Last week, Julio Chamorro enjoyed a morning game of soccer at McCallie School's sports camp, continuing a family tradition that goes back more than 50 years.

"Since my mother told me she wanted me to come to McCallie for the sports camp I got really excited," said Julio, 14, who came to Chattanooga two weeks ago from his home in Nicaragua.

It's not uncommon for McCallie to attract participants from across the nation and abroad, but Julio's family ties to McCallie date back to the 1940s.

Back then, the sons of an Alabama man and a Nicaraguan woman -- Don McGregor and Albertina Lopez -- were sent from the Central American country to attend McCallie. Among those sons was Julio's grandfather, Donald McGregor.

A generation later, three other boys from the Nicaraguan family graduated from the all-boys school. The most recent was Jorge Padilla, class of 2006.

"McCallie is part of the life of the McGregors," said Donald McGregor, who graduated in 1948, in a telephone interview from one of his business offices in Miami. "We keep very close relations with the friends in Chattanooga."

Eliza McGregor-Montealegre's son Eduardo, 13, also attended this year's camp. Mrs. McGregor-Montealegre said in an e-mail that she wanted her son to get a taste of what his grandfather and uncle -- both Donald McGregors -- experienced at McCallie.

"Eduardo has been to other summer camps for the last four years, but we wanted him to see and live a little bit of what his grandfather and uncle experienced," she wrote from Nicaragua. "It's good to keep some traditions."

Camp director Mike Wood said the visitors are "a great group of kids."

"They are all very smart, speak perfect English (and are) well educated and polite."

He said the 30-year-old sports boarding camp often has attracted internationals with ties to the school.

During the camp's two weeks, the boys played some familiar sports, including soccer and basketball, and some they had never tried, such as lacrosse. They also went whitewater rafting and visited Atlanta.

"My favorite part was that we got to play soccer every day," said Julio, who said he would like to return to study at McCallie.

Alvaro Montealegre, Eduardo's cousin, said he also would like to attend the school.

"I think it's a very good opportunity for the future and to play sports," said the 13-year-old, who wants to go into business.

On Thursday, a day before the boys headed home, Eduardo said he still wasn't ready to leave.

"I could use two more weeks," he said. "Everyone here is really open to new people."

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