Category: Sports - Page 106

Sunday, October 18, 2026

More Than 100 in Preston Hirten Soccer Tourney

More than 100 participants gathered at Westport’s Wakeman Soccer Field today for the fourth annual Preston Hirten Memorial Soccer Tournament to honor the memory of Westporter Preston J. Hirten, a 2007 Staples High School graduate, who collapsed and died Aug. 18, 2009 while practicing with his University of Mary Washington teammates in Fredericksburg, Va. (See WestportNow Aug. 18, 2009). The event which attracts former and current soccer players, included a group of 20 from the University of Mary Washington, according to Matt Lamb, an organizer of the annual tournament, who was Hirtin’s teammate at Staples. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Collecting Soccer Equipment for Ghana

This year’s Preston Hirten Soccer Tournament today at Staples High School included collecting soccer equipment which will be sent to Ghana as part of the Goals 4 Ghana program in which Hirten was a hands-on volunteer in Ghana in the year prior to his death. Today’s attendees included Chicago resident Mark Eckerle, (l), co-founder in 2009 of Goals 4 Ghana. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Remembering a Staples Soccer Player

Scenes from today’s Preston Hirten Soccer Tournament at Staples High School.Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Friday, July 5th, 2013

Deford to Receive Humanities Medal from Obama

By James Lomuscio

Celebrated author and sportswriter Frank Deford, a 39-year Westport resident who moved with his wife Carol to Manhattan just a month ago, is scheduled to receive the National Humanities Medal from President Obama in the White House’s East Room on Wednesday.

Frank Deford addresses the 2010 Arts Advisory Committee award ceremony in Westport Town Hall where he was among honorees. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

“I was stunned when I found out in April I would be receiving it,” Deford said today, two days after the White House announced the award. “I was still living in Westport at the time.

“I was naturally thrilled and pretty humbled by it, looking at the others being honored,” he added. “It’s not the sort of thing you imagine at all, and I have no idea how the nominating process works.”

DeFord is one of 12 of the 2012 National Humanities Award winners, including author Joan Didion, William G. Bowen, president of Princeton, DeFord’s alma mater, Class of 1962, former Poet Laureate Marilynne Robinson and author Robert Putnam, best known for his work “Bowling Alone.”

Former Champ is George Buck Winner

Phyllis Trefz, a former club champion, won medalist honors over Linda Clair, former Longshore Women’s Golf Association (LWGA) president, in the recent LWGA George Buck Tournament.

Winner Phyllis Trefz (l) is congratulated by Linda Clair. Contributed photo

After a qualifying round, the top 16 players advanced to match play competition over a three-week stretch.

The final match was decided at 3-and-2.

The tournament, which began in 1962 and is one of the marquee events of the LWGA, is named after the club’s longtime professional, who died in 1991.

Friday, June 28th, 2013

Champs

The 8U Westport All Star team tonight won the championship in a Trumbull tournament, defeating Weston 13-10. Proudly showing their trophies: (top row, l-r) Head coach Jeff Green, Coach Louis Alfero, Coach Tony Lantier, Coach Jeff Schwartz; (middle row) Allyson Currier, Katie McGillion-Moore, Ava Vincini, Eliza Lang, Allison Schwartz; (bottom row) Gaby Lantier, Amanda Green, Sydelle Bernstein, Madeline Hill, Grace Alfero,and Morgan Carnahan. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Sunday, June 23rd, 2013

Fairfield Half Marathon Returns to Westport

UPDATE The Fairfield Half Marathon returned to Westport roadways today after an absence of several years. The entrants, topped at 5,000, are seen on Greens Farms Road about to turn on to New Creek Road at the Green’s Farms Metro-North station. Men’s winner was Eric Chirchir of Kenya in 1:05:58. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Saturday, June 22nd, 2013

Fairfield County Hunt Club Grand Prix Winner—Again

Sydney Shulman, 18, of Greenwich, who has been riding since the age of 3, today won the $25,000 Grand Prix at the June Benefit Horse Show aboard HH Narcos du Marais at the Fairfield County Hunt Club in Westport. The horse is owned by her mother, Jill Shulman, owner of Back Country Farm in Greenwich. It was the second year in a row that Sydney won the event. The competition ended the five-day event benefiting the EQUUS Foundation which concluded with a luncheon. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com

Monday, June 17th, 2013

Preston Hirten Memorial Soccer Tournament Set

Preston Hirten: annual soccer tournament in his honor. Staplessoccer.com photoSoccer players are set to honor the memory of Westporter Preston J. Hirten, a 2007 Staples High School graduate, by playing “the game loved so much” on Saturday, July 6, at 11 a.m. at Wakeman Fields, according to his mother, Lisa Hirten.

Hirten, a midfielder, collapsed and died Aug. 18, 2009 while practicing with his University of Mary Washington teammates in Fredericksburg, Va. (See WestportNow Aug. 18, 2009)

His mother said the 2013 Preston Hirten Memorial Soccer Tournament, designed “for high school and older players from Fairfield County area,” marks the fourth year of an event in his honor.

Last year more than 100 participated, and alumni and current players from Staples, Mary Washington and the Beachside Soccer Club are expecetd to play. There is no charge to participate. For further information, contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Champs

The Westport Little League AA Twins are celebrating an undefeated season. The team won the championship on Saturday, beating the Devil Rays 10-5. Head coach was David Kass and assistant coaches were Mark Shapiro and Ron Tarsy. Pictured (bottom row l-r) Max Goldenberg, Chase Hynes, Jason Kass, Joseph Kane, George Kocadag; (top row l-r) Alex Laskin, Scott Kosakowski, Rory Tarsy, Jeffrey Shapiro, Troy Askinos; coaches (l-r) Mark Shapiro, David Kass, and Ron Tarsy. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo