Knights pg 9 11-21-13
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By Ron P. Coderre
This week’s RPC sporty shout out is sent along to Ellsworth Chase and his wife the former Patty Divincenzo. The couple is happy to be back in northeastern Connecticut and reacquainting with their many friends. Ellie is a noted golfer, who holds the course record at Norwich Golf Club where he fired a blistering 62.
Marianapolis Prep School’s athletic programs are noted for producing basketball players who move on to the college level but in a rare offseason announcement on Friday, November 15, the school noted the signing of a baseball player to a National Letter of Intent.
Devin Springfield, a postgraduate student, signed on the dotted line to play next season at Franklin Pierce University, located in Rindge, N.H. Springfield, who will play for the Golden Knights and coach David Austin in the spring, comes to Marianapolis from Jaffrey, N.H. and Conant High School.
While at Conant, Springfield roamed centerfield and pitched for the New Hampshire team. Last season he posted a batting average of .430, with 22 runs-batted-in and 25 runs scored. His performance garnered him All-State honors and selection to the prestigious New Hampshire vs. Vermont all star game. He also helped his high school team to its first baseball state championship since 1956.
Franklin Pierce University is an NCAA Division II school that plays in the highly competitive Northeast-10 Conference. Former Woodstock Academy and TriTown American Legion standout Ross Lincoln is a member of the FPU baseball team.
The Coaching Shuffle
The departure of Willie Bousquet as the girls’ basketball coach at Putnam High School presents not only a changing of the guard on Woodstock Avenue but speculation as to how the dominoes will fall in the local coaching ranks. Currently, with approximately one week prior to the official start of practice, Putnam is left without a varsity coach for the Lady Clippers.
Bousquet’s arrival at Woodstock fills the void left by the sudden departure of former coach Dave Walley. The Centaurs have Peter Green in place as the girls’ freshman coach, a situation that Bousquet is in concert with. However, there is a vacancy on the junior varsity level at Woodstock, which Bousquet should fill rather quickly.
The questions remains — who will take over for Bousquet in Putnam? And who will Bousquet tap to fill the JV role in Centaurland?
Speculation is that Bousquet’s former assistant at Putnam Mandy Hogan may be his successor on the bench for the Lady Clippers. Her selection seems logical, based on her years sitting beside Bousquet (when he wasn’t roaming the sidelines) and also based on the fact that she was a college basketball player. But then again, why wouldn’t Bousquet invite his longtime assistant to come up Rt. 171 with him? She is well ingrained in the Bousquet coaching philosophy, making the transition fairly comfortable for both.
If that scenario occurs, where does that leave Putnam? Scratching its head as usual when it comes to filling coaching vacancies? The next few days should prove interesting as the plot thickens and the coaching skein unravels.
PSA Grad Gets Playing Time
Last season, 6-foot, 9-inch Paul Brooks was a key inside operative for coach Tom Espinosa at Putnam Science Academy. His play for the Mustangs earned him an opportunity to move on to the hardwood at Worcester State University.
Early in the season it appears that Brooks is taking advantage of his elevation to the college level. Last weekend, the Lancers opened the season in Willimantic at the Eastern Connecticut State University Tip-Off Tournament.
Worcester State University played its cross-town rival Becker College in the consolation game on Saturday. The Lancers lost by a score of 66-64 with Brooks contributing four points.
Woodstock Netter in Coaches All Star Contest
Sarah Swenson, Woodstock Academy’s outstanding volleyball player, has picked up another postseason honor following a great fall season for the Centaurs. Swenson was named to the Connecticut High School Coaches Association All-Star Game, which was played at 7p.m. on Monday, November 18 (after the Putnam Town Crier went to press) at Maloney High School in Meriden. Her selection comes off the heels of being named a First Team Eastern Connecticut Conference all star.
RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: “The only difference between me and General Custer is that I have to watch the films on Sunday.” Rick Venturi, Northwestern University Football Coach.
Quinebaug pg 9 11-21-13
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By Ron P. Coderre
Only two football games were on the docket this weekend as the 2013 season moves toward traditional Thanksgiving Day contests. The two games resulted in very disparate results.
Quinebaug Pride staged late game heroics to force an overtime game against visiting Bullard Havens, picking up its 8th victory of the season in a nail biter 40-34. On the other end of the spectrum, Plainfield traveled to Woodstock for a rare noon time start and after getting off slowly won convincingly 34-0.
The win for the Pride began like a checker game with Bullard Haven scoring first only to have the home team Pride respond on a Raif Santerre 5-yard run. Bullard Haven then responded with another first period score and then took control, going to the locker room at halftime ahead 28-12.
