H.S. girls volleyball: Frontier hosts fundraiser for Iain Spearance

SOUTH DEERFIELD — A packed Goodnow Gymnasium came together for a special cause on Monday night. The Frontier Regional girls volleyball team hosted a fundraiser for Iain Spearance, who recently had surgery to remove a 3.6-centimeter mass from his brain.

After graduating from Frontier in 2022, Spearance went to Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He got his degree and began working in Arizona this past summer as an electrical engineer. During a planned family vacation after a month on the job, Spearance experienced a seizure on Marconi Beach in Wellfleet.

“I had the seizure at 10:15 in the morning,” Spearance said. ” I didn’t even remember it. I woke up in an ambulance. They told me I passed out on the beach, and everyone was freaking out.”

Without the necessary imaging equipment, doctors on Cape Cod quickly sent Spearance to Boston. The doctors at Beth Israel Deaconess removed the mass during a craniotomy on July 27. The diagnosis was Oligodendroglioma. It is considered a slow growing cancer that responds well to treatment. A GoFundMe for Spearance’s medical debt, which includes ongoing oral treatment, can be found here.

Spearance is home for now while he recuperates. The GoFundMe is approaching $25,000 in donations.

“It’s awesome. I didn’t expect it at all,” Spearance said. “I didn’t really realize how much people care about someone in the community when they have something like this happen to you and you actually see it in full force. Being the target of that, I am very thankful for it.”

He was in attendance for his sister’s match against Longmeadow. Avah Spearance is a captain for the Redhawks. The Redhawks came to the match with “Team Iain” shirts with his face on the front. The players went around selling raffle tickets during the junior varsity match. Frontier coach Courtney Parent approached Avah Spearance about having a fundraiser in the preseason. Spearance led Frontier with 13 digs against the Lancers.

“I think it’s awesome,” Avah Spearance said. “Seeing how many people have reposted the post, it is heartwarming. I never thought that many people would care about my family, but they do.”

The powerful Longmeadow team was too much for the resurgent Redhawks in the match, as the Lancers swept Frontier. Set scores were 25-16, 25-9 and 25-14. Frontier is 5-2 this season, with a 4-2 record in the Northern league.

“Before tonight I thought we were serving well,” Parent said. “I thought we were doing some aggressive things well. Passing well and serving well. When we get in a rhythm, we look really good. Tonight was kind of the opposite of everything we’ve been seeing.”

A full student section along with a large contingent of community members supported the Redhawks behind the bench. The team acknowledged the fundraising effort before the match. Iain Spearance received a round of applause.

“I thought it was really special having everyone here for Iain,” Parent said. “Seeing such a full gym was really heartwarming.”

Aimee Talbott led the Redhawks with six kills. Frontier plays the Lancers again on October 21. A lot of things need to improve in the rematch. Longmeadow is undefeated.

“We’ve been talking a lot more and trusting each other,” Talbott said. “We have a version of them in our heads that we have to get rid of in a way. We have to think of the positive side, that we can beat them…we can improve on pretty much everything we did.”

Karinna Kostov had seven digs for the Redhawks. Anna Conklin helped the offense with four kills.

Smith Vocational 3, Franklin Tech 1 — The Eagles lost to the Vikings in Northampton. Set scores were 23-25, 25-20, 25-17 and 25-19. Emma Petersen had seven kills and four assists. Laura Fuess added five kills while Charley Knight led the offense with 10 assists. Janiylah Wan had four digs and four assists.

Weekend results

Boys soccer

Athol 3, Pioneer 1 — Noah Kapise and Nathan Parayson scored to give the Bears a two-goal lead in their win over the Panthers at O’Brien Field on Saturday. Tad Loud scored on a penalty kick in the 65th minute for Pioneer, but a goal by Lucas E’Ecuyer sealed the win for Athol. Parayson assisted on the goal in the 72nd minute. Drake Wing made seven saves for Athol, while Ethan Burgh stopped eight shots for the Panthers.

Girls soccer

Pioneer 3, Athol 0 — Maddie Keefe scored twice for the Panthers in the win over the Bears at O’Brien Field. Leah Potter also scored for Pioneer. Jaelyn Boliski set up Keefe on both goals to record two assists. Brooke Welcome made fours saves in net. Ava Adams stopped 15 shots for the Bears.