'Something bigger than football': Hand, Cheshire unite to honor coach battling cancer
Both teams, both towns showed support for beloved coach battling Stage 4 cancer.
On Friday night, amid a football game between Madison's Daniel Hand and Cheshire high schools, a bigger narrative unfolded. Cheshire's assistant football coach, Mike Ciotti, was honored by both communities after being diagnosed with Stage 4 Acinic Cell Carcinoma, a rare type of salivary gland cancer that had spread to his brain.
Despite his illness, Ciotti was in full form on the field, coaching his Cheshire Rams. The halftime ceremony, featuring both teams and fans in gray, was dedicated to Ciotti and his battle against cancer. Ciotti, a local hero and son of the founder of Hand football, acknowledged the support and love from the community, and reminded everyone that they would "eat the bear" and continue fighting.
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