Caylee Waters stops the Rams down the stretch in the FCIAC final. (Darien Times/Steven Buono photo)

GIRLS LACROSSE

Cool as ice in the cage, it fits, that she would mark becoming the hottest thing in all of New England girls’ lacrosse inhaling ice cream.

Pressure is my position, so I just really enjoy being (in) that last spot. You’re just focused on the game and you have a great time with your teammates.

— Caylee Waters

“Aural Crunch from Carvel,” said Wave senior goalie Caylee Waters of her choice of flavors to bring in Tuesday night’s news that she was named Nike/US Lacrosse Northeast Player of the Year. “I mean, it’s pretty big stuff — I didn’t expect it at all.”

The honor comes on the heels of backstopping Darien to FCIAC and state Class L crowns, plus being named All-American for the first time, and becoming Conn. Player of the Year.

“I think the sky’s the limit for her,” said her Wave coach of four seasons Lisa Lindley, with Waters slated to join defending national champion North Carolina in Sept. “I think she really wants it, I think she’ll do what she needs to do to be in a position to challenge (for starting goalie).”

She is also MSG Varsity pick for First Team Tri-State, and All-FCIAC First Team.

Waters up for her state title medal at Bunnell in Stratford on June 8. (Photo courtesy DAF)

“I don’t think it was ever a question of ability with her,” said Lindley. “It was a matter of her maturing mentally and becoming comfortable with her decision making.

“And I think that all comes with being a senior.”

She is credited with making 289 saves and stopping 69-percent of the shots labeled for the cage.

And Waters was always the first to credit her defenders after tough games this season, as Darien went 21-1, undefeated in CT.

“I think having the senior veteran defenders of Vanessa Budd and Lauren Pryor was huge,” said Lindley. “And certainly Jackie Brokaw and Ellie Bennett helped the situation.”

Waters kept her eye on the long ball.

“FCIACs and states — it was just the big things I was looking at,” said Waters. “In the off-season, my goal is just to be the best player that I could be.”

The best way things could have ended up for her and the team is just the way it all ended.

“Winning back-to-back FCIACs and states for the first time,” she said of the first-time feat for all the Wave’s seniors. “I was really eager to get that.

“Since it was my last season I wanted to give it all that I could.”

Darien gave all opponents all they could handle, with only Garden City edging CT’s Best 12-11 in overtime at Stadium Field on April 6.

And even in that sole loss, Waters made good.

“There were some games where I think she was the difference-maker,” said Lindley. “Probably, you can look at the first-half of the Garden City game and if she didn’t come up with those saves in the first 20 minutes, it would have been a different game.”

Different, as in, not even close, never mind overtime.

“They had quality pointblank shots that she saved, and turned them away,” said Lindley. “And I think that if they would have capitalized in that situation, it would have been a total different momentum for them and for us.

“That was huge.”

Waters stopped lots in her four years starting in the Wave cage. (Darien Times/Steven Buono photo)

She was motivated to hold the momentum the best she could, in the game where Darien was most tested this year.

“At the beginning of the season I really wanted to beat a Long Island team,” said Waters — and that’s where her dad’s from. “Because for the past three years we tended to get dominated by them.

“I just wanted to prove that we could play with them. I felt that this team this year could do that.”

Her biggest stop: about at the buzzer to force OT.

“I was just like, I’m not going down with a loss,” she said. “And somehow I just instinctively reacted to the shot.”

Down low, Waters sprawls like a hockey goalie, while up high she’s as sure as a deep-sea fisherman scooping her netted stick in making the saves.

“Definitely the New Canaan games — she definitely had some amazing saves there,” said Lindley.

She seemed to have New Canaan senior star scorer Olivia Hompe’s number — Hompe who scored a number of goals on Waters to upend Darien last year.

“At the end it was definitely getting really tight, and seeing Olivia Hompe run down the field, I know that she is a big competitor for me,” said Waters of the second-half of the rain swept FCIAC final where Darien came from behind to beat the Rams 12-10. “I was like, alright, let’s see what you’ve got. And luckily my defender forced her a little wide and she got off a shot that was stick-side.”

And snared by Waters up high.

“I was able to make the save,” Waters added. “It was kind of fun to compete with her.”

“That was nice actually to see,” said Lindley. “So I think everyone was happy about that.”

Her trademark is making stops on rebounds, not something you see too often in this sport.

“The thing is, when Caylee is in her groove, really focused, she really has the ability to stop many, many shots in a row,” said Lindley. “I think she’s the type of goalie that doesn’t necessarily start out (hot). But as she goes along in a game she gets settled in, and gets stronger and stronger.”

You could say the same thing about her high school career.

“Yeah — freshman year I felt like, I was just a goalie — put into the cage, and kind of, all that I was there for was to make a save and then clear the ball,” said Waters. “But, as I grew up through the years of high school lacrosse, I learned the game better and understood the defense better.

“I got a lot more comfortable.”

