Catholic Standard El Pregonero
Classifieds Buy Photos

Stone Ridge holds pep rally to cheer for graduates Ledecky, Bacon and Gemmell swimming in the Paris Olympics

Students at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda, Maryland, cheer at a July 25, 2024 pep rally for three of the school’s graduates – Katie Ledecky (class of 2015), Phoebe Bacon (class of 2020) and Erin Gemmell (class of 2023) – who are members of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team competing in the Summer Olympics in Paris. The pep rally was held on the day before the opening ceremony at the Olympics. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)

Just one day ahead of the grand opening ceremonies of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda, Maryland, hosted its own celebration – a pep rally to showcase the community’s love, support and pride for three alumnae Olympians – Katie Ledecky (class of 2015), Phoebe Bacon (class of 2020) and Erin Gemmell (class of 2023) – who are members of the U.S. Women’s Swim Team competing in Paris.

More than 600 enthusiastic Stone Ridge Gator fans of all ages – many wearing specially-designed Bacon/Gemmell/Ledecky Team USA Olympic T-shirts showing a figure swimming beneath the Eiffel Tower – turned out in full force on July 25 to the Bethesda campus of the all-girls k-12 Catholic school sponsored by the Religious of the Sacred Heart.

Loud cheers, lots of patriotic red, white and blue colors, dozens of homemade posters and countless U.S. flags were on hand to honor the hometown Olympians. The 2024 Summer Olympic games, which begin Friday, July 26 and continue through Sunday, August 11, will be broadcast on NBC.

In the photos above and below, students at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda, Maryland, cheer at a July 25, 2024 pep rally for three of the school’s graduates – Katie Ledecky (class of 2015), Phoebe Bacon (class of 2020) and Erin Gemmell (class of 2023) – who are members of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team competing in the Summer Olympics in Paris. (Catholic Standard photos by Mihoko Owada)
In the photos above and below, students at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda, Maryland, cheer at a July 25, 2024 pep rally for three of the school’s graduates – Katie Ledecky (class of 2015), Phoebe Bacon (class of 2020) and Erin Gemmell (class of 2023) – who are members of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team competing in the Summer Olympics in Paris. (Catholic Standard photos by Mihoko Owada)

“We are beyond excited to be able to be there to support her. We are thrilled!” said Philippa Bacon, mother of 22-year-old Phoebe Bacon, who is competing in her second straight Olympics as a 200-meter backstroke swimmer.

For the Tokyo Games in 2021, spectators were not permitted to attend due to the global pandemic. This time around, Bacon’s family, including her grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, as well as family friends, are excited to be their own cheering section in the viewing stands for Phoebe’s races. “I think we are taking over half the plane (to Paris),” Philippa Bacon told the Catholic Standard.

Philippa Bacon, the mother of Olympic swimmer Phoebe Bacon, stands at the Aquatic Center at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda before a July 25 pep rally at the school celebrating three of its graduates, including Phoebe, a member of Stone Ridge’s class of 2020, who are competing in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Stone Ridge’s other Olympic swimmers celebrated at the pep rally were Katie Ledecky of the class of 2015 and Erin Gemmell of the class of 2023. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
Philippa Bacon, the mother of Olympic swimmer Phoebe Bacon, stands at the Aquatic Center at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda before a July 25 pep rally at the school celebrating three of its graduates, including Phoebe, a member of Stone Ridge’s class of 2020, who are competing in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Stone Ridge’s other Olympic swimmers celebrated at the pep rally were Katie Ledecky of the class of 2015 and Erin Gemmell of the class of 2023. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
At a July 25 pep rally at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda celebrating three of the school’s graduates who are competing in the Paris Olympics, the speakers included Francesca Ciatto of the class of 2020 at Stone Ridge, a classmate of Olympic swimmer Phoebe Bacon, and Avery Fennell of Stone Ridge’s class of 2028, who is Phoebe Bacon's cousin. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
At a July 25 pep rally at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda celebrating three of the school’s graduates who are competing in the Paris Olympics, the speakers included Francesca Ciatto of the class of 2020 at Stone Ridge, a classmate of Olympic swimmer Phoebe Bacon, and Avery Fennell of Stone Ridge’s class of 2028, who is Phoebe Bacon's cousin. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)

