Former pg 9 5-8-14
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By Ron P. Coderre
This week’s RPC sporty shoutout is sent along to John Mancini of Putnam. In his younger days Mancini was a standout Little League player in Putnam. Today he enjoys spending time with his grandchildren and playing cards at the Elks club.
It’s always nice to hear about former residents of Putnam who have gone on to become successful individuals in life. It makes longtime residents stand up and say “we knew that individual when.”
In 1986 Todd Clark, the son of Edeo Clark and Susan McLane, graduated from Putnam High School. Much the same as many other students, Clark by his own admission, was an average student who didn’t put his heart into his education.
Now at the age of 45 Clark is making a name for himself in the field of education in the Atlanta area. According to Clark, he only became serious about education when he was approximately 30 years old. Since then he’s taken off faster than a NASA rocket to outer space.
The former Putnam four-year football player received the Peter Caplette Award for his dedication to the Clipper gridiron squad as a senior. He also starred as an indoor and outdoor track performer for the Clippers. Clark started his college education when he attended Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., where he received a degree in music education. His interest in music started when he was a trumpet player in the Putnam High School marching band and jazz band and as a member of the school’s chorus.
Since receiving his bachelor’s degree he’s gone on to receive a master’s degree in school administration and a specialist’s degree in teaching and learning. In February he completed his studies for his PhD, which he’ll officially receive in May.
Currently, Clark is an elementary music teacher in grades K through five at Hopkins Elementary School. He’s also working on some very interesting and ambitious plans to open his own education program titled Sovereign Learning Institute. The concept is to offer an opportunity for a child to receive home schooling away from home.
According to Clark, his goal for his non-profit is to offer parents an alternative in education in which they have for more choice in the education decisions for their children. In his program parents are involved in selecting the curriculum for their children, where they learn in a safe environment that’s relatively inexpensive.
Clark has been married to his wife, Kyong for 20 years. They have two children, Allison 19 and Philip.
Woodstock Academy Student
Honored by YMCA
The YMCA of Greater Hartford held its 161st Annual Meeting April 23 at the Wallace Stevens Theater of The Hartford Financial Services Group. In addition to the usual corporate reports and financial updates, the evening also included the presentation of the United Technologies Corporation/YMCA Wesley A. Kuhrt Youth Citizenship Awards to four high school students.
One of the individuals who received an award was Brittany LaFleur of Woodstock Academy. LaFleur was nominated by one of her teachers, Michelle Raucliffe, who was on hand for the ceremony along with Academy assistant head of school Holly Singleton.
LaFleur was selected based on her participation in numerous helping activities that she volunteers for at the school. According to the presentation, LaFleur is a student who is always available to assist other students in need as well as being a student leader in a variety of school sponsored activities. She’s also very active in her church assisting with fund-raising and volunteer efforts to help people in the local area as well as on an international level.
Lafleur is headed to Keene State University in New Hampshire in September where she’ll study education. Her goal is to someday be an elementary school teacher. In addition to her academic and helping services activities at the Academy she’s a member of the Centaurs women’s tennis team and a former soccer player.
She was accompanied to the ceremony by her mother Diane Peterson and he older sister Rose. A number of local individuals involved in establishing the Regional Community YMCA in northeastern Connecticut were also in attendance. On hand were Betty and Laurence Hale, Dr. Woody Danenhower, Dr. Marc Cerrone and Woodstock Academy trustee Paul Kelly.
Honors
The Connecticut High School Coaches Association will honor 26 coaches from throughout the state at its annual recognition dinner May 8 at the Aqua Turf in Southington. This is the golden anniversary of the event. Among the outstanding coaches who will be recognized is Woodstock Academy men’s golf coach Rich Garceau. Since assuming the reins of the Centaurs’ golf team Garceau has produced conference and state championship teams as well as developing a number of all-state golfers and players who went on to compete on the collegiate level.
Putnam Rotary Club Guest Speaker
Putnam High School athletic director Rick Konieczny was the guest speaker at the Putnam Rotary Club April 29. Konieczny, who has been in his position for three years, has also served as the girls’ soccer and softball coach during his tenure in Putnam.
Konieczny’s message included explanation on the methods he’s employed over the years as a coach in motivating his players and getting them involved in the team concept. Although Putnam is small in comparison to many of the schools they compete against, Konieczny assured the Rotarians that Putnam athletes are well prepared to compete when they step on to the field or court. He also related how he often receives compliments from opposing coaches or fans on the sportsmanship displayed by Putnam athletes. He was the guest of Putnam Rotarian Atty. Steve Adams.
