The girls varsity and junior varsity squash teams took part in the Fairwest Squash Tournament on January 28th at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. The teams took part in two matches each. Varsity played Greenwich and New Canaan and JV played Rye Garnet and Rye Black. Both teams took a win and a lose, with JV coming in 4th for their league, winning to Rye Garnet and losing to Rye Black, and Varsity coming in 5th with a win against Greenwich and losing to New Canaan. “It was a really fun match because it's such an awesome team and its nice to have a tournament with JV because we never do. Everyone played great,” says junior, Alexa Cornacchia, Captain of Varsity Squash. Varsity Girl will be attending Nationals in Philadelphia, PA. on February 1st along with Varsity boys. JV will be having a scrimmage on January 31 at Chelsea Piers. Be sure to check out the matches!
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Girls Squash Takes on Fairwest Tournament
By Alix Platt
The girls varsity and junior varsity squash teams took part in the Fairwest Squash Tournament on January 28th at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. The teams took part in two matches each. Varsity played Greenwich and New Canaan and JV played Rye Garnet and Rye Black. Both teams took a win and a lose, with JV coming in 4th for their league, winning to Rye Garnet and losing to Rye Black, and Varsity coming in 5th with a win against Greenwich and losing to New Canaan. “It was a really fun match because it's such an awesome team and its nice to have a tournament with JV because we never do. Everyone played great,” says junior, Alexa Cornacchia, Captain of Varsity Squash. Varsity Girl will be attending Nationals in Philadelphia, PA. on February 1st along with Varsity boys. JV will be having a scrimmage on January 31 at Chelsea Piers. Be sure to check out the matches!
The girls varsity and junior varsity squash teams took part in the Fairwest Squash Tournament on January 28th at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. The teams took part in two matches each. Varsity played Greenwich and New Canaan and JV played Rye Garnet and Rye Black. Both teams took a win and a lose, with JV coming in 4th for their league, winning to Rye Garnet and losing to Rye Black, and Varsity coming in 5th with a win against Greenwich and losing to New Canaan. “It was a really fun match because it's such an awesome team and its nice to have a tournament with JV because we never do. Everyone played great,” says junior, Alexa Cornacchia, Captain of Varsity Squash. Varsity Girl will be attending Nationals in Philadelphia, PA. on February 1st along with Varsity boys. JV will be having a scrimmage on January 31 at Chelsea Piers. Be sure to check out the matches!
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
Wave Girls Indoor Track Approaches the Post-Season
By Carson Halabi
This past Friday and Saturday, the Wave indoor track team competed in their second to last regular season meet at the Yale Invitational and Staples High School. The team added five new FCIAC qualifiers this weekend, making a grand total of 23 qualifiers, compared to the 14 last year. The new qualifiers included sophomore Lily Johnston in the 3000 m, freshman Katie Chandler in the 1000 m, freshman Ashley Hagander and senior Brielle Racanelli in the shotput, and freshman Sally Boucher in the 600 m.
The Yale Invitational is a great opportunity to run at an incredible facility. The track is banked there and creates an exciting atmosphere at the fieldhouse.The team ran a lot of their varsity distance runners in the 3000 m at Yale, in order to get in a good endurance race to prepare for the post-season. As the days count down to FCIACs and States, the workouts for the team will become shorter but faster.
The team looks forward to the FCIAC Championship on Thursday, February 1. Go support the Wave!!
This past Friday and Saturday, the Wave indoor track team competed in their second to last regular season meet at the Yale Invitational and Staples High School. The team added five new FCIAC qualifiers this weekend, making a grand total of 23 qualifiers, compared to the 14 last year. The new qualifiers included sophomore Lily Johnston in the 3000 m, freshman Katie Chandler in the 1000 m, freshman Ashley Hagander and senior Brielle Racanelli in the shotput, and freshman Sally Boucher in the 600 m.
The Yale Invitational is a great opportunity to run at an incredible facility. The track is banked there and creates an exciting atmosphere at the fieldhouse.The team ran a lot of their varsity distance runners in the 3000 m at Yale, in order to get in a good endurance race to prepare for the post-season. As the days count down to FCIACs and States, the workouts for the team will become shorter but faster.
The team looks forward to the FCIAC Championship on Thursday, February 1. Go support the Wave!!
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| Junior Daphne Cutler, senior Kerry Blatney, junior Cameron Appleby and junior Eva Finn run a 4x800 meter relay. |
Monday, January 29, 2018
11/12 House Ball Power Rankings: Volume Four
By Will Pegler
It's officially 2nd semester and midterms are over. Which means it is now time to focus all of our attention on house basketball. As the playoffs quickly approach, here is where all 10 teams stand.
() indicates previous ranking; [] indicates record
1. Cavaliers (1) [9-1]
The Cavs just keep winning and no one seems to be able to stop them. They've had production come from all angles, primarily though, from Point Guard Justin Vandy Graf, who has been their leading scorer all year. The self-proclaimed "Stone Brothers" Cason Stone and Matt Stone have also added valuable minutes for this team, as their shooting ability has been compared to that of the Splash Brothers in the NBA. Alex Murray and Blake Sommi are two great athletes that round out this roster and make this team the best in the league.
2. Nets (3) [8-2]
This team has one of the best defenses in the league led by Will Rooney and Connor Tienken. Rooney has been a strong all-around player for this squad while Connor has been able to force a lot of steals and get a lot of fast break points. David Volz has run the point for the Nets and has done a great job spreading the ball around and getting everyone involved in the offense. One player who has benefitted greatly from Volz's passing is Hank Rech, who has gotten a lot of open jump shots thanks to solid passes from Volz. Some Nets players have credited their coach Jack Tierney for their success, but I've heard that he has missed the past few games so I'm not sure how much value he has added recently.
