2008 -- THE SEASON

For games played in the 2nd half of the season, click here

Thursday, October 2 vs.  Norwalk: The Bears arrived at Loeffler Field brimming with confidence. They were 5-2-0, and had played some of the top teams in the FCIAC well. But the Wreckers -- suiting up all 24 healthy players for the 1st time this year -- had the early run of play. Alex Hoberman worked the right side well, forcing Norwalk into a defensive mode. However, Staples was not at the top of their game. Giveaways at midfield, and a lack of presence on the left side, left them open to counterattacks. As the 1st half wore on the visitors gained confidence, battling the blue-and-whites on even terms.

Mike White sparked Staples early in the 2nd half, but another cough-up near the center strike sent Andres Torres in alone. He drew the keeper out and finished cleanly, in the 54th minute. It was the 1st goal scored on the Wreckers all season long -- a string of 614 minutes -- and everyone wondered how they would react.

The answer came swiftly. Staples ramped up the attack. Brendan Lesch hit drew McNair; the midfielder lobbed keeper Alex Hurd -- and hit the post. McNair followed with another great chance. Frankie Bergonzi headed inches high off a corner kick; Alan Reiter and Matteo Marzoli also had hard shots. But the Bears battled fiercely too, and Frankie Rende and keeper Adam Liu had to combine to smother a near-certain score in the 69th minute. Staples fought to the end, but Norwalk's defense was equal to the task.

"We knew we'd be scored on eventually. It's too bad it had to come in a 1-0 game," said head coach Dan Woog. "We lost to a very strong, well-coached team that did exactly what they had to to win." After the match, Woog and assistant coach Kurt Dasbach told their players that, as the 2nd half of the season begins -- and the schedule grows tougher -- every match will be like this one. In the FCIAC and state tournaments, the competition will be even more demanding. However, Woog noted: "This is what Staples soccer is all about. It's what our guys have dreamed about and trained about for a long time. I'm looking forward to a great October, and an even better November." Final score: Norwalk 1, Staples 0. Season record: 7-1-0.

QUICK KICKS: Santiago Cuartas, Court Lake (penalty kick) and Spencer Adler scored to stake the junior varsity to a 3-0 halftime lead. The Wreckers then weathered a 2nd-half comeback by Norwalk, holding on for a 3-2 win....

Dylan Evans celebrated his birthday with a hat trick, and Joss Abel added another tally, as the freshmen shut out Norwalk 4-0. Aaron Liu excelled defensively.

Saturday, September27 vs.  Stamford: For several days, drastic weather was predicted for Staples' 50th soccer celebration. But close to 200 alumni, and dozens of other parents and friends, braved the dire forecasts to jam the hill for the morning match. Loeffler Field looked spectacular -- thanks, Stuart McCarthy, Tim Burke and the Westport Parks and Recreation crew! -- and Staples took quick advantage of the environment. The large crowd had barely settled back after a continental breakfast when sophomore Greg Gudis fed Rem Woodhull. The lanky striker took three touches as he charged to goal, and finished cleanly. Time of the score: 48 seconds. "Was that the quickest goal in history?" a player on the bench asked. The answer: After 50 years of history, nowhere close.

It took the Wreckers 25 minutes more to get the next tally, which began as Alan Reiter set up fellow junior Mike White. The speeding striker ripped a 25-yard shot that rippled the back netting. Just 2 minutes later Gudis dug a ball out of a scrum. There was a goalmouth scramble, and White was stuffed. But he pounced on his own rebound, turned and scored.

Four minutes later it was 4-0. Junior Matteo Marzoli hit Gudis, who wasted no time launching a 35-yarder that whipped past the keeper's outstretched arms. Just 1 minute after that, White was fouled in the box. Reiter stepped up for the penalty kick -- Staples' 1st of the season -- and his strike was true. One minute before halftime Marzoli beat 3 defenders, then laced a 35-yard shot equally as sharp as Gudis's.

The 2nd half showed an entirely new cast of characters, but with no letup in work rate, crisp passing and combination play. At 1 point two keepers -- Adam Liu and Sanders McNair -- created chances as forwards. The Black Knights were awarded a 75th-minute penalty kick that could have ended Staples' scoreless streak, but the shot flew high and wide. Three minutes later, keeper Michael McCarthy preserved the shutout with 2 fine sliding saves.

