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'Swamped' with Help
The Putnam Fire Department held a boot drive and donation event Feb. 3 to benefit two families who lost everything in two recent fires. The generosity of the community was impressive. Linda Lemmon photo.
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psa pg 1 2-15-24
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PSA team
wins New
England
crown
It’s not March yet, but the PSA Prep basketball team won another championship this past weekend.
The Mustangs, who will be looking for their third straight national title and fifth overall next month, were crowned the New England Basketball League Tournament champions Feb. 11 when they knocked off Bradford Christian Academy, 70-61.
“Winning doesn’t get old and we never get used to it,” said coach Tom Espinosa after his team beat Bradford for the third time this season. “We really approached it as a championship game (Sunday) and wanted our guys to have the same mindset we’re going to need in March.”
Ben Ahmed had 10 points and 10 rebounds, Oswin Erhunmwunse had 10 blocks and eight rebounds, and Grant Randall had perhaps his best game of the season, finishing with 12 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. He also drew two charges on the defensive end.
Cris McElveen and Tony Williams both scored a team-high 13 points for PSA (23-10), which advanced to the final with an 84-67 win over Newman School Saturday night. Justin Johnson led the way with 20 points, while Ahmed added 16 points, five rebounds, four assists, and three blocks in the win. Erhunmwunse, meanwhile, finished with 10 points, 14 rebounds, and four blocks.
Ahmed moved closer to multiple big numbers at PSA. He enters Friday’s home game just 112 points shy of 1,000 for his career and 136 short of breaking the program’s single-season record. He also needs only 37 more rebounds to become the school’s all-time record holder in that category, and just 87 more to break the single-season record.
With his 14 blocks in the two games, Erhunmwunse now has 118 in his career and moved into third place on PSA’s all-time list.
PSA, ranked No. 8 in the country, started its week with a 69-55 win Tuesday over South Kent. Ahmed had 14 points and 10 rebounds, Erhunmwunse had four points, 10 rebounds, and nine blocks, and Randall finished with eight points and eight boards.
PSA’s Varsity team went 3-0, knocking off St. Andrews’s (60-47), Fisher College (68-58), and Wilbraham & Monson (77-70). Alvaro Salas recorded a career-high eight points, and Ilan Da Silva-Alp and Shane Sebastian-Smalls led a balanced scoring attack with nine points apiece in the win over St. Andrew’s Wednesday, as 11 different players scored for PSA.
Sebastian-Smalls and Julien Ville both tallied 20 points, and Amyas Hall-Chiari finished with 11 Friday as PSA beat Fisher for the second time this season.
And Hall-Chiari capped off the big week with a team-high 23 points in the big win over Wilbraham Saturday. Ville added 13, Sebastian-Smalls chipped in with 12 points and Da Silva-Alp knocked down three 3-pointers and finished with nine points for PSA (12-9).
The girls’ team won its lone game of the week, 52-33 Monday at Rocky Hill, behind Kate Lipatova’s 10 points and nine rebounds. Alicia Jimenez led PSA with 15 points, while Carlota Lopez finished with nine points, four assists, and three steals. Tati Bell added five points, eight rebounds, and three steals as PSA posted its fourth win in five games.
The boys Elite team split a pair of games, topping South Kent 87-77 Tuesday before falling 76-74 Thursday to Busche Academy.
Octavius Wheeler scored 23 of his 29 points in the first half of the South Kent game, while Jalen Claude knocked down five 3-pointers on his way to 17 points. Sebastian Fermin finished with 16 points, and DJ Germann and Carter Mungin both added 11 for PSA.
Carter Mungin scored 25 points against Busche, Javelle Epps finished with 14 points and Jalen Claude had 10 for PSA (16-6), but PSA had its three-game winning streak snapped.
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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caption, page 2:
The winning team. Photo byTom Netzer.
fire pg 1 2-15-24
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By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — The rather warm temperatures hardly dampened the enthusiastic record crowds at the 13th annual Fire and Ice Festival.
