Boys Hockey Loses to Fairfield Prep

By Hugh Hearns

The Darien boys varsity hockey team lost 5-2 at Fairfield Prep on Wednesday night. At the end of the first period, Prep lead 1-0, Darien close behind and even looking threatening at times. However, during the second period, It all began to unravel for the Blue Wave. Prep put up multiple goals in the period as Darien could only muster one tally by sophomore Robbie Stewart. As the third period winded on it seemed all Fairfield Prep, but then Hudson Pokorny scored from the left circle and gave Darien some hope to give one final push at making a close game. Disappointingly for the Wave, they were unable to beat Fairfield Prep’s goalie for a third time, losing 5-2. Come support the Wave in their home opener against rival New Canaan on Saturday at 10 am at Darien Ice Rink.

Junior defenseman James Gregory makes a pass. (Courtesy DAF) 

Boys Track Places High in Two Events

By Amelia Fordyce

The boy’s track team were at two events on December 16th; The Reindeer Relays and the New Haven Invitational. At the New Haven invite, Alex Klarer finished in 2nd with a time of 4:40 in the 1600m event. Griffin Ott finished in 11th place in the 1600m with a time of 4:51. Jack O’Keefe finished in 13th place with time of 4:53. Lucas Madariaga finished 3rd in the freshmen 1600m with a time of 5:08. Oliver Knight finished in 13th place in the 600m with a time of 1:31. In the Reindeer Relays, Kayin Chisolm finished in 2nd in the high jump. Cameron Raia finished 1st in the long jump and 5th in the high jump. Kieran Daly also finished  5th in the high jump.

Senior Hayden Edwards runs hard in a meet last season. (Courtesy DAF)

The next meet is the Winter Relays at Hillhouse High School on December 23rd. Don’t miss it!

11/12 House Ball Power Rankings: Week One

By Will Pegler

Per usual, week one of house basketball was fairly unusual. With some football players (shoutout 3rd state championship in a row and best team in CT I don’t care what anyone says) missing from teams there were some surprising upsets and some wacky games, but it was a fun week of house ball nonetheless. Here are where the teams stand after week one.

() indicates previous ranking; [] indicates record

1.Cavaliers (3) [2-0]
I don’t think this team is going to win it all this year, but because they won their first two games and for the margin of victory they deserve the number one spot for this week. Justin vun da gruf is obviously very good at basketball and was the leader for the Cavs this week and will be for the rest of the season. Justin and the rest of the squad won big in their first game 60-34 against the Hornets and put up 50 against the Spurs on Sunday. This high powered offense should be scary all season, as Alex Murray is certainly a big time scorer and the two Blake’s (Sommi and Cellar) athletic ability gives them the chance to score at any moment. The Cavs are obviously a good team, but other squads will certainly give them a run for their money. The number one spot should be up for grabs every week.

2 Nets (2) [2-0]
Under the leadership of Jack “Javier” Tierney, the Nets have proved that their high preseason ranking was no fluke. Will Rooney has been a beast for this team so far and, I know he doesn’t like me calling him this, but the kid is a psycho on the court and I love it. His hair flies through the air and gets in his face when he jumps, but he truly does not let it bother him and just balls out. Speaking of hair, the Nets other big man Alex Phillips has played well for this team so far and will need to continue to grab rebounds if they wants to stay at a high spot. People may be upset with this ranking, considering the Nets only beat the Suns by three when they were missing like five kids from their team, but I don’t really care. When you have David Volz at point guard and have a gritty play style like the Nets do, you deserve a high ranking. ALSO, Jack Tierney is willing to coach for other teams and would like to be paid in pints of Cherry Garcia ice cream, his favorite flavor.

3.Knicks (6) [2-0]
Craig Triano and the rest of the Knicks squad balled out in week one. Good shooting from the field and hustle defense were the name of the game for this team, and if they can keep that going they will be a contender come playoff time. Other than Triano, Cam Raia was a big part of this team’s two wins and looks to be a key player for the rest of the regular season. Despite strong shooting, I think this team’s problem could end up being a lack of size, but Jackson Mcnear will look to do all he can to play big for this squad. It should also be noted that Craig Triano has been really confident of late, and I’ll be the first to tell you that a confident Triano is the last thing you want to be playing against. I recommend someone knocks his lunch out of his hands or something in the cafeteria just to bring him back down to earth and help the rest of the league out.

