Bob VanDerheyden

‘It Was Wonderful’: NCHS Legend Bob VanDerheyden Steps Down After Calling Rams Football Games for 65 Years

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Bob VanDerheyden started out calling Rams basketball games as a New Canaan High School sophomore. The son of the sports director at WSTC-AM in Stamford, he’d always been around radio and loved it. 

“I did a lot of things with dad, going around the Little League games and high school football games,” the 1960 NCHS graduate recalled on an afternoon this week from his home outside Scranton, Pa. “And it occurred to me that I’ll do the PA [public address] at the basketball game. So I did a couple of basketball games. And [NCHS Football Coach] Joe Sikorski thought that was pretty neat.

News

NCHS Boys Soccer Notches 2-1 Victory Over Ludlowe

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In a thrilling soccer match that left fans on the edge of their seats, the New Canaan High School Rams Soccer Varsity team emerged victorious Tuesday with a hard-fought 2-1 win over the formidable Farfield Ludlowe Falcons. The game was a rollercoaster of emotions, featuring outstanding performances, incredible teamwork, and remarkable saves that made it an unforgettable contest. Senior Captain and midfielder Augusto Baldini scored both goals for his team, with two crucial assists from Senior Captain and forward Jack Cuda. Josef Gashi, New Canaan’s goalkeeper, had three outstanding saves within a mere five-minute span. 

While the Rams showcased their prowess in offense, their defense was equally commendable. The Falcons applied relentless pressure in the first part of the second half, creating several promising chances.

Board of Selectmen

Construction of New Features at Dunning Stadium To Start in June

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Construction is expected to start toward the end of June for new features at Dunning Stadium, including an entranceway, ticket booth and “Donor Wall,” officials say. It’s unclear just when power will be run to another widely anticipated feature—a new press box, according to New Canaan Athletic Foundation Chairman Mike Benevento. However, the stadium’s PA system will be functioning through this coming fall football season as well as New Canaan High School graduation 2024, he said. Asked by the Board of Selectmen during its most recent meeting whether fundraising still needs to be done to build the new press box itself, Benevento said yes. “The project can‘t go forward unless we have $2 million sitting in the bank when we sign a contract,” he said at the selectmen’s May 2 meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. 

The New Canaan Athletic Foundation or “NCAF” anticipates raising a good portion of the funding by selling naming rights for the press box, Benevento said.

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NCHS Recognizes Student-Athletes Who Will Play Division 3 Sports in College

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New Canaan High School on Monday recognized more than one dozen seniors who will play Division 3 sports in college starting next year. 

NCHS Athletic Director Jay Egan said the school’s annual ceremony is a way to mark and celebrate an achievement for the student-athletes as well as their families, asking those in attendance to recognize the parents who “make this all possible.”

“A lot of car rides and check-writing,”  he told those gathered in the Wagner Room at NCHS for the short ceremony, including the student-athletes, their families, close friends and coaches. Egan also reviewed some statistics regarding Division 3, which came into being 50  years ago, saying it makes up 40% of the total NCAA membership. “Division 3 members provide a well-rounded collegiate experience that involves a balance of rigorous academics, competitive athletics and the opportunity to pursue the multitude of other co-curricular and extracurricular activities offered,” he said. We asked the student-athletes why they chose their future schools, and put their responses next to photos where provided (students not present include Ben Maden):

Abigayle Bleil

Middlebury College
Swimming

“I wanted to go there, regardless of whether I was going to be able to swim or not. So I reached out to the coach about a year ago.

Around Town

Q&A: Celebration of Bo Hickey’s Life Set for May 21

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A remembrance for the late Bo Hickey—longtime New Canaan High School football and hockey coach, and superintendent of Lakeview Cemetery—is to be held 4 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 21 at Waveny House. Free and open to the public, the celebration of Hickey’s impactful life will include food and drinks for attendees (RSVP here), and donations to to a scholarship established in his name are welcome. We put some questions to co-organizer Terry Dinan, a lifelong New Canaan resident, sports historian and board member of the New Canaan Old Timers/Athletic Alumni Association who put the celebration together with Scott Overbeck, Lou Marinelli, Frank Granito, Rick Ericson and Mary Miller. Here’s our exchange. New Canaanite: How would you describe Bo Hickey to those who didn’t know him?