Athletics
Rick Riggleman
Athletics plays an integral part in the educational experience at Saint Mary's School.
The mission of the Saint Mary's School athletic department is to provide a dynamic environment that promotes competitiveness, teamwork, self-discipline, and sportsmanship. We aim to develop individual and team potential by promoting physical fitness along with high levels of competence, character, and citizenship.
We offer a full interscholastic athletic program, consisting of 19 teams in the following 12 sports: cheerleading, cross country, field hockey, golf, tennis, volleyball, basketball, swimming, lacrosse, soccer, softball, and track & field. Saint Mary's School competes as a member of the Triangle Independent Schools Athletic Conference (TISAC) and the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association (NCISAS, 4A Classification).
In partnership with Raleigh Orthopedics, Saint Mary's School provides an athletic trainer for all on-campus practices and games.
Saint Mary's Triangle Fitness
Designed to exercise the body, mind, and spirit, Triangle Fitness is a co-curricular program providing students with a broad range of interscholastic activities from which to choose. Each student must complete 10 seasons of a Triangle Fitness activity. Activities are scheduled in conjunction with sports seasons and the performing arts calendar and students may choose to participate on an athletic team, in after-school dance classes, in the school's theatre and/or musical performances, or any combination of these, to meet their Triangle Fitness requirement. Click here to see a sample of fitness options offered.
Athletics News
Saint Mary's Athletics Department celebrated our Winter sports athletes in the seasonal athletics assembly and celebration in Bacon Gym, Thursday, March 2.
Cheers, to all winter student-athletes and coaches on all your dedication and hard work in basketball, cheer, and swimming!
- Athletics
Congratulations, to our fall sports teams, athletes, and coaches on a most successful 2022 season! The teams were honored at the fall sports celebration assembly, Nov. 10, in Pittman Auditorium. Special congratulations, to those recognized for earning team, all-state, and all-conference honors. Go, Saints!
- Athletics
- School News
Congratulations, to Saint Mary's student-athletes honored at the 2022 Spring Athletics Celebration and Awards assembly, May 18, 2022, in Pittman Auditorium.
- Athletics
Congratulations, spring sports award recipients and honorees!
Congratulations, to the spring sports awards recipients, who were presented special awards at the Spring 2021 Athletics Assembly. You watch the awards assembly at any time and share with friends or family via Saint Mary's School YouTube channel.
- Athletics
- Swimming
The Saints Varsity Swim team ended the season with an 11th place finish out of 16 teams at the NCISAA Div I Championship meet, Feb 8, 2021. The Saints were represented by 8 athletes who made it to States by earing qualifying cuts throughout the season: Chelsea Barnes ’23, Avery Cleaver ’24, Emily DeRonja ’22, Abby Foreman ’23, Abby Gillilan ’21, Rachel Lundy ’23, Isabel Moran ’21, and Hallie Tant ’21. Congratulations to these swimmers, and all athletes who competed at the meet!
- Athletics
Saints hoops win; Paige Fisher '21 celebrated for 1,000+ points
The varsity basketball team earned its second straight win this week with a 47-30 victory over TISAC opponent Wake Christian Academy at home in Bacon Gym, Friday, Jan. 28, 2021. Senior Paige Fisher '21 led all scorers. Paige, with her mother by her side, was honored just prior to the game for passing the 1,000 point total for her Saint Mary's high school career, which she did earlier this week in the win over Cary Academy in which she scored 31. Coach Rob Weltz presented her the game ball she scored the 1,000th point with and a commemorative engraved ball that will be added to the trophy case in the lobby of Bacon Gym. According to our records, Paige is the third player in Saint Mary's history to score more than 1,000 points - Leslie Marshall '06, Andy Smithey '16, and Paige Fisher '21. Congratulations, to all. Go, Saints!
A group of 12 Varsity swimmers represented the Saints at the TISAC Conference Championship Thus Jan 28, grateful the meet went on as planned! The team came in 4th out of 6th place, defeating Ravenscroft and Wake Christian. Congratulations to Cary Academy on another great 1st place finish! Final scores of the meet:
1st Cary Academy – 198
2nd North Raleigh Christian Academy – 89
3rd Durham Academy – 74
4th Saint Mary’s – 54
5th Ravenscroft – 47
6th Wake Christian – 28
Congratulations to the Varsity swim team on completing an undefeated season! With all meets swam and won at home this year, the Saints brought their all and for the first time in years caught a perfect regular season. Thurs Jan 21 the swim team celebrated senior night, recognizing Mary Thorne Campbell, Lucy Cheney, Abby Gillilan, Audrey Goldfield, Isabel Moran, Chloe Shen, Sydney Sheppard, and Hallie Tant – then closed the season with a win over Ravenscroft! Final scores of the meet:
SMS – 99
RAV – 65
Varsity Swim Ringing in the 2021 Year With a Win
The Saints Swim team defeated Durham Academy yesterday, with a final score of 87-73. This win brings the team's season record to 2-0.
