Newtown To Raise Funds Honoring Preston Hirten ’07
Preston Hirten ’07 played his high school soccer at Staples. But the All-State midfielder played club soccer for Samba TTP, in Newtown. His coach there — Brian Neumeyer — is also the head coach at Newtown High School.
Neumeyer has devised a special way to honor Preston. At Thursday’s state LL tournament 2nd round match between Staples and Newtown, at the Nighthawks’ Blue and Gold Stadium, funds will be collected for Goals 4 Ghana.
In 2009 — just a couple of months before he died on the University of Mary Washington soccer field during pre-season training — Preston traveled to Africa. He volunteered with Goalsl 4 Ghana, which collects and delivers equipment to players of Cantonments Football Club in Accra. Working with young players in Ghana was one of the highlights of Preston’s life.
“I’m awed by what Brian is doing,” said Staples head coach Dan Woog. “He and I both had such great respect and admiration for Preston. This is what soccer is all about — coming together, in whatever way we can, to support this great game.”
Preston Hirten (right), in action for Staples.
