new canaan high school fall 2011 sports preview

SPORTS PREVIEWNEW CANAAN HIGH SCHOOL FALL 2011

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By Dave StewartSports Editor

Erin Gildea’s New Canaan field hockey team has had much success over the past two seasons, with much of that coming from the abil-ity to locate new talent in the program’s ranks.

Several times, the head coach has had players step out of the shadows and onto center stage without missing a beat.

That kind of occurrence is a great motivator for girls who may not find themselves in the starting lineup to begin the season.

“I always tell the girls who don’t play a lot to be patient,” Gildea said. “If they’re called

upon and they do a good job, they’ll force us to make room for them.”

That much was evident dur-ing the past two seasons, when several players, including

defender Grace Burke and for-ward Martel Bruno, were in the background before taking on key roles late in consec-

utive campaigns.Burke made her mark as a

sophomore, when she came in to play defense in the FCIAC semis, and Bruno did it last year, when she jumped up from the J.V. team and scored in her first varsity contest.

Now, Burke is a senior tri-captain alongside defender Phoebe Wilkes and forward Melanie Sztorc, and that trio

will be looking to lead the Rams back to the postseason again this year.

The tri-captains are hun-gry for more after the Rams finished off a solid season in 2010. New Canaan was 11-6-1-1 and qualified for the FCIAC and State playoffs and won a game in each tourna-ment. Those are by no means disappointing results, but after going 17-4-1 and reaching the FCIAC and State Class M finals the year prior, the Rams were looking for more.

That’s served to make the eight seniors all the more pre-pared to get back to the finals.

“We have a young team this year and we only return 10 players from last year’s team, but we have eight seniors who are very, very hungry,” Gildea said. “This is their last year and they really want to go out with a bang.

“But we also have a lot of new players who are going to be out there right from the start and really make an impact.”

Sztorc will be headlining an offense which lost its top scorer, Caroline Falcone, to graduation. New Canaan was fine getting the ball into the circle last year, but at times had trouble finishing.

“I’ve challenged them to finish more this year,” Gildea said. “We’ve been good at bringing the ball up the field, but we’ve struggled with tak-ing advantage and scoring. It’s going to see who emerges as a scorer this year — it’s really wide open.”

Sztorc begins as the prime weapon and only returning starter on offense. Gildea teas-es the captain by calling her a “bull in the china shop,” which perfectly describes the way Sztorc can disrupt oppos-ing defenses.

“No one scares her and she’s tough as nails,” Gildea said. “When she gets the ball on her stick she’s like a freight train coming down the field. She’s very strong men-tally and physically and she’s worked very, very hard in the offseason. She’s really hungry to prove to herself and every-body else that she can carry an

offense and put the ball in the cage. She’s done a great job motivating the girls through the conditioning workouts.”

Joining Sztorc on offense is junior Bea Eppler, a return-ing varsity veteran who played midfield last season. Eppler is a three-sport standout at the high school, also playing ice hockey and lacrosse.

“She’s taken on a leader-ship role as well with some of the younger girls,” Gildea said. “She’s got some of the best stick work and she’s a player that wants the ball. She can take it from end to end and put it in the cage.”

Bruno and junior Michelle Paturzo will be featured on the offense, and have the added advantage of having worked together for several years.

Also in the offensive mix are sophomore Mo Schott, whom Gildea called “the fast-est player I’ve had,” juniors Tori Williams and Dana DeFrano, sophomore Abby Jamison and freshman Isabella Taben.

Gildea pointed out that with so many weapons, the Rams will use a lot of rotation on the attack.

Starring at midfield is returning center-midfielder Bridget Falcone, a junior.

“She’s a coach’s dream,” Gildea said. “She’s intense, she works hard and she’s exactly what a center-mid should be. She’s strong offensively, con-fident on defense.”

Abbey Buckenheimer, a senior, is back at the left-mid-die spot, a difficult position because she will be clashing with opponents’ strong side. Gildea said Buckenheimer has great stick work and will be a big asset for New Canaan.

The right-mid spot is an open battle, with juniors Michelle Halpert, Alexa Ozimek and Courtney Cole all in the hunt to start. Junior Molly Aaronson could also see time there.

The defense should be a strength for the Rams, with five seniors and two return-ing starters with co-captains Burke at center and Wilkes on the left.

“Grace has been with me since her sophomore year,” Gildea said. “I knew from day one that this is her sport and it’s what she dedicates her time to all year round. It’s very easy to see how hard she works whenever she steps on the field. She’s solid defen-sively and brings a sense of calm and confidence to some of the newer defenders. She’s also hungry to not just get to the finals, but to win one. I think she’s going to have a great season.”

Wilkes has been with the program for three years and will be at the key spot as the starting left backer.

“This is only her third sea-son playing field hockey and she plays one of the most dif-ficult positions — she’s my left-back and she’s the flyer on corners,” Gildea said. “She’s a feisty player; she never backs down; and she likes to go up against the other team’s best player. She’s gotten better and better as she’s gotten more experience under her belt.”

Joining them are seniors Molly Robustelli and Robin Neuhaus, who may see time at midfield, and junior Madison Seger.

In the cage will be goalie Britt Gardella, who takes over for Amanda Milunovich after two seasons as the varsity backup.

Gardella excelled as the NCHS ice hockey team’s goalie last winter, and Gildea said she’s ready for her time in the field hockey limelight.

“She’s been eagerly waiting for her chance to be the start-ing goalie,” the coach said. “She’s got great talent and I feel very comfortable having her in the cage.”

Gardella and the rest of the 2011 Rams had their first test when they hosted Stamford on Tuesday and, over the next few weeks, will face some tough teams in Ludlowe, Cheshire, Wilton and Greenwich.

Gildea’s message to the team at this point is simple.

“Just remain humble and be patient,” she said. “It’s very hard to tell where you are until you start playing games. We’re going to take it one game at a time and each player has set goals for themselves and we have team goals. We want to be in contention in the postseason but right now we want to be prepared and enjoy playing.”

Rams at a glanceHead Coach Erin Gildea (3rd year)

2010 Record: 11-6-1-1; FCIAC, Class M playoffsCaptains: Grace Burke, Phoebe Wilkes

and Melanie SztorcOthers to watch: Bridget Falcone, Bea Eppler,

Abbey Buckenheimer, Martel Bruno,Michelle Paturzo and Britt Gardella

The Big GamesSept. 23 at Fairfield-Ludlowe at Dunning Field; Sept. 26 vs.Wilton at Dunning Field - Perennial FCIAC and State contenders, New Canaan and Wilton split two meetings last fall. Wilton won a 1-0 regular season game in September, but the Rams got revenge with a 2-0 win in the State quarterfinals. The two teams figure to be in the hunt again this year; Oct. 3 vs. Greenwich at Dunning Field; Oct. 20 vs. Warde at Dunning Field; Oct. 22 at Darien.

