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By Laura Drinan
Hometown Weekly Reporter
“High school sports and being together only comes once in a lifetime, so let's make the absolute best of it,” Coach Ed Amico said to the players on the Westwood girls ice hockey team. Amico doesn’t just mean on the ice, though.
For the past few years, the team has worked tirelessly off the ice to serve the community.
Throughout the three-and-a-half months of their season, the girls volunteer twice at Rosie’s Place, a shelter in Boston for poor and homeless women, and twice with the Boston Bear Cubs, which provides children and young adults with physical and developmental disabilities an ice hockey program adapted to their abilities.
“Volunteering is an excellent opportunity for team bonding: it promotes cooperation and social interaction while creating a unique experience that will stay with us,” said Hannah Medsker, senior co-captain.
“It gives us perspective; Spending time with those who are less fortunate gives us a newfound appreciation of what we have and shows us what truly matters. This perspective has made us more resilient and has helped us learn not to get hung up on setbacks that occur throughout our season.”
The team also helps their own community members, sacrificing their Sunday mornings to help Westwood’s beginner skaters in the Learn to Skate program.
“The most rewarding part of volunteering is seeing the smiles of the people’s faces that we are helping,” said junior captain Caroline McDonough. “It is the best feeling in the world knowing that you are making someone’s day just a little bit better.”
For their teamwork off the ice, the team recently received the MIAA Educational Achievement Award for Community Service.
“I haven’t ever really done this much community service on a sports team in the past,” senior co-captain Ashley Nolte said. “It’s a huge bonding experience for everyone and it brings all of us together. We really get to know each other a lot better.”
For another opportunity to do good in their community, the ladies unanimously chose to play one of their regular season games to benefit the IAM Strong Foundation, an organization created in memory of Isabelle Alexandra Medina, who unexpectedly passed away in 2014. The foundation is particularly important to the town, especially to the juniors on the team, as Isabelle would have been Westwood High junior this year.
Hannah and Caroline’s teammates also found that volunteering has helped them gain a better appreciation for their own homes, skills, and community.
“I think it is important for high school students to help volunteer because it shows them not to take anything for granted,” said junior captain Kat Keith, who said that the volunteer opportunities have helped build morale and sportsmanship.
While many of Westwood High students participate in sports and extracurricular activities, they elevate the culture of their team by exhibiting how their devotion and skills can be used to help others.
“It is such an honor and privilege to be their coach,” said Amico. “Seeing their energy, passion, and dedication on the ice and off is inspiring, and they are such wonderful role models and examples of what a student-athlete should be. Their school, community, and families can be very proud of them.”
