WITTENBERG, Wis (WJFW) – Wittenberg-Birnamwood’s girls basketball player, Gracie Buchkowski, knows her way around a basketball court. But she also knows how your mental health can get in the way of the things you love, when she lost her close friend Neena Pachoke.
“This game is definitely a really big part of me and her’s connection. We did everything together, playing basketball, getting our nails done, being on the boat, it was just a really big bond that we had.” said Buchkowski.
Neena was a former college basketball player at the University of South Florida and News Anchor at WAOW. But took her life in August of 2022 at 27 years old.
Buchkowski said “I was sad, I was hurt, I had a lot of questions, I didn’t know why or how. I think mental health was just a huge scare to me but then after Nenna passed I started to do things that I could do better.”
After hearing about Nenna’s death Buchkowski wanted to turn a negative experience into a positive reaction. She went to her coaches and Athletic Director Chris Nier with the idea of dedicating their game against D.C. Everest to raising money and awareness towards mental health.
Nier said “I think it’s really neat, it’s nice to see them step outside of their comfort zone and do something bigger than themselves and bigger than the team. I’m just really proud of them for doing it.”
The school partnered with “Stay4me” , a community project set up by Neena’s family to help bring awareness to mental health in sports. With all donations going towards their cause.
Nier said “I always think sports teaches so many lessons and it’s neat that people are excited to come out for more than just the sports. That’s there’s something more important in athletics than winning and losing and this is an example of that.”
Buchkowski added: “I was sad, I was depressed, I didn’t know what to do, but I got out of it quick because I knew that I have a purpose in life. And this is my purpose, a game like this, to be better, to give people hope. It’s OK to not be OK at the end of the day.”
If you or anyone you know is struggling, call or text the Wisconsin Sucide Prevention number at 988.