3. Knicks (2) [8-2]
Despite their narrow victory over the one-win Raptors, the Knicks still sit in the top three for several reasons. First, Cam Raia was not at the game on Sunday so that should definitely factor in to why their game was so close. Also, when you have Craig Triano on your team it's impossible not to put you at the top of the rankings, as the kid has done it all for them this season. Jackson Mcnear has been able to add a much needed presence in the paint for the Knicks that has allowed Triano to put up a lot of jumpers. Other offensive contribution has come from Jack Bogdan, Charlie Walsh, and Enzo Amatruda. If the Knicks offense continues to produce, they are poised to make a long playoff run.
4. Suns (5) [5-5]
The Suns have far too many athletes in on their squad to not consider them one of the best teams in the league. Max Grant, Peter Guttusso, Bruce Ferguson, and Glen Fay are all top notch players who can knock down open threes. As if the threat their shooting poses isn't enough, they also have Teddy Brannigan and Willy Keating to hold down the paint and clean up on the boards. Connor Percarpio has also forced a lot of turnovers that have led to points for this team, along with Reilly Warble, another great shooter. Despite their .500 record, the Suns are going to be tough to stop down the stretch.
5. Celtics (4) [6-4]
As I've said in previous rankings, I'm never quite sure what to say about the Celtics. They are obviously a good team, as the record shows, but I'm not sure they have enough overall talent to make a deep playoff run. Obviously Tommy Hellman is a great player, but seniors like Nate Hadlow and Ryan Griffin have also been relevant pieces to their offense. Chuck Zuro needs to step up big in the paint if the Celtics want to put together some big wins, along with the Sullivan brothers Ryan and Connor.
6. Hornets (6) [5-5]
Another team I'm not quite sure how to describe. The Hornets have consistently been pretty good but haven't been able to crack the top five. Mike Neary and John Gianatassio have been the leaders of this team on offense, while Harry Rayhill has helped to anchor the paint. This team's success seems to be dependent on how hot Mike Neary is from the field, but if they run into a team that is able to out rebound them they seem to run in to trouble as well. If they can figure out things on offense, the Hornets could make some noise at the end of the regular season.
7. Spurs (8) [4-6]
The Spurs have relied completely on the three this season, and when they're on, they're on. As my team learned yesterday, you need to defend their shooters or else they have the ability to get big leads quickly. Fin Batson and Max Gasvoda have both been strong on offense along with sharpshooter Scott McGraw. If the Spurs do get cold from the field, they have big men Sean O'Malley and Will Wilson to get rebounds and kick it back out for open shots. Despite their record being under .500, this is definitely a team that could surprise people.
8. Rockets (7) [2-8]
The Rockets have lost their last five games by a big margin and have struggled to get anything going on offense. Jack Joyce is their main scoring threat, but other than him they have yet to find another consistent scorer. Andrew Lucas has been solid on defense while Jack Lowder, Tommy Reilly, and Timmy Egan have been able to score some points, but this team needs a more consistent way to get buckets.
9. Warriors (9) [2-8]
Although it's late in the season, the Warriors still have yet to hit their full potential as they have been missing players due to illnesses such as mono and strep throat. The team had a tough loss against the Suns where they struggled to stop such a high powered offense, but they look to bounce back to next weekend. With scores like Kevin Grune, Charlie Olsen, and Will Rehm on the team it's hard to imagine that the Warriors won't get hot and win a few games down the stretch. They also look to have Henry Nolte back from mono next weekend, as he is a big factor down low and on the boards.
10. Raptors (10) [1-9]
The Raptors got a huge win over Rockets last weekend, which if nothing else was a huge confidence boost for this team. Although they have the worst record in the league, they still possess a few scoring threats in players like Cole Stevenson and Andrew Donovan. Dillon O'Shea has also dominated on defense, forcing steals left and right. Hopefully this team can get a few more wins before the regular season comes to a close.
Awards:
Defensive Team of the Week: Nets
League Nice Guy: Nate Hadlow
Shooter of the Week: Scott McGraw
The Sweaty Betty Award: Tommy Murphy
It's officially 2nd semester and midterms are over. Which means it is now time to focus all of our attention on house basketball. As the playoffs quickly approach, here is where all 10 teams stand.
() indicates previous ranking; [] indicates record
1. Cavaliers (1) [9-1]
The Cavs just keep winning and no one seems to be able to stop them. They've had production come from all angles, primarily though, from Point Guard Justin Vandy Graf, who has been their leading scorer all year. The self-proclaimed "Stone Brothers" Cason Stone and Matt Stone have also added valuable minutes for this team, as their shooting ability has been compared to that of the Splash Brothers in the NBA. Alex Murray and Blake Sommi are two great athletes that round out this roster and make this team the best in the league.
2. Nets (3) [8-2]
This team has one of the best defenses in the league led by Will Rooney and Connor Tienken. Rooney has been a strong all-around player for this squad while Connor has been able to force a lot of steals and get a lot of fast break points. David Volz has run the point for the Nets and has done a great job spreading the ball around and getting everyone involved in the offense. One player who has benefitted greatly from Volz's passing is Hank Rech, who has gotten a lot of open jump shots thanks to solid passes from Volz. Some Nets players have credited their coach Jack Tierney for their success, but I've heard that he has missed the past few games so I'm not sure how much value he has added recently.
