NK student-athlete remembered
Led by team captains (front, l to r) Taylor Vines (with placard), Wilson Gregory (72 carrying flag), Luke Mechling (12), and Kevin Karaffa (carrying portrait), New Kent’s Trojans march on to the field for last Friday’s football game at Bruton. The team honored fallen teammate Jacob Vick, shown in photo below leading the Trojan special teams off the field following a fumble recovery in the Sept. 27 Grafton game.Alan Chamberlain photos
Teammates, fellow students, friends, and even those who didn’t know Jacob Vick filled New Kent High School’s 1,275-seat gymnasium nearly to capacity Saturday afternoon for a memorial service honoring the fallen linebacker.
Students then led a memorial/birthday vigil inside the school on Tuesday (Nov. 5), the day their schoolmate and friend would have turned 16 years old.
Vick, a starting linebacker on the Trojan football team, collapsed Oct. 29 on the practice field and later died, sending shockwaves through the New Kent community. Saturday’s memorial service celebrated the life of the sophomore honor student who touched many during his all too short existence.
A Bible verse printed in the service’s program — “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart…”– Luke 6:45 — paid homage to Vick and his impact on others.
Vick collapsed after running drills at practice. Local rescue personnel responded but ultimately he was flown by medical evacuation helicopter to a Richmond hospital where he later died.
News of Vick’s death spread like wildfire on social media. The next day, school officials held a press conference concerning the tragedy. Classes went on as scheduled at the high school and grief counselors were on hand, but the day could best be described as anything but normal.
“The whole day, it was eerily quiet,” said one high school teacher. “You could have heard a pin drop.”
Students, however, responded by posting blue banners on walls along hallways inside the school’s academic wing. On each banner, students wrote heart-felt tributes to their schoolmate, a sampling of which follows. Some messages were short and to the point:
“I love and miss you. It was great calling you a good friend and you were an amazing person.”
“You will always be remembered #50.”
“Jacob, lunch won’t be the same without you. I love you. Fly high angel.”
Others, obviously written by close friends, featured deeper sentiments:
“You have been there for me since seventh grade. The softball/baseball bus will never be the same. I will cherish the memories we had until the day that I join you with the good Lord. I love you Vick, and I can’t wait to be with you again. Rest in paradise #50!”
“R.I.P. Jacob. You are a good guy, great football player, and great baseball player. Fly high man. You are highly missed by everyone. I miss you. Rest in peace. You are also a great friend and neighbor.”
Some, penned by schoolmates who didn’t know the sophomore, echoed the messages of those who did:
“R.I.P. Jacob Vick. I may not have known you but you seemed like a really great person and friend. Fly high.”
“I never really had the chance to get to know you better, but every story I heard you were in, all you did was make people laugh and smile. We all love you.”
Outside the school’s main entrance, students painted the “New Kent Victory Rock” in a Trojan blue field with Vick’s number 50 emblazoned in white. On the practice field, another spray-painted 50 appeared at the spot where Vick collapsed. Players from the football and volleyball teams gathered at that spot and offered prayers. A prayer vigil for family and friends, meanwhile, took place Wednesday at Vick’s church, Corinth Baptist.
Vick’s football teammates voted to play last Friday’s game at Bruton. Players wore Vick’s jersey number 50 on their helmets. Bruton players did likewise and raised their helmets in tribute as the Trojans took the field.
Other schools, both inside and outside the Bay Rivers District, honored Vick before last Friday’s football contests. Lafayette and Warhill players united at midfield and kneeled in a pre-game prayer. At West Point High School, the numeral on the 50-yard line, which usually is decked out in orange, was painted Trojan blue and white.
Vick also played baseball for the Trojans and boasted honor student status with a 3.7 grade-point average.
Andre’ Jones contributed to this story.
Above is the “Victory Rock” outside New Kent High School bearing Vick’s number 50. Below is a close-up of one of the many hallway banners covered with messages from students.
