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Lights Over Manchester
High School's New Lighting Debuts For Big Crowd
By Christina Cuesta
Let there be light.
Light Up Manchester, last year's program that helped bring lights to Manchester High School's football field, proved a great success for the inaugural game on September 7.
The season opener, although a loss for the Hawks from Wall's Scarlet Knight's 21-0, was filled with enthusiasm and excitement for the new atmosphere, brought to fruition by donations from companies as well as the community.
"The fundraiser started as a fantastic idea and turned into a major success," said Jim Peterson, president of the booster club, which spearheaded the Light up Manchester project. "You can tell by the crowd, the snack bar has not slowed down all night."
The construction of the lights started last October and ended only five months later in March.
Keith Lister, athletic director of Manchester High School, said without the "Big Three," companies responsible for donations and putting the lights up - Nestle Waters, Inc., Musco Lighting and Lucas Electric - it could have taken a significant amount of time.
"The facility needs an upgrade," he said. "I hope the community recognizes [we] obviously need an improved field and track."
Lister says he hopes that the lights make
students more interested in the atmosphere - and even more, that they come out and play.
The lights are not only for football games. Manchester High School's soccer games and possibly lacrosse matches will be held under the lights as well, Lister said.
"We hope student involvement in the programs will go up as an end result," Lister said, "and if tonight is an indication of future support, then that's the case."
That could mean lots of support for the high school's athletic program. Attendance to the game was in the thousands, filled with both young and old, from Pop-Warner players who wore their jerseys in spirit to grandparents who wore their football player's number and blue and gold colors.
One Manchester 2007 alum, Calvin Zawacki, came home from Kean University to
watch the game. He was a running back
and linebacker for Manchester, and thinks "having good facilities makes you want to
play better."
"It boosts morale and the excitement level," he added. "The fact that the community comes out like this to support the team gets everyone excited."
Aside from record number of attendance, there were raffle baskets filled with Girogio Armani cologne, a poker set, baking supplies and even a chance to win a Nintendo Wii. Manchester High School's band performed at halftime, and there was a plaque given to the new field recognizing the companies, booster club and all who donated to the Light up Manchester program.
"It's the social event of the month," Peterson said. "It starts a new era of Manchester football."
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