Darien Wrestling Preview

By Hugh Hearns

The Winter sports season is upon us again, and sports like Ice Hockey and Basketball immediately come into mind, as they are the most popular teams in the school. Everyone follows their seasons, but meanwhile there are unsung athletes that don’t perform in front of a sea of cheering classmates. One such team is the Darien High School Wrestling team, who while they are not as welly known as the hockey, and basketball teams put in just as much time training to prepare to perform in big games. While they went a disappointing 0-7 to finish at the bottom of the East Division last year, the team remains optimistic about their chances to have a better season this year. Wrestling is a growing sport in our school and in state wide competition, as our team had great freshman participation last year. The wrestling team hopes to continue to grow and become a force to be reckoned with on the state level in the near future. The future of wrestling in Darien High School is bright, and there is nowhere to go but up.

The wrestling team kicks off it’s 2017-2018 season on the 13th of December, away at Morgan High School. Good luck to the team, and go Blue Wave!

Senior Brandon Yarish eyes his opponent in a match last season. (Courtesy DAF) 

Girls Hockey Preview

By Emma Love

The upcoming season for the girl’s hockey team is underway as tryouts took place in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. Five practices and an alumni game later, the team will make its first showing at the Shelton Jamboree this upcoming Saturday, December 2nd.
 
At the first try-out last Monday (with an early 5:30 a.m. start!), there were a lot of freshmen hitting the ice with the hopes of wearing the Darien jersey. This large amount of freshmen is much greater than  the number of players trying out for the team in past years, leading to significant cuts that haven’t been made prior.

The senior class last year were comprised of only three players and a goalie. This year’s senior class consists of Corinne Bevill, Sally Cassidy, Lindsey Ferreira, Emma Love, Elise Maro, and Kathleen Tropsa. Coupled with a strong junior class, the upperclassmen will certainly live up to the high expectations set by past successes. The underclassmen have also readily proven their ability to play varsity hockey, the freshmen this year in particular rising to the challenge.

“We have a bunch of new players and they will contribute a lot to our success. I’m really looking forward to a great season and hopefully winning states and FCIACs,” senior captain Elise Maro said.
Coming off of an impressive 16-4 record last year, the team is working hard to continue to play smart hockey, deliver more wins, and have an overall successful season. 

Darien celebrates after scoring a goal against Greenwich last season. (Courtesy DAF)

Ski Team Preview 2017-18 Season

By Amelia Fordyce

  The new ski season is going to be amazing! Last season the girl’s team lost at FCIACS (12-1) but this season they want to win. The team has a number of great skiers. The captains of the girl’s team are Devin Hart and Sammy Berry. The captains of the boy’s teams are Jack Lowitz and Alex Barlow. Although they may have lost last season, the girl’s team is determined to bounce back: “We have a strong girls team this year and many new athletes joining our team” says Lane Anderson. The first time trials are going to be on December 14th and the first race will happen around mid-January. All ski team events are at Mt. Southington in Southington, CT. Join the ski team if you’re interested!

The team prepares for a meet last season. (Courtesy DAF)

Blue Wave Football Loses First Turkey Bowl in Six Years; 27-0

By Will Pegler

I think everyone knows about the outside factors that went on with this game. Obviously what happened was unfortunate, but this blog will simply discuss what happened at the game and nothing else.

Sophomore Peter Graham was thrust into the starting role at quarterback, making the game his first varsity start. For Graham and the rest of the Blue Wave, the game started out tough and never really got any better. On the first offensive play, Graham threw a pass intended for senior Alex Dehmel that was intercepted and taken back for a New Canaan touchdown. Despite this score though, the Wave held strong in the first half, only allowing New Canaan a field goal and going into the locker room down 10-0.

Unfortunately, the Blue Wave's offensive struggles continued in the second half and were unable to score any points. Senior running back Mitch Pryor ran hard all day and picked up some big yards, but the Wave were unable to sustain any meaningful drives. Graham did all he could at quarterback, doing his best to stay composed in his first start ever, but the learning curve was simply too large against such a strong team like New Canaan.

Junior Connor Fay led the defensive unit, as they were able to stop the Rams from doing too much damage. Seniors Kevin Grune and Connor Tienken made some big plays as well on the defensive side of the ball. The Rams did not play extremely well on offense, they were just able get the ball very frequently because of how well their defense played.

