Friday night as the East Haven High School football team took on Guilford High, fans in the stands were doing as much cheering for one of their fellow students who couldn’t be at the game as they were for the football players on the field.
That student is Nick Vessicchio, a 16-year-old who was seriously injured in July when a tree fell on him as he mowed his family’s yard.
To celebrate their classmate, students, fans and staff at the game all work #NICKSTRONG t-shirts. The shirts have been on sale at Nick’s high school and the money raised is being donated to his family, who is at his bedside in a Boston area rehabilitation facility.
Nick’s classmates said they’re being strong in his absence as he battles to recovery.
"NickStrong to me is the whole community, the whole school coming together and really just bringing the whole community together for Nick," East Haven senior Adam Perrotti said.
"We always find the positive. We always find a way to see through the darkness and our kids are fantastic," Anthony Verderame, the athletic director for East Haven Schools, said.
Nick’s friends say he was always a huge part of the student section, they wanted to make his presence felt at Friday’s game.
Local
"He was always in our student section, always laughing, always smiling. Very intelligent kid and I just can’t wait for him to get better," Perrotti said.
Nick’s family members in attendance say the teen is making strides as he tries to recover and they were moved to see the outpouring of love from his school community.
"I can not put into words how empowering it is and beautiful," said his cousin Cori Boroski.
And though he’s not with them at school currently, Nick’s friends are sending their messages of love because they know he can hear them.
"Nick, you’re strong. You’re going to fight through and make it," friend and classmate Joseph Brown said.
In the last week, the students said they’ve had t-shirt sales totaling about $2,000.
Friday marked the first #NICKSTRONG night and the students plan to have at least one for each sport at their school during the year.
