By Chrissy Segrest
Elm Staff Writer
With the temporary loss of Coach Jonnie Jenkins for the Fall of 2018 due to the birth of his second daughter, former standout lacrosse player and now Coach, Maddie Mullen has big shoes to fill.
Jenkins, a 2007 graduate of Washington College, has been the head Sports Performance Coach since 2014. He currently oversees all 18 varsity sports teams. It is hoped that Jenkins will return shortly after Thanksgiving break.
Mullen, who was a lacrosse goalie for the school from 2013-2017, joined the athletic department as an intern in her second semester of her senior year in the Spring of 2018.
She led team warm ups, oversaw the lifting program, and gave input on statistical data about students. This year, she followed in Jenkin’s footsteps for only a month before taking over. She now currently oversees all the varsity sports, as well as being the first in command.
“Mullen is great. She pushes us to our limits, while also understanding our needs. She understands if we’re sore from practice or if we need to be pushed to the max. She has a great grasp on her athletes, and it is probably from the fact that she was one,” said sophomore right side hitter Laura Cochrane of the volleyball team.
With Mullen’s advancement, new feet had to step in the door. After graduating in 2015 and then spending three years in Tampa as a sports and performance coach, John Weston returns to WC as an assistant strength and conditioning coach.
A four-year letter winner in basketball, Weston averaged 6.5 points in 97 games played in his career.
Currently, he oversees warm-ups, as well as runs his team’s strength programs.
The next new face in the mix comes from Endicott College where he was a former lacrosse goalie. Nick Triano is currently an assistant strength and conditioning coach as well as an assistant lacrosse coach. Triano comes to Chestertown after working at Momentum Physical Therapy and Performance Training in Milford, Massachusetts.
“Triano and Weston do a great job pushing us to work harder while also making lifts more upbeat and enjoyable,” said junior left-handed pitcher Rachel Butler of the softball team.
The last familiar face in the training room is senior field hockey player Clare Ingersoll. A Chestertown native, Ingersoll just finished her field hockey career this season where she was a two-time NFHCA national academic team member, as well a 2018 Centennial Conference all-sportsmanship team member. Ingersoll oversees and aids in technical assistance during lifting sessions as a part of her strength training internship.
The athletes look forward to Jenkins’ return to campus, but the staff at WC have taken well to their roles with his absence.