In an effort to assist high school senior soccer players whose recruitment has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, Putnam Science Academy’s athletic department announced that it will offer partial scholarships of $29,100 to any senior — boy or girl — who is not yet signed to play in college.
Because the pandemic has shut down the regular recruiting window this spring and into the summer, many soccer players will not have the opportunity to play in front of college coaches and could have their careers cut short upon high school graduation.
“As a soccer player seeking to take the next step to the collegiate level, the springtime is a crucial recruiting period,” said PSA Athletic Director Tom Espinosa. “Unfortunately, college coaches are unable to watch players live, and players are unable to play in front of those coaches. It is crucial that we do everything we can to help those players gain back the opportunity for exposure that they are losing right now.”
Putnam Science Academy’s soccer program only began in 2018, yet still placed four players from this past season’s roster into NCAA Division I programs. Two will play next year at Missouri State, which went undefeated in the regular season and advanced to the second round of the 2020 NCAA Tournament; the others will attend the University of Dayton and Gardner-Webb University. A handful of other players hold offers from Division I schools but as of yet are uncommitted. Still others will play at the Division II and junior college levels.
The Mustangs’ boys’ prep team went 8-2 in 2019; the varsity team finished 7-3-1. They were comprised of top-level players from around the globe, most notably from Sprain, Brazil, Italy, and South Africa. Of those players, two have caps with their Youth National Teams at the U19 age group in South Africa and Botswana.
Those players bring with them an elite level of talent that saw the program compete against former U19 USSF Developmental clubs, including Bethesda SC, Oakwood SC, Beachside SC, and MLS Youth Team DC United. In addition, the prep team, which will be coached by Ryan Dunnigan in 2020, played matches against perennial top programs Berkshire School, Northfield Mount Hermon, and South Kent School.
The girls’ prep team, coached by Jen Bennett, is also comprised of top-level talent from around the globe, and outscored its opponents 69-11 en route to a 7-1 record in its first season.
The partial scholarships are for any boarding students who successfully complete the school’s standard admissions process. More information on tuition and applying can be found at the school’s website, putnamscienceacademy.org. Please contact Director of Admissions John Seaward at
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
..
Save this list!
Like/follow the Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger on FB
The paper is also online at: www. putnamtowncrier.com — send your email address (for linking) to
Schools and “school meals”: Eastford Elementary — www.eastfordct.org; Pomfret Community School — www.pomfretcommunityschool.org; Putnam schools — www.putnam.k12.ct.us; Putnam Science Academy — www.putnamscienceacademy.org; Woodstock public schools — Woodstock Proud FB page; Woodstock Academy — www.woodstockacademy.org
Government: Pomfret — www.pomfretct.gov; Putnam — www.putnamct.us; Woodstock — www.woodstockct.gov; Eastford — www.eastfordct.org; Killingly — www.killingly.org; Thompson — www.thompsonct.org; Glocester www.glocesterri.org; Burrillville www.burrillville.org; State of Connecticut — https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus.
Health: Northeast District Department of Health — www.nddh.org/services/emergency-preparedness/coronavirus-disease-2019- covid-19; CT Dept. of Health — https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019- ncov/index.html
Media: Putnamtowncrier.com; Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger on FB (continually updated and wider “news net”); CTMirror.org; WINY Radio on FB.
..
Police dept.
warns of scams
The Putnam Police Department recently received multiple complaints of scammers claiming to be Putnam Police officers calling local residents and threatening them with arrest unless “fines” are paid. The scammers then attempt to have money sent to them in various ways including gift cards or by wire. The scammers have also “spoofed” the caller ID to show the Putnam Police Department’s phone number of 860-928-6565.
Additionally, the department has received calls from residents reporting that they have received telephone calls soliciting donations for and/or endorsed by the Putnam Police Department. Department officials said the department is not currently conducting any fund-raising campaigns, nor has it endorsed any other organization to raise funds on its behalf. The department said the Putnam Police Department or any legitimate law enforcement agency will never seek to collect fines or money this way.
If you receive a questionable call or believe you may have been contacted by a scammer, call the Putnam Police Department or your local police department to verify the validity of the call. Also never send money through the use of gift cards, wire or similar method as it is probably a scam.
..
caption, page 11:
Honored
Woodstock Academy prep basketball players, left to right: Michael Jefferson, Elijah Blackman, Cairo McCrory, Vondre Chase and Malikai Delgado were honored during Senior Night Feb. 19. Photo by Marc Allard.
