Joe Berger Camp Celebrates 7th Year
Story by Alexis Mercer Photos by Easton Harkness and Alexis Mercer 120 eager, smiling faces lined up on the Newaygo High School football field on Tuesday, July 25 ready for whatever Joe Berger had to throw at them. The young athletes came from near and far for the much anticipated and loved Joe Berger Football Camp: Newaygo, Tri-County, Fremont, Grant, Walkerville, Muskegon Christian, Hesperia, Sparta, Northpoint Christian, Trinity Lutheran, Reed City, Reed City and even ... England! The camp began in 2015 when Berger was playing for the Minnesota Vikings and the NFL allotted money to players to hold youth camps. Since then, the grant money has been suspended, but Kevin Harkness, along with his son Hudson, and local businesses and communities wanted to keep the camp going. Why does Berger want to continue this camp despite his retirement from the NFL? "The way the community embraced the camp a few years back, when the NFL suspended the grant, was very encouraging to me," Berger said. "I feel like it's a fun way to bring local businesses together, along with leaders in the community, to provide a fun day for the kids. If putting a retired athlete's name on it helps facilitate that, I'm all for it." Volunteers also showed up in great numbers and from near and far. NHS football players and coaches, surrounding schools' coaches, Berger's son Gavin, Scott Swinehart, the Navy, and Northwood football players all gathered together to help the camp attendees have an enjoyable experience. In fact, the Northwood football players were such a hit with the athletes, they sparked Berger's attention. "Seeing the energy that the four college athletes brought to the camp was my favorite part," he said. "I'm thankful to Hudson [Harkness, who plays at Northwood] for facilitating that and the Northwood crew for investing in our youth. If I didn't graduate from Tech, I may have to be a Timberwolves fan."
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