Westport’s John Baumann has earned Ivy League Rookie of the Week honors for games ending Sunday, according to the Web site collegesports.com.

Baumann led his Columbia University basketball team in scoring this weekend, averaging 15.5 points per game and four rebounds per game in just over 20 minutes per contest. The 2004 Staples grad shot 13-of-16 from the floor for a blistering .813 percentage.

He totaled 14 points in 24 minutes vs. Princeton and finished with 17 points in 17 minutes vs. Penn. Baumann has now scored in double-figures in three consecutive contests. In each of the three, he established new career-highs, with 17 points vs. Penn being his best yet.

This is the first weekly honor for Baumann, but the fourth for a Columbia rookie this season. Columbia plays its final two games this weekend, when they travel to Brown on Friday and Yale on Saturday.

By Ed Friedland

The Wreckers’ season ended on a high note tonight, as Staples defeated Darien by a score of 53 - 40. The JV and Freshmen also posted victories.
Staples senior boys: (l-r) Wes Lemon, Pete Friedland, Sean Milligan Dave Altschuler, and Mike Bruno. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

For the first time this season, the varsity led from start to finish. In the first quarter, the Wreckers were paced with solid three point shooting from Brian Levine and Wes Lemon.

More importantly, the Darien offense, and its leading scoring Brendan Sullivan, was kept in check with swarming team defense. Sullivan was held well below his season average of 25 points per game.

In the second quarter, after Staples went up by 12, Darien tried to make a run, and closed the gap to six points. Staples, however, scored the last four points to take a 30 - 20 lead into halftime.

The Staples wrestling team took part in the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference Class L tournament today in Bristol. Here Pete Menchaca gets the best of a rival in his 119 match. The Wreckers came in 20th in the team standings. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Chip Stephens for WestportNow.com

The Staples girls varsity basketball team edged Danbury 54-47 in a must-win game tonight. Tied at No. 3 in the FCIAC standings, Staples dominated in the second half to retain its ranking. Here junior Liz Hood (No. 2) reaches over for a rebound in the second half. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Madeleine Roche for WestportNow.com

Staples junior Remi Ray powers ahead in the 4×400 relay Saturday night at the New Haven Athletic Center as the Wreckers boys indoor track team captured its sixth straight state title, winning the Class L championship. Ray shattered the Class L record in the 600 meters and anchored the 4×400 relay that broke another state record. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Betsey Lebow for WestportNow.com

The Staples boys indoor track team engages in some playful finger-pointing with coach Laddie Lawrence after winning its sixth straight state championship Saturday night at the New Haven Athletic Center. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Betsey Lebow for WestportNow.com

Junior Annie Sullivan helps the Staples girls indoor track team win the 1600 sprint medley Saturday night at the New Haven Athletic Center. Sullivan took second in the 1000 meters as the team came in eighth in the competition. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Betsey Lebow for WestportNow.com

The Staples boys track team won top honors at today’s Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference (FCIAC) Boys Indoor Track and Field Championships held at Staples. The Wreckers’ record 12th FCIAC championship was won with 98 points, 20 points better than defending champion Danbury. Staples won its last championship 12 years ago when it was a co-champion with Danbury. The Staples students are in the back row of this group picture of all first- and second-place winners at the meet. Meanwhile, in a nearby gym, the Staples wrestling team defeated four other teams to sweep a five-team meet, improving to 19-12 on the season. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Betsey Lebow for WestportNow.com

Westport News reporter Kirk Lang linked up in June 2001 with a much more mellow looking Ron Artest, the Indiana Pacers player who was among five players charged today for fighting in the stands and on the court at the end of a game against the Detroit Pistons last month. He was suspended for 72 games. Artest, who went after fans when a cup of beer was poured on him, stands to lose $5 million from the incident. He has appealed the financial penalty levied against him. Contributed photo