Athletics are an integral part of our girls’ experience. When young women train and compete, they rise to meet new challenges, step into leadership roles, and emerge physically and intellectually stronger — as individuals and as team members. Each girl competes with a passion and determination, and with pride in the Walker’s name. In every aspect of their life at Walker’s, students are empowered to lead with confidence, courage, conviction, and integrity.
Walker’s athletic teams compete in the Founders League, a league of highly selective college preparatory schools, and nationally recognized as one of the most competitive and respected leagues in the country. As a member of the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC), Walker’s Athletics program supports the NEPSAC Code of Ethics.
At Walker’s Middle School, girls play sports at the level that meets their abilities. Some students excel on Middle School teams while others have the skill to play at the JV or varsity level. At the start of each season, some Middle School athletes are invited by Walker’s Athletic Director or coaches to try out for a JV or varsity team.
Walker’s varsity soccer team recently hosted Frederick Gunn in a matchup of two NEPSAC Class C opponents. The Wildcats remained undefeated in their Class C games with a 10-1 victory on the day,
Ayden Riendeau ’26 scored for the third game in a row as she put Walker’s on the board just two minutes and 29 seconds after the kickoff. Allison Hayes ’25 recorded her first of four assists on the day on the play. The hosts would continue to put pressure on for the rest of the first half and Lucie Martinelli ’27 scored her first of the afternoon about 10 minutes later. Her unassisted effort was scored when she stole the ball on the endline and then beat the goalkeeper at the near post on a very difficult angle with the outside of her right foot.
Martinelli would score six minutes later from the penalty spot and then complete a hat-trick two minutes after that on Hayes’s second assist. Less than a minute later, Martinelli recorded her fourth of the afternoon when she ripped a shot from the right side of the field inside the upper corner at the far post. Hayes gave Walker’s a 6-0 lead in the 21st minute when she took a shot left-footed near the top of the penalty box. Riendeau recorded her first assist of the season on the goal.
Martinelli would score her fifth of the afternoon less than two minutes later when Marlo Meador ’25 played a long ball forward for her first assist this fall. For Martinelli, she now has nine goals and one assist in six games played on the season. Walker’s would add an eighth goal before halftime when Hayes played a great pass to the back post for Gisselle Peña ’26. On the season, Peña now has 10 goals and six assists while Hayes has five goals and nine assists. Both of them have played in all of Walker’s seven games this campaign.
Frederick Gunn got on the scoreboard in the final two minutes of the first half. They earned a corner after Jenna Hamel ’25 made a save on a breakaway. Hamel made two more saves on the ensuing corner, but Gunn’s forward followed up the second rebound to find the back of the net.
After the break, Ava DeSio ’25 scored her first career goal to give Walker’s a 9-1 lead and then Maddie Connelly ’24 finished the scoring on the day with her first of the season late in the contest. Caroline Hayes ’27 recorded her first assist on the play. Both Connelly and Emma Mazur ’27 played 20 minutes in the goal for Walker’s, and each helped maintain a second-half shutout with saves of their own.
On October 8, 2023, Walker's reestablished the Alumnae Suns vs. Dials Field Hockey Game, which we hope to make an annual tradition.
Added to: Alumnae, Athletics, Field Hockey
Pouring rain and cold temperatures put no stop to Walker’s 11th Annual Play4TheCure Field Hockey Play Day on Saturday, September 30, 2023.
Added to: Athletics, Field Hockey, Philanthropy
Walker’s varsity soccer team has been honored with the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award list from the 2022-2023 school year. On Thursday, August 31, the Team Academic Award winners…
Added to: Academics, All School, Athletics, Soccer, Student Life, Upper School
This Summer at Walker’s features 15 organized programs with 19 alumnae and current students heading many of the programs. The athletics programs in particular has a strong line-up of alumnae…
Added to: Alumnae, Athletics, Community Partnerships, Field Hockey, Student Life, Upper School
vs. NEPSAC Soccer Class C Quarterfinals vs. St. Luke's School
vs. Loomis Chaffee, Miss Porter's, Forman, Frederick Gunn, & Salisbury
away
At Walker's, my teachers were also my coaches. It gave me the opportunity to get to know them outside the classroom whether it be on the fields, the slopes, or the courts.
Walker's sports would not have been the same without my coaches and teammates. They care about me not just as an athlete but also as a student. They made me see that there is always room for improvement.
Walker's prepared me very well for college, especially being an athlete. Walker's taught me to maintain a balance of academics and sports.
Brett Benzio
Director of Athletics
Brett Benzio
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.
Read Full ProfileMimi Duran P'18
Associate Athletic Director
Mimi Duran P'18
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.
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 Futures coach. Duran has taken nine teams to the National Field Hockey Festival and three teams to play in Europe. Several of her former players have earned All-State recognition, Regional All-American recognition, and have played Division I, II, and III field hockey at the collegiate level. Several alumnae have pursued coaching and currently coach at the high school 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.
Read Full ProfileJill Mountford
Admission Associate for Athletics and Athletics Liaison to College Counseling, Head Lacrosse Coach
Jill Mountford
Kristin Nicolle
Head Athletic Trainer
Kristin Nicolle
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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