Before the rousing assembly began, rally-goers spent time signing large postcards, writing short, but sweet words of congratulations, encouragement and gratitude to each of the Stone Ridge Olympians. Messages included: “Good luck - we know you can do it!”, “Bring back Gold!” and “Thank you for being such a great role model to my girls – 8 & 6 years old!”

Before a July 25 pep rally at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda celebrating three of the school’s graduates who are competing in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, rising Stone Ridge fifth grader Madison Kunk, joined by her mother Sarah Kunk, shows the temporary tattoo on her arm displaying the Olympic rings symbol. Stone Ridge graduates  Katie Ledecky (class of 2015), Phoebe Bacon (class of 2020) and Erin Gemmell (class of 2023) are members of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team competing in the Summer Olympics in Paris. In the photo below Lina Vuga (at left) a member of Stone Ridge’s class of 2024, helps summer camp student Viviana Bryant-Alcocer get ready for the pep rally. (Catholic Standard photos by Mihoko Owada)
Before a July 25 pep rally at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda celebrating three of the school’s graduates who are competing in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, rising Stone Ridge fifth grader Madison Kunk, joined by her mother Sarah Kunk, shows the temporary tattoo on her arm displaying the Olympic rings symbol. Stone Ridge graduates Katie Ledecky (class of 2015), Phoebe Bacon (class of 2020) and Erin Gemmell (class of 2023) are members of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team competing in the Summer Olympics in Paris. In the photo below Lina Vuga (at left) a member of Stone Ridge’s class of 2024, helps summer camp student Viviana Bryant-Alcocer get ready for the pep rally. (Catholic Standard photos by Mihoko Owada)

Held in the school’s gymnasium, the rally also featured the Stone Ridge Olympic teammates in a slide show of photos in and out of the pool, as well as video greetings from them, all of whom swam for their high school Gators team. Local television news channels were also present to capture the pre-Olympic excitement. In individual pre-taped messages, Ledecky, Bacon and Gemmell each expressed gratitude to the Stone Ridge and Montgomery County communities for their longtime support on their Olympic journeys.

Then from Croatia, where the U.S. Swim Team trained prior to the Olympics, the three Gator Olympians, posing together and wearing the special Stone Ridge Team USA T-shirts, relayed joint messages back to the community – thanking everyone for their love and support and for cheering them on in Paris. “We can’t wait to start racing!” said Ledecky, 27, competing in her fourth Olympics. Bacon added, “And thanks for these awesome T-shirts!”

In the photo above, before a July 25 pep rally at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda, students pose beside a large cutout poster of three of the school’s graduates – Katie Ledecky (class of 2015), Phoebe Bacon (class of 2020) and Erin Gemmell (class of 2023) – who are members of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team competing in the Summer Olympics in Paris. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
In the photo above, before a July 25 pep rally at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda, students pose beside a large cutout poster of three of the school’s graduates – Katie Ledecky (class of 2015), Phoebe Bacon (class of 2020) and Erin Gemmell (class of 2023) – who are members of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team competing in the Summer Olympics in Paris. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
Family members pose for a photo before a July 25 pep rally at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda celebrating three of the school’s graduates – Katie Ledecky (class of 2015), Phoebe Bacon (class of 2020) and Erin Gemmell (class of 2023) – who are members of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team competing in the Summer Olympics in Paris. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
Family members pose for a photo before a July 25 pep rally at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda celebrating three of the school’s graduates – Katie Ledecky (class of 2015), Phoebe Bacon (class of 2020) and Erin Gemmell (class of 2023) – who are members of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team competing in the Summer Olympics in Paris. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)

Also in a video message, Catherine Ronan Karrels, the Head of School at Stone Ridge School who traveled to Paris to root for her former students, thanked everyone for turning out and promised live swimming race updates throughout the games. “Go Gators! Go Katie! Go Erin! Go Phoebe! Go Team USA!” she said.

