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Charlie Westfall Doubly Honored
Dec. 3, 2007 - Charlie Westfal has been named MSG Tri-State Player of the Week and Player of the Year by the FCIAC Football Blog/BlueStreak Sports Training.
Alums in the News
Dec. 2007 - Ernie Greywacz was named to the All-Northeast Conference football team. The junior had 73 tackles, two interceptions and three fumble recoveries.
Dec. 2007 - Bruno Dorismond was a third team all Colonial Athletic Association selection after he recorded 37 tackles, two sacks and two fumbles recoveries for Maine U.
Charlie Westfal - State Finals M.V.P.
Dec. 1, 2007 - An tremendous team effort by the New Canaan Rams earned them their second consecutive State Championship title. The game M.V.P. for New Canaan was Charlie Westfal… Senior and Quarterback… who led his team out of a 13-30 deficit at halftime to an incredible 34-30 victory over the undefeated Hand Tigers. Coach Fred Word summed it up best… “Wow!!!”
Turkey Bowl Award Winners
Nov. 22, 2007 - There are two awards presented at the Turkey Bowl each year.
- The Jim Girard Memorial Sportsmanship Award is given to a player from each team in honor of the former A.D. at Darien High School who died of leukemia in 2002.
- The Jack Dempsey/M.V.P. Award is presented to a player from each team who are chosen by the newspaper writers. The M.V.P. Award was renamed in honor of Jack Dempsey, a former NCHS football player and wrestler who was killed in action while serving in Iraq in 2004. Dempsey won the M.V.P. Award himself in 1998.
CONGRATS TO NC’S 2007 WINNERS
Sportsmanship Award - George Bodenheimer (’08)
M.V.P. Award - Charlie Westfal (’08)
Wishing FCIAC Blog-master a speedy recovery
Nov. 21, 2007 - Tim Parry (NCHS ’87) and the force behind the FCIAC Football Blog, had anterior cervical fusion surgery a few days ago. This is major surgery and we wish Tim an easy and speedy recovery.
FCIAC Football Blog
Our team thanks the Dattco Bus Co.
Nov. 17, 2007 - The Ram Football Team would like to extend its heartfelt gratitude to the Dattco Bus Company. They generously donated a bus to carry our players to Coach Marinelli’s mother’s funeral last week. The boys felt very strongly about attending and, when our school couldn’t provide transportation, Dattco didn’t hesitate. They came through for our team and helped our boys show their coach the deep respect they feel for him. It’s a tribute to Coach Marinelli that over 80 current team members attended his mother’s funeral service.
Our thanks to Rich Stabile, manager at the NCHS facility, and Phil Johnson, VP of School Buses for Dattco. They responded to a need in our community, and we appreciate their support.
Two Keys to Ram Football’s Success
Nov. 13, 2007 - Diane Murphy and Bill Brown don’t get their names mentioned by the announcer during games… they’re not written about in the local papers… and they’re not listed on our roster… but they are two of the most important people involved with the everyday functioning and overall success of NCHS Football.
Diane Murphy begins her 26th year as NCHS’ Athletic Trainer and “training room chief.” You can find her in the training room every afternoon taping up players, icing aching muscles and caring for any injuries incurred by all of New Canaan High School’s student-athletes. During our football games, you’ll see her calmly walking up and down our sidelines carefully watching every player on the field. If anyone is slow to get up after a play or shows signs of injury, she’s right there with her pack of supplies ready to take care of them. Diane is incredibly professional - always calm, caring, and in control as she tends to our players. Parents and coaches alike are comforted by her presence and the knowledge that she’s watching out for our boys as they play this tough sport.
