Friday night, the final game was played in the second round of the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup Playoffs, which had one of the local favorites, the one-seed New York Rangers, advancing to the Eastern Conference finals, where they will meet the other popular team amongst Westporters, the six-seed New Jersey Devils, for a chance to compete for the league championship, better known as the Stanley Cup.

Out West, the eighth-seeded Los Angeles Kings advanced to their respective conference finals, where they will take on the surging three-seed Phoenix Coyotes, who up until recently were a threat to relocate.

However, this year’s playoffs have had many other story lines, good and bad, other than just wins and losses.

Martin Brodeur, the longtime goalie of the Devils, became the first at his position in NHL history to appear in a playoff game as a teenager and at the age of 40 (or older). Marty, as he is commonly referred to, also has three assists so far in the tournament.

Along the way, the Kings have taken out the one-seed Vancouver Canucks and the two-seed St. Louis Blues in the Western Conference, once again proving that an underdog can succeed in the world of sports. And currently, the Staples Center in LA is the host to three playoff teams in two sports: the Lakers and Clippers of the NBA as well as the Kings.

For Phoenix, their strong play as been overshadowed by a particularly dark moment. In the first round, forward Raffi Torres, notorious for playing dirty, left his feet on a check while targeting the head of the Chicago Blackhawk’s Marian Hossa, resulting in a 25-game suspension that could potentially carry over into next season. This was the third largest ban in league history.

And for the Rangers, they return to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1997, led by probable Vezina Trophy (the award for the best goalie during the regular season) and possible Hart Trophy (regular season MVP) and Conn Smythe Trophy (postseason MVP) winner Henrik Lundqvist, who so far this year has lived up to his nickname, “King Henrik.”

“The Rangers will go as far as Henrik Lundqvist will take them,” Jake Chernok ’13 said. “And right now, he’s playing some of the best hockey of his career.”

Making the task tougher for the Rangers is American star Brandon Dubinsky’s lower body injury, which caused him to miss the entire second round against the Washington Capitals; his current status is day-to-day. Conversely, the Devils are astoundingly healthy, with Ilya Kovalchuk and Ryan Carter overcoming injuries sustained earlier in the playoffs.

“Phoenix is taking this one all the way,” Will Englehart ’14 predicted. He expects Phoenix to beat the Rangers in the finals; “Throw some of that coyote fire at those weak Rangers,” Englehart said, directed towards Phoenix’s squad.

Luke Foreman ’14 also predicted that the Coyotes would make it to the finals. However, he sees the Devils eventually being crowned champs.

“Brodeur has so much experience, and the team as a whole has been playing very well as of late,” he said.

Now, I am a Devils fan, but throwing all bias aside, I do expect them to beat the Rangers and move onto the finals.

However, I also expect the Los Angeles Kings’ Cinderella story to continue, not only against Phoenix, but against New Jersey as well. The biggest reason is their goaltender, Jonathan Quick. Yes, Lundqvist and Brodeur have been good, but statistically, Quick has been the best in these playoffs, leading all remaining goalies in win percentage, goals against per game, and save percentage.

And I’m sure Los Angeles will be rocking and rolling if the Kings do, as I predict, make it to and then proceed to win the Stanley Cup.

I hate their pretentious pinstripes. I hate John Sterling’s irritating homerun calls; not every ball Alex Rodriguez hits is an A-Bomb, and it’s not clever after the billionth time. I hate them all, strutting around Yankee Stadium acting like they own the league.

I was born in New York, so I’ve heard people say that I am betraying my home team. But that is not even slightly true.

Shea Stadium was my first home away from home.

Shea was the classic, old, royal blue origin of the New York Mets, the first team I ever loved. When I was smaller, there was nothing like munching on a hot dog smothered in ketchup while Mike Piazza smashed one over the fence and the “Home Run Apple” appeared to tumultuous applause.

Despite New York being the closest area that houses major sports teams, only a few students reading this will understand what I’m talking about.

Because there are so many teams living in the Big Apple, there has always been a divide between different fans in Staples.

Yankees fans hate Mets fans, and Mets fans hate Yankees fans. Rangers fans would like to punch Islanders fans in the face, and Islanders fans want to scream every time they hear the “Potvin Sucks” chant ringing through Nassau Coliseum.

