Chris O’Dell Announces The Birth Of Addison

Longtime freshman coach and former Staples captain Chris O’Dell and his wife Mary pulled into the hospital at 11:15 p.m. last night.  Seventeen minutes later — and nearly 10 days late — their 3rd child was born.

Addison O’Dell checked in at 9 pounds.  Sister Alexis and brother Calvin anxiously await her arrival home.

“Eight more and I’ll field a full team,” Chris said.

The entire Staples boys soccer program sends congratulations and best wishes to all the O’Dells!

The proud father. (Photo by Carl McNair)

Liu Family Hockey Deja Vu

Last year, Adam Liu ’09 camethisclose to being a Staples ice hockey hero in the 1st round of the FCIAC playoffs.

Aaron Liu

This year, his brother Aaron — a sophomore, and a defender last fall on the junior varsity team — did the same.

Both times, crucial goals by the Lius were disallowed by the officials.  And both times, Darien was the beneficiary.

Here’s Matt Doran’s story from the Norwalk Hour sports blog, “Hour Sports Minute.”  Maybe the 3rd time — next year — will be the charm.

Last season, the Staples-Weston co-op ice hockey team pushed Darien to the limit in the first round of the FCIAC playoffs, dropping a 3-2 overtime decision that might have been different had a late goal by Adam Liu not been taken off the board with eight seconds left in regulation.

On Tuesday night, Staples found itself in the same position, looking to post another upset over the Blue Wave at the Darien Ice Rink.

Staples trailed 4-3 with eight minutes left in the third period when it appeared as if Aaron Liu — Adam’s youner brother — scored with a quick shot from just inside the blue line.

But once again, the goal was disallowed and Darien (9-11) held on for a 5-4 victory.

Talk about deja vu.

“It all happened so fast,” Staples head coach Ralph Unker said. “My guy crossed the blue line and by the time he was in the zone the puck was in the net. It definitely crossed the goal line. It was six inches over the line. It went right through the goalie’s pads, but right away he reached behind him with his glove and threw it out of the net. The refs saw that and said it was no goal. But everyone said it was in. Even the Zamboni driver said it went in.”

It was a typical loss in a tough season for Staples, which finished 3-19-1 overall after losing all but two players from last season’s Division III state championship team. Six of its 16 losses came against Division I and II opponents by two goals or less.

Against Darien, a Division I team with a great hockey pedigree, the Wreckers hung in there despite using just eight skaters, including a freshman, a goalie playing defense and another first-year varsity defenseman.

Much of the credit for the toughness Staples showed this season goes to sophomores Kyle Wehmhoff and Aaron Liu.

Wehmhoff, a speedy center, has been one of the state’s top scorers all season. He tallied the first two goals against Darien to give Staples a 2-0 lead depite getting out-shot 21-3 in the first period. Wehmhoff finished with 34 goals and 29 assists for a team-high 63 points.

Liu also had a strong season on the first line, finishing with 16 goals and 29 assists.

The good news is Staples returns just about everyone on the roster next season and should have top defenseman Tal Laifer back after the sophomore missed the entire season due to injury.

If Staples can keep Wehmhoff from migrating to prep school, the Wreckers could be in for a great season in 2010-11. And they might even beat Darien.

Obituary: Hugh Kennedy P’05

Hugh Brian Kennedy died Monday at home, following a long illness.  The father of Brian Kennedy ’05 and Derek Kennedy ’05, he was 71.

Born in Dublin, Ireland, he was an international executive who worked for major multinational firms in Scotland and Ireland.  He relocated to the US in 1973, where he held executive human resources positions with corporations including Joseph E. Seagram & Sons and Vintner’s International.  He later started his own wine importing venture, Avoca Wines.

Hugh was a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, where he received a higher diploma in education and a master’s degree.

He also taught business management at the Rochester Institute of Technology and the University of Connecticut.  Hugh enjoyed traveling, languages, scientific and political literature, and golf.

In addition to his twin sons, both recent graduates of Colorado College, he is survived by his wife Doreen; his son Julian of Clearwater, Fla.; his daughter Rachel of Santa Fe, N.M., born of his late wife, Maureen Davidson Kennedy of County Cavan, Ireland; and by his sister, Mary Louise Hughes of Sheffield, England.

Friends may visit tomorrow (Saturday, Feb. 27), from 3 to 7 p.m. at Collins Funeral Home, 92 East Ave., Norwalk.  A funeral service will be held at Christ & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 55 Myrtle Ave., Westport, on Sunday, Feb. 28, at 1:30 p.m.

