Walker's Athletics Hall of Fame

Margaret “Peggy” Prizer Kenny, a graduate of the Class of 1963 and a Sun, is recognized for her excellence in field hockey, basketball, and lacrosse, playing all three of these sports throughout her time at Walker’s. Peggy was President of the Athletic Board, captain of the Suns field hockey Team, captain of the varsity basketball team, and at graduation was awarded the Voorhees Cup for good sportsmanship. She was also a student coach for lacrosse. Outside of athletics, she was a leader as a prefect, and a member of the Northfield League, the Sun-Dial student newspaper, choir, glee club, and the Grapes.

After Walker’s, Peggy’s athletic focus was primarily on tennis, playing at the University of Colorado and throughout her adult life. She taught tennis at both the elementary and college levels, and started (and coached) both a girls’ and a women’s soccer program. She has played A Team tennis and on an ALTA (American Lawn Tennis Association) 5.0 team. She says, “The lessons I learned through playing sports at Walker’s have served me well, and I carry them with me today.” Peggy’s 1963 yearbook page expresses her gracious sportsmanship beautifully: “Win without boasting, lose without excuse.”

A graduate of the Class of 1972 and a Dial, Jane Hadden Geisse is recognized for excellence in field hockey, basketball, and lacrosse at Walker’s, and for being a multi-sport athlete ever since. Her inherent desire to involve herself with opportunities and people around her showed itself early at Walker’s, where she was President of the Dials, a prefect, President of Bell Choir, a Cicerone, and a member of the art, science, and drama clubs. She received the Voorhees Cup at Commencement.

Going on to Middlebury College, Jane played four years of varsity lacrosse as well as ice hockey with the men (there was no women’s team at the time). After college she played on several soccer teams, was a professional equestrian, and took up mountaineering. Jane ran at Waker’s before there was a track or cross country team, and continued running until her 40s, when she took up cycling. At the age of 53 she became competitive in bike racing, winning medals in the Senior Olympics and the Master’s Nationals — second in the country and fifth in the world in her division. Today, she competes on her horse in team penning. In Jane’s own words, “I simply cannot imagine not having a sport and competing; it would be like not being able to breathe.”

Monique Lucas Conroy, a graduate of the Class of 1979 and a Sun, is recognized for excellence in soccer, lacrosse, and paddle tennis, earning three varsity letters in each sport while at Walker’s. In soccer, she was a three-year varsity starter, was team captain, and team MVP. In paddle tennis, she was (with partners) number one in doubles. In lacrosse, she was a three-year varsity starter, team captain, and team MVP. At Commencement, Monique was awarded the Voorhees Cup. In addition, she was one of the student founders of EWAC, the Ethel Walker Athletic Council. Outside of sports, she was a member of the Judiciary Committee and the science and math clubs.

After Walker’s, Monique played varsity soccer for four years at Middlebury College, where she was team captain and set the school record as the leading point scorer. Her career has been as a teacher and a coach, predominantly in independent schools. At Indian Mountain School she coached varsity boys soccer, varsity girls lacrosse, and the varsity ski team. At Williston Northampton School she has been the varsity girls soccer assistant coach for 13 years and the head varsity tennis coach for two years. Voted “Class Jock” in the 1979 yearbook, Monique is still an avid runner and tennis player.

Kelly Tran, a Dial and member of the Class of 2007, is recognized for excellence in field hockey, volleyball, and tennis. She played four years of varsity in all three sports, and was captain of the field hockey team for two years. During this time she also earned Western New England All-Star accolades in field hockey, was the team MVP and won the Coach’s Award. Kelly won the Brunhilde Grassi Cup twice, and at Commencement won the William C. Lickle Athletic Cup and the Voorhees Cup, in addition to the Spanish Prize, the Music Prize, the Dartmouth Book Award, and the Isabel Jackson Memorial Prize. She is described by peers as the “athlete of all athletes” and by coaches as the impact student that other prospective student athletes spoke to on campus.

At Washington and Lee University, Kelly was an ODAC Scholar-Athlete in field hockey, and a three-year member of the NFHCA National Academic Team. Her senior year she was VaSID All-State forward, leading the team in scoring with 35 points. Kelly is currently a member of the Golden Gate Triathlon Club and has competed in numerous marathons and triathlons. In her own words, Kelly says that based on her experience, “Walker’s really sets you up for success!”

