After falling short in both the FCIAC and state tournaments in 2012 despite a perfect regular season, Staples entered this year with a newfound determination. Following a season-opening loss to Southington, an eventual state semifinalist, all the Wreckers did was reel off 21 straight wins -- The Wreckers had too many finishers and were far too efficient -- unforced errors were a rare occurrence -- for other teams to counter. The Wreckers beat perennial power Ridgefield three times -- once in the FCIAC final and state semifinal -- and also dispatched of other contenders: Wynne again was at another level, breaking records and staking a popular claim as Staples' best-ever runner. The senior cemented his illustrious season -- and high school career, for that matter -- at the New Balance Nationals on June 16, cruising to first place in the mile in 4:07.84. After spending her first two years at Trinity Catholic, settling into the lineup for the Crusaders' boys team -- they're one of just 10 FCIAC schools with no girls golf team -- she established herself at the No. 1 spot for the Wreckers. The No. 3 seed in the L state tournament, the Wreckers made it all the way to the finals, letting a second-half lead slip away in a 14-8 defeat to No. 4 Fairfield Prep. After a scoreless first extra session, Will Johnson gave the Wreckers a milestone victory -- their first-ever against the Rams -- by scoring with 3:04 left in double overtime. Staples had struggled over the years against New Canaan -- the defending L state champion and FCIAC runner-up -- but the Wreckers reversed that trend in their lone matchup in 2013.

Running for the final time in his illustrious career at Staples, Henry Wynne accomplished something he'd never done before in outdoor track. Competing in the mile run at New Balance National Championships in Greensboro, N.C. on Sunday, Wynne breezed past the finish with a winning time of 4:07.84. Staples freshman Hannah DeBalsi also starred at Nationals, placing third in the girls two-mile run on Saturday in 10:16.20. DeBalsi shattered the Connecticut girls two-mile state record (10:41.74, set in 1999) and broke the national freshman two-mile mark (10:19.0, 1976). DeBalsi ran what McCray called an "off-the-charts" anchor leg, covering a mile in 4:48.

Having to overhaul nearly his entire collection of starters from last year in one offseason, Marce Petroccio realizes it will be difficult to put up the same staggering point totals come September. In 2012, the Wreckers orchestrated one of their finest seasons in program history, winning 10 games and a second-straight FCIAC title. Jack Massie returns for his senior year at quarterback, while running back Patrick Lesch, wide receiver Will Johnson and offensive tackle Nick Ward are also back for a final season. The Wreckers featured the same offensive line all last year, but with four of those starters graduating, Ward believes now's the time for others to develop. Massie (27 total touchdowns, 1,556 yards passing in 2012) has been sidelined with a back injury and said he hasn't set an exact time for his return. Lesch, who rushed for 716 yards (15.5 yards per carry) and nine touchdowns last year is also sidelined after undergoing offseason hip surgery, Petroccio noted.

Garcia cards spot atop leaderboard in debut season [...] first two years of high school, Faith Garcia didn't have the option of playing on a girls golf team. Enrolled at Trinity Catholic, one of the 10 FCIAC schools where golf is a boys-only sport, Garcia opted to play alongside her male counterparts. All the while, Garcia was blossoming on the course -- she repeated as champion of the Borck Junior Tournament at Mill River in Stratford last August -- and before long, she found a new home. Garcia, who led Staples with six birdies this season, is committed to lowering her overall scores even more -- another one or two strokes, she believes. Garcia's most recent round for the Wreckers came June 4 in the 18-hole state championships at Orange Hills County Club in Orange, where she placed sixth out of 83 golfers with an 11-over 85. Mary Bennewitz, who played No. 2 for Staples this year, saw Garcia's all-around abilities first-hand when the duo squared off in match play in the final of last season's Borck Tournament. Metropolitan PGA, Women's Metropolitan Golf Association, U.S. Junior Girls and the First Tee Program. Described by her coach as "reserved" and "unassuming," Garcia -- soft-spoken and all -- is determined to reach that next level.

Staples High's baseball program came into this season with five straight FCIAC playoff appearances -- three of those trips resulting in titles -- yet saw that streak in danger midway though the year. Bothered by his team's inconsistent play, coach Jack McFarland called a team meeting and stressed a sense of urgency. The Wreckers went 7-3 in their last 10 regular-season games -- and notched wins against first-place Greenwich and another playoff hopeful, Wilton, in the process -- to clinch the final spot in the eight-team playoff field. To get through the daunting stretch, the Wreckers relied on strong pitching -- they allowed just 21 runs in their final 10 regular-season games -- and timely hitting. [...] baseman Eli Andrew and first baseman Bryan Terzian tied for the team lead in batting (.373).

