MSG Varsity Covers Norwalk Victory
January 31, 2012 by Linda Abel ·
Click to view the story on the MSG Varsity website.
Wreckers Splash Norwalk
January 24, 2012 by Editor ·
By Doug Bonjour
Even with the best efforts of the Norwalk boys swim team’s young and promising core, Staples did what was necessary to turn Monday’s meet between the FCIAC schools in its favor.
The Wreckers jump-started the competition with wins in four out of the first five events–consisting of four individual events and one relay–and rode the momentum built from that early lead to a 101-75 victory over the Bears.
“Considering that they were mainly swimming off-events, I thought we responded pretty well,” Staples head coach Jeffrey Schare said. “There were some performances today I think frankly were a little bit lackluster. But today we finished up final exams so the guys are a little bit burned out. They gave what they could today and we did enough for the win.”
Daniel Williams–the Wreckers’ “top freshman” as told by Schare–raced to a win in the first individual event, the 200 freestyle, in 1:56.68, and later picked up a victory in the 400 freestyle relay to make the afternoon a positive one for the Wreckers. The 400 relay team, which included Jonathan Blansfield, Joss Abel and Nathaniel Boley, along with Williams, recorded a winning time of 3:37.41.
“He definitely stands out,” Schare said of Williams.
Just five days removed from a win over perennial power New Canaan, the Wreckers were strong from the get-go, opening with a victory in the 200 medley relay. Boley, Abel, Kyle Bacon and David Katter completed that event in 1:47.04, edging out Norwalk by less than a second.
Boley, who helped the Wreckers take two out of the three relay events, also raced to victories in the 50 freestyle (23.14) and the 500 freestyle in 5:09.65.
Those strong finishes, however, didn’t come without some strong competition.
For Norwalk, junior Sherman Lau won two events, earning a victory in the 100 breaststroke in 1:07.44 and the 200 freestyle relay. The Bears’ relay team, which included Jake St. John, Eddie Donovan, Anthony Dell’Isola and Lau, won that event in 1:38.15.
“I thought Sherman swam very well. He’s really starting to round into form,” Norwalk head coach Doug Marchetti said. “As a junior, we look to him for leadership and to provide a spark when we need it. He’s really starting to come alive this part of the season.”
Efforts like Lau’s have been needed for Norwalk this season, especially given the small numbers the team has to work with.
“We gave a lot of effort. We only have like eight to 10 swimmers. Some kids have to swim back-to-back events,” said Lau, who also placed second in the 50 freestyle in 23.62, finishing less than a second behind Boley.
Dell’Isola, a freshman, picked up Norwalk’s first win of the afternoon in the 200 individual medley (2:07.53), finishing ahead of Blansfield. The other Norwalk swimmers to win individual events were Donovan in the 100 butterfly (57.81) and Dillon DiGuglielmo in the 100 backstroke (1:01.24)–both of whom are also first-year swimmers.
“I can’t speak enough also with our freshman kids,” Marchetti said, “what kind of swims they’re giving us. Throw Giancarlo Ceci into the mix and Kenji Hosokawa, Jason Castorina, we’re getting great swims from all of our kids. We just don’t have a whole lot of them. I can’t be more proud with their effort.”
The Bears’ Max Libre, also a freshman, scored a 126.65 in the diving event, but was bested by Staples’ Tanner Blank, who posted his season-high score, 186.95.
With another win in its pocket, Staples will look to continue its strong start when it hosts Wilton next Monday. The Bears will be in action again on Wednesday, at home against the Rams.
“We’ve still got some big ones coming up, so I try to impress it to the guys that we can’t just sit back on our laurels,” Schare said. “We have to keep fighting, we have to keep pushing, we have to keep training.”
Reprinted from the Westport News
Wreckers Overcome Norwalk
January 24, 2012 by Editor ·
NORWALK — The Staples High boys swim team defeated Norwalk 101-75 Monday at the NHS pool.
The Wreckers raised their record to 4-2 with the win while the Bears slipped to 1-5.
“We were able to mix up the lineup and challenge the kids in different events and they responded,” Staples head coach Jeffrey Schare said. “They swam a little tired coming off midterm exams but by mixing up the lineup, we were able to find some strength and position for a third guy in an event which is always good and can help us down the line.”
Nathaniel Boley led the Wreckers by winning two individual events including the 50-yard freestyle (23.14) and the 500 free (5:09.65), finishing well ahead of the field in the 500. He also helped the 200 medley relay, along with Joss Abel, Kyle Bacon and David Katter, place first (1:47.04).
Anthony Dell’Isola had a strong meet for Norwalk. He won the 200 IM (2:07.53), edging out Staples’ Jonathan Blansfield (2:07.60) and aided the winning 200 free relay team of Jake St. John, Eddie Donovan and Sherman Lau (1:38.15) and the 400 free relay team of Kenji Hosokawa, Giancarlo Ceci and Dillon DiGuglielmo (3:49.53).
“I was very happy,” Norwalk head coach Doug Marchetti said. “The final score may not show it but my kids swam extremely well against a very good team.”
