Staples Softball Beats Darien, Celebrates Seniors, in Last Regular Game of Season
The Staples High School Varsity Softball Team (L-R, Back): Assistant Coach Dana Seymour, Jill Backus, Gabby Lantier, Caroline Coffey, Ally Schwartz, Tash Taubenhiem, Jen Westphal, Coach Bob Olah; (L-R, Front) Kate McDonald, Grace Alfero, Oliva Bernard, Ava Vincini and Miranda RodriguezUnder the bright lights of the Greens Farm School field, the Staples Varsity Softball Team beat Darien 5-4, bringing their season to an exciting 14-3 record.
Photos and story by Colleen Coffey for The Westport Local Press. Last night’s game was the last regular game of their season, with families, friends, and community members in attendance to cheer on the team while celebrating the outgoing seniors. The warm Spring evening welcomed the small crowds to the school’s ball field, with some attending the game on Facetime.
Members of the Staples Wreckers Softball team high five seniors Jill Backus.The graduating teammates were able to finish their high school softball career on a high note after losing last year’s season. Class of 2021 members include Jill Backus, Olivia Bernard, and Miranda Rodriguez
A close score marks a hard-fought win for the Wreckers. Backus and Junior Ava Vincini scored big by hitting two triples during the game, while Junior Pitcher Tasha Taubenhiem threw nine strikeouts against the Blue Wave.
The team will begin their FCIAC matches (Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference) tomorrow at 4:00 PM at the Wakeman Field on Cross Highway.
Celebrating the Class of 2021
Staples High School Announces May Students of the Month
Press ReleasePrincipal Thomas has announced Staples High School's recipient’s for May Student of the Month:
Yersultan Zhakupov Gr. 12
Jasper Cahn- Gr. 11
Wyatt Resnick- Gr. 12
Amelia Galin- Gr. 11
Spencer Yim – Gr. 10
William Fitch- Gr. 10
The Students of the Month award program recognizes students who help make Staples High School a welcoming place for their peers and teachers alike. They are the “glue” of the Staples community: the type of kind, cheerful, hard-working, trustworthy students that keep the high school together, making it the special place that it is.
Students of the month are nominated by their teachers, who are asked to think of those students who come to school regularly, are friendly to the staff and to fellow students, and make positive contributions in class as well as the Staples community. In short, these students are all-around good citizens of our school. Students of the Month are not necessarily star athletes, high honor students, or lead performers, and even if they are, this award recognizes the positive attitude they bring to school every day in making Staples High School a genial place in which to learn and teach.
Staples Rugby Team Ranked #20 in Nation; Heading to National Championships with the Help of Donors
The Staples High School Rugby Team celebrated on Tuesday with congratulations from community leaders. The team is flanked by First Selectman Jim Marpe and Staples High School Athletic Director Marty Lisevick (left) and Superintendent of Westport Public Schools Thomas Scarice, and Staples High School Principal Stafford Thomas (right). Contributed photo. For the first time in its history, the Staples High School Rugby Team will be heading to the National Championships in Kansas City, Missouri this June as the #20 team in the country. The team is actively seeking donations to fund the trip to the championship matches so they can compete.
Founded in 2003, the team has grown significantly in the past five years alone - going from 30 players in 2016, to 85 boys and 25 girls on the roster today. This is not just the case in Westport.
Nationally, the contact sport has grown in numbers with USA Rugby claiming 110,000 registered players as of this past Summer, and “at high school level, there are over 26,000 people participating, eight times more than there was a decade ago” according to Sport 306’s Senior Editor Niall McCague. Staples High School head coach Dave Lyme says the current number of youth and high school players is currently over 40,000 members.
While rugby grows, Forbes reports that youth football participation has dropped by over 30% since 2009’s peak seasons, and “It seems almost certain that 2020 or 2021 will see overall high school participation in tackle football drop to below 1 million players, a level of participation not seen since 1998.” (Roger Pielke).
To those unfamiliar with the sport - rugby is not seen as a pillar for safety and grace, however players and coaches describe their technique as their brain’s saving grace when it comes to taking down an opponent - leading with parts of the body such as the shoulder instead of their head, and using body mechanics that protect them from injury while attempting to gain possession of the ball - especially during stereotypical scrums.
The Staples High School Rugby Team is lead by Head Coach Dave Lyme. Lyme is not a stranger to championship matches, In 2016 he took a men’s team to the USA Rugby National Championship as head coach for the Fairfield Yankee’s; they won against a Texas opponent. Lyme also serves as Head Coach for the Westport PAL rugby team, and the Sacred Heart University rugby team. The Australian native has been involved in the sport for 45 years.
This year’s Staples Rugby Team captains are Staples Seniors Felix Pollmann, Ben LaFontan, Sam Seideman, and Dylan Garra - all of whom joined their teammates in losing an entire season due to COVID-19.
The Staples Rugby Team is seeking the community’s support as they embark on their journey to the national championships - with a fundraising goal of $50,000 through a GoFundMe campaign. Team members are looking forward to the match, which will also be attended by Connecticut’s Greenwich High School’s team as well as the Aspetuck Valley high school club. “These experiences increase player ability and opens larger opportunities for college recruitment as hundreds of college coaches and scouts will be in attendance” the club described in a release.
To learn more about the Staples High School Rugby Team, visit their website. To donate funds towards getting them to the National Championships this June, click here for their GoFundMe campaign.
edited 05/15/21
Lord and Taylor, Danbury Mall Paediatric Vaccination Clinics Open for Ages 12-15
The Community Health Center has announced that registration is open for their Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic at the Lord & Taylor site in Stamford, and the Danbury Mall site in Danbury, Connecticut. The paediatric clinics will offer six days of vaccines, each with their own respective second-dose date.
According to the Center, parents will be asked to electronically give consent for their child to receive the vaccine, and “even though they have already given consent through this process, we strongly encourage the parents to attend the vaccination clinic with their child.” a center representative said in a release. Questionnaires and consent forms will also be given at the site, or can be found here.
Parents can sign up for the Danbury Mall and Lord & Taylor vaccine clinics through the VAMS website, the Vaccine Appointment Assistance Line (1-877-918-2224), or by registering directly through the Community Health Center direct links (below).
Lord & Taylor Dates and Registration:
110 High Ridge Road, Stamford, Connecticut
Lord & Taylor, May 13th: Click here to register
Lord & Taylor, May 14th: Click here to register
Lord & Taylor, May 15th: Click here to register
Lord & Taylor, May 16th: Click here to register,
Lord & Taylor, May 17th: Click here to register
Lord & Taylor, May 18th: Click here to register
Danbury Mall Dates and Registration:
7 Backus Avenue, Danbury, Connecticut. The entrance to the site is located near the former Sears auto center in the parking lot. Please follow the directional signage to enter the area.
Danbury Mall, May 13th: Click here to register
Danbury Mall, May 14th: Click here to register
Danbury Mall, May 15th: Click here to register
Danbury Mall, May 16th: Click here to register,
Danbury Mall, May 17th: Click here to register
Danbury Mall, May 18th: Click here to register