Athletics

SPRING ATHLETICS

BASEBALL

HEAD COACH: Coach Tim Merry (4th Season) W/L RECORD: 8-14 POSTSEASON: 6th in VPL

ACCOLADES/AWARDS: ALL-VPL: Josiah Harrison ’22, Logan Janney ’23

COACH’S REMARKS: Injuries in the beginning of the season allowed younger players to get significant varsity in game reps and should serve them well into 2023 and beyond. We also have a solid senior class for 2023 with plenty of varsity experience.

BOYS LACROSSE

HEAD COACH: Dave Daly (1st Season) W/L RECORD: 3-15, 0-5 VPL POSTSEASON: 6th in VPL, 14th in VISAA

ACCOLADES/AWARDS: ALL-VPL/ALL STATE: Connor Erlenbach ’22

MEMORABLE MOMENTS: In 2022, we rejoined the VPL and played one of the toughest schedules in the state. We beat Cape Henry Collegiate and Nansemond-Suffolk for the first time. COACH’S REMARKS: This year we handed our team the toughest schedule to date. We put them back in the Virginia Prep League and set a new high standard that we will grow on. In preparation for the 2023 season, we have already started our offseason workouts and the team is showing up and working hard to continue our growth. We will continue to play the best and look forward to getting back into the playoffs while ultimately pushing for a state title next season.

BOYS TENNIS

HEAD COACH: Damian Sancilio (1st Season) W/L RECORD: 13-4 CAPTAINS: Owen DeFrancesca ’22 POSTSEASON: 3rd in VPL, 3rd in VISAA

ACCOLADES/AWARDS: Roman Sancilio ’25 - VISAA Player of the Year, MVP of Prep League, First Team All-VPL, First Team All-State team honors. Gus Mitchell ’23 - First Team All-VPL, First Team All State

MEMORABLE MOMENTS: Roman Sancilio finished with a 17-0 record and defeated the reigning 2021 Metro Player of the Year all 3 times they played. Roman won the VPL at #1 singles and Gus Mitchell won the VPL at #2 singles.

COACH’S REMARKS: The program saw improvement in all aspects due to having a team of character and close camaraderie. We will continue our culture of DRHA (Discipline, Respect, Humility and Accountability) in our pursuit of a state title in 2023.

OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

HEAD COACH: Kendrick Richardson (4th Season) CAPTAINS: Lily Versen ’24, Millie Speck ’22, Skylar Pusser ’22

ACCOLADES/AWARDS: Lily Versen ’24, Gabe Dipboye ’22, Cameron Walker ’24, Drew Covington ’24, William Hoffler ’24, Ty Mathes ’24 all received Postseason honors.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS: Lily Versen ’24 broke the school record and won the State Championship for Long Jump. Gabe Dipboye ’22, Ty Mathes ’24, Drew Covington ’24, William Hoffler ’24 broke the 4x1 school record and won a State Championship as well.

GIRLS SOCCER

HEAD COACH: Rick Hamlin (18th Season) CAPTAINS: Dakota Bemberis ’22, Ally Placide ’22, Olivia Whitbeck ’22 POSTSEASON: 2nd in LIS, 4th seed in VISAA tournament W/L RECORD: 11-7-1, 7-3-1

MEMORABLE MOMENTS: A hard-fought 0-0 draw at defending state champion St. Catherine’s. A late game winning goal to defeat STAB 2-1 in the LIS semifinals. An epic LIS Championship game in front of a massively supportive student section in which we fell just short losing to Collegiate 0-1. Playing our hearts out in front of the largest crowd in program history in the state tournament against Catholic HS. ACCOLADES/AWARDS: ALL-LIS: Dakota Bemberis ’24, Ally Placide ’24, August Gregory ’23, Kate DeRoco ’24, Sisi Mileski ’24; All-State: Ally Placide ’24, Sisi Mileski ’24

COACH’S REMARKS: The team was resilient and improved tremendously throughout the season. Despite dealing with numerous injuries, the captains kept everyone close together, all pulling in the same direction. Our aggressive, up-tempo style of play won over many fans throughout the season and made Titan Nation proud. With 15 of the 20 players on the roster being in 8th, 9th, or 10th grade the future looks bright for Titan soccer.

