darien high school sports preview fall 2010

Darien High School Fall 2010

SportsPreview

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THE DARIEN TIMES, THURSDAY, SEPT. 16, 2010 D

GRAHAM SCRAM — Darien’s top rusher, senior captain Graham Maybell (No. 22) on the attack in last year’s Turkey Bowl at Dunning Field. (Darien Times/Steven Buono photo)

By Steven BuonoTimes Sports Editor

In guessing where the Blue Wave is headed going into the football season this fall, it’s best to begin with the tale.

“Well, I think the best way to encapsulate it, is that it’s a tale of two seasons,” said Darien High coach Rob Trifone. “In that, last year we had three and a half returning starters.”

The blue and white went 7-3 under those green field conditions.

“This year, we have some-where around 16 of 22 posi-tions returning,” said Trifone. “It’s a good foundation for people who have been there and done that.”

Been there, done that. But don’t do this.

“As a coach of 32 years, that can also be your Achilles heel, because they kind of sit back on their laurels,” Trifone said. “And say, ‘well, teams are just going to lay down for us.’

“So I have warned them.”The warning comes with

dukes up?“We use the term ‘punch-

in,’” Trifone said. “They have to punch-in every day, it’s like you are on the clock 9-5.

“You come to the field, you punch-in — now you’re work-ing.

“Our karma is to outwork our opponent, and once they buy into that I think we’re rolling.”

Opening game, 3:00 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16 at home vs. Fairfield Warde, should come with a special warning, bells, whistles and a few fireworks attached.

Last year, it was losing to Warde, away, in game one that haunted DHS all season.

“The good news is, that

game last year will help you this year,” Trifone said. “Because, they’ve been there. They realize they went into that game not only totally inexperienced, but (over-con-fident) because we had beat Masuk (preseason).”

Masuk was defending state champion and still rated high.

“It was the worst thing we ever did,” Trifone added. “Our kids, I think, looked past Warde.”

DHS is focused on the fore-ground this time around.

“I can tell you right now,” said Trifone. “They are not going to look past Warde this time.

“That’s the only game we’re worried about right now.”

What should worry oppo-nents?

“In terms of strengths, you know, I’ve got to start with the offensive line,” said Trifone of what has become a trade-mark for his teams, dating back to his long run leading Brien McMahon. “Because unlike last year with an inex-perienced, somewhat young group, we return four start-ers.”

At center is the only guy who did not play last season, Jack Newton (senior) — who is not overage, just only the second DHS athlete to come along with the same name in the last decade.

The previous Jack Newton (DHS Class of 2002) being on the scene big time the last time Darien downed its rival in a Turkey Bowl game in 2001.

“And he’s a big senior, 6-2, 230,” said Trifone of Jack Newton 2.0, who is larger than his namesake. “A very capable

kid. He’s the new kid on the block.”

Out from center Darien’s guards are returning starters, captain Charlie Kunze (senior, 6-2, 235) and Justin Coley (senior, 6-3, 225).

Tackles each played last year. They are Mason Barron (senior, 6-3, 215) and James Shanley (senior, 6-2, 240).

“Usually we’re 205, if not 195 (pounds),” Trifone said. “So, that’s what I’m saying. We knew that coming in. Not only is there decent size there, you don’t hear any 285s or 315s. But, they’re athletic.

“There’s a big difference in having a 230-pound kid that can’t move.”

At tight end Darien’s shift-ed Tucker Morehouse (senior) who played at guard some last season. He’s 6-2, 205 and fast as Lent.

“Which is what we like in our guards,” Trifone said. “Since we had two capable guards, we moved him to tight end.”

At quarterback, what Trifone likes about senior Chris Allam — a transfer from Berkshire School who was at DHS pre-viously — is his arm strength and speed.

His ability to flow within the particular DHS system is still to be fine-tuned, but is expected to become just that with a little more time.

In the QB mix continue to be both trusted rookies too in junior Patrick McDonald and sophomore Henry Baldwin.

“Those are all important facets,” said Trifone. “The average citizen sits out there and says: ‘Oh, look at that kid throw!’ It’s like the base-ball player who can’t field, or can’t steal a base. There’s a lot of facets to being a quar-

terback.”In the backfield is the Wave’s

flaming rocket of a leading returning rusher in senior cap-tain Graham Maybell.

Last season he rushed 400 yards on 68 hauls, caught six passes for 59 yards and led DHS with seven intercep-tions. Maybell is top returning scorer with 42 points, seven touchdowns.

“And then you’ve got a mix of a lot of very talented kids, like senior Jake Weil (captain), Sean Fahey (senior) — very good up from the jv last year playing fullback,” Trifone said. “You’ve got captain Will Weinstock (senior), who plays in that slot, catches a lot of balls, runs the ball.”

A sophomore, Peter Gesualdi could break out this season to begin a solid career.

“We have, finally — knock on wood — enough depth that I can take the whole backfield out and put another set in,” said Trifone. “And although they may not be as good as the first one, the drop off isn’t dramatic.