"We talked before the game about the alumni on the hill," head coach Dan Woog said. "Our players know that the alums understand good soccer -- who's looking to set up a teammate, who can make dummy runs, who covers back on defense, who can switch fields at the right time. Our players' goal was to show they can play soccer like a true Staples team -- and 'team' is the key word. I think they did a good job of that today. I think the alumni like what they saw, and I know the guys on the field liked being out there for this event. Now we've got a tough match coming up against Norwalk -- they won their last game with 11 seconds to go, and they're playing strongly -- so that's what we're setting our sights on next." Final score: Staples 6, Stamford 0. Season record: 7-0-0.

QUICK KICKS: The victory qualifies Staples for the "LL" (largest schools) state tournament, for the 49th time in 50 years. This is the earliest the Wreckers have ever qualified -- because last year the minimum record was lowered from .500 to .400....

Stamford coach Mario Caminiti agreed to move today's match from Stamford to Westport, in honor of the 50th celebration. "He didn't have to do it," Woog said. "It was a very classy move on his part. We'll go to Stamford next year, and are grateful to him for coming here this time around."

Top left: Jon Golembeski works his magic. (Photo by Zak Smolen) Right: Alex Hoberman pesters a Stamford Black Knight.

Bottom: Sights seldom seen: Goalkeepers Sanders McNair and Adam Liu (both wearing blue socks) played forward at the end of the Stamford match. The 2 keepers were joined up top by defender Frankie Rende (white wristband in photo on right). The only players in that photo in their regular positions were midfielders Mikey Scott (14) and Nick Kljusev (12). (Photo by Carl McNair)

Wednesday, September 24 at Fairfield Ludlowe: The Wreckers knew their next-door neighbors would give them a ferocious battle, and that's exactly what they got. The game -- under the lights on the excellent Taft Field turf -- started out at a rapid pace. Staples worked this week on speed of play, and in the 3rd minute they put their training into action. Matteo Marzoli served a great ball to Alex Hoberman. His direct cross found Sean Gallagher, but the shot was high. With Marzoli and Alan Reiter in command at midfield, the Wreckers drew what they thought was 1st blood: a 35-yard blast by Reiter that caromed in off the crossbar. Unfortunately, it was the football crossbar, and the match remained deadlocked.

In the 31st minute Reiter sliced a dramatic half-volley off a Mike White corner kick, but keeper Zach Garaffolo snagged it. But 4 minutes after that Brendan Lesch -- a powerful force both offensively and defensively all match long -- won 2 consecutive tackles at midfield. He sent Drew McNair into the left corner. The midfielder -- working back into form following a long ankle-injury layoff -- struck a stupendous cross into the goalmouth. White -- making his 1st appearance in a week, following a concussion -- received it with his back to the goal. He chested it down, turned and fired -- and this strike definitely counted. Reiter was denied in the 39th minute, in front of the net, so Staples ended the half with a thin 1-goal edge.

Fairfield Ludlowe cranked it up a notch in the 2nd 40 minutes. They had the run of the play for several long stretches. But the defense of keeper Adam Liu, Jack Hennessy, Frankie Rende, Frankie Bergonzi, Lesch, Reiter and Marzoli -- along with Mikey Fitzgerald, who came off the bench to solidify the back -- absorbed all the pressure. Staples was back in control for the final 10 minutes, and though Greg Gudis nearly made it 2-0, the final score margin was just 1. "This was an important match for us," said head coach Dan Woog. "Ludlowe is a well-coached, tough, experienced team [they started 7 seniors and 4 juniors]. We needed to be tested, and tested well. We had to gut it out, and see where we still need work. I'm very proud tonight. We know there will be even rougher tests ahead, but we learned a lot about ourselves. We want to be ready for whatever anyone throws at us." Final score: Staples 1, Fairfield Ludlowe 0. Season record: 6-0-0.

QUICK KICKS: The junior varsity came from behind twice, to beat Fairfield Ludlowe 3-2. Goals came from Kosta Papadopoulos, Santi Cuartas and -- tapping in the game-winner -- Charlie Greenwald....

The freshmen followed a 0-0 draw with Fairfield Ludlowe by shutting out Westhill 7-0. Mik Kulis led the goal scorers with 3, followed by Matt Silver and Jonah Aelyon.

