Darien High School Fall 2014 Sports Preview

Wave QB Timmy Graham scans the horizon of a new season of promise on the grid.

SPORTS PREVIEWDARIEN HIGH SCHOOL FALL 2014

SPORTS PREVIEWSPORTS PREVIEWSPORTS PREVIEW

Courtesy Darien Athletic FoundationBABY, YOU’RE A RISCHMANN — Darien’s set in goal this season, with Liam Rischmann, for one of a pair of competent goalkeepers.

Defense should see Wave through to playoff contentionby Steven BuonoTimes Sports Editor

Darien loses nine from last season and returns half a dozen starters, with emphasis on the defense.

Wave boys’ soccer captains are Henrik Stockinger, Mike Maccarone, Vinny Puzio and John Mackie.

“They’re very good players and very good leaders,” said Darien coach Jon Bradley, who leads from the bench very well himself. “They are leading by example at the moment, and working hard.

“It’s the best group of kids I’ve

coached in a while.”Darien fields a quick technical

side this season.“Our aim is to get an FCIAC spot

and a spot in the state tournament,” said Bradley of his minimal goals. “What ever comes after that is a bonus.

“If we stay healthy and play to our strengths we should be okay.”

And those strengths start with defense.

“Our defense is very good,” Bradley said.

The defense starts right at the

back with experienced expertise from keepers Liam Rischmann and Peter Triesmen.

“The same goalies are back from last year,” said Bradley.

At the other end, Darien should employ scoring power from Kai Bjomstad, Andrew Mathew, Harrison Gill.

“We don’t have a 20-goal player on the team,” Bradley said. “So we are going to need players to chip in with some goals.”

Bradley’s teams are able to play the way that fits the bill on any par-ticular day.

“We are going to play on a game-to-game basis based on the team we

are playing against,” he said of the Wave style of play. “So, we set out the way we want to play; but obvi-ously, if we are playing a team that’s got a different style, we can adapt to that, and work on it.

“Whatever we need to do.”Back to defense, it’s Mackie, Pugio,

Ryan Lutrell, Sam Pfrommer, Alex Beradino manning the barricades.

“And we’ve got a few kids we’re mixing and matching at the moment, to come up with the right formula,” Bradley added. “Mackie is one of the best defenders in the league.”

Mackie’s credited with strength, reads the game well.

“Excellent in the air,” Bradley

said.After some years in the doldrums,

the Wave’s shot into contention since Bradley came over from the Darien girls’ side several years back. This season should see the team on track for the same.

The roster includes: Owen Beringer, Matthew Hayes, Said Mammadov, Johan Nottebohm, Michael Rizzuto, Danny Siemers, Graham Skeats, Kole Tomaj, Nicky Wildish, Sean Edgar, Jack Jarrett, Kevin Klarer, Jack Kniffin, Hunter Kooyman, Colin Banks, Jason Flynn, Sean Gallagher, Felix Rooney.

Fall ’14 Boys Soccer

All Wave schedules are updated daily at: darienps.org/darienathletics/cms/

THE DARIEN TIMES, THURSDAY, SEPT. 11, 2014 Page 2D

��

��

by Steven BuonoTimes Sports Editor

The Wave loses five-of-seven top runners from 2013.

Alex Ostberg is not one of them.“Alex had a dream junior year,”

said Wave boys’ cross country coach Tyson Kaczmarek. “He just got bet-ter and better every week. But trust me, there is plenty more improve-ment to go.”

Ostberg, the Class L champion, placed third in the state open and was runner up in New Englands in ’14.

He came in third at the Foot Locker Northeast Regional Championship which qualified him for Foot Locker

Nationals in San Diego where he placed 11th, to become an All-American.

He was also Gatorade Runner of the Year in CT last season.

But there’s much more.Junior Armstrong Noonan is

coming off a track season where he placed third in the state open in the 3200 in 9:17.

“That was an incredible time for Army,” Kaczmarek said. “He had already run a race too which makes it even more impressive.”

Ostberg, considered a top 10 run-ner in the country, with Noonan

were one and two on the Wave last season.

Impact runners were lost to gradu-ation all the same.

