They wipe eye black onto their cheeks, lace up their high-top cleats and roll up their matching white socks with “Gus” encircled with a heart. With a packed crowd of students, parents and Westport residents, the sense of support on Ginny Parker field is unmissable.

On April 6, Staples girls’ lacrosse hosted “A Game for Gus” against Fairfield Warde High School. Defeating Warde 15-8, Staples turned their season record to 3-0. The game was to honor the memory of Gus Cardello ’17, a Staples graduate and student at Providence College, who passed away in October 2018.

“It was such a great experience to be able to play in the game and honor Gus,” Emma Ashe ’21 said. “We were such a unified team on the field.”

The lacrosse team fundraised during the lunch waves the week prior to the game. The team sold socks and bracelets inscribed with “A Game for Gus.”

“It was amazing to see so many students wearing the Gus logo around school,” Arden Scherer ’21 said. “It created such a sense of community.”

All the proceeds raised went towards the Gus Cardello Memorial Scholarship Fund which gives students the opportunity to attend college. Established six months ago, the online fund has raised almost $30,000, and the fundraising by girls’ lacrosse is helping the grant reach its goal.

“My brother Gus attended both Staples High School and Providence College until his passing,” Captain Izzy Cardello ’19 said. “The Gus Cardello Memorial Scholarship Fund provides named scholarships through Staples Tuition grants and Providence College for kids who need financial assistance in order to attend the schools.”

This was the first “Game for Gus” Staples has hosted, with the opportunity to become an annual event.

“It’s really helpful to know that we [my family and I] are not alone in this and we have so much support from the community,” Cardello said. “I feel so lucky to have people that care about Gus and my family.”