“And now I can rest my number ones.”

But not the “1.1’s” too — they will see plenty of work.

“I told the kids, here’s the new terminology,” Trifone said. “Most football coaches talk about ‘ones’ (starters) and ‘twos,’ you know. I told them: I want ones, and ‘1.1’s.’

“The kid I put in there won’t be as good as the starter — I don’t have (another) run-ning back as good as Graham Maybell — but he better be pretty darned close.”

Clay Barker (junior, 6-3, 180) is at split end and has reliable hands.

And with him, Scotty Waters (junior), who played corner, is

playing both ways this sea-son.

Sophomore Matt Forelli at 6-2, 200 also has sticky, sure hands according to Trifone.

And junior Ryan Barthold is 6-3, rangy and ready to go.

“Nice to have depth,” added Trifone.

Depth, despite several loss-es to good players opting to go year-round with lacrosse.

Defense is where DHS returns the most with about nine experienced people back.

Across the front is Morehouse at end, Shanley at end and Kunze at tackle.

New is Zack Sherwood (senior), with talent, and at 6-feet, 205 fast and strong.

“He would have started or played last year but was hurt with a ham string,” Trifone said. “And then you’ve got Marc Simonelli, another big strong 235-pound senior.”

Playing plenty last year is Curry Harmon (junior, 210) back and even better.

Captain Peter McDonough (senior) is a starting corner.

Linebackers: Weil, Sam Gesualdi (senior), Brandon Coley (senior, Justin’s twin brother) and Jarrett Gatling (senior).

“We are substituting with very little drop-off,” said Trifone of early scrimmaging. “Because we have that one and 1.1 philosophy.

“Now our ones can come off, get a rinse, feel their legs again, and then get back in.”

Darien’s schedule gets tricky Trifone says vs. St. Joseph, a defending state champ and intact. And vs. rising Trinity.

“They’ll have the best team that they’ve had probably in a decade,” said Trifone of another team in the Crusaders that returns everyone. “At

Sono Field House I saw them in some of the winter leagues, and I thought, my God...”

Darien’s out of area visitor Red Lion Christian Academy of Delaware won’t be pushed aside either, 8-2 last season and again, returning everyone, including a ninth grade QB with a verbal commitment to USC.

“As I tell my kids, these guys aren’t stupid,” Trifone said. “They aren’t driving up 95 three hours to play you because they think they’re going to lose.”

And last year, the freshman team going undefeated. Does that figure in?

“Of course,” said Trifone. “You know, that’s part of our depth in numbers. And three or four of those kids are play-ing varsity, and several others will sneak their ways on to special teams as the year goes on.”

Darien should have a reli-able first-year foot in Chris Smith (junior), moving over from soccer.

“He’s got a great leg and the right attitude,” Trifone said of his kicker. “And we have C.J. Raia (sophomore) who is, almost, as good. In some ways they are equal.”

Of immediate concern

Opening day is here.Darien clashes with visit-

ing Fairfield today. Going into game one, since the close of preseason is there anything new going on with the Wave?

“The good news is, that nothing has changed, the team is on schedule,” said Trifone. “And they are doing what we expected them to do, we’ve

Wave ‘punches in’ looking for knockout yearFootball

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The Darien girls cross country team is looking to jump ahead of the pack.

“We are a much stronger team than last year,” said Darien veteran coach Steve Norris. “Our best two runners return, Megan Keane and Amanda Dobler. Five of our backup runners have substantially improved their track times.”

Fresh legs are in the line-up.“We will get help from newcomers,”

Norris said. “We have more than 10 girls who are capable of scoring and most of the girls have done the summer training.”

Last year Darien won 11 meets, came in sixth at the FCIAC championships and was eighth at the Class MM state title meet.

Graduation losses are significant with three season runners Kelly Brophy and Hannah Lyons, now competing for Hamilton College, moving on.

This year’s senior captains are Dobler, Keane, Sarah Smith and Tricia Vossler. All are four-year cross country runners.

“Dobler was our first runner last year, she finished 11th in last year’s league championship,” Norris said.

And Keane?

“Keane was our best distance runner on the track last year,” he added. “Her credentials include First Team All-FCIAC track status. Both Dobler and Keane have a wide range of effectiveness evidenced by the fact that they were our best 400-meter runners in track.”

Plus, Smith and Vossler have scored for the past three seasons — both are four year vets with 50 races behind them.

“They look to be at the top of their form,” Norris said.

He says that other impact runners include junior Meredith Ott who was a varsity level runner last year, sophomores Katie Farren, Ellen Bauer, Grace Loh and Sarah

Colon, all running varsity last year.“All four have made significant progress

in their track seasons following last year’s cross country,” Norris said.

Newcomers expected to make their stake are converted sprinter Emma Davis and converted field hockey player McKinley Stauffer.

