Successful Friday

I knew it would be a busy, crazy day. I just hoped things would go smooth. 

For the most part, yes, they did. 

First off, we had the winter Pep Rally at Ludlowe. 

While I wasn't running it, I was more involved from an Athletics and Nest Advisor standpoint, as our Athletic Director, Todd Parness, was at an Athletic Director's Conference. 

There were also a lot of additions from Pep Rally's we have done in the past. It wasn't just sports team, but clubs and other school groups were added. 

This made for more teamwork and planning, but everyone worked together to get all the students' recognition they deserve. Yes, I'm a sports person, but we have so many other great groups at the high school also. 

Big shout out to Head Principal Dr. Greg Hatzis for the overall leadership and oversight. 

Great work by Nick Albano and the drum line. Fun addition to the music that The Nest plays throughout the event. 

Speaking of music, thanks to Jack Bilotta for helping to play the music between groups. 

The Nest Leaders, way to lead the Pep Rally. Scotty, Stuart, Kiera, Katherine and Kayleigh. Tremendous work. 

The Nest Leaders

All the other club advisors, student leaders and captains, good job promoting your clubs, groups and teams. 

I know there was a lot of prep work that was done by Todd and Greg, as well as the student council advisors.

Very pleased with how the Pep Rally went, especially considering there were many changes from the past. Hopefully, we make a few tweaks, and the next ones are even better. 

Then it was on to the season opener for Ludlowe boys' basketball at Bullard Havens. 

This was a matchup against former Ludlowe assistant coach Lawrence Richardson, who is the head coach of the Tigers. That made for some added fun. It was great to catch up with Lawrence before and after the game. 

As for the game, it was a tight first half, with Ludlowe up 32-31 at the break. The Falcons were able to break it open in the second half and came away with a 68-48 victory. 

Ludlowe was led by the Mahoney brothers as Tate had 21 points and Charlie had 19. It was a great team win with contributions from seniors through freshman. 

Good start to the season. Lots of basketball to play. 

A long but successful day. 

 

Basketball Season

New floor this year in the Ludlowe gym

I'm sure I'm unfortunately going to make this post way too much about myself, when that's the exact opposite of what I want. As part of the blog, it seems to happen way too often. 

Seasons change. 

The actual season and sports seasons. 

We have finished the Fall high school sports season and are on to winter. 

Some sports are already underway and others start up tomorrow. 

For me, other than my real work with all the sports, that means being around Ludlowe boys basketball once again. 

Head Coach John Dailey calls me the "Director of Basketball Operations." 

Every year I tell John you can tell me he doesn't want me around, or at least as much, but he always tells me to keep coming around. I love it. 

Great coaches and great kids. I'm excited to watch this group this year. A good mix of upperclassman and younger guys who will be out there competing every day. Lots of great athletes and even better people who I enjoy being around. 

But what do I really do? A lot of different things. 

Helping the coaches, players, team managers and others. Just doing whatever is needed. 

Whether that means running the clock, getting equipment out and set up, or jumping into a drill. Those are just a few of the things I might be doing on a daily basis. 

Then during games, it might be doing the clock or scorebook, during varsity and/or junior varsity and freshman games. Or it could be more of just watching and being around if needed. Sometimes, especially for sub-varsity, it's sitting on the bench and helping out in ways there. Often that is just talking to players, in good time and bad, when they come out of a game. 

Some of the same things I did when I was the student manager and some other things as well. I really try not to overstep on the current managers just because I have certain ways of doing things, but I try to teach and help out however I can. 

Then sometimes it's doing things behind the scenes such as making copies, making film reservations, etc. I also end up being the photographer for random group photos when they aren't being taken by parents or professional photographers. 

As I said I was afraid I would, I've made this way too much about me when it's about the players. I just enjoy helping out any way I can. 

Once basketball ends, it will be baseball season. There could even be some overlap. Looking forward to all of it! 

See you in late June! 

Time to get going! 

Basketball and Music

Chuck's In London playing at PorchFest Black Rock 2023

Another summer of coaching Ludlowe JV summer league basketball came to an end on Friday night. 

