 "Photo: COURTESY PHOTO/UNH ATHLETICS")
Inside the front door of the UNH Field House is a plaque explaining the significance of the Memory Walk, the path which leads from the sidewalk by Main Street to the Field House. "We are the voices and memories of those who are remembered here," the plaque reads. "We are the echoes they left behind."
The memories of UNH volleyball player Holly Young and the voices of those who knew her echoed vibrantly from the Field House on an emotional Saturday. The UNH volleyball team held its spring tournament and memorialized Young by participating in the Relay for Life and planting a new tree on the Memory Walk.
The team played host at the Lundholm Gymnasium to some of the best programs in New England for their spring tournament, including Boston College, Rhode Island, Maine, Harvard, Dartmouth and a team made up of UNH Alumni. The tournament began at 9 a.m. with the retirement of Young's uniform number.
Once the tournament was complete, the team welcomed those in attendance to join several events in honor of Young. Young, a three-year member of the volleyball program, passed away Jan. 24 after a three-year battle with Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer.
The opposing teams joined UNH players, coaches, family and friends at the Field House's indoor track to take part in UNH's annual Relay for Life. The teams gathered in one corner of the track. Young's parents, Bernie and Carolyn, were presented with several gifts.
The track was then cleared so the players, coaches, family and friends could make a lap around the track in honor of Young. As the group walked, Rod Stewart's hit song "Forever Young" blared from the P.A. The crowd watching erupted into a prolonged applause when the group completed their lap. Some members of not only the UNH team but also the opposing teams were visibly emotional while making the lap around the Sweet Oval.
Following the lap, the ceremonies shifted outside to the Memory Walk. The crowd gathered around a small coniferous tree being planted in Young's memory. Coach Jill Hirschinger said the idea for the tree came shortly after Young's death.
"You live life that's precious," said Hirschinger. "This tree is something that's going to grow, and we feel that's something important for people to see."
First to speak at the planting ceremony was UNH Athletic Director Marty Scarano.
"I can't express words of what we're doing here today," said Scarano. He also described the importance of the Memory Walk and how everyone who passes through to the Field House can come to appreciate the preciousness of life.
About Young, Scarano said, "She was life. She was life in full throttle."
Dot Sheehan, the senior associate athletic director for External Relations, reminded the crowd to be thankful for all they have.
"All of us have learned a tremendous amount from this young woman," said Sheehan of Young.
Hirschinger addressed the crowd and spoke glowingly about Young's accomplishments. She recited lyrics from "Forever Young" and explained how the song became synonymous with Young's fight with cancer and how the team rallied around her. The song was particularly poignant because of Young's uniform number (4) and her name.
"Forever Young will be here forever," said Hirschinger.
Hirschinger felt tremendous gratitude to the people inside and out of the UNH community for their support through the program's difficult times.
"Look at the effect of cancer," she said. "It affects everybody. We've had many e-mails for people outside of athletics, the community has been great." She was also impressed with the respect the opposing teams from the tournament showed in staying for the ceremonies for Young.
A plaque will be placed underneath the tree commemorating Young's life and accomplishments.
"They don't grow fast," said Bernie Young of the tree. "So hopefully it will be around for a long time."
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