Just 10 minutes into the season opener, Kearsarge sophomore Alex Spinney suffered a season-ending broken tibia during a collision with a good friend on the Stevens boys soccer team.
That night, Kearsarge took home the bittersweet win.
With a full leg cast, Spinney was determined to support his teammates throughout the rest of the season from the bench. Recognizing that his injured teammate’s spirits were low and that he needed support, senior and co-captain Kaleb Mattice stepped up. The previous year, as a junior, Mattice broke his collarbone during the team’s fifth game of the season against Trinity, so he was well aware of what it’s like to watch from the sidelines.
Mattice made a request for the team to wear armbands with Spinney’s number. That tribute was rejected due to NHIAA policies. Mattice did not give up. Thinking of other ways to support his teammate, Mattice found that wearing Spinney’s jersey during play was not in violation of NHIAA policies.
Mattice was approved to switch his No. 8 jersey for Spinney’s number No. 19 during the Sept. 12 game against Manchester West. That game, Mattice scored five goals in his teammates jersey.
After each goal, Mattice celebrated by pointing to the number on his jersey and his friend on the bench. The Kearsarge boys took the win, 12-1.
Though Spinney won’t return to the field, thanks to Mattice, he’s still a part of the squad.