EA Varsity teams embark on spring training trips

Over the past few years, spring sports teams at Episcopal have traveled across the country to compete and bond with teammates. This year, the baseball, softball, and girls’ lacrosse teams spent their spring breaks on trips to Florida, Arizona, and River Valley, PA.

This year’s destinations offered a mix of competitive environments and team-building opportunities, starting with the boys’ baseball team’s trip to Florida. According to the Varsity Baseball Head Coach Thomas Grandieri, the time in Florida allows the team to “kind of get a different look at different programs, usually some really good competition.” The competition aspect is incredibly beneficial for the team, expanding their experience far beyond local games. For Captain Spencer Schuh ‘26, the trip is more than just baseball. He explains the aspect of the trip he values the most, stating, “Just building some team chemistry so you can keep people accountable, it’s just easier to have conversations with players if you know them.” The team has been traveling to Florida with Grandieri for the last eight or nine years, and for him, the trip leaves a noticeable impact every season. This trip has proven to be a beneficial way to start the season, helping navigate where players fit on the field and how they connect off the field. 

The girls’ softball team also got to enjoy some warm weather, spending their week in Arizona. When the girls weren’t competing, they had the opportunity to engage in activities that encouraged connection beyond the field. According to Head Coach Bernadette Moran, “their activities ranged from trivia to a bake-off to having a hibachi chef cook dinner.” Moran also commented on the purpose of the week, saying, “I think it does create some type of bond over time, especially, obviously, on the field, they get a few more games to play with each other and get comfortable with the style of play. We try to do a lot just to keep everyone engaged, just to kind of keep that team atmosphere, that team bonding.” This bond has certainly carried over to the field as the team continues to build its impressive record. 

While they did not go as far, the girls’ lacrosse team still managed to spend meaningful time together. For Head Coach Josie Tomaino, it was a new experience. “We did something completely different that we’ve never done,” she says. “We had a weekend off from lacrosse. We went to River Valley Ranch. We did paintball and a high ropes course, and slept in one room with 18 double bunk beds. It was like a big sleepover,” she describes. In the past few years, the girls’ lacrosse team has been incredibly successful on the field. This year, Tomaino decided to start the season off outside of competition, focusing on building the kind of team chemistry that creates a successful season. 

While the baseball and softball teams traveled to destinations out of state, all three teams and coaches spent time ensuring they were creating meaningful experiences that brought their teams closer together, not just as teammates, but as friends in the EA community. Grandieri says, “It’s always fascinating to see the three guys who are walking out of the front of the hotel together. You’re like, I never would have thought those three guys would be hanging out together.” It’s those kinds of moments that really show how impactful these team-building experiences are. It’s not just about the way these players interact with each other on the field, but the relationships they form because of the experience their sport has brought to them.