Collinsville Community Raises Funds to Buy Championship Rings for Football Team

Every player on the Collinsville High School football team receives a championship ring without paying a dime.

After the team made history by winning the state championship, the city stepped up to do something special for them.

Reach Clothing printed 1,700 shirts and hoodies last month. Most of the proceeds went to the fund of the ring, raising thousands of dollars for the team.

Several other business owners have helped in their own way. Reach Clothing owner Tyson Baker says that’s exactly what small towns do.

It all goes back to when the story was written for Collinsville, Oklahoma. This is the first time the Collinsville Cardinals have won the state championship.

“It didn’t feel real. It was the best feeling ever,” Collinsville offensive line center and senior Cannon Howard said.

A feeling that Howard will never forget.

“I didn’t sleep for almost a week afterwards, just looking at pictures and videos every night,” Howard said.

After an unbeaten season, pride filled not only the team, but the entire city.

On the night of the big win, people lined Main Street after midnight to welcome the boys home.

Now players will have a keepsake of that memory forever: a championship ring.

“The next day we started getting phone calls. The community wanted to know, what can we do to raise money for the rings?” said Quarterback Booster Club President Roberta Kickapoo.

Kickapoo said donations have started pouring in from the community, alumni and businesses.

One of them is Reach Clothing.

“When they won the state, we just knew we had to do something,” Baker said.

Baker opened an online store where people could buy championship gear like sweatshirts and t-shirts.

Sales exploded with 515 orders and more than 1,700 products sold.

Baker says he shipped material across the country to people who lived in Collinsville.

“You know, small town football, Friday nights are very important here,” Baker said.

Others also participated, such as Cornerstone Ace Hardware, which donated for every Championship Cup sold.

Donations from clothing sales totaled $16,000, plus $10,000 from community donations, and each ring will be paid for.

“Collinsville is traveling. It doesn’t matter if we’re home or away. Collinsville is coming to this game and we’re going to cheer,” Kickapoo said.

The city that proves victory means more than breaking a record or holding a title.

These are the people who have supported you along the way.

“It will mean everything. All the hard work we put in. And all the hard work your brothers put in. That’s right, it means the world,” Howard said.

“These boys are legends. Yes, they are legends,” Baker said.

The 61-man squad were sized for their rings last week, and they’re expected to arrive in a few months.

Reach Clothing fulfills its latest batch of clothing orders.