It was just not another win for the Marblehead High girls lacrosse team, when they defeated visiting Salem, 13-1 at Piper Field on April 25. For those who attended the game, they will remember it for the pregame ceremony and what the game was all about beyond the final score.
Coach Annie Madden and her players were honored to play in the Move4Heather Game, named after the foundation that Heather Walker helped setup and continues on via the efforts of her family.
Heather, the mother of two daughters, was also vice president of public relations for the Boston Celtics. She passed away last April from brain cancer.
Heather’s older daughter, Sammy, a freshman on the girls lacrosse team, took the ceremonial opening draw at the conclusion of the pregame ceremony.
Sammy’s teammates thought the entire day was a perfect example of what it means to play sports in Marblehead. They saw the community come together to honor the memory of Heather Walker, whose spirit continues to inspire everybody who ever knew her.
Senior co-captain Kate Burns offered these thoughts after the Salem game on Heather and her daughter, who rose to the occasion to help her teammates beat Salem. “Sammy showcased her strength on the field by scoring a hat trick during the game. Her performance was not only a testament to her skills, but also a reflection of her mother’s enduring influence,” Burns said.
“The dedication game served as more than just a sporting event; it was a platform to raise awareness for glioblastoma, the disease that took Heather from us way too soon,” she added. “Through fundraising efforts, we not only honored Heather’s memory, but also contributed to a cause close to her heart.”
Burns went on to say, “before the game, Sammy delivered a moving speech, capturing the essence of her mother’s spirit and the significance of the occasion. Her words resonated deeply with everyone there, reminding us all of the power of unity and purpose.
“As lacrosse players, we understand that our sport is about more than just victories on the field; it’s about moments like these playing for something greater than ourselves. (This) game was a tribute to Heather Walker, but it was also a reaffirmation of our commitment to play for more. We will continue to honor Heather’s memory (in) each game we play (this spring), knowing that she is cheering us on from above.”
Co-captain Caroline Scroope provided these observations on this special day. “We played for something greater than ourselves,” she said. “We demonstrated how talented we are as a team, but more importantly (this game) showed how the lacrosse community, and the Marblehead community (at-large), comes together to support each other. Heather’s positivity, strength and resilience was shining through each and every one of us during this game, and we know that she will (still) be cheering us on throughout the rest of our season.”
Senior Colette Rodrigues, Sammy’s teammate, had these remarks on the entire experience. “It is so special when people can come together in such a beautiful way to honor such a beautiful soul such as Heather,” Rodrigues said. “Thursday’s game was an example of strength, love and togetherness. We were so honored to play for Heather Walker and to honor her life.”
The team hopes that the Marblehead community continues to support the Move4Heather initiative, which emphasizes going for a walk, doing something on your bucket list and finally giving to the Jimmy Fund (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute) for brain cancer research.
Joe McConnell
