Benefit auction for ‘Carly’s Fight’ Aug. 20 at Charles City Middle School

Press Staff Report

CHARLES CITY — A benefit auction for former Charles City star athlete Carly Stevenson and her family has been scheduled for Aug. 20 at Charles City Middle School, 1200 1st Ave.

Late last month, Carly collapsed after suffering several blood clots in her lungs and heart. She is currently in a medical induced coma to allow her body to heal.

The meal is from 5 to 7 p.m.; the auction starts at 7 p.m. Those who would like to donate items should contact Lee Hoeft at 641-330-9767.

Proceeds will go directly to the Stevenson family.

Carly had just finished a stellar athletic career at Charles City.

She was a two-time state qualifier in the discus, and a Drake Relays qualifier in the shot put.

A week after competing in the Drake Relays this past spring, Carly unleashed a discus throw of 126 feet, 11 3/4 inches at the Charles City Invitational. The throw was just a quarter-of-an-inch shy of the girls discus school record set by Krista Nierwaag nearly a quarter of a century ago.

Before the start of her senior season in track, Carly — who was also an All-Northeast Iowa Conference volleyball player for the Comets — signed on to continue her throwing career a Wartburg College.

Though the pandemic wiped out Carly’s junior track and field season, she and fellow Comet state-qualifier Tino Tamayo commuted repeatedly to Nashua-Plainfield during that spring and following summer to use the high school’s throwing circle to stay sharp.

With building community support rallying around the banner “Carly’s Fight!”, it should be noted that Carly has battled back from a health setback before.

Less than a year into recovering from shoulder surgery, Carly somehow managed to win the 2019 state qualifier in the discus to earn her first trip down to Des Moines.