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Roundup
Centaurs
squeeze in
a match
Just getting games is a task right now.
With much of the Interstate 395 corridor designated as a Covid-19 “Red Alert” zone, many schools have gone back to virtual learning and have also, in the process, shut down interscholastic athletics.
It has meant that the programs that are still playing have had to shuffle their schedule often just to get some playing time.
The Woodstock Academy volleyball team was in that pickle last week.
The Centaurs, who had not played since the Friday before against Windham, looked like they would not have a match last week.
Fortunately, next-door neighbor Putnam High School agreed to come play the Centaurs Oct. 23.
“It was a big relief,” said Woodstock Academy coach Adam Bottone. “I feel bad because the girls here are doing everything they can to be sure they’re being disciplined about following all the safety protocols and procedures. That was one of the themes at the beginning of the season, let it not be us as the reason that we are not playing. I think other (schools) are doing their part, too, it’s just the nature of this virus. If we didn’t get this scheduled with Putnam, it would have been well over a week in between games. I’m very thankful that (Putnam coach) Shea Ogle was willing to do it.”
The Centaurs raised their record to 5-1 with a 3-0 victory over the Clippers.
Woodstock Academy won the first set easily, 25-5, but saw Putnam come back and make it more difficult in the second, won by the Centaurs, 25-17. Woodstock Academy finished it off with a 25-7 third set win.
Four was the magic number for senior Gabby Garbutt as she recorded four aces, four kills and four digs for the Centaurs.
Junior Aurissa Boardman added seven kills and one block and senior setter Tabby Bezanson had four aces and eight assists.
Bottone was also pleased with the play of Leila MacKinnon who made her first start of the season, played both opposite and outside hitter, and finished with four digs and two kills.
Abby St. Martin paced the Clippers (1-3) with six kills and three blocks.
Girls’ Soccer
Few have been finding it tougher to find matches than the Woodstock Academy girls’ soccer team.
The Centaurs played just their second match in 10 days on Saturday and posted a 7-0 win over Windham Tech in Willimantic.
Woodstock Academy is now 5-1 on the season.
Sophomore Grace Gelhaus was the catalyst.
She scored three goals, two in the first half, when the Centaurs took a 5-0 lead over the Mighty Tigers (2-6).
Gelhaus added two assists and now has six goals and seven assists on the season.
Senior Peyton Saracina added two goals to give her 11 on the year.
Adeline Smith chipped in big with a goal and three assists and Stella Brin also had a goal and an assist for the Centaurs.
Cross-Country
While some Woodstock Academy programs are having troubles finding games, two others have found it difficult to find meets against full teams.
The Centaurs boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams sport a 5-0 record this season but most of those victories have been of the 15-50 variety, meaning they come against teams who could not field the required five runners to score as a team.
Two of those meets came this week as the boys’ and girls’ teams recorded 15-50 victories over Tourtellotte at the West Thompson Dam Oct. 21 and against Windham Tech on the South Campus Oct. 24.
The meet with Windham Tech was run as one race with boys and girls competing at the same time.
Senior Ethan Aspiras finished first for the Centaurs in 18 minutes, 23 seconds to win the boys’ race. The Centaurs put the top five male runners across with Max Auker (20:38) and Hans Rhynhart (20:51) in second and third. Joel Koleszar was fourth and Andrew Thompson fifth.
The Centaurs girls equaled the boys, putting the first five runners across the line led by sophomore Brooke Bergevin in 21:12. She was followed by Linsey Arends (23:55) and Iris Bazinet (24:06). Carah Bruce and Tessa Brown rounded out the top five.
The girls put the first 10 runners in against the Tigers Oct. 21.
Bergevin led the way at the West Thompson Dam in 19:49 followed by Arends (22:33), Leah Castle (22:44), Avery Mowrey (22:47) and Bazinet (22:56).
Aspiras rolled past the field by over two minutes as he finished in 17:10, well ahead of Brayden Cutler of the Tigers.
Seamus Lippy, Thompson, Auker and Koleszar rounded out the top five for the Centaurs.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
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