“I have a lot of confidence in our top 10 runners,” Kaczmarek said.

Filling in the lineup: seniors Mikey Farren, Sebastian Rivero, Timmy Grozier, Carter Ashcraft and Brendan Triano; juniors Jack Murray and Jack Consolini; sopho-more Jackson Huffman.

“These guys made significant gains during the track season for the most part. That will carry over to cross country for sure.”

Darien will drive toward the front.

“The FCIAC is a wicked competi-

tive league,” added Kaczmarek. “Did we lose a lot? Yes. Do I have realistic expectations for this team? Yes. We placed fourth in New England last year, but this is a different team. They will define themselves in a dif-ferent way. I’m very excited for the season.”

Kaczmarek (171-17) is in his 12th season as coach.

Last season Darien was 17-1 and FCIAC runner-up, Class L champ, second in the open, fourth in New Englands.

Kaczmarek’s TakeNoonan: One of the top distance

runners in CT. He sports a sub 4:20 mile personal best and a 9:17 3200 time...captain Arthur Cassidy, Sr.,

gained valuable varsity experience last year...Timmy Grozier, Sr., very talented, looking to be injury free this year...Mikey Farren, Sr., vastly improved in the past two track sea-sons, will be a varsity contributor...captain Brendan Triano, Sr., has a solid training base under his belt and will be much improved...Jack Murray, Jr., looking to improve on a solid sophomore season...Jack Consolini, Jr., looking to shake injuries from sophomore year off...Jackson Huffman, So., excellent freshmen campaign saw Jackson improve rapidly...Top newcomers: Sr. Sebastian Rivero, Sr. Carter Ashcraft, So. James Johnson, So. Jimmy Conroy.

Courtesy Darien Athletic FoundationRUN FOR YOUR LIFE — Darien’s front-runner Alex Ostberg is off to the races as an All-American state runner of the year.

Road warriors Ostberg-Noonan provide 1-2 KO punchFall ’14 Boys Cross Country

Wave boys’ cross country 2014 captains are (from left)

Brendan Triano, Armstrong

Noonan, Alex Ostberg and

Arthur Cassidy.


��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

�


With so much up in the air at the start of Wave football camp recent-ly, Darien’s up-in-the-air position, seems locked down tight.

“The quarterback position right now is junior Timmy Graham,” said Darien coach Rob Trifone. “Timmy was the back-up to Silas (Wyper, Class of 2014) last year. He is young, and hasn’t started varsity football. You never know what’s going to happen.”

Just like with Wyper, who cleaned up at QB his first year getting the start in 2013.

So does the Wave take heart with its new starter?

“He’s got all the tools,” Trifone, who loses 18 to graduation, said. “He’s got a strong arm, he’s a very focused young man. He wants to

learn everything there is to know about the offense, and being a lead-er.

“Because I talked to him on many occasions, about Silas Wyper, and how Silas was not only a great quar-terback, but an incredible leader. Timmy knows that and he is striving to become all of those things.”

Wyper led Darien to the state championship game in 2013, where the Wave was stopped by New Canaan, after Darien beat its rival in the Thanksgiving game day for the second season straight.

Darien was 12-2 in 2013, only spoiling a perfect regular season in losing at St. Joseph in Trumbull, scotching its shot at the FCIAC title game.

But all else was go. The Wave fol-lowed its setback to the Cadets win-

ning nine in a row through to becom-ing state runner-up on a snowy and frigid day in Dec. at Boyle Stadium.

“I think it would be hard to dupli-cate what Silas did — more so from the under-the-radar standpoint,” said Trifone. “Because Timmy won’t come under the radar as much as Silas did.”

Actually, at his height, Graham’s helmet might just be detected by radar.

“Timmy’s six foot-four and he has all that ability,” Trifone said. “He could step in and do similar types of things that Silas did; then our offense is going to be in good hands.”

Graham was JV quarterback last season and got in a few snaps for var-sity. In the speck of time he saw on the varsity field he completed seven passes on 14 tries for 73 yards.

“Obviously limited,” said Trifone. “But, with all the passing leagues

and tournaments, and stuff like that, ever since Jan. first he’s been work-ing real hard, and he looks good.”

