IN THE GAME

Boys Lacrosse

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SUCCESSES

Norfolk Academy celebrated a half century of its boys lacrosse program on May 6, during a dinner and special ceremony that recognized teacher-coach Tom Duquette, who was at the helm most of those incredibly successful 50 years.

The night was highlighted by an announcement honoring Mr. Duquette’s contributions — the creation of the B. Thomas Duquette Endowment for Teaching Associates, which will help develop future Academy teacher-coaches. Trustee John O. Wynne Jr. ’94 announced the endowment, saying it was established with a $1 million matching gift from an alumnus, and has already grown to $1.6 million.

The Teaching Associates Program provides a one-year experience or apprenticeship, developing men and women to serve as role models and sources of moral, academic, artistic, and athletic enrichment for students at Norfolk Academy. While some teaching associates stay at Norfolk Academy, many go on to full-time teaching roles at other independent schools.

Mr. Wynne, who was part of perhaps NA’s greatest boys lacrosse run (four straight state titles from 1993–96) and went on to play at Princeton, noted that Mr. Duquette is the highest exemplar of the teacher-coach, as he was more than a coach from his arrival at Academy in 1981 until his retirement this summer. “He has been a teacher, coach, mentor, leader, and friend,” Mr. Wynne said. “He has embodied each of these roles and often all of them at the same time.”

Chazz Woodson ’01 said he mirrors many of Coach Duquette’s methods as head coach at Hampton University, notably his love and the devotion he shows his student-athletes, always offering to help no matter the situation. Mr. Woodson said that Coach Duquette has offered to help him on countless occasions, but always in a low-key way, with the phrase “if you want it.”

Mr. Woodson got the room laughing as he described his youthful hero-worship of Coach Duquette, which extended to imitation of his coaching attire. He said that while Duquette’s yellow jacket gets a lot of attention, too little attention has been paid to his practice of wearing “inside out sweatpants.”

“I began to wear all my sweatpants inside out,” Coach Woodson said. “And when people asked me why, I said, ‘If it is good enough for Coach Duquette, it is good enough for me.’”

In a more serious vein, Coach Woodson recalled that he absorbed many lacrosse techniques that Coach Duquette taught by hanging out with older players at Norfolk Academy, who generously shared all they knew, because their coach “created an environment where we could bring our best selves.”

Coach Duquette “is a brilliant example of all that is right about lacrosse and all that NA aspires to be,” Mr. Woodson said.

Trustee John L. Gibson III ’78, who played on the first NA team to win a state championship (1978), and Stock Watson ’86, who was part of the program when it won state titles in 1984 and 1985, rounded out the speakers for the evening; both went on to play lacrosse at HampdenSydney College.

Typically humble, Mr. Duquette thanked his wife, Susan, an assistant director and guidance counselor in the Lower School; his assistant coaches during his 38 years as a head coach at NA; players, many of whom have become lifelong friends; and the parents who have supported the program.

Although the program had many championships during his tenure, those highly charged games were not his favorite moments, he said. “Afternoons at practice — a bunch of guys who loved to play, practice, and don’t want to leave the field. Some of those afternoons are just magical.”

He has been rewarded many times over in joyful experiences as a teacher and coach, he said. “The great honor is having the opportunity to serve this place for 40-plus years.” ◆

Esther Diskin is Director of Communications.

Girls Lacrosse

LAX FOR LOVE: A DECADE RAISING AWARENESS

Like many young people, Blair Monaco acknowledges she wasn’t well versed on relationship violence growing up.

That changed sadly in 2010, when Yeardley Love, Monaco’s friend and lacrosse teammate at the University of Virginia, was killed by her ex-boyfriend. A short time later, Love’s family created the One Love Foundation, which aims to end relationship violence using education.

A few years after graduating from UVA, Monaco began teaching Middle School English and coaching girls lacrosse at Norfolk Academy, and introduced a way to honor her friend.

In 2013, Academy started Lax for Love, an all-day lacrosse event that both taught about relationship violence and raised money for the One Love Foundation. Now approaching its 10th anniversary, Lax for Love has raised tens of thousands of dollars for the foundation and grown to provide lessons both in school and on the lacrosse field.

