2022 NEPSAC Summer News Magazine by NEPSAC COMMUNICATIONS

NEPSAC News ®

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SUMMER 2022

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NEPSAC News NEPSAC®

New England Preparatory School Athletic Council President Martha Brousseau Greenwich Academy Vice-President Ryan Frost Cardigan Mountain School

In this issue

Treasurer Jim Smucker Berwick Academy Co-Directors of Championships Jamie Arsenault New Hampton School Bob Howe Deerfield Academy Lisa Joel Phillips Andover Academy Director of Classifications Mark Conroy Williston Northampton School Coordinator of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Lamar Reddicks Milton Academy Past Presidents George Tahan Belmont Hill School Bob Howe Deerfield Academy Jamie Arsenault New Hampton School Mark Conroy Williston Northampton School Richard Muther St. Paul’s School Middle School Representatives Rob Feingold The Fay School Amber Kuntz Beaver Country Day School

Terrell Ivory, Andover’s comeback

Secretary Rob Quinn Berwick Academy

coach

Tabor Academy campus center naming announced

District III Representatives Betsy Kennedy Pingree School Jen Viana Cushing Academy

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TJ Power awarded Bernon Junior Service Award

Leveling the playing field: Samantha Sparks Ekstrand

Why coaches should prioritize their own mental wellness too

Communications Specialist Laurie Sachs The Rivers School

New England Preparatory School Athletic Council qualifies as a public charity under Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3).

Big Red lacrosse plays for Morgan’s Message

District IV Representatives Mike Marich The Frederick Gunn School Tim Joncas Westminster School

“NEPSAC” and the NEPSAC logo are registered trademarks of the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council and may not be used or displayed without permission.

Sofia Atehortua started her vacation early

District I Representatives Stefan Jensen Hyde School District II Representatives Tara Brisson Tilton School Jenna Simon Holderness School Ryan Frost Cardigan Mountain School

NEPSAC athletes are recognized by Gatorade

Departments 4 Around NEPSAC

9 Laurels

40 #ICYMI

ON THE COVER: Coach Terrell Ivory beat impossible odds. Photo by Lex Weaver.

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NEPSAC News | Summer 2022 | 3

AROUND NEPSAC

TREASURER’S REPORT

President’s Letter Martha Brousseau Greenwich Academy

Greetings!! It is time to switch from bleacher seats to beach chairs!! I am hopeful that you are all able to have a restorative summer knowing that you deserve it! While we dial into giving thanks in November, I would like to extend thanks to all of you for work seen and unseen that allowed us to pull off our first year back to NEPSAC Championships. Congratulations to all teams and schools who were able to raise a trophy this year. More importantly, a shout out to the athletes and coaches who put in the time and effort but missed the glory. It was great to see so many of you at Andover in the spring and glad that so many of us were able to connect in person at the District level as well. It is our hope to get back on schedule for the Annual Meeting in November. Stay tuned for those details. In the meantime, “pass the tanning butter!” Happy summer!

Online Payments and Coaches’ Associations by Jim Smucker, Berwick Academy, NEPSAC Treasurer We hope that you are enjoying a well deserved summer!

Dues

Beginning on July 1, 2022 all NEPSAC, District and Coaches Associations dues will be available to be paid on online (Access Here), and all dues need to be paid by October 15th. The NEPSAC dues have increased to $275 in response to inflation, and the increase of costs related to goods and services. These annual dues are vital to NEPSAC’s ability to function and provide membership with program and seasonal championship events.

Reminders / Tips for making payments online:

To be most efficient it is important that schools only create one account when making their payments. If you don’t remember your login information, simply click on the “Forgot your username or password?” link to enter your email address to receive instructions to reset your password. Remember to check your spam/junk folder for these instruction emails. Please be aware that there is a processing fee to off-set our cost with every online transaction. We are not able to refund processing fees, so please be diligent about this process and your record keeping.

How To View Your Account

If you already have a Username and Password, go to ‘View My Account’ and enter your credentials to log in. After logging in, you will have access to ‘Payment History”. Use the available filters to view ALL of them or choose any date range or period. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to Jimmy Smucker at jsmucker@berwickacademy.org or Laurie Sachs at communications@nepsac.org

NEPSAC Online Directory:

2022-2023 and NEPSAC By-Law k oo db Policy Han

Please continue to update your school information in the online directory with any changes that you might have. This has been a much more efficient system and will allow schools to keep information more accurate. Look for reminders as we move forward. Contact Laurie Sachs communications@ nepsac.org if you have any questions.

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Last edited: 9/15/202

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AROUND NEPSAC

Boys Basketball Event Brings National Attention to NEPSAC

he weekend of June 24th at Milton Academy was one of the national hotspots for mens basketball college recruiting. It was at Milton, the site of NEPSAC Boys Basketball’s third annual NCAA Showcase Event, where close to 600 NEPSAC student-athletes from 75 schools displayed their skills in front of 200 colleges and over 300 coaches. “To offer an event like this for our student-athletes really separates us from other associations,” says Sean Kelly, NEPSBBA president and director of athletics/boys basketball coach at The Wheeler School. “There was a palpable buzz around the gym all weekend. It was a great experience for our kids and coaches.” These Showcase Events, which can be operated only by school-based organizations like NEPSAC, are an opportunity for student-athletes to be seen by college coaches during the NCAA live recruiting period. Over two weekends in June there were just 45 events in the entire country. “This was bigger than basketball,” says Lamar Reddicks, NEPSAC coordinator for diversity, equity, and inclusion and director of athletics/boys basketball coach at Milton Academy. “Our association really came together to put on a great event for our kids. The turnout of college coaches was outstanding and the level of play was amazing.” “We [the NEPSBBA] are deeply appreciative of Milton Academy, PlaySight, BSN Sports, Blueprint Stats, the coaches, and all of the NEPSAC athletic directors for helping to make this happen,” added Kelly. “Each year, the event seems to be getting better and better and we are proud to offer something that reflects the essence and spirit of the NEPSAC organization.” The New England Prep School Boys Basketball Association (NEPSBAA), in conjunction with NEPSAC, has now successfully run five of these showcase events.

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Photographs by Thomas Netzer thomasnetzerphoto@gmail.com

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FROM THE ARCHIVES

Field Hockey Days

igital Commonwealth is an online repository of documents and photographs from a variety of Massachusetts-based organizations. Dana Hall School has included some of their archival material and we couldn’t resist this peek back at the early days of field hockey.

Above: Junior Hockey Team, 1910, standing with hockey sticks. Below: Field Hockey Game (goalie in motion).

Junior Hockey Team Date: 1910 Description: Photograph of 11 students dressed in hockey uniforms standing sideways with hockey sticks. Two students identified: Beryl O’Hara (Bean) 1912, 4th from right, and Margaret Hills, 1912, 6th from right. Notes: From the scrapbook of Beryl O’Hara Bean, 1912. In ink on black paper: “Hockey 1910, Junior Team” and “Margaret Hills” (marked with an x).

Field Hockey Game (goalie in motion) Description: Player in foreground moving, with back to camera . Photographer: Rittase, William M., 1894-1968 Date: October 1939 Find more from Dana Hall at digitalcommonwealth.org

These works are licensed for use under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives License (CC BYNC-ND).

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AROUND NEPSAC

In Memoriam

ST. MARK’S SCHOOL | SOUTHBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS

Remembering Henry Large Former St. Mark’s faculty member and coach Henry Large died on May 10. He was 81.

enry was a beloved member of the St. Mark’s community who served the School from 1965 to 2010. Although he officially retired in 2010, Henry continued at St. Mark’s as a tutor, and he never stopped coaching. More than a decade after his retirement, Henry continued to work with the School’s football and baseball programs, logging more seasons as a coach than anyone else in St. Mark’s history. His 52 baseball seasons and 49 football seasons set St. Mark’s single sport varsity records for coaching, and his 111 seasons as a coach at all levels also set a School record. Henry’s insightful understanding of young people, along with his knowledge of football and baseball, his kindness, and his sense of humor, endeared him to generations of St. Markers. (Only Henry could say, “See you out there, you little weasels!” with such affection that players knew he genuinely cared for them.) He always prioritized the players’ needs above all else, and was an exemplar of sportsmanship. Over his long tenure at St. Mark’s, Henry taught both history and religion; chaired the History Department; served as college advisor and director of admission; held the Roland D. Sawyer Faculty Chair; and from 2002–2010, was the senior master (now called the senior teacher). In 1997, he was honored by the student affinity group “We the People” for his efforts on behalf of students of color at St. Mark’s, and at the St. Mark’s Sesquicentennial celebration in 2015, he was inducted into the St. Mark’s Athletic Hall of Fame. On the occasion of Henry’s retirement, students and friends of the School established the Henry W. Large, Jr. Scholarship Fund to provide enduring support for financial aid in his honor. Henry is survived by his loving partner, Mari Quirk; his children, John B. Large ’82, Henry W. Large, III ’85, Storm Large ’87, John H. Quirk ’84, Heather Quirk Courts ’87, Holly Quirk Lane; and 12 grand ones. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Henry’s memory to St. Mark’s Henry W. Large, Jr. Scholarship Fund or the additional organizations mentioned in his obituary. To view a video that honored Henry in 2010 for 45 years of service to St. Mark’s, click here. To post a tribute to Henry, click here.

