Wave Puck's First Win of the Season

By Arden Cohen

Senior Max Romeyn scores while driving to the net.

The Darien Boy’s Hockey team got their first win against Greenwich on Thursday, December 29th. It was a well fought game and Darien was able to come out on top 4-3. Senior Captain Max Romeyn was able to bury two in addition to junior Will Dickson, who was able to put away the go-ahead goal late in the third period. “Everything just felt right,” said senior captain Harry Congdon, “we just did not give up.” The team’s next game is Wednesday, January 4th away against Notre Dame West Haven. Hopefully the boys can continue the winning streak!

Girls Hockey Dominates Trumbull 9-1

By Taylor Davis

On Wednesday, December 21^st, the Darien Girls Varsity Hockey team faced off against Trumbull. The team finally proved to be successful, winning 9-1. There was a surprising standout performance from freshman Katie Daileader. Daileader scored 4 out of the 9 goals. Also, junior Molly Read scored her first varsity goal. Senior captain Cassidy Schiff, commenting on the game, said: “our goal today was to get our scoring touch back since some tough goalies have been shutting us out lately. Everyone got ice time today, too, which encourages us to keep working for our spots.” The team plays Greenwich next, “which is a huge game because they’ve been doing well so far. The team also has a new and tough goalie, who we’re going to need to figure out how to beat,” Schiff said.

Come support the Girls Varsity Hockey Team against Greenwich on January 3rd! 

Senior captain Cassidy Schiff scoring against Trumbull last year (Courtesy DAF).

Qualifer #1 at Staples HS Sends Darien Boy’s Track off to FCIACs

By Claire Borecki

Senior Sam McMullin approaches the high jump.

On Saturday, December 17th, Staples, Darien, Fairfield Ludlowe and Fairfield Warde faced off in Westport. With hopes for a record season of FCIAC qualifiers, Darien went into the meet ready to compete against a formidable Staples team, but also to challenge themselves- and because qualifying meets are not scored, that is exactly what they did.

25 Darien runners qualified for FCIACs in the 50 meter dash, and senior Captain Keenan Warble placed 7th in the 300 meter dash, missing the FCIAC cutoff by just .15 seconds. Senior captains James Fay and Keenan Warble placed 4th and 5th in the 600 meters respectively, an expected strong finish from two National hopefuls.

Senior James Johnson, junior Alex Klarer, and senior Jimmy Conroy all qualified for FCIACs in the 1000 meters, with Johnson also placing 2nd in the 1600, one of  Darien’s strongest finishes of the day. Darien also represented in field events, with senior Sam McMullin tying for first in the high jump and placing 2nd in the long jump,  qualifying for FCIACs in both events.

When asked about the meet, Johnson said “We had a good amount of qualifiers...but we have a lot of improving we can do.”

Girls Varsity Hockey Falls Short to East Catholic with a 2-0 Loss

By Taylor Davis

Senior captain, Emily Gianunzio, in the net, awaiting
to stop yet another puck (Courtesy DAF).

On Wednesday, December 14th, the Girls Varsity Hockey team lost to 2016 State Championship runner-up, East Catholic. For the first two periods the teams were tied 0-0. However, in the third period, East Catholic finally broke through, scoring twice. Unfortunately, Darien was unable to recover after this. Despite the team’s loss, Darien goalie, Emily Gianunzio, played exceptionally well. Senior captain Cassidy Schiff reflecting on Gianunzio’s performance said, “our goalie Emily Gianunzio played extremely well today and the score would have been very different if she wasn’t on her game.” According to Schiff, “these tough state games are good preparation for the FCIAC games that we have coming up soon. The competition helps us prepare and tells us what we need to work on."
Come watch and cheer on the Girl’s Hockey team this Wednesday against Trumbull! 

Girls Basketball Beats McMahon in Season Opener

By Mary Lawrence Huffman

Senior Megan Hobbs playing hard (Courtesy DAF).

On Monday, December 12, the Girls Basketball Team beat McMahon 40-29.  This was the first game of the season and the team did not know what to expect.  The team is very young, but they gave a consistent and strong effort that showed great potential.
Junior Chrissy Fiore had a great game, leading with 10 points and 21 rebounds. Senior captain Megan Hobbs said, “We came out strong and kept up our intensity on defense throughout the game which I think really kept us on top.  We have also been communicating and really working well together as a team.  I think we are really glad that we were able to win our first game on our home court.”  The Girls Basketball Team’s next game is at home on Tuesday, December 20 at 5:30 PM.         

11/12 House Ball Rankings: Week One

By Will Pegler

Before I get started I'm going to explain how the rankings are going to work this year. Cord Fox and I will be switching off week to week for the entire season. That's pretty much all I needed to explain, so hopefully that cleared things up for everyone.

Anyway, the first week of house ball is already over and a couple of teams have established themselves as championship contenders, while others have not had as much success so far. Something to keep in mind, though, on Wednesday many teams were missing their star players who were football players,  so they were not at full strength. With their full rosters back going into week two,  things may change. Enough of the intro, lets get right into it.

() indicates previous ranking; [] indicates record

1. Spurs (1) [2-0]
Cord had this team at number one in the preseason, and they have certainly lived up to the hype so far. In their first game they were missing their best player in Quinn Fay but were still able to win, and this past Sunday they pulled out another W. Nick Percarpio has been key for this team in complementing Fay and running the point, and will be another threat for them throughout the season. It's fitting that this team is named the Spurs, because the man at the helm of this ship, Tim Percarpio, could easily be considered the Gregg Popovich of this league, a long time coach, he looks to lead this team to a championship. Other players that have contributed so far are juniors Connor Percarpio, Hank Rech, and Logan McGovern (who is back from a two year hiatus), as well as senior Ryan Jones. My final thought on the Spurs is this, don't sleep on junior Nick "Ice in his veins" Casciari, the kid is deadly from the three point line.

