Basketball fundraiser to feature Western music and ESU stars

ESU basketball fans may find themselves roped into a fun night of music, food and ESU basketball on April 4.

Fans and alumni are invited to a special dinner concert featuring the Prairie Rose Wranglers, a cowboy/Western music band from the Prairie Rose Chuckwagon Supper in Benton, Kansas. According to concert committee chairman and ESU alumnus Maurice Schmidt, a number of former and current Hornet basketball players and coaches will be on hand as well.

“This occasion will be an event that will bridge the eras of Gus Fish, Ron Slaymaker and David Moe,” said Schmidt. “Many generations of ESU basketball alumni will join in a common celebration. The event will also raise money to assist with scholarships for student-athletes, fifth-year aid, maintaining a strong recruiting effort and other special needs of the program.”

The evening’s three key goals, said Schmidt, are to raise money for the men’s basketball program, to involve Hornet basketball alumni and to celebrate the Hornet basketball program.

ESU Foundation Trustee Dale Cushinberry, a former All-American and current principal of Highland Park High School in Topeka, will serve as master of ceremony. Head Coach David Moe will welcome guests and recognize all alumni and current players of the program. Guests will be treated to a five-course meal featuring seared sirloin au poivre.

The Wrangers perform Western music of the silver-screen cowboy era, such as “Cool Water,” “Tumbling Tumbleweeds” and “Ghost Riders In The Sky,” as well as classic cowboy trail songs and Prairie Rose Wranglers originals. They have performed on the Western Music Awards Show in Las Vegas and hosted the Great American Cowboy In Concert at Carnegie Hall.

“Western music fan or not, those in attendance will love the show,” said Schmidt. In addition, Coach Moe’s six-year-old daughter, Lyndie, will lend vocals to the song, “Want to Be a Cowboy Sweetheart.”

Approximately fifty former players are expected to attend, including Ron Slaymaker, Dale Cushinberry, Brian Robinson, Craig Stromgren, Cleo Gardner, Davie Babb, Ron Boline, Mike Watts, Ryan Sprecker, Jim Biggs and James McCallop Jr.

The event will begin at 6 p.m. in Webb Lecture Hall. Tickets are $100 per person. Nearly 300 tickets have already been reserved. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Maurice Schmidt at (620) 366-3366 or Shane Shivley (620) 341-6988.

Last Updated July 2, 2007>