in what he was doing for the players.
“I came to Meet the Coach Night, and I really liked (Gilbert) and what he stands for, and watching that for the four years my nephew played, I couldn’t believe what I saw,” Olinger said. “When my nephew left, I asked coach if I could adopt somebody so I could stay in the program. All I asked the boys was to give me a hug after the football game.”
Last year was Olinger’s first time ‘adopting’ a player. She supports one particular player at games and practices by cheering for them and wearing their jersey number.
“There’re so many kids today that get pushed to the wayside. Mom and dad are both working and they aren’t bad parents, but kids don’t get what they used to when I was a kid,” Olinger said. “That’s why I do it.”
Last year, she adopted Noah Nigh, who is now a student at Purdue University. This year, Olinger’s player is David Mendoza, No. 54.
“I appreciate everything she does for me, I’ve been around her since I started playing football and knowing she’ll be there every Friday supporting me whether we win or not, whether we lose or not, that just really means a lot to me,” Mendoza said.
“Afterwards, when I go down on the field and say they did a good job, they really appreciate that,” she said. “Maybe if people heard about why I do it for the kids, then somebody else would want to do it. There are so many kids out there that need it, not just in football, but in other sports. It’s fun if you really get into it and see the kids so happy about somebody that cares about them.”
There are 147 players on the team. Gilbert said Olinger’s participation shows the overall mission coaches try to accomplish in the kids.
“We are trying to develop a servant’s heart in kids and not just throw money at a problem but get hands dirty and serve others,” he said. “On a big level, even one person can make a difference in the whole world. But also, we want them to understand that on a smaller level, people need help right here in Westfield, and Karen’s a part of that. She’s a part of that story.”
This year’s football season began Aug. 3. Olinger has been to all the games, a few practices and she cheers for the boys at all times, whether they’re winning or losing.
“The boys, they work so hard all week and when they get behind is when you need to be the 12th man on the field,” she said. “You don’t give up on the boys.”
Off the Field
Coach Jake Gilbert works to train players and improve their football skills, but his goal is to develop what he calls a servant’s heart in the players.
“You ask people about the football team, and they go, ‘Yeah, great team,’ but did they know that just this past Friday, we took in 500 pounds (of food) for Open Doors?” he said.
Other volunteer work the football team has performed includes blood donations, food drives, packing meals for Kids Against Hunger, holding Special Olympics Football Clinics, participating in IN Women in Need, Habitat for Humanity, Relay for Life, and Teen Suicide Awareness, among other causes.