“I’m a Yankees fan, and my best friend is a Mets fan. So usually when they play each other, she comes to me crying because the Yankees won,” said Savannah Donohue ’13. “Let’s just say I win a lot of bets.”

There’s nothing like a good ol’ Subway Series to set a couple of friends on edge.

(Also, as of right now, the Yankees have a worse record. Just saying).

Don’t get me wrong; I’ll still like you if I discover your dark, navy blue and white-clad allegiance. But I might like you a little less.

And now that the Jets are moving to New York as well, I have a whole new team to hate and a whole new reason to scream my love for the Giants to the world. I was so proud when they won the Super Bowl. Seriously, I cried. Eli Manning is like my child.

Not only is there a huge amount of New York teams, but Connecticut residents also find many others to cheer for: the Red Sox, the Patriots, the Celtics. Without in-state teams of our own, we need to choose different teams to root for.

For me, my Mets devotion was passed down to me from my father. My best friend and I adopted the Giants when we recently got into football. But it’s different for everyone.

That’s one of the great things about having such a wide array of fans in Staples; each person has their very own obsession and their very own story.

It’s easy to love a team with the highest payroll in baseball, but that’s beside the point.

As much as I hate them, I respect Yankee fans. I respect Jets fans. I respect any fan that sticks by their team’s side, through thick and thin. I respect people that carry their adoration from when they were kids for the rest of their lives.

Sports has a way of bringing people together, whether it’s cheering for the same team on the same couch with a bowl of chips in hand, or it’s teasing each other and trying to come up with the best put-downs.

To each their own. But I’ll be waiting in Citi Field for the Mets’ next World Series ring; ready to welcome each of you Yankee fans back from the dark side.

The good news for Staples fans is that one would never have known the team was nervous since they turned in their best performance all year. Defeating Ridgefield in three straight games meant a great deal for the team’s confidence, as they were able to stay undefeated 15 games into the season.

“This win put us in the best position for both FCIACs and States. The team really played well today,” Coach Jon Shepro said.

A few games back, in Staples’ first clash with Ridgefield, drama ensued after the Staples victory. Claims and allegations were made against Staples players who were accused of stealing various Ridgefield equipment, including a few jerseys. Those matters may have been addressed and dealt with, but that isn’t saying that Ridgefield didn’t have a little bit of a vendetta.

“We knew that Ridgefield was going to come after us and draw blood after the incident. It’s a good thing our team played amazing today,” Captain Jonah Aelyon ’12 said after the victory.

The match included various highlights from the Staples team, including an especially ferocious performance from one of the team’s leaders, David Kalb ’12.

“David told me today that he had a 36-inch vertical, but when the ball is 40 inches above his head, I think he gets to it. He played phenomenal today,” Coach Shepro said.

For such a tough opponent as Ridgefield, Staples was able to showcase their dominance over the rest of the FCIAC.

When asked about the team’s success, Captain Andrew Fishman ’12 could only say, “This team does not know how to lose.”

Rather, Staples sailors are fueled by raw determination and skill.

After a long winter, their sails are raised, and, once again, the Staples sailing team is ready to take to the water.

While the sailing team is a great place for Staples students to share their passion for sailing, it is not all fun and games.

This season, Coach Geoff McCuskey is aiming to participate in 14 to 20 regattas.

Prior to becoming the coach at Staples last fall, McCuskey was the sailing director of the Cedar Point Yacht Club junior sailing program.

“My goal for this year is to improve every sailor’s boat handling, boat speed, tactics and teamwork,” McCuskey said.

Staples competes mostly in fleet and team racing regattas.  Fleet racing means that every boat is for herself, and team racing means that it is three boats versus three other boats.

The regattas are usually held at the yacht club of one of the participating sailing teams.

McCuskey said that the stronger teams in the Fairfield County Sailing League have historically been Greenwich High School and Brunswick Academy.

According to James Manning ’13, a member of the team, sailing is a much more physical and a much more dangerous sport than most people think.

“I have a concussion and have also needed 10 stitches in my leg after a boating accident,” Manning said.  “Many of my friends have broken their arms, fingers and toes while sailing.”

Being on the water can also be incredibly scary.  Captain Kelly Chang’s ’13 most terrifying sailing moment occurred at a fall season regatta.

