the test.” He believes his early training at Park helped set him up well, however, to manage these challenges. Significantly, this energy management applies not only to those jam-packed days, but to days when there is downtime. George explains that when he’s “in season” for lacrosse, just sustaining the energy to keep on top of everything is a challenge. In the fall, however, when practice hours are limited, he has three days per week with no team activities. “On those days, energy management is important because you need to do more than just the team activities. See your friends. Call your mom. Do your homework,” he says. The extra discipline that started at Park is all the more noticeable on those days because he sustains the focus to get things done. George’s conversation with two of his former Park coaches was full of laughter and warmth— clearly, the team culture he inhabited at Park has had lasting effects, as has his appreciation for the inherent fun athletics can offer. He still loves playing pick up basketball, a throwback to recess at Park, and played pickleball with his parents in their driveway during COVID lockdown. Even now as Division 1 athlete, he appreciates the benefits of “fun lacrosse.” “Mandatory lacrosse,” he says, “is being in the middle of Delaware on a turf field with teammates you don’t really like,” a pretty apt description of elite youth club sports. “Fun lacrosse is Park lacrosse in the spring. It’s your prize.”
DA N A W E L S H M A N - S T U D L E Y ’ 8 5 , A MY SA LT O N S TA L L ’ 87, A N D M E R R I L L H AW K I N S ’ 9 6
“PA R K P. E …. I T ’ S OBV IOU SLY T H E BE S T T I M E OF DAY.”
COMING HOME TO PARK
P
ark students learn what it means to show up with your best for Park under the guidance of coaches who, as Park alumni themselves, benefited from these same lessons growing up. Park taught them how to work hard, play fair, honor their teammates, and to be gracious in victory and in defeat. Now, they pass these essential values along to the next generations. Dana Welshman-Studley ’85 discovered her passion for athletics at Park, and went on to play Field Hockey and Lacrosse at Thayer Academy, and Lacrosse at Roanoke College. She had a great mentor—her mother, Pat Zifcak, taught Physical Education and coached at Park for 32 years. Dana joined the Park P.E. department in 1996, and currently serves as Associate Athletics Director. Amy Saltonstall ’87 was a three-sport athlete at Park, and went on to play field hockey, ice hockey, and lacrosse at Milton, and field hockey and lacrosse at Williams. Returning to Park to teach in 2013, Amy was glad for the opportunity to coach field hockey and lacrosse, and to remain deeply connected with the learning that comes through participation on a team. Merrill Hawkins ’96 returned to Park as a Grade 6 Humanities teacher, and like Amy, is also dedicated to working with students outside the classroom as a coach. Merrill played soccer, ice hockey, and lacrosse at Park, played soccer, ice hockey, and softball at Deerfield, and ice hockey at Colby.
S u m m e r B ull e ti n 2 0 2 2
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