Girls’ soccer season

SPORTS

Girls’ soccer turns pressure into ‘diamond’ goals

DEFENDER (above) : Sami Dewitt ’23 corner kicks at her Sept. 15 practi ce.

CAPTAINS (below): (left to right) Sami Dewitt ’23, Charlott e Franklin ’23, Evelyn Chudowsky ’24 and Coco Crombie ’24 lead the team.

Photos by Katherine Phelps ’25

Genevieve Frucht ‘24

News Editor

The girls’ soccer team is back on the eld after a successful 2021-22 season where they secured both season where they secured both the state title as well as the the state title as well as the FCIAC title. It is natural to feel FCIAC title. It is natural to feel pressure afpressure after such a ter such a successful successful season. season. HowevHowev- er, Captain er, Captain Evelyn Chudowsky ’24 knows Evelyn Chudowsky ’24 knows that the stress will help her and that the stress will help her and her teammates to play harder. her teammates to play harder. “Being state champions was “Being state champions was a huge step forward for the proa huge step forward for the program, but having all eyes on us gram, but having all eyes on us can be a lot,” Chudwosky said. can be a lot,” Chudwosky said. “Luckily for us, we embrace “Luckily for us, we embrace that pressure and use it to raise that pressure and use it to raise our standards higher in terms our standards higher in terms of what we can accomplish this of what we can accomplish this season. You know what they season. You know what they say: pressure makes diamonds.” say: pressure makes diamonds.” So, this season, they went So, this season, they went into tryouts with enthuinto tryouts with enthusiasm and a ready eagersiasm and a ready eagerness for new victories. ness for new victories. Captain Coco Crombie ’24 Captain Coco Crombie ’24 recognizes the new talent recognizes the new talent that will enhance the team in that will enhance the team in addition to the skilled playaddition to the skilled players returning from last year. ers returning from last year. “It was very high in“It was very high intensity throughout [trytensity throughout [tryouts], and everyone brought outs], and everyone brought their game,” Crombie said. Head coach Barry Beatie has worked with many talented players who use pressure to improve their playing skills. He feels that these accomplished players have left the team in a spot that will help them to continue being successful. “ e girls that have come through Staples GSOCC in the last 10 years have put us in a position [where] we can compete for top honors every year,” Beatie said. “As long as the kids do what they know they can, we will be in the mix for more titles.” While the team had many highlights from last season, they also endured some struggles. Captain Charlotte Franklin ’23 was out with a torn ACL, but that didn’t stop her from experiencing last year’s highlights. “I would say my favorite highlight watching [last] season was the PK [penalty kick] shootout against St. Joes,” Franklin said. For both returning and new players, there is much to look forward to this season such as pasta dinners, bus rides and winning as a team. “I’m excited to see the girls get back out there competing and enjoying themselves as they represent the school and the town of Westport,” Beatie said. “Winning more trophies would be fun too.”

PRECISION PRACTICE

(right) Charlott e Franklin ’23 works hard at perfecti ng her passes before their next game on Oct. 1 at Warde.

16 | sports Senior captains splash, sprint, surge into spirited seasons

Emily Goldstein ’23 Public Relations Manager F all sports are always full of excitement and determination as athletes head back to the pool, eld and track after the long summer. It is at last the class of 2023’s turn to lead the Wreckers with pride and achieve success. It is always an adjustment returning without last year’s graduated athletes, but regardless, spirits remain high and the current senior leaders are ready to jump right back in.

Photo from Staples’ Water Polo website Kai Ross ’23 boys’ water polo captain: Q: What is your biggest goal for the season, and how is the team handling the loss of seniors from last year?

A: “My biggest goal for the season is to break the all time single season scoring record. We lost a lot of great players and teammates this year, so it will be interesting to see how our playstyle and chemistry will react to our new team. I’m excited to see where this team is headed and hopefully we will take home many wins still.”

Tyler Kocadag ’23 boys’ cross country captain: Q: Is there anything you’re nervous about for the upcoming season and any weaknesses you see in the team?

A: “I am de nitely nervous about the fact that we don’t have as much depth as we did last year. If anyone in our lineup gets hurt or sick, it is going to be extremely hard to replace them. is is probably our biggest weakness so far as we get back into the season.”

Photo by Olivia Signorile ’25

Photo by Addy Coughlin ’25

Emma Madoff ’23 girls’ swim captain: Q: What’s your favorite team tradition that you hope to lead this year?

A: “One of my favorite team traditions is Saturday morning zumba classes. Our coach takes zumba classes and brings his instructor to our Saturday morning practices sometimes, and it’s a really fun bonding moment for the team. I can’t wait to introduce it to the new swimmers and watch everyone have a good time together.”

Witt Lindau ’23 boys’ sailing captain: Q: How is the role of being a captain making your experience di erent this year? What do you hope to do with the team?

A: “Being a captain of the team means an added responsibility in coordinating, planning and leadership. In addition to trying to perform well as an individual sailor, I’m also committed to the success of the team as a whole, which involves planning practices to optimize our training and motivating everyone to try their best and work together, especially as we will be getting into team racing in the spring season.”