And it’s good to think that Wyper came in under similar fresh circum-stances. Wyper: who then managed this: playing in every game in 2013 he completed 233 of 394 passes for 3,052 yards, averaging 218 yards per game, flinging 20 touchdowns. Wyper’s QB rate was 83.

He ran 506 yards on 80 carries and scored six TDs.

But the one word to sum up the Blue Wave offense in 2014 is not Quarterback.

“It’s two words,” said Trifone. “Offensive line.”

Indeed, there are Behemoths, Godzillas and Gargantuas, and you can count on having a few Kongs up on the Wave lines.

“The strength of our team this year — no question — is up front,”

said Trifone. “On both sides of the ball.”

Last season both sides of the ball on the line meant, mostly, just that, when Darien dove headlong into pla-tooning. This year, the platoons will be fine-tuned.

“For example last year Jack Griffiths started tackle; all 6-2, 285 of him. And he is certainly going to start tackle again on offense.

“The question is, do we play him both ways? Because he’s so good on both sides of the ball.”

Six-foot-three, 250 pound senior Sam Bowtell? Same story.

“Bowtell started last year,” said Trifone. “Again, do we play Sam on one side of the ball? You know? All these guys will get some reps on the defensive side. But they are definite offensive starters.”

Wave defined by fearsome line

Fall ’14 Football

Courtesy Darien Athletic FoundationJACKED UP — Jack Tyrrell with the tackle at last year’s state semis.

See TRIFONE on page 5D

Wave Football Preview VIDEO: Captains, coach and QB star in sound and vision online


��loveYOUR HOME

See the Possibilities at

RingsEnd.com

Spencer Stovall, a junior and 6-foot, 240, took a lot of 2013 reps, and senior Jack Tyrrell at 6-3, 245, played mostly defense last year, but can swing to the O-Line with force.

“So, last year we were two pla-toons — we could be, two platoons this year — but there are a couple of players that are so good on both sides of the ball that I’m hedging right now as to how much I am going to rest them.”

The more they rest, the more run ragged will become the competition; so goes the thinking.

Helping them get that rest, but not helping the opposition on the run ragged front, are the “backups.”

“We’ve got senior Ryan Murray (6-3, 230), played JV last year: what role can he play?” said Trifone. “Junior Andrew Clarke (5-11, 225) is big and talented. How many snaps can he give us? Jimmy Degnan, a senior, 6-foot, 225... If those guys can give us series — a series here and a series there — then you can rest some of those bigger more expe-rienced guys; enough so that in the fourth quarter you have some fresh legs.”

Fear The Beast“I’ve got one more that I have to

mention, all right?” said Trifone of his size on the line. “And these are actual figures from the doctor, so: sophomore, Andrew Steuber, 6-6, 304. Can he step in and start varsity? I don’t know yet.”

If he does, the line opposing him and QB behind them will know it pretty quick. Steuber played both JV

and some varsity in 2013.“It’s not like we’re coming in

Monday, Aug. 18th and we haven’t seen the kids in six months,” said Trifone, who made the FCIAC Hall of Fame as coach this year. “These kids have been in the weight room three or four days a week.

“(Steuber’s) gotten strong for his age. I’ve seen him at summer camps; we went to Yale... He looks good.”

As do look good all the surplus of pigskin pugilists guarding the line.

“All are viable players,” said Trifone. “That’s the puzzle that we are putting together.”

Captains of this two-time Turkey Bowl-winning crew are George Reed, Tim Lochtefeld, Tyrrell, Will Hamernick and Griff Ross. And with a question as to matching last season’s combustible chemistry, a captain crew of that caliber should come up with the right answers.

“When you flip over to the defen-sive line, there are fewer questions,” Trifone said. “Because you have four starters back from last year. You have Mark Evanchick and George Reed as your defensive ends. Both of them are three-year starters. And then inside you have Jack Griffiths and Jack Tyrrell. And all four of those guys started last year.”

Others from the O-Line will likely float in.

“We knew that they were a strong, agile group,” said Trifone of his line-men, who this summer won a state-wide competition (see story on this site). “We just didn’t know that they could beat 32 other teams.