We made it to the championship game, before falling to Stratford. 

The details of the game aren't relevant. It's summer league. 

It's a great group of kids who play really hard. Lots of talented athletes too.

I was beating myself up for some of my coaching moves (and non-moves) but the wins and loses don't really matter. I'm just extremely competitive and always want to win. 

It's about the kids getting to play together and hopefully they are getting better for tryouts and the season. 

Fall league is up next. 

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Went over to Black Rock's PorchFest this afternoon. Per their Facebook page, PorchFests are the next big thing in summer festivals. Across the country, fun-loving communities are hosting PorchFests, grassroots music festivals in which residents hosts performers on their front porches for a fun-filled afternoon of music. 

We (me and my parents) went in large part because I knew that my friend (and fellow Ludlowe baseball coach) Tommy Howell and his band, Chucks in London, were playing. 

I wanted to go support Tommy and it was great to hear him play. It was also great to see so many people I know who were there to watch. Some who I haven't seen in years, and others I've seen recently. From guys my own age, and around my age, to parents of Ludlowe and Warde students, to others I know from many different parts of life. 

It's no surprise that I'm not a huge music person but it was a fun community event and even made me feel like I had somewhat of a life (outside of sports) for an hour or so. 

Maybe I need to get out from either my house or Ludlowe//Warde and other high school/youth sports more often. Not to say I don't have fun with Ludlowe/Warde and youth sports, but there can be more of a balance and not make my entire life work as much. 

I always say I know too many people and today was a good example of that. It was good to do something that wasn't sports related too. 

Summer of Sports (What else would you expect)

Cubeta Stadium prior to Legion playoff game versus Stamford

So, the summer is basically over. I could have written this weeks ago, or I could wait to write this. It all depends on how you define the summer. Many people have unofficial ends of summer before the official end. 

With students back in Fairfield schools tomorrow, it sort of feels like this is the end of the summer. I was working all summer for the first time since working in the schools. Even if I hadn't been, I still would have been back to work a week and a half ago as a 10 1/2 month employee. I'm excited for the students to be back. It's too quiet around the building(s)without them all summer. 

It was a summer of work and watching baseball. A lot of baseball. 

I already wrote about the communications work I did for Fairfield American Legion baseball.

Legion bucket hat for the win. 

Towards the end of that, I wrote a feature for the Fairfield Citizen/Hearst on members of Legion and former Warde players, Phil and Edmund Hogan. 

In between Legion, I joined Rob Adams for some little league baseball at Unity Park in Trumbull. We (well, mostly Rob and I just tag along) were asked to do Fairfield National little league baseball. We called a couple of their district games before they were eliminated, including some against Fairfield American. 

How Rob tries to keep the equipment (and himself) out of the rain 

Rob also did a Babe Ruth Championship game at Unity then Rob and I watched some of Fairfield American and Trumbull little league. It was a little weird watching the game as a spectator from the outfield. I am always used to doing something during a game. I'm not going to lie, I am not good at just watching a game. 

Everyone knows my passion for Fairfield sports so it was tough when Rob and I were standing amongst the Trumbull fans. After a couple innings, I had to go over to the Fairfield side, where I also got to chat with a number of people I know. 

A week or so later, I joined Rob for the Babe Ruth baseball New England Regional tournament at Trumbull High School. Always a blast doing those tournaments even if I had to bounce in and out do to work and some other commitments, including Legion. 

Unofficially "Rob's Corner" of the Trumbull HS press box

One of the great things about these tournaments is the relationships we make with families, those working the tournament (who are often families of players) and even sometimes, getting to know the athletes a bit. I know Rob had a few interactions with a couple of them, 

There was a little more baseball I watched also. I went over to Kiwanis a couple times to watch the Fairfield Nationals 13U travel team play. In one of the times I saw them, they played the CT Rage (formerly Fairfield Rage) which has many Fairfield kids on it. I went in large part because Ludlowe baseball head coach Ken Geriak mentioned it, as he's a coach and his son Tyler is on the team. 