FieldHockey

Dave Stewart Photo

New Canaan junior Bridget Falcone returns at center-mid-field as the Rams set their sights on return trips to the FCIAC and State playoffs.

Veterans, new talent give Rams a great mix in 2011New Canaan field hockey team sets its sights on return trips to FCIAC and State tournaments

Junior Bea Eppler is one of the returning veterans on the New Canaan field hockey

team, which is aim-ing high in 2011.

The Rams have been FCIAC and State

championships con-tenders in each of the

past two years, even reaching the confer-

ence and Class M finals two seasons ago.

Dave Stewart Photo

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The New Canaan Rams have set the bar so high over the past decade that a football sea-son in which they went 11-2, shellacked rival Darien 42-14 on Thanksgiving Day, and reached the finals of the State Class L tournament can be viewed as a bit of a disap-pointment.

In reality, the Rams were likely the best team in the FCIAC in 2010. A heartbreak-ing 28-27 loss to St. Joseph kept New Canaan out of the FCIAC title game, but it responded by whacking the league champion Blue Wave by 28 points in the annual Turkey Bowl.

New Canaan is similar to the New York Yankees. Playoff berths are expected and cham-pionships are the goal year-in and year-out.

Once again in 2011, the pipeline of talent has the Rams looking like a contender, but head coach Lou Marinelli would like his team to focus on the present and not dwell on the past.

“You can’t change what’s already been,” the coach said after a preseason jamboree. “What’s happened in the past has nothing to do with them, We’d like to have them carry on the legacy and we’re proud of the legacy we have, but we hope they write their own little chapter of the legacy.”

One player who has his own chapter, and hopes to add to it this fall, is senior co-captain and quarterback Matt Milano.

Milano was prolific as a junior. His 42 passing touch-downs set a new State record, and he set NCHS marks in yards passing (3,128), comple-tions (212) and attempts (350). He completed better than 60% of his passes and average 240.6 yards per game.

Milano’s worth to the Rams goes far beyond those gaudy stats, according to Marinelli.

“Aside from the numbers, he’s worked hard at mastering the offense and he’s one of the guys who can see the entire field,” Marinelli said. “He’s been in the system now for all four years and as a starter for two. He’s further along than

he was last year at this point and it happens because he’s working hard. He’s the per-

son we’re basing our offense around and we’re fortunate to have him.”

Joining Milano as co-cap-tains are senior classmates Kevin McDonough, Thomas Rochlin and Bobby Distler.

The 5-11, 205-pound McDonough had an outstand-ing campaign last year, and earned All-State honors as a linebacker.

McDonough may also see some time running the ball, although Marinelli said the coaches would like to have the players concentrate on one side of the ball.

“Kevin is a quiet leader and he really leads by exam-ple,” Marinelli said. “He’s a very good high school football player as a linebacker. His talent as a football player is a great example for everyone else. He’s a very tough kid and certainly one of our better players.”

Rochlin (6-0, 250) is the lone captain among the line-men and will fill the leader-ship role vacated by Connor Hanratty, who is now in the football program at Notre Dame.

Rochlin will anchor the defensive line as a tackle and could rotate in on the offen-sive line at points this season.

“Rochlin is our only captain who’s a lineman, so he’s taken over the leadership role in the trenches,” Marinelli said.

Distler (5-8, 173) is an inside linebacker next to McDonough. Distler, who could also see some time at running back, has been ham-pered by injuries throughout his high school career.

“You talk about toughness

and being gritty — he’s had about three or four surgeries, but even after he was hurt as a sophomore and a junior, he’s always there and helping out whatever way he can. He’s really a team guy,” Marinelli said.

The biggest shoes to fill on this year’s roster are those of Kevin Macari, a phenomenal wide receiver who teamed up with Milano for some out-standing numbers in 2010.

Macari set an NCHS career record with 30 TD passes and ranks second with 2,068 receiving yards. He recently began his career at Georgetown University by catching a 44-yard touchdown pass in his first game.

While players of Macari’s caliber are hard to come by, Marinelli feels his 2011 receiv-ing corps is a deep one.

Leading the returning group is senior Patrick Newton, who was second on the team with 43 catches for 559 yards and six TDs last year.

Senior Connor Kilbane had 26 catches for 316 yards and five TDs as a junior, and has looked solid this preseason.

Senior Peter Kraus will also be a big weapon this year. An injury limited Kraus to five games as a junior, but he still caught 12 passes for 126 yards and two TDs.

Also in the mix at wide receiver are a trio of juniors with Grady Lynch, Ryan Minaglia and Jack Barfuss.

“Newton, Kraus and Kilbane are the key targets for us,” Marinelli said. “They’ll be the starters, but we have a few other guys who will see a lot of playing time as well. Guys like Grady Lynch and Ryan Minaglia will back them up and could see some time.”

Duke Repko, a junior who was hurt for much of last sea-son, returns and could start at halfback, while junior Andrew Read has also looked solid at that spot.

Junior Louis Hagopian (5-10, 150) has stepped up into the starting tailback role, while Distler, McDonough, sopho-more Cole Harris and Nick Cascione are also options.

The Rams also have two sophomores to backup Milano at quarterback: The left-hander Ted Bossidy, and right-hander Cascione.

The offensive line will fea-ture senior Kalin Killinger (6-1, 239), a three-year starter, at left guard.

After that, the front will feature all new faces as start-ers.

“(Coaches) Mike Glass and Anthony Silvestro have had to totally rebuild the line with the exception of Kalin,” Marinelli said. “There are some good players in the mix and some good backups who have helped out, so we’ll have to see how they do.”

Taking over at right guard is senior Will Nemiroff (6-2, 195), with senior Rami Hamdan (6-3, 235) at right tackle and senior Chris Dijs (6-3, 235) at left tackle.

Senior Nick Pelli (5-8, 230) is the center, with junior Dylan Karnedy (5-11, 165) pushing for playing time.

Others in the mix include Rochlin, junior Alex Sigg (6-2, 230) and sophomore Beau Santero (6-2, 195).

On the defensive side of the ball, the Rams feature five returning veterans.

“With five starters return-ing, we hope to be a little bit stronger defensively this year,” Marinelli said. “We hope that’s more of a strong point for us.”

Leading the way is an out-standing quartet of lineback-ers, with three returning start-ers.