The event, powered by the Town of Putnam and the Putnam Business Association, included everything from ice carving to the Big Igloo, UConn’s mascot Jonathan, Love Lane exhibit of Putnam student artists, face painting, Yeti on Stilts, DJ’s, games, Mirror Man Entertainer and LED Light Robot on Stilts, a warming block with a heart-shaped fire pit, food, 24 vendors, fire performances, veteran groups and more.
Fire and Ice Chairperson Jennifer Brytowski called the event a “home run.”
She said: “2024 is the new record-breaking year to beat. We showcased 64 ice creations made out of more than 80 300-pound blocks of ice. Twenty blocks were set for artists to create on site and the rest came precarved or created by the ice team over months of planning.”
Brytowski added: “We had the signature fire performances, food trucks and our massive bonfire pit but also added more unique experiences with roaming stilt walkers and magician. We featured a living snow globe, added a couple new dance floors and a curling game. It really brought a new element to the event.”
She noted the cake contest’s 3,782 votes by people’s choice was a record breaker.
She said, “If the highest attendance was projected at 20,000 in the past, there had to have been at least a few thousand more than that easily.” Police Chief Christopher D. Ferace said he didn’t count but it had to be a record as most of the day “people were shoulder to shoulder.”
Asked about possible changes for next year, Brytowski said: “As far as next year goes, there is a lot to discuss. However all the focus is on, and will always be on, making positive improvements to continue to showcase Putnam as the unique visitor destination it proves to be.”
In the ice carving the winners
Amateur: 3rd – Ren Deojay - Bear Hands Brewing Company Block Sponsor; 2nd - Marie Agresta - Congregational Church of Putnam Block Sponsor; 1st - Robert Bates - CT State Community College - Quinebaug Valley. Block Sponsor (dragon). Group: 3rd - Victoria Schroth - Evergreen Farms Block Sponsor; 2nd - Brittni & Simone Germain - NorthStar Home Loans Block Sponsor; 1st - Arrik Kim - Silver Circle Gallery & Sawmill Pottery Block Sponsor. Professional: 3rd - Silvino Quengo - Longmeadow Automotive Block Sponsor; 2nd - Rena Mason - Cargill Chevrolet Block Sponsor; 1st - Phil Mason - ServiceMaster by Mason Block - dinosaur (He won first place last year under the amateur category).
The cake decorating contest, Ooey Gooey Love, was the “sweetest” part of the festival.
Contest organizer, Tayler Sazhin said there were 16 competitors and she was very pleased with it.
Judges’ Choice — Flavor: Professional --- Kat Collin (white three-tier cake with gum paste florals); Novice --- Michelle Bartholic (Muppets Cake).
People’s Choice — Appearance: Professional: Jonathan Salvas — Ooey Gooey caramel and chocolate cake with macaroons and brownies); Novice: Cindy Miller — Willy Wonka Cake.
Brytowski added: “Overall, I feel like the event was a huge success. Families, couples and friends shared moments of laughter and intrigue together on our streets and in our shops and restaurants all day long. For some, we have become their tradition which is something I hold near and dear to my heart.”
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An icy interactive portrait at Putnam's Fire & Ice Fest. Expanded photo array Wed. night on FB (Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger). More photos on page 4. Linda Lemmon photo.
captions, clockwise, page 4:
Far left: The Muppet cake - a winner. Left: Hudson Smith with UConn mascot Jonathan
Right: Winner CT State Community College: Quinebaug Valley. Courtesy photo.
Hazel Martinez puts in a people's choice vote while her mom, Marjorie, holds her up. They're from Killingly.
Simone Germain (orange outfit)
Rebecca Patenaude
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Christian Menounos is all smiles after winning the 1000m race at the Class M state indoor track championships. Josh Welch photo.
Roundup
2 state championship efforts for track teams
There was excitement on the bookends for the Woodstock Academy boys’ and girls’ indoor track teams at the Class M state championship meet in New Haven on Saturday.
The day started well and ended well for the Centaurs and there were some nice performances in between.
Woodstock junior Christian Menounos got things going for the Centaurs in one of the first running events on the track as he finished in 2 minutes, 36.34 seconds to capture the Class M state championship in the event.
