Winter Sports on Hold

 by Julianne Teitler

    After a successful fall season, it seems that with the surge in COVID cases, winter sports are now on hold. The main reason as to why this is the case is due to many cases and contact tracing coming from sports teams. Now that much of Connecticut is in the red zone, Ned Lamont describes that the best thing for us to do right now is stay safe so we do not have to go back into lockdown again. Consequently, as of right now, the CIAC has postponed winter sports to January 19th. 

Credit: InklingsNews

This is devastating news for seniors who will be missing most of their last indoor season, and also for juniors who may have been hoping to impress colleges and get recruited. 

During the Fall, as practice continued, sports seemed to be a spot of normalcy, a place to relax and get away from the stress of the pandemic, but this escape for most is once again being put on hold right now. 

The most important thing to do right now is to look on the bright side of things and think about how much you can build up your fitness and strength in order to be even better at your sport when it starts up again. Go to the gym or do some at-home workouts; Do a weekly zoom with your friends where you all do a core workout together; Find something, anything, to continue doing what you love.

We are all going through this together, and in times like these, the best thing we can do is come out of this stronger and more united than ever.

Blue Wave Field Hockey Defeats Ridgefield in State Semifinal

Lily Genovese

The Blue Wave Varsity Field Hockey Team defeated Ridgefield in the state semifinals on Tuesday, November 19th at 4pm on our home turf. 

Credit: David Stewart :BWFH celebrates after a goal at Weston High School on Tuesday

The final score was 4-1. 

Freshman, Ryan Hapgood, undoubtedly earned herself an MVP title for the game. After being pulled up to varsity just two weeks ago, she scored a hat trick and led the team to victory. Molly Hellman, senior co-captain, also scored a goal and aided in two assists. They connected both halves of the game with their speedy movements. 

“Ryan Hapgood is a very athletic freshman. We pulled her up from JV and it was just a matter of time for her to get adjusted to our level of play. She kept things simple and was in the right place at the right time and she finished,” said Coach Mo Minicus to Game Time CT reporters. 

The Varsity bench was loud as always with team members that encourage each other. BWFH continues to carry themselves with pride that empowers every team member, whether they be recently joined freshman or veteran seniors. “We are so excited,” said Senior Co-Captain Catie Duggan. “We can’t wait to see where we go next.”

Darien will face Staples next in the State Championship this Saturday November 23. 

Girl’s Field Hockey Plays the Field to Success

Eva Criscuolo

Another epic win for Darien High School’s Girl’s Field Hockey Team

DHS player gets ready to face off in what is to be a triumph game  [Credit: CIAC]

On Friday, November 15th at 4 pm, Darien High School’s Varsity Girl’s Field Hockey team faced off against Amity Regional in the state quarterfinals at home. On the DHS stadium field, the team played strongly, achieving an incredible score of 5-0, helping to propel them forward to the semi-finals. 

According to senior player Tala Garcia, “the team has been working really hard this season, and I feel as if that’s really showing. Junior Lindsey Olsen really stood out, scoring a number of goals for the team. Senior Molly Hellman also played a strong game”. 

The team as a whole put a lot of genuine effort into the game. It is no secret that DHS Field Hockey has a history of excellence, and this game was by no means an exception. The game marked the second major win this state post-season, seeing as the team previously triumphed over Chesire on the 13th with a score of 6-0.

The girls are all ecstatic about their success thus far. Senior player, Monisha Akula, stated that “the team is really looking forward to [their] next game”. 

The team will be facing off in a home game against Ridgefield High School for the state semi-finals on Tuesday, November 19th. 

Diving into Open: The Darien High School Varsity Dive Team Score Big at FCIAC’s

Brianna Lyons

The Darien High School Swim and Dive team competed Thursday at 6:30 at Middletown High School for the FCIAC’s. Four girls competed in the competition last night. Seniors Lana Schmidt, Emma Hunter, Kerry McDermott and freshmen Lily Wurm.

The Darien Varsity Swim and Dive team scored high during their competition ranking in the top 20. Schmidt got 8th place and qualified for the state opens. Hunter scored 11th, McDermott scored 14th and Wurm scored 10th. Overall, a stellar performance by each of the competitors.

Diving is a difficult sport. It requires competitors to combine gymnastics, swimming as well as flexibility if they want to score high in any diving competition. Diving is one of the most viewed sports in Olympic History. Spectators enjoy watching people do insane tricks in the air and still hit the water with perfect form. Darien Scoring so high in the FCIAC is a feat that is incredibly impressive due to the talent of the competitors.