Bill Brown is our team’s equipment manager which is a challenging job with an average football team but, when you’re dealing with our roster of 145 players strong (Freshmen through Seniors), it’s a daunting task on the best of days. In the afternoons, Bill is busy getting supplies and gear ready for our teams’ practices and games. Tool boxes, med kits, water, footballs, etc… there’s a lot involved with the daily functioning of our Varsity, J.V., Sophomore and Freshman teams. Whether distributing uniforms, replacing a lost hip pad, or handling the game balls on the sidelines, Bill does it with ease and a sense of humor. You can’t be in a bad mood around him… he’s always ready with a joke or cheerful greeting for coaches and players alike. A member of the class of ’78, a skilled golfer, and a special education aide at NCHS - our team wouldn’t run as well as it does without Bill.
In sports as in most aspects of life, the people behind the scenes are as important to a team’s success as a talented player or an experienced coach. It takes an amazing amount of time and dedication from our support staff to run a successful season, and Ram Football is lucky and grateful to have Diane and Bill on our side of the field.
Charlie Westfal Named Player of the Week
Oct. 23, 2007 - New Canaan quarterback Charlie Westfal was named Player of the Week by the FCIAC Football Blog and BlueStreak Sports Training, the two organizations announced today.
Westfal, a senior starting at quarterback for the first time this season, completed 18 of 25 passes for 301 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception in the Rams 49-34 win over Danbury on Saturday. Westfal also ran the ball seven times for 82 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
The Player of the Week is chosen from a pool of players nominated by the FCIAC's football coaches.
-Tim Parry, FCIAC Football Blog
-Matthew Cole, BlueStreak Sports Training
Updated Individual Records have been posted
August 30, 2007 - Out individual player records has now been updated (through the 2006 season). To view these updated records, click on the “Team Records” link in the menu on the left of this page. Then click on “Individual Records”.
Many thanks to Jay Salvador - our incredible statistician!
“Molly’s Miracle” and A.L.S.
August 29, 2007 - Former Darien H.S. football coach Mike Masiuk’s wife, Molly, is fighting ALS, also known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease”. On Saturday, September 29th there will be a “Walk to Defeat ALS” at Sherwood Island in Westport. Joan Lauten, wife of our own assistant football coach Steve Lauten, has organized a team, called “Molly’s Miracle” to do the walk in honor of her friend.
Every 90 minutes a person in the U.S. is diagnosed
with ALS, and every 90 minutes another
person loses their battle against it.
In football, our main goal is to work as hard as we can to beat our opponents. In life, however, our goal must be to do all that we can to help our friends and neighbors when they need us. To help sponsor “Molly’s Miracle”, click (here).
Annual Red & White Game - Sat. June 16th
June 17, 2007 - Thanks to our coaches, players, parents and especially to our 4 terrific team reps for making this year’s Red & White Game such a wonderful success. We also thank our chain gang, referees, Team Managers (Stephanie Miller and Kelsey Pulkownik), Ralph Antonacci (our trainer for the day) and Bill Brown (equipment manager & announcer) for all their help in preparing for and during the game. (And huge thanks to whoever arranged for the glorious weather.)
1st Annual “Has-Beens” vs. “Will-Bees” Game is a great success!
June 16, 2007 - 57 players ranging from Tom Towers (Class of 1983) through next season’s seniors (Class of 2008) came out on Friday night, June 15th, to take part in the 1st Annual “Has-Beens” vs. “Will-Bees” vs. Alums 7-on-7 scrimmage. Played at Dunning Stadium under perfect blue skies, devoted fans cheered the boys and men on. The “elders” held their own and showed the younger generations that they still had some of their old moves. A great tailgating party was held after the games, and we give a huge thanks to Matt Ready and Bill Eydt who were our very talented grill-masters. Thank you to everyone who came, helped and contributed. We look forward to seeing you all again next year.
Peter Demmerle, Ram Football alum, dies at 53
May 30, 2007 - Pete Demmerle of Greenwich, a former star athlete at New Canaan High School and All-America football player at the University of Notre Dame, died Thursday, May 24. Mr. Demmerle, an attorney in Greenwich, was 53 years old and died from complications of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
To read his Notre Dame obituary, click (here).
