Lady Vikings gain a fan

PHILLIPSBURG — On the court, the Charlo volleyball team is relentless, determined and tough.

Off the court, the Lady Vikings are softies.

At the Phillipsburg tournament on Sept. 5, they met Sydney Cutler, a small girl with brain cancer.

The team gathered flowers, signed a card and gave them to her, along with a large red stuffed bulldog.

“Nobody knew her,” manager Jessica Anderson said. “We just knew she had brain cancer.”

On the way home from the tournament, somewhere near Ravalli, Cutler’s dad texted head coach Sheryl Kain: “I cannot thank you all enough. She is now a Lady Vikings fan.”

The moment effected everyone involved.

“She was shocked,” Anderson said. “She didn’t know any one of us. She did start crying, it was emotional for us all.”

At that time, the team talked with her and got to know her better. The Vikings let her know that they were supporting her through everything.

“It was great for her to know there are people who care for her,” Anderson said.

When Charlo made warm-up shirts, it ordered an extra one for Cutler, signed it and sent it to her with a team picture. On senior night, the team debuted pink warm-up shirts and hats in honor of Cutler. Players wore pink ribbons on their socks as well.

The Vikings knew she was going through chemotherapy treatment and wrote her letters to read during the process.

Cutler has responded and let Charlo know her appreciation of their support.

Anderson said the experience has opened the team’s eyes.

“It hits you,” she said. “Somebody so small and so young to see she has to battle something so big. A little girl shouldn’t have to fight something like that.”

With all of their success on the court, Kain said meeting Cutler was a great moment.

“It was pretty good for the girls,” she said. “I think that was the best highlight.”