A Chatham high school coaching legend has just completed a book that he hopes will provide recognition for the thousands of coaches, volunteers and players who participated in Kent County secondary school sports.
Larry Lahey’s book, “The History of Kent County High School Sports,” chronicles the many successes of the Kent County Secondary School Athletic Association (KCSSAA) that was dissolved last June.
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The dissolution of the county system is a result of the provincial amalgamation of the Kent and Lambton school boards in 1998.
“Windsor and Essex County athletic associations merged in 2000,” he said. “It just took us a while longer to get around to it.”
Lahey, who taught and coached at John McGregor Secondary School from 1967 to 1998, is a member of the Chatham Sports Hall of Fame.
A crowning feature of his career is that his Senior Panthers boys’ basketball team reached Kent County title games 29 of 30 years, winning 18 of them. They also won 10 SWOSSAA and 4 OFSAA championships.
The 210-page book has a chapter on each of the 19 high schools that have competed in KCSSAA as well as chapters on each of the 14 sports sponsored by KCSSAA.
“There are so many interesting stories to tell,” he said. “We have had Olympians and All-Canadians from Kent County, we hosted Harlem Globetrotters, stars, an inter-collegiate football game and many other events.”
The book tells of a different time when outdoor and makeshift facilities were the norm and females weren’t allowed to play.
“Girls were considered too delicate for track and field here for a time,” he said. “There was a time the CCI girls lost a basketball playoff game due to a nervous breakdown and the CCI boys’ hockey team were pelted by snowballs in a game against Petrolia.”
Athletes changed in horse stables in early track meets and some schools participating in track didn’t even have a track not too long ago.
“Dave Hyatt’s McGregor teams won 11 Kent County track and field championships in a row from 1990 to 2000 without a track,” he said.
There was much more community pride and interest in athletics years ago.
“All of the high school students would be at the Kent County track and field championships,” he said. “You would have two or three thousand people watching the competition. ”
Although the book has by nature a historical tone, Lahey said many of the ideals and habits nurtured by sports are as important today as ever.
“I don’t live in the past,” he said. “I still coach tennis in the summer and my rule is the same as it’s always been – if you’re not five minutes early, you’re late. The kids understand that and respect it.”
He said contrary to what’s seen in many professional athletics, amateur sports still list as important the qualities of sportsmanship, honesty and even compassion.
“If I see the best tennis player going up against the worst, I know that the more talented player won’t be out to humiliate his opponent,” he said. “In badminton, when players have to call their own line, they do it fairly. No one wants to be known as a cheater.”
He said the coach remains the most important person in high school athletics.
“Without the coaches, nothing happens,” he said. “If you notice the schools who have had success at a particular sport over an extended period of time, you’ll always find a dedicated coach and volunteers.”
The lessons learned in athletics go far behind the playing field.
“If a student learns nothing from athletics but how to give your best effort, work with a team, take direction and how to take winning and losing, they’ve learned an awful lot about life.”
The book is on sale now at Lenover Meats on Park Ave. E. and the Instant Shoppe locations in Chatham and Wallaceburg at a cost of $25, including tax.
“It was real labour of love,” Lahey said. “If I break even on it, I’ll be thrilled.”
