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Playing the Game

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.

Middle School Athletics

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.

spotlight on 2023 Varsity Soccer

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.

Athletics News

Scores and Schedules

Recent Scores

win: 59-36

Basketball (Varsity)

vs. Canterbury School


Game Summary

Basketball (JV)

vs. Canterbury School


Squash (Varsity)

vs. Kingswood Oxford School


Basketball (Varsity)

vs. Putnam Science Academy (Scrimmage)


Basketball (Varsity)

vs. Millbrook School (Scrimmage)


loss: 3-5

Soccer (Varsity)

vs. NEPSAC Soccer Class C Quarterfinals vs. St. Luke's School


Soccer (Varsity)

vs. WWNEPSSA All-Star Game


Soccer (JV)

vs. Westminster School


Volleyball (Varsity)

vs. The MacDuffie School


win: 2-1

Field Hockey (Varsity)

vs. Kingswood Oxford School


loss: 0-1

Soccer (Varsity)

vs. Kingswood Oxford School


Volleyball (JV)

vs. Wilbraham & Monson Academy


Volleyball (Varsity)

vs. Wilbraham & Monson Academy


loss: 0-5

Field Hockey (Varsity)

vs. Berkshire School


win: 5-1

Soccer (Varsity)

vs. Millbrook School


Cross Country (Varsity)

vs. Founders League Cross Country Championships


loss: 0-3

Volleyball (Varsity)

vs. Williston Northampton School


Game Summary

Volleyball (JV)

vs. Williston Northampton School


tie: 1-1

Soccer (Varsity)

vs. The Taft School


Soccer (JV)

vs. The Taft School


Upcoming Games


Basketball (JV)

vs. Loomis Chaffee School

away


Basketball (Varsity)

vs. Loomis Chaffee School

away


Swimming (Varsity)

vs. Kent School

home


Squash (Varsity)

vs. Kent School

away


Basketball (Varsity)

vs. The Frederick Gunn School

away


Basketball (JV)

vs. The Frederick Gunn School

away


Basketball (Varsity)

vs. Holiday Tournament

home


Basketball (Varsity)

vs. Holiday Tournament

home


Basketball (Middle School)

vs. Choate Rosemary Hall

cancelled


Basketball (Varsity)

vs. Westminster School

home


Basketball (JV)

vs. Westminster School

home


Skiing (Varsity)

vs. Suffield, Taft, Loomis Chaffee & Miss Porter's

away


Squash (Varsity)

vs. Millbrook School

away


Basketball (JV)

vs. Kent School

home


Basketball (Varsity)

vs. Kent School

home


Basketball (Varsity)

vs. Beaver Country Day School

away


Swimming (Varsity)

vs. Rectory School

home


Swimming (Varsity)

vs. Indian Mountain School

home


Basketball (Varsity)

vs. Cushing Academy

away


Basketball (JV)

vs. Wilbraham & Monson Academy

home


Basketball (JV)

vs. Miss Porter's School

home


Skiing (Varsity)

vs. Loomis Chaffee, Miss Porter's, Forman, Frederick Gunn, & Salisbury

away


Swimming (Varsity)

vs. Canterbury School

away


Skiing (Varsity)

vs. BSL Schools - JV Race

away



Squash (Varsity)

vs. Williston Northampton School

home


Swimming (Varsity)

vs. Eaglebrook School

away


Swimming (Varsity)

vs. Westminster School

away


Basketball (Varsity)

vs. Suffield Academy

away


Basketball (Middle School)

vs. Watkinson School

away


Skiing (Varsity)

vs. Suffield, Taft, Berkshire, Hotchkiss, & Salisbury

away


Squash (Varsity)

vs. The Taft School

away


Swimming (Varsity)

vs. Westover School

away


Swimming (Varsity)

vs. Miss Porter's School

away


Basketball (JV)

vs. Choate Rosemary Hall

away


Basketball (Varsity)

vs. Wilbraham & Monson Academy

away


Basketball (Varsity)

vs. Williston Northampton School

away


Squash (Varsity)

vs. Westminster School

away


Swimming (Varsity)

vs. Sacred Heart

away


Swimming (Varsity)

vs. Hopkins School

away

Aquatic Center
Centennial Center Gym
Squash pavilion
Dance Studio
Field and Courts
Team Room
Fitness Center
Health Center
Oasis (OMR Architects Photography: Robert Benson Photography)
Aquatic Center

Walker’s Aquatic Center is home to an eight-lane, 25-yard pool. The pool depth and gutter system make it one of the fastest pools in New England.

Double gymnasium

Walker’s double gymnasium hosts basketball and volleyball games, as well as community events such as pep rallies and celebrations.

Squash Pavilion

Walker’s squash pavilion features four courts and The Harriet Blees Dewey ’60, P’86 Squash Gallery.

Dance Studios

Walker’s state-of-the-art dance suite in the Centennial Center includes two dance studios with sprung floors, ample natural light, and sweeping views of Talcott Mountain.

Fields and Courts

Walker’s athletic fields and courts include three natural grass soccer fields, two softball fields, two synthetic fields for field hockey and lacrosse, and seven tennis courts.

Team Room

Inspired by a collegiate style, Walker’s locker rooms are the hub for team camaraderie.

Fitness Center

Available to all Walker’s students and faculty, the fitness center has modern cross training equipment and sweeping views of Talcott Mountain.

Health Center

The Joyce K. McIntyre Health Center is named in honor of Joyce McIntyre, B.S., R.N., C.N.C., who has been helping to heal and nurture Walker’s girls since 1984. The Health Center has four overnight rooms, two treatment rooms, health classroom, and a kitchen.

Oasis

The proceeds from the 2014 Garden Oasis Gala and Auction were used to name the gathering space outside of the lower level training room and wellness center. The space is one of the most highly active areas in the building with direct access to outdoor playing fields.

From Our Athletes

Scholar-Athletes

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.

Lily Cullen '20

Lily Cullen playing lacrosse

EWAC

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.

Ku Paw '22

Ku playing squash

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.

Mariah Dunn '19ECSU

Mariah Dunn playing basketball
BSN gear

Get Your Gear

For current athletes and Walker’s fans alike, grab your Walker’s wear here.

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Meet the Staff

Brett Benzio

Brett Benzio

Director of Athletics

Brett Benzio

 860-408-4290

B.S., Tulane University
M.B.A., Lynn University

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

Mimi Duran P'18

Associate Athletic Director

Mimi Duran P'18

 860-408-4294

B.S., Recreation and Park Administration, University of Maine
B.S., Natural Resource Management, University of Maine
M.S., Georgetown University

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.

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Jillian Mountford

Jill Mountford

Admission Associate for Athletics and Athletics Liaison to College Counseling, Head Lacrosse Coach

Kristin Nicolle

Head Athletic Trainer

Kristin Nicolle

 860-408-4293

B.S., Keene State College
M.E., Springfield College

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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