Cy Ridge Rams rally around LB Callahan

By TODD HVEEM
CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT
The Cy Ridge community once again has rallied around one of its own.
Collin Callahan, who is a junior linebacker at Cy Ridge High School, lost his mother, Gretchen, due to illness on Feb. 14. Collin now is living with Brandon Ferrell and his family, said Cy Ridge head football coach Gary Thiebaud.
"His father is basically not in the picture," added Thiebaud. "He has some older sisters, 20 and 22, but they are not capable of taking care of him at this time."
Thiebaud said Cy Ridge is holding a barbecue benefit for Callahan at 10 a.m. March 27 at Cy Ridge High School's north parking lot.
The cost is $10 per plate. Whole briskets will be sold for $30.
All the proceeds will go toward the Collin Callahan memorial fund, which has been set up at Cy-Fair credit union. The fund is to help Callahan with high school and college needs.
"We have a pro cooker coming in to do (the benefit)," Thiebaud said. "We also have had a lot of people donate a lot of meat. We will have tables and chairs so people can sit down and eat or they can take it with them. We just hope to have a pretty day and draw a lot of the Trader's Village crowd."
Callahan was named District 15-5A's Newcomer of the Year during the 2009 football season. He has been in the Cy Ridge football program since his freshman year.
"He is a good kid, he just hasn't had a whole lot of home life," Thiebaud said. "But he stays eligible and he is very-well liked amongst his peers. The whole community is lining up to work on this benefit."
Thiebaud said they also are planning a spaghetti dinner benefit in April. He said former Cy Ridge quarterback and current LSU standout Russell Shepard is coming to the April event.
"The thing that really amazes me about our community is that time after time, they have all rallied together and stepped up," Thiebaud said. "This is just another example. The Cy Ridge community is awesome."