Griz Hoops Raising Money For Wyatt Grove’s Fight VS Cancer

The Montana Grizzlies Men's Basketball team released its schedule last week. It's got some marquee matchups - on the road against Oregon and nationally ranked Houston stand out - but circle this date: Saturday, October 21 at home VS Western Washington.

Facing a Division II team in an exhibition isn't the flashiest of games to attend, but it's going to hit you right in the feels. The game will double as a fundraiser for Montana Grizzly and Team IMPACT player Wyatt Grove.

The 12-year-old Great Falls native has been battling brain cancer off and on since 2018. Things were good for a 7-year stretch, but last December doctors found another tumor on his brain. Wyatt and his family have been traveling back and forth between Salt Lake and Montana for the majority of the 7 years. They spent a large chunk of this last winter there, too.

A group called Team IMPACT put Wyatt in touch with the Montana Grizzlies Men's Basketball team earlier in 2023.

Team IMPACT "matches children facing serious illness and disability with college sports teams, creating a long-term, life-changing experience for everyone involved," according to its website.

Before you know it, the Griz signed Grove to the team... literally!

On June 23, 2022 Grove became an official member of the Griz.

This is a really, really big day for Grizzly Athletics and our men's basketball program - Griz Assistant Coach Jay Flores in an article on gogriz.com (6/24/22)

It was such an awesome day for the Griz and Grove. The University sold shirts earlier this year that said "Wyatt The Brave" to help the Grove family out, and now they'll be donating proceeds from the upcoming exhibition game to Grove's family too.

All proceeds from ticket sales will go to Montana's Team IMPACT player Wyatt Grove and his family. - GoGriz.com article "Griz Hoops unveil 2023-24 schedule

I love this. Grove has been on the sideline for a lot of Griz games, and it's beautiful to see such a connection. Go to the exhibition game on October 21, watch the Griz get primed for the season and help out the Grove family.

Go Griz. Go Grove.