“It’s probably the best offen-sive and defensive lines I’ve ever coached.”

Thrive on the line: that’s the

motto.“No question about it,” said

Trifone.Still, it’s those ever present ques-

tions by way of fate that Darien will be playing against, as much as facing down its opponents.

“The thing about football is, it is an extremely fragile sport,” Trifone added. “In that, when you have a good basketball team, you know what you are going to get; and same thing with many other sports. But in football, injuries and team chemistry play a much bigger role than in other sports.

“So I am very cautiously opti-mistic.

“I know, an injury tomorrow morning, could change the complex-ion of the offensive and defensive line and such. The likelihood of that happening is not great. But it’s hap-pened before.”

The chemistry test will tell all.“Last year’s team was a special

group. They really cared about one another. And they were able to over-come adversity. And the only way you can overcome adversity is if you have team chemistry.”

Darien rallied game-upon-game on its post-season-drive from Turkey Bowl to the state final.

“This team knows that,” Trifone said. “I’m not comparing the two, because every team is unique. But I am certainly telling them that I hope they learned a lesson from last year’s team and will carry on that tradition.”

Darien can count on one thing to be just like last season, and that is its remarkably duplicated, kind of eerie, itinerary.

“Our schedule is brutal,” said

Trifone.Again, the Wave opens at Hillhouse

in New Haven 4 p.m. Sept. 12, then goes to Greenwich for a 7 p.m. start on the 19th, where it scored 40-plus points in about doubling-up on both hosts to go a huge 2-0 on the year last Sept.

“That’s going to work against us,” Trifone added. “You talk about a hornets’ nest (at Greenwich) — you think they’re happy about last year? — they’re good.”

Going 2-0 this season, would put even starker strokes of writing on the wall in the Wave’s favor, because the wall has grown a bit higher in 2014.

“Greenwich for example has its entire offensive line back,” Trifone said, who also warned against a tough game in store vs. Fairfield Warde, with its entire line intact from ’13 as well. “Most people are picking (Greenwich) as the league favorite, they’ve got it all.

“There are some very talented teams. I think this is kind of an up year for the FCIAC. Nothing’s going to be easy.”

Easy it won’t be replacing Darien’s top scorer Nick Lombardo (Class of ’14) who had 188 points in ’13.

“It’s tough to replace (him),” Trifone said. “We do have a number of skilled kids, and many with expe-rience. Tim Lochtefeld played quite a bit of offense last year. Peter Archey and Griff Ross.

“And then our junior group is a very talented group: Hudson Hamill, a slot running back, played quite a bit last year; Colin Minicus, Bobby and Christian Trifone, will play on offense as well as Shelby Grant.”

A big opportunity will open up for a big receiver in 6-3 Todd Herget.

Losing Daly Hebert, a premier kicker in the state and all-time for Darien, scoring 70 points last season, is not a marginal deficit.

“We knew they were going to be big shoes to fill, so a young man by the name of Stephen Walker tried out in the spring, because we had spring practice,” Trifone said of the Wave’s new killer cleat that comes over from soccer. “He spent the entire summer practicing with the UConn former kicker, because he was so interested in becoming a bet-ter kicker. He, right now, looks like Daly Hebert.”

Charlie Travers (6-2, 220) will go at middle linebacker, Hamernick is back in the secondary at corner.

Rushing, fullbacks Archey and Grant should lead the charge, with Christian Trifone and Hamill behind them with Lochtefeld in the slots.

Graham will shoot out from the line on occasion too.

“You would not think so, from a 6-4 giraffe, but we went up to Yale Camp in late June, and he ran the ball very well up there,” said Trifone. “You’ve got enough skill players surrounding Timmy Graham, and behind a strong line, that you should be able to move the ball and score some points.”

Ross, Herget, a tall senior in Dylan Cunningham, Minicus and Bobby Trifone are lined up to receive. Murray and Clarke and Stovall are available at center.

“And I’ve got three kids who can play right tackle,” said Trifone.

Darien blanked McMahon 29-0 in its closing scrimmage last week.

“We’ve had a nice strong start. But we’ll see what tomorrow brings.”

Wave opens at Hillhouse Friday.

