Unsung Senior Athletes, Spring 2023

Long after the girls varsity lacrosse season has ended, Coach Christina Dobson will have an enduring image of Liza Fergusson from early in the spring when she was trying to return to action after sustaining an ankle injury.

 

“I was leaving Robins after our game,” Dobson said of the three-season veteran. “It was raining, and I looked up to notice there was someone running diagonal sprints long after everyone had left. It was Liza. When I think of her, I think of a player who’s passionate, brave, and everyone’s biggest cheerleader.”

 

Liza’s greatest contributions as a defender have often come beneath the radar.

 

“Liza has not had the easiest path,” Dobson added, “but watching her lead not just through her words but by her actions has been incredible. She’s the first to jump into any drill, unwavering and fearless and not scared to make a mistake. She does the little things that don’t always get noticed but make a big difference.”

 

Michael West has played varsity lacrosse for three years, much of that time as the Cougars’ faceoff specialist, a high-profile position not for the faint of heart. This spring, when Coach Zack Schroeder’s squad went 11-9 and reached the VISAA quarterfinals in his first year as head coach, Michael won 142 of 298 faceoffs and collected 46 ground balls.

 

“Michael has continued to improve throughout the season, consistently matching up against highly skilled faceoff specialists going to play lacrosse at the next level,” Schroeder said. “His scrappy style of play has given us a chance to gain extra possessions and frustrated opponents.”

 

When Vivian Sievers attended Collegiate’s All-Sports Camp as a youngster, Robby Turner tried to pique her interest in joining the softball program which he headed. Time passed, and Vivian finally answered the call as a junior. In her final season as the Cougars’ leftfielder, she increased her production in four statistical categories: runs (six to nine), hits (six to 11), RBI (three to eight), and putouts (six to 20).

        

“As a senior,” Turner said, “Vivian developed into our most dependable outfielder. If the ball came her way, I knew she was going to catch it. She batted lower in our order, but you could count on Vivian to put the bat on the ball and get the ball in play somehow.”

 

Silas Gwathmey, an Eastern Mennonite commit, has played varsity baseball since the 8th grade.

 

“Throughout his five-year career, Silas has played multiple positions, kind of a Swiss Army knife,” said Coach Andrew Slater, whose squad finished (21-5-1), placed second in the Prep League, and reached the VISAA semifinals.  “Because of positional needs, he’s played some rightfield for the first time and has adapted well to the position.”

 

Silas, who batted .382 with two doubles, two home runs, and 15 runs batted in, has also been an effective arm out of the bullpen with 17 strikeouts, one save, 13 hits allowed, and a 3.78 earned run average in 16.2 innings of relief.

 

“Silas hasn’t had a straight trajectory because of injuries,” Slater said. “I do appreciate that he shows up every day. He always has a smile on his face. There’s no change in his temperament or mood whether he’s in the lineup or not. He’s always the first off the bench to support his teammates and be a good team guy.”

 

In his four years in Collegiate’s tennis program, Whit Wallace played a year on the JV and three on the varsity, mainly as a doubles specialist.

 

“Whit brought high energy to the court and weight room where he stayed to do more at times,” said Coach Karin Whitt. “He has a vicious forehand. When playing doubles, he rarely stands in one spot at the net, and his sense of humor allows him to thrive in the big moments and bring his partners up. His tennis-specific knowledge in team room discussions has been most helpful. While we’ll miss his doubles skills and ability to outrun everyone, it’s his upbeat attitude and smile that we’ll miss the most.”

In his years on the track team, Dunning Gould has specialized in the sprint events. He recorded personal bests of 11.41 in the 100, 23.21 in the 200, and 52.87 in the 400 and ran the leadoff leg of the Cougars’ 4x100 relay (with Xay Davis, Brandon Watson, and Brandon Anderson) that placed second in the Prep League meet (45.02) and seventh in the VISAA (44.27).

 

“As an experienced veteran of the track program, Dunning has worked extremely hard this season to achieve his goals,” said Coach Brent Miller. “Battling through some lingering injuries, he worked diligently to keep himself ready for meets each week and always focused on what he could do to help the team in the most effective way.”

Also a sprinter, Kristin Tidey has recorded personal bests of 15.24 in the 100, 28.77 in the 200, and 1:04.90 in the 400 and ran a leg of the 4x400 relay (with Emily Beggerow, Reese Fleming, and Page Wells) that finished third in the League of Independent Schools in 4:27.18.

 

“Kristin has been a consistent, dependable and noteworthy member of our sprint group,” said Coach Beth Kondorossy. “She’s someone you can always count on to be ready to step in wherever needed. Younger athletes are influenced by her daily. She's often seen surrounded by teammates with a smile on her face and a contagious, positive, can-do attitude.”

 

Ellie McComb, a four-season varsity soccer veteran as a defender, rebounded from an ACL injury her sophomore year to help the Cougars finish 15-6-1, win their second consecutive LIS regular season and tournament titles, and reach the VISAA semifinals.

 

“Ellie has always been a team-first player,” said Coach Rob Ukrop. “She’s adapted to whatever role best suits the team, while her positive, happy energy and infectious smile help to keep our team connected. We also love that Ellie is an incredible competitor, tracking down attacking players and tackling them with ferocity. She leaves everything out the field while competing with purpose and playing with joy.”

 

Tucker Smith, a Hampden-Sydney commit, was the No. 5 player on Collegiate’s golf team that won the Prep League title and placed second in the state.

 

“Tucker has been a steady, behind-the-scenes leader, deferring the spotlight to the senior captains, Jack Barnes, Tyler Brand, and Hudson Pace,” said Coach Jeff Dunnington. “He played in every match, and his score has counted in more than half of them. At the Prep League tournament, he started well, but then had a rough patch. Instead of losing focus, he dialed in and shot even-par over the remaining holes. As a result, he shot 78 and counted as our fourth score. If he dropped one more stroke, we would have lost to Woodberry. Thus, every stroke matters.”

 

Wyatt King returned to Collegiate’s golf program this season for the first time since he was a 7th grader, played in one match, but made his mark both at practice and off the course.

 

“We had a team of ultra-focused golfers, most of whom have plans or aspirations to play in college,” Dunnington said. “Wyatt, on the other hand, is out there for the love of the game and the love of his teammates. While he typically keeps the mood light, his voice is as strong as any member of the team and a significant reason for our success this season.”

~Weldon Bradshaw