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By Ron P. Coderre
This week’s RPC sporty hello goes out to Bill Zamagni Jr. of Putnam. A former quarterback and infielder for the Putnam Clippers, Zamagni’s current sports endeavors are long brisk walks and early morning rounds of golf.
In 2001 Putnam Science Academy moved into Putnam, occupying the former Putnam Catholic Academy. The presence of the students, who were primarily from Turkey or of Turkish descent created curiosity among the people of Putnam. Gradually over the past decade the school has become an integral part of the community.
One of the areas that helped to bring the community together with the school was sports. It seems that in many instances, even on an international level, sports appear to be the venue that most often unites individuals of diverse cultures.
One of the school’s first staff hires was bringing on Putnam native Tom Espinosa as the director of athletics. Espinosa was the perfect ingredient with his knowledge of athletics, administrative skills and his ability to work with young people, including those who were in Putnam from a country about 12 hours away even in the fastest jet.
In 2006, Espinosa established his first varsity sport when he put a neophyte basketball team on the court. In a brief period of slightly more than five years his Mustangs have become one of the area’s, if not New England’s, top programs.
Under the watchful eye of Espinosa and with the support of the administration Putnam Science Academy has added a variety of sports offerings for its students. The school now boasts a competitive soccer program and an emerging cross country team. While basketball occupies the student body’s attention, there are also a number of spring sports offerings. Baseball, track, tennis and golf have been added to the offerings. Although participation in a team sport isn’t mandatory it is strongly encouraged by the school’s administration.
The popularity of the school is spreading its tentacles to members of Putnam’s sports community. A group of individuals has come together and formed a Mustang Booster Club, with the goal of supporting all the athletes at PSA. The original committee is made up of former Putnam High School athletes, Josh Scraba, Eric Mauer, Romeo Blackmar and Jim Logsdon along with PSA staff member Steve Phillips. Espinosa serves as the committee’s primary contact with the school and its administration.
The group’s initial venture into raising funds for the student athletes is through advertising in the soon to be published Mustang basketball yearbook. Proceeds of the ads will support the teams in their travels to out of area and out of state overnight contests.
Thanks to a growing number of fans and supporters the Putnam Science Academy Mustang sports programs are creating a stir and excitement in Putnam and surrounding communities.
Four-Sports Female
Star Enshrined…
In the early to mid 1980s Tourtellotte Memorial High School boasted a quietly confident female athlete who was so dominant the she was selected as a conference all-star 11 of the 12 opportunities that came her way. Maggie Stoll starred in soccer, basketball and softball and also found time to compete in track for the Lady Tigers, when the softball team had a day off.
Stoll garnered soccer Most Valuable Player Awards her last three years and was selected a Quinebaug Valley Conference all star four consecutive years. She duplicated those team honors in basketball and was a QVC All Star three years. Stoll was recognized statewide with All State Honorable Mention in her sophomore, junior and senior seasons. She was the first female, and possibly the only one, to score 1000 points in Tourtellotte women’s hoop history.
She dominated the softball diamond locally and in the QVC during her high school years and in 1985 turned to track where she was a natural. She was named the QVC Most Valuable Player in 1985 and captured the very trying pentathlon, winning four of five events. She was a track natural, following in the footsteps of her mother, Connie Stoll, who in her day in New York was a star athlete and gained Olympic recognition.
Stoll, who was a polite and courteous athlete, let her skills on the court, track or field do her talking. Never boastful, she just went about her business, which it turned out, was being a winner. Her success was recognized by the media when she was selected for the all sports teams by the Norwich Bulletin, WINY Radio and Journal Transcript.
Following her high school graduation, Stoll moved on to Eastern Connecticut State University where she was a member of the basketball team, although gimpy knees never allowed her to showcase her talents as she did in high school. Stoll was enshrined in the Tourtellotte Memorial High School Athletic Hall of Fame in the Class of 2011.
Wonderings and Wanderings…
Just thinking out loud while waiting for Killingly High School and Woodstock Academy football teams to post a victory in the W column and for John Wilbur and Stu Neal to give the score more often of the game they’re airing on WINY Sports.
* Just wondering why we drive on parkways and park in driveways?
* Just wondering why we call them pain pills, when their target is to relieve pain?
* Just wondering why college and professional football players don’t know how to act when they cross the goal line? Maybe there should be a course for that, as there is for college seniors on etiquette when dining out. Can you believe that? Thanks Joe Castigleone.
* Just wondering why there are so many bad hops in Major League baseball games, when these high paid players perform on the best manicured fields in the history of the game?
* Just wondering why the Major League umpires working the final game of the Yankees/Orioles ALCS missed Nate McClouth’s shot skimming off the right field foul pole? It should have been a four bagger in my humble estimation.
One Last Thing Worth
Mentioning…
Mark your calendars for the official recognition of Veteran’s Day, Nov. 12. On that evening at Someplace Special Restaurant in the heart of downtown Putnam, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. American Legion Post #13 is sponsoring its 3rd Annual Celebrity Bartender Night.
According to Commander Walter LaRochelle and organizing committee members Barney Seney, Rick Carnahan, Alan Joslin and Donald Steinbrick, the Post has lined up local guest bartenders, Gary “O” of WINY fame, Tom Borner, president of Putnam Bank and his noted son-in-law Jeff Bousquet of Bousquet’s Appliance. Mike O’Garry of FM-98.5, as well as former Red Sox catcher Roger LaFrancois, will also be on hand to pour the libations.
Shortly more celebrity names will be announced according to LaRochelle. There will also be great raffle prizes as well as some tremendous memorabilia items and tickets to be auctioned off. And of course, the Post will honor a veteran, whose name is being withheld at this time, and will be made public prior to the event.
The evening is free and all tips will go to the Post in support of its youth activities as well as fulfillment of its pledge to the “Home At Last” campaign.
RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: Choose being kind over being right and you’ll be right every time.