FALL/WINTER ATHLETICS

Times Dispatch All-Metro Team:

First Team: Davion Brown ’26 (WR), Mario Thompson ’23 (LB), Cam Fleming ’23 (DB)

Second Team: Trey Grant ’24 (RB), Zahir Rainer ’24 (DB), Carlos Moore ’23 (OL)

All-Metro Defensive Player of the Year: Elijah Rainer ’23

All-Metro Coach of the Year: Sam Mickens

Football

CAPTAINS: Mario Thompson ’23, Matthew Houston ’23, Elijah Rainer ’23, Cam Fleming ’23, Trai Ferguson ’23

RECORD: 11-0 (5-0)

HONORS: Player of the Year: Mario Thompson ’23 (LB)

Coach of the Year: Sam Mickens

1st Team All-State: Taegan Logan ’25 (QB), Trey Grant ’24 (RB), Davion Brown ’26 (WR), Cooper Gardiner ’24 (OL), Carlos Moore ’23 (OL), Elijah Rainer ’23 (LB), Cam Fleming ’23 (DB), Zahir Rainer ’24 (DB).

Second Team All-State: Ryan Mitchell ’24 (OL), Davion Brown ’26 (RET), Darrick Badley ’23 (DL), Jon Brooks ’23 (DL), Robbie Dunn ’23 (DL), Hunter Brooks ’23 (LB), Cornell Allen ’24 (DB)

Honorable Mention: Trai Ferguson ’23 (WR), Isaiah Robinson ’25 (WR), Matthew Houston ’23 (OL), Will Rosen ’24 (OL), Deuce Edwards ’24 (DB), JD Stemhagen ’23 (K), Jay Williams ’24 (LB)

Coming off the heels of their first Division I state championship victory in 2021, the external expectations were set for the Titans: repeat as state champions. But internally, the message couldn’t have been clearer: maintain the standard that was set before you. In a season full of firsts, including the first prep league title in football in school history and first back-to-back state titles for Trinity football since their 2014 and 2015 campaigns, the Titans continued to outclass the field and break records along the way. With an overall record of 11-0, Trinity simply dominated each one of their opponents, outscoring competition by an average final score of 409. Trey Grant ’24 broke the single-season rushing record with over 1,200 yards on the ground. Elijah Rainer ’23 established the new single-season tackles mark and Cornell Allen ’24 set the single season interception record with six.

“The [game] that has come to symbolize our season was the comefrom-behind, 20-16 victory versus St. Mary’s Ryken,” head coach Sam Mickens said when asked about the turning point of the season. “The game was played in St. James athletic complex, a state of art indoor football facility in Northern Virginia, in front of a large crowd.”

As far as the future goes for the program, there’s no slowing this thing down anytime soon as far as Sam Mickens is concerned. “This group of seniors and juniors has impacted the program indelibly,” he said. “I’m confident our underclassmen are up to continuing the standard set for them to follow.”

Field Hockey

RECORD: 20-4 (7-0 LIS)

The Titans field hockey legacy continued this fall with a 19-2 regular season campaign, including a 7-0 regular season against LIS competition, while only allowing 18 goals for the season. Under the leadership of captains Valentina Ambrogi-Torres ’23, Kendall Fleet ’23, Kari Rogerson ’23 and Olivia Schmincke ’23, the Titans completed an undefeated regular season in conference play behind 14 shutouts from Ambrogi-Torres which propelled them to their fifth consecutive LIS championship game. The Titans made another run to the state tournament and dropped St. Paul VI 2-0 in the quarterfinals. A trip to the state semifinals followed and despite a season-ending loss to the cross-town Cougars, Trinity concluded the season with a 21-4 record.

HONORS:

First Team All-State: Olivia Schmincke ’23, Valentina Ambrogi-Torres ’23, Darcy Kopsinis ’24

Second Team All-State: Mary Hazel Davis ’24

First Team All-Metro: Olivia Schmincke ’23, Valentina Ambrogi-Torres ’23

Second Team All-Metro: Darcy Kopsinis ’24, Mary Hazel Davis ’24

All-LIS POY: Olivia Schmincke ’23

All-LIS: Valentina Ambrogi-Torres ’23, Mary Hazel Davis ’24, Darcy Kopsinis ’24, Karsin Beatty ’25, Ellie Johnson ’24

“We always work hard to utilize the talents of our teammates,” head coach Margie Snead said after her 24th season leading the charge for the field hockey program. “A huge strength of our team is the depth of talent and hockey IQ on our roster. Anyone is capable of being a difference maker in those critical moments that determine a game. This season certainly proved that when we use our strength in numbers, we play our best.”

One of the biggest matchups of the season happened to be the first game of the year versus Providence Day School (Charlotte, NC) who won the 2020 (and eventually 2022) NCISAA state title.

“Aycock Stadium was packed and the girls rose to the occasion and played one of their best games of the season,” Snead said. “It set the bar for what they were capable of and gave our younger players some valuable confidence.”

Volleyball

RECORD: 13-8 (7-5)

Trinity finished their season with a 13-8 (7-5 LIS) record, good for 3rd in LIS standings, and their best finish since the 2012 campaign. Led by captains Lily Jennette ’23, August Gregory ’23 and Kaitlyn Watkins ’24, the Titans closed out the season on a 6-1 streak in their final 7 matches. Jennette displayed her leadership by leading the team in passing percentage, kills and digs. Four seniors graduate having seen the program battle through finishing with single-digit wins to the COVID seasons to earning 13 wins in a single-season.

HONORS: Lily Jennette ’23, All-LIS

“We wanted to make the LIS finals and didn’t get there, but made it to the semifinals,” head coach Steve VanHuss said. “We achieved a first round home playoff match, which we won, by virtue of being third in the LIS. On the court we relied on good, solid defense with effective serving and pass receiving on offense. We achieved our community service goal by having a canned food drive and delivering it to FeedMore. The team’s future is bright. Of the 11 top players, we return eight of those players next year.”

Boys Soccer

RECORD: 14-2-4 (3-0-2 Prep League)

The boys soccer team churned out one of the most exciting seasons in school history this fall, captained by Colin Flood ’23, Davis Guise ’23 and Charlie Kemp ’23. Capped off by the first state tournament championship final appearance in program history, the Titans went on a 7-0-1 run en route to their fourth matchup of the season versus St. Christopher’s. The team scored 67 goals and allowed just 17 on the season, outscoring opponents by a near 4-to-1 clip. Highlights of their 14-4-2 season include Woodberry Forest Invitational champions, a 10-round shootout victory over those same Tigers in the VISAA quarterfinals and a 2-0 record versus Collegiate — a team they had not beaten once (much less twice) in over a decade.

“Our team motto this season was SCORE: Sportsmanship, Communication, Organization, Resilience, Effort,” head coach of 27 seasons Brian Phillips said. “This team had excellent chemistry and embraced the team motto fully. This was the most successful season in 25 years for the boys soccer program. It was a joy to be around this group of players and coaches every day — training or matches. Great work on the part of the seniors who fully committed to the process, the team and each other.

HONORS: Colin Flood ’23, Davis Guise ’23, Charlie Kemp ’23, All VPL: Seth Mileski ’24

1st Team VISAA All-State: Colin Flood ’23

2nd Team VISAA All-State: Jack Fannon ’23

United Soccer Coaches All Region: Colin Flood ’23