To the Editor,

“It takes a village to raise a child”

This has been necessary, evident, valued and displayed the past three weeks for the Middle Park High School girl’s soccer regular season games. After fortunately playing outside for a couple weeks before Spring Break and upon return from Spring Break mid- April, it has been a challenge with daily practice adjustments, game postponements and cancellations. Mother nature blanketed multiple feet of late spring snow and hosting games seemed near impossible at times. The daily mantra for the program became “take it day by day.”

Patience was challenged, flexibility was strained to its limit and fortitude maximized. Amidst this, the #1 goal was to HOST soccer games. Without the selfless commitment of several people working tirelessly for a multitude of physically demanding hours, we would not have hosted home games after Spring Break. Even after hundreds of man- hours snow blowing, plowing, skid steering, and shoveling to ensure a clear soccer field to play a couple weeks ago, we were unable to host due to a shortage of referees in the state. That did not dampen spirits or prevent future efforts to do the same arduous process of clearing the fields this past week when another 1.5 feet of snow covered our field.

Upon arriving to the soccer fields early before school to check it out, I was pleasantly surprised/ amazed at the constant efforts. As I continued to check in periodically during plan and lunch hours, the efforts continued with multiple pieces of equipment and people pursuing the one goal… clear the field so our athletes may play. Though unsure at times whether it would come to fruition, I felt like this was our FIELD OF DREAMS. If we cleared it, we could play… and we did. It was a lovely; partly cloud, mid-40’s afternoon of fantastic Middle Park soccer. This experience reminds me why a small, but strong, committed and concerted community effort can move mountains/ mounds of snow in an unrealistic amount of time, because of pure love for our student athletes and commitment to ensuring their positive experiences.

To those volunteers, I wish to acknowledge publicly…THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!

– Pat Acord, Acord Asphalt and family

– Brad McClain

– Rob McManigal

– Chris Moore

– Todd Bittner

– Mike Reigan

– James Newberry

– Larry Burks

– EGSD #2 maintenance crew

Molly Jordan

Middle Park High School Girls Soccer Head Coach