New Canaan Sports Digest Aug 29

New Canaan's Andrew Campbell won his heat Sunday in the lightweight men's sculls to advance to the semifinals at the World Rowing Championships in Bled, Slovakia.

The 19-year-old Campbell, who will be a sophomore at Harvard, crossed the finish line just ahead of Italy’s Pietro Ruta. That allowed him to move on to Thursday's semifinals and spared him from having to row an extra race.

In the final strokes of his sprint, Campbell pushed his bow in front of the Italian sculler in lane two and finished first with a time of 7:04.01 to Ruta’s 7:04.31.

“I was pleased,” Campbell told USRowing.com. “My plan was just to qualify for the final and take it one step at a time.”

Campbell race was the first of the day and the first of the 15 U.S. crews that went to the line Sunday in the hopes of advancing in their respective events

Also reaching the quarterfinals was the lightweight men’s double sculls team of Rowayton's Brian de Regt and New Haven's Jon Winter.

The pair held second right off of the start and finished in 6:29.25 behind Italy, which measured a 6:24.25. With the top three boats moving on, de Regt and Winter will race next on Wednesday.

The men’s four crew of New Canaan's Charlie Cole, Scott Gault (Piedmont, Calif.), Brett Newlin (Riverton, Wyo.) and Giuseppe Lanzone (Annandale, Va.) did not qualify from its heat, but put in a good fight to the line against winner Belarus.

The U.S. crew chased Belarus the length of the course, made a desperate push in the last 100 meters and fell 0.02 off the mark with a time of 6:50.96 to 6:50.98. They will row again on Wednesday.

New Canaan football team has two scrimmages this week

Lou Marinelli is beginning his 31st season as New Canaan's head football coach, having guided the Rams to eight state championships (1982, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009) and four FCIAC crowns (1993, 2000, 2001, and 2008).

He has a career record of 263-91-7 putting him in second place in wins among active coaches in Connecticut and in the top four all-time. His record at New Canaan 244-84-6, which includes a 20-11-1 mark against archrival Darien.

The Rams host Greenwich in a scrimmage on Wednesday (4 p.m,), then host their annual football jamboree on Saturday at 10 a.m. at Dunning Stadium.

New Canaan senior quarterback Matt Milano, who passed for 42 touchdowns last season, and hard-hitting senior linebacker Kevin McDonough have been named to the preseason first team All-State squad by ESPNHS.

The Rams boasted one of the most potent offenses in the state last season, but their three-year reign as state champions ended in a 50-20 loss to Masuk in a CIAC Class M title game.

A number of Rams were recognized a players to watch by ESPNHS. That list includes:  senior wide receiver/linebacker John Brainard, senior tight end /defensive end Connor Kilbane, senior offensive lineman Kalin Killinger, senior linebacker Dylan Lemming, senior wide receiver Patrick Newton and senior defensive lineman Thomas Rochlin.

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