The All-Stater McDonough is back as an inside linebacker,

with Distler moving into a starting role.

At outside linebacker, the Rams will again have seniors Dylan Leeming (6-4, 185) and John Brainard (6-3, 195).

Michael Root (6-0, 175), a sophomore, has also impressed at linebacker, with Marinelli saying “he’s going to be a great football player for us.”

Also in the mix at lineback-er are senior Lucian Soro (6-1, 165), juniors Thomas Costigan (6-0, 175) and John Rhudy (6-1, 165) and sophomore Cole Harris (5-10, 170).

The defensive line will include Rochlin and senior Hunter Budd, another return-ing starter, as tackles, with senior Raynor Cordes (6-0, 175) at nose guard. Sophomore Connor Buck (6-2, 218) could also see some time at nose guard, with junior Graham Thalacker (5-10, 220) as a backup tackle

The secondary is inexperi-enced this season, with several players battling for playing time at the safety and corner back spots.

Seniors Patrick Burke, Jared Meichner and Stephan Walker were the leading safety can-didates during the preseason, with senior Kevin Tedesco and senior Michael Bossidy at the corners.

Other options at safe-ty include junior Kyle McEneaney, Lynch and soph-omores Robby Paul and Max Wilson.

Fighting for playing time at the corners are senior Jake Miller, junior Nick Musicco and Read.

New Canaan opens the sea-son with a road game against Bassick in Bridgeport’s Kennedy Stadium at 6 p.m. today, Thursday, with the home opener set for Friday, September 23, at 7 p.m. vs. Trinity Catholic.

Marinelli said the Rams have looked out of synch dur-ing the preseason, especially after many of the practices were rescheduled in the after-math of Tropical Storm Irene and the subsequent delayed opening for school.

“I think our preparation is behind but hopefully, we can catch up and get where we’re supposed to be,” the coach said. “We’ve looked ill-pre-pared at times in scrimmages, but that’s what scrimmages are for. I’m hopeful we’ll get back on track.”

As for the winning tradition the Rams have built, Marinelli is confident the players are ready to add a new chapter.

“You’d like to think they want to write their own legacy of what their senior year is, but they also know it’s been done before,” Marinelli said. “So if we can get the right attutude going in and they carry some of that with them, we have the possibility to be really good. We have a lot to do, but this could develop into something good.”

Rams at a glanceHead Coach Lou Marinelli (31st year)

2010 Record: 11-2, Class L runner-up, Turkey Bowl championsCaptains: Matt Milano, Thomas Rochlin, Bobby Distler

and Kevin McDonoughOthers to watch: Dylan Leeming, John Brainard, Hunter Budd, Patrick Newton, Kalin Killinger, Connor Kilbane, Peter Kraus,

Louis Hagopian, Hunter Budd, Duke Repko and Will Nemiroff.The Big Games

Sept. 30 vs. Fairfield-Warde; Oct. 22 vs. St. Joseph at Dunning Field - The Rams finished just outside the bubble to qualify for the FCIAC final last year and their 28-27 loss to St. Joseph in Trumbull was the reason. This year, New Canaan has revenge on its mind as it gets the Cadets on Homecoming Day at Dunning Field; Oct. 4 at Stamford; Nov. 11 vs. Trumbull at Dunning Field; Nov. 24 - Annual Turkey Bowl vs. Darien at Dunning Field.

Armed anddangerousWith Milano in the QB pocket,

Rams are again serious contenders

Dave Stewart Photo

New Canaan’s Matt Milano set a Connecticut record with 42 touchdown passes last season. Milano, now a senior co-cap-tain, is back under center and will headline a potent passing attack this fall.

Dave Stewart Photo

New Canaan linebacker Dylan Leeming (14) sacks Darien quarterback Chris Allam during the Rams’ 42-14 rout of the Blue Wave in last year’s Turkey Bowl. This year’s annual holiday clash will be held at Dunning Field, Thursday, November 24.

Football

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The daily grind of FCIAC girls soccer competition isn’t for the faint of heart.

With the better part of two-thirds of the league putting playoff contend-ers on the field, the focus and intensi-ty of teams is severe-ly tested as the fall wears on. Experience thus becomes a clear advantage.

That’s why, when head coach Kirk Bamford looks at his New Canaan girls soccer team this fall, he can’t help but be optimistic as no fewer than 16 girls return with hav-ing already seen varsity action

“We’ve all experienced the intensity of playing three games in five days and that sort of thing,” Bamford, who is in his third year with the Rams, said. “Game after game, the FCIAC is some of the toughest competition you can get, so that experience is needed. It’s not new for us, so we’re not blind to that. They understand what’s required and how important it is to keep focused game after game.”

The experience will certainly come in handy, as the Rams will need to adjust to the loss of a pair of All-State players, after Caroline Murray and Jana Persky graduated in the spring.

The past two seasons have been successful ones for New Canaan, which last year went 16-5-2 and reached the FCIAC quarterfinals and the State semifinals.

That followed a 19-1-3 season in 2009, when the Rams captured the State Class L and FCIAC champion-ships.

Plenty of players on the rosters were part of those successes, and will look to carry on the tradition while also writing their own chapter.

“There’s a little bit of pride in what they’ve achieved and they’re all good kids and they all have great attitudes,” Bamford said. “Each year, even though there are a lot of play-ers coming back, it’s a new team. So their attitude is, this is a new team and what can we do this year? What will move this team forward? There’s a satisfaction in what we’ve done and how we’ve done it, and there’s still some of that identity here. But we want to progress and be successful each year.”

Bamford is working with a tech-

nically sound team which is athletic and has a great deal of versatility. It won’t be surprising to see sev-eral players popping up at different positions depending on the circum-stances.

“Throughout the team we’ve got some versatility,” Bamford said, “so people can slide around a little bit.”

Leading the Rams are the senior tri-cap-tains Holly Burwick in goal and Sarah Mannelly and Julia

Tuttle on defense.Bamford cited the players’ expe-

rience, skills and communication as sources of leadership.

“They all have a lot of experi-ence of being in the program and they value the achievements that we’ve had over the past few years,” the coach said. “They know what’s been needed and what’s helped that happen. They’re all accomplished players with good, sound technical skills.

“All the girls respond to them and that’s great for the team dynamic.”

Burwick is beginning her fourth year in the varsity net, and provides a great presence on the defensive end.

With Burwick in the net last year, the Rams’ defense surrendered just 13 goals overall and had 13 shutouts in 23 games. The goalie was named to the All-FCIAC Second Team for her performance.

