athletics

8 THISTLE | 2016

To say it was a big year in athletics is a bit of an understatement. Award-heavy seasons landed St. Margaret’s on the top of regional and state polls, repeatedly broke school records, and heightened community support and interest in both the athletic program and the School. Leading the helm is Athletic Director, Cynthia Walker ’99, a St. Margaret’s alumna and former student-athlete, who coached all three seasons this past year and claimed the second consecutive LIS (League of Independent Schools) Volleyball Coach of the Year title last fall. She is as humble about her history as a decorated athlete as she is about her professional success and that of the athletic program at St. Margaret’s School. Walker’s attitude, one of great appreciation and unwavering passion, has carried over to our girls. There is an undeniable bond between “Coach” and her student-athletes. They respect her, and they want to make her proud. She jokes, “They watch me like a hawk. And so, I’ve got to be extremely thoughtful in all that I do. If I can be a role model to these girls, I want to be sure that I am setting the absolute best example and meeting the expectation that I set for my student-athletes.” As for the program, her philosophy is simple: Be St. Margaret’s. The athletic program is about more than developing better athletes; it’s about developing better people. That means living the St. Margaret’s mission as expressed

by the three-word phrase: Belong. Believe. Become. Walker translates its meaning with an athletic mind-set. Belong, as if to a team, is to understand that it’s a privilege to be a part of a group larger than yourself. It has nothing to do with you as an individual but everything to do with you as a team. Believe is daring to beat the odds, trusting completely in yourself and having confidence in your teammates. Those who say they can’t and those who say they can are usually right. Become is that moment, once the season has ended, when you realize that the path you took with your teammates made you who you are today. The emphasis is not placed on the athletes, the coaches,

Walker and Academic Dean, ViAnn Farmer, recognize scholar athletes.

Lots to Celebrate in Athletics

9THISTLE | 2016

Swim team supports One Love Foundation by swimming over one million yards.

St. Margaret’s swim team makes a name for itself.

or even the teams themselves. Instead, Walker takes a unified approach, where all hands are on deck, working as one. “In an effort to create the best athletic program possible and give our girls the best experience we can, it takes a village,” she says. “We need to be a family who supports one another, recognizes our strengths and weaknesses, and wants to contribute to the greater good.” New this year, she adopted a co-coaching system, where coaches split the decision-making and work together toward a common goal. This seemingly small adjustment has made the coaching staff reevaluate their expectations for themselves, the girls, and the team. Athletics are about more than the outcome of a practice or game; it’s about coaching our girls for life. The building of one’s character through teachable moments on the field, on the court, in the pool, or in the locker room is how you Be St. Margaret’s. It’s where qualities like self-confidence, resiliency, teamwork, empathy, mental toughness, self-control, and respect for others are developed—almost identical to the School’s To Be Statements, further supporting St. Margaret’s long-standing mission and philosophy. That’s the big picture. As is always the case, St. Margaret’s girls say it best. At an alumnae event in Richmond, Virginia, a group of students were asked to share their St. Margaret’s experience, both how they came to know the School and what they’ve taken from their time here. Two students happened to be athletic standouts and chose to share what they learned from teachable moments of character building, rather than what was posted on the score board. “I learned that if I can’t be a student first, then I can’t be an athlete either. In addition [...] St. Margaret’s taught me how to become a better leader in the community as well as on the playing field. I have learned to channel my aggression [...] and become a better team player. And, because of the small, close-knit community, I now have many sisters whose friendships will last a lifetime.” Coach Walker says that it’s because of the athletic program’s refocus on unity, attitude, and striving for

excellence, not to be confused with perfection, that our teams have seen tremendous success. It was a record-breaking year for St. Margaret’s athletic program as it was the first time in the history of the School that four teams made state appearances: volleyball, basketball, swimming, and softball. This is especially impressive if you consider the size of the schools St. Margaret’s competes against, some with a student body triple in number. In the fall, volleyball went 13-13 and advanced to the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) state tournament, the first time competing on that stage since 1999. The second trimester saw basketball and swimming at states. Basketball prevailed with an injury-stricken team almost all season long and hosted Highland School in the first round of state play. Swimming made a splash in the 50 Free, 100 Fly, 200 IM, and 400 Free Relay on the state level. Proving again that the athletic program is about more than winning, the swim team also swam over one million yards during the season in support of the One Love Foundation, a non-profit that brings awareness to the issue of relationship violence (www.joinonelove.org; #yardsforyeardley). And in the spring, softball took everyone by storm with a nearly undefeated season coupled with a VISAA state championship showing, making history as the first team of any sport at St. Margaret’s to compete in the state finals. Softball’s state championship game topped off an outstanding season, which included regular season and league tournament titles, a second-place ranking in the state, and players being named to the both the All-LIS Team and All-State Team. As a team, the Scotties hit 20 home runs in 22 games—another school record. One player led the state, all private and public schools, both in runs scored and stolen bases. Defensively, the pitching staff threw five no-hitters.  “This team is full of girls who love and respect the game but who also love and respect one another,” said Coach Philip Belfield after the championship game. “They believe in

