Nik Sperounis was an inspiration, to his Chelmsford High classmates, and in particular, his football, wrestling, and lacrosse teammates.
As he battled Angiosarcoma for two-plus years, he summoned the strength to push those around him to new heights. And that is why his passing Sunday night at age 18, surrounded by his loving family at Boston Children’s Hospital, has hit entire community so hard.
“The people, Chelmsford High School, the football program, the wrestling program, lacrosse program love that kid,” said Chelmsford wrestling coach Chris Piscione. “We support him and his family. I will never forget him and what he did, his contribution here, and the support he gave us when he’s fighting for his life every day.”
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Sperounis competed during his freshman year, but his diagnosis in August ahead of his sophomore season left him on the sidelines thereafter. But he was a team captain.
It was Sperounis pushing his teammates to achieve more, and then his teammates pushing him in his own battle when his condition worsened. He was able to attend his prom and graduation before his death.
“It’s tough to put into words what he meant to everyone, especially the kids he grew up with,” Piscione said. “He meant everything to them.”
Football and wrestling teammate Bobby Hennessey, who is also Sperounis’s cousin, said the Lions talked about Nik every day, and it always motivated them to increase their intensity.
“Every single day is a blessing,” Hennessey said. “Every single day we go to practice and we work hard to honor Nik and do things the way he’d do it if he was able to.”
The Hennessey family started the “Fight of a Lifetime” fundraiser for Sperounis and his family, which raised $127,400 in support.
“Nik was a one-of-a-kind type of dude,” Hennessey said. “Not often do people come like Nik. To say he was a dog would be a total understatement. I never met a kid with the spirit that Nik had.”
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Manny Marshall, a captain of the football, wrestling, and lacrosse teams, said Sperounis was a big reason was the senior group was so tight. Their classmates looked up to the hardworking freshman three years ago. He always knew to do the right thing.
“It was always good to have him around,” Marshall said. “He was always an example for us to look at. How lucky we are to be in the field, but also to compete for him. Nik would do anything to compete. He’s an inspiration, really.”
It was tough to watch a teammate be in pain, but the sight of him arriving to games on his wheelchair will be remembered by how hard he fought to be there for his boys.
“Now that he’s gone, it’s hard thinking about living without him,” Marshall said. “We live for him now. Whatever I do, I’m going to do with Nik in the back of my mind and I’m going to do it the way he’d want me to do it: relentless.
“That’s a big word for him, he was always relentless with whatever he did.”
Visiting hours for Nik Sperounis will be held Sunday, from 1-5 p.m. at the Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home, 24 Worthen Street. Services will be Monday, at 11 a.m., at St. Mary Parish, 25 North Road.
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Read more about Nik Sperounis
- Four years ago, Joe Mitri and Nik Sperounis were promising freshmen. Since then they’ve both battled cancer and inspired Chelmsford football.
- Heart of a Lion: Nik Sperounis’s fighting spirit an inspiration for Chelmsford football team
- Refusing to let a cancer diagnosis pin him down, Chelmsford’s Nik Sperounis cheers on his teammates
AJ Traub can be reached at aj.traub@globe.com.