A Special Season Ends

The CIAC basketball state championships are held this weekend at Mohegan Sun Arena. 

Ludlowe, the number two team in the state at 26-0, faced the top team in the state, Hamden, also 26-0 coming in. 

Unfortunately for Ludlowe, the game did not go in their favor. Hamden came away with a 63-48 victory to capture the Class LL State Championship. 

Congrats to the Green Dragons on the victory and finishing a perfect 27-0. The first perfect season in CIAC girls basketball history. 

For Ludlowe, it was a tough ending, but an amazing season. The best in school history. 

The Falcons went had a perfect regular season, won the FCIAC Championship, and made it to the state championship game. 

Individually, Madison Roman was named FCIAC Player of the Year. 

Back to tonight. Rory Kudzy led Ludlowe with 19 points. 

Congrats to the entire team on an amazing season. Tremendous careers for the six seniors. Kaleigh Sommers, Caitlin Finnegan, Madison Roman, Rory Kudzy, Amelia Keresey and Caroline Keresey. Great players, even better people. 

Congrats as well to Sara Kinsley and her coaching staff, Jay Purzycki, Lou Bunosso, Frank Anile-Santiago and Rob Kinsley, on a job well done! 

A historic season. A special season. A special group. 

Falcon Pride! 

Thanks, Aaron

While it's not official, it appears Aaron Rodgers will be a member of the New York Jets. 

Rodgers went on The Pat McAfee Show today and and announced that while a trade is not done, he "intends" to play for the Jets this upcoming season. 

I'm honestly so conflicted. Did I want him back with the Packers? Probably not. Did I want him to retire? Probably. Did I want him to go to the Jets? Absolutely not! The Jets were on a list of probably five teams I did not want to see him on. 

Well, here we are. It's not official, but it's all but official. 

It was interesting to hear Aaron say that prior to his "darkness retreat" he was pretty sure he was retiring, Then something changed when he was in or came out of the retreat that made him want to continue to want to play. 

You knew at that point that it was pretty unlikely he was going back to Green Bay, especially after the comments Packers CEO Mark Murphy made last week. 

Thanks for 18 years. Fifteen as a starter. Many highs and many lows. So much regular season success for Aaron and the team, and unfortunately, the success for the team in the playoffs was not the same. 

One Super Bowl Championship in the 18 years, while great, is not enough. Especially with the amount of times they were in the playoffs and even the NFC Championship game. 

Super Bowl MVP, 4 time NFL MVP. A phenomenal player on the field. 

Eventually, Aaron will be in the Packers Hall of Fame, his number will be retired and he will go into the NFL Hall of Fame as a member of the Packers. 

Tremendous career. 

Off the field, an interesting person. And that is putting it very nicely. 

Aaron's following Brett Favre's path so far of the Packers to the Jets, so does that mean he goes to the Vikings or another division rival next? 

For me, as much as I always feel like I say Favre is my favorite all-time football player, I only saw the end of his career, including only a his last few years in Green Bay. I've watched Aaron's entire career. From him coming in for Brett a few times, to him finally getting his opportunity, to being "the man." This really feels like the end of an era.  

Will be interesting to see what he does with the Jets. 

For the Packers, it's Jordan Love time. 

Playoff Craziness

The Fairfield student section at hockey. The Nest and Stampede together #OneTown

It was another busy week of sports and a crazy last couple of days. Whenever I think things are going to be quiet, they aren't. 

We will start with Friday night. I wish I could have been in multiple places at once. 

The Ludlowe girls basketball team was playing at home vs East Hartford in the second round of the state tournament. The Warde girls basketball team was also playing in the second round of the state tournament at Sacred Heart Academy in Hamden. Finally, the FCIAC boys basketball championship between Danbury and Staples was taking place in Wilton. 

Well, I stayed in Fairfield. 

The Ludlowe girls, coming in with a 23-0 record (including playoffs) and coming off an FCIAC Championship, had a touch battle with East Hartford. Ludlowe trailed after one quarter 5-2, and 12-6 at halftime. 

The third quarter saw Ludlowe hit some big shots, including two three's by Kate Cimador and the Falcons led 22-18 after three. In the fourth, Ludlowe was able to increase their lead and come away with the 10-point victory 35-25. 

Ludlowe will host Conard on Wednesday at 7pm in the state quarterfinals. 

After getting home from Ludlowe, I followed Warde and SHA through texts I was getting and then I turned it on via NFHS. Warde took down No. 6 Sacred Heart 46-44 on Emmy Carley's buzzer-beating layup. 

pic.twitter.com/FIW4pCdWs9

— Ethan Fry (@ethanfry) March 4, 2023

The Mustangs will travel to Newtown for the state quarterfinals on Wednesday. 

In the game I didn't make, Danbury defeated Staples for the FCIAC boys basketball championship. You can watch it on demand here with Rob Adams on the call on Local Live. 

To today we go. 

It was the FCIAC boys ice hockey championship. 

Fairfield was returning to the championship game for the second year in a row after falling to Ridgefield in OT last year. 

Once again, regardless out of outcome, it would be the final game of the season for Fairfield as they are not eligible for the state tournament. 

Darien would come away with the victory by a 3-0 score. 

The Blue Wave got on the board with 8:24 to play in the first period on a goal by Aidan Elders. 

In the second period, Darien would extend their lead as Elliott Lancaster netted a goal 6:27 into the second period. 

Darien would get a late third quarter goal as insurance. 

It's a tough way for a tremendous season for Fairfield to end. Congrats to Darien on the FCIAC Championship. 

Next week sees more basketball before baseball starts next weekend. 

Shout out to "The Nest" for a great turnout at girls basketball on Friday and to "The Nest" and "The Stampede" for the turnout at hockey today. The student support is so important.