Capac/Imlay City Victory Day 2017-2019 was a fully funded event for children and young adults, ages 5-26, with cognitive, developmental and/or physical disabilities to experience game day at Capac Football Stadium. Registration was limited to 50 participants who received a Victory Day football jersey, t-shirt and medal to celebrate their victory on the field. Registration was open to everyone, par
ticipants did not need to be a student or resident of Capac Community Schools or Imlay City Community Schools. Unfortunately, we were unable to accept walk-up/on-site registrations. Capac/Imlay City Victory Day 2017-2019 was a collaboration with Capac High School’s and Imlay City High School’s Varsity Football teams and Cheer teams, Capac High School Marching Band and student/parent volunteers. All working together to provide children and young adults with special needs the opportunity to experience game day at Capac Football Stadium no matter their limitations. At the event check-in, participants were given their Victory Day football jersey, t-shirt and their parents/-guardians received an event program listing the participants by their group, a schedule of the event, and a list of our Sponsors by their Sponsorship Levels. The participant, along with their parents/guardians, were introduced to their mentor (either a Varsity football player or cheerleader). Participants and their mentors had time to get to know each other before the event began and had an opportunity to toss a football around, learn a cheer, or have photographs taken at our photo booth areas with props. Capac/Imlay City Victory Day 2017-2019 began with the participants and their mentors making the walk into the football stadium and gathering in the Capac End Zone. During this time the Capac High School Marching Band took the field to form the Band tunnel. Next the Capac High School Marching Band performed the national anthem, and player introductions began. Each participant walked, ran, or wheeled through the Band tunnel to mid-field as their name was announced over the PA system. A traditional coin toss then signaled the start of the game after player introductions. Participants and their mentors were assembled into four groups by age (youngest to oldest). The four groups represented the four quarters of a football game. Each group ran/walked/wheeled a touchdown play and enjoyed three different football skill drills or cheers on the sideline with both Cheer teams. There were two mock offense and defense teams for both Capac and Imlay City High School Varsity football teams. Each participant ran, walked, or wheeled a play into the end zone for a touchdown with play-by-play announcing and sideline Cheerleaders cheering them on. The Capac High School Marching Band performed the Chief Fight Song to celebrate each touchdown. At Halftime the Capac High School Marching Band performed while participants and their mentors refueled with hot dogs, chips and refreshments. Once all four groups had scored their touchdowns, the participants and their mentors gathered mid-field for the medal award ceremony. Each participant was introduced over the PA system to receive their Victory Day medal from Head Coach Bill Nestle (Capac) or Head Coach Steve Lestage (Imlay City). Then a group photograph of all the participants, their mentors, football teams and cheer teams took place on the football field. Hot dogs, chips and refreshments were available at no cost to the fans in the stands and there is no admission fee to the event. Parents and friends were welcome to come down on the field to take photographs or cheer from the stands. Throughout the event we had four photographers taking photographs of participants with their mentor, at the Photo Booths, going through the Band tunnel, scoring their touchdown, in the football skills area, cheering on the sideline, and candid photographs. The photographs posted on the Capac/Imlay City Football Victory Day page for parents to save and share. We created a photo montage video set to music of the photographs taken during the event and post it on our page. The Capac High School Chief Football and Cheer Teams and Marching Band and Imlay City High School Spartan Football and Cheer teams were honored to be able to offer this program and to be able to make it a fully funded event through grants, fundraisers and sponsorships. Aaron Segedi, a Trenton teacher and varsity football Coach, founded Victory Day in 2010. A native of Riverview, MI and a two-time cancer survivor, Segedi lives by the philosophy that building character holds equal importance to teach young leaders the game winning plays on the field. Since its launch, Victory Day has received attention from media and athletic programs throughout Michigan and the country. To find out more about Coach Segedi's Victory Day, please visit www.victorydayfootball.com.
