On March 23, the San Dieguito Academy lacrosse program held its third annual Pull Up for Hunger event, challenging high school athletes to tackle a tough physical exercise to make a difference for San Diegans struggling with food insecurity. This year’s event was bigger than ever, expanding to include not just the boys and girls lacrosse teams but also the boys and girls track teams, with over 80 students participating in doing pull-ups for pledged dollars.
The event brought in its largest ever funds raised of $12,500, which will provide over 25,000 meals at the San Diego Food Bank.
Vinnie Whibbs, SDA’s JV lacrosse head coach, came up with the idea for the jogathon-style fundraiser using the pull-up bar positioned off to the side of the field at SDA. With all of his teams, the SDA alum stresses the importance of community service and giving back. In addition to the fundraiser, the boys lacrosse team volunteered at the San Diego Food Bank warehouse on March 26, packing 660 boxes of food for senior citizens, totaling 23,000 pounds.
Top performers from the event included boys lacrosse senior Dom Cinzori with 30 pull-ups and girls lacrosse player Morgan Lenac’s 63-second bent arm hang, as well as boys track’s Jack Prior with 12 pull-ups, girls track’s Eiia Hext and Kaedence Unrein with 10 pull-ups.
Girls Coach Frankie Finley, also a SDA alum, pulled off a 63-second bent arm hang and Coach Whibbs himself did 29 pull-ups.