Caitlin Lehmann, 19, Courageous Swimmer
by Joe Battaglia, Newark Star-Ledger
Dave Flocco, the girls swimming coach at Montclair Kimberley Academy , knew his team had the talent to win the 2001 Prep A Division championship.
But to capture the title, he also knew his star swimmer, Caitlin Lehmann, would have to swim in her least favorite event, the 200-yard freestyle.
“I put her in the event because the team really needed her there,” Flocco said. “At the time she was struggling with hip and back pain and was really hurting in warm-ups. She wasn't gliding through the water like we've seen Caitlin do.
“When she got out of the pool she was doubled over in pain. I said to her, ‘Look, it's you call. If you can't go, don't.' She said, ‘I'm going.' It was a grueling race and her time wasn't anything great, but it sparked us to the championship. After the race she turned to me and said, ‘I gave it everything I had.' That courage was a defining moment for me.”
Miss Lehmann died Monday in her West Caldwell home after a battle with a rare form of cancer. She was 19.
Miss Lehmann, recognized as a fierce competitor, was a four-time state swimming champion for Immaculate Heart Academy in Washington Township and Montclair Kimberley. She was named to the All-North Jersey team in 1999 and was named Essex County Swimmer of the year in 2000.
“I'd be remiss if I didn't say that she put Montclair Kimberley swimming on the map,” Flocco said. “We had a lot of girls, but when she came in 2000, we had our best year. We hadn't had one better before and haven't had one as good since. She meant the world to our program.”
The same could be said for the Immaculate Heart program. Had it not been for Miss Lehmann, the school's state record, 101-meet winning streak – the longest active streak in the nation and third longest in national history – would have ended four years ago.
The team trailed Bishop Ahr of Edison by nine points in the 1998 Parochial A state championship meet and was facing a larger deficit heading into the 100-yard freestyle against heavily favored Laura Sobocienski. But Immaculate Heart sophomore Megan Hughes won the race in 55.57 seconds and Miss Lehmann took second in 56.26 seconds. The improbable finish pulled the team to within one point and set the stage for one of the most memorable comebacks in state swimming history. Immaculate Heart won the meet 87.5 – 82.5. Miss Lehmann also led the team to the 1999 state championship.
“That was one of the biggest achievements I've seen in a dual meet at any level,”
Bob Pytel, one of Miss Lehmann's coaches at Immaculate Heart, said. “It was probably the most significant individual swim in the history of our program. Caitlin was one of the toughest competitors I've ever seen. If you needed something done she could go out and get it done every race. She swam every race like it was the Olympics. She had that look in her, that killer instinct that you wish all of your swimmers had. Caitlin was a leader from her freshman year and everyone respected her.”
Despite her quiet nature out of the pool, Miss Lehmann commanded that same respect from her teammates when she transferred to Montclair Kimberley.
“She was always smiling and always had a positive attitude,” Jenna Sakolsky, who swam with Miss Lehmann as a youngster at the Montclair YMCA and later at Montclair Kimberley, said. “On road trips, she would have everyone singing along to songs on the radio. A few of us even recorded a song once. We always had fun when she was around.”
Montclair Kimberley also did a lot of winning when Miss Lehmann was around. She sparked the school to two Essex County championships, to the NJSIAA Parochial B titles in 2000 and 2001 and the Prep A division in 2001.
Three weeks after capping her career with that fourth state championship, Miss Lehmann was diagnosed with synovial cell sarcoma, a rare, aggressive high-grade tumor that attacks the body's joints. According to the musculoskeletal Tumor Service, approximately 800 cases of this cancer occur in the United States each year. The most notable case was that of actor Robert Urich, who spoke with Miss Lehmann about the disease prior to his death April 16.
Miss Lehmann underwent radical doses of chemotherapy and four surgeries in the final 14 months of her life, but remained committed to swimming. She returned to Montclair Kimberley as a volunteer assistant coach this past season and mentored many of the team's younger swimmers.
“The same resolve and commitment she showed in swimming were evident in her battle with cancer,” Flocco said. “She was determined to live her life to the fullest.”
