Inklings April 2026 Issue

April

CONTENTS

more about us about the cover

3 | Editorial

Cardz Against Cancer, created by Asher Vengrow ’27, Jonah Bomback ’27 and Peter Klopfer ’27, donates proceeds to cancer.

Inklings News is uncensored, unedited by administration, and does not allow prior review.

Opinions

The Editorial Board determines editorial opinions that are authored by the Editors-in-Chief. Inklings News serves as an open forum for the public and welcomes letters to the editor and other submissions. Send signed letters to inklingsnews@westportps.org. Submissions will not be edited prior to publication.

Advertisements

Inklings News reserves the right to not publish advertisements that promote products that could be harmful to student health.

Membership

Inklings News is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and the National Scholastic Press Association and supports the Student Press Law Center.

The decisions of Inklings News and Westport Public Schools are made without regard to race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability or any other discriminating basis prohibited by local, state or federal law.

2

The Board discusses accountability at Staples.

6 | Poetry in Life

Eva Matviyenko ’27 explores the meaning of poetry in life.

18| Eggcelent Interactive

Enjoy this fun spring word search!

5 | Iran Update

A review of the current conflict in Iran.

4 | Westport Gardens

The rebuilding of Long Lots Elementary School without the garden.

must-reads

10

12

staff

7 | CBK Lookbook

A Caroline Bessette Kennedy style guide for this spring.

8 | Spring Teams

A feature on some Staples spring sports teams.

Cards for a Cause

Three juniors raise money and create custom playing cards, donating the proceeds to fight cancer.

Grief to Growth

Jim Hood, leader of Generation SOS, helps advocate for substance and suicide awareness.

Editors-In-Chief

Andi Jacobs & Sophie Smith

Managing Editor

Zara Saliba

Associate Managing Editor

Zander Bauer

19 | Easter Egg Hunt

Across the issue there are Easter eggs. Match them on this page to decode the phrase!

14

16

Creative Directors

Camille Blundell & Bianca Mastocciolo

Business Manager

Olivia Saw

Advisors

Joseph DelGobbo & Mary Elizabeth Fulco

Dark Matter

Follow the journey

as she devotes her

to studying dark matter.

A Historic Season

season.

Editors

Jasper Hultgren

Sophia Jaramillo

Bailey Lillvis

Madeleine McMahon

Bianca Reidy

Piper Salik

The Editorial Board voted 18-3 in favor of this opinion.

WACCOUNTABILITY WHERE IS?

e’ve seen this before. We’ve written about it before. And still, nothing changes.

By the end of lunch waves, the Staples cafeteria is covered in trash, with spilled food left mere feet away from empty trash bins. When teachers approach the table to enforce cleaning up, they often are ignored.

Inside bathroom stalls, layers of marker and pen are carved into every surface of the walls. Crude drawings overlap each other and freshly painted walls are quickly ruined again.

And in the fall, under the glow of Friday night lights, students huddle tightly along the bleachers, taking fireball and pink whitney shooters that were stuffed under sleeves and socks. When authority glances over, the crowd shifts, shielding the plastic bottles as if it’s all just a part of game-day ritual.

The question is no longer whether the problems exist, but why they continue, unchecked, year after year. Why have we accepted these behaviors as normal instead of finding new ideas to address them?

Whether it is dis respecting Staples facilities or breaking

a law, this persists not just because students make poor choices, but because accountability is inconsistent. There is a chain of bystanders that have not been holding students accountable to these behaviors in any way.

There are a myriad of reasons why witnesses choose to stay silent, but the primary reason is typically the conception that speaking out is futile. A student who wants to tell their friend to clean up the

punish a kid, they may face pushback from the student’s family.

The reality is that our entire community avoids holding children accountable.

Staples students are currently being taught that their actions don’t come with any consequences at all.

lunch trash thinks they will get mocked and that their friend will not listen. A teacher who witnesses this behavior may be unsure if the student will

In a society where students’ one goal is acceptance into a top college, students feel as though one mishap could ruin their life. In effect, accountability, even in very minor forms, is not frequent, so when a child does get held accountable, it is frowned upon.