In the FCIAC Norris says that Wilton and Ridgefield are the teams to chase, while other competition will come from Danbury and Staples.

Darien moves up to Class L this fall.“We hope to be among the top three

teams,” Norris said.

Girls Cross Country

Dobler, Smith, Keane and Vossler out in front

Lane changes aboundBy Steven Buono

Times Sports Editor

A hole was blown in the bottom of Darien’s dual cham-pionship ship of 2010. A time bomb did the deed.

“You can’t replace, not so much the talent, but the expe-rience, maturity — all of what I had last year,” said Darien coach Marj Trifone, with the explosive time arriving for graduation last spring of 12 in all, so many who made it happen with the Wave’s first FCIAC title, along with the gold at states in Nov. of ’09. “Not yet, anyway.”

On the upside for the pro-grams’ legacy, what has depleted DHS has boosted several colleges in the pool.

Class of 2010’s Sam Berizzi is making Loyola University make waves in Maryland, Katie Orem is doing the same at the University of Penn., Katie Rohn at Dartmouth and diver, Alex Leinroth is off the board at the University of Virginia.

Plus, for one, and going back another year, Brooke Lacey (DHS 2009) is winning accolades in her early career at Gettysburg.

Back at home, Wave 2010 has 13 freshmen, and one new sophomore.

“I replaced the amount,” said Trifone. “Just not the

power.”Lindsay Tyler is going to be

one go-to girl.“She’s strong, very good,”

said Trifone of the versatile senior who could end up in just about any event. “I don’t know where she is going to be yet, but she can swim any-thing, basically.”

The 200 IM, the 200 free, 500 free, 100 back... Yes, Tyler’s versatile, she can do them all.

Captains are Tyler, returning sprinter Catherine Treesh (100, 50), diver Adrianna Baker and Amy Sanborn.

“Catherine Treesh is obvi-ously very experienced, and she is going to be fine in the sprint events,” said Trifone. “Our diving is still strong, because we have the Ashcraft sisters (senior Lexi and sopho-more Caroline) and Adrianna, there’s Katie Witschi and then we have two freshmen that came in that are pretty good.”

Caroline Kearney returns and younger sister, freshman Elizabeth has arrived. Both Trifone says are looking good in the breaststroke.

Cammie Kirby will be in the breaststroke once more, Rebecca Liu will swim the 100 fly, sophomore Caroline Orem the back and IM, Olivia

Leunis the 100 breaststroke and 100 fly, 200 IM.

Freshman Francesca Milewski is set to go in sprints.

“But you know, I don’t know what it is going to be like,” Trifone said. “Because of all these new freshmen. I think we’ll start out slow, and we’ll see how we go as we get some time.”

Greenwich will return to dominance, Wilton and New Canaan will be very competi-tive against each other, Trifone says.

But how about the Wave?“Not the same team as last

year, but very spirited and fun,” Trifone added. “We’ll see.”

This team could supply some surprises as it creeps up into the Cardinals’ wake.

“Who knows,” said Trifone. “I have never graduated so much — at least so much tal-ent — at once.”

Darien was 8-1 in dual meets last season losing to Greenwich before taking them for the FCIAC title, then win-ning Class M.

This year Darien moves up to Class L, as does New Canaan.

“But, all the freshmen that came in have a lot of talent,” Trifone said. “They just aren’t as strong yet.”

Girls Swimming and Diving

DIVE IN — Adrianna Baker captains the Wave girls swimming team from the powerful DHS divers’ side of the blue pool equation. (Darien Times/Steven Buono photo)

CHEERY YEAR — Darien cheerleading captain Ally Reis applies the smile. (Darien Times/Steven Buono photo)


It’s Ally Reis and fellow senior Michelle DeCarlo pepping it up for the Blue Wave cheerleaders as co-

captains in 2010.And with enthu-

siastic new coach Lauren Mailhot to

lead the way, there should be plenty of pep to go around.

Mailhot, 26, is a one-time college cheerleader and prior to that hit the glee circuit for Stamford High.

“Oh yeah — I’m so excited — I’m here to stay,” says Mailhot of the post she found this summer. “I really want to build the program.”

Mailhot takes over from A.J. Dixon who coached the girls last season.

A third-year teacher at Royle School, Mailhot is a graduate of Central Conn. State University.

Mailhot has been assistant cheerleading coach at Westhill for the past three years.

“I want to bring it out, really into the commu-nity, so that they see that cheerleading is a sport,” Mailhot said. “During the winter season we will be competing very heavily, along with cheering on the basketball team.

“So there is a lot that will be going on.”Seniors include Emily Ackers, Emily

Wigglesworth, juniors are Hannah Carmody, Jordan Irizarry, Claire Linegar, Cameron Luttrell, sopho-mores Michaela Brady, Kelsey Edgar, Emily Greene, Izzy Lee, Kelly Manhart, Michaela Schneidermeyer, Andrea Tishman and freshmen on board are Kayla Breden, Kelly Brustman, Meredith Crafford, Julia Rae Hodenfield, Katie O’Neal, Julia Westerman.

