From first-time players to collegiate-bound athletes, Wellington Athletics balances participation, competitive growth, and student well-being from Little Jags through grade 12.
What to expect in this blog:
- How athletics fit into the Wellington experience from lower school through upper school
- What participation looks like for students new to sports and those seeking competition at the highest level
- The support systems in place for student-athlete health and development
- How athletics complement academics, arts, and student well-being
- A full list of athletic offerings
For families exploring independent schools, athletics often raise important questions. Will my child have the chance to play? What if they are new to sports? How competitive is the program? Can athletics coexist with academics, arts, and other interests?
At Wellington, athletics are a core component of the student experience, designed to support participation, growth, and belonging. Whether students are discovering a sport for the first time or pursuing ambitious athletic goals, Wellington Athletics meets them where they are and helps them grow with purpose.
Participation With Purpose
Athletics at Wellington emphasize access, development, and thoughtful choice. Families can expect open, honest conversations that help students find the right fit, whether they are trying a sport for the first time or seeking greater competitive challenge.
Many Wellington students choose to play sports across multiple seasons, while others step away for a season to pursue theatre, academics, or other interests. Athletics are balanced intentionally alongside Wellington’s strong academic and arts programs, so students can explore broadly without overcommitment.
This philosophy is reflected in participation. During the 2024–25 school year, 84% of upper school students and 71% of middle school students played at least one sport. Athletics at Wellington are a shared experience, not a selective one.
A Division-by-Division Approach
Lower school athletics introduce students to a wide range of activities while emphasizing teamwork, cooperation, and good sportsmanship. The focus is on skill development, confidence, and helping students build a positive relationship with movement and play.
For lower school students who are curious about athletics, Wellington offers Junior Jags, an early, exploratory opportunity to try a sport for one trimester. Through seasonal camps and clinics aligned with Wellington’s middle and upper school athletic offerings, Junior Jags introduces young students to foundational skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship in a fun, age-appropriate environment. The program also builds community by connecting aspiring athletes with experienced varsity student-athletes, helping students develop confidence and curiosity around sports before formal team participation begins.
Middle school athletics balance participation with increasing levels of competition. Coaches prioritize skill-building and team culture while preparing students for the transition to upper school athletics. Playing time is encouraged, and students are supported as they explore new sports and roles.
Upper school athletics provide opportunities for both broad participation and competitive excellence. Students learn responsibility, time management, and leadership while contributing to team success. Playing time at the varsity level is earned, but every student who wants to be part of a team is supported through meaningful participation and guidance.
Supporting Ambitious Athletes
Wellington also supports students who aspire to compete beyond high school. In the Class of 2025, 17% of graduates committed to continuing their athletic careers at the collegiate level, enrolling at institutions such as Vassar College, the College of Wooster, Concord University, Mercyhurst University, and Pennsylvania State University.
Across recent graduating classes, Wellington alumni have gone on to compete in NCAA athletics at colleges and universities, including Princeton University, Georgetown University, Clemson University, The Ohio State University, Swarthmore College, Wittenberg University, and many others.
Over the past decade, Wellington teams and athletes have earned 14 state championships and runner-up finishes, reflecting a culture of commitment, growth, and teamwork.
Comprehensive Support for Student-Athletes
Wellington’s athletics program is supported by Sports Performance Director Brian O’Masta, who works with student-athletes year-round to build strength, agility, and stamina in safe, developmentally appropriate ways. Conditioning sessions are tailored to specific sports, and students receive individualized guidance to build on strengths, address areas for growth, and reduce injury risk. In-season and off-season athletes alike benefit from this approach to physical development.
Wellington also employs a certified athletic trainer, Dom Davis, who is present at games and on campus each school day to support injured student-athletes. In addition to providing evaluation, stretching, and recovery support, the athletic trainer manages health documentation and Wellington’s concussion management program and serves as a consistent point of communication for families and medical providers. Families appreciate having a knowledgeable, accessible resource focused on student health and well-being.
Leadership Rooted in Experience
Beginning July 1, 2025, Wellington welcomed Nicholas Williams, Ed.D., as Director of Athletics and Physical Education. Dr. Williams brings experience as a coach, physical education teacher, athletic administrator, and student life project manager at Vanderbilt University.
A former state championship-winning high school athlete and four-year Division I track and field student-athlete at High Point University, Dr. Williams’s doctoral research focused on student-athlete belonging and success. He also brings a personal connection, having begun his own education at Wellington as a prekindergarten student.
Athletics as Part of a Whole Education
Coaches work closely with students to reinforce time management, responsibility, and balance, ensuring athletics complement, rather than compete with academic priorities. Above all, Wellington Athletics emphasizes integrity, respect, and community, creating teams where students feel supported by peers and coaches alike.
Offerings
Fall
Upper School
- Boys soccer
- Girls soccer
- Girls tennis
- Boys golf
- Girls golf
- Boys cross country
- Girls cross country
Middle School
- Boys soccer
- Girls soccer
- Girls tennis
- Coed golf
- Boys cross country
- Girls cross country
Winter
Upper School
- Boys basketball
- Girls basketball
- Sideline cheer
- Boys swim and dive
- Girls swim and dive
- Coed bowling
Middle School
- Boys basketball
- Girls basketball
- Boys swimming
- Girls swimming
Spring
Upper School
- Girls lacrosse
- Girls softball
- Boys baseball
- Boys tennis
- Boys track and field
- Girls track and field
Middle School
- Girls lacrosse
- Girls softball
- Boys baseball
- Boys tennis
- Boys track and field
- Girls track and field
Facilities
Wellington offers numerous athletics facilities across our 19-acre campus including:
- Roberts Field and Gatehouse Pavilion (soccer and lacrosse)
- Gross Family Tennis Courts (tennis)
- Gard Gym with locker rooms (basketball)
- Borror Gym (practices)
- Weight room
- New athletic training room
- New middle school locker rooms
Wellington also utilizes local athletic facilities near campus including:
- Hastings Middle School (track and field, cross country practices)
- Berliner Park, Busch Park, Northcrest (baseball and softball)
- Upper Arlington High School Pool and Columbus Aquatic Center (swimming and diving)
- Bowlero (bowling)