Athletics

SPRING ATHLETICS

BASEBALL

HEAD COACH: Tim Merry (3rd season) W/L RECORD: 9-13 Overall, 7-3 VPL

BENCHMARKS/RECORDS: 2nd in VPL, State Quarterfinals appearance

ACCOLADES/AWARDS: All Prep: Josiah Harrison ’22, Brian Curley ’22 and JD Stemhagen ’23; All State: Josiah Harrison ’22

COACH’S REMARKS: The team goals this season were being accountable, intentional, determined. With new expectations in place, we saw significant improvements. With so many returning players, the future of Trinity baseball looks extremely bright.

TRACK AND FIELD

HEAD COACH: Kendrick Richardson (3rd Season) CAPTAINS: Ty Mathes ’24, Lilly Verse ’24, Millie Speck ’23, Drew Covington ’23, Kate Hurlbert ’21, Nathan Sauls ’21, Kayla Quigley ’22

BENCHMARKS/RECORDS: 15 athletes qualified for state championships. Ty Mathes ’24 set a personal record by 5 feet in the triple jump at the state championship meet.

ACCOLADES/AWARDS: All State: Gabe Dipboye ’22 in the 400, Lilly Versen ’24 in the 200 and Long Jump

COACH’S REMARKS: The goal every season is to qualify for states so you can take a shot at winning it. This season was challenging, due to COVID-19, but very inspiring as 15 athletes qualified for the state meet. The youth of our team was actually the driving force of success.

BOYS TENNIS

HEAD COACH: Chris Suttmiller (2nd season) W/L RECORD: 8-5 Overall (finished 4th in the regular season in the VPL, but 3rd in the VPL tournament

ACCOLADES/AWARDS: All VPL: Damian Sancilio ’23 and Gus Mitchell ’23

SEASON SUMMARY: The Prep League was loaded last year, slotting the top 4 out of 6 seeds in the VISAA State Tournament. Trinity got the 4 seed, beat Potomac in the opening round and then lost in the state semis to the eventual state champ, St. Christopher’s.

SOFTBALL

HEAD COACH: Christy Darlington (9th season) CAPTAINS: MacKenzie Eggers ’21, Sophie Michael ’22 W/L RECORD: 11-4 Overall, 8-1 LIS

BENCHMARKS/RECORDS: 2nd in LIS. Trinity hosted a home quarterfinal game, played in the state semifinals for the first time in school history. Mia Woolfolk ’24 finished with 7 home runs and 28 RBIs, Olivia Golliday ’24 had a .500 batting average and pitcher Ally Doherty ’22 logged 87 strikeouts this season.

ACCOLADES/AWARDS: All LIS: Ally Doherty ’22, Sophie Michael ’22, Alex Giesen ’24 and Mia Woolfolk ’24; All State: Ally Doherty ’22, Alex Giesen ’24 and Mia Woolfolk ’24

COACH’S REMARKS:

The goal this season was to improve conditioning to finish strong and host a home state playoff game. We played one pitch at a time and strived to capitalize on every opportunity we could find. Beating a good St. Margarets team 5-0 was validation of our ability and hard work. The team finished with its highest to-date state ranking (2nd) and progressed to the state semifinal game, which we haven’t done in my 14 years in the program. This year was an amazing foundational season for us and we plan to make it to the state finals next year.

GIRLS LACROSSE

HEAD COACH: Margie Vaughan Snead ’85 (22nd season) CAPTAINS: Cate Monaco ’21, Alison McCarey ’21, Claire Murphy ’21, Mackenzie Wunderlich ’21 W/L RECORD: 3-10 Overall, 2-6 LIS

BENCHMARKS/RECORDS: Earned a trip to the state semifinals.

ACCOLADES/AWARDS: All LIS: Sara Murphy-Payne ’22 and Maisen Jenkins ’23

COACH’S REMARKS: We had an amazing group of girls in the program this year. They remained super positive and supportive of one another throughout the season. We faced an unusual number of injuries that plagued us from start to finish. We were missing key players on and off throughout the season. They took the field for every game with a positive attitude and tremendous amount of support for one another.

GOLF

HEAD COACH: Andy Bender (8th season) CAPTAINS: Jack Hoyle ’22, Garrett Kuhla ’22, Cole Pollard ’22 W/L RECORD: 9-4-1 Overall, 4-4 VPL

BENCHMARKS/RECORDS: Tied for 3rd in the Prep League regular season, 3rd in the Prep League Tournament, and 4th in the Division I VISAA Tournament

ACCOLADES/AWARDS: All VPL: Garrett Kuhla ’22, Cole Pollard ’22, and Jack Hoyle ’22; All State: Garrett Kuhla ’22

COACH’S REMARKS: This year we beat most of the teams that typically contend for the title, which proved that a state championship is within reach. The team’s camaraderie and support of one-another developed throughout the season, to the point where our mentality evolved from focus on individual performances to team results, which can be a challenge in what’s typically an individual sport. Without any graduating seniors, the golf team will bring back a very deep and talented team that will undoubtedly have lofty goals. This group wants to win the Division I VISAA Championship, before the core graduates.

