Britton Shipp asked to light cauldron at USG
Southern Utah University coaches Ed Lamb, Scott Bauman and Nick Robinson have made plenty of separate home visits over the years on recruiting trips, but they decided to join forces Monday for a special assignment.
The trio of coaches joined Utah Summer Games Director Casey McClellan to ask Santa Clara teenager Britton Shipp if he would carry the torch and light the cauldron to usher in the official start of this year’s Games during the opening ceremonies on June 11, pointing to his inspirational story recovering from a traumatic brain injury as the perfect representation of what the event is supposed to be about.
“The spirit of the Games and the lighting of the cauldron is all about hope and faith and hard work and perseverance, and who better to represent those things than Britton Shipp,” McClellan said, pointing out that Shipp’s story has helped to unite the sports community in a way he’s never seen.
“It’s all of the best things about sports,” Lamb said. “What a great lesson for our players.”
A three-sport athlete at Snow Canyon High School, Shipp was injured Nov. 1 when he was ejected from a side-by-side utility terrain vehicle while on a date outside of Pine Valley. He nearly died as paramedics fought to rush him to Dixie Regional Medical Center, where he went on to survive weeks in a coma and a series of brain surgeries as doctors tried to repair his crushed skull.
After 166 days spent in a hospital bed, weeks of sometimes painful physical therapy and many prayers, he returned home earlier this month.
Since the injury, his story has prompted a far-reaching outpouring of generosity and support, with people near and far finding inspiration in Shipp’s optimistic perseverance and his family’s heartfelt dedication.
Private donations came pouring in through an account at Zions Bank set up to help cover medical expenses, and an online account was set up at www.gofundme.com/gm4auc — family members estimate the donations add up to more than six figures.
In area high schools, students wore “Believe for Britton” shirts and bracelets. At sporting events, students filled arenas with SCHS green — even rival schools — and with the number 7 that Shipp wore on the football field.
Charity concerts, bake sales, custom t-shirts and bracelets, window stickers and regular social media postings with the #believe4britton hashtag have helped to galvanize much of the local community around Shipp and his family.
Family and friends have stayed close to the story through a blog kept by his older sister Autumn Shipp at believeforbritton.blogspot.com, where almost daily posts provide updates and intimate insights direct from the family.
Family members say they have taken comfort in the outpouring of care, and they believe that the thoughts and prayers coming in from all across the community have made a real difference.
Hopefully, when he lights the cauldron for the Summer Games on June 11, the inspiration of his story will help return some of that love, said his father, Jesse Shipp.
“He can just tell everybody thank you,” Jesse said. “I don’t know how else we can pay back everyone for what they’ve done.”
Follow David DeMille on Twitter, @SpectrumDeMille, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SpectrumDeMille.
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