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Winners

Rectory School's winning basketball team. Courtesy photo.

 

 

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Winners

The Rectory School ice hockey won its tournament. Courtesy photo.

 

 

POMFRET —  January was a good month for Rectory Athletics. The boys’ varsity basketball and the varsity ice hockey teams both won tournaments in their sports.

The basketball team travelled to New York City Jan. 19 to participate in the annual Boys’ Club of NY (BCNY) 2016 “Future Stars” Basketball Jamboree. Rectory competed against BCNY and Eaglebrook School, winning both matches and earning a spot in the playoffs. 

In the first round of the playoffs, the Rectory Wolves played Cardigan Mountain School. According to coach John Seaward, “The Wolves played a great defensive game and advanced to the championship game against Fessenden. It was a pleasure to see the hard work of each team member throughout the entire tournament on both ends of the court.”

With outstanding leadership from team captains Angelo Santiago, Rashid Woods, and CJ Robinson, Rectory was able to win the victory over Fessenden School and earned the tournament trophy. In addition to the tournament trophy, Santiago was presented with the All-Tournament Team Award, and Woods won the MVP Award.

Seaward said, “Rectory always enjoys participating in this tournament. All of these athletes understand that team spirit and good sportsmanship is just as important as 

bringing home a trophy. I couldn’t be prouder of these boys.”

In mid January the varsity hockey team travelled to Kennett Square, Penn., for the Upland Country Day School’s 42nd Annual Boys’ Invitational Hockey Tournament, and came away with the first-place trophy. Most of Rectory’s 15 players are from the tri-state (CT, MA, RI) area. 

One of the team’s captains, Zoe Wilcox of Pomfret said the Rectory team had made great improvements since the beginning of the season. “We knew we had a good chance of winning the tournament, and we spent the entire bus ride charging each other up,” said Wilcox, a ninth-grader who has participated in this tournament for the past three years. “Once we stepped on the ice, we were on fire! It was a great team effort, and I am proud of my teammates for playing with such passion and cohesion.”

“What made the biggest difference in our winning the close games was the players’ willingness the play unselfishly. Our top players were much better about passing and back checking than our opponents,” said coach Mike Healy. “This was a wonderful experience for our players, both on and off the ice; certainly a weekend they will remember for many years.”

This was Rectory’s 18th year competing in the longest running (consecutive-year) middle school tournament in the country.