We’re

not advocating for long-lasting consequences that can jeopardize futures, but Staples students are currently being taught that their actions don’t

to be hyperwatched or overly regulated. This editorial is not advocating for less student independence, but there should still be some consequences when things go awry. Otherwise, misbehavior is (inadvertently) rewarded.

When these students leave Staples, their actions will not be excused in the same way. So, it is better for them to learn from mistakes now than to continue their behaviors and face more permanent repercussions later.

But this isn’t just about a lack of consequence. It’s about how we choose to act when no one is watching. These concepts are not new. We’ve known since kindergarten to clean up after ourselves and treat people the way we want to be treated. But lately, it feels like that basic respect gets ignored. We have accepted behavior that negatively impacts

starts with each of us showing all play a role in reintroducing accountability to the building.

COMMUNITY PUSHBACK U.S. citizens voice their displeasure about the war as they protest

Rising Tensions

A brief timeline of the conflict in Iran

Lucy Basso ʼ27

Inklings Ambassador

As tensions escalate between Iran, Israel and the United States, hundreds of people have died and the whole world has felt the impacts of the war. Below is a breakdown of key events that have taken place in March.

March 19

Israel struck South Pars, a large natural gas field in the Persian Gulf. Iran responded by striking oil and gas facilities in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, pushing global oil prices from around $70 a barrel to approximately $115 a barrel.

March 30

Trump threatens to “obliterate” Iran’s oil wells and energy sites if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened completely and if a peace agreement is not reached.

The Strait of Hormuz has not let any U.S. or Israeli vessels pass though since the start of the war.

Inklinations

March 1

Iran launched over 500 ballistic missiles and nearly 2,000 drones from sites inside Iran towards Israeli territory and U.S. military bases. During these attacks, six U.S. service members were killed. These attacks forced the closure of airspace across several Gulf countries.

Maia Lange ’28

“I believe that the 2026 Iran Conflict is unnecessary and harmful, and honestly it’s frustrating to see so much violence instead of diplomacy.”

Sebastien Zemel ’27

“I find that people usually will adopt their friends and families views about political situations, so I think that people really need to better educate themselves before they form opinions, especially political ones.”

Westport Community Gardens’ fate remains uncertain

Jack Robinson ʼ26 Paper Managing Editor

After years of debate between the Westport Community Gardens [WCG] and the town, the rebuilding of Long Lots Elementary school is proceeding without garden space that has been there since the 2000s. The garden is being replaced with an athletic field.

As outlined in Planning and Zoning Resolution #PZ-25-00299 from June 16, 2025, the current proposal does not include a Community Garden and the new loca-

NEW LAYOUT

The Long Lots Elementary School, a 127,000-square-foot building, is being moved roughly where the current upper baseball diamond lies, and will feature an inner courtyard and New England-style design.

tion has not been determined.

The First Selectwoman proposed to relocate the garden, but the WCG didn’t accept the proposed locations. Baron’s South, near Winslow Park, was rejected as a possible site for the WCG due to what the organization deemed poor conditions for a garden.

“Baron’s South was shady, Baron’s South didn’t have adequate parking. Baron’s South had questionable soil, possibly toxic soil,” Former WCG Chair Louis Weinberg said. “So in short, Baron’s South was unviable.”

Now, the Parks and Recreation Department is attempting to work in tandem with the

WCG to reach an agreement on a more suitable location.

“Director Erik Barbieri is working with the gardeners to find a location that all parties will be happy with,” Planning and Zoning Director Michelle Perillie said. “My understanding is that a recently discussed location was Burr Farms Ball Field.”

While Burr Farms may be more fitting than Baron’s South, the years and years of ecologically molding the Long Lots soil will take a long time to get back, and some experts worry that replacing the location with a field may have harmful effects on the environment.

“[Essentially], you lose

a whole entire ecosystem,” science teacher Carrie Tait said.

Despite all the debate over the fate of the garden, some students who graduated from Long Lots view it as an unfortunate but needed cost in order to further the quality of education.

“I support the school’s renovations, and I think that they are very necessary,” Long Lots alum Caroline Banks ’26 said. “Though I think it’s sad that the community garden needs to be moved, I think it’s [important] to facilitate education.”