Towards the end of the game, junior Cooper Hancock came in at quarterback and did his best to make plays for the Wave. The team played incredibly hard and did all they could, but it simply felt as if they were playing with one hand tied behind their back.

Overall, this was a tough game for the Wave. New Canaan clearly did all they could on and off the field to get the win.

Senior Alex Dehmel returns a kickoff 

Girls' Indoor Track 2017 Preview

By Carson Halabi

The Wave Girls’ Indoor Track team is looking to be one of the best we’ve had in several years. There are many strong juniors and seniors, and the team is intimate in its relatively small numbers compared to the outdoor season. On the sprinting side, hurdling specialist and senior captain Abigail Cragin is sure to dominate. She has been out on the track for weeks already, putting in the preseason work with her teammates, including junior Wren Stewart, senior Rory Washecka, senior captain Erica Blaze and sophomore Tess Keating. All of these girls are looking to have a strong season, starting right in building stamina for faster and longer workouts as we approach December 4th, the first day of the season. Former cross country captain KC Grady, although just coming off a competitive season of distance running, is back on the track with Coach Ott. Grady, an elite 100 meter sprinter, who finished as one of the best in the state last outdoor season, hopes to push herself further in her senior season.

On the distance side, there is the same close-knit and very fast group of girls that have dominated the track for two years. This group includes senior captains Kerry Blatney and Kimmy Olvany, and juniors Cameron Appleby, Marley Garfield, and Daphne Cutler. Watch out for these powerhouses as they look to qualify for the FCIAC and State times as early as they can this season.

The Wave also welcomes Coach Sophie Long as a new addition to the team. A former Wave runner, and a former varsity runner at Trinity College, Long has just what it takes to succeed as a coach on this team. We look forward to her role this upcoming season. If you’re searching for a sport to keep you in shape and competitive this winter, join BWTF on their first day of practice, December 4th. We’ll be seein ya.

Senior captain Abigal Craigin with her eyes on the prize as she jumps the last hurdle in the 50 meter hurdling event. 

Wave Girls Soccer Falls Short in State Championship Game

By Ellie Nelson

On November 15, Wave Girls Soccer lost in a heartbreaking Class LL state tournament semi-final game to Staples,  2-3. The game was played following an incredible upset over Sheffield, the previous number one seed in the tournament.

More than halfway through the game, Darien was facing a two point shut out deficit and  senior captain and goalie Christine was benched for an injury off which Staples scored their second goal.

The seniors pose together on senior day 

Despite this, the team did not go down without a fight. Senior captain and striker Katie Ramsay scored two goals toward the end of the game, but it was not enough to defeat the Wreckers. A player from Staples ended it in the last two minutes with a game winning goal, and their team will advance to play Ridgefield in the Class LL championship this weekend.

“Obviously we are disappointed but I also couldn’t be more proud of what we have accomplished. The whole team gave it our all and there’s not much more we could have asked for. To make it to the semi-finals was even amazing,” said senior Cassidy Duffy.

Darien Football Beats Bridgeport Central

By Henry Rech

Senior Charlie Zuro puts pressure on the quarterback earlier this season. (Courtesy DAF) 

Darien pulled out another crushing defeat against Bridgeport Central on Saturday November 11th. The final score of the game was 49-0 with 42 of the Blue Wave’s points coming in the first half. The game was originally scheduled to be played at night but due to the fact that the lights in the stadium were not working the game was rescheduled for 10:30 AM, a preview for the Turkey Bowl. 

The game was a defensive slaughter fest, as the Darien defense came up with another shutout. Senior defensive tackle, Charlie Zuro, said ¨We did not overlook them, which allowed us to predict the play pre snap (before the play started) and fill up the holes.” The Wave D was suffocating all day long coming up with a big fumble recovery for a touchdown early in the game that set the tone for a blowout.

Jack Joyce finished with 4 touchdowns, 2 of them were caught for touchdowns by Max Grant in his first game back from injury. Good luck to the Blue Wave team in the rest of their season.

