Fast cars, fast boats...Anthony Molgano ready to rock-and-roll this summer!

2026 DHS Graduation

Darien High School Class of 2026 graduated on Wednesday evening, June 17, with a ceremony at the school’s stadium field. Families filled the stands under clear skies as 300 seniors received their diplomas and closed out their four years at DHS.

Principal Ellen Dunn praised the class for its “resilience, humor, and quiet leadership,” and Superintendent Alan Addley urged graduates to “carry forward the habits of curiosity and kindness.” Student speakers blended gratitude with light touches of nostalgia, drawing laughs with references to cafeteria lines, senior spring rituals, and the class’s well‑documented parking struggles.

The ceremony moved forward, highlighted by the presentation of academic and service awards and the traditional cap toss. The Class of 2026 now heads into summer with plans of colleges,  gap‑year programs, and first jobs, marking another milestone moment for the Darien community.

Wave Outlast No. 1 Rams

Claim 15th Title

After two straight years finishing as runner‑up, Darien is a state champion again, outlasting rival New Canaan 10–9 in a tense CIAC Class LL final to claim the program’s 15th state title. The Wave were back in the championship game for the third consecutive season, having fallen to Fairfield Prep in 2024 and Staples in 2025. This time, they refused to let the moment slip. The final played out like a prize fight — lead changes, momentum swings, and never more than a one‑goal margin until Darien finally created daylight at 10–8 with 5:21 remaining. New Canaan cut it to 10–9 with 1:36 left, and the Rams had one last possession. But with 17 seconds on the clock, Darien sophomore goalie Blake Wilson sealed the title with a save. 

This was the fourth time the rivals played for a CIAC championship, with the Blue Wave winning the previous three meetings in 2008, 2012 and 2014. New Canaan (17-5), which finished as the No. 1 seed for both the FCIAC and Class LL tournaments, lost tough battles in the two finals, both by 10-9 scores.

Head coach Jeff Brameier, now in his 43rd season, surpassed 700 career wins earlier this spring — the most in Connecticut history by a wide margin. 

Bob Ierardi in town catching up with Ed Tyler over lunch at Pappa Joe’s. Great to see classmates reconnect.

Darien Girls Class LL

Lacrosse Champs

Second perfect season in 4 years

Top‑seeded Darien scored the first four goals, led 7–2 at halftime and rolled past No. 3 New Canaan 13–4 to complete a 22–0 season and claim its second straight CIAC Class LL championship Saturday at Fairfield University’s Rafferty Stadium. The Blue Wave, ranked No. 1 nationally among public schools by USA Lacrosse, now own 22 state titles — 14 since the CIAC began sponsoring the sport in 2004.

Darien’s control was immediate and unrelenting. Once the Wave built a four‑goal cushion, they kept pressing, while the defense refused to allow New Canaan to string together consecutive goals.

The program also went 22–0 in 2023, a team led by current North Carolina standout Chloe Humphrey, and edged New Canaan 14–13 in that year’s final.

This season’s perfect run included several marquee wins over out‑of‑state opponents, highlighted by a 10–9 double‑overtime victory over then‑national No. 1 St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) in April.

“They have a lot of fortitude,” Darien coach Lisa Lindley said. “If you asked me at the beginning of the season ‘will you go undefeated,’ I’d say absolutely not. But we had a lot of one‑goal games, a lot of very tight games, and we found a way to win. That’s been the identity of this team all year.”

Darien and New Canaan have now met in five straight CIAC finals, with the Rams winning in 2022 and 2024, and Darien taking the titles in 2023, 2025 and 2026.

FCIAC Track championships take place Saturday, May 23 at Danbury high school track. Currently, Darien boys have a record of 4–0, tied with New Canaan in the top of the East. The Wave girls’ team is 3–1 and one behind the Rams at 4–0. Last year Greenwich HS swept the Finals.

 Since 2014, Danbury (six titles), Greenwich (three), and Ridgefield High School (two) have combined to dominate the boys championship standings. For the girls, Danbury has been a powerhouse,  winning four straight championships from 2016-2019, then another in 2022.