Who would have imagined that MHS would be the place to hangout on a Friday night? If you weren’t at Catch a Wave on March 21, you missed one of the biggest events of the year. This wildly successful fundraiser raised money for the children’s cancer center at Winthrop Hospital.

As people walked down the main hallway of the high school, they could instantly feel the warm, tropical vibe. The hallway had a wonderful beach feel, thanks to the work of the talented art department. Students were dressed in their best beach attire, and the catchy music played in the background by WMHS only added to the summertime ambiance.

Various school clubs had stations where they sold items. Half of the proceeds would benefit the cancer center and the remaining half would further the respective club. From the boys’ track team to the Tri-M music honor society, nearly every school club was eager to support a fantastic cause and spread awareness for its own organization.

By seven o’clock, people started to file into the main gym for the benefit concert. Each person had to pay a three dollar admission ticket that would directly go to Winthrop. The art classes designed beautiful postcards that were adjacent to the ticket booth, and people had the opportunity to vote for their favorite postcard that would ultimately be sent to a cancer patient at Winthrop.

The house band, with seniors Brittany Garcia and Tom Morse alongside juniors Angelica Ansbacher, Rob Catinella, Julie Kapuvari, Brandan Lawrence and John Witt, were already playing an infectious tune that got the mood going as everyone entered the gym. Students sat on blankets and tossed beach balls in the air as they waited for the concert to begin.

Senior Ryan Schulte, one of the event’s main coordinators, started the night by introducing the inspiration for Catch a Wave, seven-year-old Sadie Freifield. Sadie’s mom, Mrs. Beth Freifield, expressed her immense gratitude to both Winthrop Hospital and the Massapequa community for helping Sadie successfully defeat cancer.

Little Sadie even took the microphone during the evening to express her gratitude. In an especially touching moment, to celebrate Sadie’s birthday the following day, the entire gym joined together to sing to her.

Following the speeches, the show opened with sophomores Kevin Stallone and Rebecca White, who set the bar for the talent the concert would showcase when they performed “Lucky” by Jason Mraz and Colbie Callait. Several other bands and solo artists also performed throughout the night.

Although the performers were happy to sing, they were even more thrilled to have a chance to perform for such a worthy cause.

“[Catch a Wave] was such a great cause,” White said.

“Being able to do what I love and knowing at the same time that it is helping so many people is heartwarming.”

At intermission, raffles were drawn for both the student artwork that was on display earlier in the evening and baskets that many clubs donated for the event. By the end of the night, nearly 4,000 dollars had been raised for the cancer center.

After nearly a year, the coordinators never thought they would make it to this day.

“I honestly think it’s a miracle that the entire thing worked out,” Schulte said. “Although this project has been a monster of anxiety and hard work, the memories I’ve made on this project are some of the best of my entire high school career.”

Between the benefit concert and the boardwalk, this event was arguably one of the most creative fundraisers that MHS has ever hosted.

“Catch a Wave was an amazing event that was very well-prepared,” Principal Dr. Barbara Williams said.

Everyone who took part should be incredibly proud; with such a powerful collaborative effort, Catch a Wave was a definite success.