athletics

10 THISTLE | 2016

each other and that anyone in our lineup is capable of getting the job done. That’s why we made it as far as we did.” In a postseason softball celebration, where players, coaches, families, and members of the St. Margaret’s community gathered in honor of the team’s top-notch season, Walker spoke again about the importance of teamwork and good sportsmanship on the playing field, but also acknowledged that the team’s success this season paved the way for St. Margaret’s athletic program. “This is a big deal for ‘our little school on the river’,” said Walker. “I hope people will finally take a second look at St. Margaret’s. We are not just here for the experience; we’re here to compete and should not be taken lightly. Our student-athletes are the best of the best, and I am immensely proud.” Also in attendance was former St. Margaret’s softball sensation and current ace at Longwood University, Elizabeth

“ We are not just here for the experience; we’re here to compete, and we should not be taken lightly.”

– Cynthia Walker ’99, Athletic Director

Scotties celebrate one of 20 home runs this season.

“Biz” McCarthy ’13, who had just been named Big South Pitcher of the Year for the second year in a row and led the Lancers to the NCAA regional championship only two days after St. Margaret’s VISAA state championship game. She is tied for the most strikeouts (203) in a single season at Longwood and second for the all-time career record, with only 49 to go—and she fully intends on capturing that title, too. Most recently, McCarthy became a Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) first-team All-State University selection. She came to the St. Margaret’s hurrah to show her support for the girls but also to share some words of wisdom. Her message, though, was not about the wild ride she’d been on the few weeks prior, or the trophies and accolades she’s collected over the years. Instead, she talked about sisterhood and her appreciation for St. Margaret’s. McCarthy encouraged the girls to not take for granted this moment nor the people with

11THISTLE | 2016

whom they have shared the experience. Earlier in the season, the St. Margaret’s softball team went to watch McCarthy pitch at Longwood and got a glimpse of what life would be like as a college athlete. McCarthy literally rolled out the red carpet for her St. Margaret’s sisters, giving them the grand tour and introducing them to her teammates. It was a dream-come-true for some of the younger girls, especially. Walker also made the trek to see McCarthy play this season. At the NCAA regional tournament, she watched in admiration as McCarthy’s character shined through the dirt and sweat. “Biz is kind-hearted, hard-working, and positive,” noted Walker. “She’s the first one out of the dugout to give her teammates a high five and the first one back from sprinting to and from the foul pole in between innings. She is what you wish for all of your players to be and a perfect representation of not only the type of athlete but the type of young woman we develop here at St. Margaret’s.” McCarthy graciously shared the limelight with a younger pitcher this season. She said she enjoys success more when it’s celebrated with others, and she credits St. Margaret’s with showing her that being a good leader is knowing when to follow and when to take charge. Sure, McCarthy is an award-winning athlete, but she’s more recognized for the type of person she is both on and off the field. How lucky is St. Margaret’s that McCarthy is not

only an alumna, but the daughter, granddaughter, niece, and cousin of fellow alumnae. Now that’s a legacy! There are plenty of other success stories among student-athlete alumnae (see sidebar) and current Scotties. Some are more transformative than others—think struggling student to scholar athlete—but all are examples of how St. Margaret’s truly changes girls’ lives. Walker says that’s the real reason she’s here. To her, it’s about far more than building an athletic program. St. Margaret’s seeks to inspire each student to make the best of herself, and in so doing, make a better world.

RECENT COLLEGE ATHLETES*Cynthia Walker ’99: University of Florida: Volleyball

Patti Webb ’03: University of Florida: Crew

Betsy Joslyn ’10: Bridgewater College: Field Hockey

Megan Sisk ’10: Clemson University: Crew

Heather Chastain ’11: Western Carolina University: Softball

Renee Greenslade ’12: Randolph Macon College: Field Hockey

Katherine Lecce ’13: St. Michael’s College: Swim

Solene Ndahiro ‘15: Becker College: Basketball

* This list is only a sample of St. Margaret’s alumnae who have gone on to enjoy careers as college athletes. Please contact the Office of Alumnae Relations at (804)443-3357 to be added to the directory.

McCarthy ’13 gives words of wisdom at St. Margaret’s postseason softball celebration.

Members of the SMS softball team visit Biz McCarthy ’13 at Longwood University.