By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
ATLANTIC CITY – As the field hockey players raced up and down the field Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 14, the coaches from Mainland Regional High School and Atlantic City High School intensely watched the actions and called out instructions.
It was in all respects a normal game between the Mainland Mustangs and Atlantic City Vikings, except for a small detail. The coaches on the opposing sides were pink T-shirts, showing solidarity for a universal cause – Breast Cancer Awareness.
It was the annual “pink game” for the teams, something that happens not only with field hockey, but with other high school sports around the Cape-Atlantic League and well beyond. Pink shows up at all levels of athletics, all to support those affected by breast cancer and to raise awareness in the battle to end it.
“To us, because we’re female athletes, it’s just to honor, remember and then spread awareness of the importance of getting checked for breast cancer,” Mainland coach Jill Hatz said. “It has probably affected every one of us in some way, shape or form, either directly or a friend we might know. It’s just good to put awareness out there, bring light to the subject.”
Like other teams, whether at Mainland, Atlantic City, Ocean City or around in the CAL, players take a little time out to look beyond their athletic endeavors.
“The girls all play in honor of someone and we collect that list and we’ll post it on our social media,” Hatz said. “Everyone knows who we’re playing with in mind this month. It’s not just today for the one pink game we’re playing with A.C., it’s the whole month of October.”
Hatz noted when the girls go to practice, they are supposed to wear school colors, but during October, they let them wear pink too.
“We play the pink game to raise awareness of cancer because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” Mainland senior Julianna Medina said. “We just want to show our support and love to everyone out there because everyone is affected by cancer in some way, shape or form. We’re just here to show our support and play for someone we know.
“I have people very close to me who have cancer so it’s the worst thing ever. The best we can do is raise awareness,” Medina said, adding, “We definitely care about everyone and love everyone and want to come out here and show our love.”
“Like Jules says,” fellow field hockey player Celena Rivard added, “it affects everyone whether we like it or not. We just hope raise awareness for it and our hearts go out to anyone affected by it.”