Next Thurs Jan 21 the swim team will celebrate senior night, competing against Ravenscroft for the last regular meet of the season.
Scorers of the meet:
Rachel Lundy ‘23 – 1st 50 free, 1st 500 free
Hallie Tant ‘21 – 1st 100 fly, 2nd 200 IM
Isabel Moran ‘21 – 2nd 100 back, 3rd 200 free
Chelsea Barnes ‘23 – 2nd 200 free, 3rd 100 free
Avery Cleaver ‘24 – 2nd 100 breast, 3rd 200 IM
Abby Foreman ‘23 – 3rd 50 free, 3rd 100 back
MT Campbell ‘21 – 3rd 100 breast, 4th 100 free
Lilly Chafin ‘24 – 4th 50 free, 4th 100 breast
- Athletics
Congratulations, to the Fall 2020 Sports Award winners, pictured (named below), and to all fall athletes, coaches, celebrated and honored Nov. 18 in a virtual schoolwide assembly broadcast on Teams! The hard work and dedication to Saints athletics is a wonderful example of perseverance, resilience, and positive attitude in the midst of a pandemic. Playing, competing, and practicing together in team sports has made us all winners this fall! Go, Saints!
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- Swimming
The Varsity Swim team held their first meet of the season at home on Monday, November 16 against Grace Christian School. It was one of the Saints’ first dual meets (1 vs. 1) and one of the first female only meet we have had in many years. Even through having no spectators, the Saints persevered and pulled out a huge win! In an almost complete sweep, the Saints won 1st place in 10 out of the 11 total events. Final scores of the meet were:
SMS – 98
GCS – 41
- Athletics
Congratulations, to Saint Mary's senior Chrismon Clark '21 on signing her National Letter of Intent with the University of Michigan Wolverines diving team. The ceremony was held at the Pavilion on the Hannah Smith '12 Quad on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020, with Chrismon surrounded by her family and Saint Mary's friends. Outstanding achievement! Go, Blue!

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Varsity Basketball with a Slam Dunk Season Opener
The Varsity basketball team defeated Rocky Mount Academy 64-36 behind a solid performance from Sibley Hash who had 28 points. Lauren Bowen had 7 points and help run the offense year. Dimney Rideout had her first Varsity start and had 8 points. The Saints are in action again on November 12th as they play Grace Christian at 5pm.
Congratulations, to Saint Mary's Cross Country team members and coaches on a solid showing at the 2020 NCISAA state meet held Saturday, Oct. 31, at McAlpine Park in Charlotte! The Saints placed 14th overall, and all the Saints had either a personal best or season best run.
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- School News
Saint Mary’s athletics wraps up a successful, meaningful, and fun fall season this week that included modifications for health and safety in the age of COVID-19. The Saints were able to safely compete interscholastically in tennis, golf, and cross country, while the field hockey and volleyball teams forged on with skill building, practice, scrimmages, and team bonding each afternoon on campus.
Congratulations, to Vivian Shillingsburg ‘23, on qualifying for the NCISAA women’s state golf championship played at Bryant Park in Greensboro on Monday, Oct. 26! Great accomplishment representing Saints’s golf at states! (Photo courtesy of Evan Pike)
- Saint Mary's Blog
Kayla Wyscarver, Saint Mary’s varsity cross country coach and seminar faculty, shared this message with her team following an Oct. 15 meet with Cary Academy, during which Saints runners ran well with several athletes achieving new season and personal bests.
Why I coach. Because the coaches before me laid a foundation for me that will never leave me, showing me that running is not just about first places or trophies. Those are all great and well earned. Running is also spiritually and mentally strengthening.
- Athletics
Saint Mary's Athletic Department is proud to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month by partnering again with the Kay Yow Cancer Fund's Play4Kay campaign . Kay Yow was the Head Women’s Basketball Coach at North Carolina State University. and while her winning 38-year legacy as a college head coach was remarkable, perhaps her most lasting impact was the founding of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund in 2007. To date, the fund has awarded $7.78 million in the fight against all cancers affecting women.