Dorismond named a Univ. of Maine Captain
May 2007 - Bruno Dorismond, NCHS Class of 2003, proudly wore the #66 for Ram Football while at New Canaan High School. Upon graduating, he went on to the University of Maine where he plays football and is majoring in Child Development and Sociology. Dorismond was honored as one of the U. Maine’s scholar-athletes in Feb. 2007 where, to qualify, he achieved a 3.0 or better GPA for the 2006 year and/or has a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.
On Saturday, May 5th, 2007 the Black Bears concluded their spring season with their Third Annual Jeff Cole Memorial Scrimmage at Alfond Stadium. Prior to the scrimmage, with Coach Marinelli in attendance, Bruno was honored again by being named one of the team’s senior tri-captains for their 2007 football season.
A Tragedy at Virginia Tech
April 17, 2007 - Our Ram Football team would like to extend its sympathy and heartfelt prayers for those killed and injured in the shooting today at Virginia Tech on April 16th. It is an unbelievable tragedy. We are, however, very grateful that Ram Football alum, Jon Aspinwall (NCHS ’06), currently a Freshman at Virginia Tech, is safe and unharmed.
Marinelli & Garrity win awards from National Football Foundation & Hall of Fame
April 12, 2007 - The National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame honored Coach Marinelli and senior Jon Garrity at their annual awards dinner. Coach Marinelli won “Coach of the Year” honors and Garrity was honored as a Scholar-Athlete. The Marinelli and Garrity families were in attendance, as were several members of the Ram Football staff.
Coach Marinelli is a finalist for “National Coach of the Year”
Jan. 2007 - Ram Football is proud to announce that Coach Lou Marinelli has been named one of 8 finalists for "National Coach of the Year". The winner will be announced at the National High School Coaches Convention on June 28th in Milwaukee.
Coach Ditolla is “Assistant Coach of the Year”!
Jan. 2007 - Joe Ditolla, an NCHS special education teacher and assistant football coach for 28 years, has been named the 2006 CHSCA - Connecticut High School Coaches Association’s Assistant Coach of the Year! He was honored at an awards ceremony on January 21st in Southington.
Coach Marinelli is “Legendary”
Dec. 2006 - Lou Marinelli was honored by MSG as their “2006 Legendary Coach of the Year”. Just completing his 29th year as a football coach, the New York Military Academy alumnus began his coaching career in Westchester County, NY with the Mamaroneck Tigers. Following stops at Boston College and Yorktown High School (NY), he took over as head coach of the New Canaan Rams in 1981. His career totals stand at an amazing 218-86-7 with 199-76-6 being in the FCIAC. Coach Marinelli has led the Rams to three league titles and five Connecticut state championships.
Rams win Class MM State Championship
(article by wfsb.com - 12/3/06)
NEW BRITAIN, Conn. -- Saturday night belonged to New Canaan in the Class MM championship.
The New Canaan Rams met the Maloney Spartans under the lights at Central Connecticut State University.But it was the Rams who jumped out to a 27-0 halftime lead. New Canaan's second touchdown came from a 14-yard connection from Curtis Casali to Zach Renner.
The offensive star for New Canaan was senior running back Dan Neeleman, who rushed 30 times for 206 yards and three touchdowns. Neeleman also caught two passes for 70 yards en route to team MVP honors.
Maloney saved some face in the second half when Rashamell Vereen returned a kickoff for an 81-yard touchdown, cutting the New Canaan lead to 33-6.
But the rams weren't done scoring: A 26-yard Neeleman run set up another one of his touchdowns.
"You only had one chance to do it, you'll remember this for the rest of your life," Neeleman said. "We have guys coaching our team that never forget their state championships, and we wanted that we wanted a part of that. We wanted a part of the New Canaan legacy that everybody talks about, and now, we have something to take with us."
"We came up an hour-and-a-half, two hours to play. These guys came over like (from) 15 minutes away; they weren't ready for us. It was awesome," New Canaan senior Curtis Casali said.
New Canaan head coach Lou Marinelli left the game wet from a Gatorade shower as his Rams defeated the Spartans 53-21.
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