“Caitlin was not only a leader, but an inspiration,” Sakolsky said. “She had a huge impact on my life and those of everyone who knew her. She will be missed.”
Dave Flocco, the girls swimming coach at Montclair Kimberley Academy , knew his team had the talent to win the 2001 Prep A Division championship.
But to capture the title, he also knew his star swimmer, Caitlin Lehmann, would have to swim in her least favorite event, the 200-yard freestyle.
“I put her in the event because the team really needed her there,” Flocco said. “At the time she was struggling with hip and back pain and was really hurting in warm-ups. She wasn't gliding through the water like we've seen Caitlin do.
“When she got out of the pool she was doubled over in pain. I said to her, ‘Look, it's you call. If you can't go, don't.' She said, ‘I'm going.' It was a grueling race and her time wasn't anything great, but it sparked us to the championship. After the race she turned to me and said, ‘I gave it everything I had.' That courage was a defining moment for me.”
Miss Lehmann died Monday in her West Caldwell home after a battle with a rare form of cancer. She was 19.
Miss Lehmann, recognized as a fierce competitor, was a four-time state swimming champion for Immaculate Heart Academy in Washington Township and Montclair Kimberley. She was named to the All-North Jersey team in 1999 and was named Essex County Swimmer of the year in 2000.
“I'd be remiss if I didn't say that she put Montclair Kimberley swimming on the map,” Flocco said. “We had a lot of girls, but when she came in 2000, we had our best year. We hadn't had one better before and haven't had one as good since. She meant the world to our program.”
The same could be said for the Immaculate Heart program. Had it not been for Miss Lehmann, the school's state record, 101-meet winning streak – the longest active streak in the nation and third longest in national history – would have ended four years ago.
The team trailed Bishop Ahr of Edison by nine points in the 1998 Parochial A state championship meet and was facing a larger deficit heading into the 100-yard freestyle against heavily favored Laura Sobocienski. But Immaculate Heart sophomore Megan Hughes won the race in 55.57 seconds and Miss Lehmann took second in 56.26 seconds. The improbable finish pulled the team to within one point and set the stage for one of the most memorable comebacks in state swimming history. Immaculate Heart won the meet 87.5 – 82.5. Miss Lehmann also led the team to the 1999 state championship.
“That was one of the biggest achievements I've seen in a dual meet at any level,”
Bob Pytel, one of Miss Lehmann's coaches at Immaculate Heart, said. “It was probably the most significant individual swim in the history of our program. Caitlin was one of the toughest competitors I've ever seen. If you needed something done she could go out and get it done every race. She swam every race like it was the Olympics. She had that look in her, that killer instinct that you wish all of your swimmers had. Caitlin was a leader from her freshman year and everyone respected her.”
Despite her quiet nature out of the pool, Miss Lehmann commanded that same respect from her teammates when she transferred to Montclair Kimberley.
“She was always smiling and always had a positive attitude,” Jenna Sakolsky, who swam with Miss Lehmann as a youngster at the Montclair YMCA and later at Montclair Kimberley, said. “On road trips, she would have everyone singing along to songs on the radio. A few of us even recorded a song once. We always had fun when she was around.”
Montclair Kimberley also did a lot of winning when Miss Lehmann was around. She sparked the school to two Essex County championships, to the NJSIAA Parochial B titles in 2000 and 2001 and the Prep A division in 2001.
Three weeks after capping her career with that fourth state championship, Miss Lehmann was diagnosed with synovial cell sarcoma, a rare, aggressive high-grade tumor that attacks the body's joints. According to the musculoskeletal Tumor Service, approximately 800 cases of this cancer occur in the United States each year. The most notable case was that of actor Robert Urich, who spoke with Miss Lehmann about the disease prior to his death April 16.
Miss Lehmann underwent radical doses of chemotherapy and four surgeries in the final 14 months of her life, but remained committed to swimming. She returned to Montclair Kimberley as a volunteer assistant coach this past season and mentored many of the team's younger swimmers.
“The same resolve and commitment she showed in swimming were evident in her battle with cancer,” Flocco said. “She was determined to live her life to the fullest.”
“Caitlin was not only a leader, but an inspiration,” Sakolsky said. “She had a huge impact on my life and those of everyone who knew her. She will be missed.”
