A special year and a special group of kids
Fans let it be known that 2012 was a season to remember for the Garnet Gulls.
Photo by Vincent Carchietta
With the open wound of the Florence loss reduced to more of a dull ache, the players have realized all they accomplished. They finished with a school-record 10 wins and 437 points, and their first division title in 15 years. Before going 8-3 the previous season, the Garnet Gulls hadn't even had a winning season since capturing that division crown in 1997.
"That was a tough loss to swallow, but looking back on it now, we made history at Point Beach,'' Tighe said. "Deep down inside, I feel we accomplished a lot not just for the program, but for the whole town. We worked through the tragedy of Sandy, and it made us become men."
"They won't forget this one for a while,'' Brodeur said. "They could go undefeated next year and win the states, and people will still talk about this year. This was a special year and a special group of kids.''
Many of them celebrated Christmas and New Year's in foreign places, but it's more about who you're with than where you're at.
"We got a roof over our heads, and we (had) friends taking us in for Christmas Eve, so we know we have people that care. ... And we have each other," D'Amore said.
"It was weird putting up a Christmas tree in a new house,'' said Cochran, who added that the tragedy didn't stop team members from having a great holiday.
Some of them may not see each other for 20 years after they graduate in June, but one mention of this season will make time melt away.
"It's going to be great seeing each other knowing that we went through the greatest storm that's ever been,'' D'Amore said. "We helped each other through it, and we were part of the greatest football team Point Beach has ever had.''
An athlete walks along the track at Donald T. Fioretti Field.
Photo by Vincent Carchietta