“Holly plays and leads by exam-ple,” Bamford said. “And she has a very good understanding of the game.”

New Canaan’s defense is very deep, with Tuttle and Mannelly also back as starters.

“Julia is very level-headed on defense and she has a great calming influence with the group,” Bamford said. “Sarah is a good role model and a great athlete. Most of the kids look up to her and obviously, she performs well on the field.”

Joing them are senior Stephanie Benko, juniors Brianna McEwan and Kelly Armstrong.

Also in the mix for playing time are sophomore Lainie Noonan and freshman Maria Braccio.

At midfield, the Rams return junior Anna Borea, another All-FCIAC Second Teamer, in the center. Flanking her will be a mix of play-ers including seniors Lauren Holec, Kendall Danforth and Mallory Hall, junior Sara Greene, sophomore Samantha Ashley and freshman Kyla

Persky.Up top at forward, New Canaan

again features experience. Three-year varsity veteran Abigail Sawabini, a junior, is back as a striker, with Madzie Carroll and Eileen Dinnie, two more juniors, also back in the ranks.

New to the offensive attack is freshman Courtney Overacker.

Bamford said all four players are capable scorers and will help provide some different looks this season.

Despite the disruptions and delays caused by Tropical Storm Irene, the Rams were able to put together a solid preseason, winning their first two scrimmages by a combined score of 6-0.

New Canaan opened the season Tuesday night in Norwalk and will receive a big early test in the second game, when they face the Fairfield-Warde Mustangs in a road game today, Thursday.

Experienced Rams ready to rumble in FCIACNew Canaan girls soccer returns 16 varsity players for another run at the league and State playoffs

Sarah Mannelly (20) battles a St. Joseph

Cadet at Connor Field last fall. A

defender, Mannelly returns as a team cap-

tain alongside goalie Holly Burwick and

defender Julia Tuttle.Dave Stewart Photo

Girls Soccer

Dave Stewart Photo

New Canaan’s Madzie Carroll takes to the air for the ball during a game at Dunning Field last fall. The Rams return 16 varsity veterans to their roster this year.

Rams at a glanceHead Coach Kirk Bamford (3rd year)

2010 Record: 16-5-2; FCIAC playoffs, Class L semisCaptains: Holly Burwick, Julia Tuttle

and Sarah MannellyOthers to watch: Anna Borea, Stephanie Benko,

Kelly Armstrong, Brianna McEwan, Abigail Sawabini,Madzie Carroll, Lauren Holec and Kendall Danforth

The Big GamesSept. 15 at Fairfield-Warde; Sept. 23 vs. Darien at Connor Field; Sept. 27 at Wilton; Oct. 25 vs. Ridgefield at Dunning Stadium; Oct. 27 at Greenwich - New Canaan and Greenwich have had some memorable clashes over the years, including last year’s battle, won by Greenwich, 2-1. This year’s meeting comes late in the season and, given the quality of the two programs, should be a big one for playoff seedings.


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Art Brown has been coaching cross country long enough to know that there’s strength to be found in numbers. So the fact that the New Canaan girls’ roster has increased more than 25% from last year, it’s definitely seen as a positive sign.

“This is my sec-ond year here and one of my goals was to increase the size of the team as well as improve in terms of our performance,” Brown said. “I think we’re heading in the right direction. We have 38 kids this year.”

That’s up from 30 last season, despite losing seven runners to grad-uation in the spring.

Among those are five return-ing veterans who will be team cap-tains: Seniors Cara Schulte, Maggie O’Rourke, Elizabeth Kilbride and Kellianne Hickey, and junior Georgia Hunsinger.

“We have five captains this year which is quite a few, but I felt they were all deserving,” Brown said. “So far they’ve given me good leader-ship and I’m sure that will continue throughout the season.

“Cara Schulte was a captain last year and is back again, and we have a junior captain in Georgia Hunsinger, who has looked real good so far in practice. I think they’re good role models for the rest of the girls, as are

the other captains.”New Canaan is

coming off a season in which it went 6-9 in dual meets and finished 11th at the always-tough FCIAC championship meet

in Waveny Park in October.Brown said the Rams’ don’t have

a clear-cut top seven yet, especially since Tropical Storm Irene and the delayed start of school set training back a week.

“It’s difficult to get a real grip on where we are at this time because of the weather interruptions we’ve had,” the coach said. “I’ll know a lot more after our first meet, but from what I’ve seen so far, the girls are working hard and we’re a much bet-ter team than we were last year.”

The top returning runners are led by Schulte, Hunsinger and O’Rourke, along with senior Kelly Saiz, juniors Katie DiFazio and Jensen Lee and sophomore Collette Pelligrini de Paur.

Saiz led that group of Rams at the

FCIAC and Class L finals, finish-ing 60th and 69th, respectively, with Schulte a few spots behind in 73rd at the FCIAC meet. DiFazio, O’Rourke and Hunsinger also return with the experience of running the varsity finals.

New Canaan also has a number of promising newcomers, as well as a few other runners who could step up this season.

“In terms of leading the pack, we have some new girls who look good and I really don’t know who my top seven’s going to be,” Brown said. “It’s really up in the air. We have probably about 12-13 girls who could make our top seven. It’s a good thing. We have much more depth than we had last year and it’s going to be interesting to see how it plays out as we go along.

“Some of the new girls we have are going to improve quickly once they get race experience under their belt. They really haven’t competed in cross country and I think it’s going to take a few races before they really get the feel for it.”

Among the returning runners who looked good last fall are the co-cap-tains Hickey and Kilbride, along with sophomores Liz Perry and Cassie Miller.

New to the Rams, and sport-ing some solid potential, are senior Molly McKennan, junior Brooke Decker and Lana Delvecchio, and sophomore Emily Wood.

We have more depth and as a team we seem to be in much better shape than we were at this point last year,” Brown said. “But there’s a big differ-ence between working out, running through the park and racing. I think after a few races, we’ll know a lot more about the team.”

The season got underway yester-day, Wednesday, for the Rams, who raced in Westport.

New Canaan will be at Allen’s Meadows for the Wilton Invitational on Saturday, with a dual meet at Wilton set for next Tuesday.

The Rams are then home for the rest of the season with their first meet at Waveny Park scheduled for Tuesday, September 27.

The FCIAC championship meet will be run Thursday, October 21, on

the trails of Waveny Park.“It’s a tough league and I don’t

think we’re at the level of the top teams yet; we’re more in the middle

of the pack, but we’re headed in the right direction,” Brown said. “Our goal eventually is to be competitive with everybody in the year.”