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Varsity Tennis wins!
Saints win! Varsity tennis earned a 9-0 TISAC conference win over Wake Christian Academy at home on the Eure-Jones Tennis Courts, Thursday, September 24, 2020. Victory Bell celebration! Go, Saints!
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With 72 points, Saint Mary’s varsity cross country finished third behind Ravenscroft and Durham Academy in the first meet of the 2020 season, Thursday, September 24.
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Saints athletes are working hard this week in competition and in training.
- Saints News
On August 12, 2020 in a letter to the Saint Mary's community, Director of Athletics Rob Weltz announced plans for the school's fall sports season.
Saints senior swimmer achieves first Olympic trials cut
Congratulations! Saints senior and future University of Pittsburgh swimmer Caroline Crouse '20 achieved her first Olympic trials cut at sectionals in the women’s 200 fly, swimming a 2:14.27 in the event to knock off over a second from her best time and sneak under the cut of 2:14.59! Way to go! Good luck, at the USA Olympic trials in Omaha, Nebraska!
Surrounded by her family, coaches, and Saint Mary’s teammates and friends during a signing ceremony held during lunch in Chan-Poyner Hall, March 6, 2020, Saint Mary’s senior lacrosse star Gracey Falk ’20 signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) to join the women’s lacrosse program at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky.
Saint Mary's winter sports teams and student-athletes were celebrated Thursday, March 5, 2020, at the winter sports assembly in Pittman Auditorium. Congratulations, to the special individual award winners, all team members, coaches, and staff, on a successful winter season in swimming and basketball! Go Saints!
The Varsity Swim States team was in Greensboro for the NCISAA State Championship meet on Mon, Feb 10. The State meet is a qualifying meet, meaning all swimmers in attendance made cuts throughout the season that were fast enough to land them a spot in the final meet. 12 Saints made cuts and represented the school at the season’s Championship meet. It was a long day spent at the Greensboro Aquatic Center – prelims in the morning and finals in the evening. It was all worth it, as the Saints came away from the meet as Runners Up – earning 2nd in the State meet out of 16 total teams!
The Varsity Swim team had their last regular season meet of the 2019-2020 year on Thursday, Jan 23 against Cary Academy and Cape Fear Academy. The Saints pulled out the win against Cape Fear, but fell shy of defeating the defending State champs, Cary Academy. Final scores of the meet:
CA 60 – SMS 34
SMS 67 – CFA 21
The Saints were on the road Fri Jan 17 for a travel meet against Charlotte Latin and Providence Day School. A smaller crew of swimmers represented at the meet, making the long haul across the state. The team came away from the meet with one win and one loss. This was the Swim team’s first loss of the season, but the team’s spirit remains high as they look forward to a chance to swim Latin again full force at States. Final scores of the meet were:
Charlotte Latin - SMS
SMS - Providence Day
The Varsity Swim team celebrated senior night on Thursday, Jan 10 at the last home meet of the season against Durham Academy and Ravenscroft. It was a packed house with many families, friends, and Saints showing up to honor the 8 senior swimmers. It was a perfect last home meet, the Saints coming away with one of the biggest wins of the season. The swim team has been on a roll this season, boasting an undefeated record of 8-0. Final scores of the meet were:
SMS 72 - Rav 16
SMS 72 - DA 14
From December 11-14, 2019, Saint Mary’s own Abby Arens ’20 competed against top swimmers from across the eastern U.S. in the 2019 Winter Juniors East Nationals at Georgia Tech McAuley Aquatic Center in Atlanta.
Varsity Swimming was back in the pool Thursday December 12 competing against Cary Christian School and Wake Christian. The team dominated the meet, scoring first place in all of the 11 events. Furthermore, the Saints also scored 2nd place in 8 events! It was a fantastic meet for all of the swimmers, a perfect meet leading into Christmas break. The double win takes the Saints record to 6-0 for the season.
Final scores of the meet:
SMS 74 – Wake Christian 15
SMS 72 – Cary Christian 17
- Swimming
The Varsity Swim team was back in the water for their second meet of the season on Thursday Dec 5 against Voyager Academy and Durham Academy. The girls swam hard and left it all in the pool, fighting the whole way for the victory. The double win brings the Saint's record to 4-0.
