Pinnacle High School’s (PHS) annual B-Inspired basketball game occurred on Jan. 17, 2025 in the PHS gym. Senior Connor Corey received the B-inspired award, a plaque with one of memorial honoree Brandon Wechsler’s shoes on top. Additionally, freshman Zach Wiitala and JV basketball player, freshman David Kinsley won the certificates of Inspiration. However, the origin of this annual game comes from a very kind, thoughtful and unique person, PHS alumni, Wechsler.
Many of Wechsler’s PHS peers, including his coach, teachers and fellow students, loved him for his enthusiasm and putting a smile on their faces, no matter what.
“I knew who Brandon was, and knew enough about Brandon before I received him as a student, but I didn’t really get to know him until that first year, and his spirit was just infectious,” his teacher, Mrs. Rosemary Jakub recalled. “He was such a presence in the classroom, so that can be attributed to the way he was brought up, the amount of support that his family gave him. So much love. A lot of love there.”
Coach Charlie Wilde also recalled Wechsler as a supportive, kind and all-around wonderful person.
“He always had a smile on his face,” Wilde recalled. “Oh, B was great. He, you know, like I said, he always had energy. You know what I mean? So he had energy; he would talk a mile a minute when he got excited. It was, you know, it was 10 miles a minute. He just kept going and put a smile on your face. And, you know, he had a great sense of humor.”
Despite the high energy in the gym that night to honor the memory of Wechsler, who passed away in 2022, the team felt a little disappointed in the way they played this year.
“Yeah, first quarter, we just came out flat,” Wilde said. “We got shorter and everything else, but we got flat in the first quarter.”
Varsity player, freshman Tyonne Brown, looked back on the event as well.
“It was good energy in the building,” Brown said, “I wish we had more energy on the bench, and I wish we could have gotten more shots.”
Taken by: ChapterNEXT Photography
Although the game ended with a loss for PHS, the event felt special for everybody in honor of Welscher’s inspirational life. This event continued his legacy for the PHS community and brought back loving memories for those who knew him.
