As Mt. Ararat prepares to embark on the next chapter in its history with a new school and athletic complex, the boys and girls soccer teams at the high school were busy inviting alumni back to the field.

On Saturday, the Eagles hosted a boys and girls alumni doubleheader on the field that will soon be no more. The existing field will closed after this season and soccer teams will spend the next several seasons at alternative sites until the new turf field is available in the fall of 2021.

The Mt. Ararat fundraising committee sponsored the “Soccer Send-off ” to give past Mt. Ararat players the ability to shine on the field one last time. Over 50 graduates ranging from the 1970s to this year, along with several prior coaches, including Mike Steitzer, Richard Gnauck, Sam Chard and Rick Renaud, took part. Renaud led a moment of silence for Rolando Amador and Nick Oram, recent graduates who passed away in the past year.

Pam LeDuc, a member of the fundraising committee and the Topsham Parks and Recreation Director, planned the event with Rioux.

The game featured many exciting efforts from recent grads Mike Crawford, Jimmy Pelletier, Justin Pierce and Alden Talbot, and also from veterans such as current boys coach Jack Rioux, current girls coach Chad Kirk, and locals Chuck Alexander and Josh Bartlett.

“It was great to see so many classes present and willing to be a part of the game and to give them one last run on that field,” said LeDuc.

The Mt. Ararat fundraising committee is currently raising awareness for projects that need funding, which include baseball and softball dugouts, scoreboards, concession related items and a few other items. The committee is chaired by Rob Hollenbach and Angela Twitchell.