Act of Kindness Restores Hope for Crystal River Middle School Bearcat Football Team

New beginnings in the locker room! Thanks to the generous support from our community, the Bearcat football team is back in action with fresh cleats ready to hit the field!

The devastation caused by Hurricane Helene brought many challenges to the Crystal River Middle School (CRMS) community, and one of the more personal setbacks was faced by the Bearcat football team. In the wake of the storm, their cleats—essential for every game—were destroyed by floodwaters. These cleats had been individually purchased by families who were already dealing with the aftermath of the hurricane, making this loss an added burden. With their season already impacted by limited field practices and rescheduled games, the loss of their athletic gear felt like a tough blow. However, thanks to an incredible act of kindness from the contractors working on the school’s restoration, the team and their families were able to find relief and hope again.

Jason Stoltzfus, Director of Recovery for Emergency Advantage, who is overseeing the recovery of CRMS for the Citrus County School District’s insurer, the Florida School Board Insurance Trust, took the situation to heart. Having a son who plays high school football, Stoltzfus understood how critical sports are to students’ lives. Through a conversation with Bearcat Head Coach Ryan Reynolds, Stoltzfus learned that all of the Bearcat football team’s cleats had been ruined in the flooding. He was personally moved to act, recognizing the significance of replacing these cleats, which had been purchased by families already facing so many challenges.

What began as a concern quickly grew into a grassroots movement. Stoltzfus shared the story with his recovery team, and their response was immediate. The team discussed the situation with their families, who rallied together in a collective effort to replace the cleats. However, finding the right sizes for a whole football team on short notice wasn’t easy.

Undeterred, members of the recovery team, along with their spouses, reached out to local sporting goods stores in search of cleats. As word of the effort spread, Crystal River High School Assistant Principal Mike Einspahr, a former high school and collegiate athlete, heard about the mission and stepped up to help. His love for sports and understanding of the impact on the Bearcat players and their families fueled his involvement. Stoltzfus’s team and Einspahr’s team each worked to ensure the players could get back on the field.

Through the combined efforts of Stoltzfus’s team, 23 pairs of new cleats were secured, and Einspahr’s team managed to obtain the remaining pairs the team needed. With all the cleats secured for the Bearcat football team, this provided immense relief to the players and their families, many of whom had already endured so much from the storm.

CRMS Principal Brian Lancaster expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support the Bearcat team received, stating, “The coaches, players, and families were beyond grateful. There is no way they could’ve played without this help.” The generosity shown wasn’t just about providing cleats—it was about easing the burden on students and their families and allowing them to continue being part of something bigger, even in the face of adversity.

This act of kindness is just one of many examples of the extraordinary community spirit surrounding Citrus County Schools during its recovery from Hurricane Helene. The compassion of individuals like Stoltzfus and Einspahr, along with the unwavering support of the restoration team, demonstrates how deeply people care about rebuilding not just the school’s structures but also the lives and experiences of the students and their families. For the Bearcat football team, it was a reminder that no matter how tough things get, they have a community ready to stand behind them.

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