Welcome to Episode 176 of The Darlington Podcast!
In this episode, Content Manager Maddie Chastain talks with varsity coaches Sam Clark (volleyball), Brant Evans (boys' and girls' cross country), Betina Fuentes (football cheerleading), Wayne Groves (football), Anna Harris (softball) and Melissa Smyly (competition cheerleading) about the fall athletic season at Darlington. You'll hear a little bit about each team and their highlights of the spring season, from the pre-season to team bonding to their accomplishments and more.
Maddie Chastain has served as content manager in the Communication Office since 2022 and is a member of the residential duty staff. In her role, she manages and produces content for the Darlington Community, from galleries, blogs, news stories, and The Darlington Podcast to the school's social media profiles. Maddie holds a B.A. in Communication from Berry College.
Sam Clark has taught Upper School English, served as a college advisor, and served on the residential duty staff since 2017. He coaches volleyball in the fall and boys' lacrosse in the spring, and serves as faculty adviser for the Model UN. Sam holds a B.A. in English from Rhodes College, and an M.A. from the Middlebury Bread Loaf School of English.
Brant Evans came to Darlington in 2008 and currently serves as Assistant Director of Upper School. He also teaches AP US Government and is head cross country coach. Brant holds a B.A. in History and an M.Ed. in Social Sciences from the University of Georgia.
Betina Fuentes has been teaching English at the Upper School since 2023 and also leads the English Department. In addition to teaching, she coaches both the boys' and girls' state champion tennis teams and the spirit cheerleading team. She earned her B.A. in Secondary English Education from the University of South Florida and her M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Tampa.
Wayne Groves has been the head football coach and director of strength and conditioning since 2023. He holds a B.S. in Health and Physical Education from the University of West Georgia and has nearly two decades of experience teaching and coaching.
Anna Harris has served as head softball coach, assistant track coach, and strength and speed assistant since 2019. She holds a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Human Development and Family Sciences and a Master of Science in Sports Management and Policy from the University of Georgia.
Melissa Smyly began teaching English at the Upper School in 2017. She currently serves as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction. She also coaches competition cheerleading. Melissa holds a B.S. in Secondary Language Arts from Auburn University and an M.A. in Library Media Technology from the University of West Alabama.
The thrill of competition. The rush of a championship. Our athletic program offers you everything you'd expect from a private school. However, the Darlington athletic program is so much more. CLICK HERE to learn more about athletics at Darlington or schedule a private tour and see our facilities for yourself.
The Darlington Podcast is a collaboration between the communication and advancement teams, and is hosted by various members of the school community. Episodes are released each Thursday morning and available on most podcast platforms (search for The Darlington Podcast in your podcast player). Once new episodes are posted, you'll also be able to find them at www.darlingtonschool.org/podcast. Please subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts so that you'll get the latest episode each week!
The Darlington Podcast intro music was written and performed by Elliot Luitwieler ('22) and Kathryn Davidson ('22). Jaclyn Haynes, Upper School science teacher, lends her voice, and editing and production is handled by Maddie Chastain, content manager.
If you have ideas for future episodes or have any questions about The Darlington Podcast, please email communications@darlingtonschool.org.