GIRLS SOCCER

HEAD COACH: Rick Hamlin ’96 (17th season) CAPTAINS: Ashley Dobzyniak ’21, Sara Placide ’21, Dylan White ’21

W/L RECORD: 12-6 Overall, 5-2 LIS

BENCHMARKS/RECORDS: Outscored opponents 54-19. Sara Placide ’21 led the LIS in scoring with 17 goals. Dylan White ’21 led the state in assists with 18. The team finished with a winning record for the 14h straight year and made the state Final Four for the 5th time in nine years.

ACCOLADES/AWARDS: All-LIS: Sara Placide ‘21, Dylan White ‘21, Dakota Bemberis ‘22; All State: Sara Placide ’21 (1st team), Dylan White ’21 (1st team), Ally Placide ‘22 (2nd team)

After losing out on having a full 2020 season due to COVID, the theme of the 2021 season was getting our culture back. That culture includes a family atmosphere on the team, an aggressive, attacking style of play, and a spirit of competitiveness and sportsmanship. Our team goals were to make the Final Four of states to never lose two games in a row, and we accomplished both. Big wins included beating state Division II champion Highland, and an undefeated Norfolk Collegiate team in the state tournament. With over half the starting lineup being 9th or 10th graders, the future looks bright for girls soccer.

BOYS SOCCER

HEAD COACH: Brian Phillips (25th season) CAPTAINS: Rob Parlow ’21, Colin Madigan ’21 W/L RECORD: W-L Record: 0-3 (1 game played in fall)

COACH’S REMARKS: Though there was no formal season in 2020 and Spring 2021 the boys embraced a “be adaptable, be prepared and be thankful” work ethic and persevered through several months of “skills & drills” training. The hard work was ultimately rewarded when the athletic department was able to schedule several friendly matches in November and March. Players and coaches alike shared a clear sense of growth and development, both individually and collectively, over the seven month period. Captains Colin Madigan ‘21 and Rob Parlow ‘21 along with fellow seniors Jacob Bowman ‘21, Mo Carpenter ‘21, Cole Hamlin ‘21, Ryan Paoloni ‘21, Declan Smith ‘21 and Calder Wyllie ‘21 set a positive tone throughout a most unusual and challenging year.

BOYS LACROSSE

HEAD COACH: Chris McQueeney (5th season) CAPTAINS: Jack Jenkins ’21, Walker Ferguson ’21 Daniel Eliasek ’21 W/L RECORD: 4-7 Overall

BENCHMARKS/RECORDS: First time making the state playoffs Division 1 transition. Jack Jenkins ’21 ended the season as the all-time leader in goals (109), assists (52), and total points (154) in Trinity lacrosse history.

COACH’S REMARKS: The mantra was “expect the unexpected” as we really hoped we’d have a full season and knew once we were able to play games we’d be very competitive. Although the record does not reflect it, this was a very talented team led by a great group of seniors. They had to overcome so many obstacles such as delayed starts, quarantine periods, mitigation rules, and spectator limits — but everyone involved remained positive through it all. Our first goal was to get through the entire season healthy and the second was to make the state playoffs; we accomplished those goals. The future of boys lacrosse looks bright and that is a testament of all of the hard work the team and coaches put in.

FOOTBALL

HEAD COACH: Sam Mickens (11th season) CAPTAINS: Andrew Duhart ’21, Daniel Eliasek ’21, Walker Ferguson ’21, Shawn Riley ’21 W/L RECORD: 1-1

BENCHMARKS/RECORDS: In addition to an informal fall season, the football team was able to play two games in the spring versus Benedictine and St. Christopher’s. Although we only played two games, the team was able to build team chemistry, camaraderie and set goals during the condensed season. We were very fortunate that the administration allowed our team, especially the seniors, to have the opportunity to suit up. With lots of young talent, the Trinity football program looks to have a strong year in Fall 2021 and beyond.

After 10 years as the varsity basketball coach, Rick Hamlin ’96, will hand over the reins to Andrew Blazar.

“Being the boys basketball coach at Trinity Episcopal School was always my dream,” Hamlin announced in a statement. “ I never wanted to coach anywhere else; I simply wanted to put Trinity Basketball back on the map, enrich the lives of the young men in our program, and bring the Trinity community together to cheer on the Titans.”

Hamlin’s tenure was marked by high-level success on the court, including 7 Prep League regular season championships, 6 Prep League tournament championships, 5 state Final Fours, and 1 state championship. The team won at least 20 games every season and included the last 4 Richmond Times-Dispatch All-Metro players of the year. “Those numbers give me great pride,” said Hamlin, “but they pale in comparison to the pride I feel in the relationships that have been forged in our program.”

“My heart is full with memories of classic games in iconic atmospheres, intense practices preparing for critical contests, and celebrating with the team in the locker room after big wins. By far my most vivid memories are the relationships I have made, and for these I am eternally grateful.”

