By
Earlene Ward - FOR THE SIERRA STAR
Yosemite
High freshmen football players visit Children’s Hospital
Calling it
the “toughest game they’ll play and it’s not football,” Yosemite
High School Freshman Football Coach Dana Minard said he was “so
proud of my guys” when they went to Children’s Hospital of Central
California last week to visit patients and hold a scrimmage on the
back lawn of the facility. The YHS students also handed out pom-poms
and other YHS items.
“I could quit right now - this is the best day of my life,” Minard
said during the scrimmage. The freshmen players and the junior varsity
cheer team visited with patients for an hour before the scrimmage.
Several of the patients were taken out in wheelchairs to watch the
scrimmage.
Anthony Meza from Orosi was in the hospital recovering from surgery.
His mother said the visit and the game “totally motivated him” to
get out of bed and go out to watch the scrimmage. During their visit
with Anthony, YHS player Andrew Woolsey told him “I’m gonna make
a sack just for you against Sierra.”
At the end of the scrimmage, all of the YHS players went to the
end of the field where Anthony watched from his wheelchair.
They had photos taken with him, shook his hand and offered best
wishes for his quick recovery. Anthony wanted to know who the tallest
player was and he stood from his wheelchair to measure himself against
that player. Throughout the visit and the game, his mother beamed
with joy at seeing the change it made for him. “These kids make
him feel good,” she said.
The day’s events made the YHS students feel good too.
“It was a very good experience. I’m glad I’m here,” said Byron Creamer.
Matt Domenici agreed. “It was nice to see the kids smiling because
they don’t get to be out here and play. We had to do it for them.”
Josh Macias said the patients enjoyed seeing them. “I think it’s
cool that we got to come here because these kids can’t come out.”
The cheerleaders performed throughout the scrimmage and also visited
patients. Karen Urrutia said, “It made me feel really good to be
able to support the people and make them feel happy. It was inspiring
to see them. I hope that I brightened some people’s lives today.”
YHS Athletic Director Tom Fiormonti was at the hospital with the
students.
“I get goose bumps just thinking about what I hope will be the impact
on our students,” he said.
“I’m grateful to Coach Minard for coming up with the idea. I hope
it puts things in perspective for our kids.”
Coach Minard scheduled the event at the hospital after the regular
game they had scheduled for the day was canceled by the other school
because it was not able to put together a freshman team.