Donations in Hugh’s ’s name may be sent to The Creuzfeldt-Jakob Disease Foundation, P.O. Box 5312, Akron, OH 44334 (click here), or Mid-Fairfield Hospice, PO Box 489, Wilton, CT 06897.

Registration Now Open For STA Pre-Season Camp

Registration is now open for Staples’ STA pre-season camp.  This annual event is for players who consider themselves to be legitimate varsity candidates only.  Registration closes on March 31.  After that date, players will be put on a waiting list.

This year’s camp will be held Thursday, August 19 through Tuesday, August 24.  There will be double sessions (morning and evening) each day.  Brian Kuk, Brian Chandler and Mike Negash all return to run the 2010 camp.  Brian Kuk and his staff are excited about helping the Wreckers repeat as state champions, and three-peat as FCIAC champs.  They admire Staples soccer greatly, and play a key role in its success.

To register, go to www.STASoccer.com.  Players who participated last year and paid online should login with their email address and password. (Those who forgot it can the “password reminder” feature on the website).  New players should click the “Not A Member? Join Now” button on the website.

Once logged in:

1. Click “Sign Me Up! Register for a Training Session.”
2. Select “Connecticut” from the drop down menu and click the search button.
3. Review the “STA Staples HS Preseason” program, then click the Register Now button.

Follow all online instructions.  Registrants will receive a confirmation page and email.

Questions?  Email Brian.Kuk@sta.soccer.com, or call 434-975-5025, ext. 17.

Greg Gudis Breaks Record In Argentina

This just in from Cordoba, Argentina — exclusive to StaplesSoccer.com:

Greg Gudis has broken a record at La Catarina Ranch, during the Gudis family’s annual trip to South America.  Each year Greg and his brothers join their father and grandfather on a dove hunting expedition.

Greg Gudis shows his form on a previous trip to Argentina.

This week the high-scoring Wrecker junior — showing the same keen finishing abilities, strong stamina and focus that he exhibits on the soccer field — shattered the record of 3050 doves set last year by his father Mark, a founding member of the Top of the Hill Team.

With reactions and instincts like a python, Greg hit 4076 doves in a single day, easily eclipsing last year’s standard that stood for only a year.  Greg’s father also had a record day, surpassing last year’s mark with 3300.

Future Wrecker Graham Gudis, on his 3rd trip, achieved his 1st 1000-bird day — a record for a 12-year-old.  Elliot Gudis, attending Cushing Academy, was unable to join this year’s trip.

That evening, Greg celebrated his record by playing in a “friendly” exhibition with the local Cordorba soccer team.

Greg was unavailable for comment today, having skipped the morning shoot to sleep in.

Nick Miles, owner of the Miles & Miles ranch, explained:

Dove hunting is a sport which requires skill, strength and excellent eye-hand coordination.

The Argentinian soy crop is being destroyed by a rapidly expanding and exponential growth in doves and pigeons.  The ranchers and farmers welcome the hunters.  Without further efforts to control the population, Argentina’s number 1 export will be destroyed, sending the economy into further demise.

Dove tastes like chicken or steak, a key consumable in the USA, and has similar nutritional values.  All downed birds are donated to local hospitals and orphanages to feed those in need.  Tthe by-products are used to feed the hog population.

In Cordoba, hunters from all over the world travel to shoot doves.  They spend significant money, which creates jobs and is the 2nd largest source of income in the region, after the soy crop.

We are fortunate to have families like the Gudises, who show the deepest respect for our people and country.  And Greg is 1 of the most gifted hunters and compassionate humans we have seen, especially under 18 years old!

When Tom Henske Shot Out For Cancer

The announcement that former Ridgefield High and University of Virginia star Curt Onalfo is DC United‘s new head coach earned more than a mention on the ACC website.  TheACC.com devoted an entire story to the news — and Tom Henske plays a big role in it.

Tom Henske -- after his playing and Shoot Out for Cancer days ended.

In the early ’90s, Onalfo was diagnosed with cancer.  Tom — now Staples’ superb goalkeeper coach, but then in the midst of leading the Cavaliers to 3 NCAA Division I national championships — was spurred to help.

He created Shoot Out for Cancer — and it soon grew into 1 of the biggest student-run fundraisers in UVa history.

Tom organized frat parties, bar nights, concerts and t-shirt sales.  He charged people to take PKs on him — on a goal set up in the middle of campus.

