To the Maxson: Team conquers tragedy

April 23, 2009 by Matt Maxson 

For hours they sat together on the court, practicing routines endlessly.

The well-choreographed techniques of the Rebel Girls’ squad relied on trust, timing and tempo – a role Lindsay Bennett filled perfectly.

After all, she had spent the last two years as captain of the Coronado High School Dance Team.  But after dying as a victim in an April 15 car accident on I-215, the UNLV dance squad will have more to fill than just a pair of shoes.

At a memorial held in the Donald Moyer Amphitheatre, more than 500 friends and family filled in to pay tribute. And though they each had trouble finding the words to say, next to her family, the hardest people hit by the tragedy seemed to be her teammates.

Rebel Girl Kristen Johnson was interrupted by her own tears as she sang “Held” by Natalie Grant.

But by looking through it, there was one thing that was certain:

They weren’t teammates; they were family.

And in a year where team camaraderie has been questioned at UNLV, the Rebel Girls’ solidarity after this tragedy makes the idea seem obsolete.

As the dancers spent most of the season on the basketball court, they witnessed first the basketball team’s shortcomings. But after numerous losses, accusations swirled about the personal relationship on the teams.

But Tre’Von Willis said in an interview with the Las Vegas Sun’s Rob Miech that the team was “a little too close,” saying that is what kept them from being great.

It doesn’t seem that far fetched after Tuesday’s memorial.

The one-hour memorial saw athletes of all sports.

Swimmers, football players and track athletes observed and wept during the candlelight vigil and services. People who didn’t know Bennett were touched just by the emotion shown at the memorial.

As the Rebel Girls move on in the face of this tragedy they’re camaraderie will remain. Of all the things athletics offer at UNLV that may be the greatest feature.

But the main thing stressed during the ceremony was to prevent future drunk driving.

Family friend Jo Velasquez said during the memorial, “Be a true and loyal friend to Bennett and make sure you have a designated driver or not touch liquor.”