Continued from page 4D

Trifone: ‘It’s probably the best offensive and defensive lines I’ve ever coached’

CHEER UPCourtesy Darien Athletic Foundation

Coach Nicole Tarantino debuts a largely new glee squad numbering 10. They’re led by seniors Kirstyn Breden and Anne Trask, and include juniors Taylor Conrad, Mahoghany Dolberry, Victoria Pulvirenti, sole sophomore Ashley Herles, and four freshmen: Catherine Alter, Brooke Murphy-Petri, Olivia Srednicka and Tea Walk. Above, the Wave leaps at TB 2013.

Steven Buono photoRUN AWAY — Peter Archey on the way to a touchdown at McMahon in preseason action last week.


��

��

Thirteen leave, new tide rolls in for two-time open champsDave Stewart photo

COURT A CAPTAIN — Courtney Ferreira is a captain in a year where leadership is of prime importance.


Last season it had, so deep of a team, that the Wave could stand in the deep end of the pool and still be crowned.

And Darien didn’t even then need to push up on tiptoes to wear its second straight state open title crown in 2013.

This season, the girls will need to flat out swim hard as they ever have to compete for the top in what is a large scale roster-turnover season.

Darien graduates 13.“I mean there was a lot of depth

last year,” said Darien coach Marj Trifone. “But I think, we are good.”

Captains are Maddy Burke, Mackenzie Coughlin, Courtney Ferreira and Maggie Haddad.

Darien returns divers, for a start, always a strong point for the squad, like with its backstroke in particular

this season, and with its always-swift relays.

Kyla Pech and Jenny Schrenker bounce back off the board with expe-rience.

“Two sophomores and freshmen join, so we are hoping to replenish diving,” said Trifone.

Plus, for all it’s lost, Darien replenishes its waters with a dozen freshmen and a pair of sophomores in all.

“Obviously, I’m not really sure what to expect,” Trifone said. “I haven’t had enough time with them to really figure it out. Working on that right now.”

Darien starts work competitively at Fairfield, and then swims at Wilton on Sept. 10 and 17 respectively.

“After we swim Wilton I’ll be able to figure out what we look like, I think,” Trifone added.

Darien will still be on the road figuring things out though, swim-ming at Trumbull and Greenwich before its first home meet vs. St. Joseph on Oct. 1.

“I know, definitely in sprint free I’ve got Emily Nixon, Lauren Rutledge back, and Maddy Hauben; 2-IM I have a new pickup this year, Phoebe Slaughter, and Mackenzie Coughlin’s back in that event, and Courtney Ferreira; 2-free I have Hauben, Belle Stobbie back; 100 fly Coughlin, Maggie Orem and Maddie Burke are all back; 100 free, Rutledge, Stobbie and Hauben are all back.”

Kate Murray is getting a good look at distance freestyle.

“And Courtney Ferreira,” Trifone said. “See what they can do. Catherine Gorey might be in the mix there too.”

The 100 back is the backbone of the lineup.

“Really strong this year,” said

Trifone. “That’s probably our stron-gest event.”

In the back: Orem, Becca Maroney, Morgan Desautelle, Slaughter, Jesse Stewart.

So at the back of the pool the Wave can still stand tall without the water stinging its eyes.

Other events will need to start out treading a little water before it’s full speed ahead. Breaststroke is put-ting in a lot of work to make up for losses.

“I feel like my relays will be strong come championship time,” Trifone said.

Every meet is going to feel a little like a championship for Darien’s bet-ter opponents.

“Put it this way: I think that, on one hand, teams are going to be, like, hunting us down,” Trifone said. “Because we won the open two times.

“There’s the feeling like, this is the year to go and get Darien.”

Darien won’t be so easy to get.“I think that we are going to be a

surprise. I think that we are going to hang in there. They’re working hard.

“When you graduate 13 it’s like you have to go back to developing your whole team again. To get that team feeling.”

Having begun with its preseason of triathlon-busting at Cape May, on through the regular season of experi-ence, expect this school of fish to cut through the water as one great Wave by the time of the champion-ship meets.