The importance of Alex Spinu in the New Canaan cross country and track and field programs cannot be underestimated. But even Spinu may have outdone himself in the spring.

Running the anchor leg of the 4x800 relay at the New Balance Nationals, Spinu erased a 20-meter gap between New Canaan and Don Bosco Prep and propelled the Rams to the cham-pionship in the emerging elite divi-sion.

The performance was one which was praised by Evan Remley, head coach of the NCHS boys cross coun-try team and an assistant for track and field.

“His anchor leg at Nationals to win the emerging elite title for the team was probably as good a race as a New Canaan runner has ever run,” Remley said. “His split was 1:54, which would be a State Open champion for Connecticut. He was 20 meters down and then he finished about 20 to 30 meters ahead of the Don Bosco Prep guy. He’s been as important a runner as we’ve had here. He’s just fantastic.”

Spinu has a chance to add to his already stellar resume this fall, as he takes over the role of senior co-cap-tain on the Rams’ boys cross country team.

Spinu, and fellow seniors Dylan Kavookjian, Henson Orser and Wes Rhudy, will lead a solid New Canaan squad, which is looking to maintain its spot as one of the FCIAC’s upper tier teams.

Graduation hurt the Rams, as it claimed Patrick Daly and Brant Hoffman, who ran second and third on the team last year.

Remley is confident the team has enough to fill those holes, as long as some of the other runners can step up.

“We lost two good guys last year but we have some really strong run-ners coming back,” the coach said. “Like any team, the challenge for us is going to be transitioning our

younger guys into more leading roles. But we’re poised to have a pretty good season.”

Spinu is the clear headliner and will look to make it three straight sea-sons on the All-FCIAC First Team. He finished 15th as a sophomore and moved up to 11th last season, but

Remley feels he can improve even more.

“Alex should be in a great spot to do really well,” Remley said. “He was First Team all-conference

and I’m hoping he can move a lot higher this year.

“I’m hoping that we can get anoth-er guy in there to place First or Second Team All-Conference whether it’s Henson, Dylan or Kalan (Lysenko), who’s having a good starting training session. One of those guys should be able to step up and fill the void that Pat left. We’re in pretty good shape, but we need one of those guys to step up and take on a pretty big role.”

After Spinu, Lysenko is the Rams’ top returning runner from last year’s FCIAC meet.

The junior ran 33rd to finish six spots ahead of Kavookjian, who was 39th.

The captains Rhudy, Orser and Kavookjian are as solid as they come and any one of them, if not all three, could earn a place on the All-FCIAC Second Team this year.

“Wes is a great guy, he gives us a lot of depth and he can be really good runner,” Remley said. “Wes has a lot of energy and he plays a lot of sports, so he understands competition.

“Henson came to us as a sopho-more and he’s just been getting better and better. He’s going to continue to develop on that. And Dylan is another great athlete and he should do a good job. He’ll round out that top five to seven for us and he should do well.”

After that top five, there are some question marks, but Remley feels the talent and potential is there for senior Isaiah Maisonette, junior George Bennett and sophomore Michael Pickhardt.

“Some of our younger guys who could step up — guys like George

Bennett and Isaiah Maisonette,” Remley said. “Michael Pickhardt is a sophomore and I think he’s going to good year. We’re still identifying some of the younger talent that’s coming in, but I think those guys will round out a pretty good group and contribute.”

The Rams begin the season with three meets on the road, including the opening competition yesterday, Wednesday, at Staples High School in Westport.

They will they race in the Wilton Invitational at Allen’s Meadows on Saturday, with a dual meet, again in Wilton, next Tuesday.

New Canaan then returns home and will race on the trails of Waveny Park for the remainder of the FCIAC season.

The conference championship meet is scheduled for Thursday, October 21, in Waveny

Spinu and Ram harriers running at high speed

BoysCross Country

Rams at a glanceHead Coach Evan Remley (8th year)

2010 Record: 11-6; 5th at FCIACsCaptains: Alex Spinu, Dylan Kavookjian,

Henson Orser and Wes RhudyOthers to watch: Kalan Lysenko, George Bennett,

Isaiah Maisonette, and Michael Pickhardt The Big Meet

Oct. 21 FCIAC Championship at Waveny Park - The centerpiece of Fairfield County’s cross country season is a sight to behold with a huge crowd of spectators and competitors against a scenic New England backdrop. The Rams finished fifth last year and are try-ing to move up, while senior co-captain Alex Spinu, an All-FCIAC First Teamer for the past two years, looks to cap his career in fitting fashion.

Dave Stewart Photo

Alex Spinu sets the pace for New Canaan during last year’s FCIAC boys cross country championships in waveny Park. Spinu has earned All-FCIAC First Team honors the past two seasons, while New Canaan has finished in the top five as a team.

New Canaan boys head into seasonwith high goals once again

New Canaan girls count on numbers in 2011Roster receives a boost as program grows under Coach Brown

Rams at a glanceHead Coach Art Brown (2nd year)

2010 Record: 6-9Captains: Cara Schulte, Georgia Hunsinger,

Maggie O’Rourke, Kellianne Hickeyand Elizabeth Kilbride.

Others to watch: Katie DiFazio, Kelly Saizand Colette Pelligrini de Paur

The Big MeetOct. 20 FCIAC Championship at Waveny Park - The high school cross country season ends quickly and this championship race is one of the gems of the fall athletics season. The FCIAC also features many D1 college prospects. For many of the Rams, this will be a chance to build upon the experience gained last fall, while for newcomers, it will be a unique challenge.

Dave Stewart Photo

Cara Schulte competes at the FCIAC championship meet in waveny Park last year. Schulte returns as a team captain this year, alongside Georgia Hunsinger, Maggie O’Rourke, Kellianne Hickey and Elizabeth Kilbride.

GirlsCross Country


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A look up and down the roster of the New Canaan High School vol-leyball team reveals a team that will feature many familiar faces.

With a starting lineup filled with varsity veterans, and an influx of some younger tal-ent that could have an impact at points during the fall, head coach Katie Campbell can’t help put be optimistic about the Rams’ outlook.

“We have a lot of returning play-ers this year and we’ve brought up a bunch of very fresh and very exciting players,” Campbell said. “So it’s an interesting combination in practices where we’ve been going over a lot of different items between game play and skill sets. The girls are all trying very, very hard.”

That combination of skill and desire bodes well for the Rams, who are looking to build upon their solid 12-9 record of last year.

New Canaan qualified for the FCIAC and State tournaments, even beating Bacon Academy, 3-1, in the first round of the State play-offs before falling to a powerful Farmington team.

