A lifelong educator, Crystal Handchen retired from teaching but her love for cheerleading transcended her move from Brick, New Jersey, to Pinehurst in 2017.
As head coach of the Pinecrest Cheerleading team for the past four years, she was a familiar face on the sidelines. Petite and perpetually energetic, Handchen, 63, died Tuesday after suffering a stroke.
âShe was a super great lady, just like the Vince Lombardi of cheerleading,â said Pinecrest football coach, Chris Metzger. âItâs a reason for our guys to honor those who love us like Coach Handchen. We do that by playing our best.â
On Friday night, Pinecrest is headed into the second round of the 4AA N.C. High School Athletic Association football playoffs. The Patriots will be playing with heavy hearts, Metzger said. According to the schoolâs social media pages, fans can wear white, as the team will do also in their white road uniforms, to honor Handchen.