By Ron P. Coderre

This week’s RPC shoutout is sent along to former Putnam resident Fred Touchette.  As a basketball player at Putnam High School, Touchette earned the nickname ‘Dr. Fred’ for the way he operated on the court.  Today Touchette enjoys some free time on the golf links with a smooth cigar when he’s away from his professional position in the insurance industry.

Killingly High School, which is a relative newcomer to the Athletic Hall of Fame business, recently announced the six new members who’ll join the 22 individuals already in the Hall.  The induction ceremony, scheduled to be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 26 at the Mansion at Bald Hill in Woodstock, will also feature the induction of three State title teams.

The six individuals include Dennis Morrison, William Hoss, Sam Markley, Missy Kowolenko-Angle, Ben LaBelle and the late Steve Kuszaj.  The three teams are the 1983 boys Class L State Championship outdoor track team, the 1991 Boys State Class M cross country team and the 1996 Class MM State championship football team.

Morrison, a 1970 graduate, is best remembered for his running exploits when he led the Eastern Connecticut Conference in scoring with 104 points and 17 touchdowns.  He was also a stalwart on the baseball diamond and in track for the Redmen.  After high school he starred on the Deary Bros. softball teams.

Hoss, who served as the principal of Killingly Memorial School for 17 years, was a three-year standout in baseball and basketball as a student at Killingly.  The 1949 graduate received All-State recognition in basketball as a senior.  His play on the baseball diamond earned him a scholarship to the University of Rhode Island.  He’s a veteran of the U.S. Navy.

Markley was a three-sport star for the Redmen excelling in football, basketball and baseball.  Following high school he graduated from Merrimack College in North Andover, Mass.  He returned to Killingly where he was successful in running the family automobile business, Markley Motors.  He dabbled briefly as a sports writer and is the author of two novels.

Kowolenko-Angle starred on the Killingly High School 1988 Class L girls’ basketball team.  She also played softball, track and tennis as a Redgal, winning the Class L discus championship in her junior and senior years.  She later went on to Eastern Connecticut State University where she played for the Lady Warriors basketball team, scoring 1429 career points.  In 2011 she was inducted in the school’s Hall of Fame.    

LaBelle led the Killingly football team to the 1996 Class M State title, rushing for more than 1,800 yards as a senior.  He also served as the captain of the Redmen wrestling team and also played baseball.  He went on to play football for four years at Western Connecticut State University and professionally in the Arena League football.

Kuszaj, who died in 2010, played four sports at Killingly, baseball, football, basketball and track.  He graduated from Killingly in 1948 after earning eight varsity letters.

Mount Washington or Bust…

Woodstock resident Tim Ahearn finished third in the recent Mount Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hill Climb.  Ahearn posted a time of 54:29 in the grueling event that is a 7.6-mile uphill climb.  He was two minutes 49 seconds behind the winner Eneas Freyre of Norwalk.

Welcome Neighbor…

Northeastern Connecticut resident Jim Kroll spends his winters in the sunny climes of Florida.  He recently met his next door neighbor who stopped by to say hello and welcome him to the neighborhood.  His neighbor is none other than Bill Parcells.  That’s correct, the Bill Parcells who has won Super Bowl championships with the New York Giants and Buffalo Bills.  He was also the successful coach of the New England Patriots, who lost to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXI.  By the way, a little known fact about Parcells is his given first name, Duane.

Kroll, who hits the golf ball from the left side, is one of the area’s top golfers.  Prior to his retirement he was the long time principal of Bartlett High School in Webster.

Fall Baseball Standout…

Mitchel Barylski, who is entering his sophomore year at Putnam High School, was recently selected to play for the prestigious Connecticut Fall College Select team.  Barylski, who is listed as a pitcher, 2nd baseman and catcher, is the lone northeastern Connecticut player on the team that is coached by Rick Manzo.

The goal of the Select program is to have players showcase their abilities in front of college coaches.  The team plays a 15-game fall schedule plus four weekend tournaments.

Barylski, who scales in a 5-feet, 8-inches and 150 pounds, played summer baseball for the TriTown American Legion Senior and Junior teams under coaches John Foucault and Shawn Bates.  He’s a member of the class of 2018 at Putnam High School.

Pool Sharks…

A quartet of pool players who dub themselves as “The Four Horsemen” recently enjoyed success in Connecticut State competition.  Zippy Boulet, Dan Moody, James Hebert and David Foisy captured the 2016 American Pool Association Masters Division Connecticut State Championship.

“The Four Horsemen” are galloping on their way to their next quest, the National Championships in Las Vegas.

Elks Golf Tourney…

The Putnam Lodge of Elks held its annual golf tournament on Saturday, August 6 at Harrisville Golf Course in Woodstock.  The Memorial Golf tournament in memory of the late Elk Roger Guertin was won by the foursome captained by Mark Hoyt.  The winners fired a score of 61, which was 11 under par.  They won on matching cards over second place team that was led by Bob Campbell.  Third place with a score of minus nine was the foursome led by Jon Trudeau.

The longest drive champion for the women was Tamara Mathis, while B. Moose won the men’s title.  With a name like B. Moose it was inevitable he would win the male competition.  Steve Gagnon organized the day and took care of scoring the event.  Lisa Morissette served as tourney photographer and Diane Robinson and Kim Simmons headed the volunteer crew.  Dinner was served ala Chef Buster Corey and Lee Konicki served as post-tournament awards banquet Master of Ceremonies. 

RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: “Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.”  Robert Brault

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