This is the year she was best accustomed to communicating, and it showed.

“I did better communicating with my defense,” she said. “Really telling them specifically where to go. Also I was comfortable outside of the cage.”

She often managed to shut the door before the intruders even had the chance to knock.

“I wanted to do more than just make a save,” Waters said. “I wanted to make a difference — getting ground balls and making interceptions.”

Pressure? The last line of defense — the buck — the ball — stops here, or it does not stop at all. Does that get to you?

“Pressure is my position, so I just really enjoy being (in) that last spot,” she said. “You’re just focused on the game and you have a great time with your teammates.”

After high school, Sarah’s journey took her to Champlain College in Burlington, VT, where she majored in marketing and excelled in advertising and business. She studied in Lima, Peru and graduated from Champlain in May 2012. Sarah embarked on her advertising career with Cloud 9 catering in Burlington, and at the Blue Hive advertising agency in Shanghai, People’s Republic of China before returning to live in New York City to continue her career.

Sarah’s passions included skiing, boxing, sailing, hiking, music, dancing and traveling internationally. She was known for her captivating personality, infectious laugh, beautiful eyes, and bright smile. Sarah was a strong and positive force in the lives she touched. In addition to her parents, Sarah is survived by her sister Jennifer, her brother Kevin, eight aunts and uncles, seven cousins, and many, many friends who called her family.

Friends are invited to call on the family at The Edward Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Boston Post Road, Darien, CT from 4-8 p.m. Friday, June 21. A Mass celebrating Sarah’s life will be held Saturday, June 22, at 10 a.m. at St. John Church, 1986 Boston Post Road, Darien, CT.

Friends are also welcome to join the family for the burial service at Dellwood Cemetery, 2950 Vermont 7A, Manchester Village, VT, on Sunday, June 23 at 1 p.m. There will be a reception immediately following the burial service at the First Congregational Church in Manchester Village.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Champlain College “Sarah Ramsey Strong” Fund (PO Box 670, Burlington, VT 05402-0670), or online at Champlain’s webpage (www.champlain.edu, and click on “Make a Gift” at the top of the page and follow link to donation form. Please indicate “Sarah Ramsey Strong” Fund at the bottom of online form). www.lawrencefuneralhome.com

Top row (left to right): Kevin Lindley, Charlie Christensen, Ben Wilson, Peter Hartigan, Nick Percarpio, Charlie Wright, Charlie Olsen, Chase Vessels, Max Romeym, Thomas Dale, Jake Bieler, Finlay Collins; bottom row Jay Robbins, Jamie Hanford, Riley Stewart, Joe Hardison, Matt Meyjes, Thomas Sulger, Will Ahl, Ryan Cornell, Tanner Strub, Colin, McGahren, Kyle Cornell, Cass Maloney.

LACROSSE

The eighth grade A boys lacrosse team defeated New Canaan 8A Red 6-2 to win the U15 CONNY championship recently.

Pierrick Absollone began rowing in Quebec.

ROWING

Pierrick Absolonne coached the RowAmerica Rye team to a high finish at the Youth National Championship in Oak Ridge, Tenn, recently.

His boys 8+ boat placed second in the C Finals Mens’ Youth Eight.

Absolonne, from town, was extremely pleased with the boys’ performance.

“It takes an incredible level of commitment, perseverance and maturity to achieve this level of performance, and proficiency,” said Absolonne. “These young men executed a fine tuned race that took a full year to prepare for.”

Also on hand to prepare the team was coach Mathis Jessen, a former world champion rower from Germany who helped the team learn to get the boat to its optimum speed off the starting line in the shortest time possible.

Founded by entrepreneur and owner of WinTech and Saugatuck Rowing Club, Howard Winklevoss, RowAmerica Rye is a well-supported program designed to develop highly disciplined competitive rowing skills, build character, and teamwork. Winklevoss has aggregated some of the top rowing competitive rowing coaches in the country with proven track records in bringing athletes to national competitions.

This is all in response to the growing demand in the Fairfield and Westchester County area for a more highly skilled competitive rowing program with more

personal attention on building both the athletes character and skill level.

Absolonne began his rowing career at the Laval Rowing Club in Quebec,Canada in 1981. During his youth, his boats won gold medals at the Quebec Games, represented their province at the Canada Games, and won multiple gold medals at the Canadian Secondary School Rowing Association Championships.

After winning a gold at the Canadian Henley in 1988, Pierrick raced at the 1990 Canadian Speed Order Regatta withhis rowing partner Ross Lizee, and won gold in the senior lightweight men’s pair. That same year, he rowed at the World Cup in Lucerne and at the English Henley Regatta.

Prior to joining RowAmerica Rye, Pierrick was the Head Coach of the Junior Boys with Greenwich Crew and led his crews to multiple victories in the Northeast as well as the club’s first Men’s Youth 8+ to qualify for the Youth National Championships.

