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LaMontagne
takes over
boys’ track
program
It’s the hat that gives away Gerry LaMontagne.
And it’s becoming a familiar feature on the Woodstock Academy school grounds.
LaMontagne coached the girls’ field hockey program this past fall and is now the head coach of the Centaurs boys’ track program after Peter Lusa retired from the post recently.
“It’s getting to be a habit,” LaMontagne said with a laugh of his second head coach responsibility. “When Pete retired, he mentioned to me that I should give it some thought and both coach (Josh) Welch and Joe Banas (girls’ track coaches) thought I would be a good fit for it. I’ve been here the last three years (as an assistant), so I figured I would step in and give it a little continuity. Honestly, from a practice standpoint, it doesn’t change a lot for the kids.”
LaMontagne will continue to coach the field events, especially the throwers, while Welch and Banas focus on the track events.
“(LaMontagne) is really willing to learn all of the events and tries his best to give corrections even though he specializes in throws. He has paid extra attention to me in the pole vault which really means a lot to me as an athlete,” senior Liam Wilcox said.
LaMontagne’s boys’ team will be one of the biggest groups he has seen in his tenure with the Centaurs as the number stood at 45 recently.
“I’m shocked at the number of throwers I have to work with this year. We have a nice crop of freshmen coming in,” LaMontagne said.
The Centaurs did lose 10 athletes from a year ago including a couple of school record holders in LaMontagne’s son, Keenan, and Ian Hoffman.
But LaMontagne feels more records could fall this season.
“Jared (Eaton) has a good chance of setting the school record in the shotput. Christian (Menounos) may have a chance at two records, the 3200-meter, and I think he has his eye on the 800-meter record as well. Colton Sallum has a shot at breaking the 1600-meter mark and keep your eye on Braedon Emerson in the 200,” LaMontagne said.
Eaton was happy to see all the throwers come out for the team.
In addition to himself, junior Austin Adams and sophomores Aidan Brailsford and Mike Susi will throw for varsity.
There are 10 others who will compete on the JV level to start.
“It’s great to have people. In indoor track, there was only five people who were committed. We have, like 15, it’s just amazing,” Eaton said.
Eaton made Nationals in the shotput in indoor track this past winter.
“I had been working all summer for it and even before the season. It felt amazing,” Eaton said.
Now his intention is to leave Woodstock Academy with his name next to a school record.
“That’s my main goal,” Eaton said. “I need six more inches and I will feel incomplete if I don’t hit it.”
Eaton has thrown the shot 52-feet, he desperately wants 52-6. “I’m ready,” he said with a smile.
Wilcox, meanwhile, takes over for Hoffman as the leader in the pole vault.
“Liam was having a pretty darn good indoor season but, unfortunately, he broke his pole at a tough time for him and had to adjust to a new pole on short notice and wasn’t able to pull it off like he wanted. Now, he has the time, especially with a later start, it’s an advantage,” LaMontagne said.
Menounos will have plenty of friends running in the middle and long distance.
Seniors Vincente Bastura and Owen Tracy return for their final season, junior Joel Koleszar, and sophomore Sallum will all compete in the middle and distance events.
Seniors Ethan Brierley, Rocco Corrado, Emerson, Jayden Meier and Carter Saracina will handle the sprint duties.
Wilcox will be joined in the pole vault by Corrado while Wilcox will also compete in hurdles and high jump. Other jumps competitors include senior Mateusz Chojnicki and sophomore Aidan Kane.
“The strengths of the team will be throws led by Jared and then the middle and distance runners. That’s where will get most of our points,” LaMontagne said.
The Centaurs do compete in Division I of the Eastern Connecticut Conference against much larger programs such as Norwich Free Academy, Fitch and East Lyme.
“Track is a numbers game,” LaMontagne said,” so it’s a tough one. I think if we can kind of hold serve with what we have achieved in the past. It’s tough to compete with East Lyme and Fitch because of their numbers. On a good day, we have guys who can win events, score points, and if some of the freshmen come along and steal some points, maybe we win a meet against a team like NFA.”
The Centaurs still have plenty of practice before their first meet.
While some ECC teams had a meet this past week, the season opener for Woodstock is not until April 19 at East Lyme.
That meant the team had about a month’s worth of practice before a meet.
For some, that’s OK.
“We hit the gym about twice a week because it’s harder in outdoor. We have been just working as hard as we can so we can be ready going into that first meet,” Eaton said.
Wilcox was not as hyped about it.
“It’s difficult,” Wilcox admitted. “Having the mindset that you have to do track for a whole month before your first competition. It’s definitely good for preparation so that by the time we do compete, we will be at our best.”
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
captions inside:
Ready for Track
Woodstock Academy senior Jared Eaton, left, will be a standout thrower while fellow senior Liam Wilcox should garner points in both the pole vault and hurdle events.
The Woodstock Academy boys’ outdoor track team will be coached by Gerry LaMontagne, who takes over for Peter Lusa, this season. Photos by Marc Allard.