Reis, DeCarlo captainMailhot coached crew

Cheerleading

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had a good, solid preseason.”Trifone remains hopeful for a

good start against what is no lon-ger any sort of slouch, or lame nag, in the new Mustangs.

“And we are going into Thursday with very, guard-ed, optimism,” said Trifone. “Becuase we had a great pre-season last year, and we went into Warde optimistic. And need-less to say...

“The good news is that most of (our) guys that played in it last year are back and they remember it well. You would hope that plays into your favor.”

Both teams are wary of one another.

“They scouted us, we’ve scouted them, in the last scrim-mage,” Trifone said. “And, I’ll tell you what: they are very, very good.”

The Mustangs have size, that might be the most they’ve got going for them, but it’s not all they’ve got in the plus column.

First of all, they’ve got a coach in former New Canaan assistant Tony Catapano that has helped to give the Fairfielders a signifi-cant lift.

Then there is the beef.

“Their two tackles are 265 and 290,” said Trifone. “They’ve got a guard who is 265.”

Darien will be mostly on the lookout on the other side of the ball, though.

“The two kids that scare you the most are — they’ve got a running back Alex Delaney,” Trifone warned. “Five-nine, 190. So he is a little, fire plug kind of a kid.”

But he doesn’t stay stuck at the curb.

“Very fast, very shifty,” Trifone said. “I mean you look at him and he looks like Emmitt Smith.”

He rushed 271 yards last season while Warde went 5-5-0 overall last year and 4-5-0 FCIAC, winning only twice on the road.

“You know what, if I had him on my team I’d give him the ball every time,” said Trifone. “Here is how I am going to describe it to the kids — he is Maybell, in Drew Davis’ body.”

Davis was a 200-pound nose guard last season for DHS who could bench press for real.

“He runs around people, you know, through them, and then past them,” Trifone said.

So how do you stop the guy

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Next!: Mustangs need utmost attention in opening day clash

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ROAD SIGN — From left, seniors Matt Gentile, John Conley, kneeling, and David Watson captain the Blue Wave boys cross country team. (Darien Times/Steven Buono photo)

Depth lost, but season prospects wide open on the road By Steven Buono

Times Sports Editor

How do things shape up for the team that was first in its division, runner-up at the FCIAC championship meet and won Class MM at states in 2009?

“We aren’t as deep as last year, but neither is the FCIAC,” said Tyson Kaczmarek now in his eighth season at DHS. “Compared to other teams, we

are in better shape. As always, we want to take it one race at a time. The guys want to have a great year.

“They trained hard all sum-mer, I can’t wait!

Kaczmarek is 104-14 as coach.

Last year Darien went 16-1 was first in the FCIAC East and ninth at the state open.

“Last year is last year,” Kaczmarek said. “We have to focus on this year’s teams and this year’s competition. I think we are in the mix in Class L and the FCIAC. Time will tell. I know we will work hard.”

Back as captain is John Conley, an experienced runner a senior.

“Conley is the team’s lead-er,” said his coach. “His con-sistent performance makes him one of the top runners in

the state.”Junior Charlie Baird was

sensational as a sophomore and is set up for a big cross country season Kaczmarek thinks.

Senior captain David Watson is known for his dedi-cation and comes through in big races.

Matt Gentile, another senior captain, had an excellent sum-mer of training and will see large gains from last year

according to Kaczmarek.“Michael Johnston (junior) is

one of the most improved run-ners on the team,” Kaczmarek said. “Experienced, (he) will produce big results.”

Junior Michael Coe has stepped up during outdoor track and is expected to be ready for a breakout season.

Eli Converse, Jr. is a tal-ented runner, says Kaczmarek, providing extra depth.

A sophomore, Ryan

Mahoney is new to cross country.

He ran 5:02 1600 as fresh-men and Kaczmarek expects he will contribute immedi-ately.

Top newcomers also include: sophomores Andrew Xiong, Sean Lee and freshmen Brian Davey and Marshall Huffman.

The Wave says good-bye to

Boys Cross Country

Runners past and presentWave front runners (from left) sophomore Katie Farren, captain Megan Keane, Hannah Lyons (Class of 2010), captain Amanda Dobler, Kelly Brophy (Class of 2010) and captain Sarah Smith break from the line in 2009 action. Girls CC is previewed on page 3D. (Darien Times/Scott Mullin photo)

See BOGIE BACK on page 5D

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an FCIAC runner-up in Jake McCauley who is off to Tufts where he will compete for the Jumbos.

The team returns four out of last year’s top seven and can run 8-deep.

“Leading the way are John Conley and Charlie Baird,” said Kaczmarek. “Conley was All-FCIAC in cross country, indoor and outdoor last year. He is a steady performer and his consistency has led to out-standing performances.

“A natural leader Conley looks to be one of the top run-

ners in the state and qualify for New Englands.”