GraphicbyPiperSalikʼ28

Eva Matviyenko ʼ27 Broadcast Manager

This year I am enrolled in Reading and Writing Poetry. I have always considered myself to be a poet to some degree, so I was thrilled at this opportunity. My teacher, Alexandra McHale, announced something on the first day that has changed my perspective as I move on with high school and even with my life.

She quoted someone who I don’t quite remember, but it went a little something like: “We were all born poets, but as we grow up, we forget the significance poetry has in our lives.”

The idea that each human was born a poet and that there is a poem within each of us is a beautiful thought to me. This poem may be shoved down under the constant pull and tug of today’s world, or passions that far outweigh poetry, yet I find this statement true.

poetry The importance of in everyday life

McHale prompted us to think about this, noting how when we were younger, we were constantly given an outlet to release poetry. She explained that leaves would change colors and our teachers would ask us to write a poem about it; Mother’s Day would come and we all would be handed out fillin-the-blank poems to surprise our mothers with. Yet, as we have grown up, these reminders to creatively express ourselves have stopped.

Writing poetry seems like such a daunting task. To sit down, get a piece of paper and pen and write something meaningful and full of passion in just a few lines does not come easy for the majority of teenagers. Yet, I believe we all are capable. There is beauty and poetry within and around all of us in our everyday lives.

have gone blind to spotting it. It’s important to write poetry and acknowledge all the beauty in the world that we have stopped appreciating.

We are all poets. Every single one of us. And if this quote from Mrs. McHale and a short written rant from me about why poetry is valuable is what

Wild Geese

Mary Oliver, 1986

gets you to see that, then I am pleased. But if not, keep it in the back of your mind next time you see something so wonderful, devastating or ordinary, and maybe, just maybe, it will turn into the beauty you did not even know you were looking for.

It can be hard to see poetry in our everyday lives because we believe that it needs to be some deep-rooted, heart-wrenching discovery. I could not disagree with this more.

Poetry does not have to be conventional; in fact, my best poems have come when I am least expecting to write. They have been scribbled on napkins, traced in the condensation of the glass surrounding my shower and repeated multiple times in my head.

Poetry constantly surrounds us, but lately it seems like we

You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees

For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine. Meanwhile the world goes on.

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain are moving across the landscapes, over the prairies and the deep trees, the mountains and the rivers.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air, are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination, calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting -over and over announcing your place in the family of things.

Eva’s thoughts on “Wild Geese” Mary Oliver reminds us to slow down and appreciate the small things in life. The poem challenges the common stigma, even here at Staples, that constant rigor and pushing yourself to the limit are the only paths to success. Instead, it suggests that taking time to reflect on yourself and your surroundings can be just as valuable and ultimately more fulfilling.

CAROLYN BESSETTE KENNEDY

This spring, effortless fashion is back on the incline, featuring Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy as the center of inspiration. Many viewers who watched “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette” admired her 90s minimalist style with a chic demure. As trends have shifted away from loud logos and fast-changing aesthetics, her “quiet luxury” look draws admiration. Her style opens a way to dress simple, yet sophisticated this spring.

Turtle-neck Sweaters

Soft, understated knits were a staple. Bonus points for mock or turtle neck. A simple sweater adds quiet refinement without trying too hard. These additional pieces are perfect for transition spring layering.

Oval Sunglasses

Anna Petrosino ʼ26 Associate Managing Editor

Wide Headband

A wide headband paired with sleek, pulled-back hair was one of her most definable beauty statements. New Yorkers have been swarming C.O. Bigelow Chemists, a NYC pharmacy, to purchase the same headband that Bessette-Kennedy frequently purchased from. It’s a simple accessory that adds structure and sophistication without taking apart her effortless chic outfit.

Carolyn Bessette-Kenndey famously wore Selima Optique’s “Aldo” sunglasses. These slim, oval-shaped sunglasses capture the essence of 90s minimalism.

Classic Tote Bag

Function meets elegance in a structured leather tote. Free of logos and unnecessary detail, this everyday essential reflects her preference for pieces that are both practical and timeless.

Tailored Trousers

Well-cut trousers anchor the effortless sophistication of Bessette-Kennedy’s style. Whether styled with a simple knot or a structured blazer, these pants strike a balance between relaxed and refined, offering a timeless put-together look for spring.