Kelly and her crew were “blowing about 35 knots,”  which is an extremely rare amount of wind to encounter in the Long Island Sound.  Due to the incredibly windy conditions, it was hard to keep the boat upright.

Chang and her crew did not respond to the boat quickly enough, and within minutes, the boat was filled to the rim with water.

“The support boat came by and told us to keep sailing—that the water would eventually drain,” Chang said.

Chang’s crew tried, but the nose of their boat ended up buried in the water.

“We were afraid that the boat was going to sink or collapse on top of us,” Chang said.

The boat eventually drained.  However, this experience is one that Chang and her crewmembers will never forget.

In spite of that event, Chang still says “being on the water is [her] ultimate stress reliever.  The combination of mental and physical demands make sailing extremely addicting, and because of that, I plan on sailing in college.”

Captain Emily Bicks ‘12 has been sailing since she was eight years old and loves the feeling of being on the water after a long day at school.

Chang has also been sailing since she was eight years old.

The year that Chang moved to Westport from Hong Kong, she was looking for a summer activity and decided to sign up for lessons at the Longshore Sailing School.

Henry Dumke ’12 has been hit in the head by the boom and blacked out, but with this one forgettable event come plenty of moments to remember.

“Once, in the middle of a race, I mooned the other boat which had 10 people on it,” Dumke said.  “I gotta admit, it was pretty funny.”

If Dumke and the rest of the guys and girls are any indication, this is a team that will certainly not be unnoticed this spring.

Regarded as the “most significant land acquisition in Westport’s history,” the Longshore Beach and Country Club opened to the public on May 28, 1960. But before any of this happened someone else was using these tools, and not to play golf.

Just last year the club celebrated its 50-year anniversary. With 50 years down and many more to come, the club definitely sports some interesting stories behind its manicured course.

According to “Westport Connecticut” by Woody Klein, Longshore was known as Compo Farm from the beginning of its existence up until the early 20th century. The land’s original owner was the Cutting family of Brooklyn, who found the land good f the land to grow onions. Charles Francis Godfrey and his family worked for the Cuttings while they owned the farm, and when the Cuttings moved to New York, he began supervising the land.

Years later, New York tycoon Alexander M. Lawrence purchased the 180-acre farmhouse. Then, in 1929, the land once again changed ownership when Patrick Powers converted it into a private country club—Longshore. Twenty-three years later, the Powers sold the property, and the town of Westport bought the land seven years after that, making it public to all Westport residents.

John Cooper, current golf course manager, said “it was designed to be a family style golf course and is very user friendly. They don’t tend to build these types of golf courses anymore.”

The uniqueness of the course may have been just what had drawn countless numbers of celebrities to Longshore in years past.  According to Cooper, Harry Connick Jr., Sergeant Slaughter (WWE wrestler), Bob Hope and Babe Ruth are just some of the big names that have enjoyed the services that the club has to offer. Bert Lahr who starred in “The Wizard of Oz” as the cowardly lion was the Club Champ in 1933.

For many years now, the Staples High School golf team, who won both FCIAC and State Championships in 2012, has held practices on the Longshore Golf Course after school during their spring season. Players from the 2012 team are extremely fond of their home course.

“I really think that Longshore is perfect for what it is. It is a very easy course because it is short and open, but there are a lot of risks to take for better players. I think it’s a great course to learn on, and therefore we see a lot of beginners, women, kids, and elderly out there,” says senior captain Austin Alianiello.

Those who have golfed at Longshore know the best times to be out on the course. For most, the best time of the year to golf is late summer, when the days are warm and the nights are slightly cool. According to Alianiello, the two “golden hours,” which are from 6 to 7 a.m., and 6 to 7 p.m. in the summer, are the best.

Members of the golf team, including junior Devon Lowman, have experienced extremely memorable events on the Longshore Golf Course. “My favorite hole is hole number 11, because it’s a nice par three, and I had my first hole in one there,” says Lowman.

Considering the fact that 35,000 rounds were played on the Longshore Golf Course last year, many people may have also enjoyed their first hole in one in 2011.