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MILLBROOK SCHOOL | MILLBROOK, NEW YORK

Thom Appears on Basketball Podcast Coach and social worker Billy Thom discusses his experience integrating social-emotional wellness into his coaching practices. He talks about his unique work environment, the ways mindfulness translates to on the court success and general advice for coaches to improve on their own social-emotional understanding. Listen to this and gain more knowledge to help your players on and off the court! “Huge thanks to Coach Hernandez for having me on BBallTeacherPod to talk about two passions of mine,” Coach Thom said. “It was such a fun experience and I hope listeners can find one or two actionable items from the podcast!”

HOPKINS SCHOOL | NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT

Alum Fellow Dr. Aneesh Garg ’97 Returns to Hopkins

opkins Spring Fellow, Dr. Aneesh Garg ’97, a sports medicine physician, returned to Hopkins on April 25 for an eventful day on campus. Dr. Garg kicked off his visit with an impactful and heartfelt speech at an all school assembly that centered on defining your true self before defining your career. Following the presentation, Dr. Garg met with students who packed Upper Heath to ask questions and then joined the J School baseball team for a catch. A Team Physician for USA Hockey and the US Soccer Federation, Dr. Garg specializes in musculoskeletal injuries, including concussion management and fracture care. Dr. Garg serves on the sports medicine teaching faculty at numerous universities and hospitals. He has also worked with performing arts athletes, recreational and student athletes.

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WORCESTER ACADEMY | WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS

Aliyah Boston Earns Honda Cup

Aliyah Boston (Worcester Academy ’19) has had quite a year.

outh Carolina junior Aliyah Boston became the University’s first winner of the Honda Cup, which honors the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year. It caps a season during which Boston was the unanimous National Player of the Year and the NCAA Women’s Final Four Most Outstanding Player after leading the Gamecocks to the 2022 National Championship. The unanimous national player of the year was also the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, and Boston won both titles from the SEC as well. A three-time Lisa Leslie Award winner, the Gamecocks’ leading scorer (16.8 ppg) led the nation with 30 double-doubles this season, including an SECrecord 27 straight to become just the third player in NCAA Div. I women’s basketball history with a streak at least that long. Her 12.5 rebounds per game were fourth in the nation. In the Gamecocks’ 14 games against ranked opponents, including seven against top-10 foes, Boston poured in 18.1 points per game and grabbed 13.9 rebounds per outing. In just her second NCAA Tournament, she was

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named Most Outstanding Player at both the Greensboro Regional and the Final Four after averaging 16.8 points and 15.2 rebounds in the tournament, during which she also led the team in assists. In the classroom, Boston also excels as a mass communications major. The combination of her 3.733 grade point average and on-court accolades have earned her CoSIDA Women’s Basketball Academic All-America of the Year in each of the last two seasons. The CWSA, celebrating its 46th anniversary year, has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for their superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service. Since commencing its partnership in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.4 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs. Reprinted with permission from South Carolina Athletics.

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BELMONT HILL SCHOOL | BELMONT, MASSACHUSETTS

Massachusetts Wrestling Hall of Fame Names Phil Conigliaro ’18 Wrestler of the Year

fell short of his goal this year of becoming an AllAmerican, he emphasizes that he will use that as motivation for next year. He says that he was ecstatic when he received the call from the Mass Wrestling Hall of Fame. “I remember when I was in Middle School seeing older college kids winning this award and thinking that it was a great accomplishment that I could one day receive,” he recalls. “Belmont Hill not only taught me how to perform at the highest level in the classroom, but also taught me how to perform at the highest level on the wrestling mat. None of what I have accomplished this far in my wrestling career could have happened if it were not for the Belmont Hill wrestling coaching staff comprising coaches Leonardis, Bradley, Davis, and Kaplan.” Varsity wrestling coach Don Bradley admires Phil for far more than his wrestling skills. “As superb a wrestler as Phil was at Belmont Hill,” he notes, “he was an equally good teammate and leader.”

Is this you?

hil Conigliaro ’18 was recently honored by the Massachusetts Wrestling Hall of Fame as its Wrestler of the Year. Phil had a remarkable career at Belmont Hill, as he captured first place at the 2016 Beast of the East and was runner-up in 2017, 2017 National Prep Champion, fourtime Prep All-American, and four-time Prep New England Champion, among numerous other honors. Wrestling at Harvard, Phil was a unanimous choice as First Team All-Ivy as a freshman and qualified for the National Championships, which were canceled due to the pandemic. He placed third at the EIWA Championships at 165 pounds. The honors continued this year as a sophomore as he won the 165-pound title at the EIWA Championships, and again qualified for the NCAA Championships, reaching the round of 12 as the No. 8 seed at 165 pounds. He also earned First Team All-Ivy honors unanimously as well as Academic All-Ivy accolades. Additionally, he captured the EIWA Academic Achievement Award. Phil believes that he has had the best experience he could have asked for as a student-athlete at Harvard. “I could not have accomplished what I was able to this year if it was not for my amazing coaching staff and supportive teammates,” he states. “We have many great wrestlers on the team returning, so I expect the Harvard wrestling team to do very well next year.” Though he

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LAURELS ST. SEBASTIAN’S SCHOOL | NEEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS

Adam White Receives National Coaching Award

n Tuesday, May 24, the extended St. Sebastian’s lacrosse family gathered to honor Coach Adam White, this year’s recipient of USA Lacrosse’s Gerald Carroll Jr. Exemplary Coach Award. Measuring the success of a coach not in victories but in the care and guidance given to the development of young men who play the game. The Gerald J. Carroll, Jr. Exemplary Coaching Award, established in memory of Gerry Carroll, is given annually to one boys’ high school coach nationwide who reflects the attributes of the award’s namesake. Coach Carroll spent a good part of his brief 46 years playing, watching, and coaching lacrosse. Greater than his love for the sport, however, was his commitment to give back to young people some of the lifetime of lessons he himself took from the game. Winners of the Carroll Award demonstrate support and care for players in their growth and development as young adults and leaders on and off the playing field. Athletic Director David Hinman shared remarks from Mr. Carroll’s son, Brian, who serves on the award committee. Peter Pickard ’18 spoke on behalf of all players expressing his admiration for Coach White’s impact on his own life and the role he has played in so many young athletes’ lives. Headmaster Burke presented Coach White with a USA Lacrosse plaque and highlighted Adam’s role as teacher, coach, mentor and now published author (his novel, The Midcoast, will be released by Penguin Random House on June 7th). “I’m honored to win the Gerry Carroll award,” Coach White says, “and I’m proud to accept it on behalf of the whole Seb’s community. We have an amazing coaching staff, and we all love working with our players because our players love going to Seb’s and playing lacrosse here.”

Got news to share with other NEPSAC schools? Send the details to communications@nepsac.org and we’ll put it in the next issue.

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He also mentioned that he’s been able to learn a little about Coach Carroll, who was more than just a coach—also an English teacher and a writer like Adam. “He sounds like an incredible mentor,” Coach White says. “To be a part of remembering his legacy is a tremendous honor.” In addition to winning two ISL championships during Coach White’s time as head coach, the team has consistently been nationally ranked and made the semi-finals of the Geico National Tournament on ESPN. He’s the cofounder of the Gameday Nutrition program, a project designed with the Tufts School of Nutrition that trains St. Sebastian’s seniors to present to Harlem Lacrosse middle schoolers on the benefits of healthy eating. He’s also the architect behind the ISL playoff format. As an English teacher, he’s most proud of bringing a new class to Seb’s: AP Creative Writing. Over 50 alumni and parents returned to support Coach White with alumni competing in the annual Alumni-Varsity Scrimmage after the award ceremony. In true St. Sebastian’s family spirit, the group included seven combinations of brothers who have all played St. Sebastian’s lacrosse: Tommy ’21 and Paul ’25 Armstrong; Jake ’21 and Griffin ’22 Cusack; John ’19 and Ryan ’25 Farley; Will ’19, Jack ’17, Sam ’21, Ben ’22, and Tedy ’26 Frisoli; Craig ’00 and David ’00 Healy; Nick ’21 and Chris ’24 Merageas; and Mike ’19 and Matt ’23 Swirbalus. Congratulations Coach White on a well-deserved honor!

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LAURELS

The 2022 John Carlton Memorial Trophies will go to Emerson O’Leary and Mike Fisher by Boston Bruins @NHLBruins / Boston Bruins

Emerson O’Leary, Nobles & Greenough School (left) and Mike Fisher, St. Mark’s School.

n April 27, The Boston Bruins announced that forward Emerson O’Leary of Nobles & Greenough School and defenseman Mike Fisher of St. Mark’s School are this year’s recipients of the 2022 John Carlton Memorial Trophies.

The John Carlton Memorial Trophies are given annually by the Boston Bruins to the outstanding female and male student athletes in Massachusetts high school or junior hockey. The Trophies are awarded to students who excel in hockey and in off-ice endeavors, including academics and extracurriculars. The award is in honor of the late Bruins scout and administrator John Carlton, who passed in December of 1982 after a long and dedicated tenure in hockey at all levels of the game.

Emerson O’Leary

O’Leary played with both Nobles and Assabet Valley Girls Hockey, where she was a five-time Massachusetts State Champion and 2018 USA Hockey National Championship finalist. O’Leary spent her senior season as captain at Nobles with 34 goals and 30 assists through 30 games, earning ISL MVP and All-NEPSAC honors. Outside of hockey, O’Leary participates in multiple clubs and volunteer opportunities, including the Campuses Against Cancer club, tutoring, and field hockey.

