Unsung Senior Athletes, Spring 2018

David Hugo has played varsity baseball for three years. The first, when the Cougars won the VISAA title with a senior-laden lineup, he served mostly as a courtesy runner for the pitcher and catcher. As a junior, he was often a late-inning defensive replacement in the outfield. This year, he’s been the starting outfielder, mainly in left.

Last year, he shared the Jeffrey Robertson 110% Award. This year, on the strength of his quiet, humble leadership and selflessness (typified by five sacrifice bunts), he was voted the recipient of the Team Award.

“David puts the team before himself, always,” said Coach Andrew Slater, whose squad finished 16-7 and reached the VISAA semifinals. “You ask him to get a bunt down, he’ll do it to the best of his ability. He never asks why. He just goes out and competes.”

 

Liza Miller has served as varsity softball manager throughout her four high school years.

 

“Liza has raised the bar in terms of what a manager should do,” said Coach Robby Turner, whose team went 15-9 and reached the semifinals of the VISAA playoffs. “She has taken this job and made it her own.  Her first year she learned to keep the scorebook and even helped us defeat a powerhouse team by alerting us that they were batting out of order. Prior to each season, Liza will come out to the field with me and help me create a list of all the things that need to be done before the season starts.  She has even helped to mentor her replacement. While it may look like on paper that we have two starters graduating, in my book, we have three starters leaving our program.”

 

For the past three years, Jack Wyatt has played defense for the boys varsity lacrosse team, which finished 14-8 and reached the VISAA quarterfinal round.

 

A 6-7 All-Prep League basketball player who will continue his hoops career at Hampden-Sydney, he embraced a backup role and ended his final season with a stat line that read five ground balls, one pass break-up, and four caused-turnovers.

 

“Jack was a phenomenal source of energy and focus on the sideline,” said Coach Andrew Stanley. “He embraced his role as our first guy off the bench, made key plays in big moments, and kept the sideline engaged.”

 

Lauren Lynch has played varsity lacrosse the past two spring seasons, mostly as a defender coming off the bench.

 

“Lauren was able to stay focused and ready at all times,” said Coach Annie Richards, whose team, League of Independent Schools runner-up and VISAA quarterfinalist, finished 11-10. “She’s given 100% effort every practice and game. Her desire to improve her skills and her lacrosse IQ have been an inspiration to the whole team. We will miss Lauren’s work ethic and passion. The defense will miss her reassuring voice and never-give-up attitude. Lauren always put the team first and was always present with a positive attitude.”

 

A co-captain, Charlie Bugg has played varsity golf the past three seasons. This spring, he’s played in the No. 3 spot and has emerged as one of the Cougars’ most consistent golfers, stringing together four consecutive rounds in the 30s, all on the road on unfamiliar courses, during the second half of the season.

 

“As a leader, Charlie is as committed to raising the level of play of all his teammates as he is to raising his own level of play,” said Coach Jeff Dunnington, whose squad placed third in the Prep League and fourth in the VISAA tournaments. “He’s the voice of the team that everyone listens to. He adds a good mixture of seriousness and comedy to keep everyone in the right frame of mind. He has the magic touch that the team needs.”

 

Carson Coulbourn has spent the past three springs (and four winters) as a sprinter/hurdler on Collegiate’s track team. She’s recorded personal bests of 18.13 in the 100 hurdles and 55.48 in the 300 hurdles. In the LIS championship meet, she placed sixth in the 100 hurdles (18.32), ran a leg of the runner-up 4x400 relay (4:23.62), and helped the Cougars place second overall on a sweltering day.

 

 

Duncan Owen has been a member of the throws contingent on the spring track team the past two years. Once he joined, he made the commitment to work diligently in the circle and in the weight room, and his efforts have been exemplary.

 

“The progress Duncan has made athletically and as a thrower has been incredible,” said Beth Kondorossy, Collegiate’s throws coach an program leader. “I marvel at his improvement the past two years in strength, mobility, athleticism, and confidence. He’s a role model for his teammates. He's driven, motivated, inspiring, and overall an absolute joy to have as part of the team.”

Lauren Brizzolara has played forward on the soccer team the past three years. Coming off the bench, she scored one goal – on Senior Day, no less – and also contributed an assist.