100 Wins

Team Photo Following John Dailey's 100th win 

Friday was a special night at Ludlowe. 

Ludlowe boys' basketball head coach John Dailey picked up his 100th career win in the Falcons 49-29 victory over the Westhill Vikings. 

The win for the Falcons is their eighth of the season, clinching them a state tournament berth. Ludlowe sits with an 8-2 record at the midway point of the season. Lots of basketball to play in the regular season before the postseason. 

Making the state tournament is always great, but even more special after not making it the last couple of years. 

It was very cool to have the 100th win for Dailey also be the eight win of the season. Lots to celebrate for the Falcons. 

It's been 10-years for John with many highs and some tougher seasons, as every coach has. 

So many players who he's coached any many assistant coaches who have been with him. Too many to name without forgetting some important people. However, a very cool part of this is Darren Lee, who played for John on the 2014-2015 state quarterfinal team, now coaching with him. 

Darren (No. 10) playing for John, now coaching alongside him. 

It's been a great week for the Ludlowe basketball coaches as Sara Kinsley, the head girls' basketball coach, picked up her 100th win last Friday, January 12, in the Falcons victory over Danbury. 

The girls team currently sits at 7-4, 5-2 in the FCIAC. 

Two terrific coaches who are even better people. Two people who put so much time, effort and care into their programs. A lot more than people see. 

Lots of great things happening with the Ludlowe basketball programs. 

Should be a fun remainder of the season. 

Freelance Sports Writing

I've been doing some freelance sports writing for The HAN Network.

In the fall, I covered football for a couple of their publications, including The Fairfield Sun and the Trumbull Times.

Then, the last couple of weeks, I've been writing about basketball for another one of their publications, The Darien Times. (Hockey is something I have been told that I know I need to learn more and then cover).

Personally, getting to cover Ludlowe basketball against Darien was a blast. I got to cover both the girls and boys games and got to interview both Ludlowe coaches (along with Darien coaches, Charoy Bentley and Melba Chambers), Sara Kinsley and John Dailey.

I've gotten to know players and coaches at different schools that I did not. At the schools where I do know people, I've gotten to work with them in a different capacity than I previously had when apart of the Ludlowe basketball team or when I interned in the Ludlowe Athletic Department.

I've also had the opportunity to interact with many great media members from other outlets, including Scott Ericson, Chris Elsberry, Emery Filmer, Rob Adams, Chris Kaelin and Damian Andrew.

It's been good to work with Dave Stewart, Susan Shultz, Bill Bloxsom, John Kovach, Marty Hersam and the rest of the team who has put my articles online and in print who I have not directly worked with.

Most of what I have done is game stories. However, I just finished up writing an article on Warde boys basketball's Sean Conway. I really enjoyed writing this. It was different for me, but a lot of fun. I was happy to write about what a great player and person Conway is. Thanks to Sean, Dan Fitzpatrick and Coach Ryan Swaller for your assistance.

Thanks to Art Cockerham for allowing me to use some of the photos he has taken. Go check out his photography skills on the Ludlowe Athletics Instagram.

I look forward to see where it continues to go as I look for a full-time job.

If anyone has any suggestions for what you'd like to see me write about, feel free to reach out to be on Twitter or Facebook.

Began's Perseverance Helping In Life And Basketball

Jack Began handles the ball at the top of the key (SS Photo)

Perseverance. Survivor.

Those are two words to describe Jack Began, but he is so much more than that. He is hardworking, caring, honest and so much more. The junior on the Fairfield Ludlowe boy's basketball team has fought through a lot of adversity in his life.

Jack grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin (30 miles south of Green Bay) with his parents, Sandra and Patrick, and brother Charlie.

In September of 2012, Patrick died by suicide.  In July of 2014, Jack, his mother and brother moved from Wisconsin to Fairfield, Connecticut.

Jack and his mother have both written about their experiences and I will let them tell the story. This is a focus on Jack as a basketball player and a person.

Jack played freshman basketball during the 2014-2015 for Ludlowe. His sophomore year, he made a decision to not play that year and was a student manager. He put in the work as a manager, while continuing to keep his basketball skills strong. As a manager, Jack worked with the other managers and did what was asked of him. Anytime there were people needed for a drill, Jack would jump in and play hard. He watched intently as the team practiced so he could learn the plays and terminology used by coaches John Dailey and Lawrence Richardson.

Jack could have just sat there and said, I'm not playing so I won't help any more than I have to, but that's not him. He wanted to help, he wanted to get better, he wanted to learn.

This season, Jack is back on the court and has a positive impact on his team. He is starting on junior varsity and playing as a role player off the bench for the varsity team. Even as a junior, he is showing great leadership qualities. Jack pushes everyone to work hard and makes sure people know what they are supposed to do.

The sharp shooter, Began hit a big three-pointer late in the Falcons loss against Bassick on December 21.  He is a very smart player on the court, knowing what to do and where to be on the court in certain situations.

Jack is working hard every day in practice to not only be a sharp shooter, but the best all-around player he can be so he can help the Falcons as much as possible.

Jack is also a writer and a big time sports fan. Jack has written articles on many different topics, including his father. You can check out his writing here. He roots for the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Bucks, Milwaukee Brewers, and the University of Wisconsin.

Jack will look to be a key piece for the Falcons this season.