NFA Girls Lacrosse Team Spreads Morgan's Message
The NFA Girls Lacrosse team dedicated a game to spread "Morgan's Message" in honor of Duke lacrosse player Morgan Rodgers who died by suicide in 2019. Athletes were wearing t-shirts with a butterfly drawn by Morgan with a semi-colon as the body of the butterfly, symbolizing a person's story is not over.
Prior to the game, NFA Girls Varsity Lacrosse captain, Megan Torres read a speech about Megan's Message, that can be found below. The Madrigals sang the National Anthem.
"The NFA Girls Varsity Lacrosse team is dedicating today's game to the life and legacy of Morgan Rodgers- a former Duke University Lacrosse student-athlete who died tragically in July of 2019 after battling mental health struggles. Our student athletes are wearing teal today, Morgan’s favorite color and the color representing the Morgan's Message butterfly which can be found on the players sticks and goalie helmet, to honor Morgan's life. Although Morgan's life was cut way too short, her legacy of unconditional love remains. Morgan's Message was created by her family and former teammates with the mission to end the stigma surrounding mental health, normalize the conversations about mental health, and to ensure that mental health is treated equally to physical health for all student-athletes. For more information on Morgan's life and legacy and how you can help those with mental health struggles, please visit Morgan's Message dot org. Ladies and gentlemen, please remove your hats for a moment of silence in remembrance of Morgan Rodgers."
At halftime, a video about Morgan Rodgers and the Morgan's Message mission was played for the crowd.
"Our hope is to begin the discussion on mental health within our Goldback athletic community. Too often athletes (and students) suffer in silence and do not prioritize their mental well-being as they do their physical health for performance."
Photos from their game can be viewed and downloaded for free by clicking this link. The Goldbacks won the game 8-6.
The NFA Girls Varsity Lacrosse team is coached by Head Coach Mark Wenzel and Assistant Coach Jennifer Grogan.
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