Marchetti also praised Dell’Isola, Sherman Lau, who won the 100 breaststroke (1:07.44) and was second in the 50 free (23.62) in addition to anchoring the 200 free relay, and DiGuglielmo, who took first in the 100 backstroke (1:01.24) and was third in the 200 free (1:58.51). Donovan was Norwalk’s other first-place finisher as he captured the 100 butterfly (57.81).
“They give me great effort and keep getting better and better,” Marchetti said of his swimmers, who number only 11.
Schare said Tanner Blank started out slow in the diving but finished strong, winning the event with a score of 186.95.
After placing second in the 200 IM, Blansfield redeemed himself in the 100 free, finishing in first place ahead of Dell’Isola with a time of 52.03. Dell’Isola was runner-up with a time of 53.52.
“He wanted to get back on top after being touched out in the IM,” Schare said. “Jonathan is quiet but very competitive.”
Rounding out the scoring for Staples was Daniel Williams, who took first in the 200 free (1:56.68).
Norwalk hosts New Canaan Wednesday while the Wreckers take on Wilton next Monday at home.
Reprinted from The Hour
Corrected Address for Norwalk Meet
January 23, 2012 by Editor ·
The address on the website for today’s meet was wrong. It has been corrected on the calendar.
The meet will be at
Norwalk High School
23 Calvin Murphy Drive (off County St.)
Take exit 16 (East Avenue). At the end of the exit take a left onto East Avenue. *Continue on East Avenue until you come to the Boston Post Road (Route 1). Take a right onto the Post Road. Continue until you come to Strawberry Hill Avenue. Take a right onto Strawberry Hill Avenue until you come to the intersection with County Street. The school is at the intersection of Strawberry Hill Avenue and County Street.
Reminder: Away meet at Norwalk Monday 1/23/12
January 20, 2012 by Linda Abel ·
Staples Boys Swimming FCIAC Team of the Week
January 18, 2012 by Linda Abel ·
Thanks for Voting for Team of the Week
January 18, 2012 by Editor ·
Thanks for all who voted for the Staples Boys Swimming & Diving Team. We are the FCIAC Team of the Week.
Staples Swimmers Celebrate Win Over Rams
January 16, 2012 by Editor ·
By Tom Renner
Staples 98, New Canaan 88
Staples senior captain Kyle Bacon does not recall much from the Wreckers’ meets against New Canaan in his first three years in high school. But he will remember the last one for a long time — perhaps forever.
Bacon and the Wreckers defeated New Canaan for the first time since 2001 last week, 98-88. Bacon was part of the 400-freestyle relay with Jonathan Blansfield, Nathaniel Boley and Danny Williams that clinched the victory.
“I don’t remember the losses to New Canaan specifically, but for the most part they weren’t even close,’’ Bacon said. “We got a little bit closer last year. They were so good, I never thought a win against New Canaan was possible.”
Staples won just two individual events, a victory in the 500 free by Blansfield and in the 100 backstroke by Matt Wisher. Staples needed to go 2-3 in the 400-free relay to win the meet. And it did even better than that, finishing first and third.
“I’m almost always on the 400 relay, and most meets you know by then who’s going to win,’’ Bacon said. “This meet was neck-and-neck. We knew we needed to get second and third. It was neat seeing all the guys on deck pulling for each other. It really gave us a boost.”
This year’s Staples team is the strongest in his four years with the squad, Bacon said. The Wreckers have a talented group of underclassmen. Blansfield, a sophomore, had what Bacon believes to be the turning point of the meet against New Canaan with a come-from-behind win in the 500 freestyle. “That got the whole team excited,’’ he said. “That showed us what we could do.”
“I don’t know if I’m surprised by what the underclassmen have done,’’ coach Jeffrey Schare said. “They’ve certainly boosted our success. What’s really helped them is our seniors. We only have four of them, but they are good leaders. They’ve let the younger swimmers know what it takes to be successful in this league.” Bacon, Wisher, Joss Abel and David Katter are the Staples seniors.
Staples beat Trumbull and Danbury in December then lost to Darien and Greenwich in a three-day span. The victory over New Canaan lifted the Wreckers’ spirits. With most of its toughest challenges out of the way, they could go unbeaten in their last six meets of the season.
“Sometimes you get kids coming up from club teams and they have the strength and they have the times, but high school swimming is different,’’ Bacon said. “You don’t always know what to expect. But this is the strongest team we’ve ever had. We have the talent and the mental strength to push ahead. It’s been a special season.”
Reprinted from The Daily Westport
Vote for SHS Swimming To Be Team of the Week
January 15, 2012 by Coach Schare ·
Staples Boys Swimming & Diving is a nominee for FCIAC Team of the Week. Lets get the word out and get zillions of people to vote! The winning team gets 30 T shirts and bragging rights.
The voting is now open with your team as finalists for the Overtime FCIAC Team of the Week. Click to go to the Hearst News blog to vote. The ballot is open until noon on Wednesday (1/19).
Thanks,
Jeffrey Schare
Practice Schedule Adjustments
January 12, 2012 by Linda Abel ·
