Staples Sports Saturday Shut-Outs!
Saturday was a great day for the Wreckers, with both football and field hockey teams holding their opponents scoreless.
Left: Wreckers celebrate their third goal in their FCIAC semi-final against Greenwich. Right: Running back Patricio Garcia drives through multiple Stamford defenders.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Wreckers Football Back On Track Defeating Stamford 27-0
The Wreckers rebounded from their loss in New Canaan last week with a convincing win over Stamford High School on Saturday in Stamford. QB Nick Weil (jr.) was dominant in the air, completing 15 of 24 passing attempts for an exceptional 232 yards, adding 36 more on 5 carries.
His favorite target was once again Shane Sandrew (sr.) who's nine receptions gained him 165 yards in a very strong performance on offense. As usual, Anthony Armentano's (sr.) number was called ten times in his role as running back gained 59 yards rushing.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The Wreckers return to the field after the half to warm up after the break.
Coach Adam Behrends watches every move his team makes like a hawk, communication constantly with his coaching staff.
As usual, the Staples Cheerleaders kept the crowd’s energy up, and began training for an adorable future cheerleader in her custom made sweatshirt.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Wreckers Field Hockey On To The Finals With 3-0 Victory Over Greenwich!
Below Left: Junior Mary Stevens’ quick reflexes save her from getting the rock hard ball fired by a Cardinal from slamming into her leg. The next photo shows a Cardinal player who’s hand was not so lucky, as evidenced by the grimace on her face. Far right photo shows a Wrecker girl trying to avoid stepping on an opponent as she gains control of the ball. With nothing other than shin guards to protect them, other than the occasional face mask, field hockey players often go home battered and bruised after a hard fought game.
Stevens would score twice in the match and was joined by junior Alex Hackett for the third goal.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Staples returns to the pitch on Tuesday night at 6:30 PM facing rival Darien, once again at Wilton High School. The two teams faced each other for the FCIAC crown in 2023, where Darien defeated Staples for their sixth straight FCIAC championship. The team is hoping for Staple’s fans to show up in force, as Darien fans always do.
Wreckers Coach Ian Tapsall told WestportLocalPress to expect "a seriously competitive game against the team we always view as our most intense rival for many years".
Chili Cook-Off For A Cause
Manning the slow cookers serving up some delicious chili are RTM member Sal Liccione, VFW Post 399 Auxiliary Senior Vice-President, former RTM member Harris Falk, two-time Chili Cook-off winner Westport Police Officer Greg Gunter and two young assistants, Blake Schluter and Finn Williams.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Funds are needed to replace flags removed from the grave of veterans at Assumption Cemetery in Westport.
Below left: The VFW hall starts to fill up as the Cook-Off lines open. Second , Virginia Ferrari, 06880's omnipresent Dan Woog and First Selectwoman Jen Tooker stop for a quick photo. Third photo, Steve Jenkins, Post 399 member (right) with his son enjoying the day’s fare, and far right, the chili champion Officer Greg Gunter ready to serve the next guest.
Last Saturday the VFW Joseph J. Clinton Post 399 hosted it's 2nd annual Chili Cook-Off, a fundraiser for a very important cause dear to the hearts of Westport area veterans, and veterans everywhere. Each year for more than a century the Post has a tradition, "to honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans". Volunteers from the veteran's community each year respectfully place flags of over 450 veterans at Assumption Cemetery in Westport "as a tribute to their service"
This year something very discouraging occurred. The flags placed at the graves of those veterans "were removed without prior notification or consultation with the veteran community" (quotations are from a VFW Letter to the Diocese of Bridgeport Catholic Cemeteries, LLC, dated July 31, 2024 provided to WestportLocalPress). That letter stated the understanding by the Post that the removal of the flags was related to maintenance and seemed to indicate that the explanation from the Diocese Cemetery office "equates the removal of flags with the removal of Christmas decorations".
The concern by the veteran community is clearly stated at the end of page 1 of the letter, which states, "The removal of the flags without dialogue or alternative arrangements is a concern to veteran community throughout Fairfield County, the third largest veteran population (29,396) in Connecticut".
Post 399 in their letter suggested possible solutions to the issue going forward. VFW Post 399 quartermaster Phil Delgado told WestportLocalPress that the flags were not returned to the post and the Diocese office provided no information as to what happened to them. The proceeds from the Cook-Off will be used toward the purchase of metal flag holders required by the cemetery which are projected to cost $6,000.
Anyone interested in helping Post 399 in their goal of raising the required funds in order to purchase the flag holders can contact Quartermaster Phil Delgado or Auxiliary Sr Vice President Patty Kondub at: vfw399ct@gmail.com. Securing the holders will allow the flag of The United States Of America to once again decorate in tribute, the graves of the veterans who sacrificed to defend that flag and our nation.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
United Nations Day At The Westport Library Features Congressman Jim Himes
On Thursday night Congressman Jim Himes was the featured speaker for the annual United Nations Day's Ruth Steinkraus-Cohen Memorial Lecture event. Himes serves Connecticut's 4th district which includes Westport and is currently the ranking member on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in addition to the House Financial Services Committee.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
United Nations Day celebrates the organization's founding on October 24, 1945. This event is organized by the United Nations Association of Southwestern Connecticut (UNASWC.org) in honor of its founder Ruth Steinkraus-Cohen an important figure in the history and operations of the United Nations who was a Westport resident and for whom the the landmark bridge over the Saugatuck River which bisects Westport is named.