3. Knicks (2) [8-2]
Despite their narrow victory over the one-win Raptors, the Knicks still sit in the top three for several reasons. First, Cam Raia was not at the game on Sunday so that should definitely factor in to why their game was so close. Also, when you have Craig Triano on your team it's impossible not to put you at the top of the rankings, as the kid has done it all for them this season. Jackson Mcnear has been able to add a much needed presence in the paint for the Knicks that has allowed Triano to put up a lot of jumpers. Other offensive contribution has come from Jack Bogdan, Charlie Walsh, and Enzo Amatruda. If the Knicks offense continues to produce, they are poised to make a long playoff run.
4. Suns (5) [5-5]
The Suns have far too many athletes in on their squad to not consider them one of the best teams in the league. Max Grant, Peter Guttusso, Bruce Ferguson, and Glen Fay are all top notch players who can knock down open threes. As if the threat their shooting poses isn't enough, they also have Teddy Brannigan and Willy Keating to hold down the paint and clean up on the boards. Connor Percarpio has also forced a lot of turnovers that have led to points for this team, along with Reilly Warble, another great shooter. Despite their .500 record, the Suns are going to be tough to stop down the stretch.
5. Celtics (4) [6-4]
As I've said in previous rankings, I'm never quite sure what to say about the Celtics. They are obviously a good team, as the record shows, but I'm not sure they have enough overall talent to make a deep playoff run. Obviously Tommy Hellman is a great player, but seniors like Nate Hadlow and Ryan Griffin have also been relevant pieces to their offense. Chuck Zuro needs to step up big in the paint if the Celtics want to put together some big wins, along with the Sullivan brothers Ryan and Connor.
6. Hornets (6) [5-5]
Another team I'm not quite sure how to describe. The Hornets have consistently been pretty good but haven't been able to crack the top five. Mike Neary and John Gianatassio have been the leaders of this team on offense, while Harry Rayhill has helped to anchor the paint. This team's success seems to be dependent on how hot Mike Neary is from the field, but if they run into a team that is able to out rebound them they seem to run in to trouble as well. If they can figure out things on offense, the Hornets could make some noise at the end of the regular season.
7. Spurs (8) [4-6]
The Spurs have relied completely on the three this season, and when they're on, they're on. As my team learned yesterday, you need to defend their shooters or else they have the ability to get big leads quickly. Fin Batson and Max Gasvoda have both been strong on offense along with sharpshooter Scott McGraw. If the Spurs do get cold from the field, they have big men Sean O'Malley and Will Wilson to get rebounds and kick it back out for open shots. Despite their record being under .500, this is definitely a team that could surprise people.
8. Rockets (7) [2-8]
The Rockets have lost their last five games by a big margin and have struggled to get anything going on offense. Jack Joyce is their main scoring threat, but other than him they have yet to find another consistent scorer. Andrew Lucas has been solid on defense while Jack Lowder, Tommy Reilly, and Timmy Egan have been able to score some points, but this team needs a more consistent way to get buckets.
9. Warriors (9) [2-8]
Although it's late in the season, the Warriors still have yet to hit their full potential as they have been missing players due to illnesses such as mono and strep throat. The team had a tough loss against the Suns where they struggled to stop such a high powered offense, but they look to bounce back to next weekend. With scores like Kevin Grune, Charlie Olsen, and Will Rehm on the team it's hard to imagine that the Warriors won't get hot and win a few games down the stretch. They also look to have Henry Nolte back from mono next weekend, as he is a big factor down low and on the boards.
10. Raptors (10) [1-9]
The Raptors got a huge win over Rockets last weekend, which if nothing else was a huge confidence boost for this team. Although they have the worst record in the league, they still possess a few scoring threats in players like Cole Stevenson and Andrew Donovan. Dillon O'Shea has also dominated on defense, forcing steals left and right. Hopefully this team can get a few more wins before the regular season comes to a close.
Awards:
Defensive Team of the Week: Nets
League Nice Guy: Nate Hadlow
Shooter of the Week: Scott McGraw
The Sweaty Betty Award: Tommy Murphy
Saturday, January 27, 2018
Girls Hockey Loses in Tough Game to New Canaan
By Emma Love
On Wednesday, January 24th, the Wave girls hockey team played a strong game against New Canaan despite the 2-0 loss. What followed was three periods of exciting hockey that has become a staple of Wave-Rams match-ups. Sophomore goalie Hallie Kreppein was solid in net, making 19 saves. Senior captain defensive pair Sally Cassidy and Kathleen Tropsa each made smart plays that helped keep the game tied at zero until the third period, where New Canaan scored the only two goals in the game.
New Canaan’s win places them first in the FCIAC standings with 16 points. Greenwich and Darien are currently in 2nd and 3rd place, with 12 points each.
Come cheer on the girls hockey team at their next game on January 27th versus Stamford-Westhill-Staples at Darien Ice Rink!
On Wednesday, January 24th, the Wave girls hockey team played a strong game against New Canaan despite the 2-0 loss. What followed was three periods of exciting hockey that has become a staple of Wave-Rams match-ups. Sophomore goalie Hallie Kreppein was solid in net, making 19 saves. Senior captain defensive pair Sally Cassidy and Kathleen Tropsa each made smart plays that helped keep the game tied at zero until the third period, where New Canaan scored the only two goals in the game.
New Canaan’s win places them first in the FCIAC standings with 16 points. Greenwich and Darien are currently in 2nd and 3rd place, with 12 points each.
