Athletics

Playing the Game

Leaders. Champions. Changers.

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.

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.

Our Philosophy on Athletics

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.

Athletics News

Scores and Schedules

Recent Scores

Squash

vs. Kent School


win: 87-78

Swimming and Diving

vs. Kent School


Game Summary

Basketball (JV)

vs. Loomis Chaffee School


Basketball (Varsity)

vs. Loomis Chaffee School


win: 39-10

Basketball (Middle School)

vs. Master's School


Game Summary
win: 62-27

Basketball (Varsity)

vs. Canterbury School


Game Summary

Squash

vs. Kingswood Oxford School


win: 68-52

Basketball (Varsity)

vs. Williston Northampton School


Game Summary

Squash

vs. Loomis Chaffee, Westminster


Basketball (Varsity)

vs. Millbrook School


Soccer (Varsity)

vs. Brewster Academy


Soccer (Varsity)

vs. Newton Country Day School


Game Summary

Soccer (JV)

vs. Kingswood Oxford School


win: 2-1

Field Hockey (Varsity)

vs. Kingswood Oxford School


win: 5-1

Soccer (Varsity)

vs. Kingswood Oxford School


Game Summary

Cross Country (Varsity)

vs. NEPSTA Championships


Game Summary
loss: 0-3

Volleyball (Varsity)

vs. Cheshire Academy


Game Summary
loss: 0-3

Volleyball (Varsity)

vs. Wilbraham & Monson Academy


Game Summary
win: 5-2

Soccer (Varsity)

vs. Millbrook School


Game Summary

Volleyball (JV)

vs. Wilbraham & Monson Academy


Upcoming Games


Basketball (Varsity)

vs. The Hotchkiss School

away


Basketball (Varsity)

vs. St. Luke's School

away


Basketball (JV)

vs. Rumsey Hall School

away


Basketball (Middle School)

vs. The Frederick Gunn School

home


Squash

vs. The Williston Northampton School

home


Basketball (Varsity)

vs. Portsmouth Abbey School

home


Basketball (Varsity)

vs. Holiday Tournament

home


Skiing

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

away


Basketball (JV)

vs. Rectory School

home


Basketball (Varsity)

vs. Westminster School

away


Swimming and Diving

vs. School of the Holy Child

home


Swimming and Diving

vs. Winsor School

home


Squash

vs. Westminster School

home


Basketball (JV)

vs. Westminster School

away


Basketball (Middle School)

vs. Renbrook School

away


Skiing

vs. Taft, Loomis Chaffee, Frederick Gunn, Indian Mountain,

away


Squash

vs. Millbrook School

home


Basketball (JV)

vs. Indian Mountain School

home


Basketball (Middle School)

vs. Kent School

away


Basketball (Varsity)

vs. Kent School

away


Skiing

vs. Loomis Chaffee, Suffield Academy, Taft

away


Basketball (JV)

vs. The Master's School

home


Squash

vs. Capitol City Squash

away


Basketball (Varsity)

vs. Beaver Country Day School

home


Swimming and Diving

vs. Rectory School

home


Swimming and Diving

vs. Indian Mountain School

home


Skiing

vs. Frederick Gunn, Indian Mountain, Taft, Forman

away



Swimming and Diving

vs. Canterbury School

home


Squash

vs. The Hotchkiss School

home


Basketball (Middle School)

vs. Rectory School

home


Basketball (Varsity)

vs. Greenwich Country Day School

away


Basketball (Varsity)

vs. Suffield Academy

home


Basketball (Middle School)

vs. Wilbraham & Monson Academy

away


Squash

vs. Loomis Chaffee School

away


Swimming and Diving

vs. Westminster School

home


Swimming and Diving

vs. Wilbraham & Monson Academy

away


Swimming and Diving

vs. Eaglebrook School

away


Basketball (Varsity)

vs. Choate Rosemary Hall

away


Basketball (Middle School)

vs. Watkinson School

home

Aquatic Center
Centennial Center Gym
Squash pavilion
Dance Studio
Field and Courts
Team Room
Fitness Center
Health Center

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.

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.

Maci Schlesinger '26

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.

Violet Tran '26

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.

Shop

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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