SPORTS

Monroe team manager stars in unforgettable Senior Night

Daniel LoGiudice
@danny_logiudice
Fannon goes in for a hug with Coach Ruckdeschel after scoring a goal on Wednesday night


In the box score, senior Megan Fannon’s goal in the opening minutes of Monroe High School’s Senior Night appears no different from any of the other goals scored by the girls soccer team this season.

For her family, her team and the Monroe community, however, the goal was worth innumerably more than the one point it contributed to the final score.

Fannon, who has Down syndrome, started for the first time in her career after serving four years as the team’s manager and dribbled up the field to score a goal in Wednesday’s game against Kinnelon.

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“It was probably the proudest moment I’ve had as a coach,” Monroe coach Peter Ruck Ruckdeschel said. “I’m getting teary-eyed just talking about it. She has that kind of  effect on people.”

Fannon dribbles up the field

Prior to scoring, Fannon received a pass in the box from senior Paiten Hornberger, a lifetime family friend whom Fannon affectionately refers to as her cousin.

“My cousin Paiten helped me and passed the ball over to me, and I put it in the goal,” Fannon said. “It was exciting, and it made me very happy.”

As team manager, Fannon attends every game and practice. She has done a little of everything over the past four years, but most important, Fannon’s positivity has been crucial to her team’s success.

“She absolutely infects people with her positivity — we could be having the worst day, but once she starts dribbling at goal and puts it in the back of the net, the mood changes and everybody is uplifted,” Ruckdeschel said. “She’s the epitome of what we all want to strive to be.”

The post-goal celebration

Fannon’s career with the team started when she was a freshman. Her mother, Lisa, asked former longtime Monroe coach Kathy Dillon if her daughter could be a part of the team. There was no question in Dillon’s mind.

“She brought her on the team, not really playing but more being a manager and making her a part of everything,” Fannon said. “Thank God for Ms. Dillon.”

Over the past four years, Fannon has fostered many close relationships with her teammates, so when it came to organize this special event, it was Fannon’s teammates who fought the hardest to get Fannon a start on Senior Night.

The seniors, including Hornberger, took a back seat on their Senior Night to honor their dedicated team manager.

Fannon and her fellow senior Falcons

“It was an amazing moment. I’ll never forget her face and the excitement she had,” said Hornberger, who’s been kicking around the idea of having her “cousin” start since last year. “She brings a positive vibe to everyone.”

Fannon will graduate in June but will remain a fixture at Monroe. As a part of Monroe’s adult program, Fannon will continue to help out with the soccer team and will also receive outside job training until she is 21.

She also plans on attending college, with Princeton University at the top of her list. When it comes to deciding factors, Fannon’s mother believes there is one matter that is particularly pressing in her ambitious daughter's mind.

“I think she just wants a dorm room.”

Staff Writer Daniel LoGiudice: dlogiudice@gannettnj.com; Twitter: @danny_logiudice.