In its 12th year, the annual Walsh Jesuit Tomahawk Run has now been named in honor of longtime coach, teacher, and mentor, Mr. Pat Ritchie. The Pat Ritchie Invitational’s inaugural race was held on September 9, 2017. Coach Ritchie has influenced generations of Walsh Jesuit athletes and students as early as the 1980s and still continues to make an impact as he is regularly seen in the halls of the school.

Coach Ritchie has been a coach, mentor, and friend to the current co-head coaches, Mr. David Lee and Mr. Tony Dipre. Mr. Ritchie had coached Mr. Lee back in the late ‘80s as part of the 1984 State Championship Team and and Mr. Dipre in the early 2000s as part of the 2002 State Championship Team.

Mr. Dipre credits Mr. Ritchie with teaching him “the value of being disciplined and being accountable[and]dependable — two life skills that are essential,” while Mr. Lee says Mr. Ritchie taught him the importance of the workouts for the team. Both coaches find it essential to keep the tradition and influence Ritchie had on the team as a part of their coaching philosophies. Mr. Lee stated, “I have always appreciated the passion he displayed for his sport…he is a big part of the tradition of the cross country program at WJ.”

Current co-captain Mitchell McGreal, ’18, agreed that the meet should be named in Mr. Ritchie’s honor: “I think it fits the way he contributed so much to XC…Mr. Ritchie is also still around to support us and without him the program wouldn’t have its history.” To this day McGreal is fond of Ritchie’s often sarcastic but lighthearted approach to running. He suggested, “I’d like to bring the same rigor that he added to the team. There can never be an attitude of ‘I can’t do this’…he always pushed us to believe.” Ritchie has influenced the entire men’s cross country team, and his legacy will live on forever.

Meet results found on baumspage.com