Rising Sun High School football players shave their heads in support of head coach

NORTH EAST — When athletes from the Rising Sun football team arrived to the school’s field house for the first day of practice on Wednesday, some were determined it would be the last day they needed a haircut for the foreseeable future.

Members of the team showed their backing for head coach Dom Massimiano by shaving their heads in support of their head coach. Massimiano was diagnosed with a form of Lymphoma last year. Massimiano is a 2011 graduate of Rising Sun High School and is entering his second year at the helm with the Tigers. Prior to taking over the head coaching role, he spent five seasons as an assistant with the program.

The head-shaving is the most recent local support for Sun’s football coach. A GoFundMe was created last summer, while Rising Sun football t-shirts with a back sporting the phrase “No One Fights Alone” were also sold as a fundraiser.

Massimiano said he is currently cancer free, but his latest round of treatment affected his hair. While going through chemotherapy last year, the second-year head coach added his team had his back through it all.

“They had my back then when I was feeling terrible and they are continuing to show me that with this gesture,” Massimiano said. “I told my principal this today that this is why we coach. Wins are great, but knowing you have impacted a young athlete’s life means so much more.”

Junior Owen McBride, the organizer of the event, said the initial thought came to him on a recent vacation as family members suggested he and his teammates get buzzcuts to show their solidarity.

“He’s always been there for us, he’s always had our back on and off the field,” McBride said. “I think its time we give him the respect he deserves and we support him too.”

Massimiano said he had no idea the team planned the event. {span}McBride asked earlier in the day if he could talk to his head coach before practice. {/span}After being told to go to the front of the field house and then ushered behind the building, where the haircuts took place, McBride handed Massimiano clippers and told him to buzz his hair.

“My immediate thought is, ‘”oh boy, practice hasn’t even started and the questions are flying,’” Massimiano said. “It was an awesome feeling to know that the guys have my back.”

Fourteen members of the team decided to part ways with their locks, along with a guest appearance from Rising Sun Principal James Miro.

“I didn’t expect that many,” McBride said. “Because it is hard to cut off your hair, but it is really nice.”

As some athletes chose to sit in the chair and others looked on, McBride feels the event served as a way for the team to come together.

“It’s great, we’re going to be a lot closer now,” McBride said. “We’re going to have great chemistry together.”