Mile 98

At just 14 years old, Drew Launey faced a devastating setback. Two weeks before the state swim meet, the Holy Cross eighth grader tore a tendon, muscle, and a piece of bone from his pelvic growth plate during a game of kickball—an injury so severe that doctors were unsure if he’d ever return to competitive swimming. But Drew refused to let his team down. Despite the pain, he relearned how to dive, turn, and swim using mostly his upper body. When the big day came, Drew not only competed—he exceeded expectations, scoring critical points that helped secure Holy Cross Swim Team’s fourth consecutive state championship. That victory was just the beginning of what would become an extraordinary legacy. Today, Holy Cross has claimed seven straight state titles and nine overall, establishing itself as one of the most dominant programs in Louisiana high school swimming history.

Drew’s story didn’t just inspire his teammates—it left a lasting impression on his medical team at Manning Family Children’s, too. His orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Timothy Skalak, now uses Drew’s recovery as a motivational example for other young patients facing difficult paths to healing. Drew, still healing himself, chose to turn his experience outward. When he learned that a new family in his neighborhood was struggling with their daughter Blakely’s cancer diagnosis and hurricane damage, he launched a swim fundraiser with a modest goal: swim 100 laps and raise $500 to help cover medical bills. But the spirit of Holy Cross swimming—a culture of perseverance, brotherhood, and service—was alive and well. Drew’s teammates quickly rallied around him, and the effort gained momentum across the community. Even Lou Fragoso, President & CEO of Manning Family Children’s,  swam alongside them in support.

By the end, the fundraiser had raised over $14,500 for Blakely and her family. For Drew, it was never about records or recognition—it was about embodying “The Spirit of the Holy Cross Man” and showing up for others, just as his team had shown up for him.  Now a senior, Drew prepares to close out his high school career with Holy Cross, still driven by the same quiet courage and compassion that first brought him back to the pool.