Community rallies to youth athletes after shocking theft
CHESTER TOWNSHIP » In the wake of a spiteful attack on the Chester Township Cougars Athletic Association, in which thousands of dollars in equipment was either stolen, destroyed or discard around the neighborhood, both neighbors and competitors have already begun to lend assistance.
Following a break in to the storage shed at Green and Ebright streets, the Cougars are looking to the community they serve for help.
Beyond the equipment itself, coaches explained that the kids affected are among the best and brightest and have been stalwarts in supporting their community.
“These are great kids. They’re required to show a report card before they can participate,” said President William Morgan, founder of the Cougars in 2009. He said an average of 70 percent is the minimum, but for those who exceed a B average are honored by the league, and those in the 96th percentile in school are eligible to be an Academic All American.
Morgan said the players participate in yearly food drives and other volunteer work.
“We want to see what you do in school and in the community and more,” Morgan said. “There’s a balance between academics and education you need to find, we want them to understand both, but you need the education more than the athletics later in life.”
Many of the 250 children the team serves each year are underserved, lowincome and from single family homes who at times struggle to pay the $100 league registration fee. However, the organization will purchase or receive in donations the equipment needed on the field, which helps parents offset the financial impact.
“That’s what makes this year a hardship, when you have to go out and spend $4,000 or $5,000 for the equipment we need,” Morgan said.
Missing are all the practice jerseys, 20 helmets, 50 game jerseys, game pants and trophies engraved with the names of players who hadn’t yet received academic and athletic rewards from the previous season — the latter a theft that Morgan said “doesn’t even make sense.”
His son, Chester Councilman William T. Morgan, said there was no rhyme nor reason to the vandalism.
“Someone had to have some sort of initiative to dismantle everything we have,” said the younger Morgan, who coaches the under-180 pound team. “People know how hard it is to run a youth program and for it to be organized, and this is a huge burden.”
Last Thursday when Cougars players and Director of Football Operations Melvin “Musa” Mosely arrive for preseason workouts, he discovered both equipment sheds broken in, windows smashed and equipment strewn all over the field at Green and Ebright streets in Chester Township like “someone had a big party.”
Blocks away a few young boys were playing with helmets and pads they said they found thrown in their backyard.
“If anyone is in possession of the property of the Chester Township Cougars, please contact me or bring it to the municipal building, you can do it anonymously.”
The Chester Township Cougars have set up a GoFundMe at https://www.gofundme.com/chester-township-cougars-theft, and are greatly appreciative of donations in order to fulfill practice jerseys by the August 1st practice and for game equipment in time for the Labor Day Weekend beginning of the season.