Watson, Johnston and Gentile are looked to for pro-viding a solid pack to back up the top two runners.

“Improved track times have suggested that all three should see large gains,” said Kaczmarek.

Rounding out the top eight are Michael Coe, Ryan Mahoney and Eli Converse, all underclassmen.

“They will be filling spots vacated by Alex Reynoso, an All-FCIAC and All-State run-ner as well as Willem Sandberg, the team’s number five runner last year,” Kaczmarek added.

The Wave went 16-1 in each of the last three seasons. In each of those seasons the team has won the FCIAC East and placed second in both the FCIAC Championship.

After two runner-up finishes in Class MM, Darien claimed the school’s first state champi-onship winning the Class MM title in ’09.

This year Darien bumps up to Class L where the coach expects to make much hay.

Wave record breaker Bogie shares the road

One Wave has returned on the tide.

“The 2010-11 XC and track teams will benefit from new assistant coach Chris Bogie (DHS Class of 2006),” said a very pleased Kaczmarek of his former charge who com-pleted 11 seasons of running for Darien, and takes over for Mike Orr who has enrolled in graduate school.

As a senior, Bogie was All-New England in the 55 meter hurdles as well as the Class M champion during the indoor track season.

During the outdoor season, Bogie lost a total of two 110 hurdle races and one 300 hur-dle race.

That’s it.

He was the Class MM Champion in the 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles as well as second in the state open in the 110 hurdles and the State Open Champion in the 300 hurdles.

He earned All-New England honors in the 300 hurdles and the 4x400, where he split a 49.5-second 400 leg.

Bogie currently holds four school records indoors — 45 hurdles (6.53), 55 hurdles (7.71), 60 hurdles (8.73), and Sprint Medley (3:39.57).

He also holds three outdoor school records — in the 100 (11.0), sprint medley (3:40.92) and 400 hurdles (58.31).

Bogie helped the Blue Wave to win 10 FCIAC Eastern Division Championships, two Class M titles in indoor track, one Class MM title in outdoor track and a second place finish in the state open in ’06.

He was a 2-time All-FCIAC Selection, 3-time All-State Selection and a 2-time All-New England selection.

Kaczmarek was Bogie’s coach sophomore through senior years.

Bogie is a 2010 graduate of Carnegie Mellon where he ran both indoor and outdoor track.

His positive influence is invaluable.


Bogie back: Carnegie Mellon grad, varsity runner returns as assistant coach

BRANCA BACK AT YA — Brennan Branca (right) takes to the air vs. Staples in Darien’s best effort last season against the perennial power in the league.(Darien Times/Steven Buono photo)

‘Things are looking very, very promising’ says coach PipereaBy Steven Buono

Times Sports Editor

The Blue Wave boys soc-cer coach has reason to smile, with a program that is now all his own.

“Things are looking very, very promising,” said Darien coach Nicolae Piperea, who has held the post for half a decade. “It’s the five year mark and now I can see the youngsters that were in eighth grade — U14 that I used to coach in the DSA program — are becoming the seniors and being the leaders of the team.”

Captains are seniors Rupert Hansford, JP Walsh, Ben

Burke and Alex McGuire.“I don’t want to sound like

‘me-me,’ I just want to make sure that the people under-stand the importance of being patient and giving the kids encouragement to play and to stay involved,” said Piperea. “And these guys, they did exactly that.”

Most are now playing soc-cer year-round.

“If they did other sports, they took soccer more serious-ly than in the past,” Piperea said. “And that bears fruit.”

With leadership, and more.“The followers, the younger

kids are very talented and also committed to the program,” Piperea said.

Darien lost a dozen to grad-uation while another dozen-plus return.

Players with significant experience at varsity number eight says Piperea.

“That translates into a more cohesive group,” he added. “A group that has good playing relationships and experience, more confidence, better com-munication.

“So overall, this is a positive thing, yeah?”

Darien fields 12 seniors.Plus there are juniors (10)

and sophomores (four) in the mix battling for spots on the

first 11.Piperea will be looking for

scoring power from Hansford, left and right backs McGuire and Burke.

“They are outside backs who can generate some crosses,” said Piperea. “Then we look at (junior) Jeffrey Hubbard, he is very promising. And we have (senior) Ashwin Basu at for-ward, (senior) JJ Holmgren.”

But Darien won’t be leaning to hard on any one of them.

“The great thing about this team, it is talented across the board,” Piperea said. “So, we have players for example in the sophomore class that are very strong, with midfielders Brennan Branca and Patrick

Ryan and a winger, Spencer McMullin.”

Darien will find leadership in goal from David Bigelow, a senior, and senior Graham Hotchkiss.

“We really look to have a great defensive unit led by captain JP Walsh at center back,” said Piperea.

Last season Darien finished with four wins. This season is a different story though, for more reasons than just the flip of the calendar year.