“He was really excited to try and go out and get a (state championship Saturday). He ran a technically perfect race,” coach Josh Welch said.
The 4x400m relay team of Juliet Allard, Emma Weitknecht, Talia Tremblay and Julia Coyle finished in 4:12.20 finishing first by over three seconds.
Not that it was that easy.
The race was back-and-forth between the top contenders until Allard took hold of the baton for the anchor leg.
“When she got the hand off, she made contact with kids from other teams who had come out of their lanes and were in front of us at the time,” Welch said.
Despite that unfortunate incident, Allard quickly made up the ground of a one second-plus deficit when she first began.
Both Menounos and the 4x400m team will be headed to the State Open championship with the girls ranked 10th overall in the state.
“It will be the first time that Emma, Julia and Talia will be fresh (not having any other events to worry about) so I think we can come down a few more seconds and grab that school record and maybe place,” Welch said.
Allard will have one other event to compete in at the State Open — she will be taking part in the 300m where she placed third in 41.43 seconds.
“I think that’s her personal best by a little,” Welch said. “She was hoping to drop a little more time but it was a very competitive heat. She knows she has a little bit more, I’m excited to see what she will do at the Open,”
Avery Plouffe will also be on hand after a third-place finish in the shotput. She eclipsed her previous best by over 2 feet and is now under 3 feet for the school record with a qualifying throw of 34-feet, 10-inches.
“That was awesome,” Welch said. “I didn’t catch all of her throws but she blasted that one out. She can get there soon (to a school record), she is growing in leaps and bounds. She will move on to the Open and will be right in the mix. For a brand-new kid, you can’t ask for more.”
Coyle finished fifth in the 1600m (5:36.58) while Jillian Edwards was seventh in the high jump (4-10) and the 4x800m relay team of Coyle, Avery Schaefer, Kira Greene and Olivia Tracy was also seventh.
On the boys’ side, Charlie Caggiano was fifth in the 600m (1:29.01) and Colton Sallum was fifth in the 1600m (4:35.42)
The girls finished ninth overall as a team while the boys were 10th.
Boys’ Basketball
After missing out on the CIAC state tournament by one win last season, the Woodstock boys’ basketball team came in to this season with a singular goal.
Win the necessary eight games to get in.
The Centaurs accomplished that on Thursday with a 53-40 victory over Ledyard on the road to improve to 8-10 on the season.
“It was great to see all the smiles on the kid’s faces. They deserve it,” said coach Donte Adams. “They battled throughout the season, a lot of ups-and-downs. It was definitely something we were working toward from last year. The guys this year knew how bad the seniors wanted to make it so when the buzzer went off, there was nothing but smiles and that’s what it is all about to me.”
It was the first time since the 2018-19 season that the Centaurs have qualified for the state tournament.
“It’s great that this is my senior year and we’re ending it with a bang by making the state tournament, possibly making a run and, hopefully, winning it means a lot to me and the other seniors,” guard Eric Mathewson said.
Ledyard led the entire first half of play and it wasn’t until the 3 minute, 15 second mark of the third quarter that Woodstock forged ahead, 33-31.
“We came out a little slow and that happens to us a lot. We have to warm up to what is happening and get used to our matchups. We start to talk and communicate more. I think we finally stepped it up in the second half,” said junior center Brady Ericson.
It was, indeed, a team effort.
Hunter Larson scored six points in the first quarter; Ericson had 10 of his 12 points in the second quarter; Garrett Bushey put down six points in the third and Teddy Richardson had eight of his team-high 14 points in the fourth.
“It was big for us because most of the guys are scoring threats, different guys are contributing in different ways like Eric Mathewson was the energy guy and it got things started on the defensive end,” Adams said. “We needed not only the guys scoring but the energy off the bench to get the win on the road which is hard to do late in the season.”
The Centaurs had hoped to clinch the state tournament berth two days before when they played host to Norwich Free Academy in their final regular season home game.
It was not to be as the Wildcats posted a 54-47 win over the Centaurs on Senior Night.
Prior to the game, Woodstock recognized seniors Richardson, Mathewson, Larson, T.J. Osborne and Keon Lamarche.
