Top Staples Athletes Choose Strong Academic Colleges

Staples High School will showcase some of its most prominent student-athletes during the upcoming fall sports season. They are preparing for their senior year before heading off to prestigious Division I universities such as Yale, Notre Dame,  Navy and Colgate.

Tight end-linebacker Pat Murray and wide receiver-defensive back Chris Coyne have made verbal commitments to play football at Yale beginning in the fall of 2011.

The two players will be joining a Yale team that was 4-6 last year in the Ivy League. Before then, however, they once again will be key cogs on a Staples squad hoping to repeat as FCIAC champions.

Murray and Coyne also will be looking to win their final game at Staples. The Wreckers are coming off a stellar 12-1 season, but suffered a heartbreaking 28-21 overtime loss to Cheshire in the CIAC Class LL final. Before that defeat, Staples was ranked No. 1 in the state.

"I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to continue playing the sport that I love," said Murray, who recorded 10 sacks and more than 70 tackles a year ago.

Murray understands the demanding academic and athletic culture atYale, but feels his high school experience has prepared him well for the challenge.

"I'm going to have to keep working hard both on the field and in the classroom," he said. "The commitment it takes to play for a program like Staples football is truly year-round with the hours of practice, lifting, running, and film study, in addition to maintaining good grades in the classroom. I'll be prepared for college."

Coyne was one of the best defensive players in Connecticut in 2009, ranking second in the state with 16 sacks. He  finished the year with 71 total tackles and two interceptions.

His relationship with Yale started in February after a few visits from Bulldogs head coach Tom Williams. Eventually, the two Staples players made their own visits to the New Haven campus and met with the coaches several more times.

However, according to Coyne, it was not until after a summer prospect camp at Yale that both were offered unofficial spots on the Bulldogs.

The verbal commitments are not binding until the early signing period in early February.

Coyne attributes his success to the coaching staff at Staples.

"My coaches have made a huge impact," he said. "Coach (Marce) Petroccio and (weight room coach) Tim Romano have really implemented a system that gives us the best chance to succeed on the field at both the high school and college level."

Staples Soccer Captains Committed to Strong Academic Schools

The three senior captains on this year's Staples' boys soccer team - Frankie Bergonzi, Brendan Lesch, and Sean Gallagher - have made verbal commitments to Colgate University, University of Notre Dame and the Naval Academy, respectively.

All three also expect to repeat as state champions this fall. Last year, the Wreckers (22-2) won their 12th state title in the program's storied history with a 4-0 victory over New Milford in the Class LL final. They also secured their 26th FCIAC crown.

"I'm definitely excited,  the coaches and players [at Colgate] that I've met are great, and I'm also excited about what Colgate (8-8-1 last year) has to offer academically," Bergonzi said.

Before heading off to upstate New York, Bergonzi, a key member of Staples' defense from last season, will step into a major leadership role on the Wreckers' backline.

While it is still unclear how the defensive positions will play out with so many solid defenders in the program,  expect Bergonzi to to whip his defense into shape during preseason. He believes team chemistry will be a key element for the Wreckers.

"I want - and expect - to win another FCIAC and state championship," Bergonzi said. "We have more than enough talent to do so again. I'm going to do my best to make sure everyone is giving 110 per cent every day."

Controlling the team's offense this season will be Lesch, a Westport phenom who has made an impact on the field since he started as a freshman on the varsity. During his career, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to the soccer and a  desire to be always improve his game.

Lesch's YouTube bicycle kick video has surged to over 50,000 views, and he could have a similar fan base this year, when he hopes to once again lead Staples deep into the playoffs.

Lesch cited Notre Dame's winning mentality as a reason for his decision to play for the Fighting Irish, who were 11-8-4 last year and reached the second round of the NCAA tournament. He expects to compete for a national championship every year while in South Bend.

He attributes his success in high school to the Staples soccer program.

"We have a fantastic coaching staff and the program is handled very professionally," he said. "I think that attitude translates to our performance individually and as a team," he said.

Lesch knows, however, that winning another state title will be no easy task.

"It will be tough because we face very high expectations," he said. "Each team we play will have their best game against us, so we will have to rise to the challenge and minimize our mistakes."

Unlike most Staples students, Gallagher chose a military school to further his education, as he will be playing his college soccer in Annapolis.

A member of the four-by-four relay team that won the New England championship in the spring, Gallagher also could have run track for the Midshipmen but he is a soccer player at heart.

Attending Navy has been a life-long dream for Gallagher, so it was an easy decision. He will be joining a Navy team that went 8-11 last year.

"It's the only college I have ever wanted to go to," Gallagher said, "It's just a perfect fit for me."

He is determined to work as hard as possible in order to achieve excellence at Navy, including a rigorous academic course load, soccer workouts and training. He thinks he is prepared for a difficult four year of military life.

"High school sports at Staples have taught me that continuous hard work is the key to success," he said.

Gallagher, who will anchor the Wreckers' defense alongside Bergonzi,  attributes his work ethic, learned from coaches Dan Woog and Laddie Lawrence, to his success both on the soccer field and on the track.

 He looks forward to his senior season and is excited to about defending the FCIAC and state championships.

"We expect to have similar success in the upcoming season," he said.