A Winning Season Built on Teamwork, Trust

by Katherine Whitfield

Varsity lacrosse team brings home state championship

T T heirs was a season seven years in the making, and a championship won with only 17 seconds left on the clock.

For the seven seniors who helped clinch the 2021 state championship for St. Mary’s Episcopal School varsity lacrosse, their final season of play reflected the girls’ strength, determination, and mutual trust as a

tight-knit team. Most of the seniors

began playing lacrosse together in sixth grade, and

The varsity team celebrates the school’s first state championship in lacrosse. Varsity Head Coach and SMS Athletics Director John Bartholomew says their tenure as teammates fostered an atmosphere of leadership and chemistry on the field.

“These girls tended to get stronger as the game went on and wore down

their opponents,” said parent volunteer Jeffrey Block, whose daughter Josie ’24 was on the team.

“Most importantly, they were mentally tough in knowing they were never out of a

game and would pull together when down.”

According to the players, dedication

and hard work, coupled with teamwork and trust, kept them moving together on the field—and kept them laughing and coming back despite the grind.

“I learned how to trust from my teammates, and I learned from Coach Bartholomew and the assistant coaching staff that hard work now means fun later,” said Rachel Beem ’21. “Any game can change in a split second, and it takes a tremendous amount of trust to know that everyone on the team will make the right decisions at the right moments. All the conditioning, in the beginning, gave us time later to really enjoy the game and, as we would say, ’start schemin’.’”

In addition to the team’s resolute efforts, the new donor-driven indoor training facility at the Athletic and

Wellness Center was a game-changer. “It was not lost on us that the first year we had an indoor practice space and on-site strength training and conditioning equipment was also the year we brought home the state championship,” said Susan Jones, mother of Grace ’23. Susan and her husband, Will, have seen all three of their daughters On Senior Night, St. Mary’s recognized seven players. Above: Athletic Director John Bartholomew, play lacrosse for the

Margaret Saab, Rachel Beem, Ellen Feild, the Mighty Turkey, Rebekah Leventhal, Emily Taylor, Virginia Horton, Faith Preston, and Assistant Coach Thomas Quinlen Turkeys. “The new Athletic and Wellness Center was critical to our success,” Bartholomew agreed. “Before this season, we would miss substantial practice time due to wet fields, but thanks to the strength and conditioning center, during rainouts we spent our afternoons lifting weights or practicing stick skills on Linkous Field.” In April, Bartholomew arranged for SMS to square off against Florida’s IMG Academy, one of the country’s top teams. While the players were understandably unnerved to face such a fierce competitor, the opportunity to sharpen their skills and hold their own against a national powerhouse helped bolster the Turkeys’ collective confidence in their abilities. “Although we lost against IMG, we played

Coach and Athletic Director John Bartholomew was named Lacrosse Coach of the Year by The Commercial Appeal and The Daily Memphian.

a very good game, and it was at this moment that our players realized how good we were,” said Bartholomew. “We didn’t lose a game after that.”

And on May 15—just two days before the seniors would celebrate their commencement—the Turkeys defeated the Harpeth Hall Honeybears for the state “Any game can change in a split second, and it takes a tremendous amount of trust to know that everyone on the team is there for a reason and will make the right decisions at the right moments. Every single person stepped up in the moments that mattered.” Rachel Beem ’21

championship title. Down by one with less than a minute remaining in the final quarter, two-time all-American midfielder Virginia Horton ’21 secured

the tying goal to bring the score to 5-5. With

just moments to go in regulation play, All-American

Rebekah Leventhal ’21

passed the ball to Carrington Davis ’22, Academic All-American, who scored the winning point and clinched the victory for St. Mary’s with 17 seconds left on the clock.

It was a powerful moment for St. Mary’s, made even sweeter by the knowledge that Davis was cleared to return to competitive play only two months earlier following an accident that jeopardized her athletic career. After multiple surgeries and a gradual return to rotation, Davis’s recovery— strengthened by the steadfast support of her teammates— led to what was, according to many, the proudest and most rewarding moment for the Turkeys in a season filled with wins.

“I am incredibly proud of the class of ’21 for their resilience,” said Bartholomew. “We have been building

“These girls tended to get stronger as the game went on and wore down their opponents.” Jeffrey Block, SMS parent volunteer and

Memphis University School Lower School lacrosse coach

Students in the Lower School were especially excited to celebrate the lacrosse team’s big win. Several players served as coaches for St. Mary’s Lower School lacrosse team.

this program for years, and our victory was made sweeter knowing that we didn’t cut any corners and we didn’t rely on lucky breaks.”

Bartholomew was also quick to acknowledge the breadth of individuals who made this championship season possible, from the parent volunteers and assistant coaches, Thomas Quinlen and Caryn Welsh, to the school’s athletic trainer, Bob Dunaway, and strength and conditioning specialist Claire Betti. Bartholomew also extended a heartfelt shout-out to Coaches Christine Mudalige and Tricia Dewey, who led many of this year’s seniors to win a middle school lacrosse championship in 2016 as 8th graders.

“This leadership and winning experience trickled down to their younger classmates, particularly the class of ’22 who were instrumental to our championship this year,” said Bartholomew.

In addition to the state title, Bartholomew

“We have been building this program for years, and our win was made sweeter knowing that we didn’t cut any corners and we didn’t rely on lucky breaks.”

Coach John Bartholomew Carrington Davis ’22, Virginia Horton ’21, Rebekah Leventhal ’21 (above), Amelia Quinlen ’22, and Emily Taylor ’21 were named Varsity Lacrosse All-Region Players.

took home Coach of the Year accolades from The Daily Memphian, The Commercial Appeal, and Tennessee’s chapter of US Lacrosse. Horton was named the female

Two-time All-American midfielder Virginia Horton ’21 was named The Daily Memphian’s female Player of the Year.

Player of the Year by The Daily Memphian and The Commercial

Appeal.

As for the future of The challenges and growth that come with team play have been good for them. Both winning and losing help to develop one’s character, and hopefully, these lessons will impact how the players react and treat others as life presents them with winning and losing moments.”

Susan Jones, parent

lacrosse at St. Mary’s, Bartholomew remains heavily involved in the development of players from junior varsity, middle school, and even grades 3-5. always building and looking ahead to our future,” said Bartholomew.

“The consistency of SMS lacrosse

is very important to me, and that demands taking a wide-lens view

and making sure all players get opportunities. This model was part of our success this season, and I believe it will benefit us greatly in 2022 and beyond.”

The Turkeys celebrate a regular season win over Hutchison School.