2. Hornets (5) [2-0]
A lot of big names on this team. Nick Green, Craig Triano, Pablo Martinez, Cam Raia, Mike Neary... the list goes on. So far the Hornets have been able to mesh all of their young talent together well and are off to a strong 2-0 start, winning both games fairly handily. Nick Green is definitely the leader of this team, but junior Craig Triano follows close behind, as he is a solid defender and a good mid-range shooter. Senior Pablo Martinez adds an element of speed to this team, as the soccer star is always hustling down the court for fast break opportunities. Junior Mike Neary will need to be strong on the boards this season, but I have no doubt that he will be able to succeed in this role. While this is a very young team, I think their youthful abilities will carry them far this season.

3. Nets (4) [2-0]
The Nets are one of the strongest all around teams in the league, looking through their roster it's tough to find any weak spots. This team is led by a big three unlike any other, Justin Van de Graaf, Ethan Ehlers, and Mitch Pryor will give other teams headaches on both sides of the ball. Van de Graaf, a long time house player (despite the years he wasted time in the travel league), is known for his ability to drive to the basket and knock down free throws, while Ehlers will be the other half to this strong back court, as he is a strong shooter and talented on the defensive side as well. Pryor, on the other hand, will be tough to stop as he can easily drive to the basket and play great defense with his size and strength. Senior Ryan Corcoran will also needs to play well this year with his good height and solid shooting ability, along with junior Charlie Baylis who will give this team unwavering hustle.

4. Warriors (2) [1-1]
The Warriors are still one of the best teams in the league despite their .500 start. With MVP candidate Jack Beatty running the show along with knockdown shooters Benny Boy Bidell and Jack Campbell, this team is in a good position to make a run at the championship this year. With strong junior talent coming from Blake Sommi, Henry Nolte, and of course "funny guy" Cole Armstrong, the Warriors have good depth and a knack for ironic comedy (shoutout Cole). Senior Morgan Kennedy will also add value in the defensive department.  Keep in mind that the team's one loss came against a number one ranked Spurs team and only by two points.

5. Knicks (3) [1-1]
Spencer Jarecke, Chris Magnusson, and Peter Marren are three strong players that will continue to lead this team on offense. All three have the ability to shoot while Jarecke has good height and can come in big in games when rebounds are key. On defense, junior Tommy Murphy will need to be strong down the stretch this season. I personally have no doubt in Murphy's ability, if you ever need to see how hard he's working, just take a look at how much the kid is sweating. I've heard rumors that he starts to sweat the night before games when he's watching tape, and I wouldn't question it, the sweaty Irishman has a competitive fire unlike any other. Hopefully Murphy will be able to fire up players such as junior John Gianatassio, someone who suffered greatly from back injuries last season.

6. Suns (6) [1-1]
This .500 team has yet to move from their preseason ranking. A very young team, the Suns have a lot of junior talent, Brian Minicus, Max Grant, and Kevin Grune are some of the big names. Hopefully all of this speed and athleticism will make up for the size that this team lacks. Junior Matt Gould will have to play the role of big man this year, while other juniors Max Gasvoda and Nate Hadlow will have to play well also. My one worry about Hadlow is the fact that he's Canadian, while his natural caring and generous nature is usually a plus, he will need to stop uttering the words; "Sorry, eh?" if he wants to succeed in this physical league.

7. Raptors (10) [0-2]
I realize this team started out last in the preseason and have yet to do anything to prove that ranking wrong, but I think they're going to come around as a real contender to win very soon. Seniors Brian Keating and Teddy Burke are two players who will add size and speed to this roster. Late in the season when rebounds become key, these guys will be tough to deal with. Junior talent comes from David Volz, Alex Murray, and Cole Stevenson, three guys who will need to come up big if this team wants to go anywhere. Also shoutout to Ryan Griffin, I'm assuming he was going to start bothering me if he didn't get a mention, so here it is. I could be completely wrong about this team and they don't win a game, but hopefully they don't make me look stupid and live up to the hype I've given them despite their slow start.

8. Bulls (8) [1-1]
Jackson Vaught has been big for this team so far and will need to continue to be if they want to succeed. Although Vaught is a great shooter, he is making a tough transition, coming from JV basketball to house. The two games are completely different, one is a time for everybody to get together and just shoot some hoops with friends, the other is a ruthlessly competitive league where players will do anything to win (yes, house ball is the second one). Other than Vaught, senior Jack Farren (who somehow didn't get picked until the third round) will need to be a big part of this teams offensive scheme. Other players who will add some talent are Will Rehm, Jackson Mcnear, and the Englishman Ben Hayes.

9. Celtics (7) [0-2]
It seems the Rayhill dynasty has dissipated over the past few years, and that trend may continue this season. The Celtics have stumbled out of the gate so far with two losses but look to rebound somehow this weekend. Seniors Nick Trager and Brendan Berrigan have the potential to be a good one-two punch this season, and will need to do so if the Celtics want to win some games. Junior Sean Collins will also add some talent at the point, while big men Alex Phillips and Harry Rayhill are reunited once again. Who could forget that notorious hair duo from last year?

10. Cavaliers (9) [0-2]
The Cavs have struggled to find any form of success so far. Senior Cord Fox did miss the first game of the season, so once they get their main source of size back they may be able to get back on the right track. Senior Matt Meyjes will need to have a big year, and if junior Fin Batson gets hot from three this team may able to win some games. As of now, though, they sit at 10.

Girls Hockey Falls to Simsbury

By Mary Lawrence Huffman

On Saturday, December 10th, The Girls Varsity Hockey team fell to Simsbury in the final two minutes after a hard fought battle.  “We had a really good first period, moved the puck very well and broke it out of our defensive zone, got shots on net and ended up scoring.  Unfortunately as the game went on we kind of went downhill.  If we want to get back to where we were last year, we are definitely going to have to work on playing all three periods and not falling apart.  I think it was just an off game on our behalf, we’re much more capable than what happened in that game,” senior captain Emily Gianunzio said.  Simsbury is going to be one of the harder teams that the Girls Hockey team plays this year, along with Hamden, East Catholic, and Greenwich.

The Girls Hockey team’s next game is this Wednesday, December 14th against East Catholic at Terry Connors ice rink at 5:10pm.  

Senior Captain Emily Gianunzio in goal last year in a game against New Canaan (Courtesy DAF).

