Chris Halstead: repeat champ. Emory University photoWestport’s Chris Halstead, a senior at Emory University, helped lead the school to its second consecutive second-place finish at the NCAA Division III national championships in Holland, Mich.

Halstead, who turns 22 next month, defended his national title in the 200-yard backstroke becoming the second Eagle from the Atlanta, Ga., school to repeat as a national champion.

His time of 1:48.98 seconds is the fourth-fastest time in school history behind three of his own. He now holds all 10 of the top 10 times in Emory record book.

Halstead set a school record by earning six All-American certificates at the national meet. He earned three individual certificates and three for relay events.

Bedford Middle School teacher Kathy Sharp goes up for a lay-up during the annual faculty vs. eighth grade student basketball game Friday night at Bedford. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Julia Mally for WestportNow.com

Top-seeded Manchester proved too much Saturday night for the Staples girls basketball team, overpowering the Lady Wreckers 70-44 in the quarterfinals of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference Class LL tournament. Playing at Sheehan High School in Wallingford, undefeated Manchester improved to 22-0 on the season while Staples finished with a 17-7 record.

Staples junior Remi Ray (No.767) moves on the outside into the lead in the 600-meter race to finish first at the New England Indoor Track Championship Friday night in Boston. Ted Sullivan/Staplesrunning.com photo

Staples junior Remi Ray runs the anchor leg of the boys 4×400 meter relay at Friday night’s New England Indoor Track Championship in Boston. The Wreckers finished sixth in the event. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Ted Sullivan/Staplesrunning.com photo

At Friday night’s New England Indoor Track and Field Championships in Boston, the Staples 4 x 400 relay team (l to r) of Will Caffrey, Jason Hanrahan, Remi Ray and Rob Stewart placed sixth by running this seasons best time of 3:28.66. The four athletes were named All-New England and plan to compete this coming weekend at the National Scholastic Indoor Championships. Ted Sullivan/Staplesrunning.com photo

The Lady Wreckers overpowered Simsbury 61-43 tonight at home to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2005 Division LL Basketball Tournament. Marilyn Smith for WestportNow.com

Staples sophomore Kelly Romano shoots and lands a foul shot in tonights girlsҒ basketball playoff game. Dominating in every second of the game, the Lady Wreckers defeated Simsbury 61-43. Staples goes on to play Manchester in the next round of playoffs. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Madeleine Roche for WestportNow.com

The Staples Girls Basketball team continued their winning ways in the Staples gym tonight by defeating Simsbury High School 61-43.
Moving up: Lady Wreckers advance to quarter-finals. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

With the victory, the Lady Wreckers advance to the quarterfinals of the
2005 Division LL Basketball Tournament.

Staples’ stingy defense, and 22 points and eight rebounds from Kelly Romano were keys to the win. The game marked the final home performances from senior co-captains Jackie Printz and Michelle Shea.

On Saturday, Staples will take on Manchester High School, an 83-48 winner over Newtown. Manchester promises to be quite a challenge, as they are undefeated and the top ranked team in the state.

The game will take place at 7:45 p.m. at Sheehan High School in Wallingford.

With their 68-57 victory Tuesday night over Bunnell High School, the Staples Lady Wreckers basketball team advanced into the “Sweet 16” of the Division LL of the Connecticut State Girls Basketball Tournament.

The teams moves on to play Simsbury High School, which upset Farmington on a last second basket 44-43. Staples is the ninth seed in the tournament and Simsbury is the 25th.

Because the Wreckers are the higher seeded team, the game will take place Thursday night in the Staples gym at 7 p.m.

The game will be broadcast on the Staples student station, WWPT, 90.3 FM at 6:50 p.m. with Staples students Greg Kaplan and Patrick Toole calling the action.