Staples Honors Seven College-Bound Athletes

While Staples is well known for the success of its athletic programs, the Wreckers are equally proud of their reputation as one of the top academic schools in the state.

That pride certainly was on display Thursday, when the school recognized seven students who will be continuing their athletic careers at  academically oriented colleges.

Among those recognized were four soccer players - All-American Brendan Lesch (Notre Dame), Frankie Bergonzi (Colgate), Sean Gallagher (Navy) and Greg Gudis (Columbia).

They were joined by three memnbers of the foootball team -- Chris Coyne and Pat Murray, who are both headed to Yale - and Mike Nicklas, who will be attending Wofford, which is a power in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA).

Staples soccer coach Dan Woog acknowledged that it is an impressive accomplishment to have one team produce four Division I players.

"It's not unprecedented (for us), but we haven't had it in three or four decades," Woog said. "It's a great tribute to them."

Woog pointed out that Gallagher, who had long wanted to attend Navy, will be the first soccer player from Staples  to go to a military school.  In addition, Lesch becomes the first Wrecker to attend Notre Dame.

"They're all going to four very different schools, but each one picked the school that's right for him," Woog said.  'They looked at athletics, they looked at academics, they asked all the right questions, and it's going to be fun watching them over the next four years. And it's been a great boost for our program and for the younger kids to see what's possible."

While Nicklaus will be going to school in South Carolina, Coyne and Murray are staying close to home, but all three  helped create lasting memories. The Wreckers were a combined 21-3 over the last two seasons, winning the FCIAC  championship in 2009 and reaching the state playoffs both years.

"It's going to be difficult to replace all three of these guys," Staples football coach Marce Petroccio said. "I don't have any sons at home. I have two daughters. These are my sons."

"The type of academics we have here at Staples High School is tremendous," Petroccio added. "These kids have worked their tails off to get into those institutions, but I don't know if you can get a getter education for your buck than here at Staples High School."

Murray, who is originally from St. Louis, doubted he would have had the opportunity to play at Yale if he didn't attend Staples. He moved to Westport with his family back in the eighth grade.

"A school like Staples, there's such an emphasis on academics and football and I think that helped me get into a school like Yale that has the academics and football," Murray said.

"My old school, it didn't really have the emphasis on academics. It didn't send kids to the Ivy League schools, and obviously coach P is a great coach."

Coyne mentioned the support he received from Petroccio, on and off the field - during the recruiting process.

"He won't only teach you how to play, teach you have to me a man, but he'll also vest his time to make sure you succeed," Coyne said. "Countless hours he spent bringing us in. Talking to (other) coaches for us was just huge and the same thing with the soccer program as well."

Gudis took a playful jab at his fellow Ivy League-bound classmates.

"I'm very happy to be attending the better Ivy League university," he said.

"I'm going to just say he's jealous," Coyne retorted. "We'll leave it at that."

And what did Murray think about Gudis' comment?

"I don't know about that," he said. "I looked at Columbia a little bit too,  but I liked Yale better. That's his opinion."

Truth be told, none of the student-athletes went wrong with the schools they chose. At Staples, academics and athletics don't have to be mutually exclusive.

Petroccio also announced that a number of his players who will playing football at Division III schools.

Tyler Jacobs, Greg Lewis and Chet Pajolek will be attending Amherst, Julian Gendels with attend Union College, Rob Gau will attend Trinity College and Robbie Herman will play spring football at the University of Pennsylvania.

In addition, Matt Yeager will play Division I lacrosse at Colgate.