Bristol Eastern High School is coming together to support student-athlete Noah Kufa after a car crash left the 17-year-old hospitalized as the football season began.
Kufa, a member of the Bristol Eastern Lancers and a student involved in the school’s marching band, was injured in a crash in Farmington in August. His teammates, friends and other members of the school community have rallied around him while he remains unable to take part in the start of the school year and football season.
Head football coach Anthony Julius described Kufa as a positive student who gets along well with his teammates.
The support became especially visible around the Lancers’ opening football game. Students wore blue, Kufa’s favorite color, as a tribute, while the team and school community dedicated part of the night to him.
Kufa’s teammates also found a way to make sure his presence was felt on the field. Travis Berube, a close friend and fellow kicker, carried Kufa’s jersey to the sideline and placed it on the team bench.
The tribute continued during halftime, when the football team formed “B-E-45,” combining the school’s initials with Kufa’s jersey number.
For Kufa’s friends, the night was about more than football. It was an opportunity to remind him that his teammates and classmates have not forgotten him.
Aidyn Davies, who has known Kufa since middle school, said the turnout showed how many people care about his friend.
Kufa also received support from Bristol Eastern’s performing arts community. Friends and supporters organized a fundraiser featuring cupcakes and keychains to help his family. Students signed a birthday card for Kufa as the school community marked his 17th birthday.
Mya Michaud, one of Kufa’s close friends, helped make the cupcakes with her mother. She said she wanted to do something for someone who has had a meaningful impact on her life.
The emotional impact of the crash has been especially difficult for Kufa’s teammates. Berube recalled learning about the accident and struggling to process what had happened.
Michaud said it was painful to see Kufa miss the beginning of his senior year and the first football game of the season.
Friends are also preserving moments from the season for Kufa. Isabella Cadogan said she was putting together a video montage of photos and videos so he could see what he missed when he is able to watch it.
Kufa’s school community has continued to hold onto the hope that he will recover. The tributes on the football field, the fundraiser and the messages from classmates have all become ways for Bristol Eastern students to stand beside one of their own during a difficult time.
Kufa remains part of the Lancers’ community even while he is away from the field. For his teammates and friends, the message has been simple: they are waiting for him to come back.