There were definitely some bumps — the Rams started with six wins in their first seven matches and later in the season lost five of six — but the foundation is a good one as they head into the new year.

The Rams are also a driven group, something Campbell credits to her three captains: Seniors Kellen Tensen, Andrea Mullaney and Gwen Van de Graf.

“The intensity of this year is quite different than what I’ve seen in the past,” Campbell said. “All the girls are very focused and that’s due to the captainship of Andrea, Gwen and Kellen. They’re very focused vol-leyball players and athletes. The fact that they drive the entire team for-ward and keep them focused on the volleyball elements and wanting to do their best, has really kept every-body on their games and they’re pro-gressing much faster than I’ve seen in the past.”

As was the case last year, the engine which makes the New Canaan volleyball machine run is Tensen, who is beginning her third season as the starting setter.

Tensen was an All-FCIAC hon-orable mention last year and her

steadiness played a huge role in last season’s success.

“Kellen very rarely has a bad day and you can count on her to be emotionally sturdy for the girls and always encouraging,” Campbell said. “And her technical skills are there, so her being a setter gives everybody else a good baseline to work from.

She’s always willing to push herself and try something new — a new tip, a new attack — so it’s that fresh-

ness that she brings to the court that helps push everybody forward.”

Mullaney returns as a starting middle blocker and gives the Rams a strong presence on the court.

“Andrea brings her extreme inten-sity to both front row and back row,” Campbell said. “She is an intense volleyball player, she plays very hard and she plays to win. I think that kind of attitude leads the way and shows that girls can be very aggressive, do very well and be proud of what they accomplish.”

Van de Graf has been a solid influence on the younger players, Campbell said, helping to key them in on the ins and outs of the sport. She plays several roles for the Rams, primarily rotating in on the right side, and also as a backup setter to Tensen.

“Gwen is very organized and she’s wonderful with the younger players,” Campbell said. “She’s constantly telling players things that they might not have known or encouraging them to keep going and keep working. Off the court, she’s really had a pres-ence and on the court as well. She’s progressed a lot and she’s putting up a very big block for us on the right side.”

Adding more senior experience to the starting six is Cassidy Ward. Ward, who became a solid addition last year, will be a middle blocker and outside hitter, and Campbell said the senior could be in for a big sea-son.

“She’s really a standout this year,” the coach said. “She’s done so much work out of season and she’s come back a very determined player. She has fought her way onto the court. She’s such a versatile player that we’ve put her all over the place. She’s doing a very nice job and we’re excited to see how she progresses throughout the year and what she’s going to bring.”

A trip of juniors rounds out the starting lineup, Taylor Copeland-

York will be on the back line, Emma Stracke will be an outside hitter, and Annie Conover will be an outside hitter/middle blocker.

“Taylor is just strong and steady back there,” Campbell said. “She’s another veteran and you just tell her to get the work done and she gets it done. Annie Conover is coming

back as an outside and she’s also working as a middle. She’s just very aggressive and very focused in on the game. She gets in the zone very easily.

“And Emma Stracke is back as an outside hitter and she has a lot of really wonderful talents that we’re really trying to work with. Not every volleyball player looks the same in terms of their form, but you can work with it to make them the most effective that they can be. Right now, she’s been really effective in her abilities.”

Campbell pointed to the players’ versatility as one of New Canaan’s biggest strengths this fall. Many of the Rams play multiple positions and Campbell said it’s up to the coaches to find the “magic in the right spots.”

Also, a few injuries during the preseason have afforded Campbell and the coaching staff an opportunity to see some of the younger players

in action, and that revealed the Rams have several more options.

“We’re excited about the potential of the younger girls,” Campbell said. “They’re making great progress and they’re learning a lot from the older girls.”

The Rams began their season with a match at Brien McMahon yes-terday, Wednesday, and will host matches against Danbury on Friday and Central on Monday.

Campbell is hopeful that the play-ers will make a quick transition from practices and scrimmages to the real deal.

“I’m looking for the moment when all those girls who focused their attention so much in practices make that shift into game play,” she said. “As soon as we begin and get our rhythm down and start seeing opponents, I really expect them to begin gelling a lot more. They like a good challenge and they look for-ward to it.”

Volleyball


Rams at a glanceHead Coach Katie Campbell (7th year)

2010 Record: 12-9Captains: Kellen Tensen, Andrea Mullaney

and Gwen Van de GrafOthers to watch: Annie Conover, Cassidy Ward,

Taylor Copeland-York and Emma Stracke The Big Matches

Sept. 23 at Darien; Sept. 26 vs. Wilton at NCHS; Sept. 28 vs. Trumbull at NCHS; Oct. 3 at Stamford; Oct. 12 at Ridgefield - New Canaan was no stranger to five-set matches last year, playing in seven of them and winning five. Ridgefield was one that got away. The Rams will try to take this one on the Tigers’ home court; Oct. 21 at Fairfield-Warde; Oct. 24 vs. Greenwich at NCHS

New Canaan spikers ready to contendVeteran volleyball team looks to build

on successes of last fall

Dave Stewart Photo

Emma Stracke gets ready to serve up a winner during a match at NCHS last year.

Dave Stewart Photo

New Canaan’s Andrea Mullaney (19, left) and Kellen Tensen stay focused on the serve during a match at NCHS last season. The two Rams return as senior captains this year, alongside classmate Gwen Van de Graf.

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It’s far too early to be mak-ing any predictions for the FCIAC boys soccer season, but it wouldn’t be too early to reserve a seat for the play-offs if you’re a fan of the New Canaan Rams.

No team has been better than the Rams when the spot-light is at its brightest. Two years ago, New Canaan fol-lowed a mediocre regular sea-son with a runner-up finish in the State Class L tournament.

Last year, they took it a few steps further, knocking off Connecticut’s top-ranked

team, the Norwalk Bears, on penalty kicks in the FCIAC semis and then rolling to five wins in the States, including a 2-0 victory over Bunnell for the Class L crown.

With 10 returning starters on the roster, head coach Victor Sanchez has reason to smile about his

team’s 2011 chances.One look at his three tri-

captains, seniors Jon-Luke Ferrandino and Tim Pritchard and junior Scott Levene, and it’s easy to see that the Rams are in good hands.

“I’m really happy with my three captains,” Sanchez told the Advertiser. “They’re

outstanding players and great people overall. They have great personalities and I think they’ll handle their roles very well this year.”

Outside of New Canaan, the goalie Levene is the best known of the three, after earn-ing All-State and All-FCIAC First Team honors last year. Levene headlines a veteran defensive corps.

“It’s very comforting as a coach and also for the players, to have Scott there,” Sanchez said. “It also helps that we have a returning defensive line there, but even with that, it’s comforting to have him back there and know that certain mistakes can be cleaned up by Scott Levene.”

All four of the Rams’ start-ing defensemen have varsity experience under their belts.

Junior Robert Valente and sophomore Jack O’Rourke will be the center-backs, with senior Keith Haydu on the right and junior Justin Pertierra on the left.

“Two of those guys (Valente and Pertierra) were with us at the beginning of last season and the other two joined us halfway through and towards the end of the season and did an outstanding job. So they’ve all had experience and that’s a strength for us,” Sanchez said.

Ferrandino, an All-FCIAC player last year, will be at cen-ter-midfield and the senior and can dominate with the ball. An intelligent and highly-skilled soccer player, Ferrandino has the ability to disrupt opposing defenses and create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates.

Even better, he’s started embracing the leadership role even more this fall, according to Sanchez.

“Jon-Luke has been one of my studs since he came to New Canaan,” the coach said. “He was more of ‘lead by example’ kind of player and tended to be a little more timid and not vocal, but this year he’s speaking up more. He’s done a great job with it and what has really caught me is his leadership off the field. He’s talking to other players more and taking control of the group during practices.

“Jon-Luke is very techni-cal and his soccer IQ is very high. He’s a special player and he’s a threat to any of the opponents that we deal with because he’s so quick on the ball and he’s so smart. His vision is excellent and he dis-tributes very well.”

Pritchard started at mid-field last year and by midsea-son, had impressed his coach enough that he was named a captain. He was also noticed by opposing teams, earning an All-FCIAC East nod.

“Tim Pritchard became a captain about midway through the season last year and he took that role on very well,” Sanchez said. “He’s familiar

with the demands I have for captains and he’s familiar with the fact that his teammates look up to him. He’s a great leader, a great teammate and a very strong player. He’s been wonderful and I look forward to seeing him in action again this season.”

Joining Ferrandino and Pritchard in the midfield is junior Marcus Hijkoop.

“Those are three of the most technical players on the team,” Sanchez said. “They all have excellent vision, so they’re able to distribute the ball very well, and they all play very well together. They have to cover a lot of ground with what we ask of them, but they’re doing a great job.”

Thomas Carey, yet another varsity veteran, has been an important cog on the defense the last couple of years, but will take on a different role this season, as he moves up top to the striker spot.

“We still have some work to do with him, but he’s doing all right,” Sanchez said. “He’s an aggressive, very fast, physical player and he understands the game. There’s a certain role I want him to fulfill, so now it’s just a matter of getting him a little more comfortable with it.”

Also on offense are return-ing starters in senior Charlie Pickhardt on the right and junior Steven Valente on the left.

Sanchez said he’ll also call upon junior Nicolas Deambrosio to play on offense and defense, with senior Oscar Flores seeing time on offense. Other players will likely come into the picture as the season progresses.

Even with the remarkable playoff success of the past two years, the Rams aren’t looking to the past as they get ready for a new campaign.

“It’s a cliche, but we try to take it one game at a time, and there’s a lot of truth to that,” Sanchez said. “Naturally, we have our ultimate goal, which is to win a State championship again, and we want to get fur-ther in the FCIACs, but right now, the talk is about what’s next.

“I’m excited about the sea-son, we just have to make sure that the boys are grounded and they have the same strong work ethic that they had last year,” Sanchez said. “They won the States, but I don’t want them to think it’s going to be a walk in the park. Hopefully, we can stay focused and make a strong run again.”

Boys Soccer

State champion Rams gearing up for title defenseNew Canaan boys soccer team returns deep and talented lineup for 2011 season

Rams at a glanceHead Coach Victor Sanchez (3rd year)

2010 Record: 13-5-4, FCIAC semis, Class L champsCaptains: Jon-Luke Ferrandino, Tim Pritchard

and Scott LeveneOthers to watch: Steven Valente, Robert Valente,

Tom Carey, Charlie Pickhardt, Jack O’’Rourke,Marcus Hijkoop. Keith Haydu, Justin Pertierra

The Big GamesSept. 22 at Ridgefield; Sept. 24 vs. Warde at Connor Field; Oct. 4 at Bridgeport Central; Oct. 10 at Darien; Oct. 13 at Wilton; Oct. 24 at Norwalk - Last fall’s clash between the Bears and Rams in the FCIAC semis may have been the game of the year. New Canaan, the No. 8 seed, erased three deficits and defeated Norwalk, the State’s top-ranked team on penalty kicks. Norwalk won’t forget that loss any time soon, setting this match up as one to watch.Dave Stewart Photo

Steven Valente controls the ball during the State Class L title game last year.

From left, Scott O’Brien (16), Tim

Pritchard (13), Jon-Luke Ferrandino (10)

and Justin Petierra (2) celebrate Ferrandino’s

goal in last year’s Class L championship game. O’Brien graduated, but

Ferrandino, Pritchard and Pertierra all

return for another playoff run.

Dave Stewart Photo


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Dave Fine, head coach of the New Canaan High School girls swim-ming and diving team, describes the upcoming Rams’ season with one word: “Opportunity.”

It’s appropriate, because with a nice blend of talented veterans and promising younger stars, the oppor-tunity is there for the Rams to make another big splash in 2011. There’s also the opportunity for some people who haven’t yet made an impact to come into their own and crack the lineup.

“It’s one of those seasons where there’s a lot of opportunity for names that you haven’t heard for, new girls, to make an impact,” Fine said. “Freshmen and sophomores have opportunities and juniors who have been around and have been solid, but may not have had a chance in the FCIAC and State meets, will have their opportunity. The doors open for them to slot themselves right in.”

The Rams have a tough act to fol-low after the enormous successes of last season.

After going 7-1 in dual meets, New Canaan captured its first FCIAC championship since 1997, dominat-ing second-place Greenwich by 189 points. The Rams went on to win the State Class M title and took the run-ner-up spot at the State Open.

The 200-meter medley relay team of Adelyn Graf, Erin Dunstan, Emma Tobey and Maddie Rusch set a new State and Class L record of 1:47.11, while Rusch established a new Class L mark of 23.85 seconds in the 50-meter freestyle.

Nine swimmers were named to the All-State team, and Fine earned All-FCIAC Coach of the Year honors for the second consecutive season.

“From the beginning of the sea-son last year, we had a lot of depth,” Fine said. “For me, it was kind of

like ‘Hopefully I don’t make any mistakes with how much talent and depth I have here.’ This year, I have a lot of big guns up front, a lot of talent and a lot of potential from the younger girls.”

