Meaghan Harrigan

            Reid and I were involved in so many of the same high school activities.  He and I served on student council together, took many of the same classes, were involved in the same plays (or he was at least at all of the plays to see Bethany), and we went on the band/chorus trips together, but we spent by far the most time together on the Reading/Lynnfield High School Swim Team.

            Swim was one of Reid’s greatest passions and talents.  Lynnfield High offered many sports teams, but when we were freshman swim was not one of them.  This was not acceptable to Reid, so he worked hard with help from a few others and found that Reading High’s swim program was not very large and was therefore interested in forming a co-op team with Lynnfield.  The team was only open to boys for the first two years, but during our junior year the team opened up to girls.  I was one of the six girls to join that year.

            Before the season began Reid constantly teased me saying that men’s swim was no place for women, but I knew he did not really mean it  Once we started having our practices I realized not only how talented a swimmer Reid was, but I also got to see his amazing leadership skills first hand.  He and I both swam breast stroke (he was a bit better than me), but he always helped me as well as other teammates on our technique.  He was always so patient when coach would have him watch us over and over again critiquing our strokes. He really made me a better swimmer by the end of our two seasons together. 

            Reid was always looking out for the best interest of the team, another great quality of a captain.  I was affected by hi selflessness first hand.  Towards the end of my first season I was three points away from earning my varsity letter and Reid was in the running for leading point scorer.  At the halfway point of one of our last regular season meets we already had enough points to win that meet.  Reid decided to allow me to swim his event, the 100 breast stroke, in his place even though he knew it would probably cost him the title of leading point scorer.  I ended up placing in that event and earning those last three points I needed, but what meant the most to me was when the race ended the first person I saw cheering for me right at the end of my lane was Reid.  He was such a great captain and friend to me that day as well as so many others.  I was really touched by Reid’s character.

            I feel truly blessed not only to have known Reid, but to have been his teammate and most importantly his friend.  I truly believe that our good friends shape who we are as people.  My high school years would not have been the same without Reid.  There is so much I have learned Reid and I know that he has shaped who I am today.  Reid will be greatly missed.

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