Since its days of growing root vegetables, the Longshore Club has greatly expanded the use of its land. There are now a tennis pro shop, lockers, food concession and a  vastly improved pool, inn, golf course and marina, far superior to anything that used to be there.

When a teammate is thrown in the mix, the whole dynamic changes.

“The major difference between singles and doubles is that in singles you have to depend on yourself for motivation, strategy, and emotional support,” said Melissa Beretta ’14, a girls’ varsity player. “In doubles you have another person that can pump you up when you are upset, help you when you are stumped for how to beat a certain team, and calm you down when you, as almost all tennis players do, freak out and get dangerously close to having your game break down.”

Doubles involves two teams of two, one pair on each side of the net, competing against each other to win a match. Having another teammate on the court spurs the strategy, teamwork, and most importantly, communication.

“It is crucial that you learn to get along with your partner and that you combine your strengths to be the best doubles team you can be,” said Nicole Marcante ’12, a second doubles player on the girls’ varsity team.

Luke Foreman ’14, also a second doubles player but on the boys’ varsity team, agrees.

“If you can’t get along or effectively talk with your partner throughout the match, the game becomes much more difficult,” he said.

Jake Hirschberg ’13, a boys’ varsity player who received All State in doubles and All FCIAC in singles last year, describes the most common communication error between partners.

“It can be difficult because if a ball is hit in between you and your partner, you don’t have very much time to decide who is going to hit it,” Hirschberg said.

A similar event occurred between Foreman and his partner, Steve Thomson ’12, during the last match of their undefeated season. Staples was tied 3-3, and their match would be the deciding factor.

“Both Steve and I were really nervous, and I remember that during one of the first points we played, a routine ball was hit down the middle, and we both left it, anticipating that our partner was there,” Foreman said. “We were both extremely embarrassed, and if it weren’t for the support of each other, who knows how the match could have turned out.”

Foreman and Thomson were able to pull through and win the match, which Foreman attributes to their positive attitude throughout the game. “On match point, I was scared but ended up hitting the winning volley. Steve and I both jumped about three feet in the air, elated and relieved,” Foreman said. “It was much more fun to win with a partner, and knowing that all the weight wasn’t on my shoulders also took a lot of the pressure off.”

Not only must doubles players adjust to each other’s presence on the court, they also have to adapt different strategies in order to be successful. Some of the most popular ones include placing two players on the baseline, placing one player back at the baseline and the other up at the net, or placing both players at the net. “These formations give the team different angles and shot options, and depending on the situation, they can each be very effective,” Beretta said.

Once the players are set up in one of these positions, the game mostly consists of serves and volleys. Foreman takes advantage of this type of hit and positions both himself and his teammate at the net.

“It’s the most effective strategy, especially on fast courts,” Foreman said. “When two people are at the net, it becomes much harder for the other team to get the ball by, so as long as there are good volleys, it tends to be pretty successful.”

Although playing with another person is tough, working hard to cooperate together can be very rewarding.

“With their skill and ability to communicate on the court, high level doubles players will blow you out of the water,” Beretta said.

The pitch, to no one’s surprise, is a strike.

Also not a surprise: the transformation of Staples baseball captain Jimmy Kopack from a middle infielder to the ace pitcher for the varsity baseball team.

Kopack’s journey from the infield to the pitcher’s mound was born of necessity. Fellow captain Ben Greenberg ’12 says the change occurred during the summer before sophomore year.

“Our team was short on pitchers. Jimmy volunteered to give it a try, and ended up doing a tremendous job,” he said.

Kopack said that after he started to pitch more sophomore year, he “ended up being pretty good and stuck with it.” In fact, Kopack made the All-FCIAC West team as a junior and will be the number one starter for the Staples team that is coming off a FCIAC title.

While there is no doubt natural talent plays a part in Kopack’s success on the diamond, his passion for the game also contributes to his achievement.

“Jimmy is so competitive that he can be successful at any position. He has great life on his fastball, and great break on his curve, but it’s his incredible will to win that makes him our ace,” says Greenberg.

Kopack’s will and competitive nature mirrors that of his pitching coach Kevin Morton, who pitched for the Red Sox and has taught Kopack how to prepare throughout all of his seasons. Kopack wishes to be “as accomplished as he is,” and with the natural talent level and drive that Kopack possesses, anything seems possible.