Malcolm McCluskey, the head of the Stone Ridge Upper School, told the crowd that all three Olympian alumnae represent their alma mater beautifully and they continue to embody the school’s spirit. “They are amazing ambassadors not only of Stone Ridge, but also the USA,” he said.

The Stone Ridge Gators’ swimming and diving coach, Bob Walker, who could not be present for the rally, said in a video message that his pride for the three Olympians is indescribable. “Not only are they great swimmers, but great role models. Good luck in Paris!” he said.

Andrew Maguire, the director of athletics at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda, stands at the Aquatic Center before a July 25 pep rally at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda celebrating three of the school’s graduates – Katie Ledecky (class of 2015), Phoebe Bacon (class of 2020) and Erin Gemmell (class of 2023) – who are members of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team competing in the Summer Olympics in Paris. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
Andrew Maguire, the director of athletics at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda, stands at the Aquatic Center before a July 25 pep rally at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda celebrating three of the school’s graduates – Katie Ledecky (class of 2015), Phoebe Bacon (class of 2020) and Erin Gemmell (class of 2023) – who are members of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team competing in the Summer Olympics in Paris. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
Students pose holding large cutout portraits of Stone Ridge graduates Phoebe Bacon and Katie Ledecky, who are swimming in the Paris Olympics, along with fellow alumnae Erin Gemmell, seen in the poster in the background. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
Students pose holding large cutout portraits of Stone Ridge graduates Phoebe Bacon and Katie Ledecky, who are swimming in the Paris Olympics, along with fellow alumnae Erin Gemmell, seen in the poster in the background. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)

Andrew Maguire, Stone Ridge’s Athletic Director, who served as the rally’s emcee, said of the former Gators turned Olympians, “We are so proud of them. All their hard work and dedication has culminated in this, and they have reached the pinnacle of their sport.” Maguire also led the crowd in several rousing “USA Gator!” cheers which were broadcast live and recorded for the Stone Ridge Olympians in Paris.

In announcing the rally last month, Stone Ridge released a statement, praising their alumnae Olympians as inspirations for their dedication to swimming and true grit when competing on the world’s stage in their sport.

While it is not uncommon for swimmers from the same college to be named to an Olympic team together, it is nearly unprecedented for three athletes who attended the same high school to do so. Only 20 women were named to the 2024 U.S. Olympic Women’s Swimming Team. With Stone Ridge alumnae earning three of those spots, 15 percent of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Women’s Swimming Team is composed of Stone Ridge Gators.

Before a July 25 pep rally at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda, rising fourth grader Evie Kalas holds a poster cheering on three of the school’s graduates – Katie Ledecky (class of 2015), Phoebe Bacon (class of 2020) and Erin Gemmell (class of 2023) – who are members of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team competing in the Summer Olympics in Paris. She is joined by her mother Kate Kalas, Stone Ridge’s director of marketing and communications. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
Before a July 25 pep rally at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda, rising fourth grader Evie Kalas holds a poster cheering on three of the school’s graduates – Katie Ledecky (class of 2015), Phoebe Bacon (class of 2020) and Erin Gemmell (class of 2023) – who are members of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team competing in the Summer Olympics in Paris. She is joined by her mother Kate Kalas, Stone Ridge’s director of marketing and communications. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
A banner displayed on a wall near Little Flower School in Bethesda, Maryland, celebrates its two graduates, Katie Ledecky and Phoebe Bacon, who are members of the USA swimming team competing in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Those two Olympians also graduated from Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda, which celebrated them along with graduate Erin Gemmell at a July 25 pep rally. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
A banner displayed on a wall near Little Flower School in Bethesda, Maryland, celebrates its two graduates, Katie Ledecky and Phoebe Bacon, who are members of the USA swimming team competing in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Those two Olympians also graduated from Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda, which celebrated them along with graduate Erin Gemmell at a July 25 pep rally. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)