4.Suns (1) [0-2]
I know the Suns are 0-2, but as I said earlier, they were missing an absurd amount of players in their first game and only lost by three, a very encouraging sign. If this team can bring that same sense of fight to every game this season, they will be scary. Players like Connor Percarpio are willing to do unimaginable things to get into the minds of the other team and make them overthink things, and the sheer size that Teddy Brannigan and Willie Keating bring to the table are two factors that make this team a contender. The talent doesn’t end there, though, as players like Max Grant and Glen Fay are great ball handlers and solid shooters that will be very tough to guard.

5.Celtics (9) [2-0]
Yeah, I put a 2-0 team behind an 0-2 team, crazy right? Not really. First of all, these guys beat my team (the Warriors) on Sunday so they’re a bunch of jerks. Secondly, their other win came against a Jack Joyce-less (played quarterback instead) Rockets team. Tommy Hellman has definitely come strong on the scene along with Nathan Hadlow, but let’s see what happens this week before I put them too high in the rankings.

6.Hornets (7) [1-1]
After a tough loss to the Cavs on Wednesday night, the Hornets were back to full strength with big man Mike Neary on Sunday and had a big come from behind victory over the Rockets. John Gianatassio has played very strong at point guard for this team so far, while Mike Neary dominated in the paint in his first game with help from Harry Rayhill (still the best hair in the league). If Gianatassio continues to play well and the Neary-Rayhill duo continue to play strong in the paint, this team will get hot. Lastly, if Mike Neary doesn’t win player of the year it’s a travesty, so go vote for him at the Ruden Report (http://www.therudenreport.com/vote-athletic-gaines-ruden-report-football-player-year/)

7.Rockets (4) [0-2]
As I mentioned earlier, the Rockets played without MVP candidate Jack Joyce on Wednesday night along with Andrew Lucas, so they could very well be 1-1 right now. The Rockets need Joyce to be their man this year if they want to go anywhere, but Andrew Lucas will also need to make strong contributions as he is a fantastic athlete as well. Tommy “The Red Rocket” Reilly has been a solid big man for the team so far but will have a lot of competition to deal with at that position within the rest of the league. Timmy Egan will also look to contribute from the three point line as well as the swag department, as he rocked a headband like no one else could on Sunday.

8.Spurs (8) [1-1]
This team is centered around the three point ball, something that is very risky in house basketball. That beat my team on Wednesday night when we forgot we didn’t have to play zone and Jack Cronin hit no less than 10 threes. The kid was wearing a long sleeve shirt under his jersey and didn’t even break a sweat. As I said last week, Cronin looks and plays a whole lot like Tim Riggins, without a care in the world. Gotta love that. Fin Batson and Max Gasvoda are also solid shooters that will make it difficult for other teams to guard them this year.

9.Warriors (5) [0-2]
Alright so this is my team. We’ve clearly stumbled out of the gate, but I’d like to point out that Kevin Grune has yet to play a game for us this year and Coach Hutch Pegler was not there on Sunday. When we are at full strength I think we will be a force to be reckoned with, but I also know nothing about basketball. In all seriousness though, Connor Olson has been a great defender for us so far this year while Charlie Olson and Will Rehm have been strong on offense. I also hit two threes on Sunday so I’ve clearly proven that I’m a Big Baller. Jack Gordon has also been a beast, while Nick Casciari and Paul Ridder have played very gritty. Henry Nolte has also grabbed a ton of boards so far and has proven himself as a big man. Stay woke on the Warriors.

10.Raptors (10) [0-2]
Players such as Andrew Donovan and Cole Stevenson have played pretty well for this squad so far despite not getting a win yet. On defense, Charlie Baylis and Dillon O’Shea have hustled for loose balls and made plays. Due to these factors, I think this team will start to climb in the rankings. I also have no idea who this Tallis kid is so that’s all I have to say about the Raptors.

Week One Awards:

The “Get Out of My Head” Award: Connor Percarpio

Big Man of the Week: Mike Neary

Defensive Player of the Week: Connor Olson

Perspiration King: Tommy Murphy

League Flirt: Craig Triano

Girls Hockey Wins First Game of the Season

By Sarah-Jane Clarke

On December 11th, Darien Girls Varsity Hockey had their first game against West Haven. The girls had a great start to the season, winning 4-1. This game is the first glance at the teams great unity and success. The team’s new sophomore goalie Hallie Kreppein did a great job keeping the puck out of the net and new young players such as freshmen Nelle Kniffen, Kate Bellissimo and Catherine Martin were strong on the ice. All new members have proven to be great additions to the team and upperclassman players are coming out stronger than ever.

