Darienite (https://darienite.com/category/sports)
Teams and competitions
A mood of quiet excitement filled the gym on Jan. 8. “Let’s go! You got it!” The calls rang out, with Darien gymnasts encouraging each other to jump higher and finish stronger on vault, bars, beam, and floor. — an article by Holly Russell, on behalf of the team
The team finished with a 126.65 to beat Wilton and New Canaan — in person this year rather than virtually, which meant that for the first time since the start of the epidemic, the athletes could cheer for their rivals in person, too.
If you’re interested in pickleball or basketball, you can check out the new courts at Cherry Lawn Park on Sunday afternoon, where pickleball product showcases, demonstrations, skill challenges and free instruction from professionals will be offered. For basketball players, “fun and games and raffle prizes” will take place after a simple ribbon-cutting ceremony, Darien Parks & Recreation Department announced. — an announcement from Darien Parks & Recreation Department
The pickleball ribbon-cutting starts at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 17. The ribbon-cutting at the new basketball court is at 2:30 p.m., and the event wraps up at 3:30 p.m.
Here’s the full schedule of what takes place when:
PICKLEBALL COURT
2 p.m. — Ribbon Cutting
2:15 p.m. — Product showcase and demonstrations
2:30 p.m. — Free instruction with the Pros on the court
2:45 p.m. — Fun and games!
Jonathan Engelbrecht of Darien, formerly at the Tokeneke Club and Kings Highway Tennis Club, has been promoted to the position of tennis director at Chelsea Piers Connecticut in Stamford. — an announcement from Chelsea Piers Connecticut
Engelbrecht joined the Chelsea Piers coaching staff in 2016 as a lead professional and has consistently grown with the program coaching both adult and youth athletes.
“Jonathan brings to the role an accomplished background as an athlete and teaching professional,” said Kevin Burton, athletic director at Chelsea Piers Connecticut. “Beyond that, he has earned a reputation at Chelsea Piers and throughout Fairfield County as a thoughtful and steady leader who has the respect of his peers. As we began the national search for a director, we quickly concluded that the solution was already within our club.”
Engelbrecht has been teaching in the area for over 15 years. He’s a longtime resident of Darien, where he lives with his wife and twin daughters.
Kids and teenagers of any skill level are invited to play in the Knights for Aces tennis tournament, coming Sunday afternoon, Aug. 22. — an announcement from Grassroots Tennis & Education
The competition, from 1 to 6 p.m., features round robin doubles tennis matches, starting on the courts of four clubs in Darien — Middlesex, Tokeneke, Wee Burn and Woodway. Participants are asked to arrive by 12:45 p.m.
After matches are played, the winning doubles team in each division will play in the finals at Grassroots tennis courts in Norwalk. Players and spectators are invited to enjoy pizza and refreshments, and winners will take home trophies and t-shirts.
Finals and food will be at the William Rippe Tennis Center at Springwood Park, 11 Ingalls Ave.
The Community Fund of Darien’s 41st annual Darien Road Race is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, at Pear Tree Point Beach. This year’s race will begin at 9 a.m. for the 1.5-mile Fun Run and 9:45 am for the 5-mile race. — an announcement from the Community Fund of Darien
About the Darien Road Race
The race will feature “The Finish Line” tent with music, games, sponsor booths, raffle items and an awards ceremony. The Community Fund of Darien’s signature event, The Darien Road Race, welcomes Mirador as the “presenting sponsor” for the event.
The Darien Land Trust is inviting the town to come participate in two challenges to mark the trust’s 65th anniversary year — walks in three of the trust’s preserves, now through the end of July and a running event in October. — an announcement from the Darien Land Trust
Trails Challenge
First, the Trails Challenge takes visitors to three of its preserves with walking trails: Olson Woods, (at 31-1 Heather Lane) the Trails at Cherry Lawn (at 120 Brookside Ave.) and Dunlap Woods (near the end of Parklands Drive). (This Web page shows where each of the land trust’s preserves are located, although it doesn’t give addresses of the entrances.)
The Trails Challenge, which started this weekend and runs to July 31, is to visit all three sites. Participants must register through a QR code posted at each property to be entered into a prize drawing. Winners will be announced on our website and social media on Aug.
Chelsea Piers Connecticut has hired Doug Lennox, a 2008 Beijing Olympian, as head coach of the Chelsea Piers Aquatics Club. — an announcement from Chelsea Piers Connecticut
Lennox comes to Connecticut from Princeton University, where he served his alma mater for the last four years as the men’s assistant swim coach & recruiting coordinator. “After my experiences at Princeton, I feel it is time for me to return to my roots and work with younger athletes” Lennox said. “I am eager to bring my knowledge, experience and passion to age group and senior level student-athletes who are striving to compete at the collegiate & international levels.”
The search for a new coach identified candidates from across the country, Chelsea Piers Connecticut Athletic Director Kevin Burton said. Lennox is the first coach Burton has recruited.
Darien YMCA Gymnastics had a strong presence at the 2021 Level 4-6 State Championship on April 9 in Plainville. — an announcement from Darien YMCA
Heres how Darien gymnasts from three different levels performed:
Level 4
Tori Brupbacher and Juliet DeStefano were vault champions and earned 2nd place all-around. Madison Ruggieri had a strong 3rd place finish on beam and 5th all-around, while teammate Reese Jefferson placed 4th on floor and finished 7th all-around. Great job! Level 5
Sabina Molnar placed 3rd on floor with a beautiful routine and finished 7th place all-around.
