Britton Barthold

12 Britton Barthold

Welcome to Darien, home of the Blue Wave. Darien is an affluent community sitting on the Gold Coast of Connecticut, known for its historically racist past where African American and Jewish families were kept out of town for decades. Today, the town is known for its academic prestige that goes alongside its athletic dominance, which is evident by its nationally-ranked boys and girls lacrosse programs. Football, however, is different in Darien. Not having been relevant in the state since the golden years of the late-80s and mid-90s, the Blue Wave began an improbable rise in 2013 under the direction of head coach Rob Trifone. That year too, a well-known group of sophomores entered the program. The group, coached by Trifone since third-grade, were dubbed by many within the program as "The Chosen Ones." In this retelling, look back at the 2013, 2014 & 2015 seasons through the eyes of those who experienced it, anchored by the players and their pursuit for state championship glory. With honesty and affection, Britton Barthold gives an account of life in Darien, showing the dreams of the children and the passion of the town that unites-and can fracture-The lives of the high school athletes in town.