By Riley Fontana
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Walpole Swim Coach Cheryl Cavanaugh celebrated her 50th anniversary of coaching on August 6, 2024, surrounded by friends and family at the Barracudas swim meet. The surprise celebration, planned in secret by her swimmers and their families, was a tribute to her dedication to the sport.
Before Cavanaugh arrived, her team decorated the pool area with balloons, streamers, and photos, along with a robe and crown for her to wear. As she walked in, the team lined up to greet her, catching her completely off guard. Her family added to the surprise by arriving just before the meet began.
There was no shortage of kind words about Cavanaugh and her legacy from everyone around. “It blows me away. She’s a huge impact on the community,” said her husband Dan Cavanaugh. “She’s never giving any of it up.” This sentiment was echoed by everyone, Cavanaugh loves the sport and will be coaching for as long as she can.
“Swim is her life, water is her life,” said Sarah Browning, an alumni of Walpole Swim. “She’s impacted a lot of people in a lot of ways.” Many people who swam for Cheryl growing up have sent their children and siblings through her due to her warm and welcoming methods. “She’s been there for a lot of milestones for us. She taught the whole family,” said Samira Mourad, another alumnus.
After the meet wrapped against Natick, everyone gathered in the splash pad to celebrate. The swim coach was honored with speeches and cake along with being given one of the ducks around Walpole to design herself. Ducks were a prominent theme throughout her entire celebration. The celebration continued at Napper Tandy’s afterward to honor her legacy.
After 50 years of coaching, there is no doubt that Cavanaugh is a huge part of the Walpole community. She coaches summer, winter and high school swim teams as well as working with other local high schools. She has made a huge impact on countless people's lives with her dedication to swimming in Walpole. The swim teams would not be where they are today without her enthusiasm for the sport and her coaching abilities.