Come cheer on the girls hockey team at their next game on January 27th versus Stamford-Westhill-Staples at Darien Ice Rink!
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| Freshman Katelyn Bellisimo battles for the puck against New Canaan's Brooke Deane. (Courtesy HAN Network) |
Friday, January 26, 2018
Girls Basketball Falls Short Against Wilton
By Taylor Davis
On Tuesday, January 23rd, the Girls Varsity Basketball team started out strong against
Wilton yet were unsuccessful in pulling out the win, losing by about 20 points. The team worked hard to put up a fight against Wilton’s strong team. “They are one of the best in the FCIAC so we were playing really well to stay with them,” senior captain Katie Ramsay said. While the team was working to stay with Wilton, their defense was not quick enough for Wilton’s fast ball movement, and as a result of this, Wilton got many easy layups. Ramsay reflected on how the team needs to shift gears in order to pursue their goals.. “We need to be playing faster and more aggressively to reach our goals in FCAICS this season. The team is such a great group of girls and we want the season to last,” Ramsay said.
Come out and support the girls varsity basketball team in their next game on Friday, January 26th against Ridgefield!
On Tuesday, January 23rd, the Girls Varsity Basketball team started out strong against
Wilton yet were unsuccessful in pulling out the win, losing by about 20 points. The team worked hard to put up a fight against Wilton’s strong team. “They are one of the best in the FCIAC so we were playing really well to stay with them,” senior captain Katie Ramsay said. While the team was working to stay with Wilton, their defense was not quick enough for Wilton’s fast ball movement, and as a result of this, Wilton got many easy layups. Ramsay reflected on how the team needs to shift gears in order to pursue their goals.. “We need to be playing faster and more aggressively to reach our goals in FCAICS this season. The team is such a great group of girls and we want the season to last,” Ramsay said.
Come out and support the girls varsity basketball team in their next game on Friday, January 26th against Ridgefield!
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| Senior captain Katie Ramsay dribbles up the court earlier this season. (Courtesy Darien Times) |
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Boys Varsity Squash Season Update
By Mac Ballentine
The Darien Boys Varsity Squash season opened up this year with a disappointing loss against Hackley School in Tarrytown, New York. Following was a win against New Canaan High, Greens Farms Academy, and Rye, along with a loss to Brunswick and Bronxville. Last weekend, while up at Salisbury, the team took a victory over the home team, but a loss to Hotchkiss, who was also playing up there. Saturday is the Fair West Cup, in Stamford, and we end our season with Nationals in Philadelphia the weekend of February 1st.
Seniors Dillon O’Shea, Albert Nguyen, and Charlie Baylis lead the team this year as captains in the footsteps of the nation’s former number one player, Harrison Gill, as he continues his squash career at Yale University.
The Darien Boys Varsity Squash season opened up this year with a disappointing loss against Hackley School in Tarrytown, New York. Following was a win against New Canaan High, Greens Farms Academy, and Rye, along with a loss to Brunswick and Bronxville. Last weekend, while up at Salisbury, the team took a victory over the home team, but a loss to Hotchkiss, who was also playing up there. Saturday is the Fair West Cup, in Stamford, and we end our season with Nationals in Philadelphia the weekend of February 1st.
Seniors Dillon O’Shea, Albert Nguyen, and Charlie Baylis lead the team this year as captains in the footsteps of the nation’s former number one player, Harrison Gill, as he continues his squash career at Yale University.
Monday, January 22, 2018
Wave Girls Hockey's Sweet Revenge on Greenwich
By Ellie Nelson
On January 10th, the Wave girls hockey team defeated Greenwich in a shutout game, winning 1-0 at home. Last season Greenwich beat Darien in a heartbreakingly close FCIAC final, but the team was able to fight for redemption and won out in the rematch.
Darien out shot Greenwich 33-15, the only goal scored by junior Shea Van den Broek after a rebound from a shot by Nelle Kniffin.
Sophomore goalie Hallie Kreppein made 15 saves, maintaining a shutout streak for 2018 after two consecutive games with no goals scored against the Wave. She is supported by a formidable defense, with strong performances by senior captains Kathleen Tropsa and Sally Cassidy, junior Catherine Martin and sophomore Cate Droogan.
“The game was a really fun one with an exciting finish. We are feeling pretty good about the rest of the season and I think things are optimistic for FCIAC's and States. Regardless we just continue to practice hard and that’s what wins games,” said sophomore Colleen Cassidy.
Come cheer on Wave girls puck at their next game on January 22nd against Hall/Conrad (West Hartford)!
On January 10th, the Wave girls hockey team defeated Greenwich in a shutout game, winning 1-0 at home. Last season Greenwich beat Darien in a heartbreakingly close FCIAC final, but the team was able to fight for redemption and won out in the rematch.
Darien out shot Greenwich 33-15, the only goal scored by junior Shea Van den Broek after a rebound from a shot by Nelle Kniffin.
Sophomore goalie Hallie Kreppein made 15 saves, maintaining a shutout streak for 2018 after two consecutive games with no goals scored against the Wave. She is supported by a formidable defense, with strong performances by senior captains Kathleen Tropsa and Sally Cassidy, junior Catherine Martin and sophomore Cate Droogan.
“The game was a really fun one with an exciting finish. We are feeling pretty good about the rest of the season and I think things are optimistic for FCIAC's and States. Regardless we just continue to practice hard and that’s what wins games,” said sophomore Colleen Cassidy.
Come cheer on Wave girls puck at their next game on January 22nd against Hall/Conrad (West Hartford)!
