What started out as the finale to  the celebratory Spirit Week, ended in fear, worry, and shock. 

It was the beginning of 4th quarter, and the building was loud with energy. The gym was packed, and the students were awaiting the finale of Spirit Week. The seniors were on the verge of winning it all, and the other grades were still holding on hope of a high placing in final rankings. But as Ronald Smith, #32 on the John Burroughs Basketball team, went up for the basket, and hit the ground, the focus shifted. The mood changed. 

At first it was chaos, with people trying to figure out what had happened. A group of doctors, and school official ran to the aid of the young man, who had obviously been badly injured. But in the coming seconds, the gym fell silent, and the scores of people who where seconds ago on their feet cheering, sat down, and looked. 

It was strange feeling that came over the crowd. It was mix of shock, disbelief, and utter horror. Our biggest night had turned into our darkest one. Looking around at the faces in the crowd, you could see it on their faces. You could see the tears in many of their eyes. You could feel the pain of the Burroughs crowd. And you could clearly hear what was transpiring on the far end of the court. All we could do, was pray. 

When the paramedics arrived, and quickly took Smith away, the crowd clapped their hands, and sat back down, not knowing what and where to go next. After a few moments, it was announced that the game would be cancelled, no big surprise there. But still the crowd did not move. It took a few minutes for people to start going out the gym and into the grand entry. Soon news of Smith’s improving condition spread through the crowd, but it did not stop countless amounts of people from weeping. It did not change the fact of what we had just saw. It did not change the fact that the outcome of that night could have gone down as a very dark one for Westminster Christian Academy and John Burroughs School. 

Ronald Smith will be known in the WCA community for year to come, not for the accident, but for what spurred afterwards. He caused a community to stop and think, not to mention a trending hashtag. He caused us to pray a little harder, and to hold tight to our friends a little tighter. And while Ronald Smith will make a full recovery, that night, the night that our hearts jolted out of chest, became a night that we will never forget. 

Eichel Davis

Wildcat Roar Print Editor