CdM’s Volding celebrated

Doug Volding said six simple words as he walked out of his retirement party early Saturday evening.

After a few hours of socializing and reminiscing with former swimmers, parents and coaches, the longtime Corona del Mar High swim coach appeared to have had a great time.

“This is why I did it,” he said, referencing those relationships.

All were on hand Saturday to honor one man, Volding. The party was decidedly low-key at the Costa Mesa home of CdM assistant Jennifer Bloomfield.

Bloomfield put together the party for Volding, who retired from coaching girls’ swimming at CdM in May after 33 years at the school, and 45 years overall coaching high school swimming.

Volding had his assistant coaches there, including Bloomfield, Jessie Painter and Stephanie Gabert. Gabert, who helped the Sea Kings earn CIF titles in 2004 and ‘06 during her high school days at CdM, has been coaching at her alma mater for eight seasons. But she said this past spring was also her last one on the deck at CdM, as she prepares to take a special education teaching position.

She’s learned a lot from Volding, who she first got to know as her middle school counselor at CdM in 2002.

“He always believed in me,” Gabert said. “He was always super-supportive of everything that I went through, even when I had knee surgery my senior year of high school.”

As she transitioned from swimming for CdM to coaching there, she had no less admiration for Volding. Over time, she would handle the training for the CdM girls, while Volding would handle the logistics.

“He looks up results, he sizes up all the teams,” Gabert said. “I was like, ‘How do you do this?’ For Doug not being so tech-savvy, I admired that so much. It shows how much compassion he has for just the sport of swimming, and trying to help our team be the best it could be.”

Mike Starkweather, the CdM golf coach who also was the former CdM boys’ swim coach, enjoyed the party. So did Volding’s former CdM teaching colleagues Teri Brudnak and Chuck Luddy.

Volding, who had to miss the CdM swim banquet a few weeks ago, was presented with a card signed by the CdM girls’ team and a watch. He definitely left his mark on the program with his years of coaching and instruction.

Mary Jane Murphy Weeshoff (CdM class of 1991) got to the party after flying in from her home in Chicago earlier Saturday. She was joined by her high school teammates, Lysanne Ray Sebastian (‘91) and Susan Ihrke Johnson (‘92).

“He built a team,” Murphy Weeshoff said. “He didn’t build individuals, he built a team. And we stayed a team. You don’t necessarily have to win your race, but you had to be your best self.”

Volding, 68, was that for the CdM swim girls during his time coaching there. And he will be missed. From 1984-97, it was Starkweather coaching the CdM swim boys by his side.

“Lightweight,” Volding said with a grin. “Bailed out.”

Starkweather had a quick response.

“Yeah, but look who’s still coaching,” he said, and Volding just smiled some more.

“I know, I know,” he said. “You’ve got me there, brother.”

matthew.szabo@latimes.com

Twitter: @mjszabo