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Mike Fisher

Fisher finished his senior season at St. Mark’s School in Southborough as captain, where he was voted by coaches as the league’s MVP and an All-NEPSAC player. St. Mark’s won their second consecutive league championship, with Fisher contributing 13 goals and 37 assists for 50 points in 22 games. Fisher also competed in lacrosse until his junior year at St. Mark’s, and plans to play a season with the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms after graduation in the spring. O’Leary will continue her hockey career at Princeton University next season, and Fisher has committed to play at Northeastern University beginning with the 2023-24 season. Both players will be honored at the Bruins game against the Buffalo Sabres on April 28 at TD Garden.

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Photo by Lex Weaver www.nepsac.org

The comeback coach

Terrell Ivory ’00 beats the odds and is back on the court by Nora Princiotti ’12

AFTER A HORRIFIC CAR ACCIDENT, TERRELL IVORY ’00 WAS GIVEN A 5% CHANCE OF RECOVERING. THIS IS A STORY OF COMMUNITY, CONNECTION, AND A MIRACULOUS COMEBACK.

n the early morning hours of July 27, 2019, Terrell Ivory ’00 was driving north on Main Street, the bell tower in sight. He has no memory of what happened next. The PA admissions officer and boys’ varsity basketball coach had returned from a three-week trip to China only two days before and had not been especially kind to his body as he adjusted to the 13-hour time difference. “I should have just slept,” Ivory says. Instead, he pushed himself to stay awake, thinking he would reacclimate faster. His first day home, Ivory went running twice. The next day, he didn’t want to miss a dinner with incoming students in the ACE summer program. Ivory had takeout delivered to the admissions center and gathered with that group, eagerly getting to know new faces. In the throes of exhaustion, Ivory would later end up falling asleep behind the wheel, losing control of his car, and crashing into a tree on the front lawn of a town selectman. His airbag deployed, but his head still hit the steering wheel, causing his brain to swell and bleed. Ivory laid unconscious for about an hour before a passing police officer discovered him and called an ambulance. Doctors at Lawrence General Hospital immediately recognized that Ivory needed emergency brain surgery at a neurotrauma center. He was airlifted to Tufts Medical Center in Boston, where a neurosurgeon performed a craniotomy, removing half of Ivory’s skull flap to relieve pressure from his swelling brain. He was then placed in a medically induced coma. Once Ivory was stable, the doctors searched his belongings and found his Phillips Academy ID.

A Winding Blue Road

Much of Ivory’s life has been spent on campus. His family discovered Andover when his older brother, Titus, was thinking about next steps after high school in their hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina. Titus was a football and basketball star with college offers, but his mother, Carlenia, wanted to make sure his

Ivory ’00 as a post-graduate in 2000. Photo courtesy Terrell Ivory.

academics were as good as his athletics. A family friend suggested looking into a postgraduate year at Andover. Ms. Ivory did some research that connected her with local alumni admissions representative Joe McGirt ’63, who invited her and her sons over to talk about the school. “The more they learned, the more excited they became,” McGirt recalls. “Terrell was younger, but I remember remarking about what a great kid he was and that he had the qualities the admissions folks tell me to always look for—someone who is academically focused and really a nice person, a kind person.” Titus spent a postgraduate (PG) year at Andover, graduated in 1996, and went on to Penn State. He had a great experience at Andover, which sold his little brother and, perhaps more importantly, his mother.

NEPSAC News | Summer 2022 | 15

Andover Means Family For Life

The person from Tufts who called the PA Campus Safety number on Ivory’s ID card likely had no idea the community they were mobilizing. Knowing only that Ivory had been in an accident and was hospitalized, the Campus Safety officer contacted Athletics Director Lisa Joel, who quickly headed to the hospital. Joel called Graber and some of Ivory’s other close colleagues. She also called Carlenia Ivory and promised to stay by her son’s side until family could get there. Joel recalls explaining to the nurses at Tufts why a rather large group of co-workers—none related to the patient— should be allowed into Ivory’s ICU room. “‘We’re a family,’ we told them,” Joel says. And it worked. Ivory was on a ventilator. Half his skull was off his head. Joel, Graber, and a rotating cast of Andover colleagues stayed by his side. They held his hands and talked to him, played videos of Ivory and his daughter, Leia, singing together, and reminded him just how much he had to live for. When Ms. Ivory learned about the accident, one of the first things she did was call Joe McGirt. They’d become close friends, and she knew that his son, Matt McGirt ’94, was a doctor who’d recently reconnected with Terrell when he started looking at Andover for his own children. The elder McGirt said he’d have his son call her. On the phone, Ms. Ivory told Dr. McGirt that Terrell had been in a bad accident and was at Tufts but that she was struggling to get any other information. McGirt offered to call and see if his fluency with hospital phone systems could get him to a doctor on the right floor. McGirt happens to be a neurosurgeon, but he didn’t know Ivory ’00 played collegiately at Davidson, and served as director Ivory’s injuries had anything to do with his specialty. When an of basketball operations at Davidson. Photo courtesy Terrell operator connected him to a nurse who answered the phone, Ivory. “Hello, neuro ICU,” his heart sank. Any patient in a coma following a major brain injury is given a Glasgow Coma Score, ranging from 3 to 15. A patient with a GCS Three years later, Terrell came to Andover as a PG and then of 15 can move, speak, understand, and open their eyes normally; went on to Davidson College, where he played basketball. After a patient with a GCS of 3 can’t move, talk, or breathe. Ivory’s GCS playing professionally in England, he returned to the United States was 3. and coached at Blair Academy in New Jersey and served as “The two main predictors of outcome, meaning whether you director of basketball operations at Davidson before joining the will ever walk, talk, or feed yourself again, is the Glasgow Coma coaching staff at Colgate University. Score and the amount of herniation the brain has, [indicated by] Ivory was moving up in the coaching ranks at Colgate but missed the midline shift on a CAT scan,” McGirt explains. “Terrell had a the close connections he’d felt in a boarding school environment. He very bad midline shift and the worst kind of score. He had every even considered a coaching position at Deerfield. However, Leon statistic going against him.” “Coach Mo” Modeste, Andover’s athletics director at the time, had The odds that someone in Ivory’s condition would wake designs on bringing Ivory back to Andover. In up and be able to recover to a normal 2012, Ivory went to work at PA. life, says McGirt, were no greater than 5 Today, in addition to maintaining his THE ODDS THAT SOMEONE percent. coaching duties, Ivory is the associate That, however, is what Ivory did. The IN IVORY’S CONDITION director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion first step, a few days after surgery, was Outreach, an associate director of breathing on his own. The next step came WOULD WAKE UP AND BE admissions, and a house counselor in when Ivory woke up. He was disoriented Stearns House. He is known for sitting in ABLE TO RECOVER TO A and couldn’t remember how he’d gotten the front row of every faculty meeting and where he was, but he knew who he was volunteering readily (including to coach JV NORMAL LIFE, SAYS MCGIRT, and knew who the friends and family were tennis). Ivory is also a frequent spectator who had gathered by his bedside. Ivory’s WERE NO GREATER THAN 5 at fellow admissions officer and varsity mother and brother had arrived by then baseball coach Kevin Graber’s practices and had gotten the chance to meet Ivory’s PERCENT. and games. then-girlfriend, Annie, for the first time

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stay healthy—and that the students would be just fine. “She sent me this strongly worded email,” Ivory recalls, laughing. “It was so loving and so scary at the same time.”

Coach’s New Approach

By the time preseason tryouts rolled around in November, Ivory had had successful surgery to reattach his skull flap. His recovery continued to go well, and he was able to return to work coaching and in admissions. He couldn’t be as active a coach—jumping in drills and demonstrating technique—as he’d been before, but his limitations forced him to become a better verbal communicator. He leaned on team leaders like Dallion Ivory ’00 was honored in March 2022 with the James Young Courage Award by IIABO Johnson ’20, a captain, opening doors for Board 130. (L-R) Dan Schneider, Jenny Elliott ’94, Tina Graber, Chris Joel, Jim Ventre the players to take ownership of the team. ’79, Kevin Graber, Ivory ’00, Annie Marra (Ivory’s wife), Lisa Joel, and Karen Kennedy. “It was just great having him back,” Photo courtesy of Lisa Joel. says Johnson, who now plays basketball for Penn State. “It meant a lot, seeing how he pushed through so many challenges to come back to coaching.” when she brought cookies to the hospital. (Annie visited almost Ivory focused more on process—making sure players were daily and the Ivorys have gotten to know her even better since: giving high effort and constantly improving—than on results. Annie and Terrell got married in December 2020 and welcomed “Winning is really important to me. But when I was younger it their first child in 2021, a son, Trace.) was everything,” Ivory says. “Now, it’s like, if we do all these things Ivory stayed at Tufts for several weeks. He spent several more and we play hard and we don’t win, as a coach, I’m good with that. at an in-patient rehab facility in nearby Woburn before he could If we win against a team that is not good, but we don’t play hard— go home. In early September 2019, when Matt McGirt came to that’s going to upset me.” campus to drop off his daughter, he stopped by to check on Ivory’s progress. He was amazed by how well he was doing. Ivory’s skull flap was still off and he had friends and family helping him out at home, but he could perform most daily tasks and was on a bestIvory Sidelines case scenario recovery path. Ivory’s main message in his comeback 2019–2020 season was Because his brain tissue was still exposed, Ivory had to wear about overcoming adversity. He wanted his players to see his return a protective helmet when walking. Though it helped when his as evidence that their own hard work would always bear results. The daughter added stickers, Ivory did not consider the helmet his season started slow, with injuries hampering the team, but ultimately most stylish accessory. Occasionally, he would conveniently forget produced the most successful campaign and first playoff win of to wear it when he walked around campus or checked in on some Ivory’s tenure. of his players. Mostly he just missed them, but he also worried he In the last game of the regular season, Ivory got one more wasn’t there for them like he normally would be as they prepared opportunity to hammer home his message. It was Andover vs. for the season and connected with college Exeter, at the Borden Gym. Andover got coaches who stopped by throughout the down early but tied it up when Johnson hit fall. a buzzer-beater at the end of regulation HE COULDN’T BE AS “I felt guilty for putting them through to send the game into overtime. He did that,” Ivory says, “and that helped motivate it again at the end of the first overtime ACTIVE A COACH … AS me to get better—so I could be there for my period, but the game ended in a doubleteam every step of the way.” overtime heartbreak when a defensive HE’D BEEN BEFORE, BUT Ivory worked hard at his rehab, though mistake gave Exeter an easy last-second sometimes he pushed himself more than layup for the win. HIS LIMITATIONS FORCED he should. Joel provided tough love when It was hard not to feel devastated she ran into (read: caught) Ivory in the gym HIM TO BECOME A BETTER as visiting fans stormed Big Blue’s home early that fall watching one of his players court in a sea of red. Ivory, though, knew VERBAL COMMUNICATOR. work out. She reminded him that the most he had to keep his team focused. They important thing was for him to recover and were almost certainly going to make the

