From Tornado Devastation to a $1 Million Victory: Wisconsin’s Menasha High School Wins T-Mobile's Friday Night 5G Lights

Less than four months after a tornado tore through Menasha, supporters across Wisconsin rallied together to turn tragedy into a $1 million victory

BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--From over 2,400 applications to 40 Division Finalists to four Division Champions, and more than 3.2 million votes cast, the competition has come down to one school. Today, T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) officially crowns Menasha High School in Menasha, Wis., this year’s Friday Night 5G Lights $1 million grand prize champion.

With this achievement, Menasha High School brings its total winnings to an incredible $1.37 million, including $250,000, a Gronk Fitness gym upgrade valued at $90,000 and a $5,000 student leadership award as the Midwest Division Champion, as well as $25,000 for being named a Division Finalist. As the grand prize winner, Menasha will receive $1 million toward a football field makeover and a special celebration planned for December, with upgrades to be unveiled during the 2027 football season. It's a game-changing investment for students, faculty and the community that rallied behind them.

“All season long, small towns across America showed up for their schools,” said Jon Freier, Chief Operating Officer, T-Mobile. “They shared their stories, rallied their fans and showed us what hometown pride looks like - and Menasha took that pride to a whole other level. They came together, inspired an entire state and showed us what it means to never give up. That's the spirit of Friday Night 5G Lights.”

With 390,517 votes in the final round, Menasha High School has now earned its place alongside 2024 winner Inola High School in Oklahoma and 2025 winner Dierks High School in Arkansas as one of just three schools to claim T-Mobile's Friday Night 5G Lights grand prize.

"To our students, athletes, faculty, staff, alumni, the Menasha community, and people across Wisconsin who came together to vote for Menasha, thank you. Your support has meant more than you know,” said Jeramie Korth, Head Football Coach, Menasha High School. “It has lifted our spirits, inspired our recovery, and reminded us of the strength of a community that stands together. We are proud to have shown the world what it means to be a Menasha Bluejay."

The Community that Turned Tragedy into Triumph

On July 27, a severe tornado tore through Menasha leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Homes were destroyed, families were displaced and trees that had stood for generations were uprooted. Among the devastation was Calder Stadium, home to the Menasha Bluejays — more than just a football field, but a place where generations of families and neighbors had gathered under the Friday night lights.

After the tornado hit, the Menasha football players sprang into action. They started cleaning up at Calder Stadium and then ventured into their community to help families and businesses start the recovery process. Then the community stepped up for them.

More than 400 businesses turned magenta to support the Bluejays, with many posting on their social media channels daily encouraging people to vote. The school also received shout-outs and support from comedian Charlie Berens, former MLB player and coach Eric Hinske and former Green Bay Packer and Super Bowl Champion George Koonce. But most of all, the school staff, parents, players, cheerleaders and students dedicated themselves to raising awareness and encouraging voting — and it paid off.

“Congratulations to the Menasha Bluejays!” said Patrick Mahomes, three-time Super Bowl MVP and Friday Night 5G Lights ambassador. “They faced a tough year but came together, stayed resilient and turned adversity into motivation. That’s what being a champion is all about. I’m excited to see what’s next for them!”

Four Divisions, One Unforgettable Season

For the first time ever, Friday Night 5G Lights had four Division Champions representing the West, Midwest, South and East. Each Champion school took home $250,000, a $5,000 student leadership award, a Gronk Fitness gym upgrade and the pride in knowing that their accomplishments will benefit students for years to come.

While Midwest Champion Menasha took home the grand prize, the race to the finish line came down to the final days of voting, with West Division Champion Lakeside High School in Nine Mile Falls, Wash., coming in second with 194,316 votes, East Division Champion Buffalo Gap High School in Swoope, Va., coming in third with 165,533 votes and South Division Champion Covington High School in Covington, La., finishing fourth with 142,273 votes.

Creativity and ingenuity were abundant throughout this year’s competition. In addition to the six Spirit Spotlight Award Winners that went above and beyond to rally their communities through creative videos and social media, one school was featured on the jumbotron at an NFL game, another had a flash mob in their downtown, and a teacher in New Jersey skydived to raise awareness for his school.

“What an incredible season of Friday Night 5G Lights!” said Rob Gronkowski, four-time Super Bowl champion and Friday Night 5G Lights ambassador. “I'm so proud of everything the Menasha Bluejays have accomplished. They've got a lot to celebrate, and I can't wait to see how this win helps bring Friday night football back to Calder Stadium bigger and better than ever!”

One additional school captured the hearts of T-Mobile employees. The Team Magenta Fan Favorite award put the power in the hands of T-Mobile employees to choose their favorite among eight runner-up schools (the second and third-place finishers from each division). With an additional $25,000 on the line, the Baldwin High School Bulldogs from Baldwin City, Kan., came out on top, earning the most employee votes and bringing their total winnings to $55,000.

Championing Small Towns On and Off the Field

The third year of the Friday Night 5G Lights program provided more than $8.4 million in total prizes. In 2026, 1,000 schools were awarded $5,000 through $5K Fridays, 40 Division Finalists earned $25,000 each, and the four Division Champions took home a combined $1 million. Over the past three years, T-Mobile has awarded more than $16 million through the program, helping schools and communities across the country turn their big dreams into reality.

T‑Mobile is committed to helping people stay connected wherever they live — and Friday Night 5G Lights is one piece of T‑Mobile’s broader mission to connect and invest in communities across the country.

Through programs like Hometown Grants and Project 10Million, T‑Mobile is helping bridge the digital divide and support community-led projects that help small towns thrive.

T‑Mobile is also expanding broadband choice through T‑Mobile 5G Home Internet, T‑Mobile Business Internet and SuperBroadband, and T‑Mobile Fiber — bringing fast, reliable connectivity options to small towns, rural communities, businesses and schools. And with T-Satellite with Starlink, T‑Mobile is helping connect people in some of the hardest-to-reach places.

With initiatives like Friday Night 5G Lights, T‑Mobile continues to amplify small-town voices, celebrate community pride and showcase what’s possible with America’s Best Network.

Fans and schools can already register for updates and next year’s competition at FridayNight5GLights.com.

Follow the T‑Mobile Newsroom on X and Instagram to catch the latest company updates.

About T-Mobile

As the supercharged Un-carrier, T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS) is powered by an award-winning nationwide 5G Advanced network that connects more people, in more places, than ever before. With T-Mobile’s unique value proposition of best network, best value and best experiences, the Un-carrier is redefining connectivity and fueling competition while continuing to drive the next wave of innovation in wireless, broadband and beyond. Headquartered in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile and Mint Mobile. For more information, visit https://www.t-mobile.com.