The Pingry School

“At first, I didn’t want to go to the same college as Diana; it just ended up happening,” says Julia, a four-year letterer and senior captain of Pingry’s Girls’ Varsity Squash Team. “I loved New York City, and it was definitely really nice to have Diana and all of her friends both on and off the team welcome me.”  

By all accounts, playing together on the same collegiate stage has made the sisters even closer, and their game even better. “Playing competitive squash against a sibling for as long as we have, you know each other so well. We’re sisters, but we’re teammates as well, pushing each other to play our best,” says Diana, a four-year letterer, senior captain, and All-American for Big Blue. “We compete for the lineup at the start of each season and play challenge matches. We try to keep it pretty serious, but we fool around a bit, too.” Fellow teammates and coaches are drawn to their matches when they practice against each other. They resemble one another, and even move alike on the court. “Our shots are similar but our strategies are pretty different,” Diana is quick to add. Oh, and both are majoring in Applied Math (Diana at Columbia’s School of Engineering, Julia in Columbia College, the university’s liberal arts program) and minoring in Economics.

Playing together wasn’t always so enjoyable, they admit. “I think we irritated each other,” recalls Julia. “When I played her at Pingry I remember being so annoyed by what she was wearing!” adds Diana. “It’s way different in college now.” Despite the challenges of being a sister squash “act” (“There’s definitely a balance between being sisters and me being a leader on the team,” says Diana; “Everyone expected a mini-Diana, so I had to carve out my own place on the team,” says Julia), they agree on at least one thing: During Big Blue matches, they were each other’s loudest fans. At Columbia, they are still.

A two-time Division III All-American for the Panthers, Eric considered pursuing ice hockey in college, but decided to focus solely on lacrosse. Both of his Pingry coaches, he emphasizes, have been influential.

“Coach Webster did a great job preparing all the guys who had aspirations to play college lacrosse. I felt like I had a leg up on some of the guys even coming from more nationally recognized high schools. I felt as if I had been better prepared,” he says. “And on the hockey side, Mags [20-year former Head Coach John Magadini] is definitely one of the more influential guys in my life. He’s a great mentor and friend. Last spring, he came out to an Amherst game to watch Jamie [Jamie Smith ’15] and me.” Yes, former Big Blue teammates and still good friends, Eric and Jamie now play on opposing teams.

Accolades aside, she learned many skills as a scholar athlete at Pingry that she took with her to Williams, she remarks. What were the two most significant? Proper time management and effective communication, she says. "Between school work, athletics, sleep, and social activities, it is often difficult to find time to do them all," she says. "The rigor of Pingry's academics paired with the time commitment of athletics (both in and out of school), helped direct my work ethic to ultimately become more efficient. Additionally, Pingry taught me how to successfully communicate with my peers, teachers, and coaches, which has been extremely beneficial in my time at Williams."

Her success playing for the Ephs hasn't overshadowed her memories of Big Blue. "I miss the quality time spent on buses traveling to and from games and the never-ending laughter in the locker room. I also miss our frequent Panera trips and our game-day spirit attire," she recalls.

A psychology major, she plans to work in marketing/advertising after graduation. And, of course, play hockey.

Captain for the Lions, she has earned All-Ivy League honors and has been named to the NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad every year of her collegiate career. A double-major in Economics and Psychology, with a concentration in Business Management, she recently accepted a marketing position with Unilever in their Future Leaders Program.

“Pingry taught me how to balance both academics and athletics, while also having time for friends and family. Most importantly, I think Pingry also shaped me into a true team player, both on and off the field. I have carried this team attitude with me throughout college, and I know that it will be fundamental to every part of my life."

“They were so warm and welcoming, and made me so excited to start Pingry. I remember they took me out to Panera after I was named first singles—they were nothing but excited for me.”

A two-time Somerset County Athlete of the Year and two-time New Jersey state sectional champion who helped to lead her team to two state titles (2012, 2013), Madison says, looking back, the little moments stand out more than the big ones. Take, for example, the team’s match against arch rival Bridgewater her sophomore year, during their regular season. It had been years since the upperclassmen on the team had pulled out a victory over them. It came down to the wire, and the girls surrounded the last court in play, anticipating every shot. When the Pingry player won, they all stormed the court, hugging. “The state titles were exciting moments, for sure,” she says, “but these underdog experiences, the sense of family and friendship, were also really meaningful.”

Now, as the statistics major prepares to step into more of a leadership role on Cornell’s varsity tennis team, she recalls these memories playing for Big Blue well. “I really want to make the younger classes and newcomers feel welcome. I want to be the way the older Pingry girls were towards me.”

Her first year with the Hoyas she played beside her sister, Daphne, then a senior stand out on the team, who now plays professionally overseas. Still, she managed to carve out an admirable place for herself, earning selection to the Big East Freshman Team. In 2015, she earned All-American Third Team recognition as well as Big East Midfielder of the Year honors. To be sure, she has plenty of reasons to be distracted by present-day achievements. But, perhaps because her brother, Mael ’12, was also a Big Blue standout-turned-college-star (soccer is in the family’s DNA!), Pingry memories still hold strong.

The government major, environmental studies/French minor, who began playing at the age of six, keeps in touch with several former teammates, many of whom play in college. She also keeps in touch with Coach Egginton, who welcomes her back to practice with the team during summer breaks. Twenty years from now, what will she remember most about her Pingry soccer days? “The friendships—going to a school that I loved and getting to play a sport that I love with so many great friends.”