Varsity Field Hockey Moves on in the State Tournament

By Sarah-Jane Clarke

Girls varsity field hockey took on Hall on Tuesday, November 8th at the DHS Stadium field. The team got a big win, ending the game at 6-0. Scoring one of the six goals was senior and captain Kendall Wisinski who was back and stronger than ever after her recent injury.

The team was tremendously forceful, keeping Hall’s offense away from their goal and its defense hard at work. Wisinski commented on the team's success this season and the superb teamwork it showed in this game, “There were six goals scored today from six different players. I think that just goes to show how we don’t solely rely on one person, instead we play as a unit. If we come together in the upcoming games like we have the past few games, we can definitely go all the way.” With over 10 wins and only 1 loss, the team is sure to stay strong as the season comes to an end.

Several players jump for joy after one of their six goals in the shutout win. 

The team feels very prepared for the upcoming games and is ready to take on Norwalk again on either November 10 or 11. Be sure to stop by at the DHS Stadium Field for the game and see their brilliant teamwork on the field for yourself.

Three Darien Girls Swim Towards FCIAC Championships

By Nina Rodriguez

On​ ​November​ ​1st,​ ​the​ ​Girl’s​ ​Swim​ ​and​ ​Dive​ ​Team​ ​competed​ ​at​ ​the​ ​FCIAC​ ​time​ ​trial​ ​at
Greenwich​ ​High​ ​School​ ​against​ ​all​ ​all​ ​Fairfield​ ​County​ ​teams.​ ​Three​ ​Darien​ ​girls​ ​qualified​ ​for​ ​the actual​ ​FCIAC​ ​tournament:​ ​juniors​ ​Cassie​ ​Maroney​ ​and​ ​Lauren​ ​Picard​ ​and​ ​senior​ ​Brielle Racanelli.
Maroney​ ​qualified​ ​for​ ​the​ ​50​ ​meter​ ​freestyle,​ ​100​ ​freestyle,​ ​200​ ​medley​ ​relay,​ ​and​ ​400​ ​free relay.​ ​Picard​ ​is​ ​competing​ ​in​ ​the​ ​100​ ​meter​ ​backstroke,​ ​and​ ​Racanelli​ ​is​ ​swimming​ ​the​ ​100 meter​ ​breaststroke.​ ​All​ ​of​ ​their​ ​goals​ ​are ​to​ ​maintain​ ​a​ ​steady​ ​pace,​ ​break​ ​times,​ ​move​ ​up​ ​a​ ​place or​ ​two,​ ​but​ ​more​ ​importantly​ ​to​ ​continue​ ​cheering​ ​on​ ​their​ ​teammates​ ​and​ ​have​ ​a​ ​great​ ​night. Other​ ​notable​ ​nominees​ ​from​ ​the​ ​time​ ​trial​ ​are​ ​freshman​ ​Kendall​ ​Luecke,​ ​who​ ​swam​ ​7​ ​seconds faster​ ​during​ ​the​ ​500​ ​meter​ ​freestyle,​ ​junior​ ​Kelsey​ ​Vrooman​ ​and​ ​freshman​ ​Emily​ ​Fischer​ ​who swam​ ​their​ ​best​ ​times​ ​for​ ​the​ ​100​ ​butterfly,​ ​but​ ​all​ ​girls​ ​worked​ ​their​ ​hardest​ ​and​ ​performed​ ​well.

(Courtesy of Darien Athletic Foundation) 

Varsity Field Hockey Wins in FCIAC Qualifier

By Alix Platt

Senior Kendal Wisinki brings the ball upfield. 

On October 30th, Darien Girls Field Hockey played their first qualifying game for FCIACS. The team played Norwalk, and walked off the field with another win. The Norwalk team beat Darien 2-1 in the regular season. However, the field hockey team brought their title back by winning 4-0.The goals were scored by seniors Kathleen Tropsa, Kendall Wisinski, Sydney Schrenker, and sophomore Molly Hellman. Junior Katie Elders injured her shoulder in a past game and came back on the field stopping more than 8 shots on Darien’s goal. Junior Lily Kulesz says, “This was the best game we have ever played. We lost 2-1 regular season and we beat them by 4 last night.” The girls are so excited to be in the running for 2017 FCIAC Champions.

Go cheer them on today, November 2nd, against Wilton at Brien McMahon!