Kopack’s work ethic is another major reason why he is the team’s ace. According to Kopack, during the offseason, he worked out with a trainer on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. He also pitched on Thursdays and hit on Tuesdays. He would also try to get an additional long toss day in sometime during the week to get his arm stronger. Essentially every day of the week for the entirety of the winter, Kopack practiced baseball, showing a work ethic that most athletes aspire to have

Kopack also has a profound love of the game. He quit football in fourth grade to play fall baseball, citing baseball as, “always his favorite sport to watch and definitely to play.”

Whether it’s striking out opposing batters, or sitting on the bench with his teammates, Jimmy Kopack’s love for the game is always there, and is a major aspect as to why he is the ace pitcher for the Staples baseball team.

Sound familiar?

That’s because rugby, the oft-forgotten Staples sport, is based on the two most popular sports at school.

At a school where football and soccer are the most popular sports for Superfans, one might think that rugby would flourish. Rugby has been described as a mix between the two sports.

However, rugby games at Staples have often lacked a large fan presence. This is something that Coach Joseph Barahona and his team is looking to change this year.

“Everyone starts playing football when they are little,” Barahona said. “They know baseball, they know basketball, but rugby is kind of relatively new.”

The popularity of the sport has skyrocketed in recent years. When Barahona first started coaching the team, there were 24 players on the roster. This year, there are 64, and students are still signing up.

Still, the fan presence at the games has been lacking, Barahona said.

Barahona attributes the lack of enthusiasm for rugby at Staples to the fact that the sport is not well-known. While popular on college campuses, rugby teams are more rare at high schools and are rarely seen at lower age levels. The sport is so rare in Connecticut in fact that the FCIAC website doesn’t even have a section for rugby.

The team was almost helped out by some positive media coverage last season in the form of a highlight reel on Good Morning Staples.

While this coverage spread the word about the team, there was one problem: the footage shown was from the only home game of the season. After that, every rugby game was at another school, largely due to the lower division the team was playing in.

Coupled with rules that American audiences are not used to, this means that attracting fans can be a daunting task.

But the players don’t see this as too much of an obstacle. Jackson Moss ’12, outside center and one of the co-captains of the team, believes that the sport is perfect for the average Staples fan.

“Superfans should come out to see the big tackles of football mixed with the continuous play of soccer,” Moss said. “I can assure you the entire game will keep you on the edge of your seat.”

The circumstances surrounding this season should certainly make things interesting. While the team played in a lower Division Two league last season, it performed so well that it was moved back up to Division One.

This success has given the team some confidence coming into this season.

“Last year we went undefeated up until our last regular season game, which was big to prove we’re a real team with serious competition,” Jackson Yang ’13, flanker and another co-captain, said.

However, the team has graduated 11 of its 15 starters from last season, so a lot of seniors will have to fill some cleats.

Yang showed little concern.

“I wholeheartedly know that we have the talent and depth this year to fill those spots and have plenty of strong backup players,” Yang said.

Moss uses the words of his coach to keep his head up.

“As our coach says, ‘If you really want something, you cannot be denied,” Moss said.

And while getting fans to see the game would be appreciated, Barahona’s real goal is create a great team, both during the games and after.

“My motto to the kids is ‘animals on the field, gentlemen off of it,’” Barahona said.

If anyone is ever wondering about my childhood, all I have to do is sing him or her those famed lyrics. The song is about those “Amazin’ Mets,” and it was written all the way back in 1961 by Ruth Roberts and Bill Katz. To this day, the song still echoes through the stadium during the seventh inning stretch of every home game.

Anyone who knows anything about sports knows that the Mets do not have a famed history in the MLB. In fact, they happen to be the butt of all New York sports team jokes. Never has it been more obvious than the past couple years, for they haven’t even scraped the surface of the playoffs.

But that’s why I love the Mets. Growing up, I worshipped them. Ever since their Cinderella run to the Subway Series in 2000, when I was only five years old, I have known every player on the roster. I memorized their numbers, their batting averages, and even the type of bats they liked to use. On perhaps the most proud day of my childhood, I was given the incredible opportunity of meeting several of my heroes at Mets training camp in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

These “heroes” weren’t the Mets that you would first think of. Champions like Tony Tarasco, Melvin Mora, and Timo Perez graced me with their 30 seconds of presence on that fateful day. Like a kid at a candy store, I proceeded to pummel them with various questions, ranging from their change in bat color preference to their children’s names. It was borderline stalkerish.

