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

SPORTS PREVIEW
DARIEN HIGH SCHOOL FALL 2014
SPORTS PREVIEW
Courtesy Darien Athletic Foundation
BABY, YOURE A RISCHMANN Dariens set in goal this season, with Liam Rischmann, for one of a pair of competent goalkeepers.
Defense should see Wave through to playoff contention
by Steven Buono
Times 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.
Theyre 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.
Its the best group of kids Ive
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 dont have a 20-goal player
on the team, Bradley said. So we
are going to need players to chip in
with some goals.
Bradleys 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 thats
got a different style, we can adapt to
that, and work on it.
Whatever we need to do.
Back to defense, its Mackie, Pugio,
Ryan Lutrell, Sam Pfrommer, Alex
Beradino manning the barricades.
And weve got a few kids were
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.
Mackies credited with strength,
reads the game well.
Excellent in the air, Bradley
said.
After some years in the doldrums,
the Waves 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 Buono
Times 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 theres 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. Im 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.
Kaczmareks Take
Noonan: 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 Foundation
RUN FOR YOUR LIFE Dariens 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 punch
Fall 14 Boys Cross Country
Wave boys
cross country
2014 captains
are (from left)
Brendan Triano,
Armstrong
Noonan, Alex
Ostberg and
Arthur Cassidy.
THE DARIEN TIMES, THURSDAY, SEPT. 11, 2014 Page 3D














by Steven Buono
Times Sports Editor
With so much up in the air at the
start of Wave football camp recent-
ly, Dariens 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 hasnt started varsity football.
You never know whats 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?
Hes got all the tools, Trifone,
who loses 18 to graduation, said.
Hes got a strong arm, hes 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 wont
come under the radar as much as
Silas did.
Actually, at his height, Grahams
helmet might just be detected by
radar.
Timmys 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 hes been work-
ing real hard, and he looks good.
And its 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.
Wypers 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.
Its 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 hes 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 Foundation
JACKED UP Jack Tyrrell with the tackle at last years state semis.
See TRIFONE on page 5D
Wave Football Preview VIDEO: Captains, coach and QB star in sound and vision online
THE DARIEN TIMES, THURSDAY, SEPT. 11, 2014 Page 4D
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YOUR 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 Im 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.
Weve 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
Ive 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 dont 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.
Its not like were coming in
Monday, Aug. 18th and we havent
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.
(Steubers) gotten strong for his
age. Ive 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. Thats 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
seasons 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 didnt know that they
could beat 32 other teams.
Its probably the best offen-
sive and defensive lines Ive ever
coached.
Thrive on the line: thats the
motto.
No question about it, said
Trifone.
Still, its 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 its hap-
pened before.
The chemistry test will tell all.
Last years 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. Im not comparing the two,
because every team is unique. But
I am certainly telling them that I
hope they learned a lesson from last
years 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.
Thats going to work against us,
Trifone added. You talk about a
hornets nest (at Greenwich) you
think theyre happy about last year?
theyre good.
Going 2-0 this season, would put
even starker strokes of writing on the
wall in the Waves 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,
theyve got it all.
There are some very talented
teams. I think this is kind of an up
year for the FCIAC. Nothings going
to be easy.
Easy it wont be replacing Dariens
top scorer Nick Lombardo (Class of
14) who had 188 points in 13.
Its 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 Waves 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.
Youve 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 Ive got three kids who can
play right tackle, said Trifone.
Darien blanked McMahon 29-0 in
its closing scrimmage last week.
Weve had a nice strong start. But
well see what tomorrow brings.
Wave opens at Hillhouse Friday.
Continued from page 4D
Trifone: Its probably the best offensive and defensive lines Ive ever coached
CHEER UP
Courtesy Darien Athletic Foundation
Coach Nicole Tarantino debuts a largely new glee squad numbering 10. Theyre 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 photo
RUN AWAY Peter Archey on the way to a touchdown at McMahon in preseason action last week.
THE DARIEN TIMES, THURSDAY, SEPT. 11, 2014 Page 5D



