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Captain Wittman has his day on the field
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Phil Simone, coach of Canfield High School’s boys and girls soccer teams, greeted Matt (left) and Garrett (right) Wittman before the boys varsity game Saturday. Matt was named honorary varsity captain for the team.
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Matt Wittman (center) was surrounded by the Canfield High School boys varsity soccer team before being named honorary freshman captain of the team.
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As honorary freshman captain, Matt Wittman joined the Canfield High School boys varsity soccer team on the field for the playing of the national anthem.
By ABBY SLANKER
Matt Wittman, a freshman at Canfield High School, is a huge soccer fan. And thanks to the Canfield High School boys varsity soccer team, he had one of the best days of his life on Oct. 9.
Wittman, who has muscular dystrophy, was introduced as honorary freshman captain of the varsity team prior to the game against West Geauga.
Varsity boys soccer co-captain and goalie, Mike Thomas, along with his father, John, spearheaded a campaign to make Wittman honorary varsity captain.
While watching the Muscular Dystrophy Association Labor Day telethon, the Thomas’ noticed a local Canfield family, the Wittmans, in the spotlight.
During Wittman’s interview, he mentioned he loved soccer. This started the wheels turning in the Thomas household to make a special day for Matt and support Muscular Dystrophy Association. Almost a month to the day, with a lot of work and support, Mike’s idea came to fruition.
Wittman was also given a team jersey and captain arm band to wear during the game. Prior to the game, junior captain Tony El-Hayek, junior captain Thomas and senior captain P.J. Stickle also presented Wittman with a game ball signed by all the players and a Columbus Crew shirt. Gift bags and baskets were also presented to his family.
“Matt was so excited for this day. He has been all smiles for weeks now,” said Amy Wittman, Matt’s mom.
Other events to support the Wittman family and the Muscular Dystrophy Association also took place throughout the day. The soccer boosters’ half of the 50/50 raffle will be donated to the Muscular Dystrophy Association along with partial sales of concessions throughout the day.
Second chance baskets donated by John Cera and Matt Emerick of Lea Bella Salon in Cornersburg, and Sahar El-Hayek were drawn from the 50/50 tickets.
Halftime also included other giveaways purchased from money collected from both Canfield boys and girls teams as well as donations from Canfield soccer families and the Columbus Crew.
Matt and his brother, Garrett, who also has muscular dystrophy, both have been playing soccer for about five years. They participate in the wheelchair division at TOPSoccer in Cortland.
“We are very impressed with high school kids thinking of the kids who can’t play like they do. They welcomed Matt as one of their own and made him feel special. It’s just phenomenal from our standpoint that Mike Thomas was sitting at home watching the Muscular Dystrophy Association telethon and had the clairvoyant thought to say our soccer team can do something for this family and raise funds for MDA. He stepped up, walked the walk and followed through,” said Bill Wittman, Matt’s dad.