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Ribbon Cutting
Woodstock Academy students Maryanna Leonard and Cameron Wilcox, holding ribbons, help students Allison Rich and John Vangel and Superintendent/Headmaster Kim Caron cut the ribbon at the dedication of the new Bentley Athletic Complex projects. Linda Lemmon photo.
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
WOODSTOCK --- Woodstock Academy's homecoming Sept. 22 provided the perfect backdrop for the official dedication of the Bentley Athletic Complex.
Superintendent and Headmaster Kim Caron commented on the "Commitment of the entire community to see this through." The entire athletic complex project, from the purchase of the land forward, has been more than 10 years in the making. The additions to the complex, which began in June 2011, also point to a solid athletic program as part of a good education. He thanked the entire Woodstock Academy community, as well as the Woodstock community, Woodstock officials and more. "Thanks for seeing this through to fruition," he said.
Christine Swenson, head of the academy's Board of Trustees, also thanked those who helped. Standing on the new artificial turf surface on the football field, she noted the green grass "with a little bit of blue and gold" in it. Bottom line, the project "is for the kids."
"This will enhance the athletic program and will benefit Woodstock Academy for years to come," she added.
The $2.4 million project included a multi-purpose field for soccer, lacrosse, football and a varsity baseball field with an expanded outfield that will allow for sub-varsity levels of the previously mentioned sports. Funding for the project came from a low-interest, long-term loan through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Division.
State Representative Michael Alberts noted that in tough economic times like these "seeing what has happened here is amazing." He called the fields a testament to the vision and hard work of all involved. He also thanked the academy's Board of Trustees for their leadership in making the fields available to the public.
Robert Blackmer, chairman of the Woodstock Academy building and grounds committee remembered when he was a student athlete at the academy in the mid-1970s. The academy's baseball team certainly had a home field advantage, he said, because all home games were played on the common. Local players knew which trees would put a crimp in a player's throw. Visiting players did not. The complex is for those who matter most, he said, our students.
Edwin Higgins, a key supporter of the academy and athletics at the academy, said, "In the end, this is all truly a testament to present and future student athletes, and parents." The important lessons of life are taught on the athletic fields. "Life seems to offer more losses than wins," he said. Sports teach students to deal with those losses.