Congratulations to Blue Wave Football on its LL State Championship Win over Ridgefield.

Boys and Girls Squash Teams Compete at Poly Prep Invitational Tournament

By Mary Lawrence Huffman

On Saturday, December 3rd, the Boys and Girls Squash Teams had their season opener at the Poly Prep Invitational Tournament in Brooklyn.  Seniors captain for the girls team Mia Dursht said, “We played two very strong teams right away, with our only win coming from freshman Schuyler Coughlin, our number five player.  Our final match was against Brearley and it came down to the final match that went to a fifth game.  We ended up winning that one 4-3 to get our first win of the season which was really exciting.”  Senior captain for the boys team Walker Wind said, “Our team did really well and we are very happy that we got second place and beat the second best public school team in the process which was great.  We had some really good showings throughout the ladder, with senior Harrison Gill at the top and strong performances from juniors Dillon O’Shea and Albert Nguyen.”  The Girls Squash Team’s next match is against Rye on Monday, December 19th at 8:30PM at Chelsea Piers.  The Boys Squash Team’s next match is against Bronxville on Wednesday, December 21th at 7:00PM at Chelsea Piers.   

Girls Squash team (Courtesy Darien Times).

    

Preseason 11/12 House Ball Rankings

By Cord Fox

 It’s finally that time of year again. The weather is getting colder and Christmas decorations are going up. However, this year Christmas came early with house ball draft. With the draft comes the promise of a new season and a new start for all. This season will be one to remember. Names will be made and friendships will be broken, but above all a champion will be named by the end. Happy house ball season!

Here are the power rankings that I have created. Admittedly, I have limited knowledge going into the season and I have a lot of names to learn. There are bound to be people who disagree with these. If you don’t like them don’t read them. Hope you enjoy.
 1. Spurs
 The Spurs have arguably the best player in the league with Quinn Fay. This kid can do it all from playing in the low post to being a point guard. Nick Percarpio will be a great compliment to Fay with his shut down defense and ability to score points. This duo will be deadly. Logan McGovern, Patrick Burke, and Ryan Jones are all very solid players and will make this one of the strongest starting 5 in the league.

 2. Warriors
Big man Jack Beatty is the leader of this team and is one of the hardest kids to guard. Like Fay he can do it all and with three point snipers in Ben Bidell and Jack Campbell this team will have no problem scoring points. Outside of Beatty this team lacks some size, but scrappy play by Blake Sommi, Morgan Kennedy and Brett Durbin will help with that problem. Luckily for the Warriors, they play the Spurs without Quinn Fay the first game.

3. Knicks
 Spencer Jarecke and Peter Marren are both forces to be reckoned with and will be a very strong duo that will be hard to stop. Jarecke has made the switch from high school basketball to house ball. The question is will he be able to make the adjustment. The knicks also have QB1 of Blue Wave Football (enough said there). Chris Magnusson will also be able to help this team offensively.

4. Nets
 Mitch Pryor and Justin Van de Graaf are amongst the best juniors in house. Their youth and lack of experience might be a problem down the road. The hefty lefty Ethan Ehlers is known for his three ball and ability to drive to the basket and he brings some much needed experience to the team. Teddy Brannigan and Ryan Corcoran bring size that will help out this team a lot.

 5. Hornets
 Nick Green is one of the best all around athletes in house and kids fear him on the court. I am a little concerned with his supporting cast, but if wave ball brothers Charlie Olsen and Mike Neary can establish some chemistry this team will be hard to beat. This is also one of the youngest teams in the league with 7 juniors.

6. Suns
Junior Brian Minicus is one of the fastest kids on the court and is nearly impossible to guard. I don’t see too many stand out players on this team, but I think they will be very consistent and could produce a very solid starting 5. This team lacks playmakers which is key to success in house, but consistency and teamwork will bode well for this team.

7. Celtics
Brendan Berrigan might not seem like a first round pick, but this kid is an animal on the boards and will block just about any shot. Nick Trager will compliment Berrigan well as a point guard with the ability to shoot the deep ball or feed it to Berrigan in the low post. Zack Dimonekas will need a big year in order for this team to have any success. They also need their bench to perform well or it will be a rough year.

8. Bulls
 I can see this team struggling a lot this year with the lack of depth that they have. Third round steal Jack Farren and first rounder Jackson Vaught will be the leaders of this team. If they want to win games this year their late round picks are going to have to show up ready to play.

 9. Cavs
 As this is my own team I try to leave out any personal bias and that is why we are sitting at a very modest 9. I predict that this team will struggle a lot this year. It is filled with some mediocre players and we all know that gets you nowhere in house. Matt Meyjes will be a big factor on this team and he will have to rely on his crippling chirps to tear down any confidence the other team has.

10. Raptors
Last and very possibly the least are the Raptors. Led by Teddy Burke this team lacks big name players and a strong offense. Christian “the italian stallion” Fiorenza is the heart and soul of this team. He has the heart of a lion, but his skills on the court are lacking. Big man Brian Keating will need to have a solid year if this team wants to win some games

Get Ready to be Squashed: Boys Squash Season Preview

By Carson Halabi

Senior Will Granath with his eye on the ball (Courtesy DAF). 

The Blue Wave Boys Squash team usually flies under the radar, but it is one of the most accomplished group of athletes for its size. Last year, the team went undefeated in the Fairwest League (their version of the FCIAC), and won Division II nationals, an incredible achievement for a Darien team. The boys are ranked 17th in the nation, and hold the spot as the best public school team in the country.

 Senior captains Harrison Gill, Will Granath, and Walker Wind hope to lead the Wave and leave the same wake behind as in the 2015 season. Harrison Gill is a champion player, ranked number 3 in his division for the US, and is certainly a paradigm for the team this season. Up and coming players include juniors Dillon O’Shea and Albert Nguyen, who will look to fill the (court) shoes of the seniors next year.

 A common misconception is that the squash team is co-ed. The two teams are separate, but certainly share technique and passion for the sport. More to come from “Squash Alley” this season, so stay tuned!

