- Details
- Category: Current Issue
Former Woodstock Academy standout golfer Roxanne Garceau received an email from the Central Connecticut State University athletic department on Jan. 22.
It simply stated that the men’s and women’s golf teams had to attend a meeting with the president and athletic director of the university.
There had been rumors earlier in the year, according to Roxanne’s father and Woodstock Academy boys’ golf coach, Rich Garceau, that changes were coming to the athletic programs at CCSU.
But as time went on, it became less of a concern.
“It was largely implied that whatever financial difficulties (the university was in were settled and it was moving forward,” Rich Garceau said.
Then while sitting in his Woodstock Academy classroom, he received a text from the CCSU women’s golf coach Jackie Beck and he learned what the athletes had just learned: The men’s and women’s golf programs at the New Britain institution were being cancelled following this season. The school also is eliminating 35 ½ athletic scholarships to save $2 million.
“It was a gut punch,” Rich Garceau said. “It hit hard.”
Roxanne Garceau was not the only local athlete affected by the decision.
The Aitken twins from Killingly, John and Drew, had also been part of the CCSU golf program.
Drew played for the Blue Devils last year, but withdrew from the school in January.
John is still enrolled.
He red-shirted his freshman year and is fighting to make the team’s lineup this season.
Both John and Roxanne received partial scholarships from the school.
“It was a rough week for all of us, but it’s getting better. We’ve been trying to talk to other coaches and accepting the fact that we’re not going to be here next year,” Roxanne said.
There are six members of the women’s golf team at CCSU.
Two of them are seniors.
The other four, like Roxanne Garceau, are freshmen.
She said there was plenty of shock to go around. She agreed with her father that changes were anticipated, but nothing so drastic.
The team will be able to honor its schedule this season.
“We’ve all got to be great friends. For the senior’s sake, for everyone’s sake and for coach’s sake, we want to go out with a bang. We want to have a really awesome season just to show that we’re supposed to be here. It’s going to be bittersweet, but we’re looking forward to it,” Roxanne said.
Now, it’s back to what she was doing last year at this time; looking for a college.
“That’s what I said to some of my teammates, I just did this last year and now, I’m doing it again. Trying to get recruited, looking at schools, making all the phone calls, and doing everything that I didn’t think I would have to worry about any more,” Roxanne said.
Roxanne said Beck has already assured the freshmen that she would do everything she could to find them a new home.
Roxanne has already begun discussions with other schools.
“The first thing I thought of was the girls on the team. The four freshmen have really bonded, lived together, and have become like sisters. Just the thought of them going their separate ways, as a Dad, crushed me,” Rich Garceau said.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director