Richardson made the most of what could have been his final appearance on the home floor as he scored 14 of his team-high 16 points in the first half which ended in a 24-24 tie.
Neither team could find separation, the Centaurs held the biggest lead of the game, six points, midway through the first quarter and with 3 minutes, 46 seconds to play, the game was tied at 43.
But Norwich Free Academy senior Camron Barboza scored five consecutive points to put the Wildcats up to stay.
Ericson rallied from a three-point first half to finish with 14 while Larson added 12.
The Centaurs will likely not have a state tournament game at home.
It’s possible that an ECC tournament game could be played at the Academy but that will depend on the outcome of this week’s games.
“It’s a hard pill to swallow,” Mathewson said of possibly playing his last game on the Alumni Fieldhouse floor. “I love this gym. I love all my friends and family and all the people who come out to the games. It’s hard to know that we may never play here again. It’s a good experience to know that this was my home court and I got to play here for four years.”
The Centaurs may not want to come back.
Woodstock has to play Bacon Academy Tuesday (the game ended too late for this edition) and Windham (Friday) on the road to finish the season.
The Centaurs have a 3-8 league mark while Windham is 4-7. Provided the Centaurs down the Bobcats and beat the Whippets, it could create a tie for the seventh seed in the tournament. The seventh seed is beneficial as the team that gets it, doesn’t have to play in the play-in game on Wednesday, Feb. 21 and meets the No. 2 team, likely New London, rather than top-seeded St. Bernard in the tournament quarterfinal on Feb. 22.
“It would be big for us,” Adams said. “Not only because of the seeding but finishing the season strong and having momentum going into the tournament.”
Girls’ Basketball
The night started out very well for the Woodstock girls’ basketball team.
In their final home game of the regular season, the Centaurs recognized both captain Reegan Reynolds and Kerry Blais in the annual Senior Night activities.
Unfortunately, things did not go as well during the game as Fitch came out of the gates, rolled to a nine-point lead by the end of the first quarter and never led by less than eight the remainder of the way in a 50-41 victory.
“It was extremely special,” Blais said of the Senior Night festivities. “From the moment we got here, the team was waiting for us. They brought us into the gym, it was this huge surprise. We felt so loved and appreciated and could not ask for anything better from our team.”
Reynolds is a four-year varsity player for the Centaurs.
“I started as a freshman. I grew up playing basketball, just like my other sports, so (Friday) was very happy but also very sad to see it end. We’re certainly not done yet. We can’t be too sad yet,” Reynolds said.
Woodstock coach Will Fleeton has had it nice for the past two years.
It was the second year in a row that less than a handful of players have been honored on Senior Night meaning the young core will return mostly intact.
“Kerry came in and worked at the freshman and JV level, clawed and worked, and got better, stronger and faster and earned her way up the ranks. That’s special for a coach to see, you like to see players grow through your program, stay with your program for four years and benefit from it,” Fleeton said.
Reynolds epitomized what Fleeton wanted to see in a player.
“Her hustle is the first thing that caught my eye. We made a connection early; she started eating what I was cooking right off the bat. She symbolizes who we are. Her efforts, her defense, everything I try to instill in these kids, she is the walking proof,” Fleeton said.
Friday night’s game was, unofficially, the battle for the fourth seed in the upcoming ECC tournament.
The winner likely earned the right to host the fifth seed on Thursday in the league tournament quarterfinals and that honor belonged to the Falcons (11-9) after the win.
“We looked at the beginning of the season and we picked Fitch (for Senior Night) because we knew they were a good opponent and knew they were going to come at us. We were ready for it but they brought it to us and props to them, they are a great team and a great program. It was a good game to go out on. We played hard, everybody worked really hard and that was special to see,” Reynolds said.
The Centaurs (14-5) could not find an answer for Maleeya Robbins who weaved her way through the Centaurs defense to finish with a game-high 23 points.
The only player in double figures for the Centaurs was Sidney Anderson who finished with 16 points.
The Centaurs still have a game at Somers on Monday (the game ended too late for this edition) before heading to Groton on Thursday to play the Falcons again in the league quarterfinal.
