Mesa High team pays tribute to tradition
Mesa High football players will focus on tradition and school spirit as they honor past generations of alumni and one legendary quarterback.
The Mesa High football team will clean the Mesa Cemetery from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. July 24.
Then, students will gather at Zedo Ishikawa's grave to listen to attorney Mark Ishikawa tell his uncle's story. The teens will top-off their field trip by singing the school song.
Zedo, a senior, was Mesa High's star quarterback when the 1932-33 school year began. He was wounded in a gun accident in September.
Moments after the incident, Zedo said to his father, "It doesn’t look like I’ll make it to the Gilbert game tomorrow. Tell Coach Coutchie and the boys to carry on." Zedo died several hours later.
"Carry On" soon became the school's motto and the title of its anthem. The phrase and the music have instilled pride in the thousands of teens who have attended Mesa High since then.
Kelley Moore, physical education teacher, is head coach of the football team. Theresa Ratti, social studies teacher, is Mesa High's service learning coach.
The Mesa High football team won the Governor's Volunteer Service Award in 2010. In addition to the cemetery project, the athletes are role models and mentors to younger students. They march in the MLK Parade. They assist elderly residents who need help at home. And they collect food bank supplies.