Unsung Senior Athletes, Winter 2016

They’re athletes, nominated by their coaches, who played an integral role in the performances of their teams this past season but often did so well beneath the radar.

Anne-Bradford Bugg has played varsity basketball for two years, but her association with the sport goes back, well, forever.
    
“AB loves the game and the team,” said Coach Rives Fleming. “Our team couldn’t exist without people like AB. She worked hard to improve her game and help make her teammates better.  
    
Growing up, AB, a shooting guard, always played basketball and developed a nice touch from 3-point land and a very savvy court presence. Her teammates describe her as supportive, consistent, and optimistic.
    
“AB,” Fleming added, “brings a for-the-love-of-the-game aura each day and is always there for her teammates.”
 
Max Vaughan has competed in winter track since his sophomore year. In his final season, he recorded personal bests of 18-3 in the long jump, 36-2.5 in the triple jump, and 7.47 in the 55. More important, he served as a captain and positive role model who, in a sport in which training can be affected by challenging weather conditions, promoted cohesiveness among veterans and newcomers.
    
“Max was a valued member of our jump squad, and he was always available to run as we needed him,” said sprint coach Steve Hart. “Always upbeat, he fulfilled his role as captain in ways that brought out the best in others.”

A member of the swimming team for six years, Anne Miller has steadily grown with the program that has won five consecutive League of Independent Schools and VISAA championships.
    
“Anne was humble and committed and devoted to promoting team camaraderie by her presence,” said Coach Mike Stott.  “She excelled at making younger team members a part of the team dynamic.”
    
Early on, Anne competed in the breaststroke and individual medley but later gravitated to the 200- and 500-yard freestyle events. Her golden moment came in a 500 free heat in the state meet when she knocked 10.06 seconds off her lifetime best and touched the wall in 5:54.40.
    
“We asked our swimmers to dig deep,” Stott added. “Anne’s swim created the energy and momentum to propel our girls and turn the time in favor of Collegiate.”
 
Sarah Whitaker has been a three-season distance runner for six years and has served as cross country and winter track captain as a senior.
    
“To say that Sarah has a passion for running is an understatement,” said Beth Kondorossy, head girls’ track coach. “Not only is she an impressive student athlete, but she's a fabulous teammate.”
    
Her personal best times are 5:54 in the 1600, 12:38 in the 3200, and 3:52 in the 1000.
    
“Sarah is a compassionate leader who enjoys spending time with her teammates,” said Matthew Richardson, her distance coach. “She always puts her teammates in the forefront by encouraging and celebrating their successes, while helping them through the obstacles of life.”
    
In you were in the Jacobs Gym on Senior Night, you saw Gordon Granger hit a nothing-but-net 3-pointer from against Christchurch.
    
“Gordon hits 3’s like that every day in practice,” said Coach Alex Peavey.  “When he does, it often reveals a hole in a zone defense or breaks down a man-to-man.”
    
Peavey views Gordon as a “coach on the floor.”
    
“He has a high basketball IQ and uses this knowledge to help our team get better every day,” Peavey added.  “He has a mind for the game and an eye for the court that is all-encompassing.  When we introduce an offense, whether it is a new play for ourselves or something the opponent runs, Gordon is one of the first to pick it up and run it correctly, and his knowledge and understanding seems just spill out into his teammates.”
                                   -- Weldon Bradshaw