Following halftime the Pride behind quarterback Tylor Genest (11-17-155 and three touchdowns) rallied to outscore the visitors 22-6 in the second half forcing the OT. The Pride took possession of the pigskin first in the extra stanza and used a Genest to sophomore Saige Louis 15-yard pass for the touchdown that would prove to be the eventual winning tally.
The one-two running back punch of John Sanderson (18-128) and Raif Santerre (15-95) proved effective once again, although coach Joe Asermelly unveiled a passing game that now gives the Pride’s Turkey Day opponent, Killingly something new to worry about.
In addition to Louis’ game winning catch, Benjamin Brissette caught touchdown passes of 27 and 44 yards. Brissette had four catches on the evening for 87 yards and Jeremee Perez pulled down six of Genest’s aerials for 53 yards and a two-point conversion, as the Pride raised its record to 8-2.
In Woodstock, Plainfield used a pair of offensive surges in shutting out the Centaurs. The Panthers erupted for 20 points in the 2nd stanza and 14 in the final quarter to ice the team’s fifth victory of the season.
Cody Alday led the way to victory, scoring three touchdowns. Two of his touchdowns came via the air on scoring tosses of 55 and 20 yards from quarterback Steve Jankowski. His third score came on an 11-yard run to paydirt.
The win puts the Panthers of Coach Pat Smith at 5-4 on the season with two games remaining on the schedule. Woodstock remains winless at 0-10 as it prepares for its Thanksgiving eve encounter with the Windham Whippets.
Extra Points
With his 128 yards rushing, Quinebaug Pride’s John Sanderson broke the 1000-yard barrier for the season. He’s at 1019 going into Thanksgiving Day…Raif Santerre, Sanderson’s running mate is a 971 on the season. Combined, the duo has galloped for 1990 yards…Pride QB Tylor Genest has scored in every game this season. He leads the area in scoring with 94 points, followed by Santerre with 86…The Pride win over Bullard Havens avenged last season’s 42-8 loss to the Bobcats…Plainfield unveiled another running back in the person of Kade Amster who scored the Panthers final touchdown against Woodstock…Panthers quarterback Steve Jankowski injured his hand in the second half and was replaced by Marcus Robinson…The Pride remains the last local team in the hunt for a playoff spot. They occupy the 9th spot (the first eight get in) behind Stonington. Despite Stonington’s loss to NFA the Bears’ strength of schedule could be the determining factor…Last week in Plainfield’s game against Central Falls, R.I., the Panthers concession stand caught fire. The blaze, which was extinguished quickly, did cause coach Pat Smith to call a timeout…Plainfield’s Andre Bergeron had a great day against Woodstock, registering two sacks, a fumble recovery, a blocked punt and a 20-yard run…Two games are on tap for this week. In unusual Thursday night contests, Plainfield entertains Jonathan Law at 6 p.m. and Killingly is a Stonington for a 6:30 p.m. start.
Putnam Town Crier Super Standings: Quinebaug Pride
A tribute pg 10 11-21-13
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By Ron P. Coderre
James “Jim” Naum, a Thompson icon, passed away Nov. 11, Veterans Day. His passing signals the end of an era in Thompson and the village of North Grosvenordale. His absence echoed throughout the town and northeastern Connecticut, leaving a void equivalent to the size of the Grand Canyon for the community to fill.
Jim Naum and his parental family like so many others of the era immigrated to the U.S. through Ellis Island when he was less than one year old. As part of this family heritage, Naum was ever thankful of the opportunities granted to him as a citizen of the United States. Like many in his community Naum grew up in one of the areas of N. Grosvenordale known familiarly as “the Greek village.”
As a young man in that village his hours when not in school were spent in the driveways and fields in the vicinity playing baseball and basketball. A trip through “The Greek village” would see youngsters playing basketball to hoops attached to every garage in the village. It was there that the tradition of winning basketball was spawned, in the unpaved sometimes muddy driveways of N. Grosvenordale.
Arriving at Tourtellotte Memorial High School in 1947, Naum quickly established himself as a three-sport star, running cross country and playing basketball and baseball for the Tigers of coach Jim Canty. Deadly accurate with his two-hand set shot, in the days prior to the jump shot and three-point arc, Naum combined with the likes of George Dargati, Christy Carabina, Jimmy Karapanos, Tommy Tanacea and Teddy and Tasi Vriga to form the nucleus of teams that brought State titles back to the little hamlet in 1949, 1950 and 1951.
In his senior year the Tigers won the second State title and Naum was accorded All-State honors by the New Haven Register. His work as a player, coach and contributing member of the community earned him entry with the inaugural class into the TMHS Athletic hall of Fame in 2010.
