HOLMES BEACH – For decades, the “Little School by the Bay” has seen Island area students walk through the doors at the end of fifth grade to brave the world beyond Anna Maria Island, only to return with a fondness like no other.
The Class of 2021 high school graduates who attended Anna Maria Elementary School (AME) is no different.
As the fifth-graders, teachers and staff at AME felt the bittersweet emotions of the last day of school last week, the seniors at Manatee High School and Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School, and the like, were feeling similar emotions.
In preschool, Tyler Brewer, Tuna McCracken and David Daigle prepared for AME and met new friends at the School for Constructive Play and Busy Bees.
While Tyler and Tuna were already tight buddies as they entered kindergarten, David joined the merry crew, which became an almost inseparable trio.
In second grade, Morgan Horesh arrived on the AME scene and was welcomed by the boys. The Anna Maria Island Community Center, now known as The Center, helped to gel the friendship with after-school programs and recreational sports.
Blake Balais joined in on the fun in the third grade at AME. Performing in the school plays and participating in school activities furthered the closeness of the friendships that would last after elementary school.
Like many AME Dolphins before them, their handprints can be found on the walls of the elementary school, keeping the long-standing tradition alive.
Despite going to different middle schools, the five boys remained close and always made room for new friends as they arrived on the Island.
Early in their AME days, the boys were introduced to Javier Rivera who moved with his family to the Island not speaking English. With the help of his new friends, Javier soon acclimated to his new home and made good friends.
Another newcomer was Cole Carter, who moved to the area at the start of his freshman year at Manatee High School. Through his interest in sports, Cole quickly found his place with the Island boys.
While David and Morgan made their way through the gauntlet at Saint Stephen’s, the other boys proudly walked the halls as Hurricanes. But after school and on the weekends, they were the same Island friends.
Blake’s love of baseball took him to the diamond, while Tuna’s passion for football put him on the gridiron. David hit the hardcourt playing a season of basketball for the Falcons, as well as a season of soccer in high school. Tyler also played soccer while at Manatee.
The Center sports brought them back together year after year. For these teenagers, community center flag football was always the most anticipated season. Each year, David, Morgan, Tuna and Tyler maneuvered to be on the same team, hoping to be able to pick up other friends like Blake, Cole and Connor Ludwig, who moved to the Island in middle school.
The Island’s community center was a second home for many of the AME class of 2021 graduates. Most of them went directly from AME to The Center five days a week and played sports on the fields past sundown. It is this love of the community center that keeps these young people coming back to play, volunteer, work and coach.
The love of the Island, AME and The Center made a graduation party at the community center the obvious setting. The celebration for five young men who have their roots deeply planted on the Island was a poetic ending to a chapter in their lives.
To start the next journey, two of the Island boys – Tuna and Tyler – will continue to give back to the community by working at The Center while attending school locally as the start of their new journey. David and Morgan will be attending Florida State University as roommates, while Blake and Connor will room together at Florida Gulf Coast University.
Congratulations to these boys of Anna Maria Island and all of the Class of 2021 graduates! The Island will always keep you connected.
