Kennard-Dale players to collect money for teammate's family
Senior star's father is recovering from surgery and battling cancer.
Kennard-Dale girls’ lacrosse team clinched its first trip to a state championship in program history Tuesday. Retreating to the team bus after defeating York County foe Susquehannock in a state semifinal, one of its first orders of business was trying to do more for the family of a teammate.
The players wanted to raise money for the family of senior attacker Calie Swegon. Swegon’s father, Scott, has cancer is recovering after having emergency surgery Monday night.
READ MORE: Kennard-Dale girls' lacrosse reaches state final
Players had written “Swegon Strong” on their wrists prior to the state semifinal game.
And after Calie drove home with her family, her teammates and assistant coach Kevin Day huddled in the back of the bus to come up with a plan as the team rode from Spring Grove back to Fawn Grove.
“Coach Kevin was brainstorming ideas with us, because we had short notice,” senior Emmie Dressel said. “We have graduation, and our last game is Saturday.”
Facing a tight deadline, the girls opted to collect money Friday in and around Shrewsbury and Stewartstown to help offset medical expenses for the Swegons.
“Literally all the money is going to them,” Dressel said.
Some players began making signs after graduation practice, and the team plans to stand in and around businesses in Shrewsbury and Stewartstown from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday collecting money in buckets. Like Penn State students collecting donations for Thon, the Kennard-Dale players will be wearing school colors and holding signs and buckets to notify drivers they are collecting money to help a local family.
Kennard-Dale's senior class is an important part of the lacrosse team, with 10 seniors on the roster.
"They bring a lot of leadership," junior Morgan Bowings said. "They always cheer us on and they help us out, because, obviously, there are a lot of seniors on the field."
Everyone in and around the Kennard-Dale program knows that two of those seniors, Dressel and Swegon are close friends.
“We have a special bond,” Dressel said about Swegon. “Her family is like my family.”
The two have played lacrosse together since the second grade. Kennard-Dale head coach Kelly Wetzel marveled that the two picked different colleges to attend.
“We picked colleges only 45 minutes apart,” Dressel explained with a laugh.
While Dressel will attend LaSalle University, Swegon is headed to Neumann University. Both girls plan to play lacrosse.
Between heading to the state title game and graduation, the 10 seniors have been pulled in different directions during the last few days.
“The state championship game is a really big one,” Dressel said. “Not only do we want to win, but we hope Mr. Scott can be there. We want to win it for him.
“We’re hoping he will be able to make it.”
Kennard-Dale lacrosse supports family
What is it: Kennard-Dale girls' lacrosse players collecting money for the father of senior teammate Calie Swegon. Scott Swegon is battling cancer.
When: 4-7 p.m. Friday
Where: Shrewsbury and Stewartstown
Shrewsbury locations: near Interestate 83 exit, Arby's, Chick-fil-A, Saubel's Markets, Sons of Sicily and Sweet Frog
Stewartstown locations: Saubel's Markets, Summer's Ice Cream & Snoballs
Proceeds: all money collected will be presented to Swegon family