Local T-Mobile representatives presented Spring Creek athletics director Troy Smothers (second from left), baseball coach Jay Borgquist (third from left) and assistant principal Randy Meisenhelder (far right) a check for $5,000 before last Friday’s game against Princeton. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)

Local T-Mobile representatives presented Spring Creek athletics director Troy Smothers (second from left), baseball coach Jay Borgquist (third from left) and assistant principal Randy Meisenhelder (far right) a check for $5,000 before last Friday’s game against Princeton. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)

SEVEN SPRINGS — Spring Creek gets an opportunity, thanks to a local cellular phone company, to make some improvements to its football program.

The Gators received a $5,000 check from local T-Mobile representatives during its final regular-season home football game last Friday. It was part of T-Mobile’s “Friday Night 5G Lights” promotion, which enables rural-based schools to use the money for the project of their choice.

Gators athletics director Troy Smothers hasn’t officially decided how the program will use the funds. He did mention improving the sound system and possibly investing in a new ice machine for the training/sports equipment room.

“$5,000 for a school like Spring Creek is huge,” Smothers said. “We struggle every year to make the purchases we need to keep our programs at a level to compete. The money will be used to benefit all of our sports programs at Spring Creek.”

Fans throughout the entire Seven Springs and surrounding communities participated by sharing their school spirit on Instagram.

Spring Creek is the fifth Wayne County school to earn recognition from T-Mobile. Rosewood and Charles B. Aycock each received a $5,000 check. Goldsboro and Eastern Wayne were each awarded $1,000.

“I would like to thank T-Mobile for providing this program for rural schools like ours with much-needed resources,” Smothers said. “I would also like to thank [baseball] Coach Jay Borgquist for doing all the work to obtain this money for Spring Creek.”

T-Mobile selected 300 high schools during its promotion.

The ever-growing mobile cellular phone company has delivered on its promise to expand the nation’s leading 5G network, connected rural communities with T-Mobile 5G home internet, empowered communities through Project 10Million and invested over $13 million in small communities nationwide through Hometown Grants.

Just 16 schools will be chosen as finalists.

The grand prize winner will receive approximately $2 million. The package includes a $100,000 cash grant, new teched-out scoreboard, 5G network upgrades, game-day experience consultation with stadium experts, an ultimate tailgate party, 5G-powered halftime drone show and upgraded weight room courtesy of GronkFitness.com.

You may reach sports writer Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or call/text 919-709-9257.