Captain and senior Sally Cassidy commented on the game, “We played really well for our first game and we were really happy with the outcome.”

The girls next game is on Tuesday, December 19th at Darien Ice Rink versus Morristown-Beard at 4:50 pm. Be sure to show up and support the team to see their great teamwork early on in the season!

Senior captain Kathleen Tropsa skates hard in a game last season. (Courtesy DAF) 

Blue Wave Football Captures Third State Title in a Row

By Will Pegler

This past Saturday, December 9th at Boyle Stadium in the snow, the Blue Wave football team knocked off the undefeated Greenwich Cardinals in the Class LL state championship, beating them 31-22.

Jack Joyce celebrates his big touchdown run 

The wave's high powered offense struck early and often from all angles, the first score coming from a Jack Joyce pass caught with one hand by junior Tyler Herget that was later featured on ESPN's Top 10 plays.  The defensive unit made easy work of quarterback Gavin Muir and the rest of the Greenwich offense, quickly getting the ball back to the Wave. Senior quarterback Jack Joyce was soon able to take advantage of a huge hole created by the offensive line and went untouched for a 40 yard scamper to the end zone, putting Darien on top 14-0.

The Greenwich offense was finally able to gain some momentum and score a touchdown, but the score was soon countered when (guess who!) Jack Joyce threw a 25 yard lob pass to junior TJ Cornacchia on a beautifully run hitch-and-go route, right in front of the elated Darien student section.

Greenwich wide receiver Jael Negron made a leaping catch late in the second quarter to put the game back within one possession, but the Cardinals failed two point conversion left the score at 21-13 in Darien's favor.

The student section erupts after
TJ Cornacchia's big time
touchdown grab. (Courtesy DAF) 

With one second left in the first half, junior linebacker Connor Fay scooped up a dropped snap by the Greenwich punter and leapt into the end zone, that is, everyone thought so besides the referee. After this questionable call, the Wave went into the locker room leading 21-13.

The second half of this game can be described in one word, gritty. As the snow started to fall even harder both offenses started to struggle to hold onto the ball, as points came at a premium for both sides. Oddly enough, kicking became a huge part of the game, and senior kicker Austin Hagander came up huge for the Wave. Hagander knocked in all four of his extra points and was able to hit a huge 36 yard kick late in the game, looking like Adam Vinateri of the Indianapolis Colts.

The Cardinals scored nine points in the second half, coming from three big time boots by their kicker. Despite this, the Wave's defense was relentless. Seniors Alex Dehmel, Peter Guttusso, and Connor Tienken led the secondary and gave no room for Greenwich wide outs to make plays. The defensive line was also unbelievable, as seniors Mike Neary, Charlie Zuro, and Sean O'Malley were constantly getting into the backfield and putting pressure on Greenwich's quarterback Muir.

The Wave held the lead for the entirety of the game, but Greenwich was able to hang around for most of it. The finishing touches were finally made when Darien's fearsome d-line sacked Muir and forced the Cardinals to turn the ball over on downs, allowing senior running back Mitch Pryor to truck his way into the end zone for the final score.

There were obviously a lot of distractions for this team to deal with throughout the state playoff and in the weeks prior. But the Blue Wave were able to block out all the noise coming from all directions and just play ball. Credit goes out to the entire team, especially the seniors, for being able to come together and prove why they're still the number one team in the state.

Senior captain Mike Neary was extremely proud of the squad, he said; "We just believed in ourselves and kept each other in our hearts. We played for each other and made it happen."

Senior Mitch Pryor, also a captain, shared Neary's sentiments; "The team pulled together in an unimaginable way. I couldn't be more proud of how we played next man up so well. How we played with more motivation and heart than every single opponent."

In other state playoff news: as the Wave captured their third straight state title, the New Canaan Rams lost to Masuk 28-14 in the Class L state semifinals.

Girls Basketball Preview

By Taylor Davis

The DHS Girls Varsity Basketball Team had a decent season last year finishing with a record of 10 and 10. The team hopes to make it to FCIAC'S this year and is led by captains Christine Fiore, Hailey King, and Katie Ramsay.

