Bank pg 1 1-20-22
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Bank raises
$39.2k
for pantries
OXFORD, Mass. — Robert J. Morton, president and CEO of bankHometown, announced that the bank’s 18th annual Neighbors Helping Neighbors fund-raising drive raised $39,200 for local food pantries. This brings the total amount raised over the 18 years the program has been in place to $264,900.
The annual appeal is part of bankHometown’s charitable giving program, called The Giving Tree, which reflects the bank’s commitment to making a real difference in the neighborhoods it serves. Throughout the month of November, the bank invited customers, employees, and members of the community to donate funds at bankHometown branches. All donations received were matched, dollar for dollar, by bankHometown and the total divided among food pantries in Central Massachusetts and northeast Connecticut communities the bank serves. Each of these pantries received $2,800 to help feed families in need:
Connecticut: Community Kitchens of Northeastern CT - Killingly, Daily Bread - Putnam, Friends of Assisi - Killingly, Thompson Ecumenical Empowerment Group (TEEG).
Massachusetts: Athol Salvation Army Food Pantry, Auburn Youth and Family Services, Inc. Food Pantry, CARE Food Pantry - Clinton, Food Share - Southbridge, Charlton & Sturbridge, Friendly House Pantry, Worcester, Friends of the Millbury Seniors, Ginny’s Helping Hand, Inc. - Leominster, Oxford Ecumenical Food Shelf, Sutton Senior Center’s Michael A. Chizy Food Pantry, St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry - Webster.
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Centaur pg 1 1-20-22
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Centaur alum
chosen in 1st
round of
MLS draft
The Woodstock Academy associate head of school Holly Singleton remembered coaching a summer soccer match for the Centaurs several years ago and, on this occasion; her team was short of players. Simon Becher showed up to fill in.
“I put him in and the whole offense fell apart,” Singleton recalled. “Everyone was just passing the ball. I pulled Simon out and asked him what he was doing and he said to me that he was just trying to get everyone the ball so they could score. I told him, ‘Everyone is waiting for you to score, Simon.’”
He listened and, of course, he scored.
The 2018 graduate used his touch around the net to carry him to Oakwood Academy, then on to the College of Holy Cross, St. Louis University and, on last week, Major League Soccer.
The Brooklyn native was chosen with the 16th pick of the first round in the MLS Superdraft by the Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
“I’m very proud of his accomplishments, not just because he has become a professional athlete which was always his goal but because he is a classy human being with a good heart. Not only did he achieve his dream, he did so by being a good human being,” Singleton said.
Becher realized his dream while watching the stream of the MLS draft from his home in Brooklyn.
“It felt amazing,” Becher said. “I had no idea. There was no call (from Vancouver) before (the pick) so when it popped up on the TV, it was the first time I heard. It was a dream come true. It was something that I have, honestly, been dreaming about and envisioning since I learned to kick a soccer ball. I’m just excited to get started.”
It wasn’t easy. Becher had to make some sacrifices. He never played soccer for Woodstock, instead, he opted to play for Oakwood Soccer Academy. They do not allow their players to play high school soccer.
Oakwood was one of the hardest decisions Becher had to make — he missed playing on the same soccer field as his friends.
“Woodstock Academy is a very tight-knit community,” Becher said. “The staff was always supportive. They were always flexible with me missing days because of travel. Obviously, I spent a lot of time up on the Woodstock Academy fields on the weekends in the offseason, using the facilities to train and being with all my friends. They supported me, supported my dream and believed in me.”
Becher signed his National Letter of Intent to play in early 2018 for the College of Holy Cross. He led the Crusaders in points with 16 as a freshman, getting seven goals and two assists.
To achieve his dream, he transferred to St. Louis University. “I wanted the challenge; wanted somewhere where I would be pushed in my development and grow my game in a bigger market, competing against some of the best teams in the entire country. I think I got that with St. Louis,” Becher said.
The Billikens were undefeated for 20 games which is “pretty unheard of,” Becher said. “If you look at everything we achieved in the past year, all the way down the team, (the coaching staff) believed in us. We worked hard and worked hard for each other.”
Becher finished as the second-leading scorer in the NCAA this past season with 38 points; 14 goals (6th best in the NCAA), including five game-winners, and 10 assists.
Becher was a first team United Soccer Coaches All-American and a Hermann Trophy semifinalist and was the fourth member of the Billikens chosen in the draft Tuesday. Teammates Isaiah Parker (3rd), a forward, defender Kipp Keller (5th), and goalie Patrick Schulte (12th) went just before him.
