Tucker Terannova ’23

On Wednesday, August 31, 2022, the eyes of the baseball world were centered on Citi Field. The Mets, in the midst of holding off the red-hot Atlanta Braves for control of the NL East, were taking on the league powerhouse Los Angeles Dodgers. Also on that day, renowned musician Timmy Trumpet was set to perform the song “Narcos,” which has been popularized by Mets star closer Edwin Díaz.

But, while the Mets ended up winning an incredible game 2-1, the attention of the Flyer family was turned to Mr. Christopher Lynch ’82 and the Chaminade High School Glee Club.

A physical education teacher at Chaminade, Coach Lynch was given the extraordinary opportunity to throw the game’s first pitch to fellow alumni Michael Nawrocki ’73.

Lynch described the moment as “a blessing. When I walked out to the mound, I made sure to tip my cap to the thunderous applause…from our Flyer family members. Once I turned around and saw Michael Nawrocki and the fans in the stadium, my heart started to race. I said to myself, ‘Wow! A once-in-a-lifetime experience’…sharing this with so many people I’ve had the opportunity to call my dear friends over these past 36 years.”

A true and living testament to the “Chaminade Man” mantra, Lynch was the perfect man for the job. Shortly before Lynch’s opening pitch, members of the Chaminade Glee Club gave the Mets a reason to cheer with an incredible rendition of the national anthem. For these students, being able to perform in front of tens of thousands of fans was also the chance of a lifetime.

Ms. Viktoriya Khokhlova, the Glee Club moderator, stated, “It was a wonderful experience. Everyone was so excited for the amazing opportunity to perform. I asked the boys from Gold and Crimson Glee Clubs how they felt, and these were some of the answers I got: ‘Surreal, accomplished, ecstatic and amazing!’”

A talented group of singers, the Glee Club was more than prepared to take on the challenge. Performing in front of such a large audience also increased student interest in the club. Khokhlova stated that “an event such as this creates a great relationship with students, parents, and alumni. Being able to perform at a Mets game also makes prospective students excited about their opportunities within the club.”

Later in the game, Mr. Shuchao Luo and members of the rapidly-growing Element Film Club were given the opportunity to explore how, exactly, a baseball game is broadcasted. The crew of SportsNet New York (SNY) was gracious enough to let students tour the broadcast booth and explained how to operate the different cameras, microphones, and miscellaneous equipment used in broadcasts. 

Matt Klimek ’24, a member of the club, stated, “We all had the experience to hold and operate different cinema and broadcast cameras that they use everyday at Citi Field. These are really advanced cameras equipped with the best accessories to capture the action right as it happens. I felt like a professional…as they showed us how everything worked.”

Mr. Patrick Reichart ’01, who organized the event, stated, “Alumni stepped up, as they always do, and we ended up with well over 500 Flyers in attendance. I was standing on the field behind home plate with Bro. Tom [Cleary, S.M. ’81] when Coach Lynch delivered the first pitch and the Glee Club performed the anthem, and I honestly can tell you that the Flyer faithful made their presence known in these moments.”

Throughout the night, Citi Field was witness to the sense of community embodied in the phrase, “Fortes Unitate.”