Girls Indoor Track: Season Preview

By Ellie Nelson

As the weather gets colder and winter rapidly approaches, one would guess that the track runners at DHS would be hanging up their tank tops and shorts and hitting up the warm, heated gym in preparation for the start of the season. In reality, the Girls Indoor Track team (indoor track being the most ironically named high school sport ever), are already bracing themselves for their daily outdoor practices. Following an incredibly successful 2015-16 season, the team is excited to hit the track once again. While there was a laudable performance from graduated seniors last year, it appears as if their absence will not be a hindrance on the team’s success in 2017. The team currently has some of the strongest sophomores and juniors it has ever seen. Sophomores Lauren Sulger and Cameron Appleby are expected to be a formidable force on the track, while veteran juniors KC Grady and Kerry Blatney plan on propelling the team toward a state title once again. Come support the girls at their first meet of the season on December 17th at Staples High School.

Junior Abigail Cragin races for a head start during a sprint last season (Courtesy DAF).

Girls Gymnastics: Season Preview

By Mary Lawrence Huffman

Junior Isabel Hansen doing a floor routine (Courtesy DAF).  

Last year, the Girls Gymnastics team placed first in the preliminary invitational, earned second at FCIACS, and finished fifth at states.  “Both Nikki Carlo and I made it to state-opens, and we also completed at New Englands,” senior captain Sam Aparicio said.

“We have three new freshmen this year, who are all experienced gymnasts, which is really exciting, as they will all be competing in the varsity meets and contributing to the team’s all-around score.  We also have four returning sophomores," Aparicio said.  Sophomore Carlo is expected to do well this season, as she is one of the highest scorers on the team and is always consistent during her meets.  “Her specialties are beam and floor, so we’re expecting high scores from her on those apparatuses, just like last year.  She made first team All-FCIAC status last year,” Aparicio said.  Sophomore Sofia Fea is also one of the leading gymnasts on the team this year.  “She held the third highest scores last year on floor and beam and has only improved since then," Aparicio said.  Aparicio herself is a significant contributor to the team and has been for the past three years.  Last year, she was second All-Around for FCIACs, sixth All-Around for State-Opens, tied for second on the vault at New Englands, and First Team All FCIAC and All American.    

Greenwich, like last year, is going to be the Girls Gymnastic team’s greatest competition.  The team came in second to Greenwich at FCIACs.  “Nikki, Sofia and I compete with some of the Greenwich gymnasts on the same club team, so it’s actually a very friendly competition,” Aparicio said.

“This season, we’re really trying to build up the skills in everyone’s routines; the harder the skills, the greater the start value, which ultimately means a higher final score.  If we can increase the difficulty in most of the girls’ routines, then we’ll be set for a strong upcoming season,” Aparicio said. 

The Girls Gymnastics team’s first meet is the Pomperaug Invitational on Saturday, January 7th.   “If we start out as strong as we did last year, winning the first invitational, I’m sure we’ll continue as a competitive team throughout the season," Aparicio said.   

Boys Ski: Season Preview

By Arden Cohen

Senior Brooks Daley racing around the marker at Mount. Southington.

The Boys Ski team is definitely something to watch these next couple of years. Although the boys did not do as well as the girls, who barely missed winning states, senior captain Will Brandon, is excited about “getting a lot of freshman with previous ski racing experience, which means we will definitely do a lot better this year.”  Fellow senior captain Brooks Daley also agreed that “the team is showing a lot of potential. With all of the young kids on the team, the next couple of years should turn out to be positive.” Sophomores Jack Lowitz, Alex Barlow, and Folke Bruno are expected to get “impressive times” this year.
The first race is at the beginning of January at Mount. Southington, so get excited!

Girls Ski: Season Preview

By Mary Lawrence Huffman

Last year, the Girls Ski team finished third at State Opens going 24-1. Senior Maggie Skeats was named All-State and to Team Connecticut, and sophomores Devin Hart and Lane Anderson were named Honorable Mention All-State.

The Girls Ski team captains this year are Skeats and Carly Schoudel. “The girls have high hopes that we can stay in the top 3 for most races and do well at states." Schoudel said.  As for predictions for key racers this season, Schoudel said, “We can most definitely expect great things from Skeats, as she is a great asset to our team.  Anderson, who made the Connecticut Team last year, is also expected to do well."
The Girls Ski team is also hoping to see great things from the new freshmen on the team, as many of them have prior racing experience. “This season the girls team hopes to make it to states and keep up with the Fairfield Girls Ski team, which came in first last year,” Schoudel said.

The Girls Ski team’s first race is on Wednesday, January 4th at Mount Southington at 4 PM.

Senior Maggie Skeats racing fast (Courtesy Darien Times).  

House Basketball Draft Date Set

By Cord Fox

Last year’s 11th/12th grade champions (Courtesy Darien YMCA).

As fall sports draw to an end, the focus of many of the basketball players at Darien High School turns to the house basketball season ahead. There has been a lot of talk about when the games will begin and who will be on what team. Many of those questions will be answered on Saturday, December 3rd, after the highly anticipated draft will take place. Everyone has a good idea about the first and second round picks, but any true house basketball follower knows that the heart of the team falls in the mid to late round draft picks. These players can make or break a team.
The new house basketball season brings the promise of a fresh start. It is a time to make a name for yourself and prove your worth in the league. It is a molder of men and only the toughest survive in this league. Ten teams will battle throughout the winter but only one will come out with the coveted title of champion. Happy house basketball season to all!

Turkey Bowl Leftovers: Darien Rolls over Greenwich in CIAC Quarterfinal

By Jack Tierney

Senior Quinn Fay thrashes Greenwich player to the ground. Fay has been a force at defensive end all season (Courtesy DAF).

On Tuesday, November 29th, the Boys Varsity Football Team took care of business against Greenwich at Stamford’s Boyle Stadium. The Blue Wave won 29-3 in a slugfest of a game. It was a rainy Tuesday, which only the most dedicated fans attended. Darien showed resilience through the weather and defeated a strong Greenwich team (7-4). Junior Max Grant started the game off strong with an early touchdown and the team never looked back. Junior Nick Green had an early interception and acrobatic one-handed touchdown that was even more impressive in the weather conditions. This win means Darien finishes off their second straight undefeated regular season heading into the state playoff. On December 5th at 6:30 PM the Wave will face off with the Southington Black Knights (11-0) in the first round of the playoffs. Make sure to show your support!

