The Bridge of Brotherhood: How Sports Connect the O’Dea Community

By Torsten Schenck and Nate Black

SEATTLE- The whistle blows and the game is over. Players are fist‑bumping each other, students are jumping up and down, and a roar erupts from the crowd, O’Dea has just won the state championship for the first time in eight years. Students from every class turn and high‑five one another, celebrating the achievement, because at O’Dea, sports are more than just a game; they are the roots that bind the entire Irish community together. 

One of the people who brings the community together is senior Fisher Black, the voice behind the student section. He holds the megaphone at every game and encourages the crowd to be loud and rowdy for their fellow athletes. His commitment to O’Dea goes beyond school spirit and sport and is a reflection of how much he believes in supporting and building connections.  

Black says, “If we have to miss a family dinner to show the boys that we are there and that they matter, we will do that.”

This is a comment that captures that he shows up to the game not just with the megaphone but with his heart as well. This level of dedication reminds students that their appearance makes a difference, because at the end of the day they could be walking out of the game with a new bond built with their brother, a bond that strengthens not just their team, but the entire O’Dea brotherhood. 

It is not just current students though, many alumni return from college to watch the Irish play, continuing a tradition that stays with them long after they leave O’Dea. One of those alumni is Luke Hardy, Class of 2023, a former swim team captain and school chaplain.

Reflecting on his time at O'Dea, Hardy said “Sports connect people from different grade levels,” a truth he experienced firsthand during his final race. 

It was Metros, late in the season, and a one-on-one showdown between Luke and another swimmer. After a rough dive off the blocks, he was disappointed, but then, something powerful happened.

“The entire team was cheering for me,” Hardy recalled. “Every time I lifted my head out of the water, I could hear how loud they were.” 

Boosted by their support, Hardy powered ahead and won the last race of his O’Dea swim career. What made it an unforgettable memory wasn’t just the victory, it was the unity. It wasn’t just his close friends cheering. It was the entire team rallying behind him, lifting him up when he needed it most. That is what O’Dea sports mean to the community 

It is moments like these that make it clear why sports are more than just games and how they help strengthen the entire community. In Hardy’s case, they linked all the classes together for a single, unforgettable moment. In Black’s case he sees that showing up matters for the community and has been able to create bonds with many students at O’Dea. One thing is for sure, however, wins and losses come and go, but what will never fade are the connections built in the stands with your brothers. Sports remind us that we are part of One Fighting Irish community.