Neutral Color Palette

A foundation of cream, black, camel and navy defines her signature look. By eliminating bold and bright colors, her outfits are demure, allowing tailoring and texture to stand out.

New season, new roles: Spring teams reload with eyes on memorable seasons

Sophia Jaramillo ʼ27 Paper Editor

As the weather gets warmer and the days get longer, spring sports are back in full swing. With new seasons comes new opportunities, as teams adjust to roster changes young players step up and team chemistry is developed.

Girls’ tennis

After a strong performance last year going 13-2 in the FCIAC conference and making it to the state championship, the girls’ tennis team looks to build on that success.

With the loss of six seniors from a 14-player roster the lineups will look different as many underclassmen step into varsity positions and take on larger roles. Despite the shift, the team remains focused on maintaining its competitive edge while developing strong relationships on and off the court.

“We want to create a cohesive community that will help us succeed the way we have the past couple years,” captain Isa Alfageme ’26 said.

That emphasis on unity and team culture will be key as the team adjusts to its new dynamic. Their next home match is against Stamford on April 13 at 4 p.m, where the team hopes to secure an early-season win.

“No matter if we win or lose we will be there for each other,” head coach Dr. Jena Wider said.

Boys’ volleyball

The boys’ volleyball team is coming off a memorable season, finishing 17-3 overall and advancing all the way to the FCIAC finals against Stamford, establishing them as one of the top teams in the conference.

“It’s going to be tough to match the year we had last year coming off an incredible season,” captain William Stoutenberg ’26 said. “But I think for us it’s all about taking it one game at a time and really working hard in practice.”

By emphasizing effort and a game-by-game mindset, the boys’ volleyball team is determined to make another deep run this season. They play next on April 13 at 4 p.m. against New Cannan.

Softball

The softball team is stepping into the season with determination and focus. After graduating several key players, the team is working to rebuild with an emphasis on strengthening their defense and developing consistency across the field while also working to create a supportive environment.

“Our focuses for the year are to not only be more competitive than in years past, but to also have more fun as a team,” co-captain DiGeronimo ’27 said.

The team is ready to embrace the challenge as players explore new roles and grow stronger each game.

You can watch them at their next home matchup on April 20 v.s. Norwalk at 4.p.m., as the team looks to showcase their progress and build momentum early on.

Boys’ rugby

After winning the state championship in 2024, the boys’ rugby team had a challenging season last year. This year, they have used the offseason as an opportunity to reset and rebuild, determined to return strong and make this season a notable one.

“We have spent a lot of time this fall and winter preparing and practicing for the season, and we are all very excited to play some games very soon,” captain Finnbar Mulcahy ’26 said.

The team’s next home game is on April 10 against Rye High School at 5:30 p.m., giving them an early opportunity to put their hard work on display and set the tone for a season built on growth.

SPRING SPORTS Staples offers 15 spring sports programs, including nine teams winning FCIAC or State titles.

How a junior trio turned a hobby into charity:

LOCAL LEADERS The trio—Asher Vengrow ʼ27 (left), Peter Klopfer ʼ27 (middle), and Jonah Bomback ʼ27 (right)—gained recognition for their charitable efforts and dedication when News 12 interviewed them on March 8.

Cardz Against Cancer

Dylan Robbin ʼ28 Paper Editor

Also known as “the hobby,” Asher Vengrow ’27, Jonah Bomback ’27 and Peter Klopfer ’27 have loved the sports cards business since a young age. However, it was just a year ago when they realized they could do something more with their passion.

Officially established in June 2025, the junior trio created Cardz Against Cancer, a sports card trading business that donates 50% of their profits to cancer research to the Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven Hospital, while the other half goes into reinvestment for the company.

“Sports cards are perceived as a children’s hobby,” Klopfer said, “but it makes it really good to do something for the community and that is something we all cherish.”

The trio started off explaining their goal to a few doctors at Yale, who were excited about the possibility. They met multiple times a week to outline and plan their business. Almost immediately, through both donations and profits, the business started surpassing their goals.

“We were just hoping to get to $2,500 and then we crushed that so we set it at $5,000 and crushed that,” Vengrow said.

