They gathered last fall for the first time since the mid-90’s to honor Tim Carrington’s induction into the Bishop Ireton Hall of Fame. “Why don’t we have another swim team reunion?” Coach Harry Sobers recalls Paul Skelly suggesting to the group. “I will host it.” And over a beer and lunch in Georgetown the idea took sprout. Fast forward to June 2009.
On a beautiful Saturday afternoon, dozens of swimmers from the 1970’s and 1980’s, the “glory days” some might say, began to gather and cautiously look around. The gray hair, expanded waistline, a wrinkle or two, but you would see in a moment the faces light up as the memories flooded back. “Dave! How are you?” “Oh my God, look at you!” and the stories began, and continued, the laughter louder. People moved from scrapbooks to new arrivals, to old teammates and to people they would meet from today’s Bishop Ireton staff. But whether they graduated in ’71 or ’81, from Ireton or St Mary’s there was the one constant, Harry Sobers. They spoke in awe of the coach that worked them out at the pool on Monroe Avenue all those years ago, drove the bus to Greenville, North Carolina, and Philadelphia. And, for many, another familiar face journeyed back, Father Al Smith,OSFS, down from the “city of brotherly love”. Dave Cloyd ventured up from Florida, staying with brother, Dan, now a Navy admiral stationed in the Pentagon. Mary Cook Carrington Young, a vice president for Dell, back from Pennsylvania to see friends and teammates.
They stayed and remembered well after the sun had set. The fond memories and the desire to repay, in some small way, the program and the schools that helped them along their life’s journey. Soon it was talk of a scholarship in honor of their team moderator, Fr Al, and one after another the checks came forward. Advancement director Terry Rainey was more than a little surprised. All in all, the gathering resulted in $11,000 donated to provide financial aid for a deserving swimmer at Bishop Ireton. A great day, indeed, for all who were there, and with their generosity, for those swimmers that may be there in the future.
Processing your request, Please wait....