One of the coaches of the Nationals is Carl Pavano. Yes, Carl Pavano the former Yankees pitcher, among other teams. 

It was also another year of coaching Ludlowe's JV summer league basketball team. It's an hour a week summer league game, but the competitor in me takes it way too seriously. I have a blast doing it but I also realize the players don't get the most teaching out of it they might with others. I'm not going to be giving them plays offensively to run. I want them to play hard, play defense, move the ball offensively and work to get the best possessions possible. My biggest thing is subs, timeouts, and trying to be a positive influence. I did not expect to write this whole long paragraph about this either. 

Sure, other things went on this summer, but are they worth getting into. Probably not, for a number of reasons. It was a fun, exciting summer for some, and a tougher summer for others. Or for many others, it was an average summer. So many factors and also point of view. 

Good luck to all the 2022 high school grads who are off to college or other post-high school plans. 

Excited for another year of high school sports. Lots of fall sports, then winter and spring and I am excited for all of it. However, personally, I am always extra excited for Ludlowe basketball and Ludlowe baseball. 

Let the school year begin. 

Basketball, Including a Record, and Hockey

Ludlowe's Cooper Dailey and team after setting single game scoring record. 

I had something similar to what I am going to write about planned, but the events of the day changed it somewhat. 

Today is FCIAC quarterfinal Saturday for boys basketball. Also known as "Super Saturday." It's the four quarterfinal games all at Fairfield Warde. It's always a fun day of basketball, one of my favorite days of the high school sports year. 

However, I had a decision to make. Ludlowe boys basketball was playing Maloney in the regular season finale as it was a makeup from a game that was postponed due to snow in January. 

Well, I did think briefly, but my loyalty to my Ludlowe guys won out. I was disappointed to miss the FCIAC games, but felt I should be at the Ludlowe season finale, as I'm around all season helping out. 

Well am I happy with my decision! 

Not only did Ludlowe win the game, but senior Cooper Dailey, in his final high school game, set a new school record with 38 points. The previous high was set by Kevin Bentivegna, who had 35 points against New Canaan as a senior during the 2010-2011 season. 

Dailey had 20 in the first half, just two in the third quarter, and then 16 in the fourth quarter. He was able to get to the rim and convert. A lot of that off the dribble, but some off of off-ball cuts to the hoop and great passes from his teammates. 

As I mentioned, this game was the senior finale for Ludlowe. Best of luck to the seven seniors, Cooper Dailey, Charlie Began, Matt Vivona, Lucca Iannone, Michael Loya, Stephen Keating and Ronny Labraciano, as well as senior manager Blake Kleinberg. Great kids who have bright futures ahead of them. 

In the FCIAC games, Westhill defeated St. Joe's and Wilton took down Danbury in the early games. In the nightcap, Warde edged Staples and Ridgefield beat Greenwich. 

Westhill will play Wilton in the FCIAC semifinals on Tuesday at 6pm at Wilton. Warde and Ridgefield will face off in the later game at Wilton at 7:45. The games can be seen on Local Live. 

Cooper Dailey sets the new @LudloweHoops school record with 38 points. The previous high was 35 set in 2010-2011 season. #ctbb @GameTimeCT @DaveRuden @double5 pic.twitter.com/sL6LMe6UyI

— Shawn Sailer (@ShawnSailer) February 26, 2022

My nightcap consisted of the Fairfield/Stamford FCIAC boys hockey quarterfinals. Fairfield won by a 4-1 score. 

The Mustangs got on the board first with a goal by Charlie Swanson. Stamford tied it up at one after the first period. Fairfield got a goal back in the second on a power-play goal by Noah Kingsly to take a 2-1 lead heading to the final period. The Mustangs added two insurance goals in the third, both by Matt Jankovsky. 

Fairfield will be back in action on Wednesday as they host New Canaan in the FCIAC semifinals at 7:30pm at Wonderland of Ice in Bridgeport. 