Portrait of a Champion
by Darren Cooper, Montclair Times
173 words. An obituary of 173 words told a story that highlighted the accomplishments of Montclair Kimberley Academy graduate and star swimmer Caitlin Lehmann who passed away a month ago today at age 19 after a heroic, courageous battle against synovial cell sarcoma.
173 words-far too short to talk about her smile, her respect, her character, her sense of humor, her impact on those around her. Those are the things people who knew her think of now.
Far too short.
Former Montclair Kimberley Academy Athletic Director Mark Boyea remembers the first time he heard Caitlin's name. He had taken a phone call from Richard, her father, who was interested in having his precocious daughters transfer to MKA from Immaculate Heart Academy .
They were on the phone for 45 minutes as Richard queried Boyea on myriad topics. Sufficiently convinced, the Lehmanns: Caitlin and her younger sister Jeanne, transferred to MKA in 1999.
As fate would have it, Boyea became Cait's academic adviser in a mentoring program for students at MKA. It's like a homeroom, but more individually geared. In the meantime, Boyea was also tutoring Jeanne, a young, gutsy point guard for his girls' basketball team. "I certainly cherish a lot of friendships," said Boyea, who has since left the school. "But I don't think there's a family that I got closer to. They are wonderful folks and they have been incredibly good to me."
The Lehmanns influenced three programs at MKA. Jeanne helped lead the Cougars volleyball team to three state playoff berths and a conference title on the hardwood.
Cait was the swimmer in the family and there were few better in all of New Jersey . IHA was a certified swimming powerhouse and Cait brought her reputation and work ethic into the MKA program. Her leadership helped MKA win two state titles, and she was named Swimmer of the Year in Essex County .
"It was her that put MKA swimming on the map," said former MKA swimming Coach Dave Flocco. "Prior to her arrival here, our girls had never been higher than third in the preps, we'd never entered a state tournament, and we were never higher than third in the counties and never better than 15th in the Easterns."
"In her two years here, we won two county titles, two state championships, a prep title and were in the top six at Easterns. I think that pretty much sums up the athletic impact she made."
In her senior year, Cait swam through pain in her back and hip and shook it off as nothing more than natural athletic soreness. But a doctor's visit in early 2001 revealed something else, synovial cell sarcoma, an extremely rare form of cancer.
Cait stayed in school, missing a couple of day now and then while she underwent treatment. Char Charlton, head of the MKA Upper School , taught Cait honors calculus and recalls how she never let her work lag. She kept up with her assignments even while her classmates begged off.
"You don't expect a student at 17 years old who looks like they are in the prime of their health, a state champion swimmer, who looks so strong to be so sick," said Charlton. "I just really respected her courage and fortitude to come to school and keep a smiling face and keep everyone else from being upset, but that's the way she was." Late on July 1, Cait's valiant battle came to an end. A Mass was held later in the week at Immaculate Conception Church. Boyea delivered one eulogy, in which he talked of Cait's life as a story with themes of truthfulness, strength, humility and love. The church was packed.
The MKA community has been in mourning for a month, and overcoming their sadness will not be easy. But from Headmaster Peter Greer to Boyea to Flocco to Charlton, Cait's legacy remains.
"I know that you couldn't find any student with a finer reputation and great character," said Charlton. "We like to pride ourselves at MKA on character education, on being respectful, and that's exactly what Caitlin was."
"She had a great smile," said Boyea. "For some reason, that's what I see in my mind. And a great sense of humor."
"I cannot remember another student who so positively affected so may students and faculty," said Greer. "Caitlin knew she had true friends to the end."
"If you had to put one word on it, it would have to be her ability to contrast her toughness with her sense of humor," said Flocco. "Caitlin never took herself or her life too seriously. She had the ability to be tough when she needed and to make everyone laugh when they needed. If I could bottle a tough smile…Caitlin's face was a tough smile."
“Caitlin came to MKA in 1999, and her impact on the Upper School swim team was almost immediate. She broke a school record in her first dual meet of the season and went on to break four more individual records, as well as being part of all three relays that broke school records that season. She led MKA to two Essex County and Parochial B State Championships and to one Prep A Championship.”
