The fundraiser is taking place Wednesday, Jan. 17 at Bald Eagle Area High School -- Cook's alma mater, and where he serves as an assistant wrestling coach -- at 751 S. Eagle Valley Road in Wingate, Pa.
The event -- which coincides with Bald Eagle Area wrestling's senior night dual meet vs. Phillipsburg-Osceola High -- will raise funds for Cook in multiple ways, including a chili cook-off, concession stand sales, and a portion of the Booster Club's ticket raffle -- going towards the champion wrestler who returned to his high school alma two years ago to join the coaching staff.
The chili cook-off will take place from 5-7 p.m. in the Bald Eagle Area High School lobby. A $5 donation is encouraged for chili fans to taste the entries and vote for their favorite. All proceeds will go to Michael Cook and his family to help with expenses as he seeks treatment for his cancer. In addition, 100% of proceeds from concession stand sales during the Phillipsburg-Osceola dual will go to the Cook family.
What's more, the Bald Eagle Area HS Booster Club will donate their share of the 50/50 ticket raffle to Mike Cook. (The winning ticketholder receives 50% of the pot; the other 50% usually kept by the Booster Club will be donated to the Cooks.)
The dual meet is the last home event for Bald Eagle Area High wrestling program. The ceremony honoring BEA seniors begins at 6:40 p.m., with wrestling action starting at 7 p.m.
For wrestling fans not able to attend the BEA/Phillipsburg-Osceola dual in person, there are two ways to offer support.
Donations to Mike Cook may be mailed to: Bald Eagle Area Wrestling Club, c/o Mike Cook, 201 S Prospect St., Port Matilda, PA 16870. All envelopes will be forwarded directly to coach Cook, so please make checks payable to Mike Cook.
What's more, the dual meet will be available for viewing live online at the BEA school YouTube page.
Cook, a 2006 graduate of BEA, was a 215-pound PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association) state wrestling champ in his senior year. His storied mat career began at age six. As a BEA wrestler, Cook was a two-time District 6 Champion and Regional Champion (in addition to his state title), and holds multiple BEA school records. Since concluding his on-the-mat career, Cook has remained active in the sport, coaching throughout the region from Bellefonte to Brockway. This is his second season as an assistant coach at Bald Eagle Area.
Cook, who earned a degree in criminal justice at Lock Haven University in 2010, is now a state trooper with the Pennsylvania State Police.
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