Last April, Elise and I had the joy of seeing two of our good friends get married. It was a special day on multiple levels: The wedding was stunning, it was actually the first event we were able to attend since restrictions were loosened, and Crews was one of my very best friends in college. I couldn’t miss it!

I had saved a special piece of wood just for an occasion like this: a small block of oak that came from UA’s campus, particularly from the location selected to build Sarah Patterson’s Champions Plaza, where the school’s NCAA winners get recognized with their names engraved on a plaque. Crews was the captain of the best men’s team that Alabama Swim & Dive had seen in almost 30 years, so it was fitting to make him a pen with wood that represented so much of the spirit of our sport and our school.

Congratulations again to Crews and Rachel, the Wellfords!