Westwood honors injured teammate Mark Mickens
As Westwood coaches and players walked onto Richland District Two Stadium on Friday, Mark Mickens definitely was on their minds.
Mickens, a junior defensive back, remains hospitalized after suffering a neck injury in the fourth quarter of the 42-14 win over Clover on Sept. 4.
Westwood players wore M5 stickers on the back of the helmets and walked down the steps stadium going to the field carrying a balloon with Mickens’ No. 5 on it. Redhawks coach Rodney Summers held Mickens’ No. 5 jersey up in the air as Westwood walked arm-in-arm onto the field for its matchup with Keenan.
A loud roar from the crowd, which included Mickens’ parents Dot and Mark, went up as Mickens’ name was introduced as one of the team captains for the game.
The Redhawks went out and got the 21-7 victory for their injured teammate which brought an end to an emotional and draining week for those around the Westwood school and community.
“One of the things we have been hearing all week, ‘That is my brother.’ So you are going to see a true sign of brotherhood out there tonight,” said Westwood booster club president Monita Smith, mother of Redhawks QB Jalen Smith. “We are a strong community that stands behind this young man. We are sending all our love and prayers to him right now.”
Tributes and were seen all over District Two Stadium honoring Mickens. Westwood students painted “#WeAreMarkStrong” on their chests and a banner with that saying was posted on the fence near the Redhawks’ sideline.
The booster club sold T-shirts with a Mickens picture on the front and No. 5 on them. More than 250 shirts have been sold in less than two days and another shirt with a new design will be released this week.
More than $1,800 has been raised in a gofundme account set up benefiting Mickens’ family.
“He is a great kid with a big personality,” Westwood principal Cheryl Guy said. “He is very well liked among the student body and that has made this hard for people because folks know him, and they feel like he is a friend of theirs.”
Westwood student body president Nick Hooks echoed Guy’s sentiments and recalls Mickens’ ability also joke around when they see each other in the hall.
Guy said more plans to honor Mickens are in the works. He said all monies from a homecoming fundraiser next month will go toward the Mickens family fund.
“The school has really rallied Mark to show him we love him and he is one of our own,” Hooks said.
The support shown for Mickens wasn’t just limited to those in the Westwood community. Keenan students had a “Pray for Mark” banner with students’ signatures all along it on the Raiders’ sideline. Keenan administrators gave Westwood Guy and athletic director Jason Powell check for the Mickens Family fund before the game.
Blythewood, Westwood’s rival, had its students wear red and black to school on Friday and had a sign with the saying #1Wood hanging inside the school. Members of Blythewood student council also came to Westwood on Friday morning to participate
More than 20 schools in the Midlands have reached out and shown their support in one way or another.
“Sense of community has been incredible,” Guy said. “I knew the Westwood folks would support and be there for the Mickens family. To see how it is expanded, I almost cried the other night when I saw one of the Blythewood posts the other night. For a rival school to embrace each other, that really heartened me to see that.”
This story was originally published September 12, 2015 at 12:08 AM with the headline "Westwood honors injured teammate Mark Mickens."