five pg 6 9-15-22
- Details
- Category: Current Issue
caption:
Cross Country Captains
Woodstock Academy seniors Joel Koleszar, left, and Vincente Bastura will serve as captains for the boys’ cross-country. Marc Allard photo.
Preview
Strong five could
lead Centaurs
to better season
Comfortable. That’s the feeling Woodstock Academy boys’ cross-country coach Peter Lusa uses to describe his emotions heading into the 2022 season.
The Centaurs did lose their top runner from a year ago, Ian Hoffman — who finished sixth in the ECC championship and 16th in Class MM — to graduation.
But he has some athletes returning. “I’m happy with the core five that we have and a couple of the other kids that we have backing them up,” Lusa said.
It wasn’t like that at the beginning of the season.
The Centaurs had only a handful of runners come out but that number has blossomed to about a dozen.
Lusa does have a couple of potential frontrunners in senior Vincente Bastura and sophomore Christian Menounos.
Bastura finished 14th in the ECC championship race in 18 minutes, 40 seconds and was 24th in Class MM.
He, however, is feeling the push from Menounos. “Definitely from Christian, but it’s nice not to be alone,” Bastura said.
The senior said he did a lot more mileage over the summer but the work he did last winter and spring may prove to be even more beneficial --- shorter events in the indoor and outdoor track seasons.
Menounos finished 20th in 19:06 at the ECC and was 40th in MM.
Behind those two will be sophomore Colton Sallum, junior Charlie Caggiano and senior Joel Koleszar although Lusa would like to see those three challenge the top two.
“Here’s the nice thing, between Joel, Colton and Charlie, they will trade off, they will be tight. When the three come through, I think they will do so together. The first two open the door and then those three close the door and that could be OK in some cases. I don’t know what everyone else has,” Lusa said.
The Centaurs finished at the .500 mark, 6-6, last season but were just 1-5 in the Division I of the ECC. They beat Fitch in the ECC championship meet.
“I would love to be .500 in Division I and beat two of the other teams; I don’t know if we can beat all three of them. It will take a combination of our guys running really well and some teams having people who don’t,” Lusa said.
Another concern is the ever-present COVID threat. The Centaurs had two runners out last week due to the virus.
Schedule: Tues., Sept. 13: with Griswold at Waterford, 4:15 p.m.; Tues., Sept. 20: with Ledyard, Tourtellotte at E. Lyme, 4; Sat., Sept. 24: at Ocean State Invitational, TBA; Tues., Oct. 4: with Windham at Fitch, 4:30; Sat., Oct. 8: at Wickham Park Invitational, TBA; Tues., Oct. 11: vs. NFA, 3:45; Thurs., Oct. 20: at ECC Championship at Norwich Golf Club, 1.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
.
obits pg 6 9-15-22
- Details
- Category: Current Issue
ROSEBURG, Ore. — Jonathan Peckham Tilley, 82, formerly of Mansfield and Putnam, died Aug. 28, 2022 died of Parkinson’s disease in Roseburg, Oregon.
Jon was born Nov. 1, 1939, the son of the late Dr. Winthrop and Emily Tilley. Jon was predeceased by his brother, Peter, who died in 1957.
Jon attended Mansfield Elementary and Middle schools and Windham High School. In 1956, Jon joined the Mansfield Voluntary Fire Company and was a life-time member. Subsequently, he joined the Marines and was honorably discharged.
Jon worked for the CT Department of Corrections in Tolland, New Haven and Brooklyn. He worked as a herdsman for several dairy farms throughout the U.S. He also worked for Curtiss Company of Cary Illinois.
Singing, dancing, and playing guitar, banjo, and mandolin were shared with family, friends, and any person who happened to join in.
Jon’s significant other was Julia Yarbrough for approximately 10 years; his childhood friends include Barry Burnham, Johnny Clark, and Brad Humes. (They have many fond memories of Jon and have stories to share); Jon’s daughters are Kathy Tilley of Washington, Bonnie Tilley of Georgia, and Chrissy David of Oregon; stepchildren are Donna Perkins, Ginny Eaton, Frank Sandberg, Skip Sandberg, and Cindy Sandberg. He was predeceased by his stepson Richard Sandberg.
A witness burial will be private at the Roseburg National Cemetery in Roseburg.
Donations: American Parkinson’s Association, 1450 Chapel St., New Haven, CT 06511; or to The Mansfield Fire Department, 4 South Eagleville Road, Storrs, Mansfield, CT 06268.
.
Prep pg 7 9-15-22
- Details
- Category: Current Issue
caption, page 8:
Marc Ballart will serve as the Woodstock Academy prep soccer team’s captain this season. Photo by Marc Allard.
Prep soccer
returns for 2nd
Centaur year
Last year was an experiment. For a first time, Woodstock Academy fielded a boys’ prep soccer program.
It was a first not only for the school but also the new head coach. Joe Cherackal had been coaching soccer at Wesleyan University, working with, generally, American collegiate soccer athletes.
It’s a diverse group again this season. The primary language spoken on the field is Spanish as the majority of players are from Spain this season. There is also one from Mexico, two from Canada, a German goalie and a player from the Dominican Republic.
But, on the field, it can be difficult. Especially when it comes to building chemistry.
