In the early 1960s, athletic opportunities for female students in Catholic schools were not nearly as abundant as the desire by these students to compete and succeed.

Not to be deterred, the girls who attended what was then St. Anthony High School, Hamilton, formed the Girls Athletic Association in 1964, which provided its members with an annual opportunity to display their abilities through several rounds of dance, song and athletic games. The event grew locally famous over the years, at one point reaching a four-night sold out show with 500 participants.

The GAA recently revived its annual dance competition as a fundraiser for Trenton Catholic Academy’s scholarship program. A three-day event held in the school gymnasium, “‘The Best Days of Our Lives’, A Look Back Through The Years” was equal parts competitive sport and nostalgia, entertaining audiences even as it reminded them of the many treasured moments of the GAA’s history.

Though the group had been inactive since 2002, the idea to reconvene was met with great enthusiasm. With the blessing of Sister Dorothy Payne, academy president, alumna Tracey Destribats, one of the main forces behind the fundraiser, initiated registration and raised interest through a Facebook page. The list amassed more than 100 members, all of whom once participated in the show during their high school years.

Sister Dorothy remarked, “We’ve had people call from Florida and Arizona, to see this. It’s really brought back our alumni.”

Two contesting teams, comprised mostly of St. Anthony High alumni (TCA’s previous name), sang and danced through various acts, while the audience of families, alumni and current TCA students graciously cheered their loved ones. The competition was a diverse affair that called on Hollywood (Grease, Harry Potter), eclectic songs styles (jazz, folk, hip hop), and multicultural awareness (Slumdog Millionaire), at various points throughout the show’s two hour plus run time.

Though officially a fundraiser, the GAA competition this year served multiple purposes. It symbolized “sportsmanship, creativity, a sense of fair competition,” Sister Dorothy explained. “These women have worked extremely hard to show that they care about this school, the traditions that were here, the values that the sisters instilled in them.”

To most who participated in or attended the event, it was a reunion as much as a competition. It celebrated school unity and inspired alumni to appreciate their school, whether they knew it as St. Anthony High, McCorristin Catholic High or Trenton Catholic Academy.

Sister Dorothy declared, “Our name has changed, our colors have changed, but we are all Iron Mikes.”