To the Editor:

The players and families of the 2019 8th Grade Nighthawk Football team sincerely appreciate our coaching staff. Not only have head coach Brian Reilly and assistants Mike Chappa, Wally Haddick, Eric Hanson, Dave Macey, Rod Schmitt, Chris Sharma, Jon Wanzer, and former assistants Chris Conrad, Bill Ng, and Jack Shpunt given our boys the skills and aptitude to play football, they have imparted life lessons that go beyond the field — commitment, perseverance, and community.

Thank you for turning failures into teaching moments; for using successes as building blocks; for pushing them just hard enough without knocking them down and building them back up when they get down; for pointing out when kids do something right, when they make improvements; for celebrating with them when they achieve success.

We appreciate you reinforcing the good lessons that parents are trying to teach. Thank you for loving our kids, because that is what being a patient, kind, and positive coach is really all about.

The scoreboard may not always reflect a Nighthawk win, but with you as our coaches, we have won in the long term. It has been an honor to play on your team.

To our team mom, Ali Cordova, thank you for constantly keeping us updated. You have been the constant that makes it more like a family than a team.

To parents and fans: thank you for cheering on our boys in sweltering August and freezing November.

Newtown Youth Football and Cheer board and volunteers: thank you for managing all the behind scenes work.

Thank you, Newtown Bee, for letting our town know the pride we have when our boys put on the Nighthawk uniform.

It is bittersweet that this time has to end. We know that their time on this team has helped prepare them for whatever comes next, be it on the football field or in life.

Chris Brand

18 Mountain Laurel Lane

On Behalf of the 8th Grade Nighthawks Football Team