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NEPSAC News | Summer 2022 | 17

Ivory ’00 commands the huddle. Photo by Gil Talbot.

playoffs; the only question was seeding and opponent. Ivory pondered how he’d motivate his players and help them get over the loss quickly while he waited for the standings to come out. When they did, the answer was obvious. Andover was getting a rematch with Exeter in the first round. “I didn’t need to do anything,” Ivory says. “I simply told them we’re playing Exeter again.” On game day, as Ivory watched his players in the layup line ahead of the playoff rematch, he had a sense that this game would be different.

“It was almost unfair to Exeter,” he says, “because we didn’t miss a shot.” Andover won 73–63, the conclusion to a year that carried a special meaning for a team that hadn’t always been sure they’d get to have their coach by their side throughout. “I understand on a deeper level that how we deal with adversity is important for success in life,” says Ivory. “A strong support system, like Andover’s, and teaching our students, athletes, and each other an approach that views obstacles as a critical part of success, helps develop the determination and ability to persevere through difficult times.” Reprinted with permission from Phillips Academy.

Ivory ’00 returned to the sidelines for the 2019-2020 season. Pictured here: his 2020 seniors and their families in Memorial Gym. Photo by Gil Talbot.

18 | NEPSAC News | Summer 2022

Nora Princiotti ’12 is a staff writer at The Ringer, where she covers the NFL and occasionally Taylor Swift. You can hear her on The Ringer NFL Show and follow her on Twitter and Instagram @noraprinciotti.

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Gatorade Recognizes 15 NEPSAC Student-Athletes

he Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the state winners in each sport. The award recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character. All state honorees are eligible for the Gatorade National Players of the Year awards. Gatorade has a long-standing history of serving athlete communities and understands how sports instill valuable lifelong

skills on and off the field. Through Gatorade’s “Play it Forward” platform, players have the opportunity to award a $1,000 grant to a local or national organization of their choosing that helps young athletes realize the benefits of playing sports. They are also eligible to submit a short video explaining why the organization they chose is deserving of one of twelve $10,000 spotlight grants, which will be announced throughout the year. To date, Gatorade Player of the Year winners’ grants have totaled more than $3.5 million across more than 1,300 organizations. Since the program’s inception in 1985, Gatorade Player of the Year award recipients have won hundreds of professional and college championships, and many have also turned into pillars in their communities, becoming coaches, business owners and educators. NEPSAC scholar-athletes from 14 schools in five states were recognized.

Baseball

All-New England selection by the New England Baseball Journal. White has volunteered locally as part of a fundraising campaign to benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. He has also donated his time as a youth baseball coach in addition to visiting patients at a children’s hospital as a Perfect Game Ambassador. “Thomas has a calm, mature presence about him on the mound and is able to locate well with his fastball on both sides of the plate,” said Tim Mitropolous, head coach of Phillips Exeter Academy. “I think his best quality is when we did get a runner or two on base, Thomas turned up his game to another level. He increased his velocity and was able to just shut down that momentum.” White has maintained a cumulative academic standing at the high end of “superior” on Phillips’ six-point grading scale. He has made a verbal commitment to play baseball on scholarship at Vanderbilt University beginning in the fall of 2023.

a calm, mature presence Thomas White of Phillips Academy is the 2021–22 Gatorade Massachusetts Baseball Player of the Year. White is the first Massachusetts Baseball Player of the Year to be chosen from Phillips Academy. The 6-foot-5, 209-pound junior left-handed pitcher led the Big Blues to an 18-3 record and the Central New England Prep School Baseball League Tournament championship this past season. White compiled a 6-1 record on the mound with a 0.21 earned run average, striking out 70 batters while allowing just 10 hits in 33 innings pitched. He allowed more than two hits just once in seven starts. Ranked as the nation’s No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2023 by PrepBaseballReport.com, he was a 2021 First Team

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NEPSAC News | Summer 2022 | 21

Another recent NEPSAC Massachusetts Baseball Player of the Year is Dexter Southfield School’s Joshua Baez (2020–21 & 2019–20).

Boys Basketball

NEPSAC scholar-athletes from schools in Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Massachusetts were honored in boys basketball this year.

makes other kids better Denzel Correia of Rocky Hill Country Day School is the 2021–22 Rhode Island Boys Basketball Player of the Year, the first to be chosen from Rocky Hill. The 6-foot-3, 165-pound senior guard averaged 21.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game this past season, leading the Mariners (18-5) to the NEPSAC Class D tournament championship game. The 2022 Southeastern New England Conference Player of the Year, Correia is a two-time First Team All-SENE selection. He scored 1,082 points in his three years at Rocky Hill. Correia developed and executed leadership activities for middle school students at Rocky Hill and he has volunteered locally at the Vincent Brown Community Center in Providence as a youth basketball coach and mentor. “Denzel makes other kids better and he is the heart and soul of that team,” said Mike Hart, head coach of St. Andrew’s School. “He can score, distribute and defend at a very high level.” Correia has maintained a 3.24 GPA in the classroom. He remains undecided upon a collegiate destination. Other recent NEPSAC Gatorade Boys Basketball Players of the Year from Rhode Island are Matt Constant (2020–21) and Brycen Goodine (2017–18), both of St. Andrew’s School; and Tyler Kolek (2018–19) of St. George’s School.

dynamic skill set Matas Buzelis of Brewster Academy is the 2021–22 Gatorade New Hampshire Boys Basketball Player of the Year. Buzelis is the fourth New Hampshire Boys Basketball Player of the Year from Brewster Academy. The 6-foot-8, 190-pound junior guard led the Bobcats to a 31-8 record and the New England Prep School Athletic Council Class AAA Tournament championship this past season. Buzelis averaged 11.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.2 steals per game and clicked for 18 points in Brewster’s 79-61 win over Northfield Mount Hermon School in the Class AAA title, earning MVP honors in the process. The son of a former member of the Lithuanian National Team, Buzelis will play for the World Team at the Nike Hoop Summit in April. A transfer from Hinsdale Central (Ill.) High, he is ranked as the nation’s No. 10 recruit in the Class of 2023 by ESPN.com. Buzelis has volunteered as an ambassador for the Rimas Kaukenas Charitable Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides charitable assistance to Lithuanian children with cancer. “Matas Buzelis has a dynamic skill set, but he also has the size of a power forward,” said Paul Biancardi of ESPN Basketball. “He has range as a shooter, a high basketball IQ and is a quality passer.”

22 | NEPSAC News | Summer 2022

Buzelis has maintained a B average in the classroom. He will begin his senior year of high school this fall. Buzelis joins recent NEPSAC Gatorade New Hampshire Boys Basketball Players of the Year Alex Karaban (2020-21, New Hampton School) and Jordan Geronimo (2019-20, St. Paul’s School) on New Hampshire’s list of award winners.

take[s] whatever the defense gives him TJ Power of Worcester Academy is the 2021–22 Gatorade Massachusetts Boys Basketball Player of the Year, Worcester’s second to be chosen The 6-foot-9, 210-pound junior forward led the Hilltoppers to a 23-7 record and the New England Prep School Athletic Council Class AA tournament championship this past season. Power averaged 13.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game, and he tallied 26 points and 11 boards in Worcester’s 85-83 victory over Bradford Christian Academy in the Class AA title game, earning tournament MVP honors. A transfer from St. John’s High in Shrewsbury, he is ranked as the nation’s No. 49 recruit in the Class of 2023 by ESPN.com. Power has volunteered locally as part of multiple fundraising campaigns to benefit A Shot for Life, a non-profit that funds health and cancer research initiatives. He has also donated his time as a youth basketball coach. “I love TJ’s versatility and his willingness to take what the defense gives him,” said James Cormier, head coach of Cushing Academy. “He was a main focus for us (when we played them) and only had seven points in the game, but he impacted their win in so many ways because of his other abilities.” Power has maintained an A average in the classroom. He will begin his senior year of high school this fall. Including Power, NEPSAC athletes have been honored as Gatorade Massachusetts Boys Basketball Players of the Year for five consecutive years: Kyle Filipowski (2020–21, Wilbraham & Monson Academy), Dallion Johnson (2019–20, Phillips Academy), Chris Ledlum (2018–19, Northfield Mount Hermon School) and A.J. Reeves (2017–18, Brimmer & May School).

