Mt. Pleasant, Yough host fundraisers for family of late referee

Referee Mike Roebuck was the kind of person a coach wants their athletes to be around, said Mt. Pleasant Area High School basketball coach Annie Malkowiak.

Roebuck, 45, of New Stanton was officiating a junior varsity basketball game between Mt. Pleasant and Yough when he collapsed and later died at Independence Health Frick Hospital from an acute cardiac event.

He was honored Saturday with a tribute before Mt. Pleasant and Yough’s make-up game.

“He’s what you want your children to be around, just giving back, helping children, molding children through sport,” Malkowiak said.

Each team organized fundraisers, which are estimated to have generated at least $1,000, to support Roebuck’s family: his wife, Jerica; and his children Kaelyn, a junior at Hempfield Area High School, and Luke, an eighth grader.

Proceeds from Mt. Pleasant’s concession stand, 50-50 raffles and ticket purchases generated during recent home games will be donated to Roebuck’s family. Malkowiak estimates about $1,000 or more was raised.

The community support is a testament to Roebuck’s impact, Jerica Roebuck said.

“The outpouring of love and support has been incredible, much more than I ever would have expected or thought. I, obviously, knew how amazing Mike was and knew how involved he was, but you don’t think about the impact that he’s had on other people’s lives.

“It’s heartwarming to see all of the good that has come from a really, really sad and tragic situation for our family directly.”

A fundraiser was the least the team could do for the family, Malkowiak said.

“I always want (my athletes) to know, and anybody who ever plays for me, that these are the times you need to step up,” she said. “When you have an opportunity to help somebody — no matter how big or small — and make an impact, you have to step up to the plate and do that.”

Yough opened up a donation table for the family during its home basketball game Friday, coach Jim Nesser said.

Several members of the basketball team’s staff grew up attending school with Roebuck, a Yough graduate.

“There’s a big connection there … between him and our program and our school district. It’s just so unfortunate,” Nesser said of Roebuck’s death.

In high school, Roebuck’s sport schedule was filled to the brim with football, basketball and baseball, Jerica said.

“I have a feeling if he could have squeezed a fourth one in there too, he would have done it,” she said. “He just loved it.”

Roebuck coached football, basketball, baseball and softball for several local teams, but it was coaching his children that meant the most to him. Up to his death, he served as an assistant coach for Kaelyn’s travel softball team.

“(Coaching) is just who he was, even when he wasn’t supposed to be,” Jerica said with a laugh. “He was just always coaching. It was just Mike, and he couldn’t get enough.”

Roebuck set an example for young athletes, Malkowiak said.

“As coaches, we get on officials during games. We do, because we get caught up in the heat of the moment of the game. At the end of the day, you have the utmost respect — I know that I do — for what the officials do on a daily basis,” Malkowiak said.

“You appreciate somebody like that, because you have to love the game, and kids to want to do something like that.”