Tanner Jordan stood near midcourt and flexed, as a classmate tied a red cape around his neck.

All around him the Ripon High student body roared, applauding their “Superman” for winning Friday’s slam dunk competition at the winter sports rally.

The senior, donning a Blake Griffin jersey and tiny Superman capes on his socks, won the competition by leaping a classmate while catching an Alley-Oop pass on his final attempt.

He finished with a two-handed flush on the 7 ½-foot rim, jarring loose a pin.

“You could say 8 feet, though,” Tanner said afterward.

Junior Abigail Waters and the Ripon High Leadership class hope he isn’t the only hero to emerge from Friday’s rally.

The Associated Student Body vice president announced the start of the school’s annual coin drive, revealing the terms and challenge for the month-long effort.

Students will collect coins and bills in a battle of boys versus girls, and the money will be donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in honor of Joey Schnietman, the younger brother of Ripon High student Tyler Swortfiguer.

Schnietman passed away last week, losing his battle with blood cancer at the tender age of 3.

Swortfiguer was the Trans-Valley League’s defensive player of the year as a linebacker in the fall. He had 118 tackles, three interception and a sack as the Indians went 10-0 in the regular season.

He was originally scheduled to be a part of Friday’s announcement.

“We’re still going to donate the money for Joey,” Waters said.

She encourages her classmates to be proactive and chase a goal of $1,500, beginning with a $2 pledge Friday afternoon.

“If everyone in here gave $2 before they leave today, we’ll have raised the whole amount in one day,” she said. “If we can raise the whole amount in one day, just think how much we can raise in a month.”

For more information on the coin drive, contact Ripon High Activities Director Jill Mortensen at jmortensen@sjcoe.net.