Past Issues of the Putnam Town Crier
- Details
- Category: Current Issue
WOODSTOCK — First-year head coach Jeff Boshka is finding out he has a wide range of abilities in The Woodstock Academy girls’ ice hockey program.
He has 26 players out for the team, double what came out in what was its first year last season.
“A third of the girls have played a lot and are at a higher level. A third of the girls who have played a little and a third who are brand new,” Boshka said.
In some cases, that means learning just how to play the game and skate on thin blades.
“We have great attitudes across the board and they’re working hard. That’s our challenge: To make sure everybody is getting an opportunity to work hard and improve in their level,” Boshka said. The Centaurs are just beginning as a program. As such, it’s tough to find games.
The sport is not offered by the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference and finding teams at the same skill level of a beginning program is difficult.
“It’s a challenge that we’re trying to work through right now,” Boshka said. “Last year, they played some games that were lopsided either way. We could beat a team pretty handily or vice versa. It’s a challenge to find teams of equal ability without having to travel days and days away.”
The Academy currently has eight games on the schedule. That includes two against Pomfret School and one versus Tabor Academy, all private school programs. They played host to Auburn last week and in January will play at the Windsor School in Boston and St. Paul’s School in New Hampshire.
The Centaurs will have a pair of games against Connecticut cooperatives Suffield-Enfield-Housatonic-Ellington-Metropolitan Learning Center and the Avon-Southington-East Granby- RHAM group.
As of now, that will be the extent of the season. Since it is not offered by the CIAC, there is no state tournament and The Academy is not affiliated with a league.
Boshka said that is not a concern for his players. “It doesn’t come up, doesn’t cross anyone’s mind,” Boshka said of the inability to play for a league or a state title.
Boshka said he does preseason surveys and asks for personal and team goals and the majority want a “tight-knit team” that helps build the program and get better individually. To help make that happen, Boshka said the group has done some team-bonding activities including helping out the Thompson Ecumenical Empowerment Group with its Thanksgiving baskets and deliveries. They also plan to have team pasta parties.
Of course, practice time is difficult. The girls’ program shares ice time with not only the Woodstock Academy boys’ program, but also the Pomfret School programs at the Jahn Ice Rink in Pomfret. Practice time for the girls hockey team, when Pomfret is in session, is 9:30 to 10:20 p.m.
Every Monday, the team does a “dry-land” practice at the South Campus where they go to the Lecture Hall and talk concepts and then practice them inside the gym.
The Centaurs do have a new commodity. There are two seniors skating this season. Haley Armstrong and Brittanie Burnham will be joined by five juniors, Ashleigh Angle, Irene Askitis, Ellie Jellison, Emma Strandson and Regan Stuyniski.
“They are clearly taking ownership,” Boshka said. “They put it upon themselves to get there an hour early before ice time and they use that time wisely with warm ups and little drills. We have a little team talk. They’re eager,” Boshka said.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
..
- Details
- Category: Current Issue
Mustangs varsity
drop two
PSA Varsity 101
Our Savior Lutheran 109
PUTNAM — The Putnam Science Academy Varsity (1-10) team suffered a loss to Our Savior Lutheran Regional 109-102. The Mustangs were led by Anthony Thomas 3(1 points), Seth Thomas (24 points) and Alpha Diallo (12 points) in the loss.
PSA Varsity 82
Notre Dame Prep 88
PUTNAM — The Putnam Science Academy Varsity team suffered a 88-82 loss against Notre Dame Prep yesterday to fall to 1-11 on the season. The Mustangs battled for 40 minutes, but Notre Dame held on to secure the win in the final minutes. The Mustangs were led in the loss by Seth Thomas who had 25 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Danny Ampofo added 21 points and Stephan Jean added 10 points and 8 rebounds for the Mustangs
- Details
- Category: Current Issue
By Shawn Bates
Dec. 12 the Lady Clippers made their way down Rt. 395 to face an old ECC foe, the Plainfield Lady Panthers. The Panthers jumped out in the first quarter to a 13-3 lead on the dominate play of Madison Kelley who lead all Plainfield with a game-high 20 points.
The Clippers would gain ground and cut the lead by the end of the second to 19-21 and would trade shot for shot into the third for a score of 29-35. But as she did the whole game Kelley would drop in eight points to stretch out the lead for the Panthers for the win. The high scorers for Putnam were Ashely Burke and Kayleigh Lyons, both with 12 and the freshman Alex Hutchins had seven. For the Panthers Madison Kelley 20, Katherine Lorange 11 and Sophie Mercer 7.
