For a high school that is just eleven years old, the alumni base continues to grow. Each year the alumni event is a great moment of reunion for college students returning from break and alumni working in the field who are home visiting their families for Christmas. This year for the first time the alumni boys (or men) faced off against each other rather than playing the varsity boys. The graduating classes of 2018 and 2019 took on the alumni present from the classes of 2012-2017. The alumni girls played the EC varsity girls. Alumni gathered after the game at Hamlin Pub.
This year’s celebration marked a bittersweet moment as alumni and Everest families and students present honored the recently retired golf coach, Dave Smith. Smith coached the the Mountaineers from 2012 until 2019. Under Smith’s leadership the team found impressive success with five CHSL league championships, 4 CHSL division championships, five MHSAA regional championships, one MHSAA state finalist title, and two state championship titles. Smith was recognized as the district coach of the year in 2016, regional coach of the year in 2014, 2015, and 2018, and the D4 coach of the year in 2017.
Under Smith’s guidance, Mountaineer individual golfers were recognized six times as all-state players, the team was recognized twice as all-state academic, and five golfers were recognized as all-state academic individuals. He also coached Mitch Lowney who was the D4 individual state champion in 2019.
Each of the golfers who had golfed under Smith wrote him a letter. The letters were compiled in a book presented to Smith at the alumni event. Recent graduate Jack McGrath, Class of 2019 wrote: “As I reflect on the new opportunities I have before me, I can’t help but become overwhelmed with gratitude for your role in my development as a young man. It has been an honor having you as my golf coach. Because you took a chance on me and never gave up on me, I have grown to love this crazy game. You have taught me a lot about golf, but more importantly you taught me a lot about life. As I continue my path towards my careers and future, I keep in mind what you have told me. Like a round of golf, life is full of the unexpected. There will be good breaks and bad breaks. You will mess up sometimes too. No matter the circumstances, whether things have been going well or sour, the most important thing you can do is have a short-memory, an optimistic attitude, and a focused mindset. This lesson I learned through you plays an intricate part in my life today as a college student and will continue to as I go through the ups and downs of life.”
Thank you, Coach Smith, for all you contributed to each Mountaineer golfer, to the legacy of the EC golf program, and the Everest community!