Jacowleff leads Staples boys track at Decathlon Staples High junior Robert Jacowleff recorded seven top-20 finishes over two days at the Decathlon-Heptathlon-Hammer Throw-Steeplechase championships at New Britain's Willbrook Park. Jacowleff placed as high as eighth in the 110 hurdles decathlon (16.03) and took 15th overall in the boys decathlon with 5,075 points on Wednesday. Amity's David Karabinos was the overall winner (6,178). Jacowleff also tied for 13th in the pole vault decathlon (9-00.25) and took 14th in the javelin throw (36.14m). Senior Tucker Rizzi finished third in the javelin throw (45.74m), fifth in the discus throw (36.36m), 11th in the shot put (38-00) and 15th in the 400 meter dash (53.30). Senior Douglas Caffery took 10th in the discus throw (30.34m) and 11th in the 1,500 run decathlon (4:56.84). Sophomore Oliver Hickson was sixth in the 300 meter steeplechase (10:08.87). CIAC TRACK Winner and regional finishers in all events Boys decathlon Final standings Kevin Saksa (Seymour) 4843; 27. Tucker Rizzi (Staples) 4527; 28. Individual event results Smith (St. Joseph) 11.67; 9. (tie) Griffin Teed (Bethel) 11.76; 13. Griswold (Foran) 12.13; 33. (tie) Piscitelli (Masuk) and Caffery (Staples) 12.17; 38. Barrett (Stamford) 12.34; 46. (tie) Rizzi (Staples) 12.35; 50. Cammarota (Stamford) 12.84; long jump: 1. Karabinos (Amity) 16-8; 59. (tie) Barrett (Stamford) and Ghajar (Bunnell) 16-7.75; 62. Skurja (Bunnell) 16-2.25; 75. (tie) Cammarota (Stamford) 15-3.5; shot put: 1. Toto (Law) 39-9.25; 6. (tie) D'Ascanio (St. Joseph) and Karabinos (Amity) 38-9.5; 10. Ghajar (Bunnell) 23-5.25; high jump: 1. (tie) D'Ascanio (St. Joseph) and Karabinos (Amity) 6-0; 4. Griswold (Foran) 5-10; 5. (tie) Piscitelli (Masuk) 5-8; 8. Burns (Seymour) 5-7.75; 9. (tie) Teed (Bethel), Smith (St. Joseph) and Toto (Law) 5-6; 15. (tie) Jacowleff (Staples) and Saksa (Seymour) 5-4.25; 22. (tie) Caffery (Staples) 5-2.25; 38. (tie) Austerman (Bethel), Dennis (Law), Nicolari (Derby) and Rizzi (Staples) 5-0.25 400: 1. Raftery (Masuk) 1:00.04; 110 hurdles: 1. Rizzi (Staples) 21.86; discus: 1. Saksa (Seymour) 68-6; pole vault: 1. Hayes Watson (Glastonbury) 12-5-5; 2. (tie) Karabinos (Amity) 11-11.75; 4. (tie) Griswold (Foran), Dennis (Law) and D'Ascanio (St. Joseph) 10-6; 10. (tie) Smith (St. Joseph) and Saksa (Seymour) 9-6.25; 13. (tie) Piscitelli (Masuk) and Jacowleff (Staples) 9-0.25; 18.

For three years they chased another state title, only to see their hopes vanish near the finish line. Two undefeated seasons and a combined 50-3 record made for compelling theatre, but little else in the end. [...] on Friday, after three failed tries, Staples High's boys volleyball team catapulted itself back to the top. The Wreckers, a 3-1 (24-26, 25-17, 25-13, 25-23) winner over No. 1 Glastonbury in the Class L final, claimed their first state title since 2009. With 21 straight wins and a conference championship included, "great" might be an understatement when describing Staples' season. Staples stormed back from a 26-24 loss in the opening game against Southington to take the final three handily: 25-17, 25-13, 25-23.

A way of pre-cooling the body is to take a hand towel or small bath towel and wet them with cold water. Place them in the freezer overnight and put them on your neck, head and back 10-15 minutes before the race starts. Never forget about water, which is the magic fluid and keep drinking it every chance possible. Try to spread out your fluid intake so you're taking small amounts (4-5 ounces every few minutes). Wear extremely light-weight clothing that can be soaked with water at aid stations.

The revamped faceoff alignment helped the Jesuits dominate the second half, scoring nine of the last 10 goals in their 14-8 win over Staples at Brien McMahon's Casagrande Field. The "poles," long-stick players, gave them more reach for ground balls and gave Andrew Hatton, who moved to the X in the second half, more leverage. Smalkais recalled using the three-pole scheme in the 2007 championship game against Greenwich; trailing 7-3, the Jesuits scored seven goals in a row and won 10-9. Fairfield Prep's tweak changed that, setting up the Jesuits' potent offense as seniors Riley Hoffman and Strecker Backe controlled the ball in the midfield. Smalkais, from Canada, is a hockey diehard -- came from the Philadelphia Flyers' top line from the mid-1990s, Eric Lindros centering John LeClair and Mikael Renberg, three big bodies able to punish opposing defensemen.