Back in the spring of 2022 Marc Maurath had the goal of collecting 200 pairs of gently-used cleats to donate to national nonprofit Leveling The Playing Field, which was to help with distribution to programs in need in the Baltimore area that spring. The goal was met.

Fast forward to this summer and Maurath, heading into his senior year at Newtown High School, has now collected 1,000 pairs of football, soccer, and other sports cleats ... and counting.

Several pairs of cleats, including those from youth football, basketball, and baseball player Bryce Memoli, were among those that pushed the tally to the milestone number. Memoli was recognized by Maurath who spoke to roughly 100 of the town’s youth football players at their practice at Treadwell Park on August 6. There have been 150-plus pairs of youth football cleats donated in the past few years.

“You guys collected enough cleats to support six football teams,” Maurath told the K through 8th grade players who donated the largest percentage of the cleats throughout the years.

As the seasons went by and the cleats kept coming in — dropped off at donation bins at NYA Sports & Fitness and at tournaments throughout town — the bar was raised to 1,000.

“We actually did it today thanks to you guys. We’re not done yet. We’re going to keep going. But thank you for all your hard work — we appreciate it,” Maurath told the players.

Maurath has helped deliver truckloads of cleats to Leveling The Playing Field a handful of times throughout these three years of the collections initiative and said reaching the 1,000 mark is surreal.

A standout wrestler at NHS, Maurath will continue to help make a difference for youth athletes in need while he works toward continuing his wrestling career and going through the college selection process.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.