President of the United Nations Organization Of Western Connecticut Bill Haas recognized Daw Aye Aye Thant, daughter of U Thant, former Secretary General of the United Nations during the Kennedy administration. Ms. Thant, a board member of the organization had been a Westport Resident for many years but has recently relocated to Boston. UN Secretary General U Thant played a significant but unappreciated role in resolving the Cuban Missile Crisis. As Soviet ships challenged the US-imposed blockade (quarantine) in October 1962, Thant made several important proposals directly to the protagonists, US President John F. Kennedy and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev.
Mr. Haas began the event with a moment of silence, as is the custom of the opening of sessions of the UN General Assembly, then spoke of the challenges facing the world including the disaster of the recent storms in the U.S. southeast states. Hass next presented a video message from Secretary General Antonio Guterres who related details of the global mission of the United Nations and spoke about several important solutions upon which they have worked, recently enacting compacts to deal with climate change, digital tech, AI and outer space.
Maggie Mudd, also a member of the organization introduced the congressman, speaking upon his bio, including not only his achievements in office to which he was elected in 2009, defeating Chris Shays, the last republican congressman to serve in New England after serving ten terms in Congress, but his early years living in Peru and Columbia as his father worked for the Ford foundation and UNICEF. HImes currently lives in Greenwich with his wife and two children. Himes was received his undergrad degree at Harvard and received a Rhodes scholarship, gong on to work in the financial sector including Goldman Sachs before jumping into politics in Greenwich.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Photos above, (L to R) UNASWCT President Bill Haas, Maggie Mudd, Video by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, and former UN Secretary General U Thant’s daughter, Daw Aye Aye Thant.
Himes spoke at length, prefacing his remarks by noting the unusual appearance at an event on the Untied Nations 12 days before a and extremely consequential election, adding his multiple years of global experience made for a great fit for this annual event. Himes discussed work the UN has done over the years and his involvement with the organization including his recent work with the IAEA and their efforts to address the threat of nuclear proliferation. He discussed world affairs in the news including the "unprovoked invasion" of a European country by "a member of the security council", "in clear violation of pretty much every tenet of the UN charter", as well as the situations in Israel /Gaza and tensions currently with China and in the South China Sea, as well as other global issues like Hati, stating "the world is a mess".
The Congressman addressed a myriad of other issues including AI, cyber security, especially as it relates to Russia and genetic research, engineering and bio synthesis. Himes spoke about genetic code creation, mentioning Ginkobioworks of Boston which uses the most advanced technology on the planet to grow better products.
The library hosted a lengthy Q & Q session after Himes' address, and questions were only selected if they were relevant to issues of concern to the United Nations.
Questions on topics including Iraq the Middle East and ISIS, Russian and Chinese aims and geopolitical goals and included the very recent events regarding North Korean troop's involvement in the war with Ukraine to which Himes' response included his views on the Biden administration's policy. He opined upon the decades long challenging China/Taiwan situation and the concerns about possible conflict. One question regarding the actions of Israel was posed by a person who claims that 108 members of their family have lost their lives in the conflict. HImes partially responded with a balanced approach stating his support of Israel while clearly expressing concern with the well documented, extensive lost of life in the conflict.
The full event is available on the Westport Library's YouTube channel and can be viewed here: Westport Library UN Day - Jim Himes.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Wreckers Football Falls To New Canaan For First Loss This Season
Wreckers QB Nick Weil outrunning half the New Canaan team on his 66 yard touchdown run.
The 4-0 Staples football team traveled to New Canaan on Saturday and found the Rams were ready to play. New Canaan handed the Wreckers their first loss of the season prevailing 23-10, in a hard fought game, bringing Staples record to 4-1.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The Wreckers put the first points on the board with a field goal by senior Aidan Stubbs in the first quarter but the Rams responded with a pair of touchdowns in the 2nd quarter.
Staples quarterback Nick Weil, a junior did not match his previous games’ stellar passing, gaining 87 yards in the air. He did however, scramble as is often how he rolls and he scored the Wreckers only touchdown with a 66 yard TD run in the third quarter bringing the Rams lead to only three.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The Rams pass coverage held senior Shane Sandrew to only 38 yards on three receptions. Seniors Kody Goldman and Davis Crandall were ferocious on defense, with 13 and 16 total tackles, respectively. Standout Anthony Armentano was held to no receptions but was able to gain 25 yards rushing and ran back a kick-off for an additional 21 yards.
The Wreckers are away next game, traveling to Stamford on Saturday afternoon for a 1:00 PM game.