Boys Varsity Basketball: Season Preview

By Sam Hickey

Senior captain Alex Preston looks to score in a game
last season (Courtesy Mark Conrad Photography). 

It's a known fact that the Darien High School Boys Varsity Basketball team has never won the FCIAC championship and hasn’t won the State championship since the year Alaska became a state in 1958. But this season is a new year and with the new year comes new possibilities. Despite Blue Wave basketball's past seasons, this year looks bright. 

There will be 7 returning seniors including captains Alex Preston, Carter Scott, Zak Swetye, and Riley Stewart. They will look to build on a 7 and 14 record last year. However the road to a championship remains difficult in both FCIAC and State tournaments. Westhill, which won FCIACs last year, will continue to be a formidable opponent and Hillhouse will still be a dominant presence in state competition. But with a little luck and players playing up to form, Darien Blue Wave basketball might finally end the drought.

On his team's expectations for this year, Preston said, “I think we have the chance to make a good run at FCIACs this year. The conference really hasn’t gotten any better and as long as we perform well, I think we can get a good seed.”

Be sure to come out and support the team as they kick off the season playing Trumbull away on December 17th!

Girls Varsity Basketball Preview

By Mary Lawrence Huffman

Last year, the Girls Basketball Team finished the regular season with five straight wins.  “We lost 5 great seniors last year who we depended on a lot for their variety of skills and experience.  We are going to have to change our strategy, also the dynamic of the team will probably change a little bit as well” said senior captain Megan Hobbs.  Two players that the team is going to rely on this season are Katie Ramsay and Chrissy Fiore.  “They are great defensively.  All around they are definitely 2 key players in our line up” said Hobbs.  “I think our goals for this season are to form a strong bond as a team and work hard to do better than last year, but I also want everyone to have fun and enjoy the season too.  I think we are all looking forward to the season!” said Hobbs.  The Girls Basketball Team is going to try to beat Stamford this year, a team that is going to be tough to play against.  The first game is going to be against Brien McMahon this year on December 12th at 5:15 at home.  

Junior Katie Ramsay playing tough defense (Courtesy Darien Times). 

Darien Survies in OT to Beat New Canaan in the Turkey Bowl

By Cord Fox

Darien celebrates after their fifth straight Turkey Bowl win 

On Thanksgiving day Darien traveled to New Canaan to face the Rams in the annual Turkey Bowl. This year it was #1 vs. #2 in the state and the game was given the title of the “Unofficial FCIAC Championship”. The Blue Wave, ranked #1 in the state, started off the game strong with an early touchdown run by senior running back Finlay Collins. The Wave dominated the first half capitalizing on some key mistakes made by the Rams of New Canaan. Darien took a 27-10 lead into the half. A defensive fumble recovery for a touchdown seemed like it would seal the game for the Blue Wave as they jumped out to a 34-10 lead in the second half. Despite the score difference, New Canaan would come roaring back with 24 unanswered points to tie the game with under a minute left in regulation. The game would eventually go into overtime after a failed hail mary attempt for the Blue Wave. Darien got the ball first in OT and ended up kicking a field goal by senior kicker Riley Stewart to go up by three. On the first play of New Canaan’s possession, freshman quarterback Drew Pyne threw an interception caught by Collins and sealed the game. Collins would be named MVP of the game.

This is Darien’s fifth straight Turkey Bowl win and it keeps them ranked at #1. It also extends their win streak to 22 games. The Blue Wave now look to make a run in the state playoffs starting with a rematch against the Greenwich Cardinals at Boyle Stadium Tuesday night at 6:30.

Boys Indoor Track Preview: A Core Four and National Dreams

By Claire Borecki

Feet are hitting the ground again. After a two-week or so break from traditional practices for most of Darien High School’s boys track/cross country athletes (but never a break from running, which is done almost daily and without fail) the Winter Indoor Track season is set to take off. “Indoor” is its usual misnomer; students will continue to run outdoors through the cold and snow, with only competitions taking place on the indoor tracks of other schools.

I sat down with senior James Johnson, a veteran of the team and 3-season runner, to discuss the upcoming season. Johnson is one of four indoor captains, whom this year are not only captains but also the 4x800 relay team: seniors Jason Flynn, James Fay, Keenan Warble, and Johnson. This core four has some of the most impressive prospects of any runners this season.

In both the winter and spring track seasons of 2015/2016, Fay and Flynn were pronounced all-state athletes for their performance in the 4x800, and placed  7th and 6th (respectively) in the 800m individual at the Class L Championship last spring in outdoor. Johnson himself has had impressive finishes throughout the fall 2016 XC season.

"We have a solid chance of winning FCIAC East, getting a record number of kids qualified for FCIACs, and sending a 4x800 team to new balance nationals,” said Johnson, “Coach Pat has been training that 4x800 team since last year.”

Outside of these captain’s dreams of New Balance Nationals (the same four runners placed fifth at emerging elite new balance nationals for outdoor track 2016), this season is promising for other athletes as well. Junior Henry Vossler placed 3rd in the state for pole vault, and is a threat to the school record. Rumors of senior football star and Michigan-commit Andrew Steuber’s return to throwing could mean plenty of points for the team. Junior Alex Klarer leads the long distance, and junior Ari Singer-Freeman was already making waves with his hurdling during his sophomore season.

“We have a lot of big hopes for the very near future,” said Johnson, before heading off: he needed to run.

James Johnson, placing second in the Class L Championship for the 2016 XC season 

Girls Hockey: Season Preview

by Taylor Davis

The Girls Hockey Team poses happily for a photo after winning the 2016 State Championship
(Courtesy Doug Schiff, father of captain Cassidy Schiff).

The DHS Girls Hockey team had a successful season last year, finishing undefeated as  FCIAC and State champions. The team hopes to win it all again this year and is led by captains Cassidy Schiff, Emily Gianunzio, and Courtney Lowe.

