Strongsville community tailgates before first home football game
Tailgate raises money for Kailee Mayher Memorial Scholarship Fund
The Marching Mustangs made their way to Pat Catan Stadium near the end of the Team Strongsville tailgate. Photos by TERRY BRLAS
STRONGSVILLE – There’s nothing quite like football and food. Mix in some family fun and it’s a perfect fall recipe.
Team Strongsville knows all too well about the right mix to bring the community together. The nonprofit organization hosted its fifth annual Team Strongsville Tailgate before the first home varsity game of the year in the parking lot between Pat Catan Stadium and the high school on Sept. 8.
This year had the most vendors (39) of any prior event. The weather was perfect with bright sunshine, temperatures in the mid-60s and a slight breeze. This could partly explain the record attendance of around 1,000 revelers.
“The weather’s been great. The number of vendors is significantly more than we’ve had in the past,” said Team Strongsville President Collette Fine. “This is a community building event. Our community is very giving and generous. Everybody here is donating their time and their goods, and works together in such a positive way. This has grown to be something people really look forward to.”
One of those individuals was Larissa Digman who was with her 5-year-old daughter Elizabeth, dressed in her cheerleader finest. This was the first time either had attended the Team Strongsville Tailgate.
“It’s so fun and so exciting. There are so many activities,” said Larissa Digman.
The smile could not be erased from the face of Superintendent Cameron Ryba. But then again, he has a lot to smile about.
“Beyond the work of Team Strongsville, there’s a buzz about our new football coach (Lou Cirino) and football team. This is a great kickoff to our home football season,” he said.
Strongsville Athletic Boosters President Dan Martin thought the age demographic has become an important aspect of the Team Strongsville Tailgate.
“It’s nice to get the younger kids coming just to get them in the spirit so as they grow older they are fans all the way along,” he said. “Collette has done a great job of promoting it and the event has been embraced by the community.”
Mayor Thomas Perciak echoed Martin’s comment.
“It is great to see so many young families and so many great faces all coming together for a better Strongsville,” he said.
There was also a Kailee Mayher remembrance table. She was killed in an automobile accident on June 7 at the end of the prior school year. She would have just entered her junior year at Strongsville High School. Mayher was a Team Strongsville volunteer and member of the high school track team.
A Kailee Mayher Memorial Scholarship Fund has been set up in conjunction with the Strongsville Education Foundation. Donations were accepted from students manning the table wearing light blue (Kailee’s favorite color) shirts. Face painting and sale of Team Strongsville shirts also raised money for the scholarship fund. Some of the vendors also made a donation.
Photos of Mayher were displayed at the table, including those of her at past Team Strongsville tailgates.
Members of the SHS Class of 2019 performed a balloon launch prior to the start of the football game in remembrance of Mayher. The balloons were, of course, light blue in color.
Team Strongsville knows all too well about the right mix to bring the community together. The nonprofit organization hosted its fifth annual Team Strongsville Tailgate before the first home varsity game of the year in the parking lot between Pat Catan Stadium and the high school on Sept. 8.
This year had the most vendors (39) of any prior event. The weather was perfect with bright sunshine, temperatures in the mid-60s and a slight breeze. This could partly explain the record attendance of around 1,000 revelers.
“The weather’s been great. The number of vendors is significantly more than we’ve had in the past,” said Team Strongsville President Collette Fine. “This is a community building event. Our community is very giving and generous. Everybody here is donating their time and their goods, and works together in such a positive way. This has grown to be something people really look forward to.”
One of those individuals was Larissa Digman who was with her 5-year-old daughter Elizabeth, dressed in her cheerleader finest. This was the first time either had attended the Team Strongsville Tailgate.
“It’s so fun and so exciting. There are so many activities,” said Larissa Digman.
The smile could not be erased from the face of Superintendent Cameron Ryba. But then again, he has a lot to smile about.
“Beyond the work of Team Strongsville, there’s a buzz about our new football coach (Lou Cirino) and football team. This is a great kickoff to our home football season,” he said.
Strongsville Athletic Boosters President Dan Martin thought the age demographic has become an important aspect of the Team Strongsville Tailgate.
“It’s nice to get the younger kids coming just to get them in the spirit so as they grow older they are fans all the way along,” he said. “Collette has done a great job of promoting it and the event has been embraced by the community.”
Mayor Thomas Perciak echoed Martin’s comment.
“It is great to see so many young families and so many great faces all coming together for a better Strongsville,” he said.
There was also a Kailee Mayher remembrance table. She was killed in an automobile accident on June 7 at the end of the prior school year. She would have just entered her junior year at Strongsville High School. Mayher was a Team Strongsville volunteer and member of the high school track team.
A Kailee Mayher Memorial Scholarship Fund has been set up in conjunction with the Strongsville Education Foundation. Donations were accepted from students manning the table wearing light blue (Kailee’s favorite color) shirts. Face painting and sale of Team Strongsville shirts also raised money for the scholarship fund. Some of the vendors also made a donation.
Photos of Mayher were displayed at the table, including those of her at past Team Strongsville tailgates.
Members of the SHS Class of 2019 performed a balloon launch prior to the start of the football game in remembrance of Mayher. The balloons were, of course, light blue in color.