MOUNT VERNON — On March 7, Robert and Jordan Stoltz embraced for an emotional moment at mid-court.

Jordan Stoltz and the Mount Vernon/Plankinton boys basketball team had just qualified for the Class A state tournament. After posing for a team picture, Jordan found Robert for a long and emotional embrace between father and son.

“It was tough,” Jordan said. “But it was good tears. We accomplished what we came there to do.”

It’s an accomplishment Deb Stoltz would have been proud of. In March 2022, Stoltz died after she was diagnosed with stage 4 uterine cancer. She was 54. 

The SoDak 16 win was roughly one year after Stoltz’s battle with cancer ended. As a junior, Jordan and the Titans fell one game short of making state. Deb passed away shortly thereafter. 

“I looked at that as probably a good thing,” Jordan said. “Because we got to spend some time with her and then this year we made it. So I just think she looked down on us almost.”

Deb was a proud mom of her three children — Dani, Tony and Jordan. She was active in their sporting events and community activities and served on the Mount Vernon Public Schools School Board for 9 years. 

After learning of Stoltz’s diagnosis, Mount Vernon/Plankinton Athletic Director and boys basketball coach Eric Denning set up a GoFundMe campaign to help ease medical and other expenses. The original goal of the fundraiser was $15,000, but 149 donations later and $20,720 was raised 

“The community support was pretty overwhelming for them,” Denning said. “It went very, very well.”

The Mount Vernon/Plankinton boys basketball team wore wristbands with Deb Stoltz’s initials and a cancer ribbon printed on them.

The gestures went beyond money, too. The community organized fundraisers and Denning delivered food to Sioux Falls when the family was stationed at the hospital. 

The MVP boys basketball team wore wristbands with Stoltz’s initials and a cancer ribbon printed on them. On social media, the hashtag #DubsForDeb was started as a tribute to Deb. 

“Living in a small town you really get to know everybody and see how much they really care for you when stuff like that happens,” Jordan said. 

Stoltz, a 6-foot-7 bouncy forward, has been instrumental in MVP’s state tourney run. He’s averaging 12.4 points, six rebounds per game and has hammered down countless slam dunks this season. 

After MVP qualified for state, Jordan posted “Dreams do come true. #statebound #2023 #DubsForDeb” on Facebook.

“I think for him it’s obviously bittersweet in some ways,” Denning said. “Something that he’s always dreamed about doing and having his mom looking at him from above I think is a blessing for him.”

Jordan said he thinks about his mom every day and knows the pain will heal with time. While this week will be memorable, Jordan said it will also be tough and he's playing his final three basketball games for his mother. 

“I feel like I am doing this for her,” Jordan said. “She was really, really involved with high school athletics and cheering on the teams with my older siblings. She’s really been an impact on my high school activities career.”

Mount Vernon/Plankinton's Jordan Stoltz goes up for a shot against St. Thomas More earlier this season at the Corn Palace. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)