Staples track coach Laddie Lawrence (l.) gives instructions to participants in today’s two-mile third annual Staples Alumni Run at Compo Beach. About 100 Staples students, parents and alumni participated in the fun run in 25-degree weather to raise money for the Laddie Lawrence Scholarship Fund which benefits a needy Staples athlete. Andrew Yemma for WestportNow.com

Members of the Staples High School track team line up in advance of a one-mile run at today’s first Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference (FCIAC) qualifier of the indoor season.  Coach Peter Van Hagen gives them pointers. Three more qualifier meets will be held in January. Andrew Yemma for WestportNow.com

Parents of Staples High School track team members await customers at their concession stand during today’s first FCIAC qualifier of the indoor season. Proceeds from the sales support the track team. Andrew Yemma for WestportNow.com

He missed his last game at UConn due to an injury, but Westports Sean Mulcahy will play in a posteason all-star game that serves as a showcase for NFL scouts.

The 2000 Staples grad will play in the Blue-Grey game on Christmas in Troy, Ala., according to todayҒs Middletown Press.

The 6-6, 295-pound defensive tackle started in 37 straight games for the Huskies before having the streak ended in the final game of the season at Wake Forest due to a recurring neck injury.

Mulcahy recorded 37 tackles and four sacks this season. He played in all 45 games during his career before the neck injury, from which he has fully recovered, according to coach Randy Edsall.

Staples football Coach Marce Petroccio, coming off of a 13-1 season that saw the team win the FCIAC title and end up in the state championships, has issued a public expression of thanks to the community for its support.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their tremendous support this year,Ӕ he said in a message posted Tuesday on the Staples football Web site.

Flashback: Coach Marce Petroccio with senior Jimmy Hughes in September. WestportNow.com photo

Students, teachers, administrators, parents and the community have been such a big part of our success.
“The coaches on this staff have done an incredible job and are without a doubt the best assistants in the country. We couldn’t have done it without them.
ӓAlthough things didn’t turn out quite the way we would have liked, nothing can take away the tremendous spirit of our young men.
The trust, loyalty and unselfishness that was exhibited time and time again this season by our players are lessons we can all learn from.
ӓTo them, the program always came first. Their unselfishness is what I am most proud of. They are a tremendous group who learned a lot about themselves and each other.
You can’t learn these lessons from a book or a computer, you learn them through experience.
ӓFinally, I know the memories of yesterdays (MondayҒs) game are painful, but in time we will talk about all of your unbelievable accomplishments and how you rallied an entire town together for 14 weeks. I love you men.