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Roxanne Garceau

 

 

By Ron P. Coderre

This week’s RPC shoutout is sent along to Putnam resident Dan Salvas.  Affectionately known by his close friends as “Uncle Dan,” he spends his spare time at the Putnam Elks assisting with numerous charitable endeavors.

Jason Akana was small by athletic standards when he competed on the baseball diamond and soccer pitch at Tourtellotte Memorial High School but he proved that his desire and heart could carry him to great heights.  A 1991 graduate of Tourtellotte, Akana will be rewarded on Saturday, June 25 for all his hard work as a high school athlete 25 years ago.

Akana will be inducted into the Tourtellotte Athletic Hall of Fame in the Class of 2016.  A list of his accomplishments indicates that his selection is well deserved.  His heroics on the diamond for the Tigers and later on in college and professionally justify his selection.

As an infielder and pitcher for legendary coach Tom Auclair, Akana was a varsity performer in 1989, 1990 and 1991.  In his senior year he played in the Connecticut State baseball and soccer tournaments.  Playing in the Quinebaug Valley Conference Akana was named to the league all star team as a senior and junior, when he led the Tigers to the QVC title.

Following high school, the diminutive Akana played at Manchester Community College for one year before moving on to Worcester State University in 1994, 1995 and 1996.  As a Lancer Akana set records, some which are still in the record books today.  In his senior season he was crowned the National Batting Champion with an astronomical .514 batting average.  His career batting average at WSU was an unbelievable .396.  

Akana was rewarded for his heroics at WSU when his baseball number was retired.  While on the Worcester campus he also garnered the Bob Morten Top Hitter Award, team Most Valuable Player award and the 1996 Outstanding Athlete Award.  He was named to the MASCAC all-conference first team and All-New England third team.

He also enjoyed a successful three-year career playing for the TriTown American Legion Baseball Program.  He later spent some time playing professionally for the Meridian Brakemen of the Big South League.  He served as a coach in the Thompson Little League for eight seasons.

Unusual Hole-In-One 

Accomplishment…

A hole-in-one is generally considered as a lifetime achievement for most average golfers.  Low handicap golfers and professionals are known to have more than one ace in a golfing career.  A young female golfer from Woodstock recently accomplished a hole-in-one feat that is very, very rare even for the professional golfer.

Roxanne Garceau, a junior at Woodstock Academy, is enjoying an all star season for the 8-1-1 Lady Centaurs golf team.  The Academy plays its golf matches at Quinnatisset Country Club and the players spend days when they’re not in competition, practicing at the Thompson course.  During two practice rounds only 12 days apart, Garceau posted a hole-in-one during each round of play but there were many other unique aspects to her historic feat. 

Garceau’s first hole-in-one was recorded on Wednesday, April 20 on the par-3, 3rd hole which plays approximately 90 yards from the women’s tees.  She used her trusty pitching wedge for the ace, which was witnessed by Caroline Eaton, Rachel Byrne and Katherine Harrington.  The foursome was accompanied by coach Earl Semmelrock.

In another practice round on Monday, May 2, Garceau recorded the second hole-in-one on the same hole, with the same club while playing with the same players.  How’s that for coincidence?  According to Garceau, the only difference in her own words was, “The pin was in a different spot.”

As might be expected, despite the fact that she’s just a junior, Garceau’s been receiving many feelers, inquiries and offers from colleges.  She comes from a long line of very good golfers.  Her dad, Richard is the golf coach for the Woodstock Academy men’s golf team.  Her grandparents, Dick and Gale Garceau are accomplished golfers.  And as one reader reminded us when we wrote about Roxanne recently, her great grandfather, Lucien Garceau set the tone for the family when he was alive and on the links.

UConn Recruit has Local 

Connections…

UConn basketball coach Kevin Ollie and his staff have been busily at work on the recruiting trail and enjoying unusual success lately.  Locally the Huskies have Putnam Science Academy’s Mamadou Diarra securely in their dog pound.  Recently they announced the signing of Christian Vital, who spent the past two seasons at St. Thomas More in Oakdale.

In a little known fact, prior to attending STM, Vital played basketball in northeastern Connecticut.  According to longtime teacher/coach Brad Seaward of The Rectory School in Pomfret, Vital played basketball at Rectory in his 9th grade year.  

Seaward, who coached Vital at Rectory, notes tongue-in-cheek, “Guess I didn’t mess him up too much!”  Guess not, Brad.

‘Old Timer’ All Star Lineup…

The Putnam Lodge of Elks #574 held its annual “Old Timers Night” on Tuesday, May 10 at the Lodge on Edmond Street.  The event was attended by approximately 100 Elks, friends and dignitaries celebrating significant milestones in Elkdom.

Following greetings from Exalted Ruler John Normington and committee chairperson Lisa Morrissette members celebrating five-year anniversaries from 25-years through 60-years were individually honored.

RPC was fortunate to be seated at what was referred to as the “all star” table.  Seated at the table were three of the greatest athletes to wear the Putnam Clipper athletic uniform.  

On hand from Cape Cod was Matty Johnson, a star football player and one of the best place kickers in school history.  Johnson is retired from an illustrious career with the YMCA in Westport.  He was joined by former scatback Irvie Hattin, who currently lives in East Thompson and a great Clipper receiver and baseball player Paul Nelson.  

When the trio was at Putnam High School they were the Pomfret connection in the heyday of sports at PHS.

Honored to be seated at the table was Putnam girls’ basketball coach Mandy Hogan, St. Joseph’s School Principal Sharon Briere and mother of two Putnam girls’ basketball players Shannon Espinosa.  The table was rounded out by the Salvas brothers, Dan and Bill.

The conversation was very spirited with stories and questions coming from all angles.

On the Mend…

Putnam resident Cliff Aubin, who spends his winters in Avon Park, Fla., is recuperating from recent cardiac surgery in the Sunshine State.  During the summer months Aubin is a member of Quinnatisset Country Club.  His friends at Quinny are all pulling for his complete recovery.  

They report that five weeks prior to his surgery, Aubin recorded a hole-in-one while playing at his Florida home course, River Green.  

Aubin was a standout football and baseball player as a high school athlete at Killingly in the late ‘50s.  

He was a standout softball player for the Weiss’ Market and Deary Bros. championship softball teams.  RPC sends along get well wishes to good friend Cliff Aubin.

RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: “A well-adjusted man is one who can play golf as if it were a game.”

(If you have news worthy sports information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

 

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