Ironically — for he is now a financial advisor — at one point Tom had $25,000 in a Diadora shoe box under his bed.  Finally, he opened a bank account.

Tom also donated 1 of his championship rings to charity — and organized events asking students, community members and businesses to match his contribution.  As a senior, Tom received UVa’s Distinguished Student Award.

When  he graduated, Tom made sure Shoot Out for Cancer continued.  Virginia’s Student Athlete Mentors still run the event — and it still helps children and young people battling cancer.

This year’s event is set for May 2.

Chris Meinke ’05, Alin Andrei Named WSA U-16, U-18 Coaches

Chris Meinke ’05 — former Staples and Connecticut College captain, and current Staples assistant girls coach — will lead the Westport Soccer Association’s U-16 spring team.  The U-18 coach is Alin Andrei.

Chris Meinke

Chris  — a native Westporter — earned All-FCIAC honors as a Wrecker.  An economics major, he graduated from Conn College summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa.  He was elected to the All-NESCAC team as a midfielder.  He was chosen as team MVP his senior year, and is a 2-time ALL-NESCAC Academic selection.  Chris continues to play soccer in area leagues.

Alin grew up in Romania, where he played for several top soccer teams.  After moving to the US in 2001, he played in New York’s Cosmopolitan League.  His coaching career began in Westchester County, NY in 2002.  From 2006  to 2009 he coached boys and girls teams in New Canaan, Norwalk and for the Everton club.

“(WSA director of coaching) Mickey Kydes has signed 2 very talented and committed coaches,” said Staples boys head coach Dan Woog.  “I am particularly pleased to see Chris as part of the program.

“I know the players on the U-18 and U-16 teams — some of them Staples players, some of whom hope to be — will have an excellent experience this spring.”

Send Us Your Photos!

StaplesSoccer.com is building an archive of old photos.  We’ve got plenty from the past couple of years.  But we need more from earlier this decade, and the 1990s, ’80s, ’70s, ’60s — all the way back to that first 1958 team.

Please send jpegs of scanned photos as attachments to:  dwoog@optonline.net.  We’ll post them — and save them for posterity!

Action from the 1962 state championship game. We're hoping for higher quality shots than this.

Jack Hennessy, Sean Gallagher Score Indoors For Wreckers

Jack Hennessy and Sean Gallagher are as fast indoors as they are outside.

Jack Hennessy turns the corner in New Haven, with no one in sight.

The senior and junior helped pace the Staples indoor track team to a 5th place finish in yesterday’s state “LL” championship, at the New Haven Athletic Center.  The Wreckers’ 44.75 points trailed 1st-place Hamden’s 64 — but Staples was the highest FCIAC finisher, outpacing 6th place Danbury by 4 points.

Hennessy and Gallagher comprised half of the 4×200 relay team that placed 4th (1:37.03).  Hennessy also picked up points for his 4th place finish in the 300 (36.77).

Gallagher was part of the 1600 sprint medley team that finished 8th (3:53.26), while freshman Walker Marsh took 13th in the 600 (1:30.37).

A week earlier, at the FCIAC championship, the teams were reversed.  Danbury took the top spot with 98 points, while Staples was right behind with 91.60.

In that meet Gallagher paced the sprint medley team to victory (3:47.10), while Hennessy was part of the 3rd-place 4×200 squad (1:36.92).

Also the previous week, in the JV meet at Staples, Terence Gibbons took 4th place in the 300 (42.80) and 7th in the 50 (7.00).

Tyler Mitchell ’97 Heads Up West Coast Store

Tyler Mitchell ’97 — grandson of the founder of Mitchells of Westport, and son of uber-Staples soccer supporter Bill Mitchell — has gone into the family business in a big way.

Last fall, when the Mitchell family — owners of Mitchells, Richards and Marshs upscale clothing stores — was deciding whether to buy Wilkes Bashford, a highly regarded but bankrup 2-store Northern California clothier — a key question was who would run them.  Tyler raised his hand.

Last Thanksgiving, he left his beautiful Compo Cove home and headed west.  He now lives in San Francisco, 2 blocks from Wilkes Bashford’s Union Square store, splitting his time between that property and the one in Palo Alto.

Tyler loves his new challenge — and looks forward to having time to explore Northern California.  To read more, click here for yesterday’s “Woog’s World” article on the Mitchell family’s latest acquisition.

Tyler Mitchell '97 is second from left, in between his father Bill and brother Scott '89. Tyler's brother Chris '91 is at far right. All 3 Mitchell boys played Staples soccer.