Three tri-captains of the Staples High School Field Hockey team dreamed of playing field hockey on a college level someday and now their dreams have come true. At a news conference at Staples today, they announced their college selections and signed their letters of intent. Emily Ashken (l) is going to Michigan and will major in kinesiology (exercise science) and sports management); Callie Hiner (c) is going to Georgetown where she will major in international political economy, and Misha Strage is going to Colby in Maine where she will major in psychology (she wants to work with soldiers returning home afflicted with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome). All three players and their coach, Cecily Anderson, agreed that the highlight of this season was not only winning the FCIACs for the first time in 17 years, but defeating the Darien team to break Darien’s 93-game winning streak going back to 2007. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Lynn U. Miller for WestportNow.com

The Staples boys basketball team tonight fell 79-61 to the No. 1-ranked team in the state. The St. Joe Cadets, who were state champions last year, proved to be too much for the Wreckers, snapping their four-game winning streak. The Wreckers are now 5-4 in the FCIAC while the Cadets improve to 9-0 in the FCIAC and 11-0 overall. Staples plays at home Friday at 7 p.m. when they take on Fairfield Warde. Pictured is Wrecker Peter Rankowitz driving to the hoop. Elaine Rankowitz for WestportNow.com

Crowds gathered at Westport neighborhood bars today to view the NFL championship football games. Pictured are fans at Dunville’s during the first half of the American Football League championship game between the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots. New England won the game 23-20 while the New York Giants later defeated the San Francisco 49ers 20-17 in overtime, setting up a Patriots-Giants match in Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday, Feb. 5.Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Staples senior Vasili Tziolis (5) looks for an opening tonight as the Staples boys basketball team beat Darien 58-45 at home. Mike Argosh led the Wreckers with 15 points, Pete Rankowitz contributed 14. The Wreckers improve to 5-3 in the FCIAC and Darien drops to 1-7.  The Wreckers take on one of the top teams in the state Tuesday when they travel to undefeated St. Joe’s (7-0)  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Elaine Rankowitz for WestportNow.com

Jake Malowitz was a starting defender on the 2010 team that won national academic honors. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Carl McNair for WestportNow.com

For the eighth time in 11 years, the Staples boys soccer program has been honored with a national award for academic excellence.

The National Soccer Coaches Association of America gave the Wreckers a Team Academic Award — one of only three boys soccer teams in Connecticut to be so named.

To qualify, a squad must have a 3.25 grade point average of all varsity players. The award is given for the previous academic year.  In 2010, Staples’ 25 varsity players had an average GPA of 3.38. That was .01 higher than the previous year’s award-winning squad.

“I’ve always said that our players are some of the smartest and most creative people at Staples,” said head coach Dan Woog. “We want our guys to be as strong in the classroom as they are on the field. 

The Staples Girls Ice Hockey Team will present its first annual alumnae game Sunday from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Longshore skating rink. Besides friends and familes, organizers encouraged younger girls to come see what girls’ hockey is all about.There will be a skate-around with the team as well. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Joey Zelkowitz carries the ball for Westport’s Staples High School football against Xavier for the class LL championship in East Hartford tonight as the Wreckers lost to the Falcons 42-7. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Douglas Healey for WestportNow.com