The Pride of the Wildcats

Wednesday, September 14, 2005 was a red-letter day in the history of the Waterbury School system and Wilby High School in particular. On that day Wilby High School retired the number of an exceptional student and basketball player. As far as this blogger can remember, this is the first number ever retired by a Waterbury Public School.

Ryan Gomes, Wilby High School Class of 2000, has done what every person who cares about the city of Waterbury hoped he would do. A star on the basketball court, Ryan went to Providence College, earned a degree along with his many basketball honors, and was drafted in the second round of this years NBA draft by the Boston Celtics.

But the awards, the honors, the money, they are all well documented in the local paper, and the NBA materials. What was most important though was the speech that Ryan delivered to the students of Wilby High when he returned to receive his special honor.

Ryan told the students what their teachers have been telling them for days, months, or even years. To succeed in life a student needs to be invested in their education, never give up on learning, and respect those who are trying to help them get ahead. Ryan paid tribute to his former teachers, his late coach Reggie O'Brien (in whose honor the Wilby Gym is named), and his parents. He didn't sugar coat the situation, he didn't brag about how easy it was, or how much money he had. Instead he simply told the students what all high school students need to remember...The world is open in front of you, if you are willing to work for it.

Ryan is a shining example of what a graduate from the Waterbury Public School system could be. Not only a great basketball player, he devoted his time to self-improvement and learning. That he completed his degree is a testament to his work ethic and sensibility. And his respect for his former teachers, even five years after graduation, shows just how much he loves his home town.

All Waterbury students, and a few Waterbury residents can take a page from Ryan's life. He never backed down, never gave up, and now has a (hopefully) prosperous career ahead of him in the NBA. I wish Ryan all the success he can handle, because he showed me, and all of Wilby on Wednesday, that no matter what happens, he will always remember, and honor, where he came from.