GIRLS LACROSSE

HEAD COACH: Margie Vaughan Snead ’85 (24th Season) CAPTAINS: Sara Jane Ryan ’22, Sara Murphy-Payne ’22, Kelly Schools ’22, Cassie Collins ’22 W/L RECORD: 9-7, 3-5 in the LIS POSTSEASON: Made the Semifinals of the LIS tournament.

ACCOLADES/AWARDS: ALL-LIS: Maisen Jenkins ‘23, Sara Murphy-Payne ’22, Sara Jane Ryan ’22

MEMORABLE MOMENTS: Sara Jane Ryan ’22 was the points leader and led the team in both assists and draw controls. Catherine Pollard ’24 was the leading scorer. Our defensive leader was sophomore Julia Pollard who led the team in turnovers caused and interceptions. Maisen Jenkins ’23 surpassed 200 career saves.

COACH’S REMARKS: We saw significant improvement in our offensive production and our team defense. Last year, we were not able to convert close games into wins. This season we were able to possess the ball and maintain our composure against a strong team that went on to win the Division 2 State Championship. We have a lot of young talent including Lilly Ferguson ’26, Campbell Rowe ’25, Alexa Mitchell ’25, Catherine Pollard ’24 and Julia Pollard ’24 along with twelve rising seniors who will be returning and providing strong leadership. This includes our goalkeeper Maisen Jenkins ’23 along with starters Kari Rogerson ’23, Olivia Schmincke ’23, Valentina Ambrogi-Torres ’23, and Sophie Dolan ’23. We are excited about the future!

SOFTBALL

HEAD COACH: Christy Darlington (10th Season) CAPTAINS: Alex Giesen ’24, Sophie Michael ’25, Ally Doherty ’22 W/L RECORD: 16-5, 7-1 in the LIS POSTSEASON: Tied 1st in Regular Season, 2nd in VISAA Tournament

MEMORABLE MOMENTS: The most defining moment of our season was beating St. Margaret’s at home. Our team showed grit and pushed through the extra innings to win 2-1.

ACCOLADES/AWARDS: ALL-LIS/ALL-STATE: Alex Giesen ’24, Olivia Golliday ’24, Sophie Michael ’22, Ally Doherty ’22, and Camile Santiago ’24 COACH’S REMARKS: Our team’s goal was to win a state title through teamwork and perseverance. This season was a culmination of a program that began to rebuild four years ago. Each season we got better in every aspect — offensively and defensively. It all started with our leadership — they led the program and expectations followed. Although it ended sooner than we hoped, this season set the foundation of high expectations for Titan Softball in the future.

GOLF

HEAD COACH: Andy Bender (9th Season) CAPTAINS Cole Pollard ’22. Jack Hoyle ’22, Garrett Kuhla ’22 W/L RECORD: 12-2 POSTSEASON: 1st in the VPL - first ever VPL championship

MEMORABLE MOMENTS: The most defining moment of our season was beating St. Margaret’s at home. Our team showed grit and pushed through the extra innings to win 2-1.

ACCOLADES/AWARDS: PREP LEAGUE POY: Grady Williams ‘24; All-Prep: Grady Williams ‘24, Cole Pollard ‘22, Garrett Kuhla ‘22, Jack Hoyle ‘22; All-State: Garrett Kuhla ‘22

COACH’S REMARKS: With golf being an individual sport, we tried to include a team feel. Our team goals were to win the VPL and the state championship, and we were fortunate to accomplish one of the two. Every score was important to us, and it was reflected within the record. This was easily the best golf season in the school’s history. Next season, we will be chasing the illustrious state championship.

