Basketball keeps “Liv”ing on by honoring fellow athlete
The night of July 4, 2014 was a tragic time for the Westside family of Olivia McGinnis-Taylor. Olivia was a girl who played for the Westside and Retro basketball team, who suddenly passed away from a brain aneurysm. At this time Olivia was going into 7th grade at Westside Middle School.
Freshman, Elizabeth Robinson, was a very close friend of Olivia’s through basketball. Not only did Olivia’s passing create an impact on the family, and basketball team, it also had a huge impact on Robinson.
“After it happened, I didn’t want to practice, I was just done,” Robinson said. “[Her parents] wanted me to play for their daughter. ‘Our daughter, can no longer play so we need you to be our daughter’. Her mom has told my mom that she lives through me.”
From then on Robinson continued playing, with the support of Olivia’s family.
On January 5th, 2016, the Westside girls basketball team faced Bellevue East. Since the Retro basketball program started with Bellevue East and Westside girls, Bellevue East had a connection to Olivia, as well. Bellevue East’s Coach James Benford, otherwise known as Coach Ice and Westside’s Coach Clark dedicated the Bellevue East vs. Westside game to Olivia.
To help show support Retro head coach, Coach Ice created shirts for the Westside and Bellevue East to wear in remembrance of Olivia.
Senior, Lynsey Curran coached Olivia during one of the summer camps that she was a part of.
“For retro we are one big family. Coach Ice always made sure that we came together as a unit, all age groups and parents included as well.”
“I think remembering Olivia, especially through the Bellevue East vs. Westside game, is special to everyone because of how great of a girl she was. She was the sweetest with always caring about everyone, not matter the circumstances and had a continuous strive to get better. You could always tell that she was not impressed with her recent play, she never settled and worked so hard to improve every aspect of her game,” Curran said.
To show support to the family, you can help participate in the Brain Aneurysm walk with the basketball team and family of Olivia.
“I’ve learned that tomorrow isn’t always a guarantee. You should show people that you love them today and not wait until tomorrow,” Robinson said.
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