Now, he heads to Vancouver. “I connected with coach (Vanni Sartini), the media and (public relations) people (Tuesday). Preseason starts next week so I will be packing my bags and heading up there,” Becher said.
The Whitecaps finished sixth in the Western Conference of the MLS with 49 points; 12 wins, 13 draws and nine losses.
“I bring a work ethic. I bring creativity to the attack, someone who can score, can get assists, a lot of different things. Hopefully, I can make an impact and help them push for the playoffs and win an MLS Cup,” Becher said.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
PSA pg 1 1-20-22
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The main event never materialized, but the precursor certainly filled the void.
Putnam Science Academy’s boys’ Prep basketball team, ranked No. 1 or 2 depending on which poll you’re looking at, was slated to take on Northfield Mount Hermon, also ranked No. 1 or 2 depending on which poll you’re looking at, Sunday night in Springfield, Mass. But Covid concerns led to the postponement of that game and left the Mustangs with just their Jan. 14 at St. Thomas More.
But make no mistake, there was plenty of intensity and plenty of celebrating after PSA improved to 15-0 with an 81-69 victory over their in-state rival.
“Any road win is a good win, but winning at St. Thomas More is different,” said PSA coach Tom Espinosa. “This is the toughest place to play.”
Barry Evans had 20 points, 10 rebounds, and five steals for the Mustangs, who also got 18 points, five rebounds, five steals, and four assists from Arturo Dean and 11 points, six rebounds, and two blocks from Mouhamed Dioubate.
“The intensity was good, the atmosphere was good,” Dean said. “The coaches told us it wasn’t going to be easy playing in their house. There were some bad calls in there but our coaches told us to just play through it and let them handle the refs and we need to keep playing. I think we did a good job of that.”
PSA, which entered the game winning by an average of 38 points, were never able to pull away as their lead hung around 10 points. The Mustangs took their first lead, 21-19, at the 8:20 mark of the first half when Evans put back his own miss. From there, every time the Mustangs looked like they might put some distance between the teams, the Chancellors knocked down some shots and got it back to six or four points.
But PSA’s pressure defense, as it has done to every opponent thus far, just wouldn’t let St. Thomas More get any closer than that. St. Thomas More coach Jere Quinn acknowledged that much to reporters after the game, but that was after spent a good portion of the actual game screaming at the officials to call a technical foul on the PSA bench because there were instances in which the assistant coaches were standing. He actually got his wish with about four seconds to play as PSA’s entire bench was on its collective feet ready to celebrate the win.
Desmond Claude, who joined PSA this season after spending the last three in St. Thomas More’s program, had seven points, eight rebounds, four assists, and three steals. DayDay Gittens was good again as well, finishing with seven points, five assists, three steals, and two blocks.
“It was intense,” Dean said. “We love games like this. We want games like this. It was good to see this team face adversity, and when it hit, we conquered it.”
Earlier last week, PSA toppled Bridgeport Prep, 129-75, as seven players scored in double figures, led by Gittens’ season-high 17 points.
Dean finished with 14 points, eight assists, and eight rebounds, while Dioubate posted his seventh double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Evans also had a double (10 points, 12 boards), Josh Rivera had 14 points, and Claude and Sotirios Nafpliotis both had 12 for PSA.
PSA’s Varsity team knocked off Wilbraham & Monson, 63-37 Jan. 12. Pau Amengual scored a game-high 16 points, and Joseph Magne added 14 points.
“We came out the gates with a lot of energy,” said Mustangs coach Nick Schmidt. “We really took pride in guarding the ball and defense led to steals and transition layups. I was very happy with our effort. We were chomping at the bit to finally play a game after a month off. Our hungriness won us the game.” Taylan Cengiz chipped in with 13 points and Ethan Senkyire had 11 for the Mustangs.
The boys’ Elite team had a rougher week, dropping its two games out of the semester break, 79-64 to Springfield Commonwealth and 95-72 to St. Thomas More’s Prep 2 team.
“Little rusty, little worn down after the break,” said coach John Cavaliere. “We’ve got to get back to it and doing what we do.” Jalen Claude had 26 points and Lamar Watkins finished with 14 in the loss to St. Thomas More.
By Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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Cracks pg 1 1-20-22
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Cracks Me Up
Etch A Sketch designs in the ice. More photos on page 5. Linda Lemmon photo.
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