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| Junior Shea Van den Broek against Greenwich in the FCIAC final last season. |
Monday, January 15, 2018
Boys Varsity Hockey Beats Greenwich in a Thriller
By Cole Armstrong
On Saturday, January 13th the Darien boys ice hockey team won against Greenwich with a final score of 3-2 in an exhilarating game. Even up to the end, the game never seemed to slow down. The final goal was scored in the last four minutes by Hunter Hazelton causing a massive eruption from the ample Darien student section.
This win came after a drought of victories which was only recently stopped with an 8-2 win against Trinity Catholic. “I think we had some extra determination after seeing where people ranked us and some recent losses,” says defenseman Fin Batson “I don’t think anybody on our team doubted that we were going to win that game.”
The MVP of the game was junior goalie Henri Pfeifle who throughout the entire game was met with an onslaught of shots where he expertly countered all but two. “Pfeifle stood on his head out there.” says Batson “He played amazing.”
Darien’s next game is next Thursday against Staples at the Darien Ice Rink.
On Saturday, January 13th the Darien boys ice hockey team won against Greenwich with a final score of 3-2 in an exhilarating game. Even up to the end, the game never seemed to slow down. The final goal was scored in the last four minutes by Hunter Hazelton causing a massive eruption from the ample Darien student section.
This win came after a drought of victories which was only recently stopped with an 8-2 win against Trinity Catholic. “I think we had some extra determination after seeing where people ranked us and some recent losses,” says defenseman Fin Batson “I don’t think anybody on our team doubted that we were going to win that game.”
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| Junior net minder Henri Pfeifle making one of his many saves against the Cardinals. (Courtesy Darien Times) |
Darien’s next game is next Thursday against Staples at the Darien Ice Rink.
Thursday, January 11, 2018
11/12 House Ball Power Rankings: Volume Three
By Will Pegler
We're back. After a long Christmas break and a few snow days house ball is back in full form with games played this past Sunday and last night. Some things have changed in terms of who is running the league while some other thing have stayed the same. Here are where the rankings stand.
() indicates previous ranking; [] indicates record
1. Cavaliers (1) [5-1]
This is obviously a very good team. With Justin Van Duh Graaf running point and Alex Murray adding value at the offensive end, they are certainly tough to stop. Mac Mclean has also been a great shooter for this team, while Blake Cellar and Blake Sommi add some athletic prowess on defense. The Cavs are beatable, as the Nets showed us, but your team will need to find a way to play perfect defense against them if you want to win. Their next game is against the 2-4 Rockets at 3 pm on Sunday at MMS. This could be a trap game if the Cavs get cocky, so show up and make some noise if you want to see an upset.
2. Knicks (3) [4-2]
The Knicks lost by one last night to the Cavs in what was possibly a preview for this year's championship game. Craig Triano is clearly the leader of this team on both sides of the ball, but he's also the only guy in this league that can consistently make free throws. In fact, I don't think Craig is going to miss another free throw all season, not one. Other than Leg (ever since he broke his leg in second grade on the monkey bars I've called Craig that), the Knicks have Cam Raia who is quick and can knock down some shots, as well as size in Jackson Mcnear. Enzo Amatruda is also on the team, and let me tell you this kid does not miss 3's. He must've hit six against my team no matter who had a hand in his face. The Knicks are for real and have a lot of weapons on offense, they are poised to make a deep playoff run this February.
3. Nets (2) [4-2]
Since the last edition of the rankings the Nets have lost two games, but they are still a very good team. Will Rooney gets a lot of big rebounds and put backs for this squad, while David Volz is a tough point guard to defend. Connor Tienken has been key for this team's defense and has sparked a lot of points off steals as well. Hank Rech's high post offense has also worked wonders for this team several times so far this season. Another player worth considering is Alex Phillips, whose height allows him to always be a difference maker. The Nets defense has been strong, but if they can get better on offense they will be even more successful.
4. Celtics (5) [5-1]
The Celtics are the biggest enigma this season. They are 5-1 but I don't really know how or why. I don't mean to be a jerk to anyone on the team, but at the beginning of the season I don't think anyone thought they would be where they are right now. Tommy Hellman has been the leader of this team offensively as he has been able to drive to the hoop well. Nate Hadlow also has the ability to knock down some timely threes along with Ryan Griffin, who apparently hit four in the second half against the Hornets. Charlie Zuro adds some value in the paint, but he isn't the tallest guy so rebounds could be a problem. The Celtics play the Knicks this weekend which should be an interesting matchup.
5. Suns (4) [3-3]
This team's record is definitely misleading. They lost their first three because they were missing a lot of players to football, but since then they have not lost. The Suns are annoyingly stacked, with names like Teddy Brannigan, Max Grant, Bruce Ferguson, and Willy Keating on the roster, you know they're going to be a good team. They also have depth on defense from Connor Percarpio, who's kind of a psycho, and another offensive threat in Peter Guttuso. The Suns will take on the Celtics two weekends from now, who Peter said they "would beat easily", which was promptly seconded by Connor Percarpio. This team is definitely cocky, which always goes really well in house ball.
6. Hornets (6) [4-2]
These guys lost to the Warriors (my team who had yet to win a game and was missing several key players but we'll get in to that later) last night. This was definitely a tough loss considering they were pretty confident that they were going to win handily. Big man Mike Neary is the engine that makes this team go, so if they want to win some more games this season they are going to need him to get hot. John Gianatassio has played solid at point guard so far while Harry Rayhill has also added value in the paint, but I think this team is missing one more star player to make them a real contender. For now they sit at 6.
