Avon boys team shares its love of the game with fellow students

Players get introduced before the recent “For the Love of the Game” series at Avon High.

AVON – The Avon High Booster Club is sponsoring a series of games called “For the Love of the Game” to bring together athletes at the high school. The boys varsity basketball team hosted their peers in a friendly game of basketball recently.

“Falcon athletes of all abilities at Avon High should have the opportunity to play sports with their own peers at Avon High in their own gym and on their own fields,” said Maria Mascoli, president of the Avon High Booster Club. “This series allows Avon athletes of all abilities to have the opportunity to compete with fellow varsity athletes on home turf while sharing together their passion for the game.”

In the fall, Mascoli received permission from Gary Mala, superintendent of schools in Avon, Chris Tranberg, principal at AHS and Newell Porch, athletic director in Avon to host the contest.

The boys basketball team played a game with 10 fellow students earlier this month. About 50 fans cheered on the participants.

Two teammates celebrate a basket in the recent “For the Love of the Game” contest at Avon High.

“Games have a powerful way of bringing athletes and spectators together,” Mascoli said. “The game brought together Falcons of all abilities in an atmosphere of appreciation for basketball and each other. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive from players, fans and parents.”

The participants split into two teams and played two quarters of basketball. The score was kept on the scoreboard but no one was really paying attention to that. They watched the athletes on the floor playing with joy and passion. There were plenty of smiles on the court and in the stands.

A shot goes up.

“It was a great event,” said Chris Vozzolo, the varsity boys basketball coach at Avon. “We had a blast and hope to more events like this in the future. Our guys like to be close with the school community and this was a great way to do that.”

Avon’s Scott Morrison, a parent of one of the players, said, “Watching the varsity basketball team playing with these athletes, I couldn’t tell which team was having more fun playing. This was one of those win-win afternoons. Everyone had a blast.”

The “For the Love of the Game” series will continue with a game with players from the varsity girls basketball team on Saturday, February 8 at noon at the high school.

“It is so important to offer this experience for students who attend school, together, pass each other in the hallways every day, but might not ever know they share the same passion for sports,” Mascoil said. “Now they can.”

Click on this link for more photos of the game on our Facebook page.