Athletics HEADLINE MAKERS

Swinging Their Way to Victory

Golf program celebrates first ever VPL title

For the first time in Trinity’s history, the varsity golf team played their way to a Virginia Prep League championship victory. Led by VPL Player of the Year Grady Williams ’24, Cole Pollard ’22, Garrett Kuhla ‘22, and Jack Hoyle ’22, the 2022 golf season was the best in school history.

Stepping up to the Pitch

Four 8th graders make impact on girls soccer team

This was Coach Hamlin’s 18th year as the Head Coach of the Trinity girls soccer program. In the first 17 years, only two 8th graders made varsity. In 2022 there were four. Each of them contributed in a big way, and collectively they will contribute to a bright future for the program. Maddie Cranston ’26, Kat Pope ’26, Katy Verdery ’26, and Rosie Williams 26 all looked past their grade level and found ways to be key assets for the team.

“Titan soccer fans can’t wait to see how each of these impressive young ladies will contribute to the team in the next four years,” said Hamlin.

Underclassman Makes a Big Statement

Roman Sancilio ’25 caps off freshman campaign with national recognition

Trinity Freshman Roman Sancilio was recently named “USA Today National High School Sports Awards” nominee for boys tennis player of the year awarded to the top HS tennis player in the country. After a stellar year, Sancilio earned VISAA Player of the Year, Virginia Prep League MVP, First Team All-VPL and First Team All-VISAA honors. He also finished the 2022 season with a 17-0 record while beating last year’s All Metro Player of the Year three times.

End of an Era

Veteran girls cross country coach passes the baton to another loyal alum

Laura Hamlin Weiler ’00 is stepping away from the girls cross country program head position after 16 years of coaching. She has relished every moment of her time with the cross country family. Weiler’s highlights include a LIS Championship in 2012 and many years of top 5 and 10 finishes in the VISAA state meet. Most of all, she cherishes the relationships built with so many wonderful athletes through the years.

“Supporting the athletes on each of their unique journeys and watching them grow and develop, not just as runners but as people, has been rewarding beyond measure,” said Weiler. “I am still in touch with so many alumni, and I love keeping up in touch with them.”

Trinity alum Ellis Mumford ’16, who graduated from RandolphMacon College, where she was part of their championship girls soccer program, will step into the role of program head for Trinity’s girls cross country program. Along with the new role, Mumford is currently earning her doctorate in occupational therapy at Virginia Commonwealth University. She also serves as an assistant coach for Trinity’s girls soccer team.

“I am so thrilled that Coach Ellis Mumford ’16 will be continuing the traditions and culture of the team while creating her own system and traditions,” said Weiler. “She is an ideal person to take over the program.”

From the Field to the Booth

Love for broadcasting spurs lead role on TESPN

During the pandemic, Griffin Wright ’22 began to think about his future as an athlete and realized that his athletic career would potentially come to an end at the conclusion of his senior year at Trinity. As he worked through those different emotions, Trinity announced a new club called TESPN. Since 2021, TESPN has served as a media outlet for Trinity’s athletic programs and has given many students an opportunity to learn about the media side of the sports industry. Wright immediately knew he had to take part in what TESPN had to offer.

“I’ve always loved broadcasting,” said Wright. “I would broadcast my dad’s adult hockey league games with a plastic microphone when I was little.”

Through his lifelong connections with the official voice of the University of Richmond athletics, Bob Black, he was able to learn all of the nuances of being a professional – from voice projection to setting up live-streamed broadcasts. As he learned more about his craft, he gained the confidence to take a lead role with TESPN as a broadcaster and has not looked back. Wright also found that broadcasting elevated his love and appreciation for sports as a whole.

This is just one of the many examples of students discovering their path and ultimately finding what’s truly important to them.

“I will be pursuing broadcasting during and after college,” said Wright. “Without Trinity and TESPN, none of this would be possible.”