Students statewide mourn Potts after on-field death
WOOD RIVER JUNCTION – Tributes and memorials continue to spring up all around the state following the tragic death of Chariho High School student Maddie Potts. Potts was participating in a varsity soccer game against Middletown on Saturday night, when she suddenly collapsed.
The captain and two-sport star was taken to South County Hospital, and then to Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence, before eventually succumbing to a brain aneurysm late Saturday night.
Potts has been described by her friends and coaches as a natural leader, and a great friend. On Monday evening, over a thousand well-wishers attended a candlelight vigil held in the 17-year old’s memory at the same field where she played her last game.
“As a captain of the CHS girls soccer team and CHS girls lacrosse team, Maddie always had a positive attitude and made sure her team-mates followed in her footsteps,” said Brittney Godbout, coach to Potts in both soccer and lacrosse at Chariho. “It is a difficult job to juggle being a leader and a friend but Maddie did it with ease. During the season, she always made sure everyone knew each other and no one was left out of anything. She took on the task with full commitment to make sure her girls felt welcome and a part of her team.”
“Maddie represented the very of our school as an artist, an athlete, a classmate, a teammate and a friend,” said Chariho superintendent Barry Ricci.
“We all grieve differently, but we encourage you to remember Maddie as a bright light in Chariho, and share stories that speak to the meaningful impact she had on our community. We will work together with students to pay tribute to her life and the positive presence she was in our school.”
Chariho athletic director Michael Shiels helped organize the vigil on Monday, and encouraged friends, family and classmates to take 11 minutes to share memories of the departed girl. Potts wore 11 as her number throughout her high school athletics career.
“Maddie Potts was the best of the best,” said Shiels. “She was a superb student athlete and wonderful person. She was humble and kind to everyone she met, from teammates to opponents to referees.”
A captain on both teams she played for, Potts was about to take a penalty kick Saturday when she unexpectedly fell to the ground. She was attended to on the field by a doctor who happened to be in the crowd. Her father, a teacher at Chariho Middle School, was also in the stands and accompanied her to the hospital.
“She left her soul on that 30-yard line,” said the girl’s mother, Stephanie Potts, speaking at the vigil. “We can all be confident that she scored that last goal she was about to take, just as she was being recruited to a higher level that needed her as their captain.”
The 30-yard line – where Potts was standing, ready to take the penalty kick – has turned into a makeshift memorial featuring her cleats and soccer equipment bag. A jayvee football game held Monday only utilized half the field as to not disturb the final spot on which the girl stood.
“Maddie was the heart and soul of the girls soccer and lacrosse teams, she was the toughest female athlete that I had ever seen play on the field,” said Shiels. “She was idolized by so many of her team mates, due to her positive and encouraging personality, and hard work ethic making her a great role model.”
The event on Monday was attended by a host of various teams from around the region, representing schools such as Middletown, Narragansett, North Kingstown, Westerly and Stonington.
The vigil Monday was attended by teams from across the state, and followed an outpouring of support from the RIIL community. At every game held in the state this week, irregardless of sport, there were moments of silence observed and players wore blue, Potts favorite color.
The Woonsockett High School girls soccer team – coached by Godbout’s cousin Tiffany – wore blue legbands on Monday in a game against Narragansett, in addition to drawing Potts number and hearts on their faces.
The tributes have extended well beyond the realm of sports. Students at Chariho all wore blue on Monday in honor of their late classmate, while nearby NKHS and SKHS asked their students to do the same. Flags within the Chariho school district will be kept at half-mast for the foreseeable future.
“The positive effect that she had on her coaches and team mates could never be measured,” said Shiels. “It never mattered to her, who scored the goals or got the assists or what position she played, she just wanted the team to be successful. She is a true inspiration and someone that we can all learn from.”
“She always gave 100 percent of herself 100 percent of the time on and off the field,” said Godbout. “It was an absolute honor to coach Maddie these last six seasons. She made me a better person and coach and I will do my best to keep her legacy alive so that the future Chariho Lady Chargers will always have Potts as a captain.”