The team does not have a lot of rebuilding to do as they only lost one senior from last year, Megan Hobbs. While they only lost one senior, Hobbs was a great asset to the team, and they will greatly miss her beaming personality.

“Hobbs was great at keeping everyone positive and building team chemistry. Her warm presence is surely missed this year,” Captain Katie Ramsay said. 

The team is led by a new coach this year, coach Melba. Melba proves to be a great addition to the team as she has had a lot of experience coaching and playing at Georgetown University.

“We have already seen a great difference under Coach Melba’s supervision and hope to continue to use her expertise,” Ramsay said.

Come out and support the Varsity Girls Basketball Team in their first game against Norwalk at 5:30 p.m. in the DHS Main Gym!

Senior captain Katie Ramsay goes up for a layup last season. (Courtesy DAF)

11/12 Preseason House Ball Rankings

By Will Pegler

America’s greatest pastime is set to return this week. There is really nothing like house basketball. March Madness, the World Series, or even the Stanley Cup Playoffs pale in comparison to the competitive spirit and will to win in this beautiful sport. As everyone knows, the rankings are a huge part of the league and are taken seriously by all players. I’ve done the rankings since my sophomore year, but I plan on this year being the best. I’m going to do them weekly and plan on giving a new award each week. If you have any ideas for awards, let me know. ALSO, if any sophomores or freshman want to write the rankings for the 9th/10th grade league, please let me know, as the rankings are a long storied tradition that I’d like to keep going.

Without further adieu, here are the Preseason Rankings for 11/12th grade house ball.

1)Suns
This is a stacked team to say the least. Cousins Teddy Brannigan and Willie Keating are two massive human beings that will be rebound and defensive machines for this squad. Guards Bruce Ferguson and Max Grant are also two key players that look to hit some shots and feed Keating and Brannigan down low. Glen Fay is also an underrated player who has the ability to knockdown big time threes. The Suns are extremely well rounded and will be a nightmare for opposing teams defensively. Apparently, though, they will be missing Keating, Grant, and Ferguson for their first game because of a conflict with another sport. If anyone can tell me what sport is more important than house basketball, I’d love to know. Without these three stars, the Suns will need to look for contributions from players like Connor Percarpio, a house ball veteran whose wisdom and “Coach K like” basketball IQ could be huge for this team down the stretch.

2)Nets
On the website it says the Nets coach is Guy Phillips, but I’ve heard reports that the real head coach for this team will be Dickinson bound Jack Tierney, or as I like to call him, “The Red Devil”, or as others like to call him, “Cherry Garcia” (it’s his favorite icecream flavor). Under the leadership of Tierney, a varsity basketball captain (lol what a waste of time), this team could definitely put together a strong season. Similar to the Suns, they have guys that can do pretty much everything for them. They have two great big men in Alex Phillips and Will Rooney, both of whom are psychos and will do anything to win. They also have, in my opinion, the best defensive player in the league Connor Tienken. Tienken is a starting cornerback for the football team and, despite getting “mossed” against East Hartford, got two interceptions in the Wave’s last game against West Haven. David Volz will play point guard for this squad, while Hank Rech will be an emotional leader for them. Don’t sleep on Nolan Crosby, either, who knocks down 3’s like it’s his job.

3.Cavaliers
The Cavs are poised to make noise this year with a few standout names as well as some strong hustle players. Justin Van de Graaaaaaaaafz (can’t spell this kid’s last name) will be this team’s most important player as the starting point guard and best shooter, but production will come from many others. Alex Murray is a player that has the ability to drive to the hoop and knock down foul shots, while the two Blake’s, Blake Cellar and Blake Sommi, will provide some great defense for this team. Mac Mclean and Cason Stone will also add value as two solid all around athletes. The Cavs also possess two of the most electric personalities in the league in Cole Armstrong and Matt Stone. Stone and Armstrong are a couple of funny fellas who will be able to keep the team loose and have fun throughout the season.

4.Rockets
To be completely honest with you guys, other than the first three teams the league is very balanced this year, so the rest of the rankings will be fairly random and are all toss ups. I decided to put the Rockets at 4 mainly because of Jack Joyce. Joyce is one of the best players in this league and will have to play great this year if this team wants to make a run. Andrew Lucas is also key for this team, an athletic specimen, Lucas plays running back for the football team and has no problem running defenders over. If he is able to use this strength in house ball, the Rockets could go places. Other than Joyce and Lucas, this team will look for some hustle and production from players such as Tommy Reilley, Timmy Egan, and Tyler Russo.

