A sold-out crowd of 560 attended the Sixth Annual Night with the Yotes event this past  Saturday in Heritage Hall at the Salina Bicentennial Center.

Preliminary results indicate the dinner/auction event set a record with more than $90,000 in revenue to benefit the Coyote Student-Athletes. Kansas Wesleyan alumni Bryon and Sandy Norris and community supporters Ken and Karen Ebert co-chaired the event. Kansas Wesleyan graduate Phil Coleman, who was an All-America basketball/baseball student-athlete during his time on campus, was honored with the Gerald Lilly Award, presented annually to an individual that exemplifies outstanding dedication and commitment to Kansas Wesleyan Athletics.

“We are fortunate to have such vibrant support from the Salina community, plus we had about 80 current parents stay for the event,” said Mike Hermann, vice president and director of athletics. “I was especially pleased that the first sellout for the Night with the Yotes came in the last time that the event will be conducted with Daryl Hoelting on the staff. He was one of the leaders among the coaches to begin the event six years ago. He’s been a great advocate for the event during his time on staff, and no one on our team has more community connections that Daryl. Even after his official retirement, he was out there in the community, finalizing ticket sales and soliciting for additional auction items. The successful softball program is a tribute to Daryl and the growth of the Night with the Yotes event is also part of legacy.”

The funds for the event will assist with special projects within the athletics program, including funding meals for student-athletes that are on campus when the cafeteria is closed. In addition, more than $10,000 was donated for strength and conditioning coaching for the student-athletes.

“Most importantly, this event was a celebration of the mutual benefit from the relationship between Salina and Kansas Wesleyan,” Hermann said. “And, it served as a great kickoff for the 2016-17 athletic year and was a lot of fun. I had a number of first-time attendees tell me that they’ll be back next year!”

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Story from Kansas Wesleyan University