HAWLEY, Pa. — On the court or on the field, student athletes from Wallenpaupack Area School District give it their all.
Behind the scenes there's a person who makes those games happen.
"When you talk about Ann Marie Simons, you're talking about a student-centered person. She truly did everything for the kids," said Wallenpaupack Area High School Principal Chris Caruso.
Ann Marie Simons was the district's athletic director. She got her start with the district nearly 35 years ago, first as a teacher and a coach. She later became the district's first female athletic director.
Simons passed away over the weekend from brain cancer.
"She was truly a pillar in the Wallenpaupack community," said Wallenpaupack Area Superintendent Keith Gunuskey.
For the students and staff returning to school from spring break, the day was spent sharing stories and memories of Simons.
As he flipped through a year book, Caruso recalled some of his favorite memories of Simons.
"During some tense moments in the games she would be the one to get them all excited, like, 'Come on, we need to hear some noise around here.' It was special to see," recalled Caruso.
"There's a reason why her office is right outside of the gymnasium, because her door was always open for student-athletes during the day, or after a tough game. Kids knew where they could go for the support they needed," said Gunuskey.
Inside Simons' office, the shelves are filled with family photos, and the walls decorated with many accolades.
Gunuskey says Simons' Buckhorn pride ran deep. But as a graduate of Honesdale Area High School, she bridged the rivalry between the two schools.
"She certainly bled purple, but she has a lot of friends and relationships as well as being involved in community activities around Honesdale, so well-known and so well respected," said Gunuskey.
"Given her strong connection to that community we know that community is in mourning as well," said Caruso.
Ann Marie Simons was 57 years old.