Man of the Moment

Danette Goulet

When he sees five interlocking circles glowing brightly in the dark

gym, he knows he’s needed.

He’s “Backstroke Man.”

And like any good superhero, Newport Harbor High School junior and

Olympic silver medalist Aaron Peirsol now has his very own day.

At the school’s homecoming pep rally Wednesday morning, Newport Beach

City Manager Homer Bludau presented Peirsol with a proclamation declaring

Dec. 2 as Aaron Peirsol Day.

“A day?” asked a shocked Peirsol. “That’s kind of ... what about a

week?”

As any 17-year-old would be, Peirsol was thrilled and more than a bit

embarrassed by the honor and the fanfare that came with it. But he

handled it with the same good-humored grace with which he has handled all

the swooning girls at Newport Harbor.

“It’s pretty cool,” he said. “A whole day. My day.”

Peirsol’s proclamation and the Bat-signal-like Olympic rings projected

on a screen were just a taste of the fun in Newport Harbor’s gym.

The spirited event was hosted by the cartoon couples from Bedrock:

Fred and Wilma Flintstone and Barney and Betty Rubble. They were

accompanied by a group of elaborately decked-out cavemen, who could have

earned roles in a production of “Lord of the Flies,” not to mention a

bright green dinosaur.

The prehistoric act was followed by a more recent blast from the past,

recently retired Newport Harbor Principal Bob Boies, who along with

teacher Joe Robinson and student Meredith Chinn, presented the school

with its national Blue Ribbon School Award plaque and flag.

The trio traveled to Washington, D.C. last month to accept the Blue

Ribbon Award, the highest honor bestowed on a school by the federal

government.

“We’ve got good programs, great teachers and we have the best students

in America,” said Robinson, ending on a shout that caused the gym to

erupt into cheers.

In keeping with the Flintstones theme, the rally ended with a

performance by the Bed-rockettes.