Coaches and players on Graham-Kapowsin’s girls soccer team kept sneaking glances at the Sparks Stadium gate during a game earlier this week.
They waited anxiously, hoping for defenders Clara Vallone and Maryssa Beare – two of the team’s best players – to charge through the entrance. The Eagles knew the two would be late – Vallone sent a text that she and Beare went to the wrong field and were hurrying to Sparks Stadium. They didn’t expect their teammates to miss the entire game.
“They never showed,” Graham-Kapowsin coach Steve Johnson said, “so I was thinking the whole time there are two options. Either they flaked out or there was an accident. … I think we were all hoping to be angry at them that they didn’t show.”
On Thursday night, the Eagles again played without Vallone and Beare, taking on rival Bethel. This time there was no anger or frustration at their absence, only disbelief and sadness.
Vallone and Beare were passengers in a fatal car accident Tuesday near the intersection of Canyon Road and 136th Street in Summit.
Vallone, a 16-year-old junior, was killed and Beare, also a junior, was seriously injured and remains in a hospital.
More than a game occurred Thursday. Tears were shed and hugs were shared. Nearly 2,000 people crammed the stands, many dressed in Vallone’s favorite colors – purple and pink.
Graham-Kapowsin struck first, getting a goal from Brenslie McKnight in the eighth minute. Then Jordan Burton and Laura Deaton scored and Kaylee Barrett added a goal in the final minute. The Eagles won, 4-1, which was nice, but the final score hardly mattered.
More importantly, a healing process might have begun and, if only for 90 minutes, the team returned to normal. That’s what Vallone would have wanted.
“Soccer was her life,” Deaton said. “Her dad played, her sister played, her brother wanted to play. She had always played soccer and she always wanted to be on the field. I don’t know if there’s anything but play soccer that we could do for her that she’d want us to do.”
In a pregame ceremony, the team retired Vallone’s No. 10 jersey. The Eagles wore special pink jerseys and Burton and Deaton delivered flower bouquets to Vallone’s mother, Kim, and shared teary embraces.
For the first few minutes of the game, the Eagles and Braves played down two starters, paying homage to Vallone and Beare. And at the 10-minute mark, spectators held up pieces of paper with #10 on them.
“Ultimately, the goal was to come out and play hard for Clara,” Johnson said. “I told the girls the outcome really didn’t matter, but to them, getting the win for Clara was probably big.”
Postponing the game was not discussed, Johnson said.
When students arrived at school Wednesday, the soccer players, many of whom had not heard of the accident, were shepherded to the career center to meet with coaches and counselors. The team spent the day together, grieving and sharing stories. Almost immediately, they began thinking of ways to honor Vallone.
“There was never any consideration of not playing today,” Johnson said. “It was just, ‘Tomorrow at the game, we should do XYZ.’ … Everybody had these ideas, added little things.”
A memorial service has been scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday at Graham-Kapowsin. Donations to the Clara Marie Vallone fund may be made at any Bank of America branch.
Even as her teammates were coming up with ways to honor Vallone, her mother was showing concern for her daughter’s teammates.
“Her mom called us and asked if there was support for the girls,” Graham-Kapowsin principal Ed Petersen said. “This is from someone who just lost a child.”
Her daughter was well liked and respected. The outpouring of support at the game was proof of that. A good student – she carried a 3.6 grade-point average – Vallone was active in sports and clubs.
“She was an excellent player, the kids loved her,” Johnson said. “Quiet and unassuming, a very caring person. The girls really looked up to her just because of the person she was and her ability.
“Clara was a special, special kid.”
Doug Pacey: 253-597-8271 doug.pacey@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/preps
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