When the Wareham High School boys volleyball team was cut this year because of budget constraints, the team and its coach decided they’re not giving up the season without a fight.

“We’re looking for a varsity-only season. We’re trying to be realistic,” said Coach Ben Kaeterle.

Although the cost of funding the entire program is $6,000, the boys can still have a season this year if they can come up with the $2,800 it’ll cost to pay for immediate expenses, such as transportation and referees.

They have until early February to hit their minimum fundraising goal, and will continue to raise money throughout the season and over the summer.

When Wareham Week first reported on the boys' attempt to self-fund the season in December, things were looking pretty grim. Now, the boys have a little over $2,000 in their coffers, and it looks like they might just have a season this year.

The team has a fundraiser lined at Red Robin lined up, and with the help of some involved parents, a dance featuring the band Push 4171.

Push 4171 is fronted by singer and volleyball player Teddy Mathews, and plays a mix of pop-rock and R&B, according to Mathews. Mathews’ mother, Alicia Thatcher, was a volleyball player too, and has been helping with the fundraising effort.

“Who better to be a resource then him? He’s the lead singer of a band and he’s on the volleyball team,” said Thatcher.

Mathews said that while he’s “always been a music guy,” when he started playing volleyball, he fell in love with it.

“I feel like cutting sports is counter-intuitive,” said Mathews. He explained that it gives kids who may not be thrilled about being at school an incentive to stay on top of their academics, because an athlete can lose the privilege of playing if their grades drop.

After the program was cut, Kaeterle started reaching out to the media, local businesses, and alumni who had played volleyball. Wareham High School graduate Marcel Merritt played volleyball for four years at Wareham High School, and now the Bridgewater State University freshman is hoping to help his former teammates get back in the game.

“I’m still friends with these guys,” said Merritt. “I just wanted to get involved.”

Sophomore Steven Florindo also plays hockey and football. “I’ve never had to fundraise for a sport before,” said Florindo.

The dance will be on Feb. 9, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., at Wareham High School, and the team is asking local businesses to donate food and raffle items.

Red Robin in Wareham Crossing will also host a fundraiser for the boys volleyball team on Wednesday, Jan. 30, from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Twenty percent of sales will go toward funding the volleyball team, but make sure to bring a flier, which can be downloaded below, or mention the fundraiser to the server.

Donations can be sent to Wareham High School boy’s volleyball c/o WHS Boosters, 7 Viking Drive, 02571. To donate directly to the fundraising website, click here.