He lost his father to COVID-19. Then the Chiawana High School wrestling program stepped up: 'We are one big family'

David Schick was scrolling through his Facebook feed in September when he saw a post from Marisa Anderson, the wife of Chiawana High School wrestling coach Jack Anderson. 

Schick, the clock operator for the two-time defending 4A state champion Riverhawks and a fixture in Pasco area high school sports, was laid up at home recovering from a serious battle with COVID-19. 

He was also grieving from the loss of his father, Charles Schick, who died days before after contracting the virus around the same time.

He watched in awe as Anderson’s Facebook post galvanized members of the Chiawana wrestling program — and beyond — to pitch in and supply David Schick and his mother, Beverly Schick, a constant supply of homemade meals and takeout as they recovered, and grieved. 

"I don’t expect that kind of stuff in return," he said.

He and his mother saw meals dropped off at their doorstep and an influx of gift cards to meal delivery services every other day for two weeks. The gesture has given him a deeper sense of love and gratitude for the city he grew up in and has kept his roots.

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Call it an all-out community effort.

“To see someone come together and support someone in a time of need who has supported us over the years, it was really a neat thing,” Jack Anderson said. “We are one big family in Pasco and we take a lot of pride in our city.” 

Added Schick, who is 54: “It’s just the type of community the Chiawana and Pasco communities are.”

A 1986 Pasco grad, David Schick began working as the football team equipment manager when he was in high school. He stayed involved after graduating and was the team manager during the program’s first state championship run in 1998 under coach Steve Graff.

Over the years, he's contributed to his home community's high school sports scene in many forms.

“I was announcing baseball at Pasco High ever since Jeremy Bonderman was playing,” Schick said of the 2003 Pasco grad, who played nine season in MLB.

He's the stat-keeper for Chiawana’s basketball programs and the Pasco High School football clock operator. His dedication is rooted in the marriage his two passions: local sports and his community. 

David Schick describes his dad, Charles Schick, as a loving father and grandfather. He attended Roseburg High School in Oregon, served in the Oregon National Guard and always preached respect.

He tested positive for the coronavirus in early September and was battling the virus when he celebrated his 84th birthday on Sept. 4. He died four days later after suffering a silent heart attack. He was married to David’s mother for 58 years.

David Schick and his mother made a full recovery from the virus and he returned to the press box as Pasco's clock operator in late September. The two have leaned on one another in the months since.

“I know he’s in good hands," David Schick said.

Losing his father even further drove home to Schick the severity of COVID-19, which has killed more than 900,000 Americans since its onset in 2020. He and his parents were vaccinated, he said, and carefully observed measures like mask wearing, that protect against the spread.

He hopes high school sports spectators will continue to take the same measures so athletes can continue to compete.

Schick won’t be operating this clock this weekend at Mat Classic in Tacoma on Friday and Saturday as the Chiawana boys vie for a state 4A wrestling three-peat. Instead, he’ll be tuned into the NFHS Network cheering on Oregon State-bound Isaiah Anderson — Jack and Marisa Anderson’s son and the No. 1 ranked wrestler in Washington — and the rest of the Chiawana wrestling program.

A bond forged through sports, strengthened by community.

“I want to see the kids succeed and do good, not only on the mat, but off the mat,” Schick said, “It just makes me proud of them.”

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(Lead photo by Amy Cazier)