Head Coach Dan McBride ... Often times I get asked..   

Are you still coaching?   How long are you going to keep coaching that team?

Well, I often get reminded on those answers.

It's not the championships...   It's not the plaques I love to see my swimmers raise over their heads or the medals around their necks.  Of course we work for that, but that's all the gravy.

This team, this Friar family, teaches me life lessons every year.

A year ago last October a beloved former Friar Kevin Kretz (class of '99) lost his tough battle with brain cancer leaving behind his lovey wife and two beautiful children.   Last year's new years eve, his former Friar teammates were hanging out when Paul Doran said on a whim....

Let's do a Polar Plunge for Kretz tomorrow.
Just like that, about 40 people showed up the next day and raised a bunch of money for Kevin's family.  

Now a year later...

I got the text a few weeks ago from his teammates, Coach Garret Golden and the guys:
Hey Coach, wanna jump in the ocean on New Years Day for Kretz?

(I can't explain the honor of still being called, Coach.  That'll be a story another day.)   Paul Doran was organizing another Polar Plunge.

Our Coach Garret didn't hesitate... so neither did I.

11:00 am, showing up to freeze my butt off at Gilgo beach, and I was blown away.  What a turnout!  I was especially moved when I again witnessed the lifelong bond of teammates.  I've seen it so many times over the years, but to see THIS...  Guys in Friar gear, Connor Lambert in a Friar drag suit diving into a 43 degree wave like it was nothing.  Brian Mills making me laugh (through my shivering) as he did when he was a 10 & under, and his family, Jon McIntyre and his future Friar son...  on and on.  Paul Doran announced his glass donation jar hitting over $2000... and I couldn't help feeling proud of something so important.  

Teammates are for life.  Some of the tightest bonds you'll ever have.  

I thank all those guys for teaching me another life lesson and giving me my answer to all those questions.  

Special thanks to Paul Doran and Coach Garret for including me.

Tomorrow morning we load up our two packed coach buses and head on the road.  My wish is for you all to also form those friendships and teammate bonds.  Put your phones down when you can.  Talk to each other.  Swim for each other.  Respect each other.  You are teammates... you are Friars!  

FRIARS FOREVER!