11 minute read
SPORTS
16 | SPORTS
Sailing team rides unrecognized wave
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What sport do you play at Staples?” This is a common question many adults or out-of-towners often ask students, expecting the mainstream response of soccer, lacrosse or the occasional swimming. Yet for a handful of 14 Staples students, their proud response is, “I’m on the sailing team.” The team has existed for over 20 years where they practice out of Cedar Point Yacht Club in Westport and compete in the New England School Sailing Association, which is mostly made up of private schools like Fairfi eld Prep and Greenwich Academy. With this structure, Staples successfully tied for third place at the state championships last season.
Yet despite the comparable amount of practice time and team success in regattas, the team feels they have essentially sailed under the radar in terms of the acknowledgement by the school and the awareness of the students.
“Most years, the sailing team is acknowledged twice,” tri-captain Tori Holoubek-Sebok ’22 said. “When Sue sends out the two emails reminding students to register for the fall and spring sports.”
In spite of being unaware, the student body appears to be supportive.
“Everyone I have talked to has been super positive and curious about the team once they learn about it,” Holoubek-Sebok said. “I love answering their questions, but it is a little sad to feel like not many people know about our hard work and accomplishments.” Another captain of the team, Jack Murphy ’22, who also plays Staples varsity basketball in the winter, feels the sport of sailing and his team is misunderstood. “I think that most people don’t realize the requirements of sailing, from the extreme cold conditions to the physical exertion,” Murphy said. His teammate Tucker Peters ’24 also feels that there is merit and skill involved in the wind dependent sport. “When people think of sailing, they think of the slow leisure boats that sail at Compo,” Peters said. “Yet, sailing is very intense and a psychically demanding sport that requires a lot more strategy compared to others.” Most importantly, just like any other team, the sailors experience a genuine sense of comradery that Peters appreciates. “I think the best part about this team is the people who are on it,” Peters said. “The sailing team is very close-knit, and we pride ourselves on that.” Regardless of their recognition, this buoyant team spirit lies at the center of the students’ experiences which for Holoubek-Sebok, makes even the occasional harsh conditions worth it. “They make going to practice everyday really fun,” Holoubek-Sebok said, “even when it’s freezing cold outside and raining.” freezing cold outside and raining.”
“The sailing team is very close-knit and we pride ourselves on that.” -Tucker Peters ’24 one I have talked to has been super positive and curious about the team once they learn about
conditions to the physical exertion,” Murphy said. His teammate Tucker Peters ’24 also feels that there is merit and skill involved in the wind dependent sport. “When people think of sailing, they think of the slow leisure
we pride ourselves on that.” Regardless of their recogniis very close-knit tion, this buoyant team spirit lies at the center of the students’ expeand we pride riences which for Holoubek-Seourselves on bok, makes even the occasional harsh conditions worth it. that.” “They make going to practice everyday really fun,” Holoubek-Sebok said, “even when it’s freezing cold outside and raining.” freezing cold outside and raining.”
ON THE WATER
(from left to right) Jack Murphy ’22, Tucker Peters ’24 and Jared Leonard ’22 of the sailing team parti cipate in a regatt a on March 30.
Photos contributed by James Doan ’24
Graphic by Rachel Greenberg ’22
Dance provides community away from Staples
Web News Editor
taples is home to many
Swidely recognized athletic programs, whether it be boys’ lacrosse, girls’ soccer or cheerleading. Even the teams that aren’t always nationally ranked are still appreciated through lawn signs, senior day decorations, morning announcements and congratulatory Superfans posts. To put it simply, it is apparent that Staples highly regards its athletes.
As a competitive dancer of six years, I can’t say my teammates or I have received much attention at all from our school. But, as tempting as it is to complain about the lack of acknowledgement, I have ultimately come to realize that my love for my sport is enough and I don’t need the validation of others to feel fulfi lled.
Because of a culture at Staples that encourages participation in school sports, I have felt inferior to my friends who dedicate their athleticism to represent their school.
