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By Rama K. Ramaswamy
The Wellesley Raiders Football team had a hole in their regular schedule and a substitute team - New Mission High School (NMHS) in Mattapan - was added to the game lineup. The team had “a strong showing in their first game of the 2016 season” according to parent and attendee, Julia Hicks de Peyster, and “jumped at the chance to head into Boston.” The Raiders were victorious (33 to 6), the cheerleaders kept the crowd and teams on their toes, passes were strong all-around as were well-executed blocks.
What attendees remember most about the evening, however, was “the team gathering after the congratulatory handshakes.”
The Wellesley Raiders readily followed along with the long-standing NMHS tradition whereby both teams kneeled together and silently listened to coaches from their respective teams speak meaningfully to all. Hicks de Peyster said, “blue and gold uniforms mixing with white, red and black - coaches spoke with a glow of tired and satisfied happiness eclipsed only by the brilliant sparkle of that evening’s setting sun” and “as the many Wellesley and Wellesley-METCO Boston families and friends of players and cheerleaders departed for home, some on foot, some to the awaiting team bus, some to their cars- a palpable sense of satisfaction was felt; it was a true ‘Friday Night Lights’ victory for all who attended.”
Attendees commented on the positive mood and air of friendship exuded throughout the game and especially during the post-game roundup.
The Raiders’ 2016 game schedule consists largely of away games. Team captains Grant Chryssicas, Bobby Leonhardt and Scott Westerman were up early the following morning at WHS, watching and reviewing tape for opportunities for shout-outs and other game improvements.
Next, the entire team headed over to the Wellesley Recycling and Disposal Facility to give back to their community. The Raiders proceeded to assist with recycling and heavy lifting at the “Take It or Leave It” area. In just a few hours of heavy lifting, thirty teens greeted residents and took recyclables off their hands, engaged families in conversations about upcoming games, their season, and more - and all, without asking for anything in return.
Joany Sasso, who runs the “Take It or Leave It” area was particularly appreciative. “Thirty strapping teens showing up makes a huge difference on a weekend,” she said. “I wish we had student assistance every weekend. I put the boys to work disposing heavy items and was met with competent execution from this crew and great attitudes. I hope they will reserve another time to assist us and tell all their friends that we are here for students who like to volunteer.”
