By Kathy Wang, Copy Editor |

Every student at Winsor has received Ms. Granese’s weekly emails announcing game schedules, early dismissals, and athletic achievements. Behind those updates lie nearly two decades of leadership that shaped and transformed Winsor’s athletic program. After 17 years as Winsor’s Director of Athletics, Ms. Granese will retire at the end of the school year. 

During her time at Winsor, Ms. Granese has significantly increased the number of athletic programs available to students. She founded Winsor’s volleyball program in 2017,  starting with a junior varsity team before growing it into a full program with varsity and lower school teams as well. What started with just a single game in the first season grew into a thriving program that won the EIL Championship this year and qualified for the Class A NEPSAC Tournament. She also started Winsor’s golf club, which participated in the NEPSAC Girls Golf Championship and solidified its place as a program with multiple top five team finishes since its conception. 

Beyond building new programs, much of Ms. Granese’s work occurred behind the scenes. She ensured that every athletic season ran smoothly by arranging transportation, hiring and monitoring coaches, and scheduling games. She especially focused on bringing in high-caliber coaches that would help take programs to the next level. One principle she often emphasized to coaches was from Pat Summit, a former Division I basketball coach: “the kids don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care about them.” Ms. Granese was also instrumental in organizing one of Winsor’s most beloved traditions: Under the Lights. She has guaranteed that Under the Lights, or UTL, is a school-wide event that brings athletes, alumni, and families together to celebrate Winsor fall athletes and school spirit.

Under her leadership, Winsor has won numerous championships and raised countless banners in the gymnasium. But for Ms. Granese, the most meaningful aspect of her job was not the victories but “watching students grow from Class I to Class VIII” and witnessing their development into “strong, confident young women.” Her favorite moments include attending games, meeting parents, and celebrating with Winsor athletes after major wins. Her constant support and presence had a big impact on students. When Ms. Granese was coaching Mid 1 Field Hockey, Aarna Sundaram ’29 felt especially impacted by her “constant encouragement and belief in every player.” Evelyn Tian ’28 recalled that Ms. Granese “made [her] feel really supported right away” during her first introduction to Winsor athletics, the Crew swim test. 

That sense of care and support is what Ms. Granese aims for students to remember about her. Above all else, she hopes that students will know she “cared about them as people first, and then as athletes.” Looking forward, she is excited to spend more time with friends and family, including her grandson. Mid 1 field hockey, Arna, very encouraging, especially bc she initially struggled 

While her weekly emails will soon come to an end, Ms. Granese’s contributions to Winsor will continue to impact students long after her retirement. The programs she started and the culture of support she prioritized will remain central to Winsor athletics.

Image Source: Winsor Canto