7. Rockets (7) [2-4]
It's been a tough start to the season so far for the Rockets. Other than Jack Joyce, this team lacks offensive talent and overall depth on defense. Andrew Lucas has been able to help Joyce a little bit but they are going to need someone else to step up to get them going. Timmy Egan could start to become a factor in terms the 3 point ball and on defense as well as big man Tommy Reilley. We'll see if Joyce is able to carry the Rockets past a tough Cavs team this Sunday.
8. Spurs (8) [2-4]
The Spurs have yet to play with their top player Fin Batson due to shoulder surgery, so I expect them to make a climb in the rankings once he gets back on the court; as of now, though, they sit at 8. Jack "Riggins" Cronin has been wet from 3 so far this season and has been a big part of the Spurs offense. Max Gasvoda has also been a solid shooter while Will Wilson (officially named the tallest player in the league) has grabbed plenty of rebounds. The Spurs have also just signed Sean O'Malley to the squad, who should be able to help Wilson out in the paint. I think this team will definitely be able to win a few more big games in the regular season.
9. Warriors (9) [1-5]
HUGE win for the boys last night over the Hornets. HUGE. We didn't have Henry Nolte or Kevin Grune because they were sick, but wow did we come together as a team and grind out a win. We had six guys and one of them was Charlie Olsen who had step throat, but everyone contributed. Paul Ridder had himself a night on both sides of the ball, and the team's defense was pure hustle and grit. Will Rehm and Connor Olson had big scoring nights while Jack Gordon hit some big shots. If we can play defense like we did last night in the rest of our games, we are going places.
10. Raptors (10) [0-6]
It's been tough for the Raptors so far. Cole Stevenson and Andrew Donovan have tried to carry this team, but they have yet to get a win so far. Charlie Baylis and Dillon O'Shea are playmakers that this team could utilize as well, but they have yet to really put it all together. We'll see if the squad can get a win in the next few weeks.
Awards:
Defensive Team of the Week: Warriors
Best Shooter of the Week: Enzo Amatruda
League Psycho: Cam Raia
Mr. Moist: Tommy Murphy
We're back. After a long Christmas break and a few snow days house ball is back in full form with games played this past Sunday and last night. Some things have changed in terms of who is running the league while some other thing have stayed the same. Here are where the rankings stand.
() indicates previous ranking; [] indicates record
1. Cavaliers (1) [5-1]
This is obviously a very good team. With Justin Van Duh Graaf running point and Alex Murray adding value at the offensive end, they are certainly tough to stop. Mac Mclean has also been a great shooter for this team, while Blake Cellar and Blake Sommi add some athletic prowess on defense. The Cavs are beatable, as the Nets showed us, but your team will need to find a way to play perfect defense against them if you want to win. Their next game is against the 2-4 Rockets at 3 pm on Sunday at MMS. This could be a trap game if the Cavs get cocky, so show up and make some noise if you want to see an upset.
2. Knicks (3) [4-2]
The Knicks lost by one last night to the Cavs in what was possibly a preview for this year's championship game. Craig Triano is clearly the leader of this team on both sides of the ball, but he's also the only guy in this league that can consistently make free throws. In fact, I don't think Craig is going to miss another free throw all season, not one. Other than Leg (ever since he broke his leg in second grade on the monkey bars I've called Craig that), the Knicks have Cam Raia who is quick and can knock down some shots, as well as size in Jackson Mcnear. Enzo Amatruda is also on the team, and let me tell you this kid does not miss 3's. He must've hit six against my team no matter who had a hand in his face. The Knicks are for real and have a lot of weapons on offense, they are poised to make a deep playoff run this February.
3. Nets (2) [4-2]
Since the last edition of the rankings the Nets have lost two games, but they are still a very good team. Will Rooney gets a lot of big rebounds and put backs for this squad, while David Volz is a tough point guard to defend. Connor Tienken has been key for this team's defense and has sparked a lot of points off steals as well. Hank Rech's high post offense has also worked wonders for this team several times so far this season. Another player worth considering is Alex Phillips, whose height allows him to always be a difference maker. The Nets defense has been strong, but if they can get better on offense they will be even more successful.
4. Celtics (5) [5-1]
The Celtics are the biggest enigma this season. They are 5-1 but I don't really know how or why. I don't mean to be a jerk to anyone on the team, but at the beginning of the season I don't think anyone thought they would be where they are right now. Tommy Hellman has been the leader of this team offensively as he has been able to drive to the hoop well. Nate Hadlow also has the ability to knock down some timely threes along with Ryan Griffin, who apparently hit four in the second half against the Hornets. Charlie Zuro adds some value in the paint, but he isn't the tallest guy so rebounds could be a problem. The Celtics play the Knicks this weekend which should be an interesting matchup.
5. Suns (4) [3-3]
This team's record is definitely misleading. They lost their first three because they were missing a lot of players to football, but since then they have not lost. The Suns are annoyingly stacked, with names like Teddy Brannigan, Max Grant, Bruce Ferguson, and Willy Keating on the roster, you know they're going to be a good team. They also have depth on defense from Connor Percarpio, who's kind of a psycho, and another offensive threat in Peter Guttuso. The Suns will take on the Celtics two weekends from now, who Peter said they "would beat easily", which was promptly seconded by Connor Percarpio. This team is definitely cocky, which always goes really well in house ball.
