Clare Collins ‘23
Alexandra Gobran ‘23
It takes more than just players and coaches to transform a team into an athletic force. Behind the scenes of practices and competitions, Episcopal faculty are vital to the successful dynamic of EA sports. This year, the athletic department welcomed three new faculty members: VJ Crouse, Katie Duffie, and Maura Waldron. Although their first year at EA may look different than most, they are focusing on improving the health and fitness of the student body.
VJ Crouse joins EA as a new athletic trainer. After graduating from North Penn High School and growing up in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, Crouse continued his academic career at Penn State University. He earned his graduate degree in kinesiology and shortly thereafter received his master’s in kinesiology as well. Although he played basketball and football in high school, Crouse wanted “to focus more on academics in college, so [he] didn’t pursue [sports] any further.” Once graduated from PSU, Crouse went on to work at a small high school before accepting a position to work in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons. Then, he transitioned to work “with the nationally ranked Temple fencing team as well as the Temple crew teams.”
Choosing to work at Episcopal was, according to Crouse, “an easy decision because [EA] is an academic powerhouse with a lot of good, competitive athletics. The facilities and resources that EA has for its students are nothing short of top notch, so I didn’t think twice about accepting the position.” Besides EA’s resources and facilities, Crouse says he is most looking forward to getting to know all of the students. Regarding her experience with Crouse, soccer player Caroline Sewell ‘23 remarks, “When I went to the trainers, Mr. V was super helpful with taping my blisters. He did an awesome job and was welcoming and personable with me, even though it was our first time meeting. I know I can always go down to the trainers if I need any help.”
Another new face is the new Assistant Athletic Director Katie Duffie, who has been heavily involved in athletics from a young age, both on the field and on the sideline. Raised in Media, Pennsylvania, Duffie “thought she was going to grow up and play basketball in college.” However, when she picked up lacrosse in middle school, she “found that it was the best of all of the sports that I played in that it combined my basketball IQ and soccer experience.”
Duffie continued her lacrosse career at Gettysburg College, which is “how [she] got her start in athletics before coming to EA.” After graduating college, she coached the Gettysburg lacrosse team for three years as a full time assistant while simultaneously attending McDaniels College to get her master’s degree. Once she completed her master’s, she became the head lacrosse coach at Ursinus College, which brought her back to the suburbs of Philadelphia.
Despite having thirteen years of coaching experience, Duffie says, “I found that as I grew in coaching, and as my personal life changed – I got married, I had children – and as I evolved as a person, I realized that I always had to keep my eyes and ears open for new opportunities… I’m always trying to stretch myself professionally.” This realization led her to accept the open position at EA because she would “be so heavily involved in athletics and running a department, which has always really fascinated her.” She “particularly enjoys mentoring student athletes.”
The third new addition to the athletic department is Strength and Conditioning Coach Maura Waldron. Like Duffie, Waldron grew up in Media and was always involved in sports, excelling in soccer and basketball. After graduating high school, she notes, “I went to the University of Pittsburgh for my undergrad and then came back here to get my master’s at West Chester.” Although she did not play any sports in college, Waldron continued to pursue athletics. She explains, “Right out of grad school I did some personal training. And then I worked at EXOS, working at one of their corporate sites in Philadelphia where I was involved in general population classes, fitness, personal training, and that kind of stuff.”
Waldron, having worked in athletics at the Hill School during grad school, jumped at the opportunity to work at Episcopal “because the high school age group was a goal that I was eager to get back to.” She mentions, “I’m really looking forward to watching the program grow and see what we can do for the athletes here and make them better, stronger, and more fit overall. I am excited to see where we can take this program and see how we can make the most out of it for the athletes and coaches.”
Laila Williamson ‘21, committed to Bates College track and field, explains, “[Waldron] has done a really great job of working with me to fix my form on a few different exercises and never fails to be motivating, supportive, and helpful, so I always look forward to seeing her during fitness. Her background and skillset are definitely a positive addition to the athletic program.”
Todd Fairlie, Athletic Director, is thrilled with the new staff because “we look for people who are student-centered, driven on supporting the students first.” This ensures that the department as a whole is able to proceed with one goal: “to provide athletic opportunities to the student body.” Fairlie states that Duffie, Crouse, and Waldron “have come in with new energy, and different ideas and perspectives. They’ve been helpful and hardworking during these challenging times. They’re all totally bought-in to doing what’s best in order to make sure athletics run smoothly.”