By Bryan Jackson
Coaches sometimes say there is no such thing as a moral victory, but the Warsaw boys’ varsity soccer team certainly earned one Tuesday, though it wasn’t on the field. Despite falling 3-2 in extra time versus the visiting Caledonia-Mumford Red Raiders, the Tigers can certainly hang their hats on their pregame display on compassion.
Fans saw pink Tuesday night, as the Tigers donned pink warm-up shirts and pink hairdos to raise awareness for breast cancer in honor of Lou Ann Chavis, whose son David is a sophomore on the varsity team. The team’s pink shirts weren’t just for show, they also sold the shirts and will donate the proceeds.
Chavis was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer in December 2011 and had to undergo chemotherapy and radiation. Almost immediately, the support from the school poured in.
The basketball team, which David also plays on, and the cheerleading team, collaborated on a bake sale and donated the proceeds – around $400 – to Chavis. In the spring, the softball team also held a fundraiser to benefit Chavis, and now in the fall, the soccer team is continuing the support.
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PHOTO: John Gillen (left), representing the Strome Family Foundation, congratulates the 2012 scholarship recipient Jeff Royce. With Jeff are his parents, Gail and Jeff. Photo by Gary Towner.
By Gary Towner
Jeff Royce, the son of Jeff and Gail Royce of Warsaw, has won this year’s Strome Family Foundation Scholarship, totaling about $32,000 to be given out over four years.
The scholarship was established in 1995 through the generosity of Mark Strome, a member of the Warsaw Central School Class of 1974. The alternate is Wesley Csendom, son of Stephen and Tina Cendom, also from Warsaw.
To qualify for the Strome Scholarship, Royce had to first verify on an application that he is planning on attending a four-year college. He then had to prepare a presentation to show the scholarship committee his determination to succeed in all he does. Royce’s presentation was based on how he had to deal with and come to grips with his mother’s cancer.
After the presentation and becoming a finalist, he had to undergo an intensive interview, intended to show the committee each candidate’s hopes, dreams and aspirations, who they are now and who they hope to be.
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By Kristy Kibler
Jacob Royce, a 17-year-old student and former member of the wrestling team at Warsaw High School, has been granted youthful offender status in connection with an alleged hazing incident on Dec. 9, 2011 that left a younger teammate with a broken jaw.
Royce was originally charged with hazing in the first degree and evidence tampering, a felony. The case is now sealed, and after he appeared in a closed court session on Monday, March 19, the criminal case is closed, said Don O’Geen, Wyoming County district attorney.
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Tom Murphy poses with seventh grade superheroes Ryan Luplow and Emma Hare. Photo by Gary Towner.
By Gary Towner
On Jan. 26, Warsaw middle and high school students attended an assembly on bullying with the strange title of Sweethearts & Heroes. Students were even more perplexed to discover that the speaker, Tom Murphy, is a professional competitor in mixed martial arts.
However, after showing videos of some of his matches, Murphy explained that from his perspective, his matches aren’t fighting as in violence, but instead competitions to beat others by using his set of skills against a competitor with similar skills.
“I don’t go in there saying, ‘I hate this guy, I’m going to kill him,’” Murphy said. “I go in there saying, ‘I spent 20 years of my life preparing to get in this.’”
This became a springboard to the real mission of Sweethearts & Heroes.
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Front row, left to right: Brooke Proper, Kaleigh White, Taylor Smith, Larissa Newland, Dana Wooster, Racheal Greig and Angela Venezia. Back row, left to right: Brooke Robertson, Coach Krissy Merritt, Samantha Flint, Ashley Beckstrand, Sabrina Proper, and Lindsey Kenyon. Missing from photo: Alyssa Girod.
The Warsaw High School varsity and junior varsity cheerleaders are off to a strong start this season, with wins coming in from both regional and statewide competitions.
Both squads competed in the annual Dansville Spirit Challenge on Jan. 14 at Dansville High School. The varsity cheerleaders took first place, while the JV squad took second.
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