Darien’s roster includes: Megan Baird, Isabel Blaze, Elizabeth Bradley, Christina Chao, Tate Desautelle, Lindsey Ferreira, Aislinn Florio, Ariel Gianukakis, Leigh Harrison, Emma Janson, Emma Jaques, Regan Keady, Alison Lomanto, Katie Martin, Hailey Meier, Elise Mercein, Kristen Picard, Brielle, Racanelli, Carly Rutledge, Sheena Zhou. Grace Wohlberg is manager.

Fall ’14 Girls Swim/Dive

Courtesy Darien Athletic FoundationLast autumn season stretched from the summer heat of early Sept. all the way to the first blast of ice and snow in Dec. with Wave football making it to the state final. Griffin Ross (No. 19) frolics in the flakes above.Snow Fall


Courtesy Darien Athletic FoundationANNE CAN — Darien is led by Anne Johnston (right).

Norris: ‘Our chances are solid for the state title’


Darien’s top runner Anne Johnston is also one of the fastest in the state.

“Our next six or seven are so closely grouped that they will benefit from pushing each other,” said Wave girls’ cross country coach Steve Norris. “Cross country scores the first five on a team who cross the finish line. We will benefit by not

having to rely on the same five girls each race.”

Darien was 14-4 in dual meets last season and came in fifth at FCIACs, fifth at states.

It loses two to graduation.Captains are Johnston, Kate

Halabi, Lindsey Holek, Erika Osherow, Sam Savage.

Johnston has been first runner in each of the last two seasons for

Darien. She finished third at last year’s state class L Championship and 12th in the state open.

“Halabi and Savage are four year, three season runners who had their best seasons ever last spring,” Norris said. “Both are two mile track spe-cialists and both were varsity cross country runners last year.”

Holek is a track 400-meter and 800 specialist who was on var-sity cross country last year, while Osherow was second runner last year behind Johnston. She is second team

All-FCIAC cross country.Other impact runners include

senior Amanda Percarpio, the sec-ond best 3200 runner last spring behind Johnston; junior Kristen Mayhew coming over from track where she was the second best miler; junior Sarah LeHan, with strong 3200 credentials.

Sophomore Ali Barnard was sec-ond team All-FCIAC cross country last year and was forth runner

“No glaring weaknesses,” for the Wave says Norris who expects to

take the FCIAC Eastern Division.“This is based upon dual meet

record,” he said. “We have an edge on Wilton.

“FCIAC Championship: Staples is the second best team in Conn. and a clear favorite in the FCIAC.

“We should have a tough fight with Ridgefield for runner up.”

And in Class L?“Our chances are solid for the

state title,” said Norris.

Fall ’14 Girls Cross Country

Courtesy Darien Athletic FoundationWave runners are out on the road again.


‘Good spirits’ spark Karczewski, Fitzpatrick, Budd-captained Waveby Steven BuonoTimes Sports Editor

Darien loses 16, but the leaders for 2014 are already coming forward.

Junior Katie Cronin for one.“She is definitely one of the lead-

ers on the field,” said Darien coach Leigh Parsons. “We have a few younger captains this year.”

There are two juniors and one senior captain promoted: 12th grader Kendra Fitzpatrick, Daphne Budd and Erin Karczewski.

“We have good spirits within,” Parsons said. “So it’s looking good.”

Lots of new positions and oppor-tunities for keen performers to make

their mark abound, starting in goal with junior Kate Fiore.

“She’s been very strong so far,” Parsons said. “It’s been nice to have a goalie coming up. So we’ve been lucky in that aspect.”

Fiore will have reliable help in front of her.

“Starting in the back, the girls have looked good,” said Parsons. “We had six freshmen make it this year. And they’ve all contributed so far.”

Up at the other end Katie Ramsey’s scored in the pre-season friendly matches. She seems on tar-get to continue the same when the

season starts.“We have Charlotte Harmon

who has been playing very well defensively at the right back posi-tion,” said Parsons. “We have quite a few freshmen playing well.”

Lauren Larizza and Chrissy Fiore are among the younger new-comers making a splash, and the coach says Emily Bergwall showed a lot in tryouts.

‘Diamond in the rough’Emily DuNunzio is likely to make

more than a splash in washing away opponents’ attacks at center back.

