- April 16, 2024
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Shakirah Cousins celebrates "Dig Pink" night, wearing a tutu. Photos by Jeff Dawsey
Pirates' Yaya Garcia scores off of a Kiki Jones block attempt.
The Pirates won in straight sets over FPC.
The Bulldogs celebrate their third-set comeback that came up short.
Matanzas rallies around Kaylee Mandt, who blocked a spike for a pivotal point.
Kayla Wegener and Kayla Dance presents Kiera Roe with flowers. She was voted honorary teacher.
Abby Robles led the Bulldogs in assists.
Grace Hyatt
Kaylee Mandt was pumped after blocking a spike to help Matanzas win the third set.
Fight like a girl. Dig pink. Think pink. Never give up. Ace out cancer. Block out cancer. Hope. Inspirational messages like these were posted all throughout Flagler Palm Coast’s gym that aimed at the ongoing rivalry: humanity vs. breast cancer.
The school rivalry took a back seat this time. Both teams sported the same pink jerseys to honor those who are fighting, have lost the fight or have conquered breast cancer. Coach Shakirah Cousins, who coached in a pink tutu, and the Lady Dawgs began this tradition a few years ago, and coach Julie Menendez and her Lady Pirates have joined them.
“They do a great job here doing that,” Menendez said, “and they take half the proceeds here and give it toward breast cancer awareness, so we just like to participate in that to show our support for it.”
“I like to make it a county thing because it shows that we’re all involved in a bigger fight,” Cousins said. Before this year, Cousins always highlighted a specific survivor to honor at the game, but this time she had all of those who have had to battle cancer or those who knew someone in the battle stand to an ovation.
“Here on campus, we have two fighters this year,” Cousins said. “One person is going through her second battle and another is going through her first. I just think it’s affecting so many people that all of those people need to be recognized.”
“I think we had an awesome turnout and a great donation for our cause, and that’s really what it comes down to.”
“This year was a great event,” said FPC athletic director Steve DeAugustino, who wore a pink button-up. “Good game. Good crowd. Everyone pulled together for breast cancer awareness, and Shakirah does a good job putting it on. We had a lot of good slogans and messages. It’s good for the kids in our county to rally for a great cause. I’m proud of both teams.”
