Remembering pg 1 12-22-22
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Honoring
From left: Tyler Eddy plays Taps. Photo courtesy of Robert C. Garceau. Marine Connor Vassar, left, and his father Legion Commander Michael S. Vassar lay a wreath at the grave site of Father Anselm Mayotte, for whom Post #13 is named in honor and memory of. Commander Vassar, right and VFW Acting Commander Rob Challinor prepare to toss symbolic wreath into the Quinebaug. Courtesy photos.
Remembering
in moving
'Wreaths'
ceremony
The Mayotte-Viens American Legion Post #13 of Putnam, in collaboration with the VFW Post #1523 and the Putnam Lodge of Elks Veterans Committee with the support of the Putnam Recreation Department, conducted its 14th Wreaths Across America ceremony Dec. 17.
A chair with a ‘black cover’ was located in the front of the audience in memory of the late Doug Cutler, former town administrator who was instrumental in the early years of the ceremony.
Despite windy and chilly conditions, one of the largest crowds in recent memory attended the event, which was held a Veterans Memorial Park. The program opened with the presentation of the colors by the combined American Legion and VFW color guard under the direction of Post #13 Commander and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Michael S. Vassar. Members of the color guard included Frank Tremont, Chas MacKenzie, Curt Prochowski, Christopher Steinbrick, Walter LaRochelle, and David Butler.
U.S. Air Force veteran and Post #13 Chaplain Pierre Desilets offered the invocation, which was followed by the singing of the National Anthem by Army National Guard Specialist and Post #13 member Emily Lajoie.
The center piece of the ceremony was the laying of the wreaths in honor of veterans of all the military branches and in memory of POW/MIA men and women who served and sacrificed their lives in the cause of freedom. Laying the wreaths were Walter Napierata, Army; William Schmidt, Marines; Donald U. Laperle, Navy; Donald R. Laperle, Air Force; Thomas Lajoie, Coast Guard; Robert Garceau, Merchant Marines; Roger C. Franklin, Space Force; and active-Duty United States Marine Connor Vassar, POW/MIA. Vassar, who enlisted on Aug. 9, is home on leave assisting the local Marine Corps office with recruiting duties.
A ceremonial wreath was tossed into the Quinebaug River by Post #13 Commander Michael S. Vassar and VFW Post #1523 Acting Commander Robert Challinor. The VFW firing squad, composed of Jonathan Drew, Fred Veltheim and Raymond Beausoleil presented the rifle volley, followed by the playing of Taps by Tyler Eddy.
In the opening remarks, Past Post #13 and Past District #4 Commander Ronald P. Coderre reminded those present of the purpose of Wreaths Across America, which is to Remember the individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country; Honor those who served and are currently serving; and Educate the young people of our community on the value of freedom.
Coderre closed the ceremony with words of remembrance on the meaning of freedom.
“The freedoms we enjoy today are possible thanks to the men and women who served and those who are currently serving, especially those who gave their lives under the red, white and blue of Old Glory,” he said.
“Today less than 1 percent of the population of the United States protects the remaining 99 percent. We need to stand together as our Pledge of Allegiance states, as one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all,” he added.
Welcome and greetings of the Town of Putnam were presented by Post #13 member and Deputy Mayor Roy Simmons, who served 28 years in the Navy. Also, on hand for the ceremony, were 51st Assembly District State Representative and member of the Board of Selectman Rick L. Hayes, Selectman Michael Paquin and Putnam Police Chief Chris Ferace.
Following the ceremony, the delegation of veterans disbursed to lay wreaths at four bridges, five cemeteries and the Grove Street Monument.
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Centaurs pg 1 12-22-22
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Woodstock Academy boys’ hockey coach Mark Smolak knew his Centaurs were a team that others would have to contend with this season.
Woodstock opened with a 3-0 win over Nutmeg Conference foe, the Eastern Connecticut Eagles on their home ice Wednesday. The Centaurs followed that up with an 11-1 win over Branford on Saturday.
“Now, the expectations get higher across the board. Other teams are going to look at what we’re doing and expect to see a great team. That’s up to the coaching staff to make sure we have them prepped because we’re going to have a target on our backs.”
A 10-goal win against Branford may not sound like the Centaurs came out lackluster but it seemed that way to Smolak.
Junior Noah Sampson helped the Centaurs open up a 3-0 lead by getting the hat trick, three goals, and he did so in the course of just one shift on the ice.
The Centaurs also got goals from Donnie Sousa and Maxx Corradi in that first period to take a 5-0 lead into the second period.
Branford did score its only goal to start the second period as they got enough bodies in front of goalie Dante Sousa to obscure his vision and poke one through.
But Woodstock would add five more unanswered goals when Corradi, Andrew Newton, Sampson, and two players who scored their first career goals, Jayden Fuller and Seamus Coleman, all tallied.
