WHS Basketball Plays Game In Memory Of Those Lost To Cancer

WAYLAND, MA—In its fifth annual Coaches Versus Cancer game, Wayland High School athletes honor two members of the community who lost their lives to cancer this year.

The game, featuring the Wayland High School Girls Varsity Basketball against Concord-Carlisle, was originall scheduled on Friday, Jan. 5, at 7 p.m., at the home gym. It was, however, postponed due to weather.

The game is scheduled to later in the month. Watch https://twitter.com/whsgirlsvbball for the updated date or call 508-358-7746 and ask for the Athletic Department.

The game proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society.

According to the announcement, the Coaches vs. Cancer game tradition was founded to honor Jim Griffin, of Wayland, who was a WHS guidance counselor and freshman girls basketball coach, and who passed from pancreatic cancer in 2012. At the Jan. 5 game, the team will recognize with a moment of silence as well Griffin and Eric Schwartz, a local parent and “the voice of Wayland football,” who passed away this November from brain cancer.

“Honoring Jim and Eric by supporting the American Cancer Society shows we respect the impact they had on this community,” said Deirdre Leid in a statement. “The girls on the team have embraced the mission. If they can add some meaning behind doing a sport they love, then I think it makes then more well-rounded.”

Last year, Wayland High School Girls Basketball donated about $5,000 to the American Cancer Society and was one of the top producing teams in Massachusetts for the Coaches vs. Cancer program. At every home game, Leid said, they sell T-shirts and wall of hope papers to raise money. At the Jan. 5 game, all of the admissions and concessions with be donated as well.

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