Pomfret Lions Hit The Links
Jimi Gothreau of the Pomfret Lions Club passes along the word that the group is holding its 2nd Spring Golf Outing on May 17 at Harrisville Golf Course. The 18-hole scramble event is scheduled to tee off with a shotgun start at 7:30 a.m. The cost is a very reasonable $75 per golfer or $300 per foursome. The tourney includes cash prizes for the top three teams, closest to the pin contest and most accurate drive. Golfers will be treated to grinders on the course during play and a post-tournament BBQ. Proceeds will benefit Pomfret Lions Club charities.
Mayhew Remains Hot at UCAP
Chris Mayhew, the former Woodstock Academy Centaur, is putting the finishing touches on his career at UConn-Avery Point in sterling fashion. The Pointers, who concluded the regular season at 34-7, are preparing to face Community College of Rhode Island for the right to move on the NJCAA Regional competition.
In a doubleheader split against CCRI Mayhew had four hits, scored three runs and had three runs-batted-in as he led his team to a 12-4 first game victory. Two of Mayhew’s hits were two-baggers. In the nightcap, CCRI jumped out in front early and held off UCAP 7-5 despite a home run by Mayhew.
RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” Thomas A. Edison
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PSA pg 9 5-8-14
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Coming to PSA
Tim Quashie, who play at Putnam Science Academy in September, fires from long range in a game last season for Long Island Lutheran. Courtesy photo.
By Ron P. Coderre
Following a successful season that led it to the National Prep School Championships, Putnam Science Academy is reloading it program in preparation for the upcoming season. The Mustangs recently announced the signing of its fourth recruit in the past month.
Tim Quashie a left-handed guard from New York indicated last week he’ll be attending Putnam Science Academy in September. Quashie, who played his high school ball at Long Island Lutheran, missed his senior season due to a torn ACL, which disabled him for the entire season.
Quashie transferred to Long Island Lutheran, the same school that sent former Mustang Shawn Lawton to PSA, as a sophomore. As a 10th grader he averaged eight points a game as the first man off the bench for Lutheran, which captured the New York Class A Championship in 2012. The next year Quashie’s average jumped to 14 points a contest as he led Lutheran to the Class AA tournament where they lost in the title game.
Prior to playing for Lutheran, Quashie attended Westbury High School, where as a 9th grader he was the Nassau County A1 conference player of the year. At Westbury he led the team to the conference championship, averaging 23 points per game. In three years of varsity competition Quashie scored more than 850 points.
“We’re looking forward to having Tim Quashie join our program. All reports indicate he’s a team player who can shoot, handle and distribute the ball. He not only helps to complete our backcourt, he adds much needed versatility to our program,” said coach Tom Espinosa of his latest recruit.
Quashie joins recruits Kealen Ives and the Robinson twins, Andrew and Aaron, and will team with returning players, juniors Mamadou Diarra and Ruslan Badalov and seniors Hacibey Catalbasoglu and Burak Eraslan.
Plainfield pg 10 5-8-14
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By Ron P. Coderre
The Plainfield Panthers picked up two more wins last week, improving to 9-0 overall and 3-0 in the Eastern Connecticut Conference Medium Division. The Panther juggernaut continues to roll regardless of the opponent and will be difficult to beat because they have three ingredients necessary to win – hitting, pitching and defense.
‘Mr. Everything’ Mike Esposito
Shines for Plainfield
Plainfield picked up a pair of relatively easy wins last week rolling over Wheeler 22-0 and running past Bacon Academy 10-3. Mike Esposito raised his pitching record to 4-0 in the win over Bacon. Esposito tossed a nifty complete game five-hitter at the Bobcats with 10 strikeouts. He also paced the Panthers offense with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate, including a double and three runs-batted-in. Jordan Federer contributed three hits in the victory and Garet Griffin scored three runs.
Earlier in the week Kyle Boarman tossed a bagel at Wheeler allowing only three hits in his shutout performance. Griffin and Steve Jankowski each had a pair of doubles in support of Boarman.
Ellis Tech despite only being 4-6 and 3-3 in the Constitution State conference is proving to be a solid baseball club this spring. The Eagles went 1-1 last week, beating a tough Prince Tech team 3-1 and losing 4-0 when they were shutout by Norwich Tech. Charlie Innes threw a complete game two-hitter in the win. A pair of North Grosvenordale products Jared Durand and Jared Carignan was instrumental in the victory. Durand’s single proved to be the game winning RBI, while Carignan chipped in a double to the win. Despite producing nine hits in the loss to Norwich Tech the Eagles were unable to produce in the clutch.
