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Farewell
Woodstock Academy basketball postgrads gather for a final time at a recent farewell ceremony. Courtesy photo.
It didn’t seem all that long ago that Woodstock Academy postgraduate basketball coach Tony Bergeron was explaining the ground rules to his team gathered for a first time in the Center for the Arts on the South Campus in August.
April 10, it was a different kind of gathering in The Academy’s Commons.
“These things kind of bother me the most because it’s the time that you have to say good-bye to kids,” Bergeron said in his remarks at the postgraduate farewell ceremony. “You develop a relationship. High school coaches have a relationship, but let’s be honest, they only spend a couple of hours a day with a kid during the season. They don’t know them, they don’t really get to know who they are, they just don’t. It’s different when you are at a prep school. You’re certainly not anybody’s parent, but the parents are not there. They have entrusted you with their child.”
The postgraduate team gathered for a final time April 10, content in the knowledge that it successfully launched The Academy’s new program in a very positive direction.
The Centaurs Gold team finished with a 35-5 record, won the Power 5 Conference tournament championship and made it as far as the National Prep Semifinal game.
The Blue squad finished with a 22-11 mark and also captured the Power 5 Conference championship.
“There are just so many things that have happened positively for these kids. I took time during the year to let them know, ‘Thank you.’ I’ve been lucky enough, from where I come from, to get to a situation where I can wake up every day and worry about the two things I love; kids and basketball. I’ve been fortunate enough to provide a life for my family based on something I would probably do for free,” Bergeron said.
The biggest positive, of course, is players moving on to the next level.
April 10, three more officially announced that they would be doing so.
Point guard Joe Kasperzyk, from New Haven, made it official that he will be headed to Bryant University.
“I’m excited. Playing Division I basketball is something that I worked every day for,” Kasperzyk said. “Coming (to Woodstock Academy) developed me more for college, got my body right, and Coach (Bergeron) is a big influence.”
Kasperzyk said he really improved in his decision-making process on the court.
“Speed and vertical leap, those are off the charts. His competitive spirit is great. He committed himself to defense here and then we played him at the point which is something he didn’t do (at Hillhouse High School). What they prepared him for was to be a great scorer, he brought that to us, and then he played the point. I think Bryant liked the combination,” said Bergeron.
Gedi Juozapaitis, who hails from London, England, will leave what has been a very difficult winter at Woodstock Academy, weather-wise, for the warmer clime of Florida. Juozapaitis will attend Division II Flagler College in St. Augustine.
“He’s actually slightly above that level, but coming from London, England, he loved the weather. They wowed him and there is something to be said for being wanted and they wanted him the entire time. He goes in with the ability to play right away,” Bergeron said.
Juozapaitis said the constant contact was what made him decide that it was the place for him, plus, it’s a free college education.
The decision to attend Woodstock Academy for a year certainly paid dividends.
“In England, we have no exposure whatsoever. A coach here or there may come. Woodstock helped me as a basketball player. I’ve got more physical, bigger, stronger. I can shoot better. I’ve always been a good shooter, but I’m better because you are going up against D-I guys every single night. I’m forever grateful,” Juozapaitis said.
Homegrown product Sam Majek, from Brooklyn, came back to The Academy for a fifth year and will be leaving to play for UConn legend Jim Calhoun at the University of St. Joseph in West Hartford.
“Especially coming from Connecticut, everyone wants to play for coach Calhoun. I have opportunity to play for him at a new school, it’s awesome,” Majek said. “I love Woodstock. I had a good fifth year, a good senior year, I can’t complain. I love the school. I love the people here. I learned a ton of basketball, so many things that I didn’t know I didn’t know especially playing with the guys at the level they are.”
Bergeron said he loved Majek’s athleticism as soon as he saw him in camp.
“He’s going to be an impact player at the Division III level. A kid coming from the northeast part of Connecticut gets a chance to play for Jim Calhoun. I think they will do that any time they can,” Bergeron said. The three join a list of committed players including Elijah Buchanan (Manhattan); Jakigh Dottin (Towson University); E.J. Dambreville (Florida Southern); Chaylyn Martin (Sacred Heart); Ty Perry (Fordham); Dibaji Walker (Cleveland State); and Jemearil Wilson (LeHigh).
The job is not over yet. “We’re working very, very hard to get the last couple of kids into college,” Bergeron said. “They will always be my guys. I will always be there for them.”
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
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