New Canaan U9 Girls ‘Big Red Wrecking Ball’ Swings Again (this write-up from Jon Gizzie)
Every once in a while, a sporting match comes along that transcends the mere semblance of a strong competition and elevates itself into a hallowed place in the collectively memories of players, parents and coaches. Such was the exhibition put on by New Canaan’s U9G ‘Big Red Wrecking Ball’ this past Sunday. It is not enough to describe the back-and-forth of play after play in exhaustive prose for to do so would diminish the spectacle of witnessing an entire team come together, all working in unison, all driving themselves toward collective achievement and the chance to snatch victory back from possible defeat. It is not enough to describe the focused strength of Payton DeCamillo, the explosive offense of Nikki “Ferrari” Ferraro, the unshakeable poise of Lila Gizzie, the fortress defense of Parker Hanson, the indomitable focus of Madison Hartnett, the lightning speed of Julia McPhillips, the sinuous footwork of Sydney Patten, the confident control of Cecilia Patterson, the energetic attack of Kallie Patterson, the unstoppable tenacity of Paige Place, the precise passing of Reese Quinn or the surgical striking of Madeline Tully when, taken together, the synergistic dynamism of this team becomes a wonder to watch and a terror for any team to face. Newtown learned firsthand what it meant to come to the ‘House of Wrecking’ and throw down the gauntlet of challenge.
