Only a parent could understand my excitement at waking up to the Stamford Advocate this morning, and reading the headline of the lead story in the Sports section Wind’s midcourt buzzer-beater lifts King(http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/sports/article/King-girls-stun-GFA-on-Wind-s-midcourt-5069982.php). As anyone familiar with Stamford Peace knows “Wind” is Natalie Wind, the King School sophomore who has been continuously with Stamford Peace since the 6th grade when she played on our program’s first girls’ team. And while she’s not my daughter, the pride that I felt in her “one moment in time” success made me feel as if she was.
It got me thinking about Coach Latta and my dream for starting Stamford Peace in the first place. Ourselves coming from different backgrounds, our dream was to invest in our local young people – and in doing so, to positively influence them and their opportunities on and off the basketball court. My own dad used to say that his “grandchildren were the dividend on his investment”. So too, successes like Natalie’s are the dividend on ours.
But the return on our investment is so much broader and deeper. Stamford Peace ladies enjoying meaningful Varsity roles locally include …
Natalie’s Stamford Peace running mate, Sophomore PG Ashley Polera, who scored 18 points in Byram Hills (NY)’s open game victory over Yonkers.
Westhill High School’s entire starting five are Stamford Peace girls – Seniors Krystal Dixon, Tyler Evans, Stephanie Roones; alongside Sophomore’s Elizabeth Grosso and Edona Thaqi. In addition, Junior Sam Corsello and Freshmen Olivia Wise and Courtney Xu are also Stamford Peace players.
On the other side of town, Stamford High School’s sophomore starter Mackenzie Brown is another long-time Stamford Peace player, while Anisa Forte and Kelsey Santagata also have played with Stamford Peace.
Sophomores Karen Brosko and Christina Holmgren are playing meaningful roles for Wilton High School in that program’s 2-0 start in the FCIAC. Juniors Erin Cunningham (Wilton’s leading scorer) and Cori Cannavino, and Freshman Caylin Cannavino, also have Stamford Peace experience.
In the recent battle between Norwalk High and Brien McMahon (won by Norwalk 44-28), three present Stamford Peace contributors made the box score, including Freshman starters Jackie Harris and Asiah Knight (10 points) for Norwalk, and Freshman Areti Filippidis (8 points) for Brien McMahon.
And finally at my own St. Luke’s, 8th grader Maya Klein is playing significant Varsity minutes alongside super Frosh Sydney Lowery, herself a Stamford Peace alum.
Admittedly, the success our Stamford Peace girls are having at the high school Varsity level partly reflects the value of our recruiting efforts. But equally so, it reflects the power of adult investment and positive peer influencing as vehicles to help girls (and boys) see their own possibilities.
Wishing all of you ongoing success. Dare to be excellent. Dare to dream!!!
-- Coach K