Final scores of the meet were:
SMS 48 - VA 44
SMS 54 - DA 33
- Saints News
Congratulations to our fall athletes!
On Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019, we celebrated our fall student-athletes and announced the fall sports awards during a special assembly in Pittman. Click here for a gallery of photos highlighting the Saints fall sports season. Congratulations to all our fall sports athletes. Go Saints!
- Saints News
Congratulations to Carly Rein '20 who competed in the Duke Jump for the Children Horse Show in Raleigh.
- Saints News
The Varsity Swim Team opened the 2019-2020 season at home on Thursday, Nov 14 against Cary Christian School and Grace Christian School. It was a perfect start to the season, the Saints defeating both opponents to begin a 2-0 record. Final scores of the meet were :
SMS 64 – CCS 21
SMS 63 – GCS 21
- Saints News
The Varsity Basketball team started out the season picking up two wins this week. The Saints traveled to Rocky Mount Academy on Tuesday to open up the season. Junior Paige Fisher had 23 points and 12 rebounds. Sibley Hash ('23) had 9 points and Eleanor Williams ('20) had 8 points and 8 rebounds, all adding up to the Saints winning with a final score of 55-38.
- Saints News
We will celebrate our fall athletes in a special assembly on Thursday, Nov. 21 in Pittman, 10:45-11:30 a.m.
Varsity Tennis and Varsity Field Hockey off to the first round
The Varsity Tennis and Varsity Field Hockey teams are playing in the first round of the NCISAA tournament on Tuesday, Oct. 15. The teams have worked hard all season, leading to each qualifying to play for the State Title in their sport. If the teams win this first game, they will continue to round two of the Championship.
The Varsity Tennis team is traveling to #7 ranked Greensboro Day School on Tuesday, Oct. 15th for a 4pm match
The Varsity Field Hockey team is the #8 seed and will host Cape Fear Academy at HOME on Tuesday, Oct. 15th at 4:00pm.
Make sure to congratulate these athletes and wish them good luck in the tournament!!
The JV Tennis team finished their season on Oct. 10 with a 6-3 win over East Chapel Hill High School. This win finalized their season as an undefeated team!
The varsity tennis team had a close call today at North Raleigh Christian Academy. The team played great tennis and squeaked out a 5 to 4 win.
- Cross Country News
- Field Hockey News
- Tennis
- Volleyball News
The Saints were on the road yesterday for a haul to Chatham Hall. JV Tennis, JV Volleyball, Varsity Field Hockey, Varsity Cross Country, and Varsity Volleyball piled onto charter buses for the trip, hoping to show their skills in Virginia.
It was a very successful trip, as ALL teams came home victorious! The Saints showed strength and great teamwork, putting up some of the best scores of the season all around.
JV Tennis - 9-0 (W)
JV Volleyball - 2-2 (W)
Varsity Field Hockey - 3-0 (W)
Varsity Cross Country - 20-42 (W)
Varsity Volleyball - 3-1 (W)
- Field Hockey News
- Tennis
- Volleyball News
The Saints had games against conference opponent Ravenscroft yesterday in multiple sports, played both at home, and away. The Saints were able to come away from the day with 3 outstanding wins!
Varsity Field Hockey - 2-1
Varsity Volleyball - 3-2
JV Tennis - 7-2
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- Volleyball News
Varsity Volleyball v CFA – 3-1
JV Volleyball v CFA – 2-0
JV Tennis v CFA – 6-3
- Saints News
Abby Arens (’20) was recognized in assembly this week for her accomplishments at the State swim meet last year. The Senior swimmer has been named as a NISCA All-America swimmer in not only 1, but 2 individual events; the 200 IM and the 100 breaststroke.
- Cross Country News
Saint Mary’s school placed 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th place, scoring ahead of the other 3 teams.
- Tennis
The Saints had a huge win yesterday against Wake Christian winning all courts in a 9-0 victory. In the 9 matches, the Saints gave up a total of seven games which is amazing for how long they were on the court. Coach Gina Minton said of the game, “This was a great win, and everybody played very well.”
- Tennis
The varsity tennis team had yet another epic battle against Cary Christian yesterday. The match ended in almost the exact same way as last week; the two teams tied going into doubles, and the outcome of the game coming down to the final court.
- Tennis
Yesterday was a great match against Cary Christian Academy at home. The Saints started off the match winning the first singles with Caroline Lively putting up 6-0, 6-1.