Over the past year, we have seen more people running than ever before. People of all skill levels took up running to stay active, get out of the house or replace their gym regimen. This online webinar, “Demistifying the World of Running” takes place from 7 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, April 14. — an announcement from Performance Optimal Health
After choosing running shoes, finding new trails and building up your stamina, you may now be thinking, “where do I go from here?” Maybe you want to build up your confidence, or you want to find a community to run or walk with. Join Britt Gunsser, DPT, CSCS, and Darien Running Company owner Megan Searfoss as they discuss the recent spike in new runners, how apps like Strava brought people together when they were apart, and how to find your place in the world of running.
We’re talking hockey with legendary announcer Mike Emrick! Join co-author Kevin Allen online as he sits down with Mike from 7 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, March 30, for a conversation about Allen’s and Emrick’s new book, Off Mike, and his life in hockey.
— an announcement from Westport Library
Please note: This is a virtual event. REGISTER HERE
After nearly 50 years behind the microphone, the voice of hockey in America opens up in a must-read memoir. Mike “Doc” Emrick has seen everything there is to see in a hockey game. Sizzling slap shots. Commitment, courage, and camaraderie.
The Old Greenwich Yacht Club (OGYC) will host its 49th USS America Regatta in Captain Harbor on Saturday, Sept. 12. — This article is from GreenwichFreePress.com. The annual sailing competition was established when officers from the USS America (CV-66) donated the trophy to OGYC in 1971. A skipper from the aircraft carrier reportedly won an OGYC race, and his crew was so pleased with the victory that they gifted the trophy to the yacht club.
A store offering running supplies and events, Darien Running Company, will open this July at 14 Brook St., next door to the Sugar Bowl, in downtown Darien, its owner announced Thursday morning. Megan Searfoss, who cofounded an associated store, the Ridgefield Running Company, in 2014, announced the new location in the RRC’s newsletter. The RRC had plans to expand before the COVID-19 epidemic, which forced a lot of changes on the business. Despite the pandemic, Searfoss said, she decided to go forward with plans for the new store, which she abbreviates as “DRC.” “DRC will offer the same services as Ridgefield Running Company, now retooled to provide a safe and trusted environment,” Searfoss said.
Marinas, boatyards and marine manufacturers in the tristate area will be allowed to open for personal use as long as strict social distancing and sanitization protocols are followed, Gov. Ned Lamont, New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said in an announcement on Saturday. — an announcement from Governor Ned Lamont’s Office
Chartered watercraft services or rentals will not be allowed, and restaurant activity at these sites must be limited to take-out or delivery only, like anywhere else in the three states. This announcement aligns the policies of the three states on this particular service. Governor Lamont explained that in Connecticut, this multi-state alignment is an affirmation of the state’s current policy, and marinas and marina repair remain on the essential business list. Governor Lamont said, “Our states share workforces, resources, public transit, and we all have share a connection on the water.
Update, Friday, April 17 — Figure skating legend Dorothy Hamill and two-time Olympic medalist Michelle Kwan are joining the biggest names in figure skating this Friday, April 17, for a livestream benefit event supporting Americares response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Japanese champions Miki Ando, Shizuka Arakawa, Yuka Sato and Fumie Suguri have also joined the roster of skating stars raising funds for Americares COVID-19 relief, along with three-time Olympian Todd Eldredge and World Champion pairs skating team Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner. The special one-hour “Blades for the Brave” livestream hosted by Jason Brown and Gracie Gold, will air on BladesForTheBrave.org, Americares Facebook and Twitter feeds and on its YouTube channel at 8 p.m. EDT/5 p.m. PT. Viewers can support Americares COVID-19 response by making a donation on americares.org or by texting “BRAVE” to 80100 to make a $25 donation. Original article, April 7:
Olympic and World Champion figure skaters are coming together to help health workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic with a special fundraising event on Friday, April 17.
Trinity College senior Olivia Hoyda of Darien is one of five members of the Bantam field hockey team named to the the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Fall All-Academic Team and one of 10 of the college’s players on a similar national team. — an announcement from Trinity College
Hoyda, the daughter of Christine Stark and Brad Hoyda, played on the Darien High School field hockey team. She is majoring in economics at Trinity. In this past season at Trinity, Hoyda played in 11 games with four starts as a defender and a midfielder, finishing her Bantam career with one assist and three defensive saves in 48 games. New England Award
To be named to the NESCAC team, an individual must have reached sophomore academic standing, and be in good standing in their sport with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.50 or equivalent on a 4.0 scale.
Darien High School is shut off to all traffic, other than for COVID-19 testing, “in order to eliminate the public from gathering in a manner that risks the spread of COVID-19 within our community,” First Selectman Jayme Stevenson declared in a late Friday afternoon proclamation. Also, all public baseball and softball fields in town, both those at town parks and schools, along with the batting cages at McGuane Park “are hereby ordered closed,” the proclamation states. The order banning vehicles only applies to Darien High School and is not “applicable to the other schools within the district until it becomes necessary to do so,” the proclamation states. The order takes effect immediately and “shall remain in effect for the duration of the emergency unless earlier modified by the Chief Executive Officer,” the proclamation said. “[T]here is a need to eliminate public gatherings at Darien High School and elsewhere so as to eliminate the possible risks of the spread of COVID-19,” Stevenson says in the proclamation.