Drew McNair's run into the corner (top left) led to Mike White's game-winning goal. White (#4, right) is congratulated by a horde of happy Wreckers. (Photos by Carl McNair)

Monday, September 22 vs. Danbury: The Hatters are a young side, with a pair of solid central midfielders. But the Wreckers broke the ice just 6 minutes in, as Alan Reiter power-headed Greg Gudis' corner kick home. Reiter just missed 4 minutes later on a side volley from 40 yards out that would have been the goal of the year. But Staples got a tally that counted 3 minutes after that. Matteo Marzoli drove a long ball from midfield into the box. Sean Gallagher met it smartly, finishing well. Gallagher -- a sophomore who played quite well in a variety of positions -- got the 3rd goal too, a header off Alex Hoberman's cross, a mere 32 second before halftime.

The 2nd half was a bit zippier than the prosaic 1st 40 minutes. Rem Woodhull slotted home Kenta Shirafuji's feed in the 58th minute; then Mikey Scott ended the scoring at 72:00 by alertly rebounding in Woodhull's shot. Danbury did not threaten the Wreckers' 3 keepers -- Adam Liu, Michael McCarthy and Sanders McNair -- as the Staples defense prevented all but long-range shots. Drew McNair, rounding into form after an ankle injury, patrolled midfield well, while Nick Kljusev, Steven Denowitz, Jon Golembeski and Jake Krosse also performed strongly. Final score: Staples 5, Danbury 0. Season record: 5-0-0.

QUICK KICKS: The junior varsity downed Danbury 4-1. Charlie Greenwald, Spencer Adler, Santi Cuartas and AJ Green all scored. Emerson Jessup, Antoine Weir and Gabe Schindler contributed solidly as well....

The freshmen controlled the match, but Terence Gibbons' netted the only goal in the 1-0 victory. Dylan Evans assisted. Ben Root looked sharp defensively for the Wreckers.

Jack Hennessy in command as center back; Steven Denowitz breaks out of a pack of Danbury defenders. (Photos by Carl McNair)

Thursday, September 18 vs. Brien McMahon: The weather was perfect, and Westport's Parks and Recreation Department had Loeffler Field looking more spectacular than it has in decades. But the Wreckers faced an enormous task against a Senator squad that always plays them tough (and won 2-0 last year) -- and in 4-year starter Taso Petridis boasts 1 of the top goalkeepers in the FCIAC. Staples was missing 2 starters (forward Mike White with a concussion, forward/midfielder Jairo Alvarado with a bad ankle). A 3rd -- midfielder/defender Alan Reiter -- was questionable until game time (back injury).

But the Wreckers were undaunted. Two minutes after the opening whistle Rem Woodhull -- making his initial start of the year -- fired the 1st shot. A few minutes later he raced into the corner and fed Greg Gudis, whose header sailed just a few inches wide. In the 12th minute Woodhull made another good run, and struck well; 3 minutes after that Gudis had a fine effort, off feeds from Reiter and Brendan Lesch. In the 20th minute Gudis and Sean Gallagher combined cleverly. The Senators did not threaten strongly until the 29th minute -- a shot that did not miss by much. Kenta  Shirafuji made the next dangerous foray, and in the 36th minute Reiter's half-volley also came close.

At halftime, coaches Dan Woog and Kurt Dasbach emphasized the importance of continued patience in solving McMahon's well-organized 4-back, 5-midfield defense -- and of continuing to contain the 1 fine attacker. Wrecker defenders Jack Hennessy, Frankie Rende and Frankie Bergonzi continued to perform rock-solidly as a unit; in front of them Reiter, Lesch, Gallagher, Matteo Marzoli and Alex Hoberman went both ways with strength and smarts. For the 2nd match in a row, keeper Adam Liu was called upon to make a game-saving stop -- and for the 2nd straight time, he came through. A cross from the corner hung in the air over the south goal; the tri-captain timed his leap perfectly, and shoveled it over the top for a corner kick.

Staples continued to attack. Woodhull and Gudis sent Gallagher in on net; in the 51st minute Reiter almost tallied off Gudis' corner. Two minutes later, Woodhull loped into the corner. He, Gallagher and Hoberman worked the ball into the box. A scrum ensued; somehow the ball popped out to Gudis, and the sophomore squibbed it into the lower left corner from 2 yards out. He's scored prettier goals -- and will doubtless score many more -- but so far, this was the most important of his high school career.