“I’m optimistic, because after the few scrimmages that we’ve had we (beat) Colby Cathedral (2-0) and then we had a very good day in the Trumbull Jamboree,” said

Piperea. “In four, or five con-tests, we let in two goals and we scored 10 goals.”

Darien is out for a fast start and solid finish. Both seem likely.

“From this perspective, if the team will continue like this, and I am sure it is going to improve, we will be able to play at .500,” Piperea said. “We are targeting a higher rank, making the playoffs and wind up playing in the highest stage.”

Basu and Holmgren have been hitting the net in pre-season.

“The way we started gave us a lot of hope,” said Piperea.

Boys Soccer

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Triple champs set to trump all once moreNOW STOP THAT — Ellie Riegel (No. 5, right) puts a damper on a shot in midfield. Riegel is one of a half-dozen two-way Wave players, who together, can dominate the game.

(Darien Times/Steven Buono photo)


Darien is still the team unlikely to be beat. The return-ing more than able personnel will see to that.

“Sophie Doering, Sam Johnston, Ellie Riegel, you know, we’ve got some phe-nomenal field players,” said Mo Minicus, who enters her 11th year on the job having taken the DHS field hockey program from one-win sea-sons to become three-time dual FCIAC and CIAC champs. “The girls look good, they’re fired up. The Gill girls look great.”

The Wave brings back seven starters.

“The seniors — Alex Iqbal — they’re all very strong,” Minicus said.

That should about do it, doing in the opposition for a fourth consecutive tip-top year. In fact, the only apparent hurdle going in, is the puzzle of obstacles that comes with being spoiled for choice with lots of promising promoted players.

“Like any other preseason, it takes time to figure out what starting line-up is going to work,” said Minicus. “And who are my starting 10.”

Darien’s got three or four spots to fill, plus one large patch in net, where the Wave loses a record-breaking shut-out queen in Aimee Rich, who backstopped DHS to its three straight dual crowns.

Perrin Brown and senior Claire Dickson are both listed to see time in net this season.

Dickson was a field player

but picked up the pads this season.

“We’re pleasantly sur-prised, she’s doing great,” said Minicus. “‘You should of picked this up a couple of years ago,’ we told her.”

Dickson is a Wave girls lacrosse goalie as well.

Darien looks to be set to start with Brown.

“It’s nice to know we’ve got choices,” added Minicus.

They’ll have to be a bit sharp though. Because Darien’s big-gest switch over is on defense — a team defense that kept the shot count quite low last season.

“We are basically looking for a new defense,” said Minicus. “So interestingly enough, we are trying Sophie Doering as a center back/sweeper.”

Doering had been a major offensive force.

“She can play anywhere, and that’s a key position that we are looking to fill,” said Minicus. “And that’s a key position that we are looking to fill, with skill and confidence.

“And she’s got incredible stick skills. So we are giving her a shot there.”

Minicus admits the Wave will miss her shot up front, but says adjustments could be made if the offense should find flat feet.

The blown out backside comes with the departure of graduates, the excellent Taylor Wells, Ella Heck and Alex Bair.

“You know, that’s big,” said Minicus.

But not too big to over-come.

“We’ve got depth,” added Minicus. “And we have choic-es, it’s just a matter of trying to find a line-up that we are going to stick with and that works for us.”

Sounds like a double OT schedule of tasks and a long check list for the coaching staff?

“I’ve really got to get to work on that one,” said Minicus.

Backline choices include Kate Morant, a senior, Galen Rohn and sophomore Kat Huber.

Anchoring the midfield, Alex Iqbal, Courtney Wynne, Maddie Gill, all seniors.

“And they’re phenomenal, already,” said Minicus.

Senior Carol ine Kapustynski, Julia Cobb and Mimi Morgan will help make the already stacked midfield that much more solid of a defensive wall.

Up front, Darien’s got girls who can score in proven face-off striker Riegel — making a recovery from mono — Leslie Gill on right wing, new soph-omore Leslie Perticone and Hollis Perticone, her sister, a freshman making a fast start.

Plus Sophie Watters and Johnston can hit the net.

“And Lilly Cassidy is also looking good at left wing,” said Minicus. “Truthfully, a lot of our girls can hit the ball. We are just trying to fine tune that stuff too.

“It’s all good, we’re excit-ed.”

Senior Meg Del Col is play-ing forward moving up from

jv with a ton of energy and go-to attitude.

“Meg is great, she’ll play anywhere,” Minicus said. “And she’s always ready to play — they all are, they’ve been working hard.”

Darien also loses under-classman Maggie Annecchino, transferring to Sacred Heart — someone who looked likely to have made an impact here like her older high scoring sis-ter Carly several years before her.

Johnston, Riegel and Watters are captains.

Nineteen are on varsity, Darien loses five good ones to graduation in Rich, Wells, Bair and Heck twins, Anna and Ella.

Numbers-wise too, is the mantle of three and three titles, maybe amounting to a ledge of slate in expectations dropped down upon their heads?