Boys Soccer

NEPSAC schools in Massachusetts and Connecticut can claim boys soccer honors this year.

made everyone on his team better Augustine Boadi of Northfield Mount Hermon School is the 2021–22 Gatorade Massachusetts Boys Soccer Player of the Year. Boadi is the second Massachusetts Boys Soccer Player of the Year to be chosen from Northfield Mount Hermon School. The 5-foot-8, 145-pound senior midfielder led the Hoggers to a 13-2-1 record and the New England Prep School Athletic Council Class A Tournament championship this past season. Boadi tallied eight goals and seven assists. The NEPSAC Class A Player of the Year and a 2021 United Soccer Coaches High School All-American selection, he was the MVP for the East Team at the High School All-American Game in December.

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A native of Ghana, Boadi has volunteered locally with the African Student Association and in the admission office at NMH. He is also a leader of Breakaway, a weekly student-led Christian Fellowship group. “Augustine controlled the game with both his tremendous skill and high-level decision-making,” said Dick Muther, head coach of St. Paul’s School. “He made everyone on his team better by his play.” Boadi has maintained a B-plus average in the classroom. He has signed a National Letter of Intent to play soccer on scholarship at Boston College this fall. Another NMH student, Khamari Hadaway, was honored in 2019-20 and Berkshire School athlete Jacob Shaffelburg received the award in 2018–19 and 2017-18.

he can create for others or finish on his own Kelvin ‘KK’ Baffour of Taft School is the 2021-22 Gatorade Connecticut Boys Soccer Player of the Year. Baffour is the second to be chosen from Taft School. The 5-foot-7, 140-pound senior midfielder scored 29 goals and passed for 19 assists this past season, leading the Rhinos (19-1) to the New England Prep School Athletic Council Class A Tournament championship game. A United Soccer Coaches All-New England selection, Baffour recorded at least one point in 19 of Taft’s 20 games. He participated in the High School All-American Game in December and is ranked as the No. 82 recruit in the Class of 2022 by TopDrawerSoccer.com. A native of Ghana who came to Taft through the Right To Dream Academy, Baffour has volunteered locally speaking to students at Fairfield Country Day School about Africa. He has also donated his time as a dorm monitor and peer mentor at Taft. “KK is phenomenally good,” said Charlie Bour, head coach of the Berkshire School. “He can create for others or finish on his own. He’s not big, but his pace and skill are of professional quality.” Baffour has maintained an A-minus average in the classroom. He has signed a National Letter of Intent to play soccer on scholarship at the University of Notre Dame this fall. Baffour joins recent NEPSAC Gatorade Connecticut Boys Soccer Players of the Year Sammed Bawa (2019-20, Taft School), and Michael Suski (2018-19 & 2017-18, Loomis Chaffee School), among other Connecticut award winners.

Football

right up there with [collegiate] players Jackson Paradis of Tilton School is the 2021–22 Gatorade New Hampshire Football Player of the Year. Paradis is the first Gatorade New Hampshire Football Player of the Year to be chosen from Tilton School. The 6-foot, 230-pound senior running back rushed for 1,851 yards and 22 scores this past season, leading the Rams (6-3) to the New England Prep School Athletic Council Ken Hollingworth Bowl. Paradis averaged 10.2 yards per carry and broke the 200-yard mark five times in nine games with

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a highwater mark of 332 yards and four touchdowns in a 48-0 win over Kingswood Oxford School. Paradis has volunteered locally as a youth football coach. “What makes Jackson so special on the field is his size and speed,” said Ben Rulli, head coach of Proctor Academy. “We have been fortunate to have had a lot of great players over the years at Proctor that played at the Power 5 collegiate level. We have played against guys of similar caliber. Jackson Paradis is right up there with all of these players.” Paradis has maintained a 3.18 GPA in the classroom. He has made a verbal commitment to play football on scholarship at the University at Buffalo next fall. In 2019–20 Gatorade honored another NEPSAC football player, Malcolm Bussey of St. Paul’s School.

Girls Basketball

As with the boys, three girls basketball players from NEPSAC schools were recognized this year.

quickest first step Ahnay Adams of Tilton School is the 2021-22 Gatorade New Hampshire Girls Basketball Player of the Year. Adams is the second Gatorade New Hampshire Girls Basketball Player of the Year to be chosen from Tilton School. The 5-foot-6 sophomore guard had led the Rams to a 22-2 record and a berth in the New England Prep School Athletic Council Class AA tournament semifinals at the time of her selection. Adams averaged 24.1 points, 7.0 assists, 6.2 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game through 24 games. The 2022 NEPSAC Class AA Player of the Year, she was named the most valuable player of the Blackburn Tournament after leading Tilton to the title. A peer counselor and dormitory proctor at Tilton, Adams has volunteered locally with the Special Olympics and at Spaulding Academy & Family Services, a child-placing and child care agency. “Ahnay probably has the quickest first step of anyone we’ve played against,” said Rebecca Brooks, head coach of Brewster Academy. “She has developed a strong mid-range game.” Adams has maintained a B average in the classroom. She will begin her junior year of high school this fall. NEPSAC athlete Angelique Ngalakulondi (Proctor Academy) was honored in 2017–18 in girls basketball.

changes the game Mackenzie Nelson of St. Luke’s School is the 2021–22 Gatorade Connecticut Girls Basketball Player of the Year. Nelson is the first Gatorade Connecticut Girls Basketball Player of the Year to be chosen from St. Luke’s School. The 5-foot-9 junior guard led the Storm to a 26-1 record, with the only loss coming in the New England Preparatory Athletic Council championship game. Nelson exploded for 45 points as St. Luke’s lost to undefeated Brooks (Mass.), 76-75, in overtime. On

NEPSAC News | Summer 2022 | 23

the season, Nelson averaged 22 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 5 steals per game. Nelson has volunteered locally on behalf of multiple basketball camps, including a Boy Scouts camp as well as the High Rise Basketball Summer Camp. She also has donated her time to several school community service initiatives. “Mack is an all-around player that changes the game the moment she steps on the floor,” said Jenn Harris, Greens Farms Academy head coach. “I haven’t seen her not be ‘on’ because it doesn’t feel like she is ever turned off. She is able to hit from the outside, pick defenses apart with her ability to drive the lane, has amazing vision of the floor and is pretty hands-on defensively. She is able to pick your pocket regularly, and read passes for a steal.” Nelson has maintained a 3.84 GPA in the classroom and will begin her senior year of high school this fall. Nelson joins recent Gatorade Connecticut Girls Basketball Player of the Year Allie Palmieri (2019-20, Greens Farms Academy) on Connecticut’s list of award winners.

a force defensively Taina Mair of Brooks School is the 2021–22 Gatorade Massachusetts Girls Basketball Player of the Year. Mair is the first Gatorade Massachusetts Girls Basketball Player of the Year to be chosen from Brooks School. The 5-foot-9 senior guard had led the Brooksonians to a 22-0 record and a berth in the New England Prep School Athletic Council Class B Tournament semifinals at the time of her selection. Mair averaged 24.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 11.0 assists and 1.4 steals per game through 22 games as Brooks School posted its first unbeaten regular season in school history. The 2022 Independent School League Player of the year, she was the 2020 NEPSAC Class B Player of the Year as a sophomore with the Brooksonians and was named Lakes Region MVP as a freshman at the Holderness School (N.H.) in 2019. Mair has volunteered locally as a peer tutor and mentor, and she has donated her time serving meals at a homeless shelter. “Taina is able to score at will every time down the floor in a variety of ways at all three levels,” said Cecilia Reyes, head coach of Governor’s Academy. “In addition to being unguardable, she is also a force defensively, generating steals that turn into layups at the other end of the floor.” Mair has maintained a B average in the classroom. She has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball on scholarship at Boston College this fall. Previous Massachusetts honorees include Caroline Ducharme (2020-21 & 2019-20, Noble & Greenough School), and Aliyah Boston (2018-19 & 2017-18, Worcester Academy).

Girls Soccer

controls the entire tempo of the game

Molly Martin of Buckingham, Browne & Nichols School is the 2021–22 Gatorade Massachusetts Girls Soccer Player of the Year. Martin is the second Gatorade Massachusetts Girls Soccer Player

24 | NEPSAC News | Summer 2022

of the Year to be chosen from Buckingham, Browne & Nichols School. The 5-foot-7 senior defender led the Knights to a 21-0 record and the New England Prep School Athletic Council Class A tournament championship this past season. Martin scored six goals and passed for nine assists while anchoring a defense that allowed just two goals all season. Ranked as the nation’s No. 116 recruit in the Class of 2022 by TopDrawerSoccer.com, she played in the High School AllAmerican Game in December and participated in a virtual camp with the U.S. Soccer Under-18 Women’s National Team in April 2021. Martin has volunteered locally as a school tour guide and on behalf of the Special Olympics. She has also donated her time at a soup kitchen and as a youth soccer coach. “Molly Martin is an incredible player,” said Nick Rugnetta, head coach of Thayer Academy. “She basically just dictates play, dominates the midfield and controls the entire tempo of the game while also generating and springing attacks for BB&N. I will miss seeing Molly play except for when she played Thayer.” Martin has maintained an A-minus average in the classroom. Taking advantage of NCAA early signing rules, Martin inked a financial-aid agreement that paved the way for her to enroll at Penn State University. She graduated from high school in December and began attending classes in Happy Valley this past spring semester. Other NEPSAC Massachusetts Girls Soccer Players of the Year are: Cat Barry (2019–20 & 2018–19, Tabor Academy), and Kayla Duran (2017–18, Buckingham Browne & Nichols School).

