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Twenty minutes.
The amount of time Idaho high schools illuminated their outdoor stadiums seemed to fly by, as the class of 2020 made one last trek to the fields they will likely never step foot on again.
Bishop Kelly High School shone as one of the few Treasure Valley Schools to take part in #BeTheLightID Friday night, a campaign part of a nationwide event meant to honor those affected by and fighting against COVID-19. With West Ada and and Boise School Districts not taking part, the Knights’ football field served as a lone representative in the Gem State’s capital city.
“It means a lot,” said Kepa Guerricabeitia, a Bishop Kelly football and track athlete. “We didn’t get the season everyone wants to have.”
Chants of the BK school fight song broke out among the more than 30 cars parked just outside the team’s football stadium, sung by socially distanced students looking for one last opportunity to showcase their school spirit.
“We just wanted to celebrate these kids,” said Bishop Kelly football coach Tim Brennan. “It’s about relations, and that’s what life’s about. We wanted to celebrate that.”
In the Treasure Valley, Middleton also took part, while Sugar-Salem, Highland and Century represented Eastern Idaho and Sandpoint lit up the north.
The trend of lighting up stadiums took hold in Idaho after the State Board of Education announced schools would be closed for the rest of the year should the state fail to meet certain health requirements. The closure likely means spring athletics will be canceled for the rest of the season, although the Idaho High School Activities Association has yet to make an official announcement.
“Depending on what happens the next two week with spring sports, at least we had something like this to let them know we honor them and we love them,” said Bishop Kelly Athletic Director Tom Shanahan.
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