173 words. An obituary of 173 words told a story that highlighted the accomplishments of Montclair Kimberley Academy graduate and star swimmer Caitlin Lehmann who passed away a month ago today at age 19 after a heroic, courageous battle against synovial cell sarcoma.
173 words-far too short to talk about her smile, her respect, her character, her sense of humor, her impact on those around her. Those are the things people who knew her think of now.
Far too short.
Former Montclair Kimberley Academy Athletic Director Mark Boyea remembers the first time he heard Caitlin's name. He had taken a phone call from Richard, her father, who was interested in having his precocious daughters transfer to MKA from Immaculate Heart Academy .
They were on the phone for 45 minutes as Richard queried Boyea on myriad topics. Sufficiently convinced, the Lehmanns: Caitlin and her younger sister Jeanne, transferred to MKA in 1999.
As fate would have it, Boyea became Cait's academic adviser in a mentoring program for students at MKA. It's like a homeroom, but more individually geared. In the meantime, Boyea was also tutoring Jeanne, a young, gutsy point guard for his girls' basketball team. "I certainly cherish a lot of friendships," said Boyea, who has since left the school. "But I don't think there's a family that I got closer to. They are wonderful folks and they have been incredibly good to me."
The Lehmanns influenced three programs at MKA. Jeanne helped lead the Cougars volleyball team to three state playoff berths and a conference title on the hardwood.
Cait was the swimmer in the family and there were few better in all of New Jersey . IHA was a certified swimming powerhouse and Cait brought her reputation and work ethic into the MKA program. Her leadership helped MKA win two state titles, and she was named Swimmer of the Year in Essex County .
"It was her that put MKA swimming on the map," said former MKA swimming Coach Dave Flocco. "Prior to her arrival here, our girls had never been higher than third in the preps, we'd never entered a state tournament, and we were never higher than third in the counties and never better than 15th in the Easterns."
"In her two years here, we won two county titles, two state championships, a prep title and were in the top six at Easterns. I think that pretty much sums up the athletic impact she made."
In her senior year, Cait swam through pain in her back and hip and shook it off as nothing more than natural athletic soreness. But a doctor's visit in early 2001 revealed something else, synovial cell sarcoma, an extremely rare form of cancer.
Cait stayed in school, missing a couple of day now and then while she underwent treatment. Char Charlton, head of the MKA Upper School , taught Cait honors calculus and recalls how she never let her work lag. She kept up with her assignments even while her classmates begged off.
"You don't expect a student at 17 years old who looks like they are in the prime of their health, a state champion swimmer, who looks so strong to be so sick," said Charlton. "I just really respected her courage and fortitude to come to school and keep a smiling face and keep everyone else from being upset, but that's the way she was." Late on July 1, Cait's valiant battle came to an end. A Mass was held later in the week at Immaculate Conception Church. Boyea delivered one eulogy, in which he talked of Cait's life as a story with themes of truthfulness, strength, humility and love. The church was packed.
The MKA community has been in mourning for a month, and overcoming their sadness will not be easy. But from Headmaster Peter Greer to Boyea to Flocco to Charlton, Cait's legacy remains.
"I know that you couldn't find any student with a finer reputation and great character," said Charlton. "We like to pride ourselves at MKA on character education, on being respectful, and that's exactly what Caitlin was."
"She had a great smile," said Boyea. "For some reason, that's what I see in my mind. And a great sense of humor."
"I cannot remember another student who so positively affected so may students and faculty," said Greer. "Caitlin knew she had true friends to the end."
"If you had to put one word on it, it would have to be her ability to contrast her toughness with her sense of humor," said Flocco. "Caitlin never took herself or her life too seriously. She had the ability to be tough when she needed and to make everyone laugh when they needed. If I could bottle a tough smile…Caitlin's face was a tough smile."
“Caitlin came to MKA in 1999, and her impact on the Upper School swim team was almost immediate. She broke a school record in her first dual meet of the season and went on to break four more individual records, as well as being part of all three relays that broke school records that season. She led MKA to two Essex County and Parochial B State Championships and to one Prep A Championship.”