Three inducted into the Ransom Everglades Athletic Hall of Fame

Chief Operating Officer David Clark '86 welcomed the inductees, their families and guests at the September 19 dinner. "This is night is very special," he said. "Tonight we're here to honor these incredible athletes who showed excellence in their sports at Ransom Everglades. Not only did they show excellence, they had to sacrifice, dedicate themselves, give up a lot of things to be able to perform at the high levels that they did."

All of the inductees were, at times, filled with emotion. Ajagbe – a record-setting thrower at the University of Miami – seemed to sum up the inductees' nostalgia regarding their years at RE: "My Ransom Everglades track teams throughout the years," she said, "have been the best teams I've ever been on."

Head of School Rachel Rodriguez and Head of the Upper School Donald Cramp attended, along with RE hall-of-famers: Beverley, John Geraghty ’73, Christopher Moore ’76, Cathy Harrison Balestra ’90, Lisa Sayfie ’91, Rose, Becker, Doc Crabtree, Penny Matthews and Don Kappelman.

Beverley, the longtime former soccer coach at RE, introduced his former captain, noting that his work ethic and athletic acumen helped him excel. Alders followed his brother Blake Alders '79, into RE's hall, and he was joined at his induction by his mother and brother Rob Alders '76.

"Fritz was the first two-time captain in Ransom history," Beverley said. "He was elected as a junior, and he was elected as a senior. He brought several unique qualities to the Ransom soccer team ... He had an incredible work rate. He was always moving, moving, moving. He wasn't a brilliant defender, but he was always in the way. He wasn't a brilliant attacker, but he was always in the right spot."

Alders, the most veteran of the inductees, cracked a joke when he stepped to the podium: "I know what you're thinking: 'I'm so glad they're not giving this award posthumously.' Damn straight ... I can assure you this is one of the biggest honors of my life."

Becker introduced Ajagbe, describing her start in shotput and discus in the seventh grade. Becker had high hopes for her, having coached her brother Gideon Ajagbe '10, a star athlete who played football at the University of Florida. "At that time we had no track," Becker explained. "We had a batting cage, which Debbie demolished, throwing into the side, and she probably broke a few windows that first year. But she liked it and stuck with it."

Ajagbe ended up winning three state titles in the discus and one in shotput. By the time she was a junior, she threw so far that teams using nearby fields were under threat when her turn came up.

"Four years, five years later," Becker said, "everything would stop when Debbie was throwing ... Literally lacrosse teams would have to stop, and baseball teams would have to stop. She would throw it at Belen over the baseball fence."

Said Ajagbe, who was surrounded by family, including sister Loni Ajagbe '04: "It's so amazing to be here tonight with all of you, to see so many familiar faces: People who have taught me, people who have guided me, and I'm just so happy to be there. And all of this would not have happened if I did not, in sixth grade, get cut from the sixth-grade play ... The rest is history."

Holly, introduced by his former teammate, excelled as a placekicker and was lured to Louisiana State University by then-head coach Bill Arnsparger. He was joined at his table by his wife, Allison, and three sons – Hayes '21, Anders '24 and Jay '26 – and brother Jack Holly '84.

"I can remember [former middle school director] Jim Charlton telling us the first day, 'This is a community. You are now part of the Ransom Everglades community,'" Holly recalled. "And here I am, 40 years later, and this is my community. I'm proud to be part of this community."

Holly, who has been deeply involved in RE's alumni association and served as chair of the board of trustees, thanked his family and reminisced about his former teammates and the coaches who influenced him and his peers. 

"I am 55 years old," he said. "What do I remember? 'Winners never quit. Quitters never win.' That was [from] Doug [Weiser '74] and Brad Weiser '78; that was seventh grade."

Upper School Athletic Director Scott Berman also addressed the gathered crowd.

"Ransom Everglades athletics has a deep tradition of excellence both on and off the field, and in the water," Berman said. "We want our alumni to be proud of what we do and, more importantly, how we do it ... It's your dedication and achievements that serve as benchmarks for our current athletes, inspiring them to strive for excellence and to support one another, both in practice and in competition."

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