Alumnae Maddie Smith ‘17 and Clare Kolasch ‘17 are coaching the Middle School softball team. Dean of Students Meghan Hadley ‘06 serves as assistant coach for the varsity softball team. Meg Gargulinski ‘11 is in charge of varsity lacrosse. And Clare Polis ‘17 is an assistant coach for both the Middle School and varsity track and field teams.  

These alumnae returned to Oakcrest wanting to pass on their passion for sports and the lessons they learned as athletes. “I loved the tight-knit community that I felt on sports teams during my time at Oakcrest, and I wanted to help foster that same sense of community for current student-athletes,” Clare Polis says. She herself continued to be an active student-athlete in college, running cross country and track and field for Marymount University. 

Meg Gargulinski played sports at the college level as a member of the Franciscan University of Steubenville’s lacrosse team. This will mark her second year coaching lacrosse at Oakcrest. In the spring of 2019, she led the Middle School lacrosse team to an undefeated season. 

This is Clare Kolasch’s first year coaching at Oakcrest, and she is delighted to have the chance to give back to her alma mater. During her time as a softball player at Oakcrest, she was named Potomac Valley Athletic Conference (PVAC) Player of the Year (2015), Rookie of the Year (2013), and a Washington Post All-Met Honorable Mention (Spring 2017), among other honors. “When asked to coach the softball team, I was so excited,” she says. “Not only does the sport of softball have a special place in my heart, so do the memories I have of being an athlete at Oakcrest. From the encouragement and support I received from my coaches and teammates, to the lessons I learned on the field that I took with me off the field, I could not have had a better experience as a young athlete in such a positive environment. Now as a coach, I hope to inspire and encourage the girls to be the best they can be on and off the field just as I was as an Oakcrest athlete.”

Maddie Smith, who is attending Georgetown University, led the Oakcrest softball team to a championship in 2015 as a decorated pitcher for the Chargers.  A two-time First Team All Conference athlete, she was also the 2015 Team Co-MVP (along with Clare Kolasch) and the 2017 MVP. She can be spotted pitching to the Middle School players and giving them advice on improving their game. The seniors who play for the current Varsity Softball team are especially grateful to have Maddie and Clare back to coach, since they participated in the Varsity Softball program when these alumnae played for Oakcrest.