Fund-raiser Feb. 29

CRANSTON, R.I. --- Feb. 29 TheMattAlsfeldMemorialFundwill host its 1stAnnual MasqueradeBallatRhodesonthePawtuxet.Thecommunityisinvitedtohelp“Unmask the Stigma” ofteensuicideandraise fundsforprevention educationinRI HighSchools.

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Centaurs gymnasts get a well-timed break

In this case, the schedule works in the favor of the Woodstock Academy gymnastics team.

The Centaurs, after scoring victories over the Killingly/Putnam/Tourtellotte cooperative program and Ellington early last week, have a couple of weeks off before their next meet on Jan. 27.

“It’s very good,” said Woodstock Academy coach Kasey Tocchio said. “I’m really excited that we get to plan out the six practices in between and really get some needed teamwork and team assignments done that we need to get done.”

The Centaurs bounced back from their very unusual loss at Stonington the week before with a 137.25 total to down the Killingly cooperative (122) and Ellington (118.6) at Deary’s Gymnastics in Danielson.

The two wins raised the Centaurs overall record to 6-1.

They are currently 2-1 in the ECC.

“It was nice to be home. There are still a lot of improvements that we can make as a team. I think the team is starting to believe in what we can do this season. We just have to put it all together,” Tocchio said.

Freshman Taylor Markley led the Centaurs with a 37.1 All-Around total.

She finished with a 9.65 in the vault, 9.3 on floor, 9.25 on the bars and an 8.9 on the beam.

“Aside from a fall on the beam, Taylor had a great meet everywhere else. She’s starting to shine and show everyone what she can do,” Tocchio said.

Jenna Davidson added a 35.05 total to finish second to Markley in the All-Around.

The senior only had one score above 9.0; a 9.1 in the vault.

Senior Emily Arters added a 32.95.

Her best was a 9.0 on the floor.

Sophomore Lindsey Gillies finished with a 31.85.

Her best was an 8.4 in the vault.

Tocchio said the score masks the fact that there were plenty of correctable errors committed by Woodstock Academy.

“Staying on the beam is always a good thing,” Tocchio said with a laugh when asked where improvements could come from. “We haven’t had a consistent beam lineup. Floor was way better so that was exciting to see but we have improvements that we could make in every event.”

The Centaurs will have time to work on those.

But when they do return on the 27th to host Norwich Free Academy and Fitch, there will only be three regular season meets left before the ECC championship at Deary’s Gymnastics on Feb. 10.

“It’s crazy how fast it goes,” Tocchio said. “But the way the schedule is set up, with being able to reflect on the beginning of the season and now have time to practice and come together as a team; the end of the season should look bright.”

Marc Allard

Director of Sports Information

The Woodstock Academy

POMFRET --- Pomfret School will present Steven Johnson as the 2020 Schwartz Visiting Fellow. He is the author of 11 books, including “Farsighted,” “Wonderland,” “Where Good Ideas Come From,” and “The Ghost Map.” He is also the host of the PBS series “How We Got To Now” and the podcast “American Innovations.”

Johnson is scheduled to visit the Pomfret campus Jan. 23 and 24. During his two-day stay, he is expected to share his unique perspective on the intersection of science, technology and personal experience with students, faculty, and the community.

Jan. 24 Johnson will deliver a public lecture in Hard Auditorium on the Pomfret campus at 7 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. A book signing will follow.

“We are very excited to have someone of his stature and talent visit Pomfret,” said Librarian David Ring, who is coordinating the visit with Assistant Librarian Beth Jacquet. “It is a wonderful opportunity for students and faculty alike.”

A popular science author and media theorist, Johnson’s writings have influenced everything from the way political campaigns use the internet, to cutting-edge ideas in urban planning, to the battle against 21st-century terrorism. On social media, he has an enormous following — 2.1 million followers on Twitter alone. And his TED Talk, “Where Good Ideas Come From,” has been viewed nearly 5 million times.

In his newest book, Farsighted, he draws on lessons from cognitive science, military strategy, and literature to examine how people make some of life’s most important decisions, ultimately asking if there is a way to make them more effectively. Spoiler: The answer is yes.

For many years, Johnson was a distinguished writer in residence at New York University’s Journalism School. Newsweek has called him one of the “Fifty People Who Matter Most on the Internet.” In 2009, he won a Newhouse School Mirror Award for his 2009 TIME magazine cover article, “How Twitter Will Change the Way We Live.”

Since 1989, world renowned experts have visited Pomfret School under the auspices of the Schwartz Visiting Fellow Program. This speaker series is the result of the vision and generosity of Michael Schwartz ’66 and Eric Schwartz ’69. Past fellows include playwright Cheryl West, marine archaeologist Robert Ballard, author Frank McCourt, and historian David McCullough, among many others.