They Will Compete

After a summer of sweat-inducing preparation, sometimes at odd hours, occasionally under a blazing sun, and always without fanfare or glory, Collegiate’s fall athletic season kicks into action this week with contests in four sports and the rest to follow after the upcoming Labor Day weekend.

 

Energy is high, as it always is when hope abounds and the slate is clean. Expectations are high as well, for last November, the green and gold won five league and three state championships.

 

Can the athletes of 2023 equal or improve upon that feat? Time will tell, of course, but what is assured is that they will compete. Absolutely, they will compete. Collegiate athletes always do.

 

Mental and physical toughness, you see, is part of the individual and collective DNA. So are resolve, resilience, sportsmanship, a never-give-up spirit, and a one-for-all, all-for-one mentality that make sharing the journey with teammates, coaches, support personnel, and fans who care so deeply an experience to be cherished forever.

 

Sure, the faces change, but the culture remains. It has through the ages. It will forever.

 

Head coach: Kelsey Smither, 2nd year

Last year: 17-5 overall, LIS and VISAA champion.

Key returners: Seniors Callie Rogers (midfield, All-LIS, All-State POY, All-Metro POY, All-American), Mary Katherine Brost (forward All-LIS, All-State, All-Metro), Heidi Albrecht (forward, All-LIS), and freshman Alexandra Curtis (All-LIS, All-VISAA).

Assessment: Replacing five-year veteran and Georgetown Hoya Izzy Lee (All-LIS, All-State, All-Metro) will be a tall order, but the Cougars return 11 seniors, three of whom earned post-season honors, so talent and experience will be strengths. Rogers is a Maryland commit who through talent, work ethic, and love of the sport has become one of the best players in the country. Sophomore goalkeeper Abby Carley returns as do senior Katherine Martin and sophomores Katherine Rausch and Alisha Pandya, all of whom played significant minutes in 2022. The Cougars peaked at tournament time last year and defeated top seeded Norfolk Academy in the VISAA championship game. They’ll be a favorite to make another deep playoff run.

Coach’s comment: “We’ll be quick, creative, and dangerous in our attack. We graduated most of our back line, so the key will be to build the foundation from there. We have young talent joining us. I’m excited to see what we can do.”

 

Head coach: Collin McConaghy, 1st year

Last year: 4-6 overall, 1-3 Prep League

Key returners: Jack Callaghan (QB), L.J. Booker (WR, DB), Xay Davis (RB, LB), Jack Ferry (LB).

Assessment: Replacing stalwarts Krystian Williams (Virginia Tech), Hayden Rollison (UVA), Hank Shield, and Hudson Avery will be difficult, but the energized Cougars are totally game for the challenge. Callaghan, a junior, brings a year of trial-by-fire quarterback experience and has several quick, fast, talented receivers, including Booker, a senior, and Davis, a junior) at his disposal if the line provides him protection. Defensively, the Cougars will show a 4-3 look. Ferry, a senior, will run the show from his middle linebacker post. Keys will be maintaining the high energy level of the pre-season, starting quickly, and staying healthy.

Coach’s comment: “I’m extremely excited about the hard work the team has put in throughout camp. We are very athletic on both sides of the ball, and the team is truly grasping the offensive and defensive philosophies and concepts we are installing. I’m excited to see us finally hit someone in a different color jersey in these next few weeks and officially get the season under way.”

Head coach: Rob Ukrop, 5th year.

Last year: 16-3 overall. Prep League champion. VISAA semifinalist.

Key returners: Seniors Charles Nolde, Andrew Ascoli, Tom Myers, Thomas Word.

Assessment: Twelve seniors off last year’s squad graduated including league and state player of the year Matthew Jenkins (Washington & Lee) and captains T Rigby, Robby Aboud, and Porter Vaughan. Despite the losses, Collegiate soccer will be competitive at the always-tough league and state level. Nolde will be the linchpin and serve as captain along with fellow seniors Ascoli and Meyers.

Coach’s comment: “We’re excited to kick off the 2023 season. Our early season goal is to grow as a team as we face some local rivalry games with Benedictine, Trinity, and St. Christopher’s. We’re solid in goal with Thomas Word’s return and happy to have newcomers Neil Myers and Peter Hartmann join us in the midfield mix with Ascoli and Shaan Agarwal.”

Head coach: Rose White, 5th year

Last year: 20-3 overall, 12-1 LIS, LIS champion, 6th in VISAA

Key returners: Abby Mayr (All-LIS), Gracie Gordon, Caroline Zandler, Kyla Coffey.

Assessment: Program-building stalwarts Gabby Chen and Taylor Domson (LIS co-players of the year and All-VISAA) and Jordan Deane (Kenyon College) graduated, but the cupboard is hardly bare. Seniors Mayr and Gordon are veterans who will provide strength and experience both on offense and defense. Zandler, a junior, returns as libero. Of Coffey, a senior, White says, “Kyla’s play and power have grown since last season. I see her being our biggest offensive threat.”

Coach’s comment: “Although we graduated very good players in 2022, we have 11 returners who are ready and prepared to pick up where we left off. Collegiate volleyball fans should look forward to another competitive year and a lot of high-level volleyball.”

 

Head coach: Allyson Brand, 6th year

Last year: 19-0 overall, 10-0 LIS, LIS and VISAA champion.

Key returners: Elizabeth Mendoza (All-LIS, VISAA and Metro player of the year), Rita Taylor (All-LIS, All-VISAA), Sophie Sands, and McKenna Boardman (All-LIS).

Assessment: Mendoza, a senior, played No. 1 singles and doubles and lost only one match in 2022. Taylor, a sophomore, went 16-0 in No. 4 singles and 10-1 in No. 3 doubles (with Jordan Gross). Competition in both the LIS and VISAA is always strong. Despite the graduation of 10 seniors — including top-tier singles and doubles players Lucy Ottley (Sewanee), Claiborne Dillard, Emma Eldridge, and Gross — never count the Cougars out.

Coach’s comment: “We may have graduated half of our starting lineup, but we have some players stepping up to fill the spots, including two new 8th graders who made the varsity team. It will be exciting to see how the returning players work with the younger players as a team to reach their team goals.”

 

Head coach: Matthew Richardson, 12th year.

Last year: LIS and VISAA champion

Key returners: Senior Giles Ferrell; juniors Sophie Sloan, Gabriela Linkonis and Maddie McComb; freshmen Rosie Ferrell and Virginia Harris.

Assessment: The Cougars are two-time defending state champs, and last year placed six runners in the top seven (for an unheard of 18 points) in the LIS championship meet. MK Myers (LIS champ, 4th in the VISAA) graduated, but the Cougars have a young, talented, experienced, and motivated contingent returning.

Coach’s comment: “The women’s team returns a very strong lineup of runners who have the ability to place well in the league and state meets. Over the next two months, they’ll aim to come together and create the type of team that makes for a special season.”

Head coach: Matthew Richardson, 8th year

Last year: 2nd in the Prep League, 3rd in the VISAA

Key returners: Seniors Liam Harbor, Bolling Lewis, Walker Angus, and Ashwin Aggarwal and junior Liam Moore.

Assessment: Stan Craig, the Prep League champ and VISAA runner-up, now competes for Amherst College. The next five return and bring tone-setting spirit, leadership, experience, and work ethic that should pay dividends in championship meets and raise squad’s overall competitive level.

Coach’s comment: “The men’s team returns a terrific group of runners determined to spend the next 11 weeks pushing each other to improve their fitness and compete with the best in the state. They have a strong team dynamic and the ability to place well in both the league and state meets.”

~Weldon Bradshaw