Sports

New Canaan Old Timers Association Spotlight: Mario Lopez

By |

One of the most intense competitors in the history of New Canaan High School athletics, Mario Lopez was a two-sport star for the Rams. The 1984 grad was a captain in both baseball and football in his senior year. Lopez was an inside linebacker for the Rams in head coach Lou Marinelli’s earliest seasons. Mentored by assistant coaches Joe Ditolla and Bo Hickey, Lopez earned three Varsity letters from 1981 to 1983, emerging as New Canaan’s top tackler and earning a reputation as one of the FCIAC’s hardest hitters. “Mario really set the tone for our team,” Marinelli told New Canaanite.com. “He was so emotional and so intense, one of the most intense players I’ve ever had.

Sports

New Canaan Old Timers Association Spotlight: Jeff Mellick

By |

The son of 2005 New Canaan Old Timers honoree Ed Mellick, Jeff Mellick grew up in New Canaan playing every sport the town had to offer. Basketball was an early passion for Mellick, as he started playing at the age of nine in the Saturday morning league, eventually moving onto travel basketball in elementary and middle school. The 1993 New Canaan High School grad earned four varsity letters playing for legendary Rams coach Don Usher and was a captain in his senior year. While attending Center School, Mellick played hockey at the Winter Club and also participated in Pop Warner football—a sport he continued to play at New Canaan Country School. Mellick was ultimately named captain of the freshman football team at New Canaan High School.

Sports

New Canaan Old Timers Association Spotlight: Bill Brown

By |

One of our most recognizable names, voices and faces, Bill Brown is a true New Canaan institution. A town treasure who has positively impacted generations of students from the last days of Center School in the early 1980’s right up to the present, Brown is also one of the most prolific coaches in New Canaan High School history, having guided the Rams to four FCIAC titles, 12 FCIAC East and 1o state championships in his 17 seasons at the helm of the Varsity boys golf team. Born in Norwalk and raised in New Canaan on Parade Hill Road—a veritable breeding ground for great athletes in town—Brown was the youngest of four boys who all played sports at New Canaan High School. It was in the mentoring of younger athletes where Brown found his niche, as the NCHS Class of 1978 grad began coaching PONY League baseball while still in high school. Brown coached Pop Warner Football in the early 80’s, where he helped develop many future New Canaan Rams gridiron stars.

Sports

New Canaan Old Timers Association Spotlight: Robert (Bob) Schott

By |

In 1972, Robert (Bob) Schott was a standout on the New Canaan High School track and field team. Elected one of two team captains by his peers, Schott was one of the few sprinters to break the grip members of New Canaan’s elite distance corps had held on the position for many years. Schott rose to the status of an elite national athlete that year, establishing school records in the 50-yard dash (5.5 seconds), the 60-yard dash (6.6 seconds) and the 300-yard run (32.1 seconds). Schott was ranked third in the nation in the 300, and his time put him in second place in the Connecticut High School CIAC record book at the time. His indoor track season was followed by an even more storied outdoor track and field season.

Sports

New Canaan Old Timers Spotlight: Andy Towers

By |

Recently inducted into the United States Lacrosse Connecticut Hall of Fame as well as the Brown University Sports Hall of Fame, Andy Towers had an illustrious career as a player. A 1987 graduate of New Canaan High School, Towers played both varsity basketball and lacrosse for Hall of Fame coaches Don Usher and Howard Benedict. As a lacrosse player, he helped the Rams win three straight CT State Championships, earning high school All-American honors as a junior. In 1988, Towers played for the 19 & Under USA Team that won the World Championship in Adelaide, Australia. Towers attended Brown University and played for legendary Hall of Fame coach, Dom Starsia.