It had been a long week for the Woodstock Academy Blue prep basketball team.
It came into the Feb. 19 game with Springfield Commonwealth Academy Red with three straight losses.
There was some sweat off the brow following the Centaurs 77-61 win over SCA.
“We needed this game badly for many different reasons but really just for the overall morale of the team,” said coach Denzel Washington. “We’ve had two tough games at West Point (N.Y.) against Air Force and Army (preps) so we had to come in and take care of things at home.”
Prior to the game, the Centaurs honored seniors Vondre Chase, Elijah Blackman, and Malikai Delgado for their efforts this season.
They battled evenly with SCA for the first 15 minutes of the game which was tied at 22 with 5:17 left in the first half.
But the Centaurs built some momentum going into halftime when Darryl MacKey broke the tie with a strong move to the basket to net two of his 14 first-half points.
That fast start by the Centaurs’ guard benefitted the team as a whole.
Mackey added two more layups and a pretty emphatic slam before the half and helped propel Woodstock Academy to a 35-26 advantage at the break.
The Centaurs built a double-digit halftime lead but, as happens more often than not, the expected run by Springfield Commonwealth occurred.
A 3-pointer by the visitors with 5:47 left cut the margin to three, 56-53.
The Centaurs took advantage of what given over the final five minutes-plus — free throws.
Woodstock Academy made 13-of-17 from the charity stripe over the final five minutes.
Nahshon Battle finished with 22 points to lead the team while MacKey contributed a double-double, adding 13 rebounds to the cause. Center Paul Hosey added 14 points.
Gold Team
The Woodstock Academy Gold prep basketball team lost its second game in a row Feb. 19.
It fell to the Springfield Commonwealth Academy Blue prep basketball team, 96-89 in a Power 5 Conference game.
But coach Jacque Rivera said his message to the team was one of stay the course.
“There is no need to panic,” Rivera said he told his team. “Just do what you know how to do. It’s not about anything else. You know you have to box out when a shot goes up. Do it. That’s what it is. If Tiger Woods doesn’t play his best game, he doesn’t panic. He goes back out and gets at it again the next day.”
Not that there isn’t room for improvement.
The Gold prep team never led in the game against SCA.
And that, more than the 15-point deficit the Centaurs had to battle in the second half, was the deciding factor in Rivera’s mind.
“Basketball is a game of matchups and runs. You see teams down with bigger deficits and come back to win. But the consistent slow starts we’re having — we can look for reasons like the 8 p.m. start or the Senior Night ceremonies — but the reality is that you can’t keep starting off that slow. Slow starts are for when people don’t know each other like back in November. We’re in February now,” Rivera said.
Prior to the game, the Centaurs honored Gold seniors Michael Jefferson and Cairo McCrory for their hard work this season in a Senior Night ceremony.
It didn’t add any early motivation.
The Centaurs gradually slipped back in the first half against Springfield.
The visitors scored eight of the first 11 points and that five-point deficit was the rule of thumb until just 1:16 was left in the half.
Woodstock Academy was 1-for-13 from the 3-point arc in the first half.
Quran McPherson (16 points) briefly interrupted the run with a free throw but two more from the charity stripe from Isaiah Richards put SCA up at the half, 43-30.
It was a 17-point lead for SCA, 61-44, when the Centaurs (24-6) finally made an attempt at a comeback. A 14-4 run brought the Centaurs back to a single-digit deficit. Ronnie DeGray sparked that run with eight of his 26 points.
The Centaurs, however, could not maintain the pressure.
Springfield Commonwealth regained a double-digit lead, getting back to a 16-point lead with 4:34 left.
“The end is near and we want to compete for a championship but the end is also near and the guys are starting to think about what the future holds. You’re physically here, but mentally, you have to stay with your body,” Rivera said.
Woodstock Academy did find the fortitude to rally one more time. Thanks to six more points from DeGray and four from Joe Moon (16 points), the Centaurs got it down to as little as four, 88-84, with 1:11 left.
Springfield Commonwealth shut the door by making eight of its last 10 free throws.
Despite the two losses, Rivera said the goals are still very much within the grasp of his team.
“I think we’re in the same place as we were in November; a team that can compete and win a National title. That is the Woodstock Academy way. I’m not just saying that, I think we have a real shot at it. When we’re clicking and sharing, we’re scary,” Rivera said.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
Woodstock Academy
..