FALLEN HERO

	by Brad Schertle Joe Curreri, a MIAA swimming champion and 1998 alum of Loyola Blakefield and the University of Southern California, recently passed away in the Philippines while on a training dive, serving the United States as an Army Ranger. Curreri had a storied and decorated career at Loyola Blakefield.  In each of his four years, hey was an individual MIAA Champion, leading Blakefield’s swimming team to four straight A Conference Team Titles (1994-1998).  During his sophomore and senior years, he led Loyola to a second place finish at the National Catholic Swimming Championships and, as a junior, the school’s first ever first place finish. After graduating from Loyola he went on to swim for Mark Schubert and Erika Hansen at the University of Southern California, where as a senior he was named team captain.  When Curreri went off to college he had set more Maryland Swimming LSC records then any previous male, held National Age Group Records, competed at the U.S. Nationals and several Junior National Championships.
Loyola graduate Joe Curreri, who was killed during a training dive while serving as a U.S. Army Green Beret, recently, was a highly decorated swimming champion with the Dons and instrumental is the start of the school’s water polo team.

His accomplishments in the pool were rivaled only by those outside.  Those who knew Joey (as his friends and family referred to him) remember him for what he did out of the pool. They saw him as a constant competitor, with a never quit mentality. Whether it was the pool, classroom, or a round of video games, Joe gave a 100% effort. He was a caring individual who gave everything he had into every endeavor he undertook. It was this that made him one of the most respected swimmers in the MIAA.  People marveled at Curreri’s hard work, dedication and unrivaled care for others.

These characteristics were never more visible than during his senior year.

Curreri decided he wanted Loyola to start competing in water polo.  During the Christmas vacation of 1997, while his classmates were enjoying their new Nintendo 64’s, he was leading 10 of his teammates in Loyola’s first 100 Mile Relay.  Curreri organized the event, raised funds, and helped his team complete 100 miles in less then 33 hrs.  Through the raised funds, he was able to purchase water polo balls, caps and goals to start a program.

The team played a few games in the spring of 1998 against Calvert Hall and started a club team schedule in the fall of 1998, after Curreri graduated.  Since then the Loyola Swim Team has continued this tradition, donating their raised money to a charity of the team’s choice.  

After college, Curreri stayed on the west coast where he met his wife Athena. On his semi-regular trips back to Baltimore, Curreri always made a point of connecting with his roots. He would walk Loyola’s campus, stop by practices and catch up with high school teammates, classmates and teachers.  Loyola’s mission is to send “Men for Others” into society upon graduation.  Anyone who had the privilege of meeting Joe Curreri knew this mission was never more accurately executed than in his case.

Editor’s Note:  Brad Schertle is an assistant water polo and swimming coach at Loyola, as well as the son of head coach Keith Schertle.  He is a 2001 graduate of Blakefield and was a freshman swimmer for the Dons during Joe Curreri’s senior year.