It’s Coast Guard vs. Students at Timberwolf Field
FORT BRAGG, CA » Last Thursday, March 3, nine students from Noyo High School and a group of young US Coast Guard men met at Fort Bragg High School on Timberwolf Field. Everyone engaged in stretches before their second pickup soccer game. The Noyo High School principal, other staff, and many students arrived to cheer for the home team. None of this would happen if it weren’t for two guys and a preschool. Eric Forrester, a teacher at Noyo High School and US Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class John Lilly, at US Coast Guard Station Noyo River, have daughters who attend the same preschool. The two families eventually spent some time together. Out of this random but friendly connection came the seed of a much larger gathering.
Forrester had heard stories of basketball games between students and local police officers long ago. He asked Lilly if the Coast Guard still had a pick-up basketball team. Lilly informed him that a soccer group played at the station during their workout hour. Within a week, the two men formed a team to play at the softball park behind Dana Gray Elementary School. Forrester recalled that the Coast Guard team had enjoyed themselves and asked to meet up again at the half-time of that first game.
Despite using an old field riddled with gopher holes, the two groups quickly agreed to play on the last Thursday of the month for the rest of the school year. Jumping onboard to encourage these games, Barry Silva, a US Coast Guard veteran. Now the school district’s Director of Facilities, Maintenance Operations and Transportation, he offered to paint lines on the football field to provide a better place to play.
Forrester said, “I would love to keep this up for a long time, even if it morphs into something else, like basketball or flag football.” Forrester described how these
games are positive experiences for his students. “It is something to look forward to every month,” he said. “This is getting these guys closer together as a team since they are usually separated in different classes. It’s a morale booster for the school.” He explained that the school would share a special lunch together after the game. “We will be able to have a nice afternoon because of this,” he added.
School Principal Coni Belli described how Feet First’s shoe store had stepped in to help provide soccer shoes, cleats, and socks for these students. They had already used their once-a-year Feet First shoe vouchers from the Mendocino Children’s Fund. Belli praised store owners Don and Laura Solari for their generosity. Belli said that Laura Solari described to her that the students were happy and thankful for the sports shoes and that one student even gave her a hug. An unusual opportunity now began to draw these separate students together.
Forrester’s colleague, co-coach Gary Lewis, noted, “The boys now want to do drills; they ask questions; they want to learn.” Principal Belli frequently saw Lewis “spearheading practices because the boys wanted to know more.” She noted that only three of the students had ever played some league soccer. Belli described the team as a mixed group currently comprising one seventhgrader, some sophomores, and a couple of juniors. The team may lack experience but have the motivation to take on adult men. “They want to beat the Coast Guard,” added Lewis.
All that stands in the way of a long-range plan is the impending transfer of John Lilly, who will complete his tour at Noyo Station in four months. He is counting on someone else on the Coast Guard crew to step in and coordinate with Forrester. Lilly sees this as an opportunity for his fellow crew members to go beyond a workout routine for physical fitness, which “gives a morale boost to the crew.” He added, “This gives us a chance to build the camaraderie at the station instead of just out on search and rescue missions. Everyone looks forward to being at the practices.”
Lilly acknowledged that none of his team members had played soccer before. They enjoyed playing the first game, so the crew couldn’t see leaving it as a one-time matchup. He said, “In the excitement of it all, a bunch of us went out and bought some cleats; we got some shirts and jerseys.” Lilly stressed that the game agreement was “great for getting involved in the local community. We really appreciate the opportunity to help the students out. These students have a chance to learn from us about team bonding.”
As the pre-game stretching continued, one student, carrying a box of brand new soccer shoes and socks, ran onto the field to join his teammates. His huge grin clearly conveyed his excitement. Classmates in the stands were already cheering in anticipation of the start of the game. From the sidelines, Principal Belli called out her support as well. As Eric Forrester had commented, “We’ll all be together in a positive way.”