Big Reds Win One for Cassie, Classmate Who Lost Battle With Cancer

Chippewa Valley High School fans have known for years that their teams are all heart, but after the football team played a very special game last week, those outside Big Red territory are taking notice.

In a column published in The Detroit News Sept. 10, sports columnist Tom Markowski gave special props to the actions of Big Reds on Sept. 7.

The CVHS community lost one of its youngest members on May 15, when sophomore passed away following her battle with cancer. To honor Kenny's memory, friends and players asked varsity football coach Scott Merchant if they could dedicate a game  this season in their classmate's honor.

The game of choice was the school's home opener against Eisenhower. With the players wearing "CK" decals on their helmets and fans in the stands sporting "CK" T-shirts, the Big Reds set out to win one for Cassie. They succeeded, stealing a 21-7 victory from the Eagles.

"A student's death and a football game placed the importance of winning and losing into proper perspective and directed our attention to what is important in our lives," Markowski wrote.

For Merchant, the game could only be described in one word: special.

"On Thursday, at the team meal that night, I told the players and coaches, that everyone has been touched by cancer and I asked everyone to say something about how (cancer) had affected their lives," Merchant told the Detroit News. "Everyone spoke. Everyone. Everyone said who they were playing for. No one hesitated. Some had one, two people they talked about.

"For us there was a bigger picture of what the game was about. I told the guys there would be nothing better for you to go out and play as hard as you can. The game was exciting and meant a lot, but for the way the guys went out there and represented themselves and the community was special."

Cassie's win pushed the Big Reds' record to 2-1 for the season.