IN HONOR OF MATT: The No. 24 jersey of former McDonogh lacrosse player Matt Cowdrey (above) will be retired on May 9 in honor of the player who died during a hunting accident in 2005. (Photo from a website dedicated to Cowdrey)
A SALUTE TO A FRIEND: McDonogh junior Curtis Holmes (above) wore the No. 24 jersey in honor of Matt Cowdrey, a former Eagles' player who died in 2005. Cowdrey's jersey will be retired on May 9 -- the date of the Eagles' final regular season game.
The McDonogh boys lacrosse program will retire the No. 24 jersey of former player Matt Cowdrey on May 9 when the Eagles play host to Mount St. Joseph in their final Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference game of the regular season.
Cowdrey died during a hunting accident in January 2005, year that ended with then-coach Jake Reed guiding the Eagles to their second MIAA A Conference title -- with their previous one being in 1999.
Curtis Holmes, a junior midfielder for the Eagles, has worn Cowdrey's jersey in honor of the player, doing so at the request of Cowdrey's parents, Roy and Dael, since his freshman seasos in 2006.
"After some discussion among our immediate family, plus our extended family at McDonogh, we felt it would be best to retire Matt’s jersey," said Cory Holmes, Curtis' father. "We also wanted to do it before Curtis’ senior year, so it wouldn’t look like we were retiring Curt’s number."