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Edison retires Garrity’s jersey

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Dylan Garrity received the ultimate high-five Sunday.

The senior, who wore No. 5 as a guard for the Edison High boys’ basketball team, will have his jersey hoisted up in Dave Mohs Gymnasium from here on after the school retired the jersey number during the team’s banquet at Mesa Verde County Club in Costa Mesa.

He is the first player to have his jersey retired in the 42-year history of the boys’ program, said Edison boys’ Coach and Athletic Director Rich Boyce, who made the decision. Garrity joins Michelle Hennessey (Class of 1987) and Marie Philman (Class of 1996) of the girls’ program as the only basketball players at the school to have their jerseys retired, Boyce said.

“Dylan represents all that is good about the high school athlete,” Boyce said. “He is a hard worker who earned everything he has received. With all his accolades he has never stopped being a good student and devoted to his family and friends. The honor is well deserved.”

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Garrity ended his four-year varsity career as the boys’ program leader in four categories: points (1,729 points), assists (443), games played (114) and career games record (83-31).

Even though he is one of the program’s most decorated players, the honor caught Garrity — this year’s Sunset League MVP who helped guide the Chargers to a share of their first league title in six years — by total surprise.

Garrity said that Boyce had teased him at the banquet about not turning in his uniform, as his teammates had done following a Feb. 22 CIF Division 1A playoff quarterfinal round loss to Compton. Garrity was still in need of his Edison uniform, which he will wear at the Orange County North-South All-Star Basketball Game on April 16 at Concordia University.

“I was the last player brought up at the banquet,” he said. “Coach (Boyce) brought each player up individually and said some things about each player. When it was my turn, he presented me with the team and Sunset League MVP awards. He joked about me not having yet turned in my uniform and then when I was about to go back to my seat to sit down, coach told me to hold on. That’s when he made the announcement.

“I was stunned and blown away. I just couldn’t believe it. Everyone in the room stood and cheered for me. I almost lost it. I wanted to cry, but didn’t. That came later that night, when it all sunk in. For sure, it was a very memorable night for me.”

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