Athletic Booster Club Sportsperson of the Month: September 2019
Coaches and parents are encouraged to nominate Saint Viator student-athletes for this monthly recognition. Send your nominations to Jason Kuffel (jkuffel@saintviator.com) Nomination criteria include:
- Nominee(s) act positively affected a community's sports culture and game environment.
- Nominee(s) act clearly demonstrates sportsmanship. Saint Viator defines sportsmanship as behavior exhibited during competition by student-athletes based on values, respect, and integrity.
- Nominee(s) displayed act(s) of integrity that go beyond the sport's playing rules and etiquette.
- Nominee(s) made decisions that while difficult or unpopular, are respectful of the game/opponent.
- Nominee(s) put others' needs ahead of his or her own.
- Multiple individuals may be considered if involved in the same act.
The September 2019 Sportsperson of the Month is awarded to Michael Grossi '20 and a member of the Saint Viator Varsity football team. After the homecoming football game, a mom of a prospective Saint Viator student, sent this note to the athletic department, remarking on the generous and thoughtful behavior of Michael:
“Good morning. I wanted to send an e-mail to recognize one of your seniors and tell you how he went out of his way to help my son. My 8th grader went to the Saint Viator football game last Friday night. He met friends and thought he had a ride home. Both my husband and I were downtown for the evening. After getting to the game, his friend's father had a change of plans and couldn't pick him up. He had made arrangements for his child to go with another family, but this left my son without a ride. Our son texted us and we started to scramble. We live in Palatine and none of his friends from his own school were there. Our usual back-ups were not available. My husband was on his way to play hockey and his phone died, and I was at a play. It ended up being a perfect storm of mishaps, but also the unsettling feeling of not being able to contact him. It was a very stressful situation for my husband, knowing that the field is kind of isolated and that our son was not familiar with the area. (I give you all of this background so that you understand how much this act of kindness meant to us.)
The senior football players were leaving the school and one player saw our son standing by himself. He asked him if he had a ride. When our son explained and said his dad was coming, this student said he would wait with him. He so easily could have walked to his car. But he didn't. He stayed. He chatted with our son the whole time, asking about what school he went to and telling him how much he likes Saint Viator. He didn't leave until my husband pulled up. They were the last two in the parking lot.
My son only knows that his name was Michael and that he was a senior on the football team. Please let Michael know how much we appreciate his looking out for our son, but just for the simple kindness he showed to someone who needed it. He is obviously an amazing kid and I wanted you to know how proud you all should be of someone who represents your school so well.
Have a great day!”
Congratulations to Michael Grossi, who lives The Viator Way on and off the field!
Saint Viator High School
Located in Arlington Heights, IL, Saint Viator High School is a private, co-ed, Catholic school for grades 9-12. Students benefit from a challenging academic program, fine and performing arts, competitive athletics, and a wide selection of extracurricular activities.