He is a certified level III USRowing coach. But mostly, he is passionate about rowing, eager to learn more and to share his love of the sport with the athletes of RowAmerica Rye. Pierrick holds a Master of Science in Landscape Design from Columbia University.

He is the proud father of two and lives with his family in Darien.

Wood will host the discussion on Wednesday, June 19 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the library’s community room.

More info: Call 1-800-842-1421, or Visit darienLibrary.org

Ring’s End players are (front row from left): Neil Ghandi, Alex Dehmel, Tommy Kreuch, then Drew Durkin, Tim Egan, Kody Schutzman, Arthur Xanthos Jr, manage James Dimonekas, Ethan Ehlers, Justin Van de Graaf, Camilo Orozco, Zach Dimonekas, John Giannattasio, Andrew Masone, coach Arthur Xanthos. Not in picture: coach David Durkin, Ryan Neafsey.

BASEBALL

The Ring’s End U13 Babe Ruth Baseball team had the league’s best record of 13-2 and also captured the Darien Playoff Championship this spring.

Lizzie Fitzpatrick was a double-winner.

DIVING

The CT Marlins Diving Club competed at the 2013 Summer Regional qualifier last weekend, held at the New Canaan YMCA.

Local residents compete with the team.

The Marlins Women’s Team won the meet finishing 1st out of 17 teams.

Double winners this weekend included Elizabeth Fitzpatrick from Darien for the girls 16-18 age group and Carolina Sculti of Rye, N.Y. from the girls 12-13 age group. “Both Elizabeth and Carolina had stellar performances,” coach Lindsay Weigel said. “They are both pre-qualified for the Junior National meet held in Aug., but this was a great way to see where they are at in their training.”

Sculti and Fitzpatrick also tied for high point winners of the meet.

The Marlins Men’s Team finished 5th place, with Lee Christensen of Darien finishing in the top of the boys 16-18 age group throughout the competition, placing 4th on the 1 meter springboard and 6th on the 3 meter springboard. Both Christensen and Fitzpatrick were recently awarded NISCA All-American for the second year in a row.

“All the divers had amazing performances this weekend,” said the coach. “The kids are hardworking and very motivated to do the best they can do.

“One thing we are doing with the kids to give them some extra motivation heading in to champion season is having two time Olympian and medalist Scott Donie run a clinic and work with the kids to help inspire them and to get them into championship mode.”

The Scott Donie Clinic will run at the YMCA of Greenwich June 27th-29th from 10am-1pm. He will be working with athletes from all levels and will be giving a daily motivational speech, leading the dry land session and then heading the coaching in the pool.

“Having Scott come to the Y and work with the kids is such a great opportunity for them,” said coach Korn. “For these young athletes to be around and work with someone who has reach the maximum potential for this sport and done well is invaluable.”

All divers from the surrounding area are welcome to take part in the clinic. For sign ups and more information email the Marlins coaches at marlinsdiving@gmail.com.

For more information about the marlins dive club, please visit the marlins web site at marlinsdiveclub.com.

CHARGERS: Winning in Byfield, Mass. were, at front, Caroline Benitez, Paige Murray, Amelia Heisler, Iss Scribano, Julia Arrix; middle: Laine Parsons, Abby Area, Casey Tucker, Natlaie Paletta, Angie Loynaz, Caroline Zaffino, Charlotte Tucci; top: Sara Dickinson, Anna Moorhead, Mariah Matheis, Emma Novick, Matty Novick, Sammy Nielsen, Elizabeth Fucigna, Lilly Gregory. Not pictured: coaches Stephanie Calabrese, Kim Pepe.

LACROSSE

The Rising Juniors 2015 CT Chargers girls’ lacrosse team dominated the field and swept all six games to win the Northeast Lacrosse Challenge Tournament in Byfield, Mass. June 16.

Boulton has been a member of the RTC since 2010 and has served in roles including vice chairman and chairman of the Campaign Committee responsible for the RTC’s campaign activities. He rejoined the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) in 2012, having previously served for four years in the late 90’s, is currently a member of the Finance and Budget Committee, and previously chaired the Education Committee. From 2000 until 2009, Boulton served on the Darien Board of Education, including four years as its Chairman. Boulton and his wife Laura have lived in Darien for 20 years.

The Republican Town Committee recruits and recommends qualified candidates for appointed offices and encourages and supports candidates to run for local and state elected offices.

More info: info@darienrtc.com or darienrtc.com.

Officers were called to the home at 4:30 a.m. on a report of a verbal fight. When police arrived, they learned that the man and his wife had gotten into a verbal argument and at one point the man left the home.

When the wife went to look for him in her vehicle, it is alleged that the husband punched the vehicle’s window and also punched his wife in the face. Both then returned to home, police said. Additional investigation revealed that the couple’s two children, ages 6 and 9, were sleeping in the basement and that the man had left a loaded rifle near them, police said.

Officers seized three rifles, a revolver, and assorted ammunition for safekeeping as a result of his actions. He was held in lieu of posting a $250,000 bond. He was presented in court the next day.