The Norwalkers did not quit. For the next 27 minutes, they sent more players forward. But Staples managed the game intelligently. Luke Yeager provided a spark up front; Mikey Scott and Andrew McNair patrolled the flanks with gusto, and Mikey Fitzgerald looked imposing as a central defender. Try as they might, McMahon could not connect. As the clock wound down, Staples kept on hunkering down defensively and attacking offensively. Woog said, "This must have been a great game to watch. Kurt and I sure enjoyed it. Our guys -- regular starters, new starters, those off the bench -- did exactly what we asked them to. This was a very important win, both for the 3 points and for the way in which we achieved it. We've still got a long ways to go -- but huge props to everyone today." Final score: Staples 1, Brien McMahon 0. Season record: 4-0-0.

QUICK KICKS: Staples led in shots, 12-4, and corner kicks, 10-3....

The junior varsity took Brien McMahon 4-1. Goals came from Santiago Cuartas, Justin Hawrysh, Emerson Jessup and AJ Green. Coach Ross McGibney cited Green and Hawrysh for their strong play, and the entire team for knocking the ball around and finding the net just as they do in training.

Top from left: Frankie Bergonzi splits 2 defenders; Rem Woodhull slices forward, with Greg Gudis moving to support.

Center from left: Sean Gallagher challenges the keeper; Kenta Shirafuji challenges his defender to catch him.

Bottom from left: Drew McNair and his hairdo do damage against Brien McMahon (Photo by Lisa Krosse); Alex Hoberman heads upfield, while Rem Woodhull does the same, trailed by Sean Gallagher and Frankie Bergonzi (Photos by Carl McNair)

Tuesday, September 16 vs. Darien: In a couple of short years, Coach Nicolae Piperae has done an excellent job of boosting the Darien soccer program. It took the Wreckers until the final 15 minutes last year to solve the Blue Wave, and this year's senior-laden squad was even better organized and focused. With a close 3-1 loss to Greenwich, the Wavers looked to battle hard. But Staples took command relatively early, and in the 13th minute Jairo Alvarado waited patiently, then laced a shot that was saved well. Mike White, lurking a few yards out, pounced on the rebound, and sniped it in for an early lead. In the 32nd minute patience paid off again. Brendan Lesch took a ball off his chest, touched twice, and finished strongly.

The Wreckers tried to lock down their 1st defenders in the 2nd half, and the improvement showed. Darien was pushed further from goal, while midfielders Alex Hoberman and Luke Yeager -- even defender Frankie Rende -- got consistently forward. In the 47th minute Staples scored for the 2nd straight match off a corner kick, when Sean Gallagher headed Greg Gudis's well-served ball home. The final goal, in the 62nd minute, was also a header, and a beauty. Gudis flicked on to Alvarado, who battled through the defense and lobbed the keeper. Mike Scott, running on, headed crisply into the open net. Final score: Staples 4, Darien 0. Season record: 3-0-0.

QUICK KICKS: Staples outshot the Blue Wave 27-8. Keepers Adam Liu, Michael McCarthy and Sanders McNair combined for 8 saves....

For the 1st time this year, all 24 players on the roster were healthy -- and all saw action...

Coach Ross McGibney's junior varsity won their opening match of the year, 3-1 against Darien. Goals came from Santiago Cuartas, AJ Green and Justin Hawrysh....

Coach Chris O'Dell's freshmen won their opening match of the season, 2-0 over Darien. Max Hoberman (2) and Kyle Hoberman scored, while Jake Malowitz and Ben Root looked solid on defense. David Levi handled several shots well in goal.

Top, from left: Alan Reiter commands midfield, and Mikey Scott launches a patented throw-in against Westhill.

Middle: Frankie Rende slows the Viking attack as Alan Reiter lends support; Adam Liu smothers a shot, with Frankie Bergonzi coming in to help. (Photo by Carl McNair)

Bottom: Brendan Lesch surveys the field. (Photo by Carl McNair)

Saturday, September 13 at Westhill: The red-hot rivalry between Staples and Westhill has lessened a bit -- the two teams did not meet in last year's regular season, and new coach Joe Del Torto has eased the highly charged sideline atmosphere -- but Saturday morning still promised an excellent matchup. The Wreckers began tentatively on the narrow turf field, but soon got themselves organized and asserted themselves. Greg Gudis's strike at the 6-minute mark just missed, yet presaged the 1st goal 3 minutes later. Quick work at midfield between Alex Hoberman and Gudis got the ball upfield to Mike White. The junior striker finished well with his left foot, providing both the lead and confidence to his side.

In the 25th minute Matteo Marzoli -- whose strong, savvy play at midfield provided plenty of good chances for teammates -- blasted a shot that was well saved by Ludin Gonzales, Westhill's strong keeper. Staples continued to press forward, and in the 32nd minute Rem Woodhull sent hard-working striker/midfielder Jairo Alvarado through. Alvarado's hard, low shot slammed through on the right side, and the Wreckers headed into halftime with a well-earned 2-0 lead.

