The Staples Boys Cross Country today team defended its 2016 Class LL championship with another dominant performance.

Staples runners in action today. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

The team’s top five runners averaged 16:32 minutes over the hilly 5Km course at Wickham Park, Manchester, far ahead of second place Xavier, which averaged 16:58. 

Staples was led by senior Will Landowne, who finished fifth in 16:12. Close behind in sixth and seventh were seniors Ben Seiple and Christian Myers in 16:19 and 16:21. 

Sophomore Nick Taubenheim finished 17th in 16:54 and junior Ryan Smith was the last scoring finisher for Staples in 20th place in 16:57. 

The Staples football team tonight defeated Fairfield Warde 24-14 on Senior Night at home.  With the win, the Wreckers improved to 5-2 on the season. Staples next plays St. Joseph away at noon, Saturday, Nov. 4. Pictured is senior running back Brandon Adrian making one of his pair of of 1-yard rushing touchdowns. CLICK TO ENLARGE) Chris Greer for WestportNow.com

The Staples boys soccer team (pictured during the national anthem) today conceded two first-half goals.That was all Greenwich needed, en route to a 2-0 victory in the FCIAC tournament quarterfinals, away. The Wreckers now wait for the first round of the state LL (extra large schools) tournament. It begins Monday, Nov. 6. Seedings will be announced on Friday, Nov. 3. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Alan Frost for WestportNow.com

Will Birch, Anton Mahr and Azam Plummer scored today as the Staples boys soccer team topped St. Joseph 3-1 on Senior Day at Loeffler Field. Mahr, Matt Engler and Patricio Perez Elorza assisted.The Wreckers end the regular season 8-4-4. They turn their attention now to the FCIAC tournament when Staples plays at Greenwich on Thursday at a time to be determined. Pictured is goalkeeper Teddy O’Kane and the Staples defense mixing it up in intense goalmouth action. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Alan Frost for WestportNow.com

Saugatuck Rowing Club’s women’s youth 8+ crew today won its fourth consecutive gold medal at the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston. Pictured, (l-r) are members of the winning boat: Clara Everett, Parker Cuthbertson (Westport), Sydney Kend, Caitlin Esse, Isabelle Grosgogeat (Westport), Kelsey McGinley (Westport), Bonnie Pushner, Noelle Amlicke (Westport), Justine McGuire and SRC Junior Girls Head Coach Gordon Getsinger. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Tutti”s Restaurant on Riverside Ave. Westport today is having a fundraiser for the SoccerViza Football Club of Fairfield County. Funds are raised for local players in need of financial assistance and to help send its youth teams to Europe for one of the largest youth tournaments there called the Gothia Cup. The club was started by Joe Funicello , the son of Tutti’s owner Maria Funicello. The fundraiser runs until 6 p.m. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Bob Eckman for WestportNow.com

Staples senior quarterback Daniel Thompson gains ground tonight in the Wreckers’ 27-0 win over Norwalk at Norwalk. He scored two second half touchdowns to power the Wrecker win. Next: Staples hosts Fairfield Warde on Friday at 7 p.m.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) J.C. Martin for WestportNow.com

Two second half goals — one by Patricio Perez Elorza, the other by Timmy Liles — and a penalty kick save by Ry Cohen with the score still 1-0 powered Staples today over New Canaan. The win — coupled with Central’s 1-1 draw with Trumbull, and Ridgefield’s 5-1 defeat of Westhill — assures the Wreckers of an FCIAC playoff berth. The eight-team tournament begins Thursday. Exact seedings will be determined after Monday’s final regular season games. The Wreckers host St. Joseph (4 p.m.) on Senior Day. Pictured is Sam Lilies (19) in action.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) J.C. Martin for WestportNow.com

Staples players celebrate today after defeating Dareien 2-1 in a much-anticipated match at home. The win secures Staples home field advantage for FCIAC playoffs. Staples and Darien had played to a scoreless tie to share of the Class L state championship last season. Over the past two seasons the Wreckers are 20-0-1 at home — with the last home loss coming on Oct. 9, 2015 — against Darien. Meghan Johnson scored today’s two goals with assists from Abby Najarian and Laine Ambrose. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

The Staples High School Boys Cross Country team today won the FCIAC championship at Waveny Park in New Canaan.  In a rare feat in cross-country, Staples took first, second, and third place in the varsity race. Ben Seiple won the FCIAC championships with a time of 15:27 over the 5-kilometer course. Will Landowne finished second in 15:44 and Christian Myers was third in 15:47.  Ryan Smith and Nick Taubenheim rounded out the top five Staples runners with 13th and 14th place finishes. The team demonstrated Staples’ depth by also taking the top five places in the FCIAC JV championship race; Henry Haas led the way, followed by Morgan Fierro, Luke Lorenz, Jaden Little and AJ Zuckerman.  Jonathan Lorenz won the freshman race and Staples placed three of the top five and six of the top 15.  Now the team, which is currently ranked second in the state, will prepare to defend its Class LL title. Varsity runners pictured (l-r) are Conrad Kaplan, Will Landowne, Christian Myers, Ben Seiple, Sunil Green, Nick Taubenheim, Ryan Smith and Tyler Wright. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo