TITLE: SWIMMING DOWN MEMORY LANE
Deck: Key West alumni reunite as Lori Bosco celebrates 30 years coaching the Conchs
It had been a decade since generations of Key West swimmers gathered for an alumni meet, but on Aug. 10, former Conchs had a reason to get back in the pool together.
The veterans made their return with an appropriate amount of self-deprecation, entering the College of the Florida Keys pool area by bursting through a breakaway banner emblazoned with “WASHED UP.” They took to the water for an evening designed to reconnect former teammates and celebrate the legacy of Key West swimming.
The reunion also provided an opportunity to recognize Lori Bosco, who is celebrating her 30th year coaching swimming at Key West High School.
Former assistant coach and longtime friend Judd Wise “had the pleasure of coaching with her for 14 years” and said her impact on the program extends well beyond the pool.
“She is a tireless worker. She is there for her swimmers,” Wise said. “She knows swimming, but more importantly, she wanted her athletes to know they were students first and athletes second.”
Wise said the coaches emphasized doing things the right way, a philosophy they summed up for their swimmers with a simple saying: “Do it right, do it light; do it wrong, do it long.”
For many of the former swimmers, the meet offered an opportunity to reconnect with teammates they do not get to see nearly as often as they would like. The last alumni meet was held 10 years ago, making this year’s gathering a long-awaited return to the pool.
The alumni shared the evening with the current Key West swim team, alternating events with the Conchs as they swam 50-yard races and the 100 individual medley. The alumni did not compete directly against the current team, but the format gave Key West’s swimmers an opportunity to practice their starts and record some early-season times while sharing the pool with those who came before them.
The evening also included a tribute to former Conch swimmer AJ Hally and a moment of silence honoring other members of the Key West swimming family who died too young.
More than simply a return to competition, the alumni meet served as a celebration of the relationships built through the program and the generations of swimmers who have represented Key West High School. For a program spanning decades, the evening brought past and present together in the same pool, even if one group was willing to admit it was a little more “washed up” than the other.
Cayo Provisions sponsored the meet by covering the pool fee, while Berkshire Hathaway sponsored a potluck pizza party following the swimming events.
