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By Ron P. Coderre
This week’s RPC sporty shout out goes to a pair of great young ladies, Joan Nelson and Shirley Crawford. If you’re ever lacking for sports to talk about or just a real good laugh, look for Joan and Shirley at anyone of the local eateries. They say laughing is good for the soul, and these two live it.
When Woodstock Academy inducted Roland “Rollie” Sheldon in its first Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame class, the committee also inducted a female alumna who equally deserved recognition in the person of Lauren Anderson from the Class of 1963.
Anderson, who hails from Eastford and still lives there, was one of the most talented athletes to ever grace the Academy campus. In life she would rise to equal and surpass her accomplishments as a student-athlete. While at the Academy she excelled in softball and basketball. In her senior year she was recognized as the Outstanding Centaur Female Athlete honoree.
Following her graduation she pursued her dream of teaching physical education and coaching at Southern Connecticut State University. Immediately upon graduation she made an impact at North Haven High School where she was a PE teacher and coach of the women’s basketball and field hockey teams. She also initiated a women’s track and field program at North Haven.
During her tenure at the school she was honored three times as the Coach of the Year, was awarded recognition for her outstanding leadership in women’s sports and received a professional service award in physical education. In 1971 she received her Master’s degree. And in 1975 she became the first female Director of Athletic in Connecticut.
In 1978 Anderson moved from the high school level to the University of Rhode Island where she was to carve a niche that is unequalled on the Rhody campus even today. From 1977 through 1992 she served as women’s indoor and outdoor track coach for the Rams as well as coaching cross country, a program she initiated. She served URI as Associate Director of Athletics from 1999 to 2003, when she was promoted to senior associate director of Athletics until her retirement in 2008.
A pioneer in women’s athletics and an initiator and creator of women’s programs, Anderson received many honors during her 31 years in Kingston, R.I. She’s been inducted in five Halls of Fame, received three lifetime achievement awards, was named the Woman of the Year in 2001 and Administrator of the Year in 2005.
Following a 41-year career in education and athletics, Anderson is retired on the family homestead in Eastford. She remains in contact with Woodstock Academy.
Baseball Junkies Take Note…
The World Baseball Coaches’ Convention sponsored by the Mohegan Sun is celebrating its 10th Anniversary with another outstanding lineup of speakers and presenters again this year. The brainchild of Pete Walker, pitching coach of the Toronto Blue Jays, and his brother Andy, along with former Boston Red Sox catcher Roger LaFrancois, the convention has grown in numbers and notoriety every year since its inception.
This year’s program will feature Torey Lovullo, recently appointed bench coach of the Boston Red Sox, Jim Hickey, the highly respected pitching coach of the Tampa Bay Rays, and National College Champion coach Andy Lopez of the University of Arizona. In addition, local Major League players Rajai Davis of the Toronto Blue Jays and John McDonald of the Arizona Diamondbacks are scheduled to make appearances. There will also be a number of noted college coaches on hand. As usual there will be a large contingent of vendors in the conventional hall with the latest and safest in training equipment.
The Convention is scheduled Jan. 10, 11, and 12. For more information or to register go to www.BaseballCoachesClinic.com or call 860 674-1500.
Bowling to Good Health…
Putnam native Freddie Nelson is back at the lanes engaging in his favorite athletic pastime, bowling. Following treatment for cancer and battling a lifelong struggle with rheumatoid arthritis, Nelson is proud of the fact that he’s now able to regularly participate with his league team at Friendly Bowl.
Nelson, a Red Sox fan, and his wife the former Lucille Beausoleil, an ardent New York Yankee fan, get along just famously despite the fact they root for different teams. During the warm weather months, they are familiar figures around Putnam taking their daily stroll.
Sports Tidbits…
Scott Coderre, Nichols College soccer standout, has concluded his collegiate career as the second leading scorer in Bison history with 37 goals. He was recently named 2nd Team All-New England. Word around soccer circles is that he’ll attend some professional soccer camps in the hope of gaining recognition that could lead to playing beyond the college level … Graduates of the Marianapolis basketball program continue to shine on the collegiate hardwood. At Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Ike Azotam is the leader of coach Tom Moore’s 3-5 Bobcats. In a recent loss to the University of Vermont Azotam posted 13 points and nine rebounds, while his teammate and ex-Golden Knight Ousmane Drame chipped in nine points, five rebounds and four blocks … Meanwhile up north in Fitchburg, Mass., former MPS long-range bomber Tom Henneberry led 4-3 Fitchburg State University in a 78-75 loss at the hands of undefeated 10-0 WPI, as he posted 21 points …Former Killingly High School hoopster Shane Gibson has apparently regained his scoring touch. In a loss to Holy Cross, Gibson led the Sacred Heart Pioneers with 29 points.
RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: A whale swims all day, only eats fish, drinks water, and is fat.