Much is expected from the Premier club standout.

“She’s a very, very strong player,” said Parsons. “To have a freshman,

at that level, to come in and compete right away, is very nice to have.”

As for comeback kids, Elizabeth Fucigna’s experience will come in handy.

“Graduating 14-16 seniors, what-ever, and coming into next season saying, oh no, it’s a rebuilding year... And looking to see how we are going to be; what are our expectations this year? But I am pleasantly surprised, at the level, quality and effort. The attitude. It’s everything you could ask for.”

Up front, Darien has plenty in the tank with Fitzpatrick. Last year she played in the back. She can play anywhere.

“She’s one of the most talented

players in the league,” said Parsons. “She’s going to be a big part this year.”

In her third season, junior Ramsey is expected to lead at front as well.

And where any one of them leads, the rest will follow: Parsons likes the “togetherness” they’ve shown.

“There is a really good vibe about that with the team,” he said. “They’re pushing each other. They’re working hard.”

The roster includes: Jane Bredahl, Onora Brown, Sarah Hadlow, Emma Hagey, Grace Harmon, Emma Lesko, Daniell Mcintosh, Morgan McLaren, Laura Murphey, Grace Peters, Susie Ropp, Megan Shanahan, Maggie Skeats, Anan Stein.

Steven Buono photoGRACE-FUL FOOTWORK — Grace Harmon brings needed experience back in a big turnover year.

Fall ’14 Girls Soccer


Courtesy Darien Athletic FoundationSHOT HEARD ROUND...THE STATE, ANYWAY — Wave celebrates Hollis Pertione’s (DHS 2014) state championship game-winning penalty stroke at Wethersfield last fall.

Minicus: ‘We just work hard to get to the level we know we are capable of ’by Steven BuonoTimes Sports Editor

Mo Minicus has had a lot of coaching practice this summer, turn-ing aspiring field hockey players into potential champs.

“Camps, yes,” said Minicus of her busy off-season. “One at the high school for little girls to ninth grade; then I do back-to-back weeks at SoNo, one for high school, one for middle schoolers.”

Not that Minicus needs the prac-tice.

Rather, it’s the Wave that’s going to require some crafty coaching this fall.

“I’m going to earn my money this year,” Minicus said.

It’s the turnover. It’s, big.But so are the opportunities for

new kids to slap their own stamp on Darien’s — kind of dynastic, now — field hockey history.

Darien loses a “superstar” — in the words of her Class of 2014 con-temporaries — in four-season stand-

out Hollis Perticone, who went supernova in scoring twice on pen-alty strokes in the late going to put the Wave over Cheshire in the state final last season.

Perticone, though, is only one gone-good-bye star beam graduated off the team.

Right back through the defense and in goal with netminder Danika Hornick, and Jacki Brokaw, Katie Shanahan in front of her, there’s a gap to fill on the back line that sizes up more like a gulch.

Molly Riegel, Eliza Wisinski, Kelsey Bumgardner, Sloane Bessey, Ali Parsley, (deep breath) Claire Culliton — all gone — all reliable players to say the least, that helped push Darien to twin titles last season require new feet to fill some shiny shoes.

Although, that three players fill some scoring shoes like Cinderella her slipper is what gives Darien a stiletto edge this fall.

Because that slipper’s pointy toe delivers a kick with returning top scorer Georgia Cassidy.

With attack sidekick Marissa Baker and captain, senior Kayla Johns, Darien’s got what should be enough scoring power to see it through to contention.

Is Cassidy a superstar, on the high school scale? She’s only entering 11th grade, so, maybe.

Is she already quite the Super G, as in Goal-Scorer? Yes. Her MVP showing in the FCIAC final win over Wilton last season, plus her numbers all 2013 season, make that true.

But, she can’t be expected to do it all.

She’ll be getting more attention than in this preview, game after game from wary, once stung defenders, from the outset.

“She needs some support options, so that it’s not just her show,” Minicus said. “I would just say, we are very young — just filling those spots — those eight (starting) seniors who graduated had a lot of experience.”

Darien’s experience has been

defined by league championship sea-sons the past two years, and five of the last six.

