They say ‘You can’t win ‘em all,’ but five Staples sports teams disagree.
The elite five teams, competing in FCIACs, won their respective titles. Winners include the boys’ indoor track team, the football team, the girls’ ski team, the boys’ outdoor track team and the field hockey team.
According to Athletic Director Marty Lisevick, several of these teams played better than expected. “I thought our football team overachieved with a young team this fall – leaving us with a lot coming back for 2012,” said Lisevick.
With a sophomore quarterback and few returning starters, the football team was viewed as a “next-year team.” However, behind the strong arm of quarterback Jack Massie ’14 and the fearsome trio of running backs in Jon Heil ’12, Joey Zelkowitz ’13, and Nick Kelly ’13, the Wreckers steamrolled the competition. They continued their winning ways until the State championship, where they fell to Xavier 42-7.
Another surprising champion was the field hockey team which generally, players say, has not been a juggernaut. The last time the team had won the FCIAC championship was 1994, and before that 1978. Entering this year’s tournament, Staples was ranked as the fourth seed in a field of eight.
The Wreckers were certainly the underdog. Against Norwalk, Wilton, and Darien in the regular season, the three respective seeds ahead of the Wreckers, Staples had a 0-4 record, with a -6 goal differential. Captain and center-midfielder Emily Ashken ’12 said, “We won FCIACs because we wanted it more than any other team.”
While the field hockey team’s win shocked opponents and fans, it was no surprise that the boys’ indoor track team won its FCIAC championship. Led by Henry Wynne ’13, Jon Heil ’12, and Max Hoberman ’12, the team not only won the FCIAC championship, but also the state championship, and the State Open, which Staples had not won since 1991.
They finished the State championship with a total of 80.5 points. The next-best team finished with 55. Henry Wynne, a star runner, was not surprised. “As the season went on, everyone started getting better, and by FCIACs I knew we could win,” said Wynne.
The track team’s great run continued into the spring season, finishing with a total of 147.5 points. The next-best team, Danbury, finished with 82.5 points. The boys finished off the season by winning State championships. “Our boys indoor track team definitely peaked at the right time at FCIACs, States, and the Open,” said Lisevick. “They followed it up with a great performance on May 22nd – winning the outdoor track FCIAC’s.”
Another team that demolished the competition throughout the season was the girls’ ski team. “Winning States as a senior made the four years of long bus rides and coming home late twice a week all worth it,” said captain Misha Strage ’12.
While this year had its share of shocks, it is to the surprise of no one that the Wreckers dominated the sports landscape across the board during the 2011-2012 season.