After their immediate success, Cardz Against Cancer got featured on News 12. That

publicity created another surge in business encouraging them to update their goals again as they went over the $7,500 mark. Currently, they are over $8,000.

“We are in a spot right now where we just want people to recognize us and keep donating so we can hit our goals,” Vengrow said.

Throughout it all, the support they have received has reinforced the significance of the cause.

“I received a box of sports cards to my house from a cancer survivor themselves,” Bomback said. “They said how much our work inspired them and that they wanted to donate their whole entire collection to our cause.”

They chose to donate profits to cancer research because Bomback, Vengrow and Klopfer each have a connection to someone who suffered from cancer.

“One of my good friends was recently diagnosed with leukemia,” Klopfer said. “The fact that someone that I have known since I was 9 and have been super close with a good athlete and student with so much potential having to deal with this, has really driven me to take control and stay focused.”

While the future is uncertain for Cardz Against Cancer, they intend to continue their company throughout college and even after that as well.

“Our goal,” Vengrow said, “is to keep Cardz Against Cancer going for as long as we can.”

Grief to Growth: The expansion of Generation S.O.S.

Anna Petrosino ʼ26 Associate Managing Editor

After losing his son Austin, a 2010 graduate of Staples High School, to an accidental overdose, Jim Hood was faced with the same question many families quietly confront: what could have been done sooner? Hood has turned that into action through Generation S.O.S., a non-profit organization focused on preventing substance misuse and advocating the underlying mental health issues among teens and young adults.

Rather than focusing solely on treatment and recovery, Generation S.O.S. is focused

on prevention to reach students before substance use begins and addressing the underlying challenges that often lead to it.

“We bring young, sober speakers— meaning somebody who was addicted and is now in recovery— and [...] they share their story. It’s very honest,” Hood said. “They don’t glamorize their drugging and drinking, but they also don’t pretend that it wasn’t there. They talk pretty openly about it. And, so we go all around the country.”

Hood believes that other programs, for example D.A.R.E., come in and scare kids and promote zero tolerance toward substance use. As a result, students tune them out.

Instead, Generation S.O.S. emphasizes conversation. After a speaker, who is close in age to their audience

presents, the floor is open for students to speak openly.

“There’s something about the vulnerability of the speakers and the safe environment they create that empowers other people to say, ‘If you can talk about that, maybe I can talk about it, too,’” Hood said.

The organization is built on creating conversations that often don’t happen elsewhere, but are equally important to discuss.

“What we hear consistently is, ‘You started a dialogue at our school.’ Kids are actually talking about this now, and that’s something they weren’t doing before,” Hood said.

When Hood embarked on the early stages of the organization, some schools didn’t want to admit there was a problem and believed that talking about alcohol, drugs or mental health

would look bad for the school.

“A meaningful number of schools would say, ‘Thanks, but we don’t really need this— that’s not much of an issue here.’ And what we found, almost every time, was that they were wrong,” Hood said.

This perception has shifted significantly as awareness has grown and the demand for Generation S.O.S. has increased. The challenge used to be convincing schools this was a real issue, but now these schools are asking for help.

With the demand, there has been a rapid expansion of the organization.

“I think last year we were in more than 100 schools. We met with over 100,000 kids in person, and we’re now in 16 or 17 states, growing a little bit every year,” Hood said.

In a school where achievement is prioritized, Get Real Day is necessary to remind students of the importance of taking care of their well being.”

GET REAL DAY TAG stands with Generation S.O.S. founder Jim Hood and last year’s guest speaker, to bring real stories to Staples.

As they’ve been growing much faster than they thought, they think strategically on scaling their presence. Whether this is going from one presentation per week to doing ten.

“It’s like a small business— you have to think about how to take something that works and bring it to more people, more efficiently, without losing what makes it powerful,” Hood said.

The organization is also commited to bring accessibility to all, regardless of socioeconomic status. Therefore, Generation S.O.S. does not charge school for its services.

“We don’t charge schools or places of worship because we don’t want money to stand in the way of maybe saving lives,” Hood said. “But because of that, we have to find ways to, you know, raise mon-

ey so we can do the work we do and deliver our message.”