5.Warriors
This is my team, so I decided to throw us right in the middle to not cause any controversy out of the gate. When I saw this roster, the first word that came to mind was gritty, because that is how this team is going to have to play this season. I say this because we definitely lack size, but also have a lot of talent, our top two players being Kevin Grune and Charlie Olsen. Henry Nolte will have to play big for the squad, as he is the tallest dude on the team, while Will Rehm and Connor Olson will have to add some value in the hustle department and nail the occasional 3 pointer. In terms of how I add value to this team, I’ll play some solid defense and probably hit a 3 once in awhile, but overall I’m just a really Big Baller. Jack Gordon will also be important for this team in terms of swagger. My dad, Hutch Pegler, is coaching this team. He’s made it clear that he has no basketball knowledge or any idea how he’s going to run the team, but I have confidence that he will get the job done, he’s also a pretty Big Baller.

6.Knicks
This team gets the 6 spot simply because of the man himself, Craig Triano. Craig, Craig, Craig…. what a fella. The guy nails mid-range jumpers all day, eats nothing but pizza (friends call him “Pizza Boy”), and is a handsome devil. Triano is what some may call a renaissance man, as his interests and talents span far and wide, from pizza to cool shoes, Craig can do it all. Other than Pizza Boy, the Knicks have a lot of talent in players like Cameron Raia and Jack Bogan, both of whom have the ability to play point guard and shoot the ball well. Jackson Mcnear adds some size and aggressiveness to this squad, making them a real contender this season.

7.Hornets
The name of the game for this team will be size. The Hornets will have to rely largely on play from tall guy Michael “The Bicycle” Neary, who has the ability to fight hard on the glass for rebounds and blocks. Neary’s partner in crime will be Harry Rayhill, another tough big man who remains to have the best hair in the league. John Gianattasio and AJ Arledge will also have to play well this season if the Hornets want to find success. Arledge is especially important to this team as he has the ability to play as a guard or down low near the hoop. The Hornets could be a contender if these pieces come together.

8.Spurs
This is a team that could definitely fly under the radar in the regular season but make noise in the playoffs. Max Gasvoda, Fin Batson, and Sean Collins all have the ability to play guard for this team and could all get hot from the field at any moment. The Spurs big man will be Will Wilson. Wilson is a super tall kid who hopes to get boards and feed the ball out to the playmakers. Another strong player for this team is Jack Cronin. Outside of his basketball abilities, Cronin has been come to known as a poor man’s Tim Riggins, the fullback from the beloved tv show “Friday Night Lights”. Tim Riggins was an absolute beast, so if Cronin can play anything like him then the Spurs are in good shape.

9.Celtics
Two of this squad’s key players will be Tommy Hellman and TJ Cornachia. I don’t know these guys very well as they are both juniors, but I know they both have some athletic ability, Hellman being a lacrosse player (I’ve been told, not 100 % sure) and Cornachia a wide receiver on the football team (that I’m sure of). Despite not having one “MVP type” player, this team has one of the deepest rosters in the league. One name that pops out quickly is house ball’s resident Canadian, Nathan Hadlow. Hadlow is a solid shooter and is probably the nicest player in the league. You can thank Hadlow’s Canadian upbringing as the reason for his positive attitude; some have even said that you can hear him say “Sorry, eh?” after every shot he takes. The team’s big man will be Chuck Zuro, while Alex Dehmel looks to add even more athleticism to this squad. The Celtics also have the Sullivan brothers, Ryan and Connor, two guys who I would not cross and are willing to throw punches for their teammates.

10.Raptors
As I said earlier, the team’s are very balanced this year, so this last place ranking could be completely false after this week’s games are played. As of now, though, the Raptors stand at tenth mainly because I don’t know their first rounder, Nicholas Tallis. I’m assuming Tallis is a junior who I’m not aware of, but if he is ridiculously talented and I just don’t know somebody please correct me. Cole Stevenson and Dillon O’Shea will be two solid players for this team, both of whom are good athletes and can make plays on offense and defense. Charlie Baylis is also on this squad. Baylis is a guy who, if you don’t know by now, never stops hustling and is the true definition of a team player. If the Raptors start their season off strong this week with a win they will definitely start to climb in the rankings.

