Fall Varsity Athletics Recap: Wins On and Off the Field

Sting athletes discovered their competitive edge through hard work and dedication. Read about some of the exciting highlights from the fall season.
Varsity Soccer Team Competes in State Tournament
Hutchison’s varsity soccer team competed in the Division II AA State Championship Semifinals in October. This is the first time since 2004 that our varsity soccer team has competed at this level in the state tournament, and it truly speaks to the girls’ commitment, effort, and teamwork as well as to the leadership and guidance of our coaches. The team lost to Father Ryan High School at the semifinal game in Nashville, Tennessee.

As mentioned in a roundup of teams in The Commercial Appeal, Coach Candice Spiniolas adopted an “all-for-one, one-for-all” approach to team development activities this season that has been instrumental to our success. Along with the hard work of regular practices, Coach Spiniolas encouraged stronger relationships amongst players, resulting in improved teamwork on and off the field. Working together for the greater good has made our team more cohesive and led to greater success with every passing week. Out of the last eight games that Hutchison has played in, five have been complete shutouts in which no goals were scored by the opposing team. 

“We’ve changed and grown with every passing game,” said Coach Spiniolas. “Our girls are supporting each other and working together for the greater good of the team. Because we are a more cohesive team, we succeed.”
Seven Cross Country Athletes Competed in State Championship
Seven of Hutchison's varsity cross country athletes competed in the state championship this year. Our varsity cross country athletes competed in the Cross Country State Championship on November 5, in Nashville, TN including seniors Victoria Kennedy '17, Ainslee Lynn '17, Sophie Merchant '17, and Emma Lou Tillmanns '17; sophomore Nora Tillmanns '19; and freshmen Madison Morris '20, and Carter Patikas '20. Nora Tillmanns ’19 placed ninth overall in the state. From the pool of runners who qualify for the TSSAA State Championship Meet, Nora Tillmanns ’19 was selected to the top 15 that are considered All-State.
Fall Varsity Sports Excel in Post-Season Regional Competition
Our varsity volleyball, soccer, and golf teams all placed second overall in their respective regional competitions this fall.
Hutchison Junior Named Among Top Lacrosse Athletes in the Nation
Hutchison junior Elizabeth Farnsworth has been named #6 among the top 20 "Young Gun Juniors" in the nation by Inside Lacrosse Magazine. She was recently named to Tennessee's list of All American Athletes by U.S. Lacrosse and competed last year with Hutchison as they took home their sixth consecutive state title against Ensworth School. View the list >>
Eleven Sting Athletes in Fall Sports Named to All-Region and All-State Lists
Eleven Hutchison Sting varsity athletes who competed in fall sports this semester earned placements on All-Region and All-State lists in their respective sports.
  • Lydia Herring ’18 and Micaela Dusseault ’19 were two of the top 15 varsity soccer athletes across the state from Division IIAA selected by all coaches in the division and named All-State.
  • From the pool of runners who qualify for the TSSAA State Championship Meet, Nora Tillmanns ’19 was selected to the top 15 that are considered All-State.
  • Four soccer athletes were named to the All-Region team including Hannah Hussey ’19, Lydia Herring ’18, Micaela Dusseault ’19, and Emma Lou Tillmanns ’17. Coaches in West Tennessee selected the top 16 players selected from the West region of Division IIAA to receive this honor.
  • Three volleyball athletes were named to the 1st team All-Region including Kate Grace Cunningham ’17, Simmons Allen ’18, and Catey Nelson ’18.
  • Three additional volleyball athletes were named to the 2nd Team All-Region including Blair Threlkeld ’18, Kendall Morgan ’19, and Anne Grinder ’19.
Varsity Lacrosse Athlete Commits to Play for Vanderbilt Team
Hutchison senior Griffin Gearhardt signed her NCAA National Letter of Intent to play lacrosse at Vanderbilt University. Griffin's passion for lacrosse began at an early age and has only grown since then. She currently plays attack for Hutchison's varsity lacrosse championship team and has proven a strong contributing athlete in each of Hutchison's three most recent state lacrosse titles. She has achieved tremendous recognition locally and nationally as a lacrosse athlete including her selection as a Commercial Appeal Best of the Preps finalist (9,10) and later Best of the Preps Lacrosse Player of the Year (11); as well as being named to both All-region and All-state teams (9,10,11). She has been named a U.S. Lacrosse All-American (9,10,11) every year since joining our varsity lacrosse team and in 2016 she was also named a U.S. Lacrosse Academic All-American (11). Also during her junior year, she competed in Nike’s The Ride, an elite lacrosse event at the Nike World Headquarters as one of the top fifty lacrosse players in the country. Griffin is considering a major in economics or human and organizational development at Vanderbilt and she is looking forward to joining the lacrosse team there next fall.

"We are thrilled for Griffin, and look forward to watching her continue to grow and flourish at the collegiate level," said Hutchison Athletic Director Catherine Chubb.
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