The organization relies on the board of directors who donate money each year. Additionally, they received a grant of $300,000 at the end of last year. Unlike other health organizations that get around 85% of their funding from anonymous online donations, they get few to none.

“There has never been any serious money given to this effort, to this cause. And again, I happen to think it has something to do with the shame and the stigma,” Hood said. “Maybe, maybe a belief that it’s I hate to say it, but that it’s almost hopeless because once you’re tagged with addiction or something, you’re screwed, and there’s nothing that really can be done about it, which isn’t

true, but you can sort of see how people feel that way because so much of treatment sucks.”

Additionally with the growth, Hood reflects on both the positives and underlying reality of the issue.

“I’m encouraged by the progress we’re making, but at the same time, I’m heartbroken by how many young people are struggling,” Hood said.

The impact of Generation S.O.S. has been felt locally as well. Tri-President of Staples Teen Awareness Group (TAG) Sienna Sedlarcik ’26 works with Hood for Staple’s annual Get Real Day (GRD), a day to recognize adolescent issues.

“Hearing the story from Jim Hood makes this cause feel much more personal and shows how close these struggles are to our own com-

munity,” Sedlarcik ’26 said.

While students’ reactions at last year’s Get Real Day were not universally positive, the message of the presentation still resonated beyond the assembly.

“There are always going to be skeptics and cynics, but there are also people who are getting the message and changing their lives because of it,” Hood said.

Both Sedlarcik and Hood received positive feedback from the assembly where students DM’d the speaker and said they’d love to talk with them or gave feedback to TAG who were inspired by their message.

Overall, Hood believes that transparency is crucial in the realm of mental health and to normalize talking about it.

“The problem hasn’t gone away,” Hood said. “It’s just become more visible.”

I discovered that I really loved physics when I was actually at Staples” “

- Dr. Mariangela Lisanti ’01

From Staples to the Stars

Mariangela Lisanti journeys to become physics professor

Ann

Marie Maccaroʼ27 Paper Editor

In the summer of her junior year, Dr. Mariangela Lisanti ’01 became the first student to win the Siemens Competition national finals in 2000, followed by being awarded first place in the 2001 Intel Science Talent Search. Listanti was then named in the MIT

Technology Review’s list of 35 Innovators in 2002, at just 18 years old.

“I discovered that I really loved physics when I was actually at Staples because I loved the physics classes,” Lisanti said.

Lisanti was seeking summer programs at the end of her junior year, but found no luck. She thought she would have to go the summer without being a part of a program, but a Staples

engineering mentor connected her with Mark Reed, a Yale Professor of Physics.

“It’s kind of funny because it was such a great experience,” Lisanti said, “but I honestly would not have had that experience if I hadn’t gotten rejected from everything else that I had applied for.”

During the program, she was able to reconstruct a device that could measure a single atom conductance, which was

able to collect data in months, compared to previous versions of the device which could take up to years to produce data.

Additionally, the device, which typically takes at minimum a few hundred dollars to construct, was built with just $35.

While theoretical physics is not a course or concept discussed at Staples, it was both the course material and the teachers at Staples that encouraged Lisanti to continue a

“

We work on models to essentially say how those building blocks form, like ultimately forming things like galaxies… and ultimately putting us on planet Earth today.”

“Mr. Scrofani… his classes were just so much fun, and… it was the first time I loved doing the homework for those classes.”

career in the field. She would continue to go on to earn her bachelor’s degree at Harvard in condensed matter physics and then attend Stanford to earn her PhD in high-energy physics.

“Mr. Scrofani… his classes were just so much fun, and… it was the first time I loved doing the homework for those classes,” Lisanti said, “and it just got me really excited about the subject material.”

While her teachers at Staples inspired her to learn physics, they also inspired her to teach.

“I really try to place a lot of emphasis on mentorship and providing advice and providing support for the students, because I know how important that was for me when I was at that stage,” Lisanti said. “It has definitely motivated how I think about things when I’m working with students.”

Despite both her academic and professional accomplishments, Lisanti cites her greatest accomplishments go beyond her work in the labs.

“The students that I’ve mentored… I’m super proud of them,” Lisanti said, “...and they’ve gone on to do all sorts of unique things. Some of them are amazing and still doing amazing physics, and others are doing amazing things in tech and AI.”

