Walker’s Equestrian Captain Interviews Olympian Mary Chapot
Mary Chapot provides valuable insights into women's participation in Olympic showjumping...
Another Historic Season for Walker’s Swim and Dive Team
Walker's Swim and Dive team brought home its first NEPSAC Division III Championship trophy.
Walker’s Field Hockey Players Recognized By NFHCA
Walker's athletes have been recognized for work both in the classroom and on the field.
Athletics
Our Mission
Walker’s athletics program is an extension of the classroom — facilitating growth through both triumph and defeat while fostering skill-development, resilience, leadership, and accountability.
Varsity Field hockey
Mimi Duran has over 30 years of coaching experience, both in independent and public schools, and began her tenure at Walker’s in fall 2007.
Varsity Soccer
Coach Colin R. Griggs was at the helm when Walker's won their first NEPSAC tournament game en route to the semifinals.
Varsity Basketball
Coach John Monagan has led the Varsity team to the NEPSAC Class C tournament five times.
Varsity Lacrosse
Coach Jill Mountford's approach centers around a team-first mentality by using creativity, skill development, trust, and a lacrosse IQ.
Varsity Volleyball
As a professional athlete, Coach Brett Benzio knows first hand the value of a hard work ethic as she has experience on and off the court.
Cross Country
Coach Semk encourages every runner to set and achieve their goals, fostering a strong ethic of teamwork, and develop healthy habits.
Swimming and Diving
Coach Karim Mabrouk is an experienced swim coach with a passion for developing athletes both in and out of the water.
Skiing
Coach Brendan O’Dwyer helped to coach the Varsity Tennis team to the NEPSAC tournament in the 2017-2018 season.
Varsity Golf
Coach Bethany Davis played golf at the collegiate level where she played under the direction of LPGA Teaching Professional Laura Brown.
Scores and Schedules
Recent Scores
Upcoming Games
From Our Athletes
Scholar-Athletes
Maintaining a balance between athletics and academics is key to success. As a scholar-athlete, I’ve learned time management and other valuable skills that will continue to help me in life.
EWAC
EWAC has greatly impacted my leadership on and off the court — I have learned different ways to implement the information I learn in our meetings and translate it back into my teams.
College Athletes
Walker's prepared me very well for college, especially being an athlete. Walker's taught me to maintain a balance of academics and sports.
Meet the Staff
Brett Benzio
Director of Athletics and Associate Manager of Equestrian Operations
Brett Benzio hails from sunny South Florida where she was a multi-sport athlete in high school. In her four years at Jensen Beach High School, Brett was a state champion in basketball and volleyball – winning the State Tournament MVP in volleyball and Player of the Year in both basketball and volleyball as a senior. JBHS inducted Brett into their hall of fame in 2013. Brett chose to pursue basketball in college and was a four-year starter at Tulane University. During her time in New Orleans, Brett solidified her impact on the program in the record books and most impressively as the second woman in school history to score at least 1,000 points and pull down at least 1,000 rebounds. After completing her collegiate career, Brett continued playing professionally for MB Slovenka in the Czech Republic and DJK Brose in Germany.
As an athletic professional, Brett has both collegiate and prep school experience. As the director of operations for the Harvard women’s basketball team, Brett was instrumental in managing the program’s travel, events, and day-to-day operations. Brett gained more collegiate experience as an assistant coach for the women’s basketball program at the University of Vermont, where she was the compliance liaison, marketing director, and academic advisor for athletes in the program. With a combined seven years of experience at the New Hampton School and Lawrence Academy, Brett has had the opportunity to familiarize herself with operations within NEPSAC.
Brett holds a BS degree from Tulane University in Management and a MBA from Lynn University in Athletic Administration and Media & Marketing Management.
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Mimi Duran P'18
Associate Athletic Director, Director of Summer Programs
Mimi Duran has over 30 years of coaching experience, both in independent and public schools, and began her tenure at Walker’s in fall 2007 leading an aggressive field hockey effort, winning seven CISAC League Titles, six CISAC Tournament Titles, and the Class C WNEPSAC Championship Title in 2010, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. Her teams have appeared in the NEPSCA Field Hockey Tournament in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. In April of 2020 she was chosen to receive the Founders League Nadal Sportsmanship Award.
She holds a Connecticut Coaching Certification, Level 2 United States Field Hockey Association (USFHA) Coaching Certification, and is a member of the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (USFHA), the Connecticut Field Hockey Coaches Association, and a USFHA NEXUS coach. Duran has taken teams to the National Field Hockey Festival and traveled with teams to play in Europe and South America. Several of her former players have earned All-State and Regional All-American recognition. Many played and captained Division I, II, and III field hockey at the collegiate level. Several alumnae have pursued coaching and coach at the high school and collegiate level.
In addition to her coaching duties, Mimi Duran is Associate Athletic Director. She holds a Master’s degree in Professional Sports Management from Georgetown University.
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Jill Mountford
Athletics Associate for Operations and Varsity Lacrosse Coach
Kristin Nicolle
Head Athletic Trainer
Kristin Nicolle has 21 years of experience as a Head Athletic Trainer in private schools. She began her career at the Madeira School in McLean, VA, where she started the athletic training program. Kristin started at Walker’s in fall 2004.
While working at Walker’s, Kristin was house faculty for two years and Dorm Director of Smith dorm for one year, a Middle School advisor, Middle School physical education teacher, assistant Middle School basketball and softball coach, Middle School Wellness teacher, and Assistant Athletic Director. Kristin continues as the Head Athletic Trainer.
Kristin has a Master of Education degree from Springfield College in Sports Injury, Prevention and Management and is a Certified Athletic Trainer through the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Board of Certification. Kristin is also a licensed Athletic Trainer in the state of Connecticut.
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