Tourtellotte faced Medium Division Montville, one of the best teams in Eastern Connecticut and was shutout 10-0. The Tigers bounced back for an 8-1 win over Parish Hill as Alex Angelo tossed an efficient three-hitter at the Pirates. Unable to stand prosperity, the Tigers were whipped by Windham 15-2 as they dropped to 3-7 on the season and 1-3 in the ECC Small Division.
Killingly, Woodstock Academy and Putnam all took the collar, going a combined 0-5 for the week. The Redmen lost to Lyman 6-0 and were beaten by Norwich Free Academy 8-4, falling to 2-6 overall. Woodstock relinquished a 5-1 lead to Bacon, allowing the Bobcats to score in the home half of the seventh inning for a 6-5 win over the frustrated Centaurs. Kolby Reggione had a home run in the loss. The Centaurs hung around against Montville but eventually succumbed to the Indians 7-2, leaving them below .500 at 4-5 overall. The Putnam Clippers, who were riding high, fell back to earth when they were beaten 17-0 by Cheney Tech. The Clippers are 5-3 overall and 5-2 in the CSC East.
Putnam Science Academy and its neophyte baseball program split a pair of games with The Learning Clinic. The Mustangs won the opener in a slugfest 18-17 as Muhammed Koc staggered to the win going the distance. Jordan Butler (4-5 & three RBI) drove in the winning run with a single in the sixth inning. In the second contest TLC prevailed 10-4 as the rubber-armed Koc again went the distance for the Mustangs. PSA is 1-2 overall on the season.
RPC’s Super Standings
Plainfield 9-0; Putnam 5-3; Woodstock Academy 4-5; Ellis Tech 4-6; Pomfret School 3-1; Tourtellotte 3-7; Marianapolis 2-2; Killingly 2-7; PSA 1-2.
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Putnam pg 10 5-8-14
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By Ron P. Coderre
The Putnam and Killingly golf teams continued their early season torrid play as they remained undefeated. The Clippers are led by senior Spencer Salvas, while sophomore twins John and Drew Aitken are Killingly’s table setters. Mike Jezierski continues to lead the Tourtellotte Tigers, whose only misstep this season has been an opening match loss against Killingly.
The Woodstock Academy female golf team, the sole northeastern Connecticut entry on the links, is playing steady golf. The Centaur gals have been winning the matches where they are the favorites.
Clippers and Redmen Leading
Teams in ECC and CSC
The Putnam Clippers behind the fine play of their #1 man Spencer Salvas picked up two wins on the links this week increasing their unblemished record to 9-0-0 and 8-0-0 in the CSC East. In what must be considered Putnam’s most challenging match of the season, the Clippers held off Nick Harrington and the Parish Hill Pirates 185-195 in a match played at Connecticut National Golf Club.
In head-to-head play Harrington squeaked by Salvas 34-37. Harrinton’s score was one under par and crowned him medalist for the day. It was the play of the #3 and #4 players, Nate Torzi and Dan Pannekeet that clinched the match for the Clippers. In a match against Windham Tech, the Clippers prevailed 202-216 behind the medalist play of Salvas who fired a one over par 36.
Killingly captured three matches last week, shutting out New London twice by identical 7-0 scores. In a match at Great Neck Country Club the Redmen were led by Drew Aitken who shot an even par 35. Later in the week at Connecticut National Golf Club, Aitken fired a one under par 34 to repeat as medalist. In the match at Great Neck the Redmen also took the measure of Waterford 5.5 to 1.5 in their biggest challenge of the year. Aitken 35 led the way but it was the play of Connor Liebscher and Nick Davis that salvaged the match for coach Kevin Marcoux’s linksters.
Ellis Tech raised it record to 6-2-0 with a lopsided 219-285 victory over Prince Tech. Tourtellotte went to 4-1-0 and 2-0-0 in the ECC Small Division with 7-0 shutout over Windham High School at Raceway Golf Club in Thompson. Jezierski was medalist with a two over par 38.
Woodstock Academy lost a tight match to Ledyard 4-3 and was bageled by Norwich Free Academy 7-0. At Elmridge Golf Club, Stonington shutout Plainfield 7-0.
50-50 Week for Centaur
Lady Golfers
The Woodstock Academy girls’ golf team showed its mettle when the Lady Centaurs bounced back from a 231-251 loss at the hands of Norwich Free Academy by beating East Lyme 231-262. Elaina Becher was the medalist with a 53 against the Lady Vikings in a match played at Quinnatisset Country Club. Woodstock is 3-1-0 on the season and in the Eastern Connecticut Conference.
RPC’s Super Standings
Putnam 9-0-0; Killingly 7-0-0; Ellis Tech 6-2-0; Tourtellotte 4-1-0; Pomfret School 2-3-0;Marianapolis 2-5-0; Woodstock Academy 1-4-0; Plainfield 1-5-0.