“I always look forward to diving in the larger meets with my teammates and this one was even more special because it was the last time I would be competing with them. I wanted to do well and hopefully place in the top 16 again not only for myself but for my team. I was able to achieve this goal which I consider a great end to my season. I cannot wait to continue diving on the collegiate level.” Senior Emma Hunter said. The next competition for the Dive team is Saturday November 16, at the Cornerstone Aquatics Center at 3:15. This will be a state qualifying meet and whoever qualifies will move on to the next round of states on Wednesday November 20 at Wesleyan University.

Breathing for Victory (Courtesy of DAF Media)

Wave wins decisive Victory against Hall

Eva Larino

The joy of the win: Juniors Katie Chandler, Kate Bellissimo, and Nelle Kniffin celebrate with senior goalie Olivia Maniscalco. Credit: DAF Media

On Tuesday November 12th, the Darien Varsity Girls Soccer Team emerged with a decisive victory against Hall. Darien, the 14th seed, overcame 19th seed Hall in the opening round of the CIAC Class LL tournament. 

The wave trailed 1-0 for the first 40 minutes of the game, but pulled it together for the win. “Once we went down a goal I saw the heart in my teammates” said senior captain Olivia Maniscalco. “Everyone wanted to win so badly, we were immediately fighting back and playing so well,” she continued. 

Freshman Colette Quinn managed to tie the game with a free kick from the right corner in the 60th minute of the game. The perfectly placed over-head kick gave Darien a glimpse at victory. 

With 2:47 left in overtime, senior Kaitlyn Popson scored the game-winning goal. “Once Katitlyn scored I saw it as proof that we wanted it more and deserved to win” Maniscalco states. “I am so proud of my team,” she said. 

The Wave will move on to take on No. 3 seed Glastonbury at 2.p.m on Thursday, November 14th, the same team that knocked the our boys team out of the tournament just days prior. 

Birds of a Feather F(l)hock Together

Tyler Roland

DHS Varsity Field Hockey tie at 0-0 to become co-FCIAC champs

Molly Hellman has the ball in her control against Staples.  Photo by Dave Stewart, Hearst

Last Thursday, despite two overtimes, Darien Varsity Girls Field Hockey was unable to overpower their Staples opponents, resulting in a tie with no points scored and a sharing of the FCIAC crown. 

“Staples is a really good team,” forward Catie Duggan said. “Strong opponent, with equal skills.  It was definitely hard after 80 minutes of play to settle with a tie because we know we’re better. But we are very excited about the co-championship title.”

Center defender, senior, Charlotte Domittner had some thoughts on the game as well: “Going into the game I can say that every single one of us was nervous because we wanted to win so badly, to prove that we were the better team. The game was not like any other, it was the biggest game of every seniors high school career so far. It was our year to win. The game was hard fought on both sides. Both teams had opportunities to score, but neither capitalized on those opportunities. When the game went into overtime, and then double overtime it was more than stressful, especially for the 14 players on the field knowing that one missed trap, or one bad pass could cost us the game.” 

After their home game against Cheshire in the state tournament on 11/13, the team will tentatively move on to the quarterfinals, semifinals, and hopefully the championship.

DARIEN HIGH SCHOOL SWIM AND DIVE TEAM NAMED 2019 FCIAC CHAMPIONS

Flynn Woodring

Darien Girls Swim and Dive made a splash at the FCIAC Championships.

On Tuesday, November 5, at the FCIAC Girls Swimming Championships, DHS swimmers and divers captured a title that has eluded the team since 2014 – FCIAC Champions. 2019 marks only the fifth time that DHS has earned the top spot in Fairfield County (2009, 2012, 2013, and 2014).

The Blue Wave (335 points) beat its closest competitors – Greenwich (303) and Staples (288) - by a large margin and the victory was truly a team effort. Senior Lexi Punishill led her team with a first-place finish in the 100 freestyle. Punishill also delivered for the Blue Wave as a member of the 200 and 400 freestyle relays. DHS finished first in both events.

Following the competition, six Blue Wave swimmers were named to the All-FCIAC Team including freshman Lily Bradbury, freshman Natalia Ferranto, junior Olivia Golden, junior Kendall Luecke, senior Lexi Punishill and sophomore Maggie Sedlak. Darien also received the award for FCIAC East Division champion in recognition of an undefeated regular season. 

The Post-season continues for the Blue Wave Team at the Class L Diving Championships (Nov. 14, Middletown, 5:30pm); the Class L Swimming Trials (Nov. 16, West Hartford, 3:15pm) and at the Class L Swimming Championships (Nov. 20, Wesleyan, 7pm). The season concludes with the State Open Diving Championships (Nov. 21, Middletown, 5:30pm) and the State Open Swimming Championships (Nov. 24, Yale, 2pm).