Despite the team’s successes last year, with the loss of last year's seniors, the team has a lot of rebuilding to do. Senior and Captain Cassidy Schiff said, “It’s definitely going to be a challenge to rebuild because the seniors from last year were such dominant players and they had important roles on the team. For example, our power play was entirely seniors.” The juniors will have to step up this year especially Corinne Bevill, Sally Cassidy, and Elise Maro on offense and Kiki Tropsa on defense. Since the team lost their two top defensemen, Chandler Kirby and Katie Zaro, Kiki Tropsa needs to fill their role starting at defense.

The team will face tough competition this year. Primarily, its biggest competitor this year will be rival, New Canaan. However, Greenwich this year could make an impact in the FCIAC due to their new goalie, according to Schiff. “East Catholic, Hamden, and Simsbury are all really strong teams in the state that we’re looking forward to playing,” Schiff said. The team has big shoes to fill and their goal “is to keep the legacy alive and build off of what the seniors left us,” Schiff said. There are so many incoming freshmen players, so for the first time ever they have had to make cuts.

Don’t forget to come out and support the Girls Hockey Team in their upcoming season. See you there!

Wave Girls' Field Hockey Takes the Plaque Back

By Carson Halabi

On Saturday, November 19, Blue Wave Field Hockey fought hard to win the Class L State Championship. The final score was Staples-0, Darien-0 in OT, and the two teams became co-champions. (It will be interesting to see how the two teams share the plaque.) Quoted as “one of our best games” by head coach Mo Minicus, the Wave battled the strong Wreckers in a game that was expectedly going to be a tough one. BWFH had tied the Staples team in the regular season, and had lost to them in the FCIAC semifinals. Senior Kallie Coughlin had a terrific hold on the goal, per usual, saving 4 would-be goals for the Darien team. Sophomore Katie Elders had an opportunity to score in a penalty shot in OT, but missed. The game closed in the second OT with a draw. BWFH closes their season with the State plaque back in its right place--displayed in Darien High School.

Senior captain Campbell Matheis lunges for the upper-hand against a Staples player 

Girls Swim Team Class L Champions

By Mary Lawrence Huffman

Swimmers jumping into the pool at a recent meet
(Courtesy DAF).

On Tuesday, November 15th, the Girls Swim team competed at the state meet.  For the sixth straight year, the team won the Class L Championship, scoring 729.5 points compared to Cheshire’s 666.5 points.  Senior Aislinn Florio said, “I would say that overall everyone did amazing.  We’ve worked so hard and last night it all came together.  Kaki Christensen had an amazing swim in her 100 breastroke at 1:01.93 minutes, which is the fastest in history.  Our relays did a really good job of staying in their places and moving up.”  Junior Christensen broke the state record with her time.  Christensen also won the 200 individual medley, and senior Phoebe Slaughter won the 100 backstroke.  The 200 freestyle team, consisting of Slaughter, sophomore Cassandra Maroney, junior Carly Rutledge, and Christensen, also won. The Girls Swim Team will be competing at the State Open meet this Saturday at Yale.

Boys Hockey: Season Preview

by Arden Cohen

Senior Tom Sulger wins the hustle battle against Notre
Dame high school last season (Courtesy DAF).

The Darien Boys hockey team has had a promising start during the recent clinics at Stamford Twin Rinks, and hopes to carry this momentum into the season. Senior Captain Harry Congdon has really stood out, scoring at least three goals during the last scrimmages using his signature toe drag. Senior Max Romeyn’s energy and playmaking skills are definitely going to be an asset. In his words, Romeyn is “looking forward to getting out in front of the Blue Wave Super fans and continuing the winning tradition. Although he has not fully recovered from his concussion, Tom Sulger has gotten his quick release shot back to its original quality. There is definitely more pressure on the younger players this season due to the number of graduates last year, but I am sure that our preseason work will pay off.” Tom Sulger, senior captain, said that this season is going to be different in terms of the roster:  “We lost a lot of kids to graduation and prep schools but a core of the returning groups of seniors and juniors will provide the needed experience to lead a younger squad to another successful season.” When asked what excited him about the upcoming season, Congdon's only response was “Wave Puck, Baby.” Senior Brendan Bumgardner has stood on his head the last couple of practices and plans to carry on with this energy as the season kicks off. All of the captains agree that juniors Will Johnston and Will Dickson will contribute immensely with their fast hands and quick feet. Although the official schedule has not yet been released, Darien will have the alumni game Saturday, November 26th.

Blue Wave Field Hockey Takes Down Cheshire

On Friday November 11th, the girls DHS Field Hockey team took on Cheshire High School at home. Darien proved to be successful with a 1-0 win. However, Darien actually scored two goals but one of the goals got called back because the referee had already blown the whistle. Seniors Abigail Hancock and Courtney Lowe had outstanding performances, as well as junior Kendall Wisinski, who scored the goal for Darien. Junior Kerry Blatney reflected on the game saying, “I think we really played well together and truly worked as a team. Everyone was connecting passes and definitely gave it their all.”

On November 15th, come support the team in the semi-finals against Glastonbury at 6 P.M.!

Junior Kendall Wisinski is cheered on by the team (Courtesy DAF).

Varsity Field Hockey Advances to State Quarterfinals

By Madeleine Ostertag

Junior Kendall Wisinski aiming for the goal
(Courtesy DAF).

Girls Varsity Field Hockey started out at states on a high note, with a 6-0 win in the Class L tournament over Amity on Wednesday, November 9th. At the half, Darien was ahead 4-0, with junior Kendall Wisinski helping to assert its dominance, by scoring two goals and contributing one assist. Junior Lindsey Wallach netted her first varsity goal. Other goals came from sophomore Katie Elders, junior KiKi Tropsa, and senior Izzy Howe.

No. 4 Darien now stands at 14-1-2-0, as it prepares to take on No. 5 Cheshire. Senior Kallie Coughlin said, “Cheshire’s a really good team, but we are really prepared. At this point in the season everyone is comfortable playing with each other and we all want to win together. I’m really excited for the rest of the postseason and hope we come out with the state title.”