6. Hornets (6) [4-2]
These guys lost to the Warriors (my team who had yet to win a game and was missing several key players but we'll get in to that later) last night. This was definitely a tough loss considering they were pretty confident that they were going to win handily. Big man Mike Neary is the engine that makes this team go, so if they want to win some more games this season they are going to need him to get hot. John Gianatassio has played solid at point guard so far while Harry Rayhill has also added value in the paint, but I think this team is missing one more star player to make them a real contender. For now they sit at 6.
7. Rockets (7) [2-4]
It's been a tough start to the season so far for the Rockets. Other than Jack Joyce, this team lacks offensive talent and overall depth on defense. Andrew Lucas has been able to help Joyce a little bit but they are going to need someone else to step up to get them going. Timmy Egan could start to become a factor in terms the 3 point ball and on defense as well as big man Tommy Reilley. We'll see if Joyce is able to carry the Rockets past a tough Cavs team this Sunday.
8. Spurs (8) [2-4]
The Spurs have yet to play with their top player Fin Batson due to shoulder surgery, so I expect them to make a climb in the rankings once he gets back on the court; as of now, though, they sit at 8. Jack "Riggins" Cronin has been wet from 3 so far this season and has been a big part of the Spurs offense. Max Gasvoda has also been a solid shooter while Will Wilson (officially named the tallest player in the league) has grabbed plenty of rebounds. The Spurs have also just signed Sean O'Malley to the squad, who should be able to help Wilson out in the paint. I think this team will definitely be able to win a few more big games in the regular season.
9. Warriors (9) [1-5]
HUGE win for the boys last night over the Hornets. HUGE. We didn't have Henry Nolte or Kevin Grune because they were sick, but wow did we come together as a team and grind out a win. We had six guys and one of them was Charlie Olsen who had step throat, but everyone contributed. Paul Ridder had himself a night on both sides of the ball, and the team's defense was pure hustle and grit. Will Rehm and Connor Olson had big scoring nights while Jack Gordon hit some big shots. If we can play defense like we did last night in the rest of our games, we are going places.
10. Raptors (10) [0-6]
It's been tough for the Raptors so far. Cole Stevenson and Andrew Donovan have tried to carry this team, but they have yet to get a win so far. Charlie Baylis and Dillon O'Shea are playmakers that this team could utilize as well, but they have yet to really put it all together. We'll see if the squad can get a win in the next few weeks.
Awards:
Defensive Team of the Week: Warriors
Best Shooter of the Week: Enzo Amatruda
League Psycho: Cam Raia
Mr. Moist: Tommy Murphy
Girls JV Basketball Defeats Trinity
By Nina Rodriguez
On Monday, January 8th, girl’s JV Basketball had an outstanding victory against Trinity Catholic in Stamford, CT. The final score was 21-28. Unfortunately, our varsity team lost the home game against Trinity, with the final score being 58-64.
Junior Liliana Cullen said: “For the JV game we played really good defense towards the end because we started to really work together as a team by communicating and focusing on the game.”
On Monday, January 8th, girl’s JV Basketball had an outstanding victory against Trinity Catholic in Stamford, CT. The final score was 21-28. Unfortunately, our varsity team lost the home game against Trinity, with the final score being 58-64.
Junior Liliana Cullen said: “For the JV game we played really good defense towards the end because we started to really work together as a team by communicating and focusing on the game.”
During the varsity game, there was a lot of hustle and quick breaks.
The Trinity team was very fast and great at ball handling. While Darien had many shots, they missed many as well. Both matches were very competitive, but Cullen said “The crowd was even screaming for the JV game.”
The next game is Friday, January 12th against Brian McMahon. JV’s game is at home, while varisity is away. Cullen is confident that all the effort the teams will be shown on the court and both JV and varsity can win, but they will need to continue to work hard and concentrate during practices.
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| Senior Christine Fiore goes up for a shot. (Courtesy DAF) |
Darien Boys Hockey Fills Up the Stats Sheet Vs. Trinity Catholic
By Hugh Hearns
The Darien boys varsity hockey team triumphed over Trinity Catholic by a score of 8-2, on Wednesday, January 10th. This marks Darien’s second win on the season, their first being over rival New Canaan on December, 23. This win was also the end of a four game losing streak for the team, and they hope this big win can stir up some momentum for the squad as they move forward in the season. Captain Will Dickson lead the team in points (4) in the game, all four of his points being assists. The team also received a big contribution from two of it’s juniors, Hudson Pokorny, and Griffin Martens, who combined for five of the team’s eight goals. The other three goal scorers for the team were Bennett McDermott, Robbie Stewart, and Will Johnston. Go support the varsity hockey team in their next game at Darien Ice Rink on Saturday, where they will look to avenge a 4-3 loss from earlier in the season vs. Greenwich.
The Darien boys varsity hockey team triumphed over Trinity Catholic by a score of 8-2, on Wednesday, January 10th. This marks Darien’s second win on the season, their first being over rival New Canaan on December, 23. This win was also the end of a four game losing streak for the team, and they hope this big win can stir up some momentum for the squad as they move forward in the season. Captain Will Dickson lead the team in points (4) in the game, all four of his points being assists. The team also received a big contribution from two of it’s juniors, Hudson Pokorny, and Griffin Martens, who combined for five of the team’s eight goals. The other three goal scorers for the team were Bennett McDermott, Robbie Stewart, and Will Johnston. Go support the varsity hockey team in their next game at Darien Ice Rink on Saturday, where they will look to avenge a 4-3 loss from earlier in the season vs. Greenwich.