Preseason Awards
MVP: Jack Joyce

Coach of the Year: Paul Hadlow

Defensive Player of the Year: Connor Tienken

Guy Who’s Not in the League Anymore But Was Really Sweaty: Tommy Murphy

Familiar Territory as the Blue Wave Advance to a Third Straight State Championship

By Jack Tierney

On Sunday, December 3rd the Darien varsity football team took down West Haven. The Blue Wave won 27-13 in what was a fairly close affair. West Haven’s electric rushing attack was brought to halt by Darien’s signature defense.

Despite a few big plays the Wave defensive front was stout. Standouts Connor Tienken, Connor Fay, and Alex Dehmel led the way and held West Haven in check. Normally the defensive backs and linebackers are used to playing coverage for a large portion in the game but with West Haven’s “Navy-Army-Air Force-Georgia Tech” style offense they had to be constantly working against the run.

Amidst the latest controversy senior quarterback Jack Joyce shined. He had 3 total touchdowns and showed true leadership. Senior cornerback Connor Tienken said this about his teammate, “He came out and showed why he’s the best quarterback in the FCIAC. I’m glad our defense could help him out.” Darien took care of business and showed why they are the undisputed best team in the state.

This game means a state championship appearance for the third state year and truly displays the dominance Rob Trifone has had as a coach. They face Greenwich with everything on the line next Saturday, Boyle Stadium, at 11 A.M.

 Senior Jack Joyce getting help from Junior T.J. Cornacchia on a run. These two had beautiful chemistry all day and even connected on a 25 yard score early in the game.

Boys Hockey Preview

By Cole Armstrong

The Boys of the Darien Ice Hockey team are riled up and ready to make this season better than their last. They had an admirable standing last year of six wins and four losses with one overtime loss but they unfortunately didn't qualify for states or FCIAC's.

“I think last season was a bit of a tough year,” says Fin Batson, a notable defensemen. “But a lot of younger players got a lot of exposure to the varsity level and helped our growth coming into this (current) season."

This year the team, led by captains Will Dickson (Forward), Connor McCarthy, and Hunter Hazelton (Defenseman) are looking for redemption. They’ve trained vigorously for the past three months under the instruction of Coach Budd whose been described as tough but fair and knows how to motivate his players.

Tryouts start this December 2nd followed by their first scrimmage against St. John’s Prep in Middletown, Massachusetts

Senior Carr Noonan skates hard in a game last season. 

Boys Swimming Preview

By Scotty Tuck

The Boys Swimming Season begins with its first practice on Monday, December 4. The team, which was formally comprised of 22 swimmers and 4 divers, now consists of 29 swimmers and 3 divers. This year’s team is not much different than last year’s, having only lost three seniors, but gaining multiple freshmen and sophomores. The boys also recently gained a new coach in Liz Blau, coach of the Darien YMCA Piranhas.

Sophomore Connor Martin in the 100 meter Butterfly 

A new coach and some young faces could be the recipe for success in BWSD’s upcoming season. The team, lead by senior captains Kevin Grune, Alex Dehmel, Chris Zhang, Connor Henry, and Brendan Ross is looking to be very promising. There is a lot of depth within the team, as well as a large number of newcomers whose presence on the team will be very beneficial. Similar to last year, the now 10th grade class seems to be one of the main sources of the team’s depth and strength, especially with the three sophomore newcomers to the team, whose addition rises the number of sophomores from 8 to 11. Sophomore newcomers Nico Clark and Conway Zhou are two swimmers who will help contribute to the team’s versatility, as Clark will be able to fill positions in both Breastroke and sprint Freestyle events, while Zhou can swim Butterfly, Freestyle, and Individual Medley.

Last year’s season was decent, yet disappointing for BWSD, coming off of a 7-3 season and placing 5th at FCIAC’s, 3rd at Class L’s, and 11th at State Opens. This incoming team is much different however, larger and more diverse, the team has quite a good shot at an undefeated season, as powerhouses such as Greenwich and New Canaan are suffering heavily from the loss of their many talented senior swimmers. The boys also have a high chance of taking first at Class L’s, taking down the previously victorious New Canaan team. Regarding the upcoming season, Senior Captain Chris Zhang was quoted saying, “Last year our team was young, but in the past our boys have been working extremely hard, and this year we have a team that could potentially win States.” The first meet of the season will take place on Saturday, December 16, at Norwalk High School.