Be sure to come out and support the team at home on Friday, November 11th, at 2 PM!

Undefeated Girls Swimming Advances Into Post-season

By Ellie Nelson

Freshman Kelsey Vrooman dominating in butterfly against Fairfield Warde earlier in the season (Courtesy DAF).

On Tuesday November 1st, the Varsity Girls Swim and Dive team competed in their last meet of the regular season, out-racing Greenwich in nearly every event 110-76. The team finished their season with an undefeated record, and head into post-season as slated victors. Notable performances came from junior Kaki Christensen and senior Phoebe Slaughter. Both girls were double winners, getting first place in two of their respective individual races as well as first place in their relays. Other first place racers included seniors Lauren Picard, Leigh Harrison, junior Isabel Blaze, and sophomore Cassie Maroney. “It’s so cool to be undefeated going into the post-season. [The team] consists of a lot of really fun girls and we all get on so well. I think we all feel collectively confident heading into post-season because we have just such a strong group of swimmers,” junior Regan Keady said.

Be sure to support the team at the FCIAC finals in Greenwich on 11/3!

Girls Volleyball Slams Bridgeport 3-0

By Ellie Nelson
This past Thursday, Wave Girls Varsity Volleyball celebrated their senior day with a huge win against Bridgeport. The team won all three sets, shutting Bridgeport down by more than 12 points each set. This match was the last time the team will see their home court as the regular season comes to a close, marking a bittersweet ending for seniors Maddie Corman, Kyra Balenzano, Kitty Crosby, Susie Alptekin, Thea Bolton and Maggie Reilly.

Despite the seemingly impending doom that may be the 2017 season for the team after experiencing such heavy losses as the veteran seniors head off to college, spirits are high for the underclassmen. The team features an impressive line of juniors, notably Caroline O’Malley and Caroline Martzolf. The JV team has had a strong performance this year, and it goes without doubt that next year the varsity team will maintain its laudable momentum. The varsity team’s final regular season record sits at 11-9-1 as they head into playoffs.

Junior Callie Fay keeps the ball off the Wave’s side of the net earlier in the season.

Girls Cross Country Team Competes at State Meet

By Mary Lawrence Huffman 

Junior Emilia Callery running hard 

On Saturday, October 29, the Girls Cross Country Team competed at the state meet at Wickham Park in Manchester Connecticut. There were 146 competitors in the Class L race, with junior Emilia Callery commenting that, “The run was super hard but I think that everyone gave it their all and I’m happy with the team’s final performance.” Callery finished in first for Darien with a time of 22:26, with junior Kimberly Olvany, freshman Sarah Gallagher, and freshman Kelly Richter also having great races. The Girls Cross Country Team finished in 14th place overall. Many of the runners are now looking towards preseason training for the indoor track season.            

        

Boys Cross Country Team Competes at State Meet

By Mary Lawrence Huffman

On Saturday, October 29, the Boys Cross Country Team competed at the state meet at Wickham Park in Manchester Connecticut.  Senior captain James Johnson came in second place with a time of 16:40, and junior Alex Klarer came in sixth place with a time of 16:55.  Johnson and Klarer had very impressive performances both time-wise and given the fact that there were 177 runners competing in the Class L race.  Senior Jimmy Conroy, junior Griffin Ott, senior Michael Borecki, and senior Jackson Huffman also ran well.  Johnson says, “The team didn't run as well as everyone had hoped.  Alex and I had great performances going second and sixth respectively.  The team thought that we could get a solid second place but we ended up getting fourth.  The race was positive in that it looks like Alex and I have a good shot at qualifying for New Englands next week at the open meet based on the times that we ran.  In the end, we're just looking forward to having a great indoor season.”

 Johnson and Klarer will be competing at the state open meet at Wickham Park again on Friday, November 4.

Many Darien runners at the start of the race 

Girls Soccer Falls to Staples in FCIAC Quarterfinals

By Mary Lawrence Huffman

Senior Emma Lesko playing hard (Courtesy Darien Times). 

On Friday October 28, the Girls Soccer Team lost to Staples after a hard-fought match.  The team was behind 0-2 at the half, and could not catch up despite Emma Lesko’s goal, losing 1-4.  The Staples players set out to stop two Darien girls, junior Katie Ramsay and senior Emma Lesko, preventing Darien from getting any shots on goal in the first half.  Senior captain Maggie Skeats comments that, “We had the wind against us in the first half, which unfortunately made a difference.  We also weren’t winning the 50/50 balls, which were crucial to the game.”

Although suffering from a crushing loss after a fantastic regular season, the Girls Soccer Team has a chance to redeem themselves at the first round of states on Monday, November 11th.

Darien Falls to Fairfield in PK's

By Sam Hickey

Last Thursday, October 27th, the Blue Wave varsity soccer team took on FCIAC powerhouse Fairfield Warde in the FCIAC quarterfinals. After coming off a strong 5-3 win against Bridgeport Central, Darien looked to enter this important post-season game with some much needed momentum. Darien was the first to score near the end of the first half. Junior Blake Sommi was able to chip the goalie off a great pass from senior Ben Bidell. Fairfield Warde then equalized with about 11 minutes left in the game. The game then moved into overtime where Fairfield Warde scored off of a free kick to make the score 2-1. Then in the most clutch fashion senior Pablo Martinez scored with only seconds left in overtime. With the score at 2-2 the game moved into penalty kicks. The score went back and forth with each team’s goalies making important saves. Then with the score 2-2 senior Sam Pfrommer was denied by a great diving save from the Warde keeper. With the season on the line junior David Volzs had to make a save, but was unable to get clean enough contact to keep the ball out of the net. So just like that Darien’s FCIAC run was cut short in terribly unlucky fashion.

When asked about his team’s performance senior Nathan Mayerhoeffer had this to say, “I thought we played well under tough conditions. We really gave it our all and I thought we deserved to win this game, but penalties is really a toss-up ”.

