STANDING: Princeton High boys soccer coaches, from left, Ryan Walsh, Patrick Remboski and Seb Ratzan, showed their support for Evan Gershkovich last week, wearing “#IStandWithEvan” T-shirts as PHS prepared to welcome Notre Dame. Gershkovich, a mainstay of the Tigers team that won the Group 3 state championship in 2009, is a Wall Street Journal reporter who was arrested in Russia on March 30 on espionage charges and is currently being held at Lefortovo prison in Moscow. The PHS program and The Wall Street Journal held a September 26 rally in support of Gershkovich, who denied the allegations. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
By Bill Alden
Spirit. Intelligence. Persistence. These are some of the qualities that stood out about Evan Gershkovich when he played for the Princeton High boys soccer program from 2006-2009.
“When he was here, it didn’t take long to realize how special he was,” former PHS men’s soccer head coach Wayne Sutcliffe said in describing star midfielder Gershkovich, a stalwart of the Tigers team that won the Group 3 state championship in 2009.
“He had an incredibly high football IQ. He was very bright academically and he was also one of the funniest guys on the team. He started every game in his three seasons in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Evan never had a bad day – he persevered through everything. We won everything you could win in New Jersey football.
Sutcliffe delivered that assessment during a rally on the PHS turf field held Sept. 26 before the Tigers boys soccer team hosted Notre Dame to support Gershkovich, a Wall Street reporter Journal who was arrested on March 30 in Russia on espionage charges and is currently detained in Lefortovo prison in Moscow.
The event drew a crowd of friends, former teammates and colleagues on a cold, overcast and rainy afternoon, many wearing “Free Evan” buttons. PHS players and coaches wore white T-shirts with “#IStandWithEvan” on the front.
According to Sutcliffe, Gershkovich’s strengths will help him deal with his current situation.
“My thought right now and my hope, as we all are, is that he still has that determination,” Sutcliffe said of Gershkovich, who has denied the accusations. “As I say that and he’s on the other side of the world, he handles it like he would handle an overtime game where you have to be at your best. If I know Evan well enough, I know he continues this.
The Wall Street Journal’s Financial Enterprise editor Ken Brown, a colleague and friend of Gershkovich, saw the rally as part of the paper’s ongoing campaign to secure Gershkovich’s release and as an effort to bring some relief to him. of comfort.
“I hope we do two things today: get attention, and we’ll get stories about Evan,” Brown said, noting that a similar rally took place at Bowdoin College, the college’s alma mater by Gershkovich. “Evan’s old team wears T-shirts and is there for him. We’re going to send him some pictures and that should really cheer him up at a time when he really needs some cheering up.
The PHS players responded to the ceremony with a spirited effort, edging Notre Dame 1-0 on a late goal from Matthew Kim to remain undefeated into the fall.
A former Tigers star, Thatcher Foster, one of Gershkovich’s former teammates and friend, was heartened by the show of support.
“I just want to let you know how much this means that all of you here, both teams here, continue to support Evan,” said Foster, who was joined at the event by another former teammate Max Reid. “I speak for Max when I say do everything you can to keep him in mind – talk about him, ask Wayne about him, write to the Wall Street Journal, write to your congressman. Keep him in front because he’s special, that’s what all these events are about.
Reid, for his part, wasn’t surprised by last week’s turnout.
“Evan’s real superpower was connecting with people from different backgrounds, years and personalities,” Reid said. “I think that’s what made him such a great captain for our team, a great friend and a great journalist.”
Foster sounded an optimistic note, hoping for a future ceremony that includes Gershkovich.
“It’s up to us to come here next year and have Evan talk to you all and tell you it wasn’t that bad,” Foster said.