Girls’ Hockey
The Woodstock Academy Co-Op made the long trek to Greenwich worth the while, downing Greenwich, 4-1.
The Centaurs bounced back from a 1-0 first period deficit as they scored all four of their goals in the second period.
Sophia Gouveia scored her ninth and 10th goals of the season with Juliette Hammer and Riley Faber also scoring. Senior captain Mia Williamson had two assists for the Centaurs with Maci Corradi, Stella Morrison and Ireland Wilford getting the others.
Things did not go as well in the other two games of the week.
The East Catholic Co-Op again proved to be a handful as it downed the Centaurs, 7-1, Friday.
East Catholic scored four times in the third period to pull away in a game that was closely played in the first two periods.
Morrison had the only goal for Woodstock off assists from Paige Hinckley and Wilford.
The Centaurs returned home on Saturday for their Senior Night game and fell short against the Suffield Co-Op, 7-3.
Prior to the puck drop, Williamson was recognized for her contributions to the Co-Op team. Williamson hails from East Lyme High School and was the only senior on the team this season.
The Centaurs (4-16) scored first in every period.
The visitors held a two-goal lead at the end of the first period and a three-goal advantage at the end of the second before finishing with the four-goal cushion.
Faber, Corradi and Grace Lescault scored for the Centaurs with Lescault, Mia Auger, Morrison, and Gouveia adding assists.
Woodstock finishes its season on Saturday against the Ridgefield Co-Op.
Wrestling
For the first time in about five years, Woodstock Academy was present and accounted for at an ECC wrestling championship.
The Centaurs competed in Killingly on Saturday in the annual event, their first since the program was re-started this season.
“I think it was a tremendous experience for us. We got to see what a tournament was like first-hand and it will prepare us very for (Saturday),” coach Cahan Quinn said. “It can be rapid-fire at times, and then there are times where it is almost dead.”
The Centaurs were well-represented. Owen Hamilton was the 10th seed at 113 pounds; Jayden Bowers 13th at 120; Aidan Soukaloun 12th at 132; Jake Henderson 10th at 138; Ayden Angel-Ouimette 12th at 145; Olivia DiGregorio 13th at 150; Kevin Yu 15th at 157; Lucas Theriaque 10th at 165 and Jacob Lizotte12th at 215.
Hamilton and Angel-Ouimette went furthest.
Both recorded a couple of pins before being eliminated in the consolation quarterfinals.
“They were patient and really showed how much they learned over the course of the season and just how much they have come to love this sport,” Quinn said. “Ayden really showed his growth in his last match which he lost by decision, 10-4. But it was the same kid who pinned him in our first match at Lyman-Windham Tech and now, he’s going all three rounds with him.”
The nice thing is that the season continues on Friday at the Class M state championship.
Most of the wrestlers who competed in the ECC championship will also do so in States.
“I really just want to see even more growth through this week of practice, a lot more learning, I think we need to settle down a bit on top more. I think we need to work our moves, they don’t have to be speedy, just more precision-based,” Quinn said.
It’s another multi-event day for the Woodstock Academy wrestlers which Quinn likes.
“Next year, we’re planning on doing more multi-team events. I think it’s a better use of time and it is guaranteed matches. It’s not two matches, you’re out and sitting around for the rest of the day watching your teammates. Multi-team dual meets is the way to go in the future,” Quinn said.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
captions:
Girls’ Senior Night
Seniors Kerry Blais, left, and Reegan Reynolds were recognized prior to the Woodstock Academy-Fitch girls’ basketball game on Friday during Senior Night festivities.
Boys Senior Night
From left: T.J. Osborne, Hunter Larson, Teddy Richardson, Eric Mathewson, Keon Lamarche and international student Leonardo Guidi were all recognized in at the game vs. NFA at the Alumni Fieldhouse. Photos by Dan Vogt /Woodstock Academy.
Relay team from left: Juliet Allard, Emma Weitknecht, Julia Coyle and Talia Tremblay won the 4x400m relay event at the Class M state indoor track championships. Photos by Josh Welch/Woodstock Academy.
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