Athletics

FLIGHT PATH Alumnae Return to Coach Next Generation at AIS

by Amanda Mahnke

When Cindy Hooper Bell ’79 was a student at Agnes Irwin, athletics was her niche. “It was everything — it was where I found my closest friends, where I learned how to cooperate, how to compromise, where I learned leadership, where I had my most fun, and really, where I was able to shine,” she recalled.

After playing field hockey and tennis in college and spending 10 years as the tennis coach at Bryn Mawr College, she made her way back to Agnes Irwin, first serving on the Alumnae Board, then on the Board of Trustees — and eventually, as a coach for softball and tennis.

“It always felt like home here,” she explained.

Bell is not the only alumna who found her way back to Agnes Irwin: More than 15 members of the staff and faculty are Agnes Irwin graduates, including seven of this year’s Middle and Upper School sports coaches.

Former Owls include Middle School tennis coach Kelly McBride ’83, Junior Varsity tennis coach

“The team

aspect of it —

being part of

a group that was

all invested in

the same goal —

was a huge part of

my Agnes Irwin

experience.”

— JANET BARTHOLDSON

Cindy Hooper Bell ’79, Middle School Varsity soccer coach Molly Scudder ’02, assistant swim coach Anastasia Dorrance Grillo ’03, assistant Varsity cross country coach Joanna Johnston Stott ’03, and Varsity assistant crew coaches Janet Bartholdson ’06 and Josselyn Rimel Delussey ’97.

“We are very fortunate to have seven alums coaching our girls this year,” said Athletic Director Sheila Pauley. “Aside from bringing an understanding of the Agnes Irwin culture to their coaching, alumnae coaches can help prepare our current student-athletes for life after they leave Agnes Irwin — and they serve as great role models for our girls. It’s exciting to see that these women are so passionate about athletics at Agnes Irwin.”

A diverse set of factors drew these women back to Agnes Irwin, but school pride and a desire to give back are common threads.

“I was looking for other ways to get more involved at AIS and give back to my school through volunteering or coaching,” explained Stott. “I live close by,

ALUMNAE

This year, Agnes Irwin has seven alumnae coaching its teams. Pictured from left are Joanna Johnston Stott ’03, Kelly McBride ’83, Cindy Hooper Bell ’79, Molly Scudder ’02 and Anastasia Dorrance Grillo ’03. Photo by Amanda Mahnke

so I literally walked by our athletic fields every day.” When the opportunity arose this year to coach cross country at her alma mater, she jumped at the chance.

“It’s rewarding to be able to share my love of running with the girls here,” Stott said. “Running teaches discipline and focus. Cross country is a team sport, but you’re running by yourself and have to have a lot of self-motivation to keep pushing yourself. That carries over into all aspects of your life: in college, working after that. It’s a lifelong sport you can always participate in.”

Bartholdson, who served as a member of the crew team each of her four years in Upper School, and is now a Middle School history teacher at AIS, agreed. “The team aspect of it — being part of a group that was all invested in the same goal — was a huge part of my Agnes Irwin experience,” she said.

The 2015 Agnes Irwin lacrosse season will go down as one to remember. The Owls captured their first-ever PAISAA championship title; and for the first time since 1994, the team won the Inter-Ac title outright, after sharing the honor in 2014 and 2006.

The season highlighted some memorable experiences for the players, including big wins over nationally ranked teams such as Garnet Valley (PA) and Moorestown (NJ) and a spring break trip to St. Petersburg, FL, to participate in the AMLAX Challenge, an elite invitational tournament run by American Lacrosse. The team came away 3-0 after playing some tough competition, including another nationally ranked opponent, Vero Beach High School.

“This was the most fun lacrosse game I have ever played,” Emily Fryer ’16 said about Vero Beach. “It was about more than lacrosse; it was about heart and character and being a team. I am so happy to be able to share this with these girls.”

Lacrosse Team Bursts Onto National Scene

Now, as a coach, “It’s still a ton of fun. Seeing the girls improve — grow and mature, work harder than they thought was possible and seeing them succeed because of it — it’s incredibly rewarding.”

For the former Owls, even though the opposing players may have changed, old rivalries die hard.

Being out on the field “takes me right back to my competitive days,” Stott said. “Being an alum makes the wins all that more meaningful. When we’re playing the Inter-Ac schools, I get just as fired up as I used to.”

That teamwork mentality bodes well for Agnes Irwin as the program continues to improve. With a 2-18 record just three years ago, the team has transformed into a powerhouse in its own right, boasting a 58-12 record since 2012, including a 45-3 record in the past two years. Unselfish play seems to set the group apart, given how well the players work together. Many of the girls have been playing together for two or three years now, a testament to their dedication and hard work.

“I am so excited for our girls. This was an amazing season. We have learned so much from each other on this journey,” said Head Coach Jenny Duckenfield. “The kids earned this and truly, I could not be more proud of them.” — Bridget Carlin

BRIEFS

Hannah Keating ’16

Meet Harvard commit Hannah Keating ’16, a perfect combination of tenacity and finesse, who does what it takes to get results and makes big plays while inspiring others to be better. A two-sport Delco Daily Times Player of the Year, Keating excels at soccer and lacrosse. In May, she led AIS to the most lacrosse wins ever and its first Inter-Ac League title since 1994. The team also won its first PAISAA title. Honors: Nike/Lacrosse Magazine Mid-Atlantic High School Girls’ Lacrosse Player of the Year, US Lacrosse AllAmerican and Academic All-American.

Camille Smukler ’16

Senior Camille Smukler won first place singles at the Inter-Ac Tennis Tournament in October. Smukler, committed to Amherst, went undefeated at first singles for the season, and did not lose a set all year!