PINCKNEY, Mich. – Brandon Kesterson, the coach of the Pinckney wrestling team, expressed his dismay over the recent theft of scrap metal intended for fundraising.
“I want you to check out this collection of wire and scrap. It may seem impressive, but it’s not when you consider this is half of what’s left after someone came and stole it in the middle of the night,” said Kesterson.
Kesterson emphasized the emotional toll of the theft, saying, “It’s a loss of words. You’re taking away from little kids we’re trying to give a better opportunity to.”
Kesterson coaches the youngest wrestlers at Pinckney wrestling, and this past weekend, the club was collecting scrap metal—a fundraising tradition that has persisted for decades.
“These kids break their backs on these mats, and they are so excited for this every year to raise these funds to look like the other more prominent teams,” said Pinckney Wrestling Booster Club Vice President Stephanie Lamb.
Various items had been donated, including old air conditioning units, ladders, and scraps of metal.
Almost half of the donations were stolen right off the Pinckney school’s lawn.
Kesterson shared his frustration, saying, “It kind of hurts me. I’ve been doing it for five years now. I have a lot of time running my own business and breaking down the metals to get it to that point, and they took it down after we put all that labor into it.”
The loss is estimated in the thousands, but Lamb noted that it was more than just the value of the stolen metals.
“They took away hope,” Lamb said.
The theft occurred sometime Saturday (June 7) night into Sunday morning.
Kesterson’s sentiments were echoed by Lamb.
“I was heartbroken. I have two kids that are in the program, and my husband coaches. These kids put their hearts and souls into it. This program gets them what they need,” Lamb said.
Lamb wants the thieves to understand the impact of their actions.
The scrap they stole pays for equipment and gear and covers wrestling camp costs for kids who otherwise might not have the opportunity to go.
Despite the setback, there is a glimmer of hope. The community has stepped up to support the wrestling club in light of the theft.
They are asking anyone with information to contact the police.