Brady Lecuyer finished off the scoring for the Centaurs with his first career goal in the third period.
In the win over the Eagles in the opener, Jared Neilson scored in the first period, Newton scored in the second and Corradi in the third and Kaiden Keddy turned aside 23 shots for the shutout in goal.
While the win was the first for Smolak coaching the Centaurs, assistant coach Bob Donahue recorded his 100th career win
Smolak knew Donahue had reached the milestone and the players were cognizant of it as well. So, Smolak did the smart thing. He let Donahue go into the locker room following the game – first. He got an extra "shower."
Girls’ Ice Hockey
Take away the second period from the Woodstock girls’ ice hockey team’s game with Auburn and the first period from their home opener against Simsbury and things would have been really nice for the Centaurs last week.
Unfortunately, the reality was that the Centaurs surrendered three goals to the Rockets in the second period and fell, 4-2. The Trojans then scored four goals against the Centaurs in the first period enroute to a 5-0 win Saturday.
“That’s the staple of our team,” said coach Eric Roy. “We struggle right out of the gate and then we start chipping away but it’s too deep a hole.” The losses dropped the Centaurs to 1-3 on the season.
Woodstock is young in both age
and as a program. The Centaurs feature only four seniors and with the new cooperative aspect of the program, the chemistry is still a work in progress.
The Centaurs unfurled their new alternate pink jerseys on Saturday against Simsbury in a game that helped benefit cancer awareness.
Unfortunately, Simsbury spoiled the party and made it tough on Woodstock early.
Thora Clark worked her way behind the net for Simsbury just 2 ½ minutes into the first period and poked it into the side of the net to give the Trojans the lead.
Just 34 seconds later, Simsbury (1-3) struck again as Tessa Strolis, with help from Clark and Izzy Pringle, scored the second goal for the Trojans.
Clark added her second goal of the game off assists from Pringle and Strolis with 5:29 left in the opening period and Strolis and Clark helped Pringle finish off the four-goal period as she tallied with 2:05 to play.
The Centaurs had some good chances in both the second and third periods, but just could not cash in on some shots in front of the net.
It’s that “dirty” area as Roy terms it, the area in front of the net, that has betrayed the Centaurs both offensively and defensively and that’s where the toughness aspect plays in.
“Defensively, we get focused on the puck and someone sneaks in behind us. Offensively, we focus on the puck and don’t concentrate on the open areas. It’s the hockey IQ I guess,” Roy said.
After a scoreless first period earlier in the week, the host Auburn Rockets scored three second-period goals and held off the Centaurs, 4-2.
Sophia Gouveia and Maci Corradi scored for Woodstock while Mia Williamson added an assist. It was the fifth goal of the season for Corradi.
While the school begins its holiday break on Wednesday, the girls’ hockey team keeps on playing.
The Centaurs play Auburn again and then travel to Springfield to play Pope Francis, another former Central Massachusetts League opponent.
Boys’ basketball
If the season continues like this, Woodstock first-year head coach Donte Adams may be sporting a little less hair at the end.
The Centaurs opened the season with a pair of nail biters and unfortunately, both went the opponent’s way.
Fitch rallied in the season opener on Thursday for a 61-55 victory in overtime. On Saturday, the Centaurs fell behind Windham early and rallied but ended on the wrong side of a 59-55 score.
The Centaurs looked really good in the first half as they were 12-of-20 from the floor and limited Fitch to 6-of-19 shooting.
That resulted in a 13-point halftime lead, 30-17.
A 3-pointer by Brandon Nagle (15 points) and a basket by Hunter Larson early in the third quarter extended that lead to 16, 35-19.
Fitch clawed its way back and it trailed by only eight, 40-32, by the end of the third quarter. The gap continued to close in the fourth quarter.
Woodstock led by five, 50-45, with 25 seconds to play after a pair of free throws by Nagle.
But Fitch point guard Lorenzo Rivera hit just the second 3-pointer of the night for the Falcons to cut the lead to two with 15 seconds left.
Fitch immediately fouled Carter Morissette and the senior hit one of two from the charity stripe to restore a three-point Woodstock advantage with 12 seconds left.
Senior Van Spruill tied the game for the Falcons at the buzzer, hitting a 3-pointer, to send the game into the extra period.
Fitch carried that momentum into overtime as Mike Wagner and Rivera both hit hoops to give the Falcons the quick lead. The Falcons were then just good enough from the line where they hit 6-of-12 in overtime to seal the victory.
The Centaurs were 4-for-4 from the line in the overtime but missed all seven of their shots from the field.
Brady Ericson added 15 for the Centaurs. The 6-foot, 6-inch sophomore came up big against the Whippets and almost carried the Centaurs across the finish line against the Whippets.
