A few days after Staples High School’s triple-overtime loss to West Haven in the state boys basketball Division I championship, emotions — excitement, heartbreak, pride — still linger.
The season was memorable in so many ways. The Wreckers went 26-1; they won their 2nd straight FCIAC (league) crown; they inspired our entire town.
Young fans, up late at Mohegan Sun. (Photo/Amanda Thaw)
A number of photographers were at Mohegan Sun Arena Saturday, capturing all the joy and agony of the title game.
Dave Dellinger shares the highs and lows of the back-and-forth contest:
The Staples junior has an outstanding eye, for both the physical drama and the emotional intensity of sports. Here are a few of his images:
Staples senior Demeil Betfarhad offered a stirring rendition of the national anthem.
Sam Clachko earned a spot as one of the best basketball players in Staples history. He played in Mohegan Sun as a freshman, when the Wreckers reached the final of the Division II state tournament.
Dhilan Lowman fires.
Wrecker fans are all in.
“Oh yeah!” says Matty Corrigan.
Mason Tobias
Coach Dave Goldshore
The Wreckers gave it their all. (Photos/Ryan Allen)
Something about sports intrigues photographers — and not just the action.
Athletes’ emotions are on display, for all to see.
That’s especially true in high school, where everyone is so close to the action.
Soccer is an especially great sport to shoot. With no helmets hiding faces, a talented photographer can capture the highest highs, the lowest lows, and the intense concentration and light moments in between.
Ryan Allen is an outstanding photographer. The other day, he was at Fairfield Ludlowe for the Staples match.
The Wreckers won, 3-0. They’ve won a lot lately. With a 10-2 record, they’re poised for a deep run in the FCIAC and state tournaments.
Here are a few of Ryan’s images. They show what high school sports are all about.
PS: Ryan is only a high school junior. Wow!
Wreckers get ready.
Gabe Duque
Nico Reyna
Brendan Allen (2nd from left) celebrates his goal.
Drew Hill
Coach Liam Witham
Dueling huddles, before the second half begins.
Noah Rossoni
Owen Perry (center), after his goal.
Ford Epstein
Josh Whitaker
Brendan Allen
Jack D’Amore
Chase Cammeyer
Spencer Girling, Emmett Zahler and Josh Whitaker.
The 2025 Staples boys soccer varsity team. (All photos/Ryan Allen)
Posted onFebruary 2, 2025|Comments Off on Whoop It Up For Staples Hoops
They’re very skillful, insanely quick, truly unselfish, and quite well coached.
The Staples High School boys basketball team is also one of the most fun groups I’ve ever watched.
In any sport. Anywhere.
Basketball might be the ultimate fan’s game. Inches from the floor — with no helmets, masks or pads — every athlete’s every emotion is on full display.
Spectators hear each command given. Swiveling their heads back and forth in a small, packed gym, following each pass, shot and rebound, they’re as much a part of the action as athletes.
Four quarters zip past. And — this season for sure, the Wreckers nearly always win.
“06880” photographer Ryan Allen captures all of that perfectly. (And note: He’s just a sophomore).
He was there last week, as Staples continued their surge with a 73-50 demolition of a solid Fairfield Warde team.
Scroll down to feel the electric atmosphere that (and every) night.
And make plans to be at Staples on Tuesday night (February 4). The Wreckers host Fairfield Ludlowe. Tipoff is 7 p.m.
Huddling up before the game.
Head coach Dave Goldshore gives final pre-game instructions.
Sam Clachko. Three games earlier, he scored his 1,000th point. And he’s still a junior.
Austin Heyer gets set.
Charlie Bowman, surrounded by 3 Mustangs.
Staples graduate and longtime basketball supporter Dylan Curran joins a time-out huddle.
Wrecker fans give full-throated support …
… and high-five the middle school winner of the half-time shooting competition.
“Gimme an ‘S’!”
The bench is behind — literally and figuratively — Dhilan Lowman.
Adam Udell, with the layup. (All photos/Ryan Allen)
(“06880” proudly covers Staples sports — and everything else that goes on at our high school. Plus of course, everywhere else in town. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker and Board of Education chair Lee Goldstein will offer their “State of the Town” thoughts on Sunday, February 2 (2 p.m., Westport Library).
The leaders will review town and school accomplishments during the past year, and preview some upcoming initiatives and challenges. A question-and-answer session will follow.
The annual event is sponsored by Westport Sunrise Rotary and the Westport Rotary Club.
1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker and Board of Education chair Lee Goldstein.