“As an athlete Jim had a deadly outside shot but it wasn’t only on the basketball court that he starred. He was a baseball pitcher for the high school and American Legion teams. He threw what was referred to as a ‘heavy ball’ that was difficult to hit,” said his longtime friend and sometimes teammate Jim Sali, also an alum of “the Greek village.”
Naum was good enough to go on and play college basketball at Nichols College from 1950 – 1952, where he served as the captain of the Bison’s team. His collegiate years were interrupted by the Uncle Sam and the Korean Conflict, but he returned to the collegiate hardwood in 1958, starring for two years at Eastern Connecticut State University. He was so respected in Willimantic that he remained there for two seasons as an assistant coach.
After banging around in semi-pro and industrial leagues Naum moved on to another phase when he became assistant basketball coach to his idol coach Jim Canty. Entering the old Cluett Gym it was a sight to behold, the stately Mr. Canty seated on the bench with his handsome young assistant Jim Naum seated beside him, both nattily attired in sport coat and tie.
Eventually, Naum was elevated to the position of head coach at Tourtellotte, where held the position from 1977 to 1989. Famous for his “yoyo” offense, Naum led his 1987 team to the Class S State Championship, one of his proudest moments. The title was the first for the Tigers since the days when Naum himself was a player.
“His death was a very sad day. My memories of coach Naum are ingrained with his sense of history and tradition for the high school and its athletic programs. It was an honor to play for him. And it was very special having his son Tom on our team,” said Earl Rosebrooks who was voted the MVP of the 1987 State Tournament.
“Mr. Naum was a big influence in my life and that of many others. He was a pillar of the Thompson community and will be dearly missed,” concluded Rosebrooks.
Naum, who taught in the Thompson Public School system for 33 years, turned to another phase of his life following his days coaching basketball. Always one to help others, he became active in the community with various organizations including the Thompson Lions, American Legion Post #67, TEEG and the Quinebaug Cornerstone Lodge #122. He also served as a member of the Board of Education, the Planning and Zoning Commission and as a Justice of the Peace.
“Jim was a giving person. He was always there whenever there was a need. His loss is immeasurable and the town will be hard pressed to replace him,” said Sali, who for the last two months of Naum’s life visited him every Sunday morning.
A huge Red Sox fan, Naum was able to witness the Red Sox World Series triumph surrounded by friends during Game 6 prior to his demise.
Naum leaves behind his wife of 47 years, Anna and a son Tom. He was predeceased by his son Michael. A scholarship fund in his memory has been established and donations should be sent to the James Naum Scholar Athlete Scholarship Fund, c/o Citizens National Bank, P.O. Box 6002, Putnam, CT 06260.
As time passes, Naum will always be remembered as an athlete and coach. The tales of his exploits will echo through the halls of Tourtellotte Memorial High School for many years. In the hamlet of North Grosvenordale, his name will continue to be mentioned and honored wherever the good folks of the town gather. His mark on life goes on.
Makes pg 10 11-21-13
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By Ron P. Coderre
The prep school basketball season is just beginning for 2014 and one of Putnam Science Academy’s post graduate players has accepted a scholarship offer to play on the Division I level next season.
Daniel Upchurch, a 6-foot, 2-inch guard from Bridgeport who played for Notre Dame-Fairfield last season, has made a verbal commitment to play at Charleston Southern University of the Big South Conference. The Bucs were the first Division I school to offer Upchurch a scholarship earlier this fall. They landed a verbal commitment from the hard working scrappy guard on Nov. 11 following his official visit to the campus over the previous weekend.
“I’m very excited for Dan because he’s a hard worker who has overcome some personal family difficulties. If there is anyone who deserves an opportunity like this it’s Dan. I’m very proud and pleased for him and his family,” said Putnam Science Academy basketball coach Tom Espinosa.
An honor roll student in the class room, he’s also improved his credentials on the hardwood by becoming a solid defender. In recent years, Upchurch has also made consistent strides in his offensive game, not only becoming a more consistent shooter from the perimeter but also advancing his understanding of how to take advantage of the pick and roll.
“Although our season is just getting underway, Dan’s work ethic has impressed the Charleston Southern coaching staff. The improvements in his game have paved the way to Division I where he’ll be a solid two-way player and leader,” said Espinosa.
In his junior year at Notre Dame Fairfield Upchurch scored his 1000th point and helped lead his team to the highly competitive South West Conference championship. In high school he was a perennial All State and All Conference selection.
Prior to enrolling at Putnam Science Academy, Upchurch had been highly recruited by a number of Division II schools.