Blazar comes to Trinity with a great deal of experience as the head coach of the boys basketball program at James River High School for the past five years with prior positions at The Steward School and Glen Allen High School. During his time at James River, Blazar led the Rapids to their first ever Regional Championship and two state tournament appearances. He was named Regional Coach of the Year in 2018 and 2019.

“I feel honored and privileged to have been selected as the seventh program head for boys basketball in the school’s history,” said Blazar. “The mission of the school aligns perfectly with my personal and professional values. I am committed to the school and its goals of running a first class program that performs both on the court, as well as in the classroom and in the community.”

After 17 seasons as boys cross country head coach, Marcus Jones ’01 will pass the baton to Will Cottrell.

A varsity runner at Trinity and Bucknell University, Jones began coaching cross country and track at Trinity in 2004. During Jones’ tenure, Titan boys cross country teams won Virginia Prep League and VISAA State Championships in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015; the 2013 and 2016 teams registered VISAA runner-up finishes. The 2011 team recorded the largest margin of victory in a VISAA State Championship and earned regional recognition with a top 15 ranking in the south.

“There were 45 individual state championships won in cross country and track over my time as coach and all of them were special,” Jones said. “I also remember the many breakthroughs of JV runners and what it looks like to see an athlete grow in confidence in the moment as they record a personal best and surprise even themselves in what they’re capable of achieving.” Of his aisms as a coach, he recalls: “I wanted everyone, from the fastest to the slowest guy on the team to be invested. When we lined up for a race the goal was that each athlete could look to the teammate on either side of them and have full trust and confidence in their sacrifice.”

Cottrell’s first year as program head coincides with what everyone hopes will be a return to “normal racing,” following a pandemic season that was limited mainly to time trials. Cottrell has been an assistant coach for track for four years, and assistant cross country coach for two years, having previously taught and coached at Cosby High School in Midlothian, VA.

Cottrell competed in cross country, track and field, racing triathlon and road cycling at Gardner-Webb University and Appalachian State University. A two-time All-American Duathlete, Cottrell will represent Team USA in the Sprint Triathlon World Championships in Bermuda and the Duathlon World Championships in Spain. “My coaching philosophy focuses on developing athletes’ enjoyment of running, appreciation for running as a competitive sport, and developing positive habits,” said Cottrell.

SIGNING UP

On April 14, 2021, in front of friends, family and faculty, five Trinity student athletes made their college decision official by signing their letters of intent to play intercollegiate athletics.

Matthew McRaney ’21 (baseball) — Patrick Henry CC “I can honestly say that only two years is not enough of you… The impact that you’ve been able to make in two years is really phenomenal.” —Tim Merry

MacKenzie Eggers ’21 (softball) — Randolph College “I’ve watched her grow, not only as an athlete but as a student, as a teammate, and as our captain…I can confidently say that she’s grown into a strong young independent woman.” — Christy Darlington

Sara Placide ’21 (soccer) — Catholic University “It’s easy to run really fast without the ball…Sara is even faster with the ball at her feet and glides by opponents.” — Rick Hamlin ’96

Tiffani Bartee ’21 (basketball) — Connecticut College “Tiffani helped with the leadership on that team after never being a Trinity Titan…And that’s one of the things I’ll truly miss.” — Adam Lonon

Daniel Eliasek ’21 (football) — Randolph Macon College “Daniel stood for all of the values and tenants that the football program and school stands for.” — Sam Mickens

These seniors join 14 others that committed last year to play NCAA athletics and represent Trinity while competing at the intercollegiate level — with a commitment to hard work, discipline, character and respect for community.

For a complete list of current Trinity alumni college athletes, please visit

AIM HIGH

Sometimes it takes a couple of years to discover your path at Trinity, but for Kate Hurlbert ’21, when she found her path in athletics during the winter of her senior year, the wait was worth it. After playing JV field hockey, basketball and soccer and varsity tennis for all four years, she decided to give track & field a try during the winter of her senior year. “After our first meet, my coaches began to tell me that I really had potential and if I worked hard, I might be able to get a scholarship,” said Hurlbert. “I didn’t really believe them, though, until after I had won the state title in the winter.”

That’s right, in her first season, Hurlbert went on to win the state title in the discus, throwing 29’11”. “All of a sudden, out of nowhere she was competing for championships and high accolades, knocking on the door of school records, as well as hearing from college coaches,” recalls Athletic Director Anna Prillaman. “At times she definitely had to dig deep to find the mental toughness it takes to compete at a high level — but it was neat to watch her grow in that way as well.” Next year she will be throwing for Brandeis College in Boston.

“I received a lot of support from my coaches especially,” Hulbert said. “They would stay longer after practice with me to work on specifics and were always excited for me and pushed me to work as hard as I could. I also received tons of support from my friends, who were so excited for me, as well as teachers and other peers who regularly congratulated me on my achievements.

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER!

On August 16, 2021, the Richmond Times-Dispatch released its All-Metro selections for the Fall 2020 field hockey season. Trinity was well represented with five first team recipients and one honorable mention:

First Team:

Annie Nash ’21, Emily Field ’21, Genevieve Johnson ’21 Emerie Lofits ’21

Honorable Mention:

Cate Monaco ’21