But even though I don’t have “Staples” attached to my team name, it doesn’t mean my team is less competitive. For me, a typical weekday after school consists of up to four hours of dance class. Weekends can be six hours of rehearsal, and the occasional three-day competition weekends when I can be at the venue for 12 hours each day. Although I sometimes wish I could relate to my friends on a Staples team and experience the “typical” athlete lifestyle, I would not trade my dance company for anything. Due to my team’s geographic diversity, I feel fortunate that I am given an opportunity to be with dancers that I otherwise wouldn’t have met through Staples. Each dancer exposes our team to different personalities, opinions and dancing styles that I could not discover within just the Staples student body. Over the years, some dancers and students have tried to promote (or at least mention) the idea of a dance team or class at Staples, separate from theater and cheer groups. However, I’m not confi dent that enough dancers would abandon their current studio for a fl edgling dance team, as recruiting choreographers is also a challenge in itself. Although the idea of a Staples dance team is amazing, it’s far-fetched considering it would take several years for this initiative to gain traction and become a well-developed
a typical weekday after school program. consists of up to four hours of M y dance class. Weekends can be words of six hours of rehearsal, and the wisdom to occasional three-day competi- incoming or tion weekends when I can be at current Staples the venue for 12 hours each day. students is that Although I sometimes wish high school I could relate to my friends on a is a time Staples team and experience the for self“typical” athlete lifestyle, I would growth not trade my dance company for and disanything. Due to my team’s geo- covery, graphic diversity, I feel fortunate and that I am given an opportunity if you to be with dancers that I other- want that wise wouldn’t have met through maturation Staples. to occur outPhysical exercise Each dancer side of a Staples team, so be is not limited to 70 exposes it. Physical exercise North Ave: a our team is not limited to 70 supportive community can be to different personalities, North Ave: a supportive community can be built or found anywhere. built or found opinions anywhere. and dancing styles that I could not discover within just the Staples student body. Over the years, some dancers and students have tried to promote (or at least mention) the idea of a dance team or class at Staples, separate from theater and cheer groups. However, I’m not confi dent that enough dancers would abandon their current studio for a fl edgling dance team, as recruiting choreographers is also a challenge in itself. Although the idea of a Staples dance team is amazing, it’s far-fetched considering it would take several years for this initiative to gain traction and become a well-developed program. M y words of wisdom to incoming or current Staples students is that high school is a time for selfgrowth and discovery, and if you want that maturation to occur outside of a Staples team, so be is not limited to 70 it. Physical exercise is not limited to 70 North Ave: a supcommunity can be portive community can be built or found anywhere.
ON HER TOES Toby Goldfarb ’23 has danced at “The Spot Just Dance” for 11 years and joined the competi ti on team fi ve years ago. Toby
Photo by Cami Vynerib ’23
Spring sports teams strive to conquer competition
Sta Writer nowy winter days and packed sweaty gyms are in the past and are now replaced with glistening grass Sfi elds and courts fi lled with cheerful athletes. Spring sports are offi cially in session. As the bell rings at the end of the school day, athletes rush out into the fresh spring air to head to their respective fi eld or court. After weeks of team bonding and training, athletes are anxious to get back out and compete.
Last year’s girls’ tennis team proved their resilience: after losing to Darien in the regular season and then in FCIACs, they later beat the same team in States and won fi rst in the state tournament. The team is primed for the season to begin and has prepared by practicing and working out with a personal trainer all while under the leadership of captains Allie Francis ’22 and Jordana Latzman ’22. “Our goal for the season is to have an awesome season on the courts but also off the court,” Latzman said. “I hope to help build a super tight knit team and win states and FCIACs.” Latzman is excited for a normal season without COVID regulations that have occurred the past two seasons. “I feel that this season we can simply work hard and play with way less worries.”
The rugby team is coming off of their most successful season in program history. They ended the regular season with an undefeated 7-0 record, placed fourth at nationals and ended last season ranked sixth in the nation. If that wasn’t good enough for them, they are currently ranked fi fth in the country. The team is working to build off of their past success. The captains are George Engels ’22, Jack Edwards ’22, Brandon Saunders ’22, Nick Novello ’22 and Devon Saunders ’22. “We hope to go undefeated the whole year,” Edwards said, “and end with winning the state championship national championship and ultimately building a program that will get more kids interested in playing rugby.”
The girls’ golf team ended last season placing third at FCIACS and with a record of 12-4. Historically, the top team in the FCIAC is New Canaan, so Staples is pushing themselves to try and beat them this season. The team is captained by Lizzie Kuehndorf ’22 and Leni Lemcke ’22 for the 2022 season. “Ultimately the goal is to win as many matches as possible and do well at FCIACs and states this year,” Kuehnndorf said. The team has been playing nine holes after school at Longshore golf course for two weeks while the roster is fi nalized. They also have been doing indoor practices to focus on the mental game of golf, with occasional yoga sessions.
The baseball team has high hopes to win another FCIAC and state title. More specifi cally, they hope to win against their biggest rivals, Fairfi eld Warde and Ridgefi eld High School. Last season the team fi nished 13-4, placing eighth in the state. The team captains, Matthew Spada ’22, Finn Popkin ’22, JW Fitzgerald ’22 and Alex Oppenheimer ’22, and the rest of the team are hoping to continue to grow after such a successful season last year. Spada believes that the work the team put in will be evident in the season. “We ran winter workouts so we could get our work in as a team,” Spada ’22 said. “But in addition to that everyone worked tirelessly on individual development so we can come into the season 10 times better than last year.”
Scan this QR code to read a preview of the soft ball team by Amanda Rowan ’22
SPRING CAPTAINS (From left to right) Jordana Latzman ’22, Jack Edwards ’22, Lizzie Kuehndorf ’22 and Matt hew Spada ’22 are all senior captains of the respecti ve sports girls’ tennis, boys’ rugby, girls’ golf and boys’ baseball.
Gise lle Oldani’22 By Ph ot o
Bandura ’22 N a ta l ie by
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Mia Bomback’24 by o t o P h
Courtney’23 F inneg an b y Ph ot o
