Saint Ursula Academy surprised retiring SUA swimming coach Ann Gartner ’77 with the Respect the Game of Life Award at the spring school pep rally. This award honors a member of the Saint Ursula Academy community who displays good sportsmanship, ethics and integrity in high school sports and/or co-curricular activities. The recipient does not have to be an SUA athlete. He or she could be a student, coach, parent, an employee or even a person from outside our SUA community.
Saint Ursula chose Gartner for this annual award, saying she is a person who shows great love, dedication, and admiration for SUA athletics as well as an immense love and devotion to the SUA community. She coached the Saint Ursula swim team for 15 years and retired after this year’s winter swimming season. Ann is the recipient of seven (7) GGCL swimming Coach of Year awards.
“I have known Coach Ann since I was a freshman at Saint Ursula,” said Saint Ursula Academy President Lelia Keefe Kramer ’77. “Ann was an incredible athlete and student. She was dedicated to her teams, school, and friends and continues to be so today. I had the pleasure of swimming with the Saint Ursula team this year and witnessed firsthand how she coaches with enthusiasm, love for the sport and an unending dedication to each gal she coached, including me!”
During the Respect the Game of Life award ceremony at Saint Ursula, the senior swimmers shared some special thoughts about Ann.
“Coming into the Aquadawgs as an experienced, but timid and insecure swimmer, I was not sure how high school swimming would impact my life,” said Morgan Hoffman ’19. “After a memorable four years, I can happily and confidently confirm that Coach Ann’s caring nature, high expectations, and love for the sport has changed the way I look at swimming. She allows every athlete, no matter the skill set, to see herself as equally valuable to team success. Ann gives us the opportunity to positively influence one another, which contributes to the team’s visible sisterhood in and out of the natatorium.”
Liz Klein ’19 added, “Training with Ann the past four years has taught me more than I could’ve imagined. Ann has taught me the value of support. She is constantly cheering on each swimmer every practice and every meet. She believes in us even during the toughest part of the season, and pushes us to our fullest potential. With Ann’s constant support, she taught us how to believe in ourselves and to never underestimate our ability both in and out of the pool.”
Gabby Warren ’19 said “Ann embodies all of the characteristics of a Saint Ursula woman, as a grad herself, while encouraging and pushing us to do the same. She nurtures our growth, and selflessly leads our team by her example of hard work and appreciation of the sport.”
Meredith Moellering ’19 also had some special words to share about Ann, “Not only did Ann coach and support me over the past four years as a high school swimmer, I also had the honor of being one of her swim school students 12 years ago when I first learned to swim. Ann is the reason I grew a love for the sport and it is amazing to watch her spread that love to everyone around her. She has not only helped the team become better swimmers, but she also taught us how to be well-rounded individuals in and out of the water.”
For these and so many other reasons, Saint Ursula is proud to award Coach Ann with the Respect the Game of Life Award.
The criteria for a Respect the Game of Life nomination for this award is as follows:
• The recipient demonstrates a high level of sportsmanship every day.
• They understand the importance of high school co-curricular activities as valuable and, as such, it is worthy of respect.
• The person acts with courtesy, dignity and pride.
• They demonstrate the importance of putting others ahead of themselves in an ongoing effort to practice the importance of teamwork.
• The recipient’s attitude is able to sway others to follow them and their methods of demonstrating sportsmanship and positive behavior.