By Ron P. Coderre

The Eastern Connecticut Conference recently released its Athletes of the Month for January 2015.  The award is presented by the Byrnes Agency Inc. of Dayville, Norwich and Woodstock.  

Allie Ablondi, Tourtellotte’s senior basketball standout, was selected as the female recipient.  Her selection was based on her performance during January when she led the Lady Tigers to a 7-2 mark, on their way to capturing the ECC Small Division regular season title.  Ablondi averaged 13 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals per contest during the month.  She twice recorded 21-point performances.  Noted for her long range shooting accuracy, Ablondi has 45 three-pointers on the season for Tourtellotte as they play in the CIAC Tournament.

Ablondi was recently named to the ECC Small Division All Star first team for the 2014-2015 season.  This is the second year in succession that she’s achieved this recognition.  Last year she was also recognized as an All-Norwich Bulletin selection.  In December she helped lead her team to the Championship of the Clipper Classic a feat that they also achieved the previous season, when Ablondi was named Classic MVP.  This season she was named to the All-Classic team.

Off the court Ablondi has a passion for horses.  In September she will be attending Central Maine Community College in Auburn, Maine, where she will continue her basketball career.

Jacob Raggon of Wheeler High School in North Stonington , a member of the Lions basketball team, was named the ECC Male Athlete of the Month.