“I hope we can find that balance of hard work and fun, because there is that underly-ing pressure out there to keep it going,” Minicus said. “But if that’s all we focus on we are going to sort of lose site of the purpose of the season.”

A season born of half a dozen banners, plus one.

“It’s fine, it’s great — but what I really believe is that these girls, what they have accomplished is phenome-nal,” Minicus, a multi-award winning coach herself, said. “They have earned everything

that they’ve accomplished. And we’ve got those titles and nobody can take them away from us.

“And they’re forever there.”

So, it’s business as usual at the top shop.

“You know me, it’s one day at a time,” Minicus added. “Keeping it simple. They know you can’t take anyone for granted.”

And keeping it fun.“Oh, this team has tons of

personality,” said Minicus. “It’s just a matter of giving them the time and freedom to express themselves and have fun, and yet, put the foot down and make them focus when they need to.”

Field Hockey

MO BETTER — Mo Minicus (left) has been coach of the year in the league and state, more than once for the three-time dual champs. (Darien Times/Steven Buono photo)

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NOT PEAR SHAPED — Alex Pear’s (No. 10) on the ball with Marieke Bravo (No. 14) and Georgie Highton (No. 15) right behind her at New Canaan in 2009.(Darien Times/Steven Buono photo)

Highton leads, opportunities followBy Steven Buono

Times Sports Editor

Opportunities are on tap.Darien girls soccer loses 14

players to graduation, mak-ing the captaining of Georgie Highton and Ellie Bullitt all the more vital.

“We are going to be a young team,” said Darien coach Jon Bradley. “So some of the young kids are really going to have to step up and perform.”

Plus, six players went down with injury in preseason camp, including starters.

“We are going to need Georgie to step up — we are looking for a target of her scoring around 20 goals this season,” said Bradley of the college-recruited league star.

Highton will have strong support in doing so from Alex Pear, Vanessa Budd, Kristy Gilbert, Phoebe Wong.

Youth is on Darien’s side with five freshmen, includ-ing a new goalie, in Dillon Schoen, Emily Stein, Ellie Bennett and Julia Black.

“We are looking for them to definitely get minutes,” said Bradley. “How much depends on how well they play.”

In goal, things look a bit

unsettled with returning senior Charlotte Phillips and fresh-man Phoebe Taylor to compete for work under the eaves.

Taylor comes out of the Eastern Soccer Club, playing Premier, and is also in the Conn. Olympic Development program.

A starter last season, Ann Fucigna, graduated.

Four-year varsity player Phillips is rangy, has handled the load in goal before and is experienced in the playoffs.

“Charlotte’s obviously got a lot of experience, she’s been up there, she is tall, athletic,” said Bradley, in his sixth year as Wave coach. “And Phoebe is playing at the highest level in Conn. She’s fearless, strong.

“And I think it’s going to be a good competition to see who is going to get that shot for themselves.”

Defenders: Olivia Wolak, new junior Katie Dee transfer-ring to DHS in the off season, Blair Pelley, India Tibbetts.

In the middle, there’s Marieke Bravo, Leslie Yuen, Budd, Gilbert, Sara Shaker and Parker Hammill.

Attack: Highton, Schoen,

Wong, Amy Biggart.“We have a lot of speed,

we’re athletic,” said Bradley. “But we’re lacking in experi-ence.”

Returning starters are lim-ited to Highton, Phillips, Yuen and Bravo and Pear.

Darien won its first scrim-mage 4-2 over Lauralton Hall.

“In this league it is going to be all about how young players can learn on the job,” added Bradley. “And how quickly they can step up. The best players will have a chance to shine, regardless of their age.”

It’s a work in progress, but progress this new group should do, in excess of .500 and make states.

“We just need to be a little bit more defensive and a little bit more smart,” Bradley said. “But we have plenty of time to figure it out.”

Darien was blown to bits by the injury bug last season, going 8-7-1 overall and being ousted by higher seed Warde 3-1 in double OT in the first round of the Class L playoffs at states. Highton scored the lone goal, Phillips was in net.

Darien opens up on the road at Westhill, 4:30 on Sept. 15.

Mailhot’s hopped into gear with a head start.

“In June we had tryouts and I took 20 girls, there’s quite a few freshmen,” Mailhot said. “The girls are awesome, they are really out there to learn as

much as they can from me.”And she’s got a lot to teach

them.“The program I really feel

needs to be built,” she added. “And not just kind of the old style ‘pom-poms and polyes-ter skirt.’

“It’s really an athletic sport.”


Cheer: New fall look on show

Girls Soccer

TEENAGE KICKS — Leslie Yuen makes the play in the ’09 playoffs.(Darien Times/Steven Buono photo)

who likely, if stopped, pulls the reins up on the ’stangs?

“The only way to bottle up a back like that, is to gang-tackle,” said Trifone. “If you try to take him 1-on-1, or if you have schemes, you know, and end up with 1-on-1, you’re in trouble.”

