Stoughton Track Remembers Teammates One Year After Fatal Crash

STOUGHTON, MA — David Bell was always talking about food. During track meets, one of his coaches at Stoughton High would draw an imaginary box around him to keep him from wandering off for a snack.

Nicholas Joyce would take time at practice to make special handshakes with his teammates and coaches. Eryck Sarblah got excited whenever he got free shirts and gear. And Christopher Desir wasn't even on the team at first; he helped set up equipment and joined only when the coaches finally asked why he didn't just suit up.

All four boys brought their own unique sort of silliness to the team, but their coaches and teammates said their energy, hard work and camaraderie were also contagious. And it was these qualities that held the team together in the year since they were killed in a horrific crash on Route 106 in East Bridgewater.

The team kept the boys' memories alive by running, letting Desir, Sarblah, Joyce and Bell serve as the motivation for everything they do.

High school senior Kyle Stone said the team has become his second family over the past year.

"Before that (the crash), it kind of felt like the crews — sprinters, throwers, distance team — were all their own separate things," Stone said. "But after that, we all became one unit and became very close."

Stone said he had been close to all four boys, as was everyone else on the team, because all four went out of their way to make sure everyone on the team was okay.

"The locker room before practice, they would always mess around and just have a good time with everyone, and make sure everyone was in a good mood," he said.

Stone remembers team dinners where Bell hung around after everyone else left, just hanging out.

"David wouldn't leave until way too late," Stone said, pausing to crack a smile.

The track team had another successful season this year, making it to the Hockomock League championship. Junior Savion Scott said the coaches have played a big part in making sure the team channeled their sadness into something positive, reminding them to work hard and to keep competing for their teammates and friends.

"They've been supportive in practice, making sure we're all working hard and know what we're working for," Scott said. "They always tell us , if you're feeling down or tired, you just got to remember who you're doing it for."

The crash brought all of last year's team together, but it was important to bring the present team together, too. Everyone made sure that incoming freshmen knew the four boys' stories.

"There's some moments we just bring up how they were in practice, the energy they brought to us, and show them how important they were to us," said Oluwole Fabikun, a junior. "Even though they weren't here, now they get to know who they were."

Coaches Jen Ceolinski and Lauren Pinchieri agreed, saying the only way to keep a memory alive is to speak about it, and that by balancing the past with the present, the team can become stronger in the future.

"It's just letting the younger kids, know what those guys were about and what they were a part of building and carrying on forward with that," Ceolinski said.

On Saturday, it wasn't just the track team, but an entire community coming out for a 5K run to raise money for the 4 Kings Scholarship, which was named after the boys and goes to graduating seniors.

The run also raised money for a Stoughton Recreation scholarship for families in need of financial assistance to participate in sports and other summer programming.

It wasn't just athletes running. One man said he hadn't gone on a run in at least three years, but was still out there supporting the boys and the community.

The community, led by Stoughton High School principal Juliette Miller, had a moment of silence for the boys. Miller told the crowd why she was running.

"I run in honor of those four young men who blessed our hallways, and our classrooms, and our fields, and our courts, and our dances," Miller said. "They were just bigger than life with smiles that brought pure joy to anyone they met."

Judging by the cheers from the crowd, it was obvious the community was there for the same reasons.

Recreation director Tim Davis said they were lucky to have great weather, and that helped turnout exceed his wildest expectations. He said he was nervous tracking the weather, especially since most of the rest of the week was filled with rain. He said someone upstairs had to be watching them.

Image of Nick Joyce via @SHS_BoysTrack

Image of Chris Desir via Russell and Pica Funeral Home

Image of David Bell via Davis Funeral Home

Image of Eryck Sarblah via Dolan Funeral Services