But Westhill should never be counted out, and 2 minutes after intermission keeper Adam Liu got chipped. The tri-captain made a spectacular 1-handed save on a near-certain goal, and a minute later at the other end the Westporters struck again. White launched a high corner kick that seemed to take an hour to float back down. When it did, Alan Reiter met it with a spectacular diving header that Gonzalez was powerless to stop.

The Vikings made a strong run for the next 10 minutes. Several good opportunities -- including 3 corner kicks -- were turned away by Liu and backs Jack Hennessy, Frankie Rende and Frankie Bergonzi. The defensive play of the day, however, came when Brendan Lesch cleared a ball off the line. The Wreckers weathered that storm, and for the final 25 minutes managed their lead well. "It was nice to see that what we work on in training gets translated into games," said coach Dan Woog. "This was our 1st real test of the season. There are many more to come. It's our job to be ready for them." Final score: Staples 3, Westhill 0. Season record: 2-0-0.

QUICK KICKS: All 19 healthy field players saw action....

The junior varsity did not play, because there was no official.

Top from left Jairo Alvarado launches a ball upfield, with Sean Gallagher ready to support. (Photo by Lisa Krosse); Mike White threads a gaggle of Viking defenders (Photo by Carl McNair)

Bottom from left: Brendan Lesch heads the ball out of danger, before Adam Liu can save; Nick Kljusev pokes through a Westhill player (Photos by Carl McNair)

Thursday, September 11 vs. Harding: The Presidents arrived a bit late at Loeffler Field -- which, thanks to tremendous work by the Westport Parks and Rec Department, looks better than it has in decades -- and though the Wreckers took charge from the opening whistle, it took a while before their shots started finding the back of the net. But Frankie Rende sparked the squad with runs out of the back; Alex Hoberman found himself wide open on the flank and took advantage by driving into the corners, and in the 10th minute the pressure paid off. Matteo Marzoli sliced a perfect pass out of midfield; Hoberman ran on, cruised in and finished low. Tri-captain Hoberman netted the 2nd goal, in the 23rd minute, playing patiently following a good feed from Jairo Alvarado. Alvarado showed great composure 4 minutes later, slashing a side volley off an assist from Alan Reiter. The Wreckers put the game away in the 2nd half, on tallies from Greg Gudis (3), Mike White (2) and Reiter. Second-half assists came from Brendan Lesch (2), Alvarado, Reiter, Rem Woodhull and Nick Kljusev. Coach Dan Woog, while pleased with aspects of Staples' organization and team defense, noted the Presidents' youth and inexperience -- and warned that Westhill, on Saturday morning, will provide a far sterner test on their narrow turf football field. Final score: Staples 9, Harding 0. Season record: 1-0-0.

QUICK KICKS: The Wreckers outshot Harding 48-8. Keepers Adam Liu, Michael McCarthy and Sanders McNair combined for 5 saves....

The opening day starting lineup included Liu; defenders Rende, Lesch, Reiter, Jack Hennessy and Frankie Bergonzi; midfielders Marzoli, Alvarado and Hoberman, and forwards Gudis and White.

Top from left: Rem Woodhull steps over the ball against Harding, as Brendan Lesch and Alan Reiter watch approvingly; Steven Denowitz has his own defensive style.

Bottom: Matteo Marzoli fends off a President defender. (Photos by Lisa Krosse)

The Wreckers and friends celebrated Labor Day with their 2nd annual training at the Old Mill tidal flats -- and a wonderful picnic, courtesy of Pete Romano and Robin Tauck. (Photo by Deborah Tumey)

Saturday, September 6: Staples went 1-1-1 at Wethersfield's annual jamboree, scoring 3 goals but also surrendering 3. The 1st match was a come-from-behind draw against Lewis Mills-Burlington. The upstaters worked their offside trap well, snaring the Wreckers 7 times. Two minutes after going down 1-0, Staples equalized. Alan Reiter laid off to Mike White, who drove the sideline, then the baseline and laced a wicked cross that was knocked in by a defender for an own goal. Wethersfield then avenged an earlier scrimmage loss with a 2-0 victory, but the Westporters kayoed Kingswood-Oxford by a similar 2-0 count. Mike Scott fed Nick Kljusev for the 1st tally; then Scott scored himself on a blast from the far left side. "Slowly but surely, we're working our injured players back into the lineup," said coach Dan Woog. "We're not yet set and secure, but that's what training is for." To view photos of the jamboree, click here.