Will Halliday is the opposing QB.The 6-foot, 190 senior has a strong

arm.“And he can run too,” Trifone said.

“So, you know, you are watching the tape and saying to yourself, you’ve got your hands full.”

He did not have big numbers running last season.

“The coaching staff that took over that

program, he’s doing a heck of a job,” said Trifone. “But not only are they doing a heck of a job with X’s and 0’s, and the execution. But, they are attract-ing more and more kids.

“One of the things is that Warde strug-gled over the years. It’s a big school.”

Not any more. Players are flocking.“They are out in the hallways recruit-

ing and they should be,” Trifone said.

Gang-up: Mass tackling could shut off Warde’s shutdown guy Continued from page 3D

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Begley sets calm note at the eye of the storm SENIORITY SISTERS — Wave volleyball is captained by Mackenzie Begley (left), helped by classmates, hitter Emma Getsinger (middle) and libero, defensive specialist Bella Cararra (right) in going for the program’s 10th straight pair of titles in the league and state. (Darien Times/Steven Buono photo)


One captain.It’s not such a usual circumstance

for the best girls volleyball program in CT history.

So, does the weight of dual league and state titles, last season with DHS not dropping a set — it’s team record of 536-79 since 1982 — plus, the run of years and years on end running through the last decade of champi-onship seasons, push down might-ily upon sole captain Mackenzie Begley’s head?

Those, 15 state trophies, 19 FCIAC, and the fact that DHS goes for some-thing special in making it 10 straight titles in the league and state this fall — does any of that feel, the least bit, like a small universe camping out up on her shoulders?

“...a little bit,” said Begley, not sounding in the least like it did, add-ing “but I’m handling it.”

And she seems quite likely to be one uniquely capable to do just

that, with the support of a strong team around her, front and back, and with the team philosophy of course remaining that no single stick will break when all are bound as one.

Not that Begley is anything as brittle as a stick.

Her strength — besides the tacti-cal acumen of being an outstanding setter — seems to lie in her laid back demeanor. Begley’s as calm and unfussed, as any before her at the post.

Some might have found a stress pit in digging in for the 2010 season.

“We lost a lot of seniors and juniors, not a lot of girls came back,” said Begley, joined by fellow seniors in big hitter Emma Getsinger and enthusiastic, able libero Bella Carrara. “It’s a really young group of girls, but a good group of girls. They are all really working hard, putting a lot of effort in everything they do.”

Darien loses the whole set of major players in 2009 captains Colby

Billhardt, Sarah Gorski and Corinne Sommi, all Class of ’10.

And two experienced juniors are not any longer with the team.

If Begley is Darien’s sole com-mander — besides veteran coach Laurie LaRusso — then the Wave’s three seniors are Darien’s sole return-ing, experienced crop.

Still, Begley’s serene as a glassy lake, which should propel the Wave and its young squad into the winners circle once more.

It’s not the cocky bring-it-on kind of placid either. It’s closer to an angelic confidence. She knows she can fly, and lift, lead the rest of the team up along with her for the ride.

“I love it,” said Begley, whose big sister Stephanie captained the squad some years back. “I love the girls that I am playing with, they’re just a good group of girls.

“I am really enjoying myself.”Begley indeed eats pressure, in

what some might call stressful situ-ations on the court, and digests it without so much as a hiccup.

Because never mind being captain,

she’s right smack at the center of it all on the tiles too, as the balls blast around her, and from the court chaos, she sets up cohesive points on the board.

“It puts pressure on me, but it’s good pressure, the kind that I enjoy,” the state’s leading setter and FCIAC title game MVP last season, said. “It makes me work harder, knowing that I have to be in every single play.”

The sticks stick together, no matter who plays what role on the floor.

“I’ve been turning to my team-mates a lot for a lot of help,” she said. “It’s kind of, the more we put in, the more we know we are going to get out of what we do.”

What do they do?Getsinger hits, hard, while she and

Cararra have proved flexible at vari-ous spots.

“But Bella is really helping us out defensively,” said Begley. “With the passing and stuff.”

Along with Getsinger, junior Charlett Stevenson is a big hitter too.

Junior Katie Stueber and Kelly

Kosnik, a sophomore, have been playing middle, and Riley Sousa is hitting right side.

“We have been working on our hit-ting, trying to improve it, but I think we are going to be a defensive team this year,” Begley said. “Last year we were more of a hitting team, just because we had a lot of taller girls.

“This year we lost some height, so we are hoping to gain it defen-sively.”

Cararra digs deep

That’s every girl on deck with defense, but Cararra digs it the most.

“It’s a lot of young girls,” added Begley. “We may not have a lot of experience, but, their kind of dedica-tion and hard work is — it’s really fun and exciting to get into the gym with them every day.

“Because you know they are going to work as hard as they can. They are very open to changes, open to help. They just want to learn.”

Like LaRusso says: sticks in a bundle are (still) unbreakable.

Girls Volleyball

All team schedules are online at darienps.org/darienathletics/

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