Remembering Jerry Holtrey, swimming’s strongest stalwart

In the opening pages of the 1962 Arbutus — the yr Jerry Holtrey graduated from Indiana University — there are a sequence of quotations accompanying footage from scenes across the Bloomington campus.

One citation feels particularly acceptable right this moment:

“Solitude walks softly but leaves the deepest footprint.”

While generations of swimmers at Hawken and with Lake Erie Silver Dolphins and their households will attest, Holtrey by no means walked in solitude in that sense. Each aspect was enriched by their bond.

But so far as equal. Body of labor. Aura. Accomplishment. Regard.

In that sense, sure — Holtrey walked in solitude.

With the information of Holtrey’s demise Dec. 23, we might have misplaced space swimming’s strongest stalwart.

But the depth of that Holtrey footprint will stay for eternity.

Legendary former Hawken swim coach Jerry Holtrey passes away

The numbers are staggering: 26 state group championships, 123 state titles in particular person occasions and relays, 326 state prime fours. “The Streak” — and no extra must be acknowledged there.

When you’ve a swim program that may line the natatorium with district and state banners like wallpaper — and the natatorium itself is known as after you — suffice it to say, you are doing one thing proper.

But what’s much more staggering as a quantity — if it is doable — is 45.

Spending 45 years as a highschool sports activities head coach — you do not simply “do” that.

You want the dedication. Knack. Patience. Temperament. Personality to narrate to student-athletes as generations and occasions evolve.

Holtrey, over 4 full many years and parts of two others, in some way managed that magic.

That magic had limitless attain.

Geography. Skill stage. Event. Personality. Motivation.

Hawken’s Jerry Holtrey: Icon, father determine and fan

What made Holtrey’s program profitable partly was that it was so easy but so advanced: Commit and care. Then emphasize onerous work, away from the highlight. So when the highlight shone, the expertise shone brightest. Build that spine by means of time, and make sure the program knew, from seniors to freshmen and people who would comply with, what was required. So that there was by no means a dropoff.

Perhaps among the many highest compliments had been the swimmers who competed for Holtrey, realizing that top customary — after which gladly despatched their very own kids to Holtrey for a similar expertise.

One factor that at all times struck me about Holtrey — I’m in my twentieth season now masking highschool swimming and diving for The News-Herald; he and I overlapped for his final eight seasons — was his method.

His consolation was by no means in speaking about “The Streak,” state titles or singular greatness. Good luck getting something past a succinct reply there.

But might he inform a narrative if prompted and prepared to carry court docket.

News-Herald High School Hall of Fame: Hawken’s Jerry Holtrey carved legendary profession

Once, he was telling me about constructing his program in Kentucky earlier than his arrival in Northeast Ohio within the mid-60s, about the way it took hours to judge every swimmer. He might wax poetic in regards to the tales that accompanied the triumphs. His teaching philosophy. About what he realized from Glen Hummer, Doc Counsilman, Bob Busbey, Wally Morton and extra and utilized to his personal teaching.

High faculty swimming: Hawken coach Jerry Holtrey retires

That regaling might be simply reciprocated.

Encouragement out and in of the pool.

Practices going underwater supported by a pump and air hose so he might watch stroke precision.

The time he stopped at a Columbus-area retailer in 1980, together with his first ladies state group confused ready within the van. According to these within the van years later, it was as a result of he wanted to purchase underwear and a toothbrush since, in his concentrate on his swimmers’ success, he forgot to pack these fundamental requirements.

Ah sure, the “Jerry stories” — shared lightheartedly, in fact, and all of us have a number of.

I’ll always remember 2008 as one in all my examples. Back then, News-Herald all-star groups necessitated student-athletes on its higher ranges (first teamers and the athlete of the yr) to return into our then-Willoughby workplace for footage. With swimming, that meant ideally in full gear with swimsuit, however group warmup at minimal.

So I known as Holtrey. Always well mannered and meaning to be useful, he obtained a pad of paper and wrote down who I wanted to make the journey and when.

The day of the picture shoot, Brittany Strumbel and Brittany Rospierski arrived. Strumbel stays one in all my all-time favorites masking space swimming and stays one in all our all-time space greatest on prime of it — multiple-time distance free state champion, sort, participating. Rospierski was an important state champion breaststroker and succeeded Strumbel as News-Herald ladies swimmer of the yr in 2009.

There was an issue immediately: They weren’t accompanied by their teammate Jennifer Aronoff, one other Hawken program nice. Strumbel known as Aronoff. “Where are you? Oh,” Strumbel says, turning to me. “She’s on vacation in Mexico.” Mexico to Willoughby? Yeah, not occurring.

Then there was one other drawback. Strumbel and Rospierski confirmed up with out realizing their fits or warmups had been wanted, regardless of it being talked about to their coach.

The three of us checked out one another and simply shrugged. Because we knew it was a “Jerry story.” No malice. Sometimes, that simply got here with the territory and, in its approach, was endearing.

The man had so much on his thoughts. Because he had so many lives on his thoughts.

Hawken athletic director Jim Doyle instructed me it is estimated greater than 600 swimmers competed for Holtrey in his practically half-century guiding the Hawks. That complete, in fact, will increase in a giant approach including in LESD swimmers who might have swam for one more highschool or swam recreationally.

On event, clearly robust decisions needed to be made. Tough conversations needed to be broached. Tough hours and unparalleled customary needed to be anticipated. You do not simply stumble into being a nationwide powerhouse, in spite of everything.

Yet the Holtrey-to-swimmer bond might have been his biggest legacy of all.

Memories might fade. Bonds by no means do.

Incorporating their coach into life occasions lengthy after aggressive swimming had ended. Checking in to say hi there and replace. Seeking counsel. Having so many enter and exit with respect. With love.

And doing so over 45 years.

That, proper there, is a training life — and an total life — nicely lived.

Swimming’s strongest stalwart deserves a correct sendoff.

After sharing information of his passing. After sharing this opinion piece.

My problem of types now falls to you, his Hawken/LESD group. The “Holtrey kids” who aren’t youngsters anymore and their households. The ones who overlapped with me masking them or did not within the a few years and many years that preceded.

Let’s inform the world why this man meant a lot. Email ([email protected]). Direct message on X (@CLillstrungNH). For those that have my quantity, name. Message me on Facebook. Please, share your perception and recollections.

The Holtrey tribute on the time of his retirement was superb. It ended up partly on the wall at Holtrey Natatorium, which is an honor. (Although, and I say this as at all times kiddingly whereas recognizing whose presence there issues, however possibly sooner or later we will get my title spelling corrected on that marker.)

The Holtrey tribute on the time of his passing ought to exceed the one from his retirement.

Let’s give it a shot.

“Solitude walks softly but leaves the deepest footprint.”

This indentation of that footprint won’t ever depart the bottom that it graced.

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