School Teams Raise Money In Honor Of Coach’s Son

By Andy Hutchison

The rain pelted down on fans at a girls’ lacrosse game at Blue & Gold Stadium this spring. A cold, biting wind attacked baseball game spectators at Fairfield Hills a week and a half before. Through it all, Newtown High School team supporters, coaches, the players, and their parents alike stuck it out and helped contribute to a worthy cause, The March of Dimes — just as Newtown High School soccer coach and English teacher Marc Kenney has been overcoming tough conditions with his son.

Kenney’s December newborn, Ryan, was born nearly three months prematurely, at just two pounds. Ryan spent nearly four months at University Of Connecticut Medical Center and finally went home a hefty eight pounds at the end of March.

Some of Newtown High’s sports team members put together fundraising efforts to support Ryan’s Lions, a team honoring Ryan, comprising Kenney’s family and friends, assisting the mission of March of Dimes: to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.

Newtown High School’s girls’ lacrosse and baseball held late-April and early-May events and pulled in several hundred dollars to assist in the March of Dimes’ efforts. The school’s soccer teams put on a spring break clinic at Newtown Youth Academy, which benefited the Kenney family directly.

“This was something very special, very close to us with Marc and the girls’ soccer team,” said Newtown High Baseball Coach Matt Memoli, noting that parents of players provided baked goods and solicited funds during the team’s game against Joel Barlow of Redding, under the lights at Fairfield Hills on April 27.

“It made it a special night for a really special cause,” added Memoli, who pointed out that the baseball team does a fundraiser or two each spring as part of the school’s community service efforts. “We’re definitely trying to take more of a role in the community.”

Girls’ lacrosse players from Newtown and visiting Weston all wore purple socks, in recognition of the March of Dimes, during their game at Blue & Gold on May 8. A bake sale was put on by volunteer parents, and a small group of hearty fans stuck out the wet conditions to contribute to Ryan’s Lions.

“I have a lot of crossover players from soccer and lacrosse so I just thought it would be the perfect thing for us to take on this year to do a game for March of Dimes,” Newtown High Coach Maura Fletcher said.

Kenney, of course, has been concerned about his son’s health, and when Ryan was first born, things were especially uneasy. “You don’t know what’s going to happen and doctors don’t give you any indication of what’s going to happen because they don’t know,” he said. “Lately he’s been great. He’s up to ten pounds and he’s doing really well.

“I’m really appreciative of the community and all they’ve done for me and for our family,” added Kenney who, along with his wife, Kateri, has been through this before. They have another son, now 3-year-old Jordan, who was also born prematurely.

Kenney noted that the high school sports teams, including his soccer squad, put on many important fundraisers for good causes during the course of the year.

“It means a lot and the kids really understand it’s not just about winning. They’re in it for community service and they do a great job of that,” he said. “The community here is great. I definitely feel like I am teaching and coaching in the right town with the right people.”

Those who wish to donate to Ryan’s Lions may visit www.MarchForBabies.org/team/t1865092.