By Ron P. Coderre

This week’s RPC shoutout is sent along to U.S. Coast Guard veteran John Turner.  Since separating from the military, Turner is part of the medical staff at Backus Hospital, where he works in the Emergency Department.

Jim Siekierski is noted in Southern New England for his involvement in golf as the operator of the Webster – Dudley Golf Course, formerly known as Nichols College Golf Course.  He’s also remembered as the club champion at Raceway Golf Course and as the 1991 Willimantic Amateur golf champion.

In a ceremony scheduled for Saturday, June 25 at Ryscavage Auditorium on the campus of Tourtellotte Memorial High School Siekierski will be inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in the Class of 2016.

Siekierski enters the Hall for his exploits as a basketball and baseball player while a student at Tourtellotte in 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971.  The versatile Siekierski was also a member of the school’s cross-country and soccer teams.  He earned eight varsity letters with the Tigers.

As a pitcher and infielder for legendary coach Tom Auclair, Siekierski starred on the diamond, ending his career with a batting average over .300.  He was named a Quinebaug Valley Conference all star as a sophomore, junior and senior.  The highlight of his high school pitching career came in his senior season when he threw a no-hitter in a game against Ellis Tech.

Siekierski was equally adept on the basketball court earning QVC all-star status as a senior and being recognized by the Worcester Telegram and Gazette.

Following graduation from Tourtellotte, Siekierski continued as a two-sport star at Nichols College, playing baseball for four years and basketball as a sophomore and senior.  He holds a number of baseball records for the Bison.  As a sophomore he registered a no-hitter.  As a senior he was honored by being named to Who’s Who in College Athletics.  In 2001 he was inducted in the Nichols College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Redmen One Stroke Shy At Wildcat…

Killingly High School golf coach Kevin Marcoux constantly reminds his golfers never to give up on a hole as every stroke counts when tabulating the final team scores.  His reminder could not have been more accurate than at the 44th Wildcat Invitational held recently at the Mohegan Sun Golf Club in Baltic.

The Redmen aiming to claim the championship in the 20-team event came up one stroke shy in their quest to capture the 18-hole tourney.  They were edged by Portland High School in the team event 336 to  337.  In the individual competition they fared somewhat better as senior Drew Aitken captured medalist honors, posting a four over par 76.  He beat Portland’s Nick Piersall by one stroke.  Aitken’s teammates, Connor Fillmore and Ben Lovrien tied for 9th with a score of 83.  Ryan Black of Woodstock Academy was also in the group tied for 9th. 

As a team, Killingly’s two golfers behind Aitken and Fillmore were John Aitken with an 84 and Connor Liebscher at 94.  Killingly’s second entry of Lovrien (83), Dylan Liebscher (89), Nolan Marcoux (101 ) and Tom Liebscher (105) finished in 11th place.  

Woodstock Academy with a team score of 366 placed a respectable 9th, paced by Black’s 83.  Other Woodstock finishers were Ben Harrington (86), Christian Bombara (96) and Jordan Lamothe (101).  The other local entry, Plainfield, posted a score of 459.

The female competition was a nine-hole individual match.  Woodstock Academy junior Roxanne Garceau won the crown by four strokes over her closest competitor Hannah Slocum of Norwich Free Academy.  Garceau posted a winning score of 50.  Rachel Byrne also of Woodstock finished 4th, while the Acads Eva Yu tied for 7th and Katherine Harrington tied for 9th.

In Portsmouth, Rhode Island at The Carnegie Abbey Club, Marianapolis men’s team finished 4th in the SENE Championship.  The Golden Knights Tyler Carlson carded a team best score of 78 in the 18-hole match.

Football Clinic…

The Assumption College Greyhounds football team fresh off a trip to the NCAA Division II Sweet-16 under head coach Bob Chesney is holding a one-day Hounds Football Clinic on Saturday, June 11 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Last season, Chesney in his fourth season at Assumption led the football Hounds to an 11-2 record and the Northeast-10 Conference championship.  The clinic will be held at the Assumption College state-of-the-art Multi-Sport Stadium.

The clinic is open to students entering grades 10-12.  It will focus on fundamentals and techniques for quarterbacks, wide receivers, running backs, tight ends, offensive line, defensive line, linebackers and defensive backs.  Registration is scheduled for 9 a.m. at the Laska Gymnasium adjacent to the Multi-Sport Stadium.

The fee is $75 per attendee, which includes a clinic tee shirt.  Participants are asked to bring their own helmet and water.  Quarterbacks should bring their own football.  The day will feature an introduction by Coach Chesney, as well as offensive and defensive drills, one-on-one and 7-on-7 sessions and other situations and techniques.    

For more information or to register call Assumption College Athletics 508.767.7279 or visit social media on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Killingly Coach Steps Down…

Mark Lowell, who guided the basketball fortunes of the Killingly High School girls’ team for the past five years, announced his resignation from the position on Wednesday, May 18.  Last season, Lowell led the team to one of its best seasons in years, when the Redgals posted a 9-13 record.

Lowell informed Killingly athletic director Gene Blain of his decision, indicating that he’ll pursue a new career path.  He’s a criminal justice major and hopes to return to his original career path in law enforcement.

RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: You go this way in life only once – don’t waste the trip.

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