Athletics

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.

Athletics News

Scores and Schedules

Recent Scores

Field Hockey (JV)

vs. Glastonbury Youth Field Hockey


loss

Volleyball (JV)

vs. Miss Porter's School


Game Summary
loss: 0-3

Field Hockey (Varsity)

vs. Westminster School


Game Summary
loss: 1-2

Soccer (Varsity)

vs. Loomis Chaffee School


Game Summary
win: 3-1

Volleyball (Varsity)

vs. Miss Porter's School


Game Summary
loss: 2-3

Soccer (Varsity)

vs. Greens Farms Academy


Game Summary
win: 3-0

Volleyball (JV)

vs. American School for the Deaf


Game Summary
win: 21-37

Cross Country (Varsity)

vs. Wilbraham & Monson Academy


Game Summary
loss: 1-3

Field Hockey (Varsity)

vs. Choate Rosemary Hall


Game Summary

Soccer (Varsity)

vs. High Mowing School


vs. The Rectory School vs. Rumsey Hall School


Lacrosse (Varsity)

vs. Miss Porter's School


Softball (Varsity)

vs. Western New England Prep School Softball Tournament


Golf (Varsity)

vs. Founders League Tournament


Game Summary

Tennis (Varsity)

vs. Suffield Academy Invitational


loss: 3-11

Lacrosse (JV)

vs. Hamden Hall Country Day School


Game Summary

Lacrosse (Middle School)

vs. Kingswood Oxford School


Golf (Varsity)

vs. Choate Rosemary School


Softball (Varsity)

vs. Kent School


Tennis (Varsity)

vs. Kent School


Upcoming Games


Volleyball (JV)

vs. The Taft School

away


Soccer (JV)

vs. Loomis Chaffee School

home


Soccer (Varsity)

vs. The Hotchkiss School

home


Volleyball (Varsity)

vs. The Taft School

away


Soccer (Middle School)

vs. Renbrook School

away


Field Hockey (JV)

vs. Rumsey Hall School

away


Cross Country (Varsity)

vs. Canterbury School

away


Soccer (JV)

vs. Kent School

home


Soccer (Varsity)

vs. Kent School

home


Volleyball (Varsity)

vs. Choate Rosemary Hall

home


Volleyball (JV)

vs. Kingswood Oxford School

away


Soccer (Middle School)

vs. Kingswood Oxford School

away


Soccer (JV)

vs. Berkshire School

home


Soccer (Varsity)

vs. Berkshire School

home


Field Hockey (Varsity)

vs. King School

away


Volleyball (JV)

vs. Rectory School

home


Volleyball (Varsity)

vs. Kingswood Oxford School

away


Volleyball (JV)

vs. Rumsey Hall School

home


Cross Country (Varsity)

vs. Cheshire Academy's 20th Annual O'Connell Invitational

away


Cross Country (Varsity)

vs. Westminster School

cancelled


Volleyball (JV)

vs. The Hotchkiss School

home


Field Hockey (Varsity)

vs. Greens Farms Academy

away


Soccer (Varsity)

vs. The Frederick Gunn School

away


Volleyball (Varsity)

vs. The Hotchkiss School

home


Soccer (Varsity)

vs. Suffield Acdemy

away


Soccer (JV)

vs. Westminster School

home


Volleyball (JV)

vs. Loomis Chaffee School

away


Volleyball (Varsity)

vs. Loomis Chaffee School

away


Field Hockey (Varsity)

vs. Loomis Chaffee School

away


Soccer (Varsity)

vs. Canterbury School

home


Field Hockey (Varsity)

vs. Pomfret School

home


Field Hockey (JV)

vs. Play 4 the CURE Play Day

home


Field Hockey (Varsity)

vs. Play 4 the CURE Play Day

home


Cross Country (Varsity)

vs. Miss Hall's School

away


Volleyball (JV)

vs. Suffield Academy

home


Volleyball (Varsity)

vs. Suffield Academy

home


Soccer (JV)

vs. Millbrook School

home


Soccer (Varsity)

vs. Wilbraham & Monson Academy

home


Soccer (Middle School)

vs. The Master's School

home


Field Hockey (Varsity)

vs. Marianapolis Preparatory 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 and Associate Manager of Equestrian Operations

Brett Benzio

860-408-4290

B.S., Tulane University
MBA, 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 NEXUS 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 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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Jillian Mountford

Jill Mountford

Athletics Associate for Operations and Varsity Lacrosse Coach

Jill Mountford

860-408-4203

B.S., Bentley University

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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