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caption, page 2:
Celebration
Woodstock Academy Gold prep basketball coach Tony Bergeron celebrates his 400th career victory by serving up some commemorative cake at the Alumni Fieldhouse Jan. 17. Photo by Marc Allard
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Coach hits
400-win
milestone
Woodstock Academy Gold prep basketball coach Tony Bergeron knew it would happen this season.
He just couldn’t predict that it would happen this quickly.
Bergeron needed 24 wins to reach a personal milestone 400 career victories.
The Centaurs Gold prep team did so in just 24 games with an 83-66 win over St. Andrew’s School from Barrington, R.I., Jan. 17.
“I knew it was going to be a war. As soon as we figured out that the first chance we had at it was going to be a (St. Andrew’s) Mike Hart-coached team, I knew it was going to be a war. I’m super-excited about (the milestone). You would be lying if you said if you weren’t. Four hundred means you lasted a long time and longevity is part of this, too. I can’t believe that I needed 24 (wins) coming in and they did 24 straight- that’s crazy,” Bergeron said.
The Centaurs, Jan. 19, made it 25 straight with an 84-77 win over Worcester Academy at the BABC Tournament at Cathedral High School in Boston behind 24 Tre Williams’ points. They added a 26th win Jan. 20 at Springfield College when they downed Montverde Academy, 89-79, at the Hoophall Classic. Ronnie DeGray scored 27 points and Tre Mitchell added 26 points and 13 boards.
The personal milestone came in Bergeron’s 19th season as a head coach.
Bergeron began his coaching career at MacDuffie School in Granby, Mass., where he spent three seasons and posted a 53-32 mark.
He moved on to Wings Academy in the Bronx, N.Y., for four (96-23 record) before going over to the American Christian School in Acton, PA., for two years (54-17).
Bergeron then took a turn from the prep ranks to a high school.
He coached East Longmeadow, Mass., (48-41) for four years,
“You go where you go,” Bergeron said. “I’ve been led from one place to the next and I’m happy to say, it was my choice to be able to move on from every place I’ve ever been. Life’s twists-and-turns have directed me from one place to the next.”
Bergeron returned to the prep ranks at Commonwealth Academy in Springfield, Mass., for five years (90-45) before the offer came from Woodstock Academy last year.
His Centaurs finished 35-5 last season and with his 24 wins this year is now 59-5 as head coach of the Gold program.
“Getting 400 wins is a testament to Tony’s excellence, commitment and dedication to his craft,” said Woodstock Academy head of school Chris Sandford. “It’s an honor to have Tony coach at the Academy and follow the likes of Roy Hale (baseball and girls’ soccer) and (the late) Cecelia Ingraham (softball, volleyball, girls’ basketball, girls soccer, field hockey) who had hundreds of victories each.”
Bergeron had a special way to commemorate the milestone.
He reached out to others who helped get him to where he is.
“Every time I do get something like this, I pick up the phone and I call my previous athletic directors, my previous principals and I’ve been doing that all (last week). I told them I had a shot to get my 400th win and thanked them for the opportunity. I also reach out to former players, the ones I’m still in contact with and tell them ‘Thank you and I appreciate it,’ Any time these milestones come up, for me, it’s just a time of reflection. I get to enjoy some teams of the past, and, obviously, the team that you are coaching,” Bergeron said.
Point guard Noah Fernandes was happy he was among those who got to take part in the celebration.
“What I was thinking about when coach Bergeron talked about coach Hart getting his 500th win (earlier this season) and I know how rare it is to get those 100 wins. You don’t know what group is going to get him his 500th victory for him so it was just cool to get the 400th. Great atmosphere — one to remember for him,” Fernandes said.
Bergeron said he was happy that the win came against Hart as it gave him a chance to recognize the St. Andrew’s coach for his career milestone.
“This is not so much a celebration of ‘Look what I did’ because at the end of the day, I haven’t scored a point, got a rebound, assist or steal, nor could any of this happened on my own efforts or abilities,” Bergeron said.
Bergeron received a ball from Woodstock Academy to mark the occasion and he was also happy the milestone came with this current crop of Centaurs.
“This is a really special group,” Bergeron said. “To be able to share that with a group like this, I’m excited about that.”
Hart’s Saints did keep it closer than most this season.
The Centaurs nursed a five-point lead at halftime as a lot of shots didn’t fall.
That changed in the second half when Woodstock Academy put down 49 points, including eight 3-pointers, three of them by T.J. Weeks.
Weeks finished with a game-high 24 points.
“He’s been playing great in 2019, shooting it really well, hopefully that continues. If we keep getting production like that off the bench, we’re going to be tough to stop,” guard Noah Fernandes said.
Fernandes and Tre Williams each added 11 points in the win while Matt Cross tossed in 10.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
The Woodstock Academy
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