 Senior Ben Bidell was a catalyst in this FCIAC postseason game. (Courtesy Darien Athletic Foundation)

Girls Blue Wave Swim and Dive Closes the Dual Meet Season Undefeated

By Taylor Davis

Junior Isabel Blaze swimming the 100 fly (Courtesy DAF).

Coming off with a victory against Greenwich, their biggest competitor, on Tuesday, October 25^th, the girls Swim and Dive team rode the wave to success with a win against Wilton. Senior Phoebe Slaughter reflected on the meet saying, “Wilton had strong swimmers but we had more depth among swimmers which gave us higher places and more points.” Senior Leigh Harrison won the 100 breastroke, junior Kaki Christensen won the 100 and 50 freestyle, and junior Isabel Blaze won the 100 fly. The team also swept all of the relays coming in first in the 200 medley, 200 freestyle, and 400 freestyle relay. The team is undefeated and won their two hardest meets of the season proving that they have the ability to take the triple crown. This meet was the closing to the dual meet season, and now the team swims into the championship season hoping to “win states, FCIACSs, and state opens, however states is our main priority,” junior Katie Martin said.  

On November 1st, come support the girls Swim and Dive team in the FCIAC swimming trials against Greenwich at 4:30 PM!

Darien Football Takes Care of Business Against Danbury

By Jack Tierney

On October 21st, 2016 the Blue Wave Boys Varsity Football team replicated the success they’ve had over the past two years against Danbury. They won 41-16 and continue rolling to 6-0 on the season and 4-0 in the FCIAC. The team was without their head coach Rob Trifone this week (currently under suspension) but he was able to set up such a strong staff that the team didn’t lose a step. Junior Cornerback/Slot Receiver Alex Dehmel commented on the game saying “we started off slow but once we got a drive going we really started to move the ball on offense”. Offensively Brian Peters, the senior QB, has been leading the way averaging over 200 passing yards a game. That statistic stands out the most because Peters is leaving most games early due to Darien’s dominance.

 Danbury may have been a slightly weaker opponent but Darien looks to carry this momentum at Wilton High School next Saturday (10/29). Come out and support!

Junior feature back Mitchell Pryor stretching out for a pass, showing off his athleticism (Courtesy DAF).  

Boys XC Places 5th at FCIACs

By: Claire Borecki

On Wednesday, October 19th, the FCIAC Boys Cross Country Championship was held at Waveny Park in New Canaan. With temperatures reaching into the 80s, it was a difficult race for everyone involved, but Darien refused to disappoint. Staples dominated with 27 points, while Danbury had 61, Trumbull 97, Warde 99, Darien 109, followed by Ridgfield, New Canaan, Greenwich, Ludlowe, Wilton, Westhill, Norwalk, Stamford, and St. Joseph. Staple’s Zakeer Ahmad lead the pack with a time of 15:49.42 in the 5k race, with top Darien runners junior Alex Klarer and senior James Johnson placing 9th and 12th (16:24.97 and 16:35.66, respectively). Seniors Jimmy Conroy and Griffin Xie, junior Griffin Ott, and seniors Michael Borecki and Jackson Huffman all had impressive runs, contributing to the strong 5th place finish. Danbury was defending their title as FCIAC champions, but were easily defeated by a strong Staples team.

The CIAC Class L Championships will take place at Wickham Park in Manchester, CT on Saturday, October 29th.

Staple's Zakeer Ahmad leads the pack.

Girls Varsity Field Hockey's Successful Senior Day

By: Arden Cohen

Senior Day huddle before the game (Courtesy DAF).

Senior day was a huge success for the girls varsity field hockey team, who shut out McMahon 4-0 at home on Tuesday, October 18th.  It was a great day for the seniors who contributed 2 of the goals. Senior Izzy Howe had one goal, and one assist, sending the ball flying into the top left corner on a chip shot. Emily Gianunzio also had a goal. Juniors on the team, Sally Cassidy and Kiki Tropsa, contributed immensely, each putting one in the back of the net. 

However, the day was “bittersweet” for Howe: “Scoring on this day just added to how much it meant to me. I wouldn’t have been able to score had it not been for the seniors encouraging me to keep trying, even after my many whiffs." 

The girls’ next game is against Fairfield Ward this coming Wednesday at Tetreau/Davis Field starting at 4 PM, where they expect to come out on top. 

Darien Tops Westhill 2-1 in Rematch of FCIAC Semifinal

By: Sam Hickey

Senior Jason Flynn handling a tough pass on a day 

where he scored twice for Darien (Courtesy DAF).

On Tuesday, October 18th, Wave Boys varsity soccer took on Westhill at home only a year after losing to Westhill in OT in the FCIAC semifinal. The Wave looked to continue on a strong run of form following a 5-0 thumping of Trinity Catholic. However, this game did not start as Darien would have wanted it. Within a minute of kickoff, Wilton capitalized on their first chance of the game and took a 1-0 lead. The score would not stay this way for long. Darien then equalized only minutes later. The Wave dominated possession throughout the rest of the first half and into the second half where they were finally able to convert shortly after halftime on a goal from senior Jason Flynn. Darien’s defense held strong for the rest of the game to give the Wave some semblance of revenge after losing to Westhill a year before. When asked how Darien was able to pull out victory, senior Nathan Mayerhoeffer said, “We were able to control possession throughout the game. We had a number of chances and it was only a matter of time before we converted them."
Come support the Blue Wave varsity soccer team as they take on Bridgeport Central at home at 4 PM on Monday, October 24th!

Wave Football Downs Brien McMahon

By Cord Fox

This past Saturday, Darien Football played Brien McMahon high school at home. The Wave looked to improve to 5-0 on the season. They started the game while scoring a touchdown within the first two minutes. McMahon quickly answered, but after that it was all Darien. They scored on every drive and went into halftime with a 47-10 lead. The highlight and feel good moment of the game was when a McMahon senior lineman has mental disabilities had the opportunity to run the ball. He scored on the play and ran off the field to a big applause by both sidelines. The final score was 54-17.

The Wave are currently in the slowest part of the season as they face teams that are primarily in the bottom half of the FCIAC standings. Come support them as they face Danbury on the road this Friday night.

One of junior Nick Green's many tackles this season (courtesy DAF)