It didn’t matter that they proceeded to have five straight losing seasons. I was proud to be a fan because they would never let you down, for there was never any hype.

To get philosophical, I think that’s why I grew up such a devoted fan. I cherished the rare victories, excited to go to school and brag the next day. I loved the idea that nothing was ever expected of them, and there was honor in their lack of grace. It’s kind of like Nicolas Cage, in a weird sort of way. The guy is a mockery in the world of acting and cinema criticism, but everyone seems to forget he won an Oscar. Losers can win, and the Mets occasionally showed me that.

Sure, the 2006 season was phenomenal. For anyone who doesn’t know, the Mets were one pitch away from a World Series bid. I don’t want to get into that, however, because it will only result in a noise complaint from my neighbors.

This year, for the first time since 2002, the Mets truly have no hope. I say that with all the love in the world. Financially speaking, the term “in the toilet” is an understatement. Owner Fred Wilpon lost nearly all of his money to Bernie Madoff, and we couldn’t afford our most prized star, Jose Reyes.

As for the roster, it is a bunch of nobodies. And when I say nobodies, I really mean it. But that’s why I love them. There is something endearing about a team that is down on its luck. Don’t let the three game winning streak fool you—they’re seriously bad. As an example to all of you non-sports fans, it’s just like Florence Nightingale syndrome, the idea that a nurse has the ability to fall in love with her patients on their death bed, becoming intrigued with their lives before their eventual death. My love for the Mets is just like Florence Nightingale.

Let my undying love for the New York Mets serve as an example for all fans of lowly sports teams. And no Jets fans, I’m not talking about you. I’m talking to you, Wizards, Nationals, Browns, and Nets fans. I know it’s tough, but think about the memories you shared with those teams as a kid.

Some of my greatest moments growing up were throwing back a bag of Jolly Ranchers and a liter of Diet Coke, and watching the Mets getting absolutely crushed by the Braves. Looking back on it, I sometimes wonder why I loved the team so much.

But then I talk to a friend, a fellow Mets fanatic, and we reminisce about the SNY pre-game theme song, beloved outfielder Timo Perez, and everything in between. Don’t give up on the guys that were there when you started. I’ll always stand by the Mets, no matter how far below .500 they fall.

To end with a word of wisdom from our friends Ruth Roberts and Bill Katz, “bring your kiddies, bring your wife. Guranteed to have the time of your life! Because the Mets are really socking the ball, knocking those homeruns over the wall.”

Whether they are “socking” it or not, I’ll always love them.

Nearly one year ago, on April 26,2011, the Staples boys lacrosse team was defeated by the Greenwich Cardinals. Later on in that same season the Wreckers were defeated once again.

The game started off strong with a Greenwich goal two minutes into the game. Joey Zelkowitz ’13, would soon fire back with one for Staples.

For the Wreckers, this game was a chance to prove their true ability and growth since last season.

“We definitely went into this game thinking about last year,” said captain Quinn Mendelson ’13. “It’s a new season so you don’t really want to deal too much with what happened last year, but Greenwich was a game we really wanted to win because of last year’s outcome.”

The game continued with an exciting goal by Peter Paul ‘12 with seven minutes remaining in the first quarter. That goal was followed by Colin Bannon’s ’13 perfect shot to the net with a mere four minutes remaining in the first half.

The shots continued to fire from Staples, with incredible goals by Jared Levi ’13, Kyle Murray ’12, and Paul once again.

This offense proved to be too much for Greenwich, who only scored one more goal for the remainder of the game. In addition to the Wrecker offense, Lance Lonergan ’13 played tough defense while Cole Gendels ’14 tended the goal impressively.

All in all, it was an a stark improvement from the outcome of the 2011 Greenwich vs Staples games. However, this is just the beginning of the season for Staples.

“Our main goal as a team is to win a championship. Anytime you get a win you are getting closer to that goal, but it helps out even more if you’re beating a really high class opponent such as Greenwich,” Mendelson said.

Final Score: Staples-6, Greenwich-2