Among its important events: Workshops for seniors that teach about warning signs of unhealthy relationships and help them be more comfortable addressing an uncomfortable topic; fundraisers and awareness campaigns by the school’s One Love Club; and the continuing lacrosse day that educates the outside community — Monaco hopes next spring to resume some events Covid cancelled in recent seasons.

Providing such education doesn’t make remembering Love — a warm, bubbly, smiling young woman who wouldn’t hurt a fly — any easier, Monaco said. But she is pleased by how it has helped.

“Playing the game Yeardley loved and raising awareness,” Monaco said. “We can keep her legacy alive.” ◆

Mike Connors is Digital and Social Media Specialist.

Started in 2013, Norfolk Academy’s annual Lax for Love lacrosse day educates about relationship violence and benefits the One Love Foundation, which aims to end such violence.

TOP LEFT TO RIGHT: Current students and alumni filled the Athletic Pavilion on May 6 to celebrate a half-century of boys lacrosse at Norfolk Academy. The highlight of the night came when Trustee John O. Wynne Jr. ’94 (hugging Tom Duquette in third photo from left) announced the creation of the B. Thomas Duquette Endowment for Teaching Associates.

Mark Williams scored more than 1,000 points in his Norfolk Academy career before starring at Duke University. He now plays for the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets.

Magical Run for Two Bulldogs

MARK WILLIAMS & DAVID MCCORMACK SHINE ON THE COURT AND IN THE CLASSROOM

Norfolk Academy got caught up in the frenzy of March Madness this year, for some very big reasons. The buzz around campus — indeed across Bulldog Nation — isn’t going to slow down anytime soon.

Griff Aldrich ’92, head coach of the Longwood University men’s basketball team, guided the Lancers to their first-ever NCAA Tournament. Mark Williams and David McCormack, who both starred as big men for Academy, helped Duke and Kansas, respectively, advance to the Final Four.

McCormack capped that run by leading the Jayhawks to the national title. Then in June, the Charlotte Hornets took Williams in the first round of the NBA Draft, 15th overall.

“To me it’s special because we are not a basketball factory,” said Eric Acra ’84, Academy’s varsity boys basketball coach for the past 20 years. “We are getting at it in both the classroom and the athletic fields and gyms. Their success speaks to everything we do here.”

Their success put Academy character on display. Aldrich’s selfless story — he worked for a leading international law firm and as managing director of a national investment firm before switching careers to help young students as a coach — earned him national media attention. Both Williams and McCormack drew praise for their prowess in the classroom; Williams made the All-ACC Academic Team in both his college years, while McCormack was the 2022 Big 12 Conference Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year and has already earned his master’s degree from Kansas.

As telling was how Williams and McCormack handled their stardom. Neither graduated from Academy — Williams moved to the IMG sports school

DAVID MCCORMACK SHINE ON THE COURT AND IN THE CLASSROOM

in Florida for his senior year and McCormack moved to Oak Hill Academy, a national basketball powerhouse — but both still very much consider NA home. Shortly after the Final Four, Williams returned to campus to say hello to former teachers and coaches. McCormack keeps in regular touch with friends and mentors, even as he chases his NBA dreams — he is playing professionally overseas this fall.

“Two class acts,” said Chad Byler, Academy’s Director of Athletics. “Fantastic players and exceptional human beings.”

The Academy community got wrapped up in their success. On the Friday before the Final Four, students wore blue and orange. Acra and Byler joined a large contingent of alumni who traveled to New Orleans to cheer on Williams and McCormack for those big games.

Several of Williams’ Bulldog teammates went to New York City for the NBA Draft, some wearing Academy jerseys. “I’m still pinching myself,” Byler said. “It’s really amazing how these young men have turned into such outstanding people as well as basketball players.”

Acra was with Byler in the Superdome, cheering McCormack on as he led Kansas to the national championship. Barely two months later he was on pins and needles on draft night, waiting to see which team would select Williams.

He still remembers well the hard work they put in at Academy that allowed them to find this success. He also knows they’re just beginning on their path to NBA stardom.

“It’s going to be fun to watch,” Acra said. ◆

Mike Connors is Digital and Social Media Specialist. After shining for NA, David McCormack helped Kansas win a national championship.