NORTON — Speaking beneath a shiny sky with a contact of a heat breeze, Norton High observe captain Jake Antosca fought again tears when he spoke of his former coach on the dedication of the Lancers’ observe because the Kent A. Taylor Track Monday night.
Taylor, a legend within the Massachusetts highschool cross nation and observe group, teaching groups to a number of Tri-Valley League and state titles, had a life-changing occasion in May 2020. One of essentially the most well-liked and standard observe coaches within the state, Taylor was identified with a Grade 4 Gliobastoma most cancers with an IDH Mutation that resulted in docs performing emergency surgical procedure, eradicating 90% of the tumor on his frontal lobe and a secondary lesion behind it. There have been setbacks alongside the way in which as properly. Taylor endured blood clots in his lungs and a deep bone thrombosis.
Antosca spoke of Taylor’s braveness and unwavering optimism in his battle towards the illness.
“Many of us will never have to hear the words; ‘You have cancer.’ Thus, many of us will not experience cancer,” Antosca advised the group from the rostrum on the fringe of the 50-yard-line. “But unfortunately, many of us will have to witness cancer. In this instance, we saw Coach Taylor’s life start to slip through the hands of time and all we could do was watch. In a period of chaos, never once did we see Coach Taylor hesitate or surrender to the challenge at hand, rather we saw him valiantly win his battle with cancer; spoiling the plans of any odds against him. Only one word can describe him: Hero.”
Taylor, who obtained a standing ovation when he went to the rostrum, thanked everybody in attendance and mentioned every certainly one of them has made an influence in his life.
“It significantly changed the trajectory of my life and my family’s lives,” mentioned Taylor of his greater than three-year odyssey. “All things considered, my life mantra has become carpe diem (seize the day). I live by this every day and I would encourage all of you to try and do the same.”
Taylor mentioned he was “in shock” when he heard there was a student-athlete motion to have the observe named for him. “I have never been more humbled in my life,” he mentioned. “Rest assured, this is a memory I will take with me for the rest of my life.”
Taylor particularly thanked faculty superintendent Dr. Joseph F. Baeta. “This facility will be part of your legacy too sir. Thank you for the support you’ve given to the schools for over 30 years,” Taylor mentioned.
Baeta requested all the scholar athletes in attendance, who had Taylor as a instructor or coach, to face. “Folks this is what it is all about,” he mentioned. “Coming back as a community in a great town.”
Baetra mentioned the method of a dedication for Taylor was a “unique” one. A facility is not only named after anybody and there’s a course of that features a nomination, and a “unanimous endorsement” by the varsity committee after which to him. “All of it, from Day 1 was unanimous,” Baetra mentioned. “It was the right thing we wanted to do as a school community. I’ve never seen a student movement to name a facility after one of their coaches,” he mentioned. “Typically, this happens after retirement and all that. But in this particular case, to have the civic pride of students wanting to do this is so meaningful and original for the community of Norton.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com