COLUMBIA, Ill. – Crawford Bryant was number 5 on the soccer team but is number 1 in the hearts of community members across Columbia.
Columbia High School hosted a heartfelt tribute Wednesday evening as the community united to honor Bryant, a former soccer player and student whose life was tragically cut short over Labor Day weekend. Teammates, coaches, and fans gathered to remember the impact he made both on and off the field.
Christopher Grode, superintendent of Columbia CUSD 4, told FOX 2, “Everyone’s feeling everything. It’s a tragedy, and so they’re processing a lot of emotions about what they’re feeling. Then their feelings about their feelings, and so it’s a difficult time for them.”
The teen succumbed to his injuries and passed away from a car accident on Hanover Road in Monroe County on Sunday. He was one of four students involved in the high speed crash, with two still in the hospital and one back home.
Crawford’s teammates walked onto the field together, carrying his framed jersey with pride and heavy hearts. In front of a packed stadium, the opposing team handed Columbia’s team flowers to show their support even during competition.
“I don’t know if I can put words to it. The amount of love that’s been pouring out, trying to help each other and serve each other… there’s just no words to it,” Grode said.
The Columbia Community School District has announced the cancellation of all classes on Thursday to allow students to attend Crawford’s funeral at Oerter Park and has even provided shuttle services. A total of 10 buses will carry students that signed up for the services Thursday morning, two of those being for the soccer and football teams to ride together.
“I think getting back on the field and getting back in the classrooms is good for them. Seeing each other, being together,” Grode added.
Wednesday evening was the team’s first game without Crawford, and the Eagles took home a 4 to 2 victory. The school is selling t-shirts in support of Crawford that read “Columbia Strong,” with the “S” in strong replaced by a 5 as a tribute to the late teen’s soccer number.
