SNYDER COUNTY, Pa. (WJAC) — Just three days after one of their teammates passed away after drowning at Raystown Lake, the Bellefonte boys lacrosse team had a playoff game Thursday.
While the Bellefonte boys lacrosse team lost here to Selinsgrove on Tuesday in their district playoff matchup, head coach Rick Johnson says he is so proud of this team, and how they’ve rallied around each other following the passing of their teammate, 16-year-old Nathan Dan, on Saturday.
Before Tuesday’s playoff game started, Bellefonte left an open space in their starting lineup for their teammate Nathan Dan, who tragically passed away after drowning at Raystown Lake on Saturday.
Before the first faceoff everyone stopped for a moment of silence to honor Dan.
Bellefonte was able to get off to a quick start, scoring the first two goals of the game.
“The last couple days have made me extremely proud of these kids, the way they’ve taken care of one another, not only them but the community,” said Head Coach Rick Johnson.
Dan’s number 15 jersey and helmet sat on the bench for the entirety of the game.
The Bellefonte coaches wore a number 15 patch on the back of their shirts and each player on the team wore a sticker on their helmet with number 15.
Selinsgrove was able to pull away from a very emotional Bellefonte team and ended up winning 18-3. After the game, both teams shook hands, and then joined together at midfield to say a prayer for Nathan Dan, led by one of his teammates.
“The kids started going downhill going into the game and it started getting to them, and I think that is going to help them move forward, said Johnson. “I think it’s going to change the way the guys look at playing this sport and playing in this league in district 4.”
Coach Johnson says that the team played for Nate, and played the way he would’ve wanted them to play, by focusing on enjoying every moment.
“I’ve been in lacrosse for a while and it’s a different sport, it really is a community sport, and it’s constantly people taking care of one another, helping one another, and this was a good example of that,” said Johnson.
According to Bellefonte lacrosse’s Facebook page, the Dominos on High Street will be donating a percentage of all of their sales to the family of Nathan Dan on June 5th.
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