Ludlowe/Warde Hoops, Pandemic Edition

The girls game courtesy of the NFHS Network

We are so used to big crowds for rivalry sporting events. The atmosphere is a large part of what makes the game an event. Well this year, obviously crowds are minimal or  non-existent. 

Ludlowe/Warde basketball took place on Saturday afternoon. It's a day and an event I look forward to every year. This year the girls game took place at 12pm at Warde and the boys game at 2:30pm at Ludlowe. So not your traditional doubleheader between the Falcons and Mustangs, but still a doubleheader in a sense. For all other games this winter, only home parents are allowed (no other fans). 

For these in-town rivalry games, parents from both schools were allowed. This at least made the gym less quiet, but the atmosphere was still different, with the student sections noticeably missing.

In terms of the games, Ludlowe swept the doubleheader. The girls took down the Mustangs by a 66-41 score. The Falcons were led by Juliet Bucher and Laura Herron, who each had 11 points and Anna Paulmann who had 10 points (thanks to the Ludlowe girls basketball Twitter for the stats.)

The Ludlowe boys defeated the Mustangs by a 48-37 score. James Mockler led the Falcons with 16 points. Erik Leonard added 12 points and Connor Lawlor also finished in double figures with 11 points. For Warde, Damian Vial had 15 points. 

It was great to have the gyms somewhat lively again. Can't wait until we are able to have the gyms packed and rocking with fans, including students, again. At least today felt like we are getting back to some normalcy. 

Ludlowe-Warde is a game I both love and hate. It's a ton of fun but as I've said many times, it's difficult not to show any emotion. Four great coaches and people in these games with John Dailey, Sara Kinsley, Ryan Swaller and Dave Danko. 

A few more weeks of the season. Hopefully everyone can make the most of a crazy season and then on to spring sports. 

Also, as a side note, the lack of media covering the games were disappointing. I know Aiden Blanc and the Falcon Sports Network (Ludlowe's student broadcasting club) were at the girls game and called the boys game remotely, but disappointing not to see any print media covering these games.  There's a longer post here, maybe for another time, but two thing here. As Rob Adams, Mike Hirn and I have discussed, all these broadcasts should have announcers on them. It's a much better presentation and the kids deserve it. Also, these games should all be covered. The media (writers, broadcasters, etc) are important and work hard to promote students and student-athletes.  

Thank You....Ludlowe Basketball

In December, I wrote about my experiences about being a student manager for Ludlowe basketball and baseball.

The 2016-2017 Ludlowe basketball season came to an end last night. 

Since graduating high school in 2013, I have still been around the teams....a lot.  It's been a blast.

Due the the fact that I'm graduating college in May, I'm going to need to get a job. That being said, I realize that last night is probably the last time I will be around the basketball program on a close to everyday basis.

Who knows, depending on a job I get, if I will still go to some games, or even if I might be covering the teams.

With that being said, many people to thank.

 First off, Josh Marko, who was the basketball coach and I managed freshman baseball for him. I never managed basketball for him as he resigned, but I never would have thought of managing basketball if it wasn't for Coach Marko asking me about it.

Brian Silvestro, who was the varsity head coach for the three years I was the manager. He was not only a coach, who I enjoyed helping out and doing whatever was needed. He became a friend and someone who would (and still does) push me with school work and other life things.

John Dailey, thank you for allowing me to continue to be around the program after I graduated when you took over as varsity coach.

To all the other coaches, sub-varsity and volunteer assistants...Thank you.

Alex Borusso, Kevin Mason, Kieran Kilbride, Colin Sullivan and Jack Began. All of these people (sorry if I missed anyone) were varsity managers at one point or another in the last four years. Thank you for allowing me to hang and help you guys out. Sorry if I did too much. You guys were fantastic and I can't think of better successors.

To all the players, from guys like Kevin Bentivegna and Erik Krumins, who were seniors my first year, through this years team, thank you for allowing me to be a part of the team

This is a program that I am so thankful for being a part of. I'll always have the managers pride and I'll always follow this program.

Baseball season ahead. Falcon Pride forever!