The "Congratulations Are In Order" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Shaking hands with my son-in-law Dave to congratulate him for being one of the 24 members of the 2019 Inaugural Class of the Quince Orchard Athletic Hall of Fame.  

Coach Dave Mencarini

Quince Orchard High School is located in Gaithersburg, Montgomery County, Maryland.   He taught at the high school for many years and was the head football coach for quite a few of those years.  During the years he was head coach he experienced many memorable moments.  In 2004 he became head coach and had 8 wins and 2 losses that year.  After that year, it all got better, if that's possible.  Since that time his teams played for the State Championship three times, winning the 2007 4A State Title, going undefeated at 14-0.  Another year he lost in overtime during the State Championship.  Then, during his 10th year at the helm he won his 100th game with a win in his third game of the season  Many of his players have gone on to play at Division I colleges.  

Decorations adorn his home garage after his 100th win.

In 2011 The Washington Post named him the "Coach of the Year" in the state of Maryland.  Dave and his staff built "QO", as they are known, into one of the state of Maryland's elite programs.  For the many years he spent at QO before moving to Urbana High School in 2014 and eventually to the University of Maryland, he was rewarded by being named to the first ever Quince Orchard Athletic Hall of Fame.  

Dave getting drenched after winning the State Title.

Dave, along with 23 other outstanding coaches and athletes, made up the school's first ever class.  The school only opened in 1988, thus not having an athletic hall of fame until this year.  My daughter Brynn, Dave's wife and mother of their two young girls, posted a message on the school's website where she wrote:  "Proud of you Dave.  I loved being part of the QO family and community.  Excited to see Lisa, Bañi, Travis and Dake on here too."  Bañi Gbadyu went on to play middle-linebacker for Penn State and then help coach Mannheim Township High School where I taught at one time.  The members of the inaugural class will be honored on Friday, October 4th before the home football game that night.  My wife Carol and I wish to congratulate him for this remarkable accomplishment.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.