The Whippets (2-0, 1-0 ECC Div. II) gradually built a lead against Woodstock on Saturday.
The hosts went up by two at the end of the first quarter and were up by 11, 30-19, at the half. Travis Mangual scored 11 of his 15 points in the first half while Malcolm Hunter added 10 of his team-high 25.
Windham held that lead going into the fourth quarter, increasing it only modestly, as they led 43-31 but Ericson became a one-man wrecking crew in the fourth.
He dominated in the paint and got 17 of his game-high 27 points to pull the Centaurs (0-2, 0-2 ECC Div. II) close, but it wasn’t enough as the Whippets hung on for the four-point win. Morissette added eight points for Woodstock.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
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Hoping pg 1 12-22-22
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The Woodstock Academy gymnastics team will rely heavily on sophomore Olivia Aleman, left, after senior Taylor Markley, was injured. in April. Woodstock Academy photo.
It’s a new year but the first question is always pretty repetitive for Woodstock Academy gymnastics coach Kasey Tocchio.
Can the Centaurs do it all over again?
Last year, Woodstock captured its 11th straight state championship, this time in Class M, and 12th straight ECC title. Add to that, a CIAC State Open championship for a third time in five years and a third-place finish in New England.
“I hope we can (repeat all that),” Tocchio said. “This year is a little tougher but we always seem to end up having some surprises.”
The good surprises first. The Centaurs have a new gymnast, a sophomore from Mexico, Maitena Alvarez.
“She was a huge surprise at our information meeting. She hasn’t competed in a couple of years but has a higher level (gymnastics) background. She already is showing promise of being a helpful scorer for us so that is really cool,” Tocchio said.
She is not the only one. Freshman Julia Kerr may also make an impact.
“She wasn’t sure she was going to come out or not. She is a high-level gymnast out of Rhode Island and I’ve known her and worked with her when she was little. So we’re really excited to have her and she should be a great scorer,” Tocchio said.
Of course, the big disappointment is senior Taylor Markley not being available. Markley won the ECC and State Open individual titles and finished second in New England. But she suffered a serious elbow injury in April and will not be available to compete again until probably March or April of 2023.
Tocchio said, “I feel like we’re past feeling bad about it. It’s hard to keep going that way. It happened. It’s awful but everyone has to move on. She has taken on a different role and has committed to school (the University of Bridgeport) and is doing great in physical therapy. So we’re trying to take the wins, trying to move forward. We have hopes for the end of the season, maybe she will be able to do some things even if it is not high school (USA gymnastics is a possibility).”
The Centaurs also will be without sophomore Angelina Auger who tweaked her knee, was walking and felt fine, until she went for checkup.
“She tore a lot of stuff in (her knee). She bounces back pretty quick and comes in once a week just to hang out with the team. She says ‘nothing hurts, everything feels fine’ but she had major knee surgery,” Tocchio said.
That leaves senior Madison Martinez, sophomores Olivia Aleman, Allie Boyd, Livia Gerum and freshman Emma Long to fill out the roster.
Aleman finished third in the State Open championship last year with a 36.375 total and was also third in the ECC championship and was sixth in New England.
“She is in a better spot. She was still coming back (from a back injury) last year and about halfway through the season, she was almost where she should be. She’s starting off this season in a way better spot and that’s going to be exciting. She should be that leader that we need on the team this year,” Tocchio said.
Aleman will be the front runner but everyone will have to do their part to keep the Centaurs’ streaks going.
Alvarez will not be available for the team’s first two meets as they will fall during winter break and she will be home in Mexico.
“I think our scores will go up with the third meet. It’s going to be interesting but I think we will be able to pull it out. Every year, I feel like we lose someone and we don’t know if we’re gaining a lot of people and what’s going to happen. But that first practice happens and it’s like ‘We’re OK. We can make this work.’,” Tocchio said.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
Schedule: Fri., Dec. 23: vs. Killingly (at Deary’s Gymnastics), 2 p.m.; Fri., Dec. 30: vs. Killingly (at Deary’s Gymnastics), 10 a.m.; Sat., Jan. 21: vs. NFA (at Deary’s Gymnastics), 4:30; Mon., Jan. 23: at Stonington, 6; Sat., Jan. 28: vs. Stonington (at Deary’s), 4:30; Mon., Jan. 30: at E. Lyme Co-Op, 5; Sat., Feb. 4: vs. E. Lyme Co-Op, Daniel Hand (at Deary’s), 4:30; Mon., Feb. 6: at NFA, 2:30.
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Nature pg 1 12-22-22
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Nature's Ornaments
The pods on this Carolina Silverbell tree in the Palmer Arboretum look like ornaments. More decorating for the holiday on page 4 and additional photos on Wed. night on FB (Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger). Linda Lemmon photo.
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