By Ron P. Coderre

This week’s RPC shoutout is sent along to Blake Wolanin of Pomfret who is a credit to his family, community and church.  Enjoy the column, Blake and best wishes for continued success as you move through life.

Assumption College, which has been in existence since 1904, inducted one of its most prominent Athletic Hall of Fame classes on Friday, November 6.  The event that took place on the scenic sprawling campus at the Hagan Center featured inductees Justin Cecil ’96, Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Chris Collabello ’05, John Driscoll ’67, Lauren Matysiak ’08 and former Director of Athletics Rita Castagna.

Collabello, who batted .321 for the Jays this past season, was a three-time Northeast-10 All-Conference performer and two-time All-Region selection while playing for the Greyhounds.  During his introduction, Collabello who is the first player in the Assumption College history to appear in a Major League baseball game, was cited for his “perseverance” as a player.  He toiled 10 year in the Independent League prior to appearing in his first big league game with the Minnesota Twins in 2013.

Driscoll, who was a rebounding force for the great Assumption teams of the late ‘60s, was a four-year starter.  During his time on the court his teams compiled an impressive 70-19 record under legendary coach Andy Laska.  The Gardner, Mass., native tallied 645 points during his four years at Assumption.  On hand with Driscoll for the ceremony was his wife Kathy and longtime Gardner sports writer Omer Cormier a 1952 grad of Assumption.

In his remarks, Dricoll said, “I had the honor and privilege of playing for two of the greatest coaches ever, Andy Laska and the late Joe O’Brien.”  

Castagna also thanked Laska for the opportunity he gave her to be the first women’s coach and first female AD at Assumption, where she succeeded Laska.  Her presentation was preceded by a taped congratulatory message from Brian Kelly, football coach at Notre Dame.  Kelly, who graduated from Assumption in 1983, was originally hired as a coach at Assumption by Castagna.

In the history of the Assumption College Athletic s Hall of Fame, which dates back to 1966 there have been six athletes with ties to northeastern Connecticut who have been inducted.  The first was former Day Kimball Hospital physician the late Dr. Gerard Chartier ’29 of Danielson and the most recent was Atty. Michael Blanchard originally from Jewett City.  Blanchard who was a baseball player for the Hounds was inducted in 2002.

Between Chartier and Blanchard was the late Dr. Pierre B. Aucoin ‘25 who was originally from North Grosvenordale who was inducted in 1970.  The late Nazarice “Spud” Dupre ’28 was inducted in 1968.  He was a baseball and basketball player who also coached at Putnam High School.  In later life he was a professor at Sacred Heart University.  In 1992 Dr. Richard Ouellette ’78 was inducted for his exploits in track and cross country where he was a National Division II standout.  Scott Tetreault, one of the best linebackers and tight ends in the history Assumption College was inducted in 1998.

Soccer Stars

It’s the time of year when the Eastern Connecticut Conference names it all star selections.  We’ll begin with the soccer boys and girls booters who have had outstanding seasons.

Killingly High School placed two players on the Medium Division First team.  Named were forward Sean Guerin and defender Brendan Turner.  The M Division Sportsmanship Award winners were Parker Brassard (Killingly) and Matt Larned (Plainfield).  In the Small Division Tourtellotte placed Spencer Fulone on the First Team, while his teammates Alex Angelo and Furu Sherpa were Honorable Mention selections.

In the Large Division Woodstock Academy placed a trio of players in the Honorable Mention category.  Named were Jake Delashmutt, Ethan Holcomb and Jeff Mathieu.  Cal Wilcox was the Sportsmanship winner.  Brooklynn Saracina of Woodstock was chosen as a First Team Large Division defender.  Centaurs Kennedy Davignon and Ivy Gelhaus were Honorable Mention winners, while Regan Stuyniski received the Sportsmanship Award.

Killingly’s female goaltender Jaime Jax and forward Payton Fitzgerald were M Division First Team selections.   Plainfield’s Abby Burdick (midfielder) and Morgan Savageau (defender) were also First Team selections.  Natalie Hawes and Olivia Shabenas of Killingly and Shannon Sweeney and Julie Jordan of Plainfield all received Honorable Mention awards.  The sportsmanship selectees were Breanna Green (Killingly) and Avarie Manfredi (Plainfield).

In the Small Division, Tourtellotte had three First Team picks.  Named were Abby Poirier (forward), Maegan Roy (midfielder) and Elizabeth Jourdan (defender).  Christina Kopacz walked off with Honorable Mention and Sportsmanship Awards.  

More Shining Stars

The Eastern Connecticut Conference recently named its all star performers in Boys and Girls Cross Country and Volleyball for the recently concluded fall season.  A number of student-athletes representing Woodstock Academy, Killingly High School and Plainfield were named on all teams.

In volleyball Jacqueline Low of Woodstock was named to the Large Division First Team.  Her teammate Amanda Haines was an Honorable Mention selection, while Leeann Rauls was the Sportsmanship Award winner.  In the Medium Division Ally Conde of Killingly was a First Team selection, while two of her fellow performers Cara Mayhew and Karissa Slowik received Honorable Mention recognition.  Lexie Lamontagne won the Sportsmanship Award.  The Small Division saw Plainfield’s Natalia Rickey receive First Team honors.  Reece Griffin was named Honorable Mention and Hailey Grimshaw was the Sportsmanship recipient.

In the boys cross country category Woodstock’s Zoran Haines was an Honorable Mention selection in the Large Division.  Killingly placed two runners, Ryan French and Joe Santese on the Medium Division First Team.

Woodstock Academy female runners Hannah Matsas and Sylvia Lawrence received First Team honors in the Large Division.  Kaitlyn Stevens of Killingly was a First Team selection in the Medium Division as were Plainfield runners Brooke Brouillard and Cassandra Miller.

CIAC Playoff Projections

In week 8 of the high school football season, Killingly High School is the only local team with a realistic opportunity of making the CIAC Playoffs.  The Redmen are 7-1 with two games remaining in the 2015 season. 

Currently Killingly is ranked second in the Class M standings.  They have games remaining on Friday the 13th at home against Montville and Thanksgiving morning against the Quinebaug Valley Pride in Danielson.   The way the Redmen are playing, it’s conceivable they could conclude the season at 9-1, which appears to assure them of a spot in the top eight teams necessary to qualify.

This is one of the best Killingly teams in many years.  Coach Chad Neal has done a great job in restoring their confidence following the team’s opening loss to Griswold.

The Redmen sit in second place 1.43 points behind another Eastern Connecticut Conference team, Ledyard.  The only other team in Class M from the ECC with an opportunity for the postseason is the Bacon Academy Bobcats, who are in fourth place.  Killingly does not play Ledyard this year and disposed of Bacon quite handily in the fourth week of the season.  All three teams have identical 7-1 records.

Running Back Frenzy

Amidst all the hoopla of high school football two northeastern Connecticut running backs are proving to be among the best in all of Eastern Connecticut.  Despite being held to 51 yards in a victory over Fitch, Killingly’s Austin Caffrey leads the area in rushing with 1,385 in eight games.

Jeremee Perez of the Quinebaug Valley Pride with a 212-yard performance against Vinal Tech/East Hampton/Goodwin Tech is approaching the 1,000-yard plateau.  After eight games Perez has 902 yards.

RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: There are no menial jobs, only menial attitudes.

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