The 119 Tiverton High School graduates who received their diplomas Friday evening did something unexpected this year: They batted a perfect 1,000.

For the first time ever, Tiverton High School principal Susan Craven said at commencement Friday evening, 100 percent of the graduating class received diplomas — the first time in the school's history. Though it was unexpected, she said the Class of 2022's success is a powerful lesson on perseverance.

"There are many times throughout our lives when unexpected circumstances impact us," she said — it was unexpected that a pandemic would alter school life over the past thee years. It was unexpected that students had pretty much a normal year this year, in spite of the pandemic. And it was certainly unexpected that the entire class would be able to walk up to the podium, she said.

"I could go on and on. My point is, you are all sitting here today and you made it through the unexpected. Learn from it. Grow from it, and move forward. You have learned resilience."

Friday's commencement, held on the football field, was the last school function for retiring athletic director and Rhode Island Hall of Fame coach Robert Murray. He received a standing ovation after his speech, in which he told graduates to have faith in themselves, never give up, learn from their mistakes and fulfill their potential.

Over his 46 years teaching and coaching in Tiverton, Coach Murray told the crowd that on the field he's had plenty of good days and plenty of bad ones. But the bad ones can be a friend, he suggested.

"As a coach, I've always believed that athletics is one of the finest laboratories of learning," he said. "You bring everything that  you practiced, you give it your best effort and at the end of the day, you have instantaneous results. Sometimes that feedback is awesome, and sometimes that feedback is downright painful."

But each time, "we come back and we do it again."

"Each and every day represents a new challenge in your life. Embrace it. And most importantly, believe in yourselves."

Note: Much more on Tiverton's commencement in this coming week's Sakonnet Times.