Nancy Van Voorhees, Class of 1924 and a Sun, is recognized for her excellence in athletics while both a student at The Ethel Walker School and after graduation. A highly versatile athlete, she played for both the Suns and on the Varsity team in ice hockey, basketball (winning the “Golden Basketball” in 1922), baseball, and track, and was also on the tennis team. Nancy was secretary of the Athletic Council in 1922, and served as its president in 1923 and 1924. While she was a star in many of her sports, it was in track where Nancy competed at the highest level. At the age of 15, she became the youngest member of the first Women’s Olympic track team, competing in the 1922 Women’s World Games. She tied for a gold medal in high jump in the 1924 Paris games.

Later in life, Nancy devoted much of her time to volunteer work mostly in support of hospitals. She volunteered for the Presbyterian Hospital and was treasurer of its Women’s Auxiliary, and sat on the Board of Managers of Holy Comforter’s United Hospital Fund. The Voorhees Cup, one of The Ethel Walker School’s highest athletic awards, is named for Nancy, and is awarded “to the best all-around athlete who has at all times shown good sportsmanship and good school spirit.”

A graduate of the Class of 1929 and a Sun, Brunhilde Grassi’s yearbook page says it best: “Not only is she always one of the best in every sport, but she rivals her proficiency in athletics with her academic credits in studies.” Her participation in athletics was extensive. In hockey, she was captain of the Four Corners Hockey team, captain of the Sun Hockey team, and captain of the Varsity Hockey team. In track, she was captain of the Sun Track team and a member of the Varsity Track team. She was manager of the Sun Apparatus Team and won second place in the Individual Apparatus Competition multiple years. She also played on the Sun Basketball team.

Academically, she received Honorable Mentions in Algebra, Latin, and Physics. Not surprisingly, Boots was elected President of the Athletics Board in 1929. She was awarded the Prize for Effort and Development and the Athletics “W” in 1929. The Brunhilde Grassi Cup was established to honor her, “for the girl in the Freshwoman or Sophomore Class who has shown the most sustained good spirit in work, conduct, athletics, and community living.”

A graduate of the Class of 1929 and a Dial, Deborah “Deb” Verry made her impact athletically both in club competition as well as interscholastic games, and was a true leader who encouraged everyone around her. Her yearbook page states that, “Again and again, she drew out the best in individuals and sent them ahead, inspired by her example, to undreamed-of accomplishments. She found the best in herself and never failed to pass it on, so that the remembrance of Deb, whether wrestling with Cicero translation or throwing the basketball, will be legendary in the School.” Deb served on the Athletic Board in 1928 and 1929 and was the Secretary of the Board in her second year. She competed for the Dials in tennis, skiing, ice hockey, track, and basketball. She was the captain of the Dials in tennis, skiing, ice hockey, and track. Deb also played Varsity hockey, track (captain) and tennis while at Walker’s. At graduation, she was awarded the Emily Cluett Prize for Courage and Fortitude.

After Walker’s, Deb’s athleticism won her notable success in golf, coming in second in the Women’s North-South Golf Tournament in 1934, and winning the event in 1936. Deb later won the Women’s Massachusetts Amateur Golf Championship in 1937. She became President of both the Women’s Eastern Golf Association and the Women’s Golf Association of Massachusetts. Outside of athletics, Deb became a major in the Massachusetts Women’s Defense Corps, and in 1942 joined the Waves as an apprentice seawoman, notably the first of the women’s golf champions to sign with the armed forces.

A graduate of the Class of 1948 and a Sun, Constance “Connie” Lavino entered Walker’s in 1945 and immediately made her impact felt athletically. A contributor to the riding program as well as interscholastic sports, Connie was a true leader. She served on the Athletic Board from 1946 until 1948 and was president of the riding association in 1948. Connie won the Walker’s athletic emblem in 1947. In addition to riding at the school, Connie played on the Suns team in field hockey, tennis, and basketball, and played interscholastically on the basketball, hockey, and lacrosse teams. She was awarded the Voorhees Cup; the Sun Basketball Cup; and the Good Hands, Good Head, Good Heart Riding Cup.

Outside of athletics, she showed her leadership as a prefect. After Walker’s, Connie continued to ride until 1953, with the arrival of the first of her six children. Later in life, she could often be found on the golf course, winning numerous weekly round robins, and achieving three holes in one at three different golf clubs. In tennis she was a favorite partner and frequent competitor in member guest tournaments. Connie’s leadership at Walker’s also continued well into her life, through multiple terms on both the Alumnae Board and the Board of Trustees. Her contributions to our Walker’s community are felt every day, with the Bell Library situated in the heart of our campus. Connie’s legacy has carried on through her family, with two daughters and two granddaughters attending Walker’s. Her daughter, Debbie Bell Spoehel ’75, served as a trustee and her son, Stuart, served as Board Chair. Granddaughter Eda “Ellie” Bell ’12 followed in her grandmother’s footsteps and became Head of Riding.

