At a very recent swim meet involving Bridgeport High School, long-time swim Coach Jan Grisso was approached by a man, who introduced himself. The moment, she said, made her realize just how long she has been coaching the Indians.
 
"The man came up to me and said, 'I'm Adam Ranson. I was on your first swimming team.' I looked at him and said, 'you were a back stroker.' He let me know I was right," said Grisso with a laugh. "That was neat having someone from that first team come up to me and bring back a flood of memories. Moments like that are so important, particularly this year."
 
There is a reason for "this year" having extra meaning. It is the last year for Grisso coaching.
 
While any time any coach steps down it is a big deal, this hits differently. Bridgeport High School swimming – both the boys and the girls – has known one coach, and that is Jan Grisso. She goes back to an era when swimming was not even a sanctioned WVSSAC sport.
 
It began in 1992-93. The sport was not sanctioned despite a state meet taking place. And before it was sanctioned, Grisso's squads won titles or her number of championships (get to that shortly) would be even higher.
 
Here is the unique thing: Grisso did not go out and seek the job that she has spent 33 years doing. A Bridgeport resident sought her out.
 
"It was (Dr.) Doyle Sickles, whose daughters were great swimmers for me, who got me in this. He was at Bridgeport High School, and I was at Washington Irving at the same time, and he remembered I was a swimmer when they were looking for a coach at the time they approached the Board of Education about starting the program," said Grisso. "When they allowed it to happen, he asked me if I would coach, and here I am."
 
Grisso had nothing but praise for Dr. Sickles and the entire Sickles family. Along with the daughters who were elite swimmers, Grisso said the Sickles family was actively involved with the program for years, even helping strategize the best ways to find a path to victory.



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