(above) Banners adorn the Rahway Avenue fence of Gary Kehler Stadium, a special tribute to Westfield High School student athletes whose spring season is on hold due to COVID-19 restrictions.
WHS Sports Banners Honor Senior Spring Athletes
There’s a special tribute at Gary Kehler Stadium to Westfield High School seniors who play spring sports. With the spring season on hold due to COVID-19 restrictions, more than 70 banners representing each senior and the sport he/she plays are displayed along the fence on Rahway Avenue.
“The boys lacrosse team had ordered the banners to be hung on the inside of the fence for their season before the pandemic. When the season got disrupted, we decided to get a banner for all senior spring athletes to represent the season they are missing,” explains Meg Freer, who with fellow parents Carolyn Buoscio, Nancy Csorba, and Paula McCauley organized the banner project. “We would love to see them be able to get back on the field at some point this spring!”
Freer says when the project is complete, 78 banners will hang outside the stadium.
“Hanging the banners at Kehler has added excitement and given hope to athletes and residents passing by,” adds Buoscio. “It’s a fantastic visual and a nice way to celebrate these athletes who are staying fit and are ready to compete.”
Buoscio says it took the four parents two hours to hang the banners, observing proper physical distancing and wearing masks and gloves. “We have sincere appreciation for health care workers who wear them all day, every day,” she says.
The vinyl banners, created by Go Ballistic Sports, represent boys and girls lacrosse, boys and girls track and field, baseball, softball, boys tennis, boys golf and boys volleyball.
“We are all hopeful that there will be some type of modified spring schedule and the student athletes are working hard to be ready for any competition,” says Supervisor of Athletics Sandra Mamary who says she is impressed with the ability of the athletes and coaches to maintain a positive outlook. “Our coaches are reaching out to our teams, working on their skills, watching team videos, participating in team yoga and team mindfulness classes. We are all in this together.”
Photo by Westfield Public Schools