Boys’ basketball goes 26-1, wins FCIAC championship

Dylan Robbin ʼ28 Paper Editor

The boys’ basketball team had their best season of all time. Although the Wreckers fell short in the state finals in an epic triple overtime game, the Wreckers still ended the season 26-1 and FCIAC champions. Most importantly, though, they brought joy, passion and a sense of community for not only Staples, but the entire town of Westport.

“[The state finals were] my

favorite part of the season,” Coach Dave Goldshore said, “because under incredible pressure and incredible adversity and incredible commitment, the toughness never [went] away.”

The Wreckers started off their season with a bang, traveling up to New Haven and dominating Wilbur Cross 6826. They then defeated Archbishop Molloy in the Anthony Ireland Holiday Invitational Classic and beat reigning New Jersey state champions Ramapo in their home opener on Dec. 23.

The Wreckers’ rode their

momentum into the Hoophall Invitational at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, winning both of their games over Taconic (MA) and Scarsdale (NY) to take the trophy for their bracket. The Wreckers continued their win streak by winning their next four games putting them at 13-0, with all 13 wins by double digits.

Then, on Feb. 3, the Wreckers faced their first true test of the season. Down three to Fairfield Ludlowe late in the fourth quarter, the Wreckers turned their game play up a notch and ultimately won the game 53-51.

“First real test of the season

and I am just proud of the way we stayed composed throughout the end to pull off the victory,” Sam Clachko ’26 said on the Ruden Report.

The undefeated Wrecker followed that great comeback win with one of the highlights of their season. In front of a sold out home crowd on a Tuesday night, the Wreckers took on the also undefeated 15-0 Trumbull Eagles in a battle between the top two teams in the FCIAC. The Wreckers dominated coming out on top 54-36.

On senior night, the Wreckers completed their historic 20-0 regular season with a 67-

BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPS Staples boys’ basketball celebrates its second straight FCIAC championship after another dominant postseason run.

49 victory over Ridgefield. Goldshore’s defense allowed an average of just 44.4 points per game and the Wreckers were looking to make history in the playoffs.

ways for [Clachko].”

“I kind of attribute just time and patience and failure that has led to learning [our defensive system] and I think it has really paid its dividends so far this season,” Goldshore said in an interview at the end of the regular season.

The Wreckers won their second straight FCIAC title 62-48 over the Ridgefield Tigers on March 4. This was a special one for them, as it was the first championship that star captain Sam Clachko had won with Staples when he was healthy and on the court.

“I think they had some extra motivation,” Goldshore said. “From my perspective it was about [winning] a lot of

Heading into the Division 1 State Playoffs, the Wreckers had a goal of winning the state finals for the first time since 1937 but knew the road would be tough. After two easy home wins, the Wreckers faced a strong Notre Dame Prep for a chance to advance to Mohegan Sun and the finals. Ultimately, the Wreckers defense was too strong for ND Prep’s star point guard, Josh Charlot, and the Wreckers won 6761.

at Mohegan Sun, the town of Westport showed up. Three buses of Superfans along with countless parents, teachers, future Wreckers and many more packed the arena to see the Staples boys’ basketball team, the heart and soul of the Staples community, play in the biggest game of their lives.

ing to a championship level to cap off their best season of all time.

“Right now it really stings,” Clachko said. “But I am sure when I look back on it I will think it was a really cool experience.”

At the end of the day, Coach Goldshore is proud of his boys and will always remember the hard work they put in. Staples and the town of Westport could not be more proud.

“Time and patience has led to learning and I think it has really paid its dividends so far this season. “

- Coach Dave Goldshore

When they finally made it to the State Finals at 26-0

The Wreckers battled valiantly for four quarters and three grueling overtimes until the end against the West Haven Blue Devils, but ultimately lost 79-72 in triple overtime. Regardless of the outcome, the Wreckers made the school and community proud, play-

“The kids just battled, and sometimes results don’t go your way, and the world judges you sometimes on results, but I judge this team on their process,” Goldshore said. “I judge this team on their heart, and I judge this team on their ability to be resilient. That’s what the heart of a champion is.”