Two seventh-graders were surprised to receive honors.
MEXICO – Two Mountain Valley Middle School seventh-grade boys were surprised to find themselves in the limelight at Tuesday night’s sports awards banquet at the SAD 43 school.
Nate “Pepsi” Papsadora, 13, and David Adley, 12, both of Rumford, received a legislative sentiment from the 122nd Legislature for their courage during a crisis situation last month after a ski accident at Black Mountain of Maine in Rumford.
Presenting the large documents to the boys were Sen. Bruce Bryant, D-Dixfield, and Rep. John Patrick, D-Rumford.
Bryant said he was “pretty proud” of the two boys, “who showed real courage and really cool heads” on Feb. 12 after their friend, Benjamin Higley, 13, of Rumford, was badly injured while skiing with them.
Reading from the sentiment, Bryant said that Papsadora stayed with Higley, “who was in great pain from two badly broken legs, an injured arm and other injuries.”
“David made sure another person kept watch, so other skiers wouldn’t strike the remaining pair, while he raced down the mountain for assistance,” Bryant read.
Cool heads’
“We congratulate both boys on keeping cool heads, and being Good Samaritans, and, we send them our best wishes,” he added.
Both Papsadora and Adley then showed the awards to their parents, before posing for photographs with Bryant, Patrick and Higley, who was in a wheelchair with both legs elevated.
“I finally have an award that my brother doesn’t,” Papsadora told Bryant, who laughed.
“I’m pretty proud. I thought I did a pretty good thing staying with (Higley), but I didn’t realize how good of a job I did until I got that award,” Papsadora added.
“I was really surprised,” Adley said of the legislative award.
“I didn’t realize I was going to get recognized like that,” he added.
Following the ceremony, Papsadora, Adley and Higley entered the school auditorium where the Ski Team awards were to be presented.
There, Black Mountain Ski Patrol member Dennis Moore spoke briefly about the accident, saying, “This was one of the worst situations I’ve ever come upon.”
He awarded a Ski Patrol sweatshirt to each boy.
Plaques, also
Rushing to the podium before Moore gave out the apparel, Higley’s father, Tracey, presented a Citizenry/Heroism Award each to Papsadora and Adley on behalf of his son.
Papsadora’s plaque read, “In appreciation for remaining calm and acting like a true friend during a crisis situation.”
Adley’s plaque read, “In appreciation for your quick thinking and heroism during a crisis, and acting like a true friend.”
Prior to the ceremony, Shannon Higley said she was very proud of Adley and Papsadora, whose parents are Brad and Susan Adley, and Mike and Kim Papsadora.
“They went way above and beyond what I thought a 12-year-old would be capable of. They were just phenomenal,” she said.
Afterward, Papsadora said the trio was skiing atop the mountain in the terrain park when Benjamin Higley jumped, lost his balance and landed on his back with his skis straight out in front of him.
Shannon Higley said her son broke the tibia and fibula bones in both legs at the boot line.
“He started screaming really loud when he landed,” Papsadora said.
“We knew one of us had to stay and comfort him, and one had to go get the Ski Patrol,” he added.
Benjamin Higley, who must learn to walk all over again, hasn’t attended school since the accident and is being tutored. He beamed at both boys.
“I’m really proud of them for what they did for me. It’s awesome to have friends like that,” Benjamin Higley said.
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