PHOTOS: NCHS Recognizes Class of ’20 Student-Athletes Recruited to D-3 Colleges

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New Canaan High School is recognizing members of the class of 2020 who were recruited athletes to Division 3 colleges. District officials for a number of years “have been thinking about trying to do something” similar to a formal signing ceremony held annually for student-athletes heading to D-1 schools, according to NCHS Athletic Director Jay Egan. “For Division 3 athletes, they put a lot of time and effort into what they do and they are legitimately recruited athletes, though they are not receiving any financial aid like those other kids,” Egan told NewCanaanite.com. “So we have thought about it for a while and were planning to do a separate signing day because a Division 3 day was developed, but we could not do it because the date has passed.”

The commitments from D-3 schools typically come in April, so Egan and the Athletic Department has created and is sharing profiles of the student-athletes through social media and other online means (see gallery above). “Kids make decisions based on what is the best fit for them, and a lot of these kids are taking the best fit of athletics and academics and marrying that together rather than just looking at the teams that recruit them but don’t meet all of their needs,” Egan said.

Youth Girls Basketball: Weekend Wins for New Canaan Teams

Big Weekend Wins for New Canaan Basketball Association 7 Girls Red

—submitted by Denise Lucarelli

NCBA 7 Girls Red added to their record with 2 close wins over the weekend against Wilton (27-21) and Naugatuck (27-24). On Saturday against Wilton, with the game tied at the half, the girls headed into the third quarter ready to play.  On defense, lightning speed Riley Fortmann, Jane Shumway and Katie Casey had multiple steals, and Dianna Luccarelli and Georgi Owsley executed the half-court press defense with precision, resulting in forced turnovers by Wilton and dominant possession by New Canaan. Olivia Michelini and Julia Michelini dominated the boards.  The team exploded offensively in the third quarter, scoring 11 of the team’s 27 points.  the game’s high scorers were Lauren Livesay/8 points and Sammie Plosker/6 points, with additional points by Jacqueline Mulle, Casey, Olivia Michellini, Fortmann, Shumway, and Owsley.  Despite a fourth quarter rally by Wilton, New Canaan held on to win 27-21. On Sunday against Naugatuck, New Canaan opened up a significant lead in the first half with points by Jane Shumway, Riley Fortmann, Lauren Livesay and Georgi Owsley and numerous assists by Sammie Plosker, Olivia Michelini and Julia Michelini.

Basketball: New Canaan 6th-Grade Boys Black Team Notches Clutch Holiday Season Win at Darien

Winter, received by some with dread and others with glee. A season when the birds have flown away, trees grow bare, with the days ever shorter consumed by cold air. And yet, a wonderful transformation occurs round this time of year. The autumn palate replaced by the majesty of winter’s white, lifts our town and its folk with a new sort of merriment—the holiday season, a time for joy and celebration. The change in season also marks the start of basketball, a great winter sport.

New Canaan Gets Defensive in 20-0 Turkey Bowl Win Over Darien

[Note: This article originally was published on Darienite.com.]

With a strong wind blowing out of Darien High School’s north end zone, it looked like the elements would be a factor in Thursday morning’s Turkey Bowl between the Blue Wave and the New Canaan Rams.

In the end, Mother Nature had nothing on New Canaan’s defense. On the strength of four turnovers, three of which led to scores, the Rams pulled off a shocking 20-0 win over No. 3 Darien. “They outplayed us start to finish,” Darien head coach Rob Trifone said. “We certainly had our opportunities, we were in the red zone quite a bit but we couldn’t cash in.

PHOTOS: 16 NCHS Student-Athletes Sign Early Letters of Intent To Play Sports in College

Sixteen New Canaan High School seniors on Wednesday signed early Letters of Intent to play sports in college starting next year. The photos below are from a signing ceremony overseen by NCHS Athletic Director Jay Egan, held in the Wagner Room. 

We also asked the student-athletes why they chose their future schools, and put their responses next to photos:

Jane Charlton

Duke
Lacrosse
“A little bit of everything. The stellar academics combined with athletics, as well as the amazing atmosphere that the team creates. And just the student body and culture in general.”

 

Amanda Hall

Boston College
Crew
“I’ve always loved Boston College. I visited a few years ago and then I was offered a spot on the team, so I took it and I was really excited about it.”

 

Alexandra Mehos

Colgate
Swimming
“When I visited the campus, I really fell in love with it.