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The Board of Education agenda for its meeting this Thursday (January 23, 7 p.m., Staples High School cafeteria), includes
Staples auditorium sound system
Transportation efficiencies study
2025-26 proposed budget
First reading of Board of Education policies: Creation of a policiy on civility; amendment of student discipline policy
Second reading of Board of Education polices: Amendment of admission to public schools at or before age 5; amendment of policy on attendance, truancy and chronic absenteeism; proposed repeal of policy on attendance excuses and chronic absenteeism.
The Board of Education will also hold a Zoom meeting that morning (January 23, 9 a.m., Zoom; meeting ID 857 3959 1723; passcoade 405790) to discuss procedures for conducting non-renewal hearings of employees.
Among the agenda items for Thursday’s Board of Education meeting: transportation efficiencies. (Photo/Amy Schneider)
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On Friday, Sam Clachko scored his 1,000th point as a Staples High School basketball player.
And he’s only a junior! (Click here for the full story.)
Ryan Allen — Staples’ superb photographer/videographer — was there to record the milestone.
Sam has a great future ahead, on the court. Ryan’s future is equally bright — behind the lens.
Jeff Matlow was one of many Los Angeles residents affected by the recent fires.
The 1985 Staples High School graduate reports: “The Palisades fire started on the hill behind the school where my wife works, and our daughter is in 6th grade.
“They were the first people to evacuate, even before there was an official evacuation notice.
“At least half of the school is in ruins, if not more. The library is gone (along with all the books). All of the admin buildings, the preschool, kindergarten and elementary school are all gone.
“We are still not allowed in Pacific Palisades to see everything. But we know it will be a long rebuilding process.
The school just launched a fundraising campaign. “06880” readers can click here to read more, and contribute to help a fellow Westporter reconstruct his daughter and wife’s school community.
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Westport’s representatives in Hartford — State Senator Ceci Maher, and Representatives Jonathan Steinberg and Dominique Johnson — invites residents to Mrs. London’s Bakery on January 30 (5:30 p.m.).
They’ll discuss issues impacting Connecticut residents, review goals and priorities for the legislative session, and answer questions.
From left: State Senator Ceci Mahr; Representatives Jonathan Steinberg and Dominique Johnson.
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Speaking of politics: Tomorrow is Inauguration Day.
The next full production at the Westport Country Playhouse is less than a month away.
The curtain rises for “Season of Laughter” on February 18.
The Playhouse says: “When expecting parents move next door to longtime suburbanites, a dispute over their yard’s property line spirals into an epic, flower-flinging war over taste, class, personal identity — and gardening. Can these couples ever learn to love their neighbor and mend the fences that separate them?!
The show runs through March 8. Click here for tickets, and more information.
The Brian Torff Group headline the next Voices Café show at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport, on February 1 (8 p.m).
They’re “a band driven by a desire to capture the complexity of the American story ‘through American roots music with an updated twist.’”
The concert will blend Torff’s Southern music and race research with original songs, and new interpretations of artists like Bessie Smith, Robert Johnson, B.B. King, Mose Allison and Elvis Presley.
Torff — a professor of music at Fairfield University since 1993 — says, “we’ll honor Black History Month by taking a close look at the profound contributions of African Americans to our nation’s music culture.”
Suznne (Suzy) Fiore — a Westport residence since 1951 — died peacefully at home on January 13. She was 86.
In 1972 Suzy began teaching at the Green’s Farms Preschool, became the director in 2001 and retired in 2009. She cared deeply for the children, their families, and teachers she taught and worked with over the years.
Suzy was a long-time member of Green’s Farms Congregational Church and the Westport Women’s Club. Since 1978 she was very active member in the PEO, Chapter B in Westport, serving as chapter president and holding several other officer positions.
She enjoyed traveling, caring for plants, being the family historian, and watching birds.
Suzy was predeceased by her husband Anthony Fiore Jr, daughter Cynthia Ann Watson, step-son Michael Fiore, and brother Charles Kline, Jr.
She is survived by her sons John Watson III (Deborah) of Summerville, South Carolina, Charles Watson of Westport, and William Craig Watson (Shery) of Redding; step-son Paul Fiore of Fruita, Colorado; nephew Charles Kline III (Christy); grandchildren Lynsay D’Aiuto, Jennie Moon (Josh), Rebecca Watson, John Watson IV (Molly), Charles Watson, Sadie Watson and Chase Alexander Watson, and 5 great-grandchildren
A memorial service will be held February 10 (1 p.m., Green’s Farms Church).
And finally … on this date in 1901, Queen Victoria was stricken with paralysis. She died 3 days later, at 81.
(Jen Tooker discusses the state of the town next month. But here at “06880,” we do that every day. If you enjoy our coverage, please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)
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