Bedford High School senior student-athletes in the winter sports are competing. But it sure feels different – with modified rules, fewer contests, empty arenas, discontinued traditions, and limited tournaments.
But now, thanks to their parents, they have something unprecedented: a display of almost-life-size individual tribute banners displayed in one of the most visible locations on the central campus: the softball backstop on Field E, facing Mudge Way across from the library.
The 19 banners honor women and men in basketball, hockey, rifle, ski, and swim. (The other traditional winter sport, track and field, was postponed to the upcoming “Fall II” season beginning late this month.)
Beth Venuti, whose son Jack is a senior captain on the hockey team, said, “We received the go-ahead from the school to hang the banners as a surprise in a culmination of their years at Bedford playing sports they love. It was great to have many hands help put the banners up on Saturday to surprise the kids and see the project come to life.”
The idea for the unprecedented recognition was born in December after the MIAA approved the modified winter sports season.
“As senior hockey parents, we met regularly in planning the season so that traditions that are usually done within the program were still carried out to some extent, given the restrictions with the pandemic,” Venuti explained. “The senior banners were an idea that developed from our meetings.”
Venuti noted that professionally, she is familiar with the digital design process. The initial order featured the hockey players, but those banners “came out amazing. So we thought this would be a great idea to extend to include all winter senior athletes as a surprise and a show of support and acknowledgment of their accomplishments.”
“We wanted to ensure that the senior athletes know they have support behind them,” Venuti continued. “We want to acknowledge the years they have competed for Bedford and more importantly the joy they have brought to their families, friends, and the Bedford High community.”
Mike Rosenberg can be reached at [email protected], or 781-983-1763
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