“We are playing this game as if it’s our last. We’re playing for something much bigger than just a game. We’re playing for all the kids who don’t have the opportunity to be on the ice; we’re playing for Jacob; we’re playing for his family; we’re playing for something much bigger than ourselves,” said Holderness Boys Varsity Hockey Assistant Captain Luke Pazzia ’25 when speaking about the Sarah Duval Memorial Game.
After raising more than $16,000 over the last two years, the Holderness community once again came together to support the Sarah Duval Memorial Fund on Saturday. The younger sister of Holderness Boys Varsity Hockey Captain Jacob Duval ’25, Sarah passed away in February of 2021 due to complications from leukemia. The Sarah Duval Memorial Fund awards scholarships to high school seniors who aspire to work in early childhood education and/or health and human services, as well as help make youth sports more affordable for families.
A Community of Support
Inspired by the way Jacob spoke about his sister during a team-building exercise his sophomore year, the Boys Varsity Hockey Team first decided to dedicate a game to Sarah in 2023. Since then, the event has continued to grow, extending beyond the Boys Hockey Team and truly becoming an all-school initiative. Reflecting on how the school has embraced the cause, Jacob said: “At Holderness, especially on the Boys Hockey team, I’ve found some of my best friends. I think ever since sharing that moment my sophomore year, all the guys made me feel comfortable being vulnerable. Seeing a bunch of members from your community want to help and want to be a part of something bigger than themselves is really special.”
A week full of fundraisers including a bake sale, snack bars, raffles, and t-shirt sales, among others, culminated in an action-packed Saturday where the Bulls hosted four games. Fiore Rink and the Bartsch-Gallop Athletics Center were full of students, teachers, and parents all sporting hats and t-shirts emblazoned with the words “Sarah Strong.” Teams attached orange ribbons to their jerseys and decorated their uniforms with orange tape. The main event of the night was the Boys Varsity Hockey Team’s game against Brooks School. Before puck drop, Jacob’s dad Greg Duval addressed the crowd:
“On behalf of myself and our entire family, I would like to thank everyone who was involved in pulling together this wonderful event in memory of our Sarah! When we lost Sarah, we had no idea how we would continue forward as a family. Losing her ripped away a piece of our hearts and souls that we weren’t sure could ever be healed. But the unwavering support of family, friends, teachers, teammates, classmates, and events like this, allow us to keep the memory of Sarah in the forefront of our hearts and minds and to share that with all who have been part of our journey in any way. Thank you!!”
As temperatures dropped into the single digits, Jacob brought the crowd to life when he found the back of the net on just his second shift of the game, giving the Bulls a 1-0 lead. The two teams battled back and forth with Holderness ultimately prevailing 4-3, capping off the amazing day.
More important than the results of the games was the money raised throughout the week. Overall, the Holderness Community raised $6,000 for the Sarah Duval Memorial Fund. Reflecting on the event and how it has grown over the last few years, Holderness Boys Varsity Hockey Assistant Captain Eli Chilicki ’25 said, “It just shows how tight we are as a team and as a school community. Everyone coming together, watching all the games, supporting Jacob, supporting his family, and donating money to a good cause.”
About the Sarah Duval Memorial Fund
Sarah was an eleven-year-old girl from Andover, MA (Bancroft Elementary and Doherty Middle School) who passed suddenly due to complications from leukemia on February 8, 2021, just a few months shy of her 12th birthday. Sarah was a feisty, strong-willed, sassy, and competitive, young girl who played hard and loved with all of her heart. Sarah had an infectious laugh and an amazing smile.
The Sarah Duval Memorial Fund awards scholarships to high school seniors who aspire to work in early childhood education and/or health and human services, as well as help make youth sports more affordable for families.