Evie Kalas, a Stone Ridge fourth grader, proudly held her homemade poster featuring her school’s Olympians. She said she’s been cheering for Katie Ledecky for her entire life and admires all three because “They are the world’s best swimmers!” Her dad, Bob Kalas, taught both Ledecky and Bacon social studies at Little Flower School in Bethesda, where the girls attended elementary school and where both families are members of the parish. A sign of support for the swimmers is displayed on a wall outside Little Flower School on Massachusetts Avenue in Bethesda.

At a July 25 pep rally at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda celebrating three of the school’s graduates who are competing in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, Liza Goetcheus, a member of Stone Ridge’s class of 2023 who is currently a swimmer at Providence College, gives raffle prizes to a boy. The prizes included a recent autobiography written by Olympic swimming champion Katie Ledecky, a 2015 Stone Ridge graduate. The pep rally also celebrated Olympic swimmers and Stone Ridge graduates Phoebe Bacon (class of 2020) and Erin Gemmell (class of 2023). (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
At a July 25 pep rally at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda celebrating three of the school’s graduates who are competing in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, Liza Goetcheus, a member of Stone Ridge’s class of 2023 who is currently a swimmer at Providence College, gives raffle prizes to a boy. The prizes included a recent autobiography written by Olympic swimming champion Katie Ledecky, a 2015 Stone Ridge graduate. The pep rally also celebrated Olympic swimmers and Stone Ridge graduates Phoebe Bacon (class of 2020) and Erin Gemmell (class of 2023). (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)

Ledecky, who won her first gold in the 800-meter freestyle race at the London games in 2012 as a 15-year-old rising Stone Ridge sophomore, will attempt to add to her already-record-setting collection of Olympic medals. In Paris, Ledecky’s races will include the 400-meter, 800-meter, and 1500-meter women’s freestyle events, as well as the 4x200-meter freestyle relay, racing along with teammate Erin Gemmell. If Ledecky wins the events she is favored in – the 800-meter and 1500-meter – she will have earned the most gold medals by a female Olympic swimmer and a possible third would crown her the winningest female gold medal Olympian in history.

Her autobiography, “Just Add Water: My Swimming Life” was recently published by Simon & Schuster. Several copies of the book were raffled off during the rally. In previous interviews with the Catholic Standard, Ledecky spoke of her strong Catholic faith and how she relies on prayer, especially by reciting a Hail Mary before every race.

At a July 25 pep rally at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda celebrating three of the school’s graduates who are competing in the Paris Olympics, Andrew Maguire (at right), the school’s director of athletics, introduces three Stone Ridge swimming team captains from the class of 2023 who spoke at the rally. From left to right are Liza Goetcheus, currently a swimmer at Providence College, Lauren Tucker, currently a swimmer at William & Mary, and Eleanor Sun, currently a swimmer at Princeton University. The pep rally celebrated Stone Ridge graduates Katie Ledecky (class of 2015), Phoebe Bacon (class of 2020) and Erin Gemmell (class of 2023), who are members of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team competing in the Summer Olympics in Paris. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
At a July 25 pep rally at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda celebrating three of the school’s graduates who are competing in the Paris Olympics, Andrew Maguire (at right), the school’s director of athletics, introduces three Stone Ridge swimming team captains from the class of 2023 who spoke at the rally. From left to right are Liza Goetcheus, currently a swimmer at Providence College, Lauren Tucker, currently a swimmer at William & Mary, and Eleanor Sun, currently a swimmer at Princeton University. The pep rally celebrated Stone Ridge graduates Katie Ledecky (class of 2015), Phoebe Bacon (class of 2020) and Erin Gemmell (class of 2023), who are members of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team competing in the Summer Olympics in Paris. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
Stone Ridge pre-kindergarten students Clementine Ozinal, who is 4 years old, and Adeline Maguire, who is 3 years old, pose for a photo near the cutout images of the three graduates of their school who are swimming in the Paris Olympics. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
Stone Ridge pre-kindergarten students Clementine Ozinal, who is 4 years old, and Adeline Maguire, who is 3 years old, pose for a photo near the cutout images of the three graduates of their school who are swimming in the Paris Olympics. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)

