West Forsyth football raises thousands through pool
Published 12:10 am Thursday, May 22, 2025
Coach Brock Dick, left; Keenan Cuthrell, second from right; and Zayden Wilson, right, taking lessons from James Booker, who grew up in the pool halls of New York after beginning work in one at the age of eight.
Coach Rob Perez, left, and Max Williamson play in the tournament.
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The West Forsyth football team was looking for ways to raise funding to paint and redo the school locker room, and the coaching staff landed on a unique remedy: playing pool.
On Saturday, members of the football team partnered with local pool pros and members of the public to put together a pool tournament fundraiser. The fundraiser was held at the Village Square Tap House and Arcade, with all proceeds going to the West Forsyth football team.
“We had a turnout of about 23, it went beyond what I thought it was going to be. Next year we’ll refine it a bit, make sure to shorten it,” said Assistant Coach Rob Perez, who was the brains behind the event.
Perez said the idea for the event came while the football coaches were having their weekly pizza at the Tap House. He said that while sitting and talking with the other coaches, he “was watching their pool tournaments and thinking how we could do our own tournament to raise money as a team.”
“It was pretty cool how it came together with the kids. They did well,” said Perez.
He said that the event ended up raising approximately $4,000 throughout the six hours it was held. That money came from registration, barbecue plate sales and an auction for the football player’s pool talents.
“That money is going to a number of things, signs in the locker room, about striving to do better, its going to painting the locker rooms, it’s going to lettering the names of the players on the locker, it could go for more footballs if Coach (Kevin Wallace) decides that’s needed,” said Perez, adding that the locker room had not been painted for 20 years.
Perez also praised the support coming from the Tap House and owner Brian Wheelock, saying that Wheelock donated funding on top of allowing the tournament to be held at the bar and arcade.
The football coaching staff has already decided to continue the fundraiser in future years. Other sports might also co-opt the idea, said Perez, since it worked out so well the first time.
The next event for the Titans will be their youth football camp for students in grades three through eight. The camp is scheduled for June 11 and 12.
