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‘A Perfect 14-0’: New Canaan Girls Golf Wins FCIAC and CIAC Crowns

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Typically, when a four-time state champion-winning coach steps away from a program, there is a lengthy rebuilding period. It can take time to return to glory. 

Yet, that is not the case for the New Canaan High School Girls Golf program. 

The girls’ success hasn’t missed a beat since Head Coach Priscilla Schultz stepped down two years ago and was replaced by current Head Coach Bill Brown. Brown is now the coach of both the boys’ and girls’ golf teams, and came to the girls’ side with abundant championship pedigree, having won 10 state championships and six FCIAC championships as the Boys Golf Head Coach. So, it seems fitting that in his second year with the girls Brown capped off a season in which his team went undefeated, winning both the county and state championships. Brown described the transition to being head coach as “seamless” due to the shared culture that exists within the golf programs. 

“Even though we have boys and girls golf teams, we are all a part of New Canaan Golf.

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‘Competitiveness and Fight’: NCHS Boys Basketball Narrowly Defeats Rival Darien

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When the final shot went up, the final whistle blew and the final buzzer sounded, the New Canaan High School students began to stream onto the court as their team’s win became official. The shaky start to the Rams’ season was put into the rearview mirror and replaced by total elation engulfing the NCHS gym. On Friday, the New Canaan Boys Basketball team defeated their rival, Darien, 49-47. The victory was the Rams’ second win in FCIAC play and improved their overall record to 5-8. The win marks the Rams’ fifth straight victory in the boy’s basketball edition of the rivalry, extending their streak of dominance over the Blue Wave. 

As in any New Canaan-Darien matchup, the game was an instant classic in front of a packed crowd that seemed to be on its feet the entire night. 

“The crowd was electrifying,” senior captain Teddy Whittaker said.

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‘It’s Something You’ve Dreamt About’: Rams Football Wins State Championship

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On Saturday, December 9th, the New Canaan Rams defeated the Darien Blue Wave 28-21 to win their 2nd straight Class L Championship and 14th CIAC championship. The win “shows how hard we worked throughout the year, and it is amazing to be able to see that work pay off,” according to junior quarterback Luke Robinson. 

“The seniors on the team and their leadership were a big reason why we were able to reach our goals, and I’m glad we were able to send them off the right way,” Robinson said. The game was instantly historic, but to truly understand the story of the Rams’ remarkable season, we must return to their first game. On September 8th, barely two weeks into the new school year, the reigning state-champion Rams traveled to face the Shelton Gaels. Expectations were high, with GameTimeCT ranking New Canaan as the preseason number-two team in the state.

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‘A Culture of Belonging and Hard Work’: NCHS Girls Cross-Country Wins Another State Championship

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In a town of football, basketball and lacrosse—where other sports sometimes are cast aside—a juggernaut has been growing before our eyes. 

An undefeated regular season last year, top-three finishes in the last three FCIAC Championships, and two state championships in the last five years: The New Canaan High School Girls Cross-Country Team is in a golden age. Beginning with a state championship in 2019—the team’s first since 2001—the squad has not stopped winning. 

Head Coach Jeffrey Brentson, who came from Brien McMahon in 2015, is a major reason for the success. A track coach since 1997, Brentson brought experience and knowledge to New Canaan’s running teams that changed the culture of the sport. 

“I tried to build up the intensity and competition within the team,” Brentson said. “Before, the girls treated the sport as just something to put on the resume, so we had to emphasize the idea that we should be competing and trying to win.”

And win they have. 

Since 2016, the girls have a regular season record of 87-25 (.777) to accompany the aforementioned postseason success. “We have built up a strong group of serious girls who place winning as their first priority, and are really a no-nonsense team,” Brentson said.

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‘I Love the Challenge’: The Rigor of New Canaan Multi-Sport Athletes 

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NBA players have 192 days in their off-season. The NFL has 242. These are days, weeks, and months of rest and recovery that many athletes need to perform their best. 

Yet for many high school athletes, this is not the case. 

These athletes don’t have any days off. They don’t get these precious weeks of rejuvenation between seasons. If they want to reach their dreams and aspirations in multiple sports, these athletes are asked, required, to not lift their foot off the gas until they look up and a new year is beginning.