So, yes, Minicus, who has won a clutch of her own coaching awards, has developed something of a dynas-ty, back since, while balancing a baby off her hip — hers — while minding the sidelines, Darien began its crawl from one-win seasons into contention at the turn of the 2000s.

The Wave is two-time defending Class L champ and held the title from 2007 to 2010 in M.

It will take some ingenuity to keep it going this time around.

“This group, we have poten-tially three returning starters,” said Minicus. “My rising seniors trying to fill the spots: they’re working hard.”

Captains are Johns, Julia Russo, Rebecca DeMaio and Mary Brown.

“It’s gong to take time and effort,” Minicus said. “Coming up from JV (juniors) are going to have to take the time to get used to varsity level.”

It’s a grand shot for all.“At this point, any position is any-

bodies,” Minicus said.Seniors include Brown, Johns at

forward, Russo and DeMaio, Erinn Ravosa at midfield and defender, utility player Lee Thalhamer, Anabel Brown at forward and Kyra Fitzpatrick on defense.

Juniors new to the team are Kat Culliton at forward, Mary Myers, Charlotte Burns, who has speed at forward, Olivia Hoyda at mid-field/defense, Kaeleigh Morrill in starting goal and Hannah McLane, who’s feisty and puts a lot of person-ality into her play.

Gabby Noto, Mary Lawrence-Huffman, goalie Kallie Coughlin all climb on board as sophomores.

“And there’s a solid handful of girls on the JV team that we’re going to continue to look at,” added Minicus. “We have a lot of holes to fill, we take it one day at a time and we just work hard to get to the level we know we are capable of playing, and do our best to get there.”

Fall ’14 Field Hockey

Courtesy Darien Athletic FoundationCAPTAIN KJ — Kyla Johns has been a proven goal-scorer for three-seasons.


Courtesy Darien Athletic FoundationHITS-VILLE USA — Senior Claire Naughton rises from the floor to celebrate a point. She’s scored plenty of them.

Martzolf, Naughton, Taylor and Reyes at the helmby Steven BuonoTimes Sports Editor

Making the ball boom with hits like thunder, then like white lightning see their spikes streak to the floor, Blue Wave girls’ volleyball enters the season with a special edge.

It’s the edge sharpened with the urge to climb back into the winners’ circle after falling short of the league final and being eliminated in the LL

quarters in 2013.It’s unusual terrain for the usually

best-of-all blue.The urge to climb back is almost

inbred in these parts: Darien co-won FCIACs in 2012 and was confer-ence champ — save for two seasons — from 1990 to 2011. The Wave’s dominated states the same way.

Captained by able bodies Celia

Martzolf, Claire Naughton, Keli Reyes and Izzy Taylor, expect Darien to bounce back up, like a kill to the backcourt.

And it’s a long way to bounce back up, just to match last season. Despite not going all the way, the girls still finished a stunning-for-most teams 19-4 overall and 16-2 FCIAC.

Naughton led with 243 kills in 81 sets last season. Her hitting percent-age was .232.

Taylor cracked 191 kills, had a hitting percentage of .188.

Setter Martzolf spun up 612 assists in 82 sets last season.

Anna Barsanti fired 186 points and dealt 53 aces, Martzolf scored 173 points and had 68 aces, Naughton 170 and 67, Reyes 145 and 42 aces, Taylor 119 and 53.

Naughton blocked 39 shots, Taylor 25.

Digs: Reyes had 241, Taylor 198, Barsanti 148, Martzolf 140,

Naughton 58.The Wave includes senior Emily

Milukas, junior Kiera Quinn, sophomores Hadley Henderson, Samantha Huff, Catherine Crosby, Susie Alptekin, freshmen Calista Fay and Caroline Martzolf.

Coach is Laurie LaRusso, assis-tant Burt Takesue, as always.

And as always, the team theory of team first, will work to mesh those spectacular stats into the number one.

Fall ’14 Girls Volleyball


Darien High School Fall 2014 Sports Preview

Documents

wave style of play

darien coach jon bradley

darien fields

darien girls

wave boys soccer captains

boys soccerall wave

wave qb timmy graham

good players