Jenny Belknap graduated from Walker’s in 1990, then went on to earn a BA in History from Tufts University, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She has spent nearly 25 years with The Estee Lauder Companies, and is currently their SVP Portfolio Strategy, North America. While at Walker’s she excelled in the riding program and was Captain of the Equestrian Team, winning the Brunhilde Grassi Cup, the Voorhees Cup and the Frank O.H. Williams Cup. She held other leadership positions including Student Body President. Jenny believes that the discipline and drive necessary for success as a leader in the corporate world was fostered at Walker’s where she learned to balance her academic, athletic and leadership roles and priorities. Her love of horses continues in her role as Chairman of the Board of the EQUUS Foundation.

Meg Filoon graduated from Walker’s in 1981, then earned her BA in Biology from Denison University and later an MSPT from Simmons College. At Walker’s, Meg played varsity field hockey, lacrosse and paddle tennis, was President of the Athletic Association and was awarded The Athletic Cup, The Voorhees Cup and the Margaret Mallory Cup. At Denison, she played field hockey and lacrosse. After college, she continued to play field hockey and lacrosse at the club level, playing on regional and national field hockey teams (1985-1988), and national lacrosse teams until 1996, including the US Women’s Lacrosse Team. She is a member of the Denison University Hall of Fame. Meg currently teaches and coaches field hockey and lacrosse. In addition to her athletic achievements, she has been an EMT and Firefighter, a Physical Therapist, a Laura Carter Fellow and sits on the Women’s Mental Health Leadership Council at McLean Hospital, MA.

Susan Ford graduated from Walker’s in 1963 and then earned a BA in Philosophy from Connecticut College and an M.A.T. in Education and History from Brown University. At Walker’s, Susan played varsity field hockey, basketball and lacrosse. A career in sports has won her numerous accolades, including New England Women’s 8 Conference Coach of the year in 1988 for Field Hockey and in 1990 for Lacrosse. As President of the United States Women’s Lacrosse Association she had an active role in the transition of the men’s and women’s lacrosse organizations to combine into one national governing body, now USA Lacrosse. For her skills and leadership in lacrosse, Susan has won numerous service awards at the national level and been inducted into 6 halls of fame, including the US Lacrosse National Hall of Fame.

Samara Khalique Grove graduated from Walker’s in 2000, then went on to earn a BS in Psychology from Bates College and her MD from The American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. She is a practicing rheumatologist and an assistant professor at the Virginia Tech Carilion Clinic in Roanoke, VA. At Walker’s, Samara played varsity field hockey, lacrosse and basketball, and held numerous leadership positions including team captain and as a member of the Big 7. She won the Clarissa Green Cup, the Vorhees Cup and the William Lickle Athletic Cup. At Bates, she played varsity field hockey and lacrosse, and was awarded the lacrosse spirit award. After college, Samara continued her involvement in lacrosse through club sports and coaching, volunteering as a youth coach in both Boston and New Orleans, and even working for a time as a lacrosse and field hockey coach at Walker’s.

Sydney Satchell graduated from Walker’s in 2010, then earned her BA from Howard University. At Walker’s, She played varsity soccer, basketball and lacrosse for twelve consecutive seasons and held numerous leadership positions including Student Body President. At Howard, she continued to balance her academic achievements with her athleticism, competing as a member of the D1 women’s lacrosse team as well as graduating Magna Cum Laude. Less than a year after graduation Sydney was in a life-altering car accident that led to the loss of a limb. Her commitment to athletics and determination through her recovery led Howard University’s Athletic Department to name an award after her, The Sydney Satchell Award For Perseverance. Less than a year after her accident Sydney was able to return to athletics through adaptive sport and is presently a member of the US Women’s National Sitting Volleyball Team.

Susan graduated from Walkers in 1971, then earned her BA from Middlebury College and an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. Now retired, she worked in corporate finance first for The Pillsbury Company and later at Federated Department Stores (renamed Macy’s, Inc. in 2007) as Assistant Treasurer for Corporate Finance. Always an athlete, Susan won the Voorhees Cup at her Walker’s Commencement, then went on to play varsity field hockey, basketball and lacrosse in college and graduate school. Over the years, Susan has also picked up soccer, squash and tennis, competing at the national level in lacrosse, squash and soccer. Susan’s volunteer roles include being a tutor for the Cincinnati Squash Academy as well as working with the United Way’s WINGs (Women Investing in the Next Generation) group, for which she received United Way’s “Living Her Legacy” Legend Award in 2017.