Latest news with #AddisonNicolich

Yahoo

Harper Creek's Nicolich playing for late father, 'he has the best seats in the house now'

BATTLE CREEK — Ever since Addison Nicolich started playing soccer, her dad has always been in the stands for every game, watching her. This year, Addison is still playing. And she believe her dad Chris Nicolich is still watching. He's just in a different place. Advertisement Addison is playing her junior season for the Harper Creek girls soccer team in the memory of her dad. Chris Nicolich, 47, passed away just days before season-opening tryouts for the Beaver varsity soccer team after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Addison knew her dad was sick, but had hoped he would get to see her play this season. "I didn't think it would happen, until it did, because he had beat it before," said Addison, as her dad was first diagnosed with cancer in 2023, but had gone through a period of remission since then. "I always thought he was going to be here for soccer. He talked about coming to the games. He said he might not be able to come to the cold ones because he was sick. "But, the week before tryouts it happened and everything kind of hit me then." Advertisement MORE HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS: Harper Creek boys win back-to-back All-City track titles for first time ever Lakeview wins third straight All-City Tournament championship in lacrosse Chris Nicolich died on March 6. Addison played in Harper Creek's season opener on March 21 against Edwardsburg in an effort to honor her dad. "I knew I would have all my friends with me and soccer would be a safe place to go," Addison said. "But that first game was really hard for me, but it helped that I knew the whole team was playing that game for him. I always think about him when we play a game. Honestly it makes me feel better in a way, because I want to make him proud. Advertisement "But, it was hard because he would never miss a game. And now he misses all of them." Harper Creek junior Addison Nicolich has continued to play soccer in the memory of her dad Chris Nicolich, who passed away after a fight with cancer just weeks before the season started. Beaver coach Thomas McNeil said Chris Nicolich, a 1996 Harper Creek graduate, was great supporter of the program. With that in mind, the team has worn special ribbons in his honor for games and has had patches made with his name on them for their team equipment bags. "He always helped with offseason stuff, in-season stuff. He was always someone you can count on," McNeil said. "He was going to be our announcer for this season. When the season got close, he had felt himself getting worse and he called and said he wouldn't be able to do the announcing. Advertisement "But he meant a lot to the program and meant a lot to the girls. The girls have rallied around the family and Addison since." Harper Creek has had a great start to the season at 10-1 so far, which includes the program's first-ever win against state-power and league-rival Marshall. Addison has five assists on the year from her center midfield position. Harper Creek is set to play in the All-City Girls Soccer Tournament at Battle Creek Central on May 10. "For some games, coach will have us put tape on our wrist and have us write down on that tape who we are playing that game for," Addison said. "I asked the team, going into that Marshall game, if we could write my dad's name. I feel like it helps, not only me, but everyone to play better when we know who we are playing the game for." As a wife and a parent, Beth Nicolich is thankful for the support from the team and the other parents after the passing of her husband. Fighting back tears, Beth explained how proud she is as she just marvels at the strength of her daughter. Advertisement "This has been hard. It's been nice to lean on the other parents and the girls. They have taken us in," Beth said. "But, yes, it's been hard. We just say, he has the best seats in the house now. "Even until the last day, he just kept telling us, you guys keep moving. You go out there and kick tail, keep driving, keep moving. That's what we are trying to do. We don't get a choice. Life keeps moving, so we keep thinking about what he would want us to do. We just say, let's make him proud. And, she is doing amazing with that. I am very proud of her." Addison says she can't help but think of her dad each time she takes the field. "I knew if he was still here, it would be really hard for him to be at games because he would be in a lot of pain being outside watching," Addison said. "So now, he is in a better place and he can watch all my games without being in pain." Advertisement Bill Broderick can be reached at bbroderi@ Follow him on X/Twitter: @billbroderick This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Harper Creek's Nicolich playing girls soccer season in memory of dad