Above: The EG Girls 2019 Field Hockey state champions with Supt. Victor Mercurio and the School Committee.
The School Committee recognized the state champion Girls Field Hockey and Girls Cross Country teams Tuesday night, as well as commending longtime field hockey coach Deb McMullen, who was inducted into the RI Interscholastic League’s Hall of Fame earlier this month.
The Field Hockey team beat neighboring North Kingstown for the DI title Nov. 3 (read about that win here). Goalie Jessica Imbriglio, was named DI Player of the Year by the RI Coaches Association; Alex Mega was the league’s scoring champion (combining goals and assists); and Julia Blessing was named MVP of the state playoffs.
Coach Deb McMullen (a phys ed teacher at Cole) joins just two other EG coaching legends in the RIIL Hall of Fame: Art Kershaw and Lou Lepry. This year’s state championship marks her sixth and it was her ninth division title in her 29 years as head coach.
The 2019 EG Girls Cross Country team with the School Committee and their coach, Erin Terry (far right).
This fall, the Girls Cross Country team did something no EG cross country team has done beforeg: it won the state championship.* In addition, the freshmen girls won their state championship, the JV team won its state championship and the EG Girls placed fourth at the New England Championships. Oh, and Coach Erin Terry was named 2019 Girls Cross Country Coach of the Year.
After the meeting, Terry explained how the team did it.
“Our training started in the summer and then we went to camp together in August where we began setting our goals,” she said. “Our big team goal for the season was to do a ‘Avenger sweep,’ meaning we wanted to win the team title at Freshman States, JV States, Class B, and the Rhode Island State Open, which we knew had not been done before in school history.”
She continued, “We had strong varsity senior leaders – particularly Ana Caliri, Bryn Shunney, and Leah Chace – some very talented freshman – Rylee Shunney, Megan Huntley, and Helena Dunwoody – and other key team members who made great improvements since last year, like Jessica Martin…. They gained confidence as the season went on and the possibility of winning states seemed more and more realistic to them. A positive mindset, girl power inspiration, determination and grit drove these ‘Wonder Women’ to a first-ever state cross country title for the Lady Avengers!”
Tuesday’s commendations from the School Committee come on the heals of yet another state championship. On Sunday, the Girls Volleyball team defeated West Warwick for a second straight state final win. The Girls Volleyball JV team won its state title earlier in the month.
And, not to be forgotten, EGHS sophomore Maddie Omicioli won the Girls Tennis Singles championship in October.
Congratulations to players and coaches!
* EG Boys XC team won the R.I. state title in 2007. An earlier version of this story stated that no EG Cross Country team, boys or girls, had won a state title. We apologize for the error.
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