Hopkins wrestling celebrates Bradlee LaMontagne's legacy with first annual Bradlee's Bash

The Hopkins wrestling team hosted the first annual Bradlee’s Bash on April 23 in memory of Bradlee LaMontagne, who passed away in 2020. The outdoor event that reflected Bradlee’s love for spikeball, ice cream and spending time with friends outside. 

LaMontagne was a junior biology major from Virginia Beach, Virginia. He was an active member of the Hopkins community and was elected captain of the Hopkins wrestling team. He was named a National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-American and co-holds the record for most matches in a season with 47.

The event comes as part of several initiatives to honor LaMontagne, including renaming the Black & Blue Brawl to Bradlee’s Brawl in his memory, wrestling uniforms having “no-quit” patch in honor of LaMontagne’s no-quit attitude and renaming the wrestling room the Bradlee Hillier LaMontagne Wrestling Room.

 In an email to The News-Letter, junior Colin Vallis reflected on the event’s planning. 

“Among Bradlee’s favorite things in the world were spikeball and ice cream. In a wrestling team meeting meant to discuss ways to celebrate Bradlee’s legacy off the mat, the two were unanimously suggested,“ he wrote. “With the help of Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, the wrestling team set their sights on keeping Bradlee’s love for spending time with friends outside alive. Thus, Bradlee’s Bash was born in hopes of inspiring the Hopkins community and reminding everyone of Bradlee’s larger-than-life personality.”

The main event was a spikeball tournament. Fifty spikeball teams battled in eight groups and the winners from each group faced off in a single-elimination tournament-style bracket until an eventual champion was crowned. In the finals, Tim Treinen and Brian Lenzer faced off against Dylan Wachenfeld and Brandon Stride. Treinen and Lenzer claimed the first Bradlee’s Bash championship in a competitive 3-set affair. 

Over 150 students came out to celebrate LeMontagne’s legacy. Vallis described the turnout of students as a testament to LaMontagne’s love for those around him.

“Every aspect of Bradlee’s personality was on display on Saturday, from his no-quit attitude to his passionate support of friends and fun,“ he wrote. “Everyone at the event was thinking that Bradlee would have loved to be there and see his friends coming together. After an unforgettable event, the wrestling team looks forward to inviting everyone back for next year’s Bash.”