Cross Country

goes out hard and fast

Meg Madison of Winsor School is the 2021–22 Gatorade Massachusetts Girls Cross Country Player of the Year. Madison is the first Gatorade Massachusetts Girls Cross Country Player of the Year to be chosen from Winsor School. The 5-foot-6 sophomore placed second at the New England Prep School Track and Field Association Division 1 Championships, breaking the tape in 18:52 to lead the Wildcats to a seventh-place finish as a team. Madison won 10 of 13 races on the season, including a victory at the Eastern Independent League championship meet by nearly two minutes. A 2021–22 Boston Globe All-Scholastic, she also took 14th at the Eastbay Northeast Regional Championships. A competitive freeride (or backcountry) skier as well as a lacrosse player, Madison has volunteered locally as a lifeguard, and she’s also a contributor for the Winsor newspaper, The Banner. “Meg was easily the top runner in our league this year — her results speak for themselves,” said Brian Cook, head coach of the Dana Hall School. “She goes out hard and fast, running with intensity and determination, challenging her competition to keep up.” Madison has maintained a 3.72 GPA in the classroom. She will begin her junior year of high school this fall.

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Track & Field

Foster has maintained an A average in the classroom. He has signed a National Letter of Intent to compete at Princeton University this fall.

James Donahue of Belmont Hill School repeats as the 2021-22 Gatorade Massachusetts Boys Track & Field Player of the Year. Last year Donahue was the first Massachusetts Boys Track & Field Player of the Year to be chosen from Belmont Hill School. The 6-foot, 150-pound senior set a state record in the mile run at the Brooks PR Invitational this past season, finishing fifth with a time of 4:01.39, which ranked No. 11 nationally among prep competitors in 2022 at the time of his selection. Donahue also earned All-American honors by taking third in the mile at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor. He won the 800-meter run at the New England Preparatory School Track Association Division I Championships in a meet-record 1:49.81, which ranked No. 11 in the country. Donahue has volunteered locally as part of Belmont Hill’s Thanksgiving Turkey Drive, which provides meals to underserved families in the Boston area. “James possesses a quiet confidence that allows him to dig deep into his ability and condition himself to perform at the highest level,” said Scott Bosworth, head coach of Milton Academy. “He seems to always be in control of his emotions and strategy with the outcome being that he hits his goals and leaves his competitors racing for second place.” Donahue has maintained a 3.54 GPA in the classroom. He has signed a National Letter of Intent to compete on an athletic scholarship at the University of Virginia this fall. Two-time winner Donahue joins other NEPSAC Massachusetts recipients Alex Fleury (2019–20, Phillips Academy) and Sam Welsh (2017–18, Concord Academy), among the list of state award winners.

phenomenal athlete and great kid

a quiet confidence

Sophia Gorriaran of Moses Brown School is the 2021–22 Gatorade Rhode Island Girls Track & Field Player of the Year. Gorriaran is the first Gatorade Rhode Island Girls Track & Field Player of the Year to be chosen from Moses Brown School. The state’s two-time returning Gatorade Girls Track & Field Player of the Year, the 5-foot-6 junior broke her own state record in the 800-meter run at the Track Night NYC Trials of Miles in New York in May. At the time of her selection, Gorriarian’s mark of 2:00.65 ranked No. 3 nationally among prep competitors in 2022 and was tied for fifth in history among prep girls. The owner of 11 state records (four outdoors, seven indoors), she also won the 200-meter dash and the 800- and 1,500-meter runs at the Class C state meet, leading the Quakers to a team title. Her season-best 400-meter dash time of 54.46 seconds ranked No. 36 in the country in 2022. Also a top lacrosse player who plays both sports during the spring season, Gorriaran has volunteered locally at an innercity elementary school and as a youth track coach. “Sophia is a phenomenal athlete and a great kid,” said Chris Magill, head coach of St. Raphael Academy. “She is the best middle distance runner Rhode Island has ever had.” Gorriaran has maintained a weighted 3.89 GPA in the classroom. She will begin her senior year of high school this fall.

became so much more than we imagined Lawrenceville School’s Greg Foster is the 2021-22 Gatorade New Jersey Boys Track & Field Player of the Year, and the first from Lawrenceville. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound senior won two national titles at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor this past season. Foster soared a state-record 51 feet, 0.75 inches to win the triple jump, which ranked as the nation’s No. 2 performance among prep competitors in 2022. He captured the long jump with a leap of 256.25, while also ranked No. 2 nationally and puts him at No. 2 on the all-time New Jersey list, trailing only Olympic legend Carl Lewis. This past winter, he won both the long jump and triple jump at the Nike Indoor Nationals. Foster has served as a peer tutor in his school and has volunteered locally on behalf of a food bank. “When Greg arrived on campus his freshman year, he was brimming with potential,” said Lawrenceville coach Ian Mook. “We felt that if he could stay healthy and train hard, he could be great. He worked and worked and, despite obstacles, he became so much more than we ever could have imagined at that first practice.”

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2021–22 Players of the Year at a Glance GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Meg Madison, Winsor School

Mackenzie Nelson, St. Luke’s School Ahnay Adams, Tilton School Taina Mair, Brooks School

FOOTBALL

Jackson Paradis, Tilton School GIRLS SOCCER

Molly Martin, Buckingham, Browne & Nichols School BOYS SOCCER

Kelvin ‘KK’ Baffour, Taft School Augustine Boadi, Northfield Mount Hermon School BOYS BASKETBALL

Matas Buzelis, Brewster Academy Denzel Correia, Rocky Hill Country Day School TJ Power, Worcester Academy

BASEBALL

Thomas White, Phillips Academy Andover BOYS TRACK & FIELD

James Donahue, Belmont Hill School Greg Foster, Lawrenceville School GIRLS TRACK & FIELD

Sophia Gorrarian, Moses Brown School

NEPSAC News | Summer 2022 | 25

TABOR ACADEMY | MARION, MASSACHUSETTS

Tabor Academy Announces Naming of New Campus Center

t the 2022 Reunion Convocation in early June, Tabor Academy announced that its new Campus Center, slated for completion in December 2022, will be named the Travis Roy Campus Center. “Travis supported Tabor with his time, investment, and thoughtfulness, and he championed the Campus Center,” notes Trustee Steve Sprague ’68, as he fondly remembers fellow Trustee Travis Roy ’95. “This project is something Travis felt strongly would enhance the student experience, and I’m really sorry that he didn’t stay with us long enough to see it completed.” Sprague is a longtime supporter of Tabor and lead donor on the school’s new 22,000-square-foot building, the Travis Roy Campus Center. He is one of many donors to support this important student-centered campus initiative. “It’s hard to describe what this honor would mean to our son,” say Brenda and Lee Roy, parents of Travis Roy who passed away on October 29, 2020. He is remembered by those who knew him as being a true friend and a role model. “Letters we’ve received from classmates since his passing often refer to his kindness and outreach to others,” his parents share. Travis Roy and Sprague served on the Tabor Board of Trustees together for several years. “I really admired him. He was a warm and friendly guy, and it was a pleasure working with him. I admired his thoughtfulness and good judgment,” Sprague recalls. “He truly loved Tabor and gave everything he could to the school. He’s somebody I wanted to be like. He embodied everything Tabor represents. We’re all going to miss him and felt it was important to honor him in such a central and permanent place at the school.” Travis Roy started at Tabor as a junior, spending two years at the School by the Sea that left a lasting impression on him. Travis Roy played soccer, golf, and hockey at Tabor, and he served as a Proctor during his senior year. “He loved the Tabor community like no other. During his time at the School by the Sea, he formed lifelong friendships that saw him through both the highs and some of the darkest days of his life,” says Brenda and Lee Roy. “While his initial

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goals at the school might have been hockey related, it was important to him to be seen as more than a hockey player. He participated fully in every aspect of the school that he could,” his parents share. While at Tabor, Travis Roy also discovered a knack for ceramics, a skill he was proud of beyond his love of sports. “The ceramics award he received senior year was, in fact, one that he was most proud of,” say Brenda and Lee Roy. Travis Roy stayed connected to his seaside alma mater throughout his life. He served as a dedicated Tabor Trustee since 2014 and was the Class of 2015’s esteemed graduation speaker. “As a trustee, he loved spending time back on campus interacting with students and catching up with faculty members who were now some of his closest friends,” say his parents. “He would say, without question, that his time at Tabor whether as a student, an alumnus, or as a trustee were the best days of his life. He took his role as a trustee very seriously and saw it as his opportunity to give back to the school that he loved so much.” “I am thrilled that we are naming this wonderful new facility after Travis Roy who I had the pleasure of meeting earlier in my career and who I found to be an inspiration,” says Head of School Tony Jaccaci P’23. “This facility, located in the heart of the campus, is purpose built to create the relationships that make a Tabor experience so special and unique and befit Travis’ spirit of kindness and grace.” “When asked what we thought of the idea of having the new Campus Center named for Travis, in addition to the Hockey Rink, we could only respond with tears,” admit Brenda and Lee Roy. “One of Travis’ primary goals while on campus was to be seen as more than just a hockey player. He excelled in soccer, golf, and ceramics, and saw himself as an ambassador to all students. The Chapel Speech he gave toward the end of senior year outlining his Ten Rules of Life exemplifies this. There is no doubt in our minds that Travis would be honored, humbled, and thrilled to have his name placed on the new Campus Center, a meeting place for the

