The Andover/Exeter games mark the continuation of a rivalry that has lasted 133 years. Andover Swimming, Andover Boys Basketball and Andover Boys Hockey held special events to reunite alumni, young and old, who came to cheer for the future graduates of the school. The Andover Swimming event was the highlight of the day, as it celebrated the 100th anniversary of Andover’s “century of swimming.” The team, led by Head Coach Paul Murphy, sent out invitations to alumni all the way back to Class of 1912, asking members to relive their Andover swimming careers and cheer on the current team. The celebration began in the morning with an Alumni Race, in which 19 alumni, ranging from the Class of 1960 to the Class of 2011, participated. The group of alumni included eight former coaches. T.J. Durkin ’99 enjoyed watching Tim Wynter ’14 break Durkin’s 100 Yard Backstroke record with a phenomenal time of 50.68. “I can’t wait to see what the record will be after he’s a Senior!” said Durkin. To finish off the day, Swimming held a formal dinner in Paresky Commons. The program included speeches from a former Andover swimmer, a former Andover coach and a historical slideshow, put together by the Office of Alumni Affairs. Andover Basketball also held a reception to celebrate Joey Lotkis ’06 as the highest scorer in Andover Basketball history. The team also commemorated Coach Leon Modeste, as he is ending his career as a basketball coach after 25 years of coaching the program. “[The reception] was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate a coach of great character and great impact on alumni across the decades,” said Jenny Savino, Associate Director of Alumni Affairs. “When I am on the road, I find that alumni want the updates from their teachers and their coaches–the people who had the greatest impact on them and those who are their connections to Andover. Often, that coach is Coach Modeste.” At the rink, Andover Hockey held its annual coed alumni game on Saturday, with over 50 alumni taking part in the event. Although the score of the game was close, the even-numbered classes beat the odd-numbered classes by a score of 11-10. The game had six decades represented, including two former NHL players, two sets of siblings, Chris Gurry ’66, former Coach of Boys Hockey, Martha Fenton ’83, Coach of Girls Hockey and Dean Boylan, Coach of Boys Hockey. “It was a wonderful day for alumni to connect with the common bond of hockey at Andover,” Savino said. These alumni events were not only about bringing together a strong fan base for the Andover-Exeter meet, but also about remembering and celebrating the sports careers of the alumni. Paul Murphy, Dean of Students and Coach of Girls Swimmng, “The best part of the day was watching people get reconnected with each other and with the school.”