Wednesday, September 3: After 2 strong outings, Staples stumbled against Guilford at Calvin Leete School. The Indians outworked the Wreckers for most of the 3 30-minute periods while outscoring Staples 2-0 in the 1st, and drawing 1-1 and 0-0 in the next 2. Alan Reiter scored the lone goal, a great strike off a pass from Jairo Alvarado. "Not our best effort," said coach Dan Woog succinctly. "We saw some weaknesses, and we'll start working on them."

In junior varsity action, coach Ross McGibney's squad downed a young Trinity Catholic varsity team 2-0. Santiago Cuartas and Ryan Smith tallied, while Gabe Schindler looked strong defensively.

Friday, August 29: Last year, 2 days after a good 1st outing against Westhill, Wethersfield brought the Wreckers down to earth. This year, Staples built upon their opening effort in Trumbull, and used solid defense and creative attacking against visiiting Wethersfield. Seven minutes in, Alan Reiter gathered a pass from Matteo Marzoli and nailed a hard, low shot from the top of the circle. In the 20th minute, Greg Gudis's rip was parried away by the keeper; Jairo Alvarado alertly ran on to head in. Two minutes after that, Mike White assisted Reiter's second score, a bolt to the extreme lower left corner. The 2nd 30 minutes saw Alvarado turn the right corner and fire; his shot deflected in off a defender. Reiter showed great timing to send Alvarado through a few minutes later, and the striker finished strongly. Wethersfield scored late in the period. The final 30-minute period featured Rem Woodhull setting up Sean Gallagher, and Alvarado assisting on Kenta Shirafuji's shot. "It was a nice way to start the weekend," noted coach Dan Woog. "We've covered a lot of ground in the few days we've been training. And we look forward to doing a lot more."

QUICK KICKS: The Wreckers were cheered on by a gaggle of super-fans, who chanted and sang throughout the scrimmage.

Left: Matteo Marzoli confounds a Wethersfield defender. Right: Alan Reiter moves upfield in the same scrimmage. (Photos by Lisa Krosse)

Wednesday, August 27: After 4 days of intense double sessions, the varsity candidates took the field at Trumbull -- the team that knocked the Wreckers out of the state tournament in the first round last fall. Though 4 starters were sidelined with injuries, Staples looked solid against the perennially strong Golden Eagles. In the 1st 30-minute period, sophomore Greg Gudis struck 3 minutes in, off a feed from Jairo Alvarado. It was the 2nd year in a row Gudis scored 1st, in the 1st scrimmage. Gudis got the next one too, a 30-yard rip off an assist from junior Alan Reiter. The hosts responded with 2 late goals to equalize. In the middle period Trumbull went up 1-0, on a defensive deflection, but Kenta Shirafuji (from sophomore Mikey Scott) and junior Mike White (assisted by sophomore Luke Yeager) put the Westporters ahead 2-1. The final 30-minute period saw only 1 goal: a hard blast by Alvarado, from Gudis after a nice touch-on by junior Matteo Marzoli. "The things we've worked on -- particularly defensive positioning and coverage -- went as well as could be expected the first time out," said head coach Dan Woog. "The tenacity up front was good to see. We've got a long way to go, but we took our 1st steps today."

On an adjacent field, coach Ross McGibney's junior varsity scored the only goal of their afternoon. It came from Spencer Adler, assisted by Gabe Schindler.

Saturday, August 23: 68 seniors, juniors and sophomores -- 2 more than last year's record-setting numbers -- worked hard at Wakeman Field on the 1st morning of 4 days of double sessions. Head coach Dan Woog was pleased with the quality of play -- but warned, "We're far from where we want to be by state tournament time. We're not even where we want to be when we scrimmage Trumbull, 4 days from now. But with the leadership of the seniors, the intensity of the underclassmen and the enthusiasm I see everywhere, we'll get there."

Top: Captains Adam Liu and Frankie Rende, plus senior Jon Golembeski, lead the Wreckers in their first run of pre-season. Trailing are Rem Woodhull, Sean Gallagher, Nick Kljusev and Alan Reiter.

Bottom left: Varsity and JV candidates gather on the first day of tryouts. Right: Freshman coach Chris O'Dell surveys four of his candidates, who demonstrate a variety of pushup techniques. (Photos by Carl McNair)