The Rams return a number of talented athletes, including all four members of the record-setting 200 medley relay team.

Leading the squad as captains will be seniors Cara Egan, Adelyn Graf,

Grace Duncan and Emma Tobey, each of whom has had a tremendous impact on the program the past few years.

Egan, a standout in the freestyle, has been swimming the 200 free since her freshman year, and has been the Rams’ leader in the event the past three seasons. As a sophomore, she often went up against senior swimmers on other teams, but Fine said she was able to “take on that challenge and take it in stride.”

“Cara’s got a world of talent and she’s a great leader in and out of the water,” the coach said. “She does everything you ask her to do, she’s a hard-worker, a good racer and a competitor. She thrives in the high school and team environments. She’s been a big part of what we’ve done since she was a freshman.”

Graf has also been a key cog in the New Canaan machine since her sophomore year, swimming in the 100 backstroke and the 200 indi-vidual medley. Last year, she battled a shoulder injury and missed half the training season, something which was clearly frustrating to the swim-mer.

“When she was out, she really showed how much she cares about this team and what type of leader she is,” Fine said. “She had to do some stuff on her own and she could have just gone through the motions, but she worked really hard to get back. You could tell she was extremely

upset she couldn’t water train. She’s not one to steer away from competi-tion and challenges and she’s another go-to person.”

Graf also leads off the medley relay, swimming the backstroke to start every meet. Fine said she’s opened some eyes.

“She’s got so much pop and flair in her 50 back and she’s always wowed me as a coach and the rest of the team. She really does set a tone for the team,” Fine said.

Duncan and Tobey are versatile swimmers who, like Egan and Graf, will help New Canaan in numer-ous events. Duncan is strong in the 200 and 500 freestyles, but may also swim the backstroke this year. Tobey’s main races are the 100 but-terfly and the 100 backstroke, but she could see some time in the 200 IM.

“Grace and Emma are both the kind of people who speak softly and carry a big stick,” Fine said. “They’re soft-spoken but they’re steady. Emma and Grace just quietly get the job done. They never miss a beat in practice and always do what we’ve needed them to do in meets and championships. They’re both versatile and there’s never a concern because you can always turn to them.”

The senior class also features Ali Rusch, Lindsay Jones, and Caroline Picard.

“You can pretty much slot Ali into the 50 and the 100 free. She’s a true sprinter to the end,” Fine said. “She’s been a part of All-American relays as a sophomore and a junior. She made top eight in the 50 free in the States and FCIACs, so we’re looking for her to score some big points for us.

“Lindsay Jones was a big part of our team last year and she swam the

2 IM and the 100 breast,” he added. “Breaststroke was an event that was weaker for us last year, so she worked all season to get better and she ended up as a second alternate at States and dropped eight seconds through the season. She’s an absolute contributor and we need her to do that again.”

Picard may not be as flashy as some of her teammates, but she plays a big part in the team’s success.

“Caroline does everything with no complaints — she works extremely hard,” Fine said. “She brings cama-raderie and leadership to the table and we need that. She swims with a lot of the younger girls and that helps her take on that leadership role. She’s doing some good things.”

Of course, any talk of the Rams’ chances at contending start with junior Maddie Rusch, who has got-ten even faster, according to Fine. This summer, she just missed the Olympic Trial cut in the 100 fly and the 50 freestyle.

“Besides the fact that Maddie is much faster in the water than she was last year, the biggest thing she’s done is she’s matured,” Fine said. “Not only is she talented, she has matured in terms of what she can do in any event now. To be competitive at the championship level, you need people like Maddie.”

Erin Dunstan is another junior standout in the breaststroke and the IM, while Tess Musky-Goldwyn, another junior, has also impressed the coach.

“Erin Dunstan had an unbeliev-able offseason.” Fine said. She plays water polo, too, but I think this year she focused a little bit more on swim-ming and she’s determined this year. She wants to win that 100 breast at States and break the school record.

The work she’s been doing in prac-tice is unbelievable.”

Sophomores Jenna Egan and Alex Aliapolios return to the fold after solid freshman years.

“One thing both of them carry into high school sports is that they love to race,” Fine said. “You put them in a race scenario and you’re going to see something special.”

Among the freshmen, Fine likes what he sees from the youngest of the Rusch sisters, Olivia, Erin Bucci and Grace Stryker. Rusch and Bucci will compete in the 100 back, with Stryker in the 100 fly.

New Canaan is also loaded at div-ing, with Meredith Jonker and Ariana Ross back for their senior years, and freshman Kylie Tobin looking strong as well. Jonker was fourth in the Class L competition last fall, while Ross was seventh.

Fine is confident head diving coach Joe Somma’s crew will be a great source of points this year.

“Our diving is going to be one of our very, very strong points this year,” Fine said. “Meredith and Ari were strong at States last year and scored well in the Open meet. They’ve worked hard and are better divers than they were last year.”

The Rams open the season with Trumbull, with Darien, Wilton, Greenwich and Staples, all solid FCIAC teams, yet to come. For Fine, that imposing schedule is reason to smile.

“The more competitive the dual meets are, the better we’re going to be prepared for the end of the season,” he said. “If I had eight meets that were all Darien, Wilton, Greenwich and Trumbull, I’d take that any day because it makes us a better team.”

Swimming& Diving

Rams at a glanceHead Coach Dave Fine (8th year)

2010 Record: 7-1, FCIAC & Class L Champs, Open runner-upCaptains: Cara Egan, Adelyn Graf,Grace Duncan and Emma Tobey

Others to watch: Ali Rusch, Lindsay Jones, Maddie Rusch,Erin Dunstan, Meredith Jonker (diving), Ariana Ross (diving),

Jenna Egan, Alex Aliapoulios and Tess Musky-GoldwynThe Big Meets

Sept. 27 at Wilton; Oct. 12 at Greenwich; Oct. 28 vs. Darien at the New Canaan YMCA — Last year, the Rams knocked off the Blue Wave on Darien’s Homecoming weekend and served notice to the rest of the FCIAC that New Canaan was a legitimate contender. Darien and New Canaan are both loaded with talent this season and this sets up to be another great battle.

Opportunity knocks for New Canaan swimmers

Dave Stewart Photo

Sophomore Alex Aliapoulios competes in the freestyle during last year’s FCIAC championship meet.

Cara Egan competes during one of the FCSL Div. 2 cham-pionship meets this summer. Egan, Grace Duncan, Adelyn Graf and Emma Tobey are co-captains of an NCHS squad which is defending FCIAC and State Class L titles.

Dave Stewart Photo


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