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| Senior captian Will Dickson looks to make a pass against New Canaan |
Boys Basketball Loses Physical Match Up to Trinity Catholic
By Will Pegler
On Tuesday, January 9th the boys varsity basketball team took on FCIAC powerhouse Trinity Catholic at the Darien High School main gym. Trinity's offense got off to a hot start, using their size and rebounding ability to their advantage. The Blue Wave were able to fight back, though, as junior Henry Williams came up with some big shots. Trinity continued to hold the lead throughout the first half as Darien was held back by the Crusader's strong defense and some questionable calls by the referees.
In the second half the Blue Wave turned up the aggressiveness on defense and were able to cut the Trinity lead to just five. The most shocking moment of the game came when junior Will Rolapp stepped to the line and missed his free throw. One of Trinity's towering forwards collected the rebound and was pressured by junior Ryan Darby. The Trinity player than flung his elbow into the side of Darby's head, stopping the game for about 15 minutes and leading to some pushing and shoving between both sides. The referees separated both sides and decided what fouls were going to be called and on who. Somehow, senior Arthur Xanthos was ejected for leaving the bench when he tried to protect his teammate, while the Trinity player who basically punched Ryan Darby in the face stayed in the game.
After all of this unfolded, Trinity was able to pull ahead and get a 10 point win. The story of this game in my opinion was one-sided calls and the mishandling of a clear flagrant foul. It was clear that the elbow to the face was no accident. Darien looks to bounce back against Brien McMahon at their gym this Friday night.
On Tuesday, January 9th the boys varsity basketball team took on FCIAC powerhouse Trinity Catholic at the Darien High School main gym. Trinity's offense got off to a hot start, using their size and rebounding ability to their advantage. The Blue Wave were able to fight back, though, as junior Henry Williams came up with some big shots. Trinity continued to hold the lead throughout the first half as Darien was held back by the Crusader's strong defense and some questionable calls by the referees.
In the second half the Blue Wave turned up the aggressiveness on defense and were able to cut the Trinity lead to just five. The most shocking moment of the game came when junior Will Rolapp stepped to the line and missed his free throw. One of Trinity's towering forwards collected the rebound and was pressured by junior Ryan Darby. The Trinity player than flung his elbow into the side of Darby's head, stopping the game for about 15 minutes and leading to some pushing and shoving between both sides. The referees separated both sides and decided what fouls were going to be called and on who. Somehow, senior Arthur Xanthos was ejected for leaving the bench when he tried to protect his teammate, while the Trinity player who basically punched Ryan Darby in the face stayed in the game.
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| Senior Andrew Darby goes up for a shot in a game earlier this season. (Courtesy DAF) |
Girls Ice Hockey Beats Greenwich 1-0
By Sarah-Jane Clarke
On Tuesday, January 9th, Darien Girls Varsity Hockey faced Greenwich at the Darien Ice House and won 1-0. This win was a great bounce back from their loss to New Canaan last week. Senior captains Kathleen Tropsa, Sally Cassidy, Elise Maro, and Corinne Bevill brought their best efforts and leadership onto the ice to unite and motivate the team. The unity the team has on and off the ice is part of what is making their season successful so far.
Senior captain Sally Cassidy, along with the rest of the team, was very happy with the result of the game. Sally said, “It was a really good game and definitely the best one we’ve played as a team especially coming off a loss to New Canaan.”
I am confident that the team will get another win in their next game on Thursday, January 11th against Fairfield at the Wonderland of Ice rink at 4:40 pm. Be sure to go support the team.
On Tuesday, January 9th, Darien Girls Varsity Hockey faced Greenwich at the Darien Ice House and won 1-0. This win was a great bounce back from their loss to New Canaan last week. Senior captains Kathleen Tropsa, Sally Cassidy, Elise Maro, and Corinne Bevill brought their best efforts and leadership onto the ice to unite and motivate the team. The unity the team has on and off the ice is part of what is making their season successful so far.
Senior captain Sally Cassidy, along with the rest of the team, was very happy with the result of the game. Sally said, “It was a really good game and definitely the best one we’ve played as a team especially coming off a loss to New Canaan.”
I am confident that the team will get another win in their next game on Thursday, January 11th against Fairfield at the Wonderland of Ice rink at 4:40 pm. Be sure to go support the team.
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| The team lines up for the national anthem |
Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Boys Swim and Dive Gets Second Victory of the Season
By Amelia Fordyce
The DHS boy’s swim and dive team scored their second victory this season on Wednesday, January 3rd. This was their second meet for the 2017-2018 winter season.They competed against Trumbull at Hillcrest High School. Notable swimmers for this meet were junior Karl Wadleigh, junior Spencer Erikson, Connor Martin, and Chris Zhang. Swimmer Harry Fitzpatrick broke one minute for his 100 butterfly for the first time.“We’re looking forward to the Greenwich meet. They don’t wanna lose but we want to change that” Junior Nick Giotis said.
Their next meet is on 1/10 at Greenwich High School. Don’t miss it!
The DHS boy’s swim and dive team scored their second victory this season on Wednesday, January 3rd. This was their second meet for the 2017-2018 winter season.They competed against Trumbull at Hillcrest High School. Notable swimmers for this meet were junior Karl Wadleigh, junior Spencer Erikson, Connor Martin, and Chris Zhang. Swimmer Harry Fitzpatrick broke one minute for his 100 butterfly for the first time.“We’re looking forward to the Greenwich meet. They don’t wanna lose but we want to change that” Junior Nick Giotis said.
Their next meet is on 1/10 at Greenwich High School. Don’t miss it!
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| The team poses for a picture after the meet. (Courtesy Darien Times) |
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