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NESTMA members get more. entire Tabor community. It would be the absolute highest tribute Tabor could bestow on him.” And so, his memory will live on through the Travis Roy Campus Center. This project has been in the works for several years now and is one that has been near and dear to many of the school’s leaders, including both Travis Roy and Sprague. “Because that’s what Tabor needs,” Sprague asserts. “I am eager to have this facility support programs on campus in new and innovative ways that have been in consideration for many years,” adds Jaccaci. “This is a well-conceived and planned building that will serve many different purposes and will do so thanks to intentional design and planning.” Jaccaci also notes that large-scale projects like this one aren’t possible without the generous support of donors. “Why I support Tabor is simple. Tabor took a chance on me,” Sprague notes. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without Tabor,” he adds. “Tabor really set me on the right path, and I’ve loved Tabor all my life.” “We are fortunate at Tabor for the care and dedication that has been given to this project,” Jaccaci says, “and now, with Travis’ name, this space will be a jewel in the school’s facility crown.” To learn more about the Travis Roy Campus Center or to make a supporting donation in memory of Travis Roy ’95, visit taboracademy.org/getcentered or email Amy Duffell. Reprinted with permission of Tabor Academy.

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BAY S SUMMER The Bay State Summer Games is Massachuse�s’ own Olympic-style athle�c compe��on that has been held anually since 1982. Athletes of all ages and abili�es represent over 300 Massachuse�s communi�es each year. The Summer Games annually take place during the months of June and July.

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PHILLIPS EXETER ACADEMY | EXETER, NEW HAMPSHIRE

Big Red lacrosse plays for Morgan’s Message

Girls and boys lacrosse teams shine the spotlight on mental health awareness. by Brian Muldoon

The Exeter and New Hampton girls lacrosse teams gather to honor Morgan Rodgers and raise awareness for Morgan’s Message.

n April, the girls and boys varsity lacrosse programs teamed up to dedicate a game to Morgan’s Message, a foundation dedicated to eliminating the stigma surrounding mental health within the student-athlete community. Morgan’s Message, named in memory of Morgan Rodgers and the story she left behind, strives to amplify stories, resources, and expertise to confront student-athlete mental health challenges and to equalize the treatment of physical and mental health in athletics. Exeter’s Keighley Bosshardt ’24, Kathryn Welch ’22, Emilie Dubiel ‘23, Baron Fisher ’22, Drew McClutchy ‘23, Logan Olazabal ‘23, Baron Masopust ’24 represented the girls and boys teams and worked as ambassador’s to organize the event, raise awareness, and gather donations for Morgan’s Message.

“People, especially athletes, often overlook their mental health or tend to focus more on their physical health,” said Bosshardt, who helped champion the cause and organize Exeter’s involvement. “I think by bringing awareness and providing resources to our community, Exeter students can start having open conversations about mental health and not be scared to reach out if they need it.” Prior to the start of each game, both teams gathered for brief remarks and a moment of silence in Rodgers’ memory. A high school lacrosse standout, Rodgers was recruited to play at Duke University. She sustained a serious knee injury prior to her sophomore season at Duke and struggled with anxiety and depression as she fought to regain her physical health. She committed suicide at 22. “I hope that Morgan’s Message will bring awareness to our athletic community and the greater Exeter community that mental health is a challenge that we all deal with and should not be taken lightly,” Fisher said. “I hope that it will allow those students who are struggling with mental health to feel more comfortable in reaching out for help. I hope that we can honor Morgan’s life by building an even more caring and comfortable environment for student-athletes at Exeter.” For more on Morgan’s Message, please visit their website.

The Exeter and New Hampton boys.

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GREENS FARMS ACADEMY | WESTPORT, CONNECTICUT

Sofia Atehortua started her summer vacation a little early

aving just wrapped her freshman year with the Dragons girls soccer program, where she rewrote the school record book for goals in a season, Sofia Atehortua is headed for the Netherlands after being selected as part of the 20-member United State Women’s Soccer U15 National Team. That team will be holding an international camp from June 6-16 and include a pair of friendlies against the Netherlands and Germany as the squad prepares for the 2022 U15 World Cup. Team USA will face the Netherlands on Friday, June 10, in Schalkhaar (which is about 70 miles east of Amsterdam) and then face Gerhman on Wednesday, June 15, in Nordhorn. “Sometimes it feels unreal and for periods of times it feels as though I am dreaming,” Atehortua said shortly after receiving the news she was one of the 20 players selected. “It was something I had dreamed of being part of from very young.” In began, in fact, when Atehortua was just eight years old and she attended a U.S. Women’s National Team Game at the She Believes Cup in Pennsylvania. “I promised myself one day to be part of this team representing a great nation,” Atehortua said. “It hasn’t been easy at all, because along the way you encounter challenges, and if you don’t overcome them, you won’t grow. What I am experiencing is beautiful, a great dream come true.” She was invited to train with Team USA, but making the 20-person traveling squad for a pair of international competitions raises the stakes that much more.

“Reaching this goal means everything to me and ratifies that all my efforts have paid off,” she said. “Many coaches, teammates, family members, and grandparents of teammates predicted, and verbalized ‘I will see you on television one day.’ Teammates have asked me to sign t-shirts and cleats. They asked me for autographs to sell later and I laugh. It all creates this emotion and adrenaline within my body that motivates and challenges me to continue fighting and working towards my dream and ultimate goal.” Atehortua exploded on to the GFA girls soccer scene this fall, arriving as the kid sister to JP Atehortua from the boys team. She quickly found her own footing, though, finishing the 2021 season with a school-record 36 goals. She broke a 20-year-old record of 31 goals set by Ali Rago in 2001. The one thing Atehortua won’t do is rest on her laurels. She knows a trip to the Netherlands in June of 2022 is not the ultimate goal, but a spectacular stop on a journey that doesn’t always seem real. “The next step is to continue working hard to stay here, improve every day, and continue to represent my country,” Atehortua said. “I hope to be an example for girls, inspire, and make this great nation proud. Soccer is passion, training, discipline, determination, emotion, a sport that unites, transforms, and inspires. I have found everything in it. Dreams come true. Never stop believing.”

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NEPSAC News | Summer 2022 | 33

ST. PAUL’S SCHOOL | CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE

Leveling the Playing Field by David Moore

lthough she couldn’t have known children, including triplets — as well as it then, Samantha Ekstrand’s life working at Ekstrand & Ekstrand LLP, the began to change forever during Durham, North Carolina, law firm she and her Third Form spring, when ski racing her husband, Robert, started in 2002. season ended and all her friends “seemed Initially focused on the operational side to be trying” lacrosse. Ekstrand found a of the firm, she soon developed a niche at stick and began playing around with the the intersection of law and sports that put ball. She made the junior varsity that year her on the path to fulfilling her professional and by Fifth Form spring had become good purpose: advocating for equitable support enough to snag the last spot on Heather and opportunity for women in sports, a role Crutchfield’s varsity roster. that includes working with college coaches “And I will tell you that that woman, and on contract negotiations, investigations, that experience, changed the trajectory of and separation agreements, among other my life,” says Ekstrand, who uses words things. like “magnetic,” “vivacious,” and “ultraToday, Ekstrand serves as an adviser competitive” to describe the charismatic to several professional associations coach and associate dean of Admission, for college coaches, including women’s who had established a successful track lacrosse, field hockey, ice hockey, soccer, record at St. Paul’s School and created a and softball. “In this role, I am able to tradition of pride that made Ekstrand and advocate for gender equity, as well as Samantha Sparks Ekstrand ’92 brings her teammates feel like they belonged to empower and support coaches,” she her competitive background and law something special. A defender, Ekstrand explains, “which I really enjoy because degree to bear on matters of equity and didn’t see much playing time that first year, I know and appreciate how much of an opportunity for women in sports. but her Sixth Form year, she was a starter impact sports and coaches can have on and knew she wanted lacrosse to continue an athlete.” to be part of her life. Unrecruited but “fully prepared” to play at She also contributed to the landmark Kaplan, Hecker & Fink her college of choice, Dartmouth, she walked on and made the Gender Equity Review, an effort launched last year to close the team — in no small part due to Crutchfield’s national reputation for huge disparity in funding and other support of women’s sports mentoring young women who could play the game. relative to men’s by the National Collegiate Athletic Association Ekstrand says it was at Dartmouth that she learned the — an issue that came into particular prominence during the 2021 true meaning of hard work and discipline. “I was totally in over NCAA Division I basketball championships, when the mismatch my head,” she admits. “The intensity and between the mens’ and womens’ facilities commitment were eye opening. Every day, received almost as much coverage as the you go to classes, do your homework, go games themselves. “Doing this work is SHE STILL DRAWS over to practice, and then lift weights until how I have found value and purpose in my MOTIVATION FROM midnight. The next day, you do it all again.” education and experiences, which began As she discovered, traveling five hours on at St. Paul’s,” she explains. ADVICE HER DAD ALWAYS a bus and standing on the sideline during Ekstrand says she still draws a spring snowstorm will either make you motivation from advice her dad always GAVE HER, TO “MAKE A or break you. gave her, to “make a difference and pay It made Ekstrand, who was hooked it forward.” That’s a piece of wisdom DIFFERENCE AND PAY IT by the camaraderie and managed the that must seem all the more vivid as she FORWARD.” discipline side of things well enough to be watches her own children grow up at SPS, named an Academic All-American in her where daughter Eliza ’24 plays lacrosse senior year. for a certain legendary coach who once After graduating with a degree in history and government, taught a late-to-the-sport defender what can happen when you Ekstrand pulled another “double major” in graduate school, pick up a stick and turn it into a beacon for change. earning a law degree along with a master’s degree in history at Duke. After a stint teaching and coaching college lacrosse, Ekstrand devoted herself to raising her family — she has five Reprinted with permission of St. Paul’s School.

