A sign honoring Northville Central School’s state championship teams was unveiled at the Northville Visitors’ Center on Route 30 Tuesday afternoon.
The sign, denoting the 1988 Boys’ Soccer, 1995 Boys’ Soccer, and 2024 Girls’ Soccer State Championship teams, was designed and manufactured by Northville student (and WAC All-Star keeper) Lilian Chamberlain in her CNC Machining class.
Lilian’s coach, Doug Hammons, approached her about making something to mark her team’s huge accomplishment of capturing the school’s third state title with a 1-0 win over Copenhagen last November.
“I immediately said yes, and I definitely went all in.” Lilian said. “I wanted to make something everyone could see when they drive by, a way to represent our small town” and its teams’ big achievements.
Guided by CNC Machining teachers Warren Hoffman and Mike Valovic, Lilian spent several weeks on the project. “The actual design process was pretty easy,” she said, adding “it took longer making it and cutting it out; it was my first time using that (specific) CNC machine.”
Mr. Hammons, himself a state champion as a member of the 1995 team, reached out to other Falcon champs to make the installation of the sign even more special. Mr. Hammons and 1995 teammate Doug Chamberlain (Lilian’s father) were joined by 1988 teammates Paul Forsey and Johnny Weaver to hang the sign early Tuesday morning ahead of the unveiling ceremony.
At the ceremony, Mr. Hammons remarked on the sign’s significance in acknowledging individuals coming together as teammates to strive towards a common goal. He noted that he always looks at the signage as he drives into a new town, and is proud that a sign made by one of his players will tell everyone visiting Northville a story about teamwork.
Mr. Hammons thanked NCS Superintendent Dr. Sarah Chauncey, Northville Mayor Sue Geraghty Eckert and Village Superintendent Dan Reidell for working together to quickly approve the project and make every phase of it seamless. An identical sign will soon be installed at the other Northville welcome site at the top of Gould Hill.
Lilian was joined at the ceremony by her 2024 soccer co-captains, Leah Valovic, Abby Armstrong, Lily Klippel and Hailey Monroe. She was excited by the event and also a bit relieved at its conclusion. “I’m really happy everyone finally got to see it,” she said after all the weeks of planning and effort.