Thirteen leave, new tide rolls in for two-time open champs
Dave Stewart photo
COURT A CAPTAIN Courtney Ferreira is a captain in a year where leadership is of prime importance.
by Steven Buono
Times Sports Editor
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 didnt 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 its lost, Darien
replenishes its waters with a dozen
freshmen and a pair of sophomores
in all.
Obviously, Im not really sure
what to expect, Trifone said. I
havent 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 Ill 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
Ive got Emily Nixon, Lauren
Rutledge back, and Maddy Hauben;
2-IM I have a new pickup this year,
Phoebe Slaughter, and Mackenzie
Coughlins 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. Thats 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 its
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 Dariens 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.
Theres the feeling like, this is
the year to go and get Darien.
Darien wont 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. Theyre working hard.
When you graduate 13 its 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.
Dariens 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 Foundation
Last 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
THE DARIEN TIMES, THURSDAY, SEPT. 11, 2014 Page 6D
Courtesy Darien Athletic Foundation
ANNE CAN Darien is led by Anne Johnston (right).
Norris: Our chances are solid for the state title
by Steven Buono
Times Sports Editor
Dariens 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
years 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 Foundation
Wave runners are out on the road again.
THE DARIEN TIMES, THURSDAY, SEPT. 11, 2014 Page 7D
Good spirits spark Karczewski, Fitzpatrick, Budd-captained Wave
by Steven Buono
Times 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 its looking good.
Lots of new positions and oppor-
tunities for keen performers to make
their mark abound, starting in goal
with junior Kate Fiore.
Shes been very strong so far,
Parsons said. Its been nice to have
a goalie coming up. So weve 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 theyve all contributed so
far.
Up at the other end Katie
Ramseys 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.
Shes 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
Fucignas experience will come in
handy.
Graduating 14-16 seniors, what-
ever, and coming into next season
saying, oh no, its 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. Its 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.
Shes one of the most talented
players in the league, said Parsons.
Shes 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 theyve shown.
There is a really good vibe about
that with the team, he said. Theyre
pushing each other. Theyre 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 photo
GRACE-FUL FOOTWORK Grace Harmon brings needed experience back in a big turnover year.
Fall 14 Girls Soccer
THE DARIEN TIMES, THURSDAY, SEPT. 11, 2014 Page 8D
Courtesy Darien Athletic Foundation
SHOT HEARD ROUND...THE STATE, ANYWAY Wave celebrates Hollis Pertiones (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 Buono
Times 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, its the Wave thats going
to require some crafty coaching this
fall.
Im going to earn my money this
year, Minicus said.
Its the turnover. Its, big.
But so are the opportunities for
new kids to slap their own stamp on
Dariens 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, theres 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 slippers pointy toe
delivers a kick with returning top
scorer Georgia Cassidy.
With attack sidekick Marissa
Baker and captain, senior Kayla
Johns, Dariens got what should
be enough scoring power to see it
through to contention.
Is Cassidy a superstar, on the high
school scale? Shes 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 cant be expected to do
it all.
Shell 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 its 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.
Dariens 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: theyre working hard.
Captains are Johns, Julia Russo,
Rebecca DeMaio and Mary
Brown.
Its 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.
Its 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,
whos 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 theres a solid handful
of girls on the JV team that were
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 Foundation
CAPTAIN KJ Kyla Johns has been a proven goal-scorer for three-seasons.
THE DARIEN TIMES, THURSDAY, SEPT. 11, 2014 Page 9D
Courtesy Darien Athletic Foundation
HITS-VILLE USA Senior Claire Naughton rises from the floor to celebrate a point. Shes scored plenty of them.
Martzolf, Naughton, Taylor and Reyes at the helm
by Steven Buono
Times 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.
Its 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.
Its 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 Waves
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 its 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
THE DARIEN TIMES, THURSDAY, SEPT. 11, 2014 Page 10D

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