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WORCESTER ACADEMY | WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS

Worcester Academy’s TJ Power of Shrewsbury awarded Bernon Junior Service Award Power splits $10k philanthropy prize with A Shot For Life

orcester Academy junior and scholar-athlete TJ Power of Shrewsbury received the Worcester Academy Bernon Junior Service Award on May 20, 2022 in a ceremony in Alumni House. Power, who was recipient of the 2022 Gatorade Player of the Year in Massachusetts for Boys Basketball, earned the coveted Bernon Service Award following outstanding community service to A Shot For Life (ASFL), a Hanover-based youth sport organization supporting health and cancer research initiatives. Immediately upon receiving the prize, he handed over a check for $7,500 to a beaming ASFL founder Mike Slonina, who came to Worcester Academy campus with seven of his ASFL staffers to receive the funds. “I knew when I first started working for this organization that this was the place I wanted to serve,” TJ said. “This was a cause I wanted to help. Some of the work has been the hardest I’ve ever done in my life and I love it.” The Bernon Junior Service Award was established by Alan Bernon ’72 who wanted to recognize a member of the Academy’s Junior Class who shares a passion for philanthropy and for giving back and has provided exceptional community service over and above those hours required by WA. The recipient then splits the prize—$2,500 for the student, $7,500 for the nonprofit—with a nonprofit of his or her choosing. Over the years, many Worcester Academy scholar athletes have been A Shot For Life athletes, Mr. Slonina said. TJ, the only one performing community service, is among the hardest working and most enthusiastic Hilltoppers he’s met. “TJ has not only been an athlete at ASFL, he’s also been a consistent volunteer,” Mr. Slonina says. “He’s helped us to have an impact far beyond the court.” He recalled how TJ used a flashlight in the woods to find baseballs during the organization’s home run derby. No one asked him to do that, but that’s what was needed at the moment. He goes the extra mile for others, Mr. Slonina says. “That’s very unusual in a nationally ranked athlete,” he says. “But it’s not unusual for TJ. My staff and I love this guy and we all came out today to salute him.”

COMMUNITY SERVICE AT WORCESTER ACADEMY

and Challenge. It’s a part of every student’s experience at Worcester Academy, and by graduation, Hilltoppers must have completed a total of 60 hours of service (postgraduate students must complete 15 hours of service). Collectively, Hilltoppers contribute thousands of hours each year in the greater Worcester community and beyond. They mentor and teach, work countless hours in hospitals and shelters, host benefit concerts, organize food and clothing drives, and make an impact. Worcester Academy’s Director of Equity and Inclusion Bonnie Walker says TJ represents both himself and the Academy very well. “TJ is a star here at WA, not just because of his athletic prowess on the basketball court and on the baseball field, and in the classroom as an academic, but because of his honorable character, his kindness, his work ethic, his humility, his teamsmanship, and his desire to give back,” she says. “TJ embodies our school’s core values and everything that we hope for in character for our students.”

BERNON JUNIOR SERVICE AWARD

Alan Bernon, a veteran dairy industry executive, who has served on boards of many nonprofits including Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Hofstra University and the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas. A member of the Class of 1972 at Worcester Academy, he has long acknowledged the importance of community service and philanthropic support. Mr. Bernon funded the Bernon Junior Service Award at Worcester Academy to highlight a member of the junior class who shares his passion for philanthropy and who has distinguished him- or herself through community service that is off-campus and over and above that which is required for graduation. The award comes with a $10,000 cash prize—$2,500 for the student and $7,500 for the nonprofit of his or her choice.

A SHOT FOR LIFE

A Shot For Life is a sports-based nonprofit organization that funds health and cancer research initiatives. Through sports-based initiatives, community in-person events, and online activities, ASFL meaningfully engages and unites communities, inspires hope and teaches community leadership.

Community Service is an extension of both the Academy mission and its Core Values: Honor, Respect, Community, Personal Growth,

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Why Coaches Should Prioritize Their Own Mental Wellness Too

s a busy coach, you likely haven’t spent a lot of time thinking about your own mental health and wellness. Sure, you’ve told your athletes to seek professional help if they need it, or maybe even spent time doing group activities with your team to promote mental wellness. But how are you doing? TrueSport Expert Kevin Chapman, PhD, clinical psychologist and founder of The Kentucky Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders, believes that a coach who isn’t taking time for his or her own mental health is at a serious disadvantage. Here’s what you need to know.

YOU’RE NOT INVINCIBLE—AND DON’T HAVE TO BE

“At the end of the day, it’s important for you and your athletes to understand that as a coach, you are not invincible,” says Chapman. “It’s so important to normalize having a range of emotions.” Checking in with a professional—even before something is ‘wrong’ in your life—is a great idea for anyone. “In our sporting culture, especially for men, it can be hard to show emotion or admit that you need help,” says Chapman. If you know you should talk to someone but are struggling to feel okay with seeking help, he suggests you think about it in a new way: “I reframe treatment as coaching, or mental conditioning, or mental toughness training. That tends to feel better for many coaches.” Chapman adds, “Coaches generally understand that their athletes need to have a growth mindset and believe that they’re capable of changing and growing. But as adults, we tend to fall into the fixed mindset even if we don’t realize it. And because of that, we actually convince ourselves that we can’t change or be flexible, or that we shouldn’t ’need to’ grow.”

YOUR MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS YOUR WORK

Older male coach watching football game.“In my experience with coaches, I’ve found that there’s even more of a stigma with coaches seeking mental health treatment compared to athletes,” says Chapman. “I’ve also seen how incredibly impactful this is, because depending on the sport, a coach’s mental health might be critical to overall success, wellness, and safety on the team.” For instance, if you’re going through a tough time, you might struggle to stay on top of tactics in a fast-paced basketball or football game, or potentially even miss warning signs of injury for your athletes. “Your functioning is impaired when your mental health is not in order,” Chapman explains. “And if your judgment is impaired, then you need to do something about it. You need to enhance your mental health and wellness. You can’t be good at your craft in any capacity if your mental health is not taken care of. You can’t competently do your job.”

ATHLETES EMULATE YOU—FOR BETTER OR WORSE

“As a coach goes, so does the team,” says Chapman. Regardless of how many mental health and wellness activities you do with your athletes,

About TrueSport TrueSport®, a movement powered by the experience and values of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, champions the positive values and life lessons learned through youth sport. TrueSport inspires athletes, coaches, parents, and administrators to change the culture of youth sport through active engagement and thoughtful curriculum based on cornerstone lessons of sportsmanship, characterbuilding, and clean and healthy performance, while also creating leaders across communities through sport. For more expert-driven articles and materials, visit TrueSport’s comprehensive library of resources. This content was reproduced in partnership with TrueSport. Any content copied or reproduced without TrueSport and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s express written permission would be in violation of our copyright, and subject to legal recourse. To learn more or request permission to reproduce content, click here.

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if they sense that you’re struggling or you’re not taking your own advice, they won’t take it either. Athletes will emulate you, rather than doing what you suggest. There’s a reason for the cliche of ‘do as I say, not as I do,’ but unfortunately, that cliche doesn’t work. “Your athletes are learning more from your example, not from what you’re saying,” he adds. “No matter how many mental health exercises you lead them through, your athletes are going to follow that example. Ultimately, some coaches have this unrealistic expectation for themselves that they can’t show emotion, which trickles down to the team and what we teach our athletes.”

TRANSPARENCY IS POWERFUL

Female coach talking to team of boys and girls in gym.“If you can tell your athletes that you are not okay, and that you’re struggling with something, that’s going to enhance your rapport with your players,” says Chapman. You don’t need to overshare and dig into the details, but telling athletes that something is going on will make you more relatable. “Your athletes are going to relate to you better, because everyone goes through something at some point,” he adds. “And you’ll be surprised, too: Athletes are going to rally around you. They’ll appreciate your honesty and find you more relatable as a human, which will make you more effective as a coach and a leader.”

TAKEAWAY:

As a coach, you may not think about your own mental health as often as you think about your athlete’s emotional well-being, but you can’t be an effective coach when you’re struggling internally. Protecting your own mental health will make you a better coach and stronger person.

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NEPSAC News | Summer 2022 | 39

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