Losing not only a classmate but a dear friend and teammate, was a terrible tragedy for the Devine community. Being a small town, Devine comes together in times of despair. This year’s cheerleading squad, volleyball team and tennis team have each dedicated something to remember Alyssa Ramirez.

This year’s cheer captain, senior Kailee Ramirez was inspired to have a lavender design of Alyssa’s initials with an anchor at the bottom of their maroon cheerleading uniform skirts.

“I cheered with her since seventh grade so I felt that dedicating something she loved to her would be nice,” Ramirez said.

The varsity squad supports this idea and wears their skirts proudly. They remember Alyssa’s positivity daily.

“She made everything more positive. When we would get down on ourselves at practice, she would make us laugh and make everything not so serious,” junior Ariana Russell said.

The Arabian volleyball team put Alyssa’s favorite bible verse, 1 Corinthians 10:31 “In all that you do, do it for the glory of God,” on the back of their shirts. Kara Stacy was the one who came up with this idea for the 2015 volleyball season.

“During her last year of volleyball she was my partner and I’ll never forget the competitive spirit she had in her to push us to be better and for that we dedicate this season to her,” Stacy said.

The majority of the players played with Alyssa last year so they built a strong bond with her.

“I think adding the verse on our shirts was an amazing way to show that she will always be a part of our team and never be forgotten,” senior Anali Rodriguez said.

The tennis team was given a metal memorial grate as a gift, by Mr. Brandon Beadle’s husband. The grate is engraved 1997-2015.

“I remember her creeping on my phone trying to see who I was talking to acting like my big sister,” Junior Colton Bean said.

Alyssa is very important to many people of this community so representing her in the sports she loved playing is something everyone is happy to be a part of.

“Alyssa was always the life of the party no matter the situation. She brought us together like no words can describe,” senior Josh Broderick said. “She was greatly loved. Now she will be greatly missed.”