Bacon, the 2021 and 2024 NCAA Champion in the 200-meter backstroke, will be swimming on her second straight Olympic team this summer, with the goal of making the podium after a fifth-place finish in Tokyo. The youngest of the group, Gemmell, of the Stone Ridge Class of 2023, represented the U.S. on the World Championship team in 2023 and earned a silver in the 4x200 Freestyle Relay. Gemmell’s dad, Bruce, coached Ledecky for several years at the National Capital Swim Club. In addition to the 4x200-meter relay, Gemmell will be racing in the women’s 200-meter freestyle event.

Eleanor Sun of Stone Ridge’s class of 2023 and a classmate of Gemmell’s, also competed at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials in Indianapolis last month. The Princeton University swimmer said although she didn’t make the cut for this year’s Olympic team, she loved being among her fellow Stone Ridge athletes and friends in such a large-scale athletic setting. “It was awesome to see them make the team,” she said, adding that her Gator swim teammates continue to be very unassuming and kind people even at the height of their sport.

The crowd at a July 25 pep rally at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda, Maryland, cheers for three of the school’s graduates – Katie Ledecky (class of 2015), Phoebe Bacon (class of 2020) and Erin Gemmell (class of 2023) – who are members of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team competing in the Summer Olympics in Paris. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
The crowd at a July 25 pep rally at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda, Maryland, cheers for three of the school’s graduates – Katie Ledecky (class of 2015), Phoebe Bacon (class of 2020) and Erin Gemmell (class of 2023) – who are members of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team competing in the Summer Olympics in Paris. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
Two girls hold posters at a July 25 pep rally at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda for three of the school’s graduates – Katie Ledecky (class of 2015), Phoebe Bacon (class of 2020) and Erin Gemmell (class of 2023) – who are members of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team competing in the Summer Olympics in Paris. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
Two girls hold posters at a July 25 pep rally at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda for three of the school’s graduates – Katie Ledecky (class of 2015), Phoebe Bacon (class of 2020) and Erin Gemmell (class of 2023) – who are members of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team competing in the Summer Olympics in Paris. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)

Karrels, Stone Ridge's Head of School who attended the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials in June, said in a statement at the time, “What a thrill to see them hugging in the pool and then being announced as Olympians together that night! And when Phoebe made the team, within seconds of completing her swim, I received a text from Katie with a ‘Wooooohooo!!!’”

“The Olympics are inspirational both as an expression of our global community and also because of the triumph of individuals and the hope and inspiration they model in terms of the human spirit,” wrote Karrels. “My heart is bursting with pride in these young women.”

Among the youngest Gators at the rally was 8-year-old Kate Reilly, a rising fourth grader, who held a homemade poster that read, “I was Erin for Halloween.” She explained that on one Halloween, Erin Gemmell when she was little had dressed like Katie Ledecky as an Olympian, and now Reilly has proudly kept up the tradition. Nowadays, Reilly said she looks up to all the Stone Ridge Olympic swimmers and can’t wait to compete just like they do. “It’s probably my favorite thing in the world to do,” she said of swimming. This weekend, Reilly is swimming freestyle in the Montgomery County Swim League All-Star Relay Meet, and she hopes the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane, Australia will be in her future.



Share:
Print


Menu
Search