The Brunswick School ice hockey team wanted to give something back to the game they love -- so they created the Ice Hockey in Harlem Club at Brunswick. The objective of the national organization, which relies almost entirely on funding from individuals, corporations and foundations to operate, is to provide inspiration, encouragement and guidance to children thus leading to better life experiences, education and career opportunities.

Evan Lee, an 8-year-old from Cos Cob, collected one of the top singles prizes at the Little MO Internationals tennis tournament, which was held recently at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Fla. In the finals, Lee and his partner captured the title by beating a doubles team made up of top players from Peru and Canada after dramatically saving several match points.

Greenwich Citizen reporter Anne W. Semmes resolved to get in shape for 2012, so she decided to enroll in an intense four-week boot camp at Peak Physique personal training center in Greenwich. "[...] what have you been doing for exercise over the last year?" says Dominic "Dom" Novak, the founder/president of this 20-year enterprise where everyone has a trainer and looks thin and strong. For the next 30 minutes I'm put through various resistance exercises: walking with elastic mini-bands around my ankles, pulling elastics with my arms, lifting weights, bending, stretching, squatting . . . Begin on all fours with your shoulders and hips squared and arms straight, pull your abdominals in and curl your back up like a cat does as you inhale, hold for a brief moment, exhale and then return to the starting position. Go on all fours and pick up your arm and opposite leg and extend as far away as possible from each other keeping your hips and shoulders aligned and hold for five seconds and repeat with your other arm and opposite leg. On all fours, push from your arms and extend your hips to the sky while keeping your legs straight, then press your heels to the ground. Lie on your back; keep your abs drawn in and your head and shoulders off the ground with your legs straight in the air. With both your elbows on the ground and your shoulders directly over them in a straight line pick up your hips keeping your legs straight and hold this position making sure that your shoulders and hips are lined up in a straight line. On your side with one elbow placed on the ground with your shoulder directly over that elbow and your opposite hand placed against the ground for support, pick up your hips with your legs stacked on each other in a straight line, and hold for 15-30 seconds breathing normally. [...] just you try, reader, to stand with your right leg grounded, with a slight bend in the knee as you raise your left leg with your knee bent and even with your hip, and hold that knee up for 30 seconds! [...] it's on to the weights to strengthen the word processor's wrist muscles, forearms and biceps. Stay tuned for this reporter's self-assessment after four weeks of her personalized boot camp.

Greenwich YMCA Marlin swimmers, Katie Evans and Kim Hill, along with Coach Connie Wu, traveled to Austin, TX this past weekend to compete in the USA Swimming Grand Prix. [...] at the meet was 40 year-old Janet Evans, one of the best-ever U.S. female swimmers, who is making a comeback after having two children.

Young ice skating buffs braved the cold and snow last Saturday and headed to the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich for an opportunity to meet skating superstar Miki Ando -- up close and personal. Ando, the 2007 and 2011 figure skating World Champion from Japan, was at the club to demonstrate the talents that have made her a champion, to share a free skate with local youngsters and to offer pointers to the aspiring figure skaters.

Just about every basketball team has one, a super sub, the first player off the bench charged with lighting a spark when a team needs a boost, scoring a bucket or two when the starters go cold, coming up with that key steal, or adding energy and attitude to a team when they're down. What does she bring onto the court with her? Intensity, size and rebounding, says coach Martha Brousseau, who describes Bojic's role as critical. At Convent of the Sacred Heart, the sixth man role belongs to freshman guard/forward Claire O'Neill. "Besides having a great shot, she has a great feel for the game," says O'Neill's coach, Sean Green. Besides all of that, her cheerful attitude is quite infectious.

More than 300 students from Brunswick's Upper School packed into the school's Baker Theater recently to hear New York Yankee manager Joe Girardi talk about life, his inspirations and, of course, baseball. The former major league catcher and four-time World Series champion spoke about the tough moments of his life, beginning with his mother being diagnosed with cancer when he was just 13 years old, up to when he was fired as manager of the Florida Marlins in 2006 -- despite being named Manager of the Year. After his speech, Girardi, whose son Dante attends Brunswick's Lower School, spoke with reporters about the state of the Yankees, who begin spring training in Tampa, Fla., on Feb. 19.

Touching the wall: YMCA Marlins record 24 firsts in CT Y meet Teams from all over Connecticut converged at the Wilton Y this past weekend for the 13 and Over Connecticut Y States Championships -- but it was the YMCA Greenwich Marlins who made the biggest splash at the two-meet.  Facing off against the likes of the Greenwich Dolphins, the Darien Piranhas, the Cheshire SeaDogs and the New Canaan Caimans, the Marlins' 27-member team wracked up 24 firsts. The kids have worked very hard and we are very proud of them all. 13-14 Boys 200 FR Relay- Nick Handali, Guido Balderrama, Alex Jahan and Oscar Ike

Dr. Katie Vadasdi, a triathlete and alpine climber, has been busy training six days a week, swimming, biking, running and doing yoga, along with core and lower back/pelvic exercises. To help pregnant women understand just how to do that, she will take part in a health education seminar, "Exercise Safely During Pregnancy and After" on Jan. 12 at the Noble Conference Center at Greenwich Hospital, 5 Perryridge Road. Greenwich Citizen caught up with Vadasdi for some of the guidelines and tips she will cover at the discussion next week. In principle, you should exercise during pregnancy for the same reasons you exercise when you're not pregnant -- it's good for your heart, it helps you manage your weight, it improves your mood, your stamina and helps you maintain flexibility. [...] doing regular exercises while pregnant has been shown to help prevent or treat gestational diabetes, reduce back pains and swelling. Exercises that should be avoided include all contact sports; sports requiring significant balance or activities where there is a significant risk of falling like skiing, cycling, horseback riding; scuba diving. [...] there is an increase in relaxation or laxity in your ligaments during pregnancy-especially in your back and pelvis, but also in your knees, ankles, etc... Always be prepared with nutrition, hydration and be ready to stop or rest at anytime during your workout. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists state that is safe to continue with your pre-pregnancy activities but with modifications to avoid increasing your heart rate too much, dehydration and overheating. In general, you should stop exercising and contact your doctor if you have any vaginal bleeding or leaking, cramping or contractions, chest pain, increased shortness of breath, increased swelling. With increased relaxation in ligaments that comes with being pregnant, you are definitely more prone to ankle sprains, sacroiliac joint and pubic symphysis pain and discomfort and low back pain. [...] you're now about 8 months pregnant -- how have you modified your own sports routine during pregnancy? Once I became pregnant, I made significant changes to my program, reducing the time and intensity in all my activities. Vadasdi will be joined at "Exercise Safely During Pregancy and After" by Dr. Catherine Berzolla, ObGyn, of Putnam Gynecology and Obstetrics of Greenwich and physical therapist Alicia Hirscht of ONS Physical Therapy to address common concerns and safety guidelines for physical activity while pregnant.

Amanda Molinelli, formerly of Convent of the Sacred Heart, and GHS graduate Connor Brisson were named Divers of the Year, and receiving the Tim Nesvig Memorial Greenwich Water Polo Player of the Year awards were GHS graduates Kristina Norrgard and Matthew Weber.