The Centaurs also have several players back for a second season including Marc Ballart who is the team’s sole captain right now. Also returning are Jordi Sanabra, Pol Saiz, Jesus de la Torre and Brian Manon.
The Centaurs started their schedule Sept. 8 with a 6-0 win over Pomfret School.
Rodrigo Minguela Martin, Saiz, Ballart, Danyil Uchytel, and Javier Menendez all scored and the Griffins helped a bit with an own goal. Martin dished out two assists and Menendez added one.
The Centaurs have 21 matches on the schedule currently and will likely play 23 prior to the Thanksgiving break.
But the big matches are not against a particular opponent or a specific result but rather how the team performs when the college coaches are in attendance.
Sept. 11 at Northfield-Mt. Hermon where the Centaurs played Milton School, 16 college coaches including two from the Atlantic Coast Conference, two from Patriot League schools and five more from smaller schools in New England were expected to be on hand.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
Schedule: Thurs., Sept. 8: At Pomfret; Sun. Sept. 11: vs. Milton at NMH, 10:30 a.m.; Sat., Sept. 17: vs. Western Reserve at Westtown, Penn., 3 p.m.; Sun., Sept. 18: vs. Seton Hall Prep at Downington, Penn., 1:45; Wed., Sept. 21: at Northfield-Mt. Hermon , 3:30; Sat., Sept. 24: vs. RMPUS (Montreal) at Afrims, N.Y.,TBA; Sun., Sept. 25: vs. Western Reserve at Afrims, N.Y., TBA; Tues., Sept. 27: vs. St. Thomas More, 4; Thurs., Sept. 29: at Putnam Science Academy, TBA; Sun, Sept. 2: vs. Hoosac School, 3; Fri., Oct. 7: at South Kent School Tournament, 2; Sat., Sept. 8: at South Kent School Tournament, TBA; Thurs., Oct. 13: vs. Pathfinder Club, 3:30; Sat., Oct. 15: at Hoosac School (Hoosac, N.Y.), 3; Wed., Oct. 19: vs. Putnam Science Academy, 3:30; Sat., Oct. 22: at St. Thomas More, 1; Wed., Oct. 26: at Pathfinder Club (Pathfinder, N.Y.), 5:30; Sat., Nov. 5: League Semifinals, TBA; Sat., Nov. 12: League Championship, TBA; Mon., Nov. 14: at Post Univ. JV. TBA; Mon., Nov. 21: at Post Univ. JV, TBA; Nov. 25-27: EDP Showcase at Tuckahoe Turf Farms (N.J.), TBA.
.
psa pg 7 9-15-22
- Details
- Category: Current Issue
caption:
Captains
From left: Rafael Machado, Kel Merckel, Valentino Labella, Tomás Melon. Photo by Ryan Dunnigan, PSA.
The first two-plus weeks of the PSA soccer season have been pleasantly surprising for coach Ryan Dunnigan.
The Mustangs are running out a team that is significantly younger than either of his previous two (or the two prior to his arrival, for that matter), which typically means early growing pains. And while that still may happen, Dunnigan and his few veterans like what they’ve been seeing.
“I wasn’t looking at this like a rebuilding year,” Dunnigan said, “but the first couple of weeks have been a bit more than I expected. It’s been nice to see some of the younger guys really settling in, guys like Unai (Castillejo) and Geo (Aniceto), who are arguably two of our better players, regardless of their age.”
Still, the Mustangs figure to rely heavily on their six returning members of the Class of 2023 – keeper Rafael Machado, forwards Kel Merckel and Uriel Dalipo, midfielder Tomás Melon, defender Valentino Labella, and midfielder/defender Simon Muhire. Machado, Merckel, Melon, and Labella have been named team captains. Aside from Labella however, all had limited roles last year.
“I’m going to be asking a lot of them now this season,” Dunnigan said, “because we’re just not as deep as we were last year. Simon has taken a big step forward from playing basically no first-team minutes to now being a 90-minute starter. Tomás and Kel played sparingly. But they’ve matured as players. Uriel is going to need to come in (he arrived this week) and be our best player. If he comes in and performs – with the tools that he has and the step forward that I think he’s ready to take – I think we’re going to have a good chance.”
Merckel answered the bell this past Saturday, getting PSA’s season off to a strong start by scoring the game-winner in the final minute of play to secure a 2-1 win in New Hampshire over High Mowing. Melon assisted on both goals; the other was scored by Fran Barcelo.
PSA is playing this year in a league with Woodstock Academy, St. Thomas More, Hoosac School, and Pathfinder Academy, which is not an easy schedule to navigate, particularly with the youth on the roster.
“There’s a young group of guys coming in and being a returner (and captain) is a big responsibility,” Merckel said. “I’m hoping to guide the guys, show them the right direction, have a good time, and hopefully we can experience different things compared to last season.”
The Mustangs have good balance throughout the three lines. No true standouts perhaps, but multiple strong players in each spot. And they are always well-organized, which allows them to remain competitive, even if they are a bit young.
“We don’t have a strong point where we’re attack-heavy or defense-heavy or have a midfield that will carry us through games,” Dunnigan said. “There’s more of a balance that will help carry us throughout.
“And being young is the big thing…a lot of these guys will get a lot of important minutes and experience this year, and they’ll get to know the system. That’s the hope.”
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
.