By Ron P. Coderre

This Week’s RPC column is dedicated to former Putnam High School athlete Alan Guertin.  As a Clipper he provided many exciting moments for the fans.  Today Guertin is a fan of Putnam High School and American Legion Baseball where he roots for the Clippers and TriTown teams.

The Killingly High School golf team had a championship spring season sweeping through the Eastern Connecticut Conference thanks primarily to the play of its top two players John and Drew Aitken, who play out of Connecticut National Golf Club.  Now that the schoolboy golf season has concluded, the twin brothers continue on the tournament circuit in individual competition.

On Monday, July 6 the Aitken brothers traveled to the Watertown Golf Club to compete in the Connecticut Junior Amateur.  Both brothers enjoyed success as they qualified to move on to the Round of 32.  John Aitken fired a one under par 71 on the par 72 layout in the qualifying round, while Drew Aitken finished at even par.  Jason Liu of Wintonbury Hills was the medalist with a three under par 68.

John Aitken enjoyed success as he moved all the way to the semifinals before losing to Connor O’Brien 7 and 6.  For Aitken, the Killingly High School senior to be, it was a great run.  He reached the semifinals by defeating Tim Rotermund of Madison Country Club 2 and 1 in the quarterfinals.  Andrew Sciarretta of Brooklawn Country Club was the eventual winner of the Connecticut Junior Amateur, besting O’Brien in the Final match 2 and 1.    

In the Round of 32 John Aitken bested Andrew Sanzaro of Ellington Ridge 2 and 1.  Drew Aitken moved on as he won by default over Jack Klingman of Wee Burn Country Club who had qualified with an opening round score of 76.

In the Round of 16 John Aitken got involved in a marathon match with Louis Gosart of Tashua Knolls Golf Club.  Aitken finally won the match on the 22nd hole of the grueling matchup.  Drew Aitken exited the tourney when he was edged 2 and 1 by Eric Ganshaw of Tamarack Country Club.

The Aitken brothers continue to bring northeastern Connecticut golf into the spotlight as they are in the mix of every tournament they enter.

Woodstock Softball Camp 

Huge Success

The Woodstock Academy softball coaching staff hosted its third Softball Camp under the direction of head coach Jason Gerum.  Approximately 20 players - 5th through 8th graders participated in the camp, which provided instruction in the fundamentals of the game.  The goal of the camp is to prepare the young ladies as they grow and get ready to compete at the travel ball or high school level.  Players attended from Little League programs from Woodstock Academy sending towns as well as from Dudley and Webster and Killingly and Thompson.

“It has been a great experience for all.  We now have WA softball players working the camp that are camp alumni, which is really special.  Parents and coaches are always welcome to come, watch and even pick up some things as far as instruction goes,” said Gerum.

According to Gerum the camp allows the staff the opportunity to give back to the youth in surrounding communities through the sport they love.  Proceeds from the camp go to the Woodstock Academy softball team to pay for items such as preseason training camp and senior day.  Gerum received administrative support from Pomfret resident Kelly Alves, Woodstock Academy’s Assistant Director of Admissions and Communications.

Former Athletes Surprise Coach

High school and youth coaches often never realize the positive impact they have on their players until many years after they’ve retired from the coaching ranks.  That’s the scenario that took place at 85 Main on Wednesday, July 1 when a large group of former Marianapolis male and female athletes surprised their former coach Jim Lucason with a gathering that will be embedded in their memories forever.

Lucason, an English teach and coach at Marianapolis Prep School in Thompson from 1974 to 1986, was feted at a gathering organized by one of his first standout athletes, Valentine Iamartino of Thompson.

“Jim Lucason had a positive impact on my life that helped me to become the person that I am today.  He was a man who gained the respect of all the students and athletes he worked with because he was able to develop our confidence in ways that made us believe in ourselves,” said Iamartino.

During his tenure at Marianapolis, Lucason served at various times as the coach of men’s and women’s basketball and soccer.  He was also the Golden Knights Director of Athletics while on the Thompson Hill campus.  Lucason concluded his teaching career in the Thompson school system.

Among the former students and athletes who were on hand to thank their former coach for his role in their lives were, Brian Bates, Aileen and Barry Murphy, Peter Mousseau, Chuck Bourgeois, Steve Lorkiewicz, Jason and Mary Ellen Jones, Christian Iamartino, Charlie King, Peter Nedzweckas, Lynn Quintal-Hill and Lisa Colangelo.

 

Lucason was also reunited with his former coaching friend John Farrington and his wife Paula, former teaching buddy Jay Kenney, and longtime friend Shirley Houle.  He also received a call during the evening from a former teacher and coach at Marianapolis, Rod Fitzgerald, who now resides in Texas. 

Father and Son Event 

at Connecticut National

Since the purchase of the former Putnam Country Club, now Connecticut National Golf Club, by Jim Dandeneau and Brad Rabitor about a decade ago, the scenic golfing venue located in the East Putnam section of Putnam is fast becoming recognized throughout Connecticut.  The layout, which is a visually stunning 18-hole course featuring tees for all levels of play, has attracted a number of State and area events.  It has served as the venue for the qualifier for the PGA Travelers Tournament as well as a number of top Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts Amateur events.

On Tuesday, July 14 CT National GC hosted the prestigious Connecticut State Golf Association 79th Father & Son Tournament.  Father and son golfers from throughout the State gathered for the right to claim this elusive title.  In the past the tournament was won by the Thompson father and son team of Dale and Matt Smith.

Kudos to CT National GC professional and course and facility manager Jim West for bring these events to the northeastern Connecticut corner of the State.  The facility, which boasts an extravagant dining venue, is open to wedding, reunions, golf outings and social events.

RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: “What we see depends mainly on what we look for.” John Lubbock

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