Friday night: the gridiron is illuminated to show the two teams lined up across from one another. Rivalries – the inspiration of a school. Yet, on Monday, February 27, rivalries were just a mere figment of the imagination for Chardon High School. No matter where one went to school – Willoughby South or the Deep South – everyone was a Hilltopper.
Our hallways are filled from top to bottom with banners from North, South, West G, Madison, Solon, Cardinal, Ledgemont, Chagrin Falls, and many other locals (and some not so local) schools. “One Heartbeat.” “Our prayers go out to Chardon.” “You are in our thoughts.” “I am deeply sorry for what has happened.” These sayings fill the banners of the schools that are supposed to be our enemies, but in a time like this, we have no enemies. We are simply teenage kids trying to connect to other teenage kids in the little ways we know how – by just being there for one another.
Madison disregarded their own warm-ups during their playoff game against our Chardon Hilltoppers, and opted instead for Chardon gear. For the duration of the National Anthem, the lines between teammates and opposition were blurred. Even during the most important game of their season, the Blue Streaks knew that there was something even bigger than basketball going on. Their sportsmanship and respect shows just how amazing their basketball team, and school, truly are.
The Eastlake North and Willoughby South (intense rivals in their own right) decided to put on a fundraiser of their own for Chardon. Their football teams would play a charity basketball game in which the proceeds would go to benefit Chardon. The stands were packed, filled with kids from North, South, Chardon, and surrounding schools as well as teachers, adults, community members, alike. This game alone raised an extremely generous amount of money to help Chardon High School recover.
Students from surrounding schools showed up for the candlelight vigil, the St. Mary’s Vigil, and even our first day back at school on Thursday and Friday. They gave speeches commemorating those who had passed, the prayers they were sending out, and the support they were offering. They gave letters and cards filled with heart felt sympathies. Lastly, perhaps most importantly, they offered hugs – a mere shoulder to lean on, even if it was one of a stranger covered in a varsity jacket of a rival school. The ability for them to lift us up out of our troubled times is, in fact, the most important aspect.
This spring, when the umpire yells “play ball,” make no mistake that the game between Chardon and whomever they are playing will still be competitive. Inside the lines, we may still have our rivals. However, when the whistle blows, the buzzer sounds, or the time runs out, the comradery between the two opposing schools will be a bit higher, the understanding a bit greater, and the love a bit more outpouring.