Field Hockey Team Huddles Up to Help Teammate

Members of the Wayne Valley field hockey team support each other both on and off the field.

The team, together with the school’s National Honor Society chapter, is organizing and running a fundraiser to help one of its own.

Junior Christie Schweighardt’s house was severely damaged by a fire on Christmas night. When the girls heard about what happened, they sprung into action. The family has received support from throughout the community since the fire.

“We’re all really close,” said Melanie Grogan, Schweighardt’s teammate. “Our coach is all about family and having us support each other. When we hear that one of us is in trouble, we all want to help.”

The team and honor society will serve food at a fundraiser for the family later on this month. The friends of the Schweighardts organized the event.

“Our coach [Katie Kraft] is all about family,” Grogan said. “During practices we event have a family time together where we just talk about what’s going on in our lives.”

The fundraiser will be held at Applebee’s on Route 46 in Totowa on Sunday, Jan. 27 from 8 to 10 a.m. Tickets cost $10 per person.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, e-mail Grogan at melgrogan@aol.com or Ruby Stanfield at ruby@rubystravel.com. Tickets will also be sold at the door.

— Have a question or news tip? Contact editor Daniel Hubbard at Daniel.Hubbard@patch.com or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.