GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM)-Football season isn't here just yet, but players from West Catholic High School are already breaking a sweat.
Dozens of players and parents fanned out across West Michigan Saturday to help fix up the area. Some athletes repainted fencing at St. Andrew Cemetery in Grand Rapids while others visited a church in Newaygo and a retreat home in Spring Lake to clean the grounds. Volunteers say the work helps built team unity ahead of the football season.
"It's just a great experience to bond with each other and with our family members and others as well," said Senior Frank Bergquist.
"It's great. It gets them just a little bit more involved with our program and everything," said Senior Joe Pakalnis.
"And this year is especially important to us because this is his senior year and this is the last time we'll be able to have this experience together so really, it's very special," added Pakalnis' father.
It's also a very special year for West Catholic High School, which is celebrating 50 years since being founded by the Diocese of Grand Rapids.