New Canaan Sports Digest Sept 5

New Canaan's Charlie Cole was part of the U.S. men's four team that placed fourth Sunday on the final day of the World Rowing Championship in Bled, Slovenia.

The team, which Scott Gault (Piedmont, Calif.), Brett Newlin (Riverton, Wyo.) and Giuseppe Lanzone (Annandale, Va.), finished out of medal contention.

However, the performance was enough to qualify the boat for the Olympic Games next summer in London.

The Americabs finished third in the semifinal Saturday. All six qualifying boats were within seconds of each other in times.

Another New Canaanite Andrew Campbell, who is a 19-year-old sophomore at Harvard, finished fourth Friday in the finals of the lightweight men's single sculls.

Campbell finished out of medal contention, but also qualified for next year's Olympics.

New Canaan's Macari scores TD in first college game

Former New Canaan standout receiver Kevin Macari caught two passes in his college debut Saturday, including a 44-yard touchdown, in Georgetown's 40-16 victory over Davidson. Macari's other reception went for seven yards.

AHL's Senators sign New Canaan's Downing

The reigning Calder Cup champion Binghamton Senators recently signed New Canaan native Jack Downing to a one-year contact.

Downing completed his fourth and final season of college eligibility in 2010-11 with Hockey East’s University of Vermont Catamounts.  While serving as assistant captain in his senior season at Vermont, the 6-3, 206-pound forward recorded 13 goals, five assists and 49 penalty minutes in 36 games.

In four season with the Catamounts, Downing recorded 63 points (35 goals, 28 assists) while registering 103 penalty minutes in 144 games.

Prior to enrolling at Vermont, Downing played one season with the United States Hockey League’s Omaha Lancers in 2006-07, where he recorded nine goals, five assists and 36 penalty minutes in 40 games. 

The Senator open their 10th anniversary season at home on Oct. 7 against the Hershey Bears.  

Swimmer Higgins Named New Cannan Sports Person of the Year

The Fairfield County Sports Commission recently announced its 2011 Sports Persons of the Year in each of the 15 communities the Commission serves.

The local sports honorees will be recognized at the annual Sports Night awards dinner, Monday, Oct. 17 at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich at 6 p.m.

In each of the 15 communities, a committee headed by a local town representative of the Commission, selected a Sports Person of the Year. Each winner was deemed to have had the most positive impact in their sports community from Aug. 2010-Aug. 2011.

The winner from New Canaan is Christian Higgins, the Connecticut swimmer of the year.

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