The Lady Clippers got their first win over Ellis Tech Dec. 15 in Danielson, outscoring the Eagles 59-22. Putnam was quick out of the gate out scoring Ellis 15-5 and didn’t look back.
Freshman Alex Hutchins led all scorers with a game-high 18 points. Ashley Burke chipped in 11 and Lauren Blackmar garnered eight points. Ellis Techs Sydney Tetrault hit for 12 points to lead the Lady Eagles.
Lady Clippers (JV)
The JV squad won their first game of the season at Plainfield, 47 -24. High scorers were Jillian Gray 10 points and Emma Braithwate with 7. Olivia Bessette had 7 for Plainfield
Putnam Middle School
Dec. 12 opened the 2017-2018 QVJC season for both the boys’ and the girls’ Wolf Pack teams.
The boys gave up one to Woodstock Dec. 12 with a 49-40 loss to Woodstock Cooper Livingston led all scorers with 19 points and Carter Morissette had six. For Woodstock, Parker Anderson had 12 and Peter Barb 16 points.
On Dec. 214 the boys traveled to Plainfield to take on the Royals and came out with a 46-34 win with Alonzo Henries leading all scorers with 18 points and Cooper Livingston followed up his last game with ending in double digits again with 13. The Wolf Pack are 1-1 on the season and played Pomfret Dec. 18.
For the girls’ squad they ended their week 2-0 with a win over Woodstock 27-16 Elisha Clinkscale and Sadie Bergeron each had eight. Then Dec. 14 they played at home and kept their home winning streak that started last season with a 26-23 Emily St. Martin had a team-high 10 points in the win.
- Details
- Category: Current Issue
Lady Mustangs fall
PUTNAM — Last weekend the Putnam Science Academy Lady Mustangs participated in the annual Rivers Holiday Tournament featuring some of the top teams in the northeast.
In the bracket style tournament format the Mustangs made a deep run all the way to the finals before falling to host The Rivers School.
In the first game of the tournament the Lady Mustangs rolled to an easy victory over Bradford Christian Academy by a final score of 61-35. The Mustangs were led by Ari Koivisto who scored 10 points, tallied 6 rebounds and had 4 steals. Sha’raya Haines scored 12 points as well in the win.
In the second round of the tournament the Mustangs faced crosstown school Marianapolis Prep. In a back-and-forth affair that saw the Mustangs lead by as many as 11 points in the second half. Marianapolis came storming back to take a late lead. The Mustangs wouldn’t go away as Sha’raya Haines (18 points) hit a 3-pointer to tie the game and then hit two free throws to push the Mustangs to victory, 48-46.
In the championship the Mustangs came up just short falling 56-53 to The Rivers School. The Mustangs fought the whole game, but ultimately came up short. Once again Sha’raya Haines led the Mustangs with 20 points and Kayla Robinson chipped in with 9 points. Both Haines and Robinson were named to the All-Tournament Team. A 2-1 weekend for the Mustangs that featured exposure to college coaches and games against top competition is exactly what the Lady Mustangs were looking for.
- Details
- Category: Current Issue
By Shawn Bates
As long as I can remember even in the old days of the Observer Patriot there’s always been a local wish list for our local athletes, coaches and teams past and present .I don’t see any reason why this year should be any different from the past year’s so let’s jump into it.
For the Redman head coach and Putnam native Chad Neal another winning season and another cloned running back to take the place of Spencer Lockwood.
Next for our local basketball coaches Shawn Deary and Mandi Hogan: a successful season playing independent and winning records for seeding in the CIAC tournament and a stocking stuffer for the Ladies, a true Big for the middle of the paint to dominate play!
Can‘t forget the little team:
For Derek Coderre: another run into the QVJC tournaments like last year and to bring home some hardware to hang on the long wall by the gym! And one more present under the tree. Another undefeated baseball season for coach Coderre and a stud pitcher to bring all home.
For these characters:
Jon Miller and April Charvez: a bunch of talented soccer players from the middle school to fill the holes left behind by the graduating seniors. And a successful new beginning back in the ECC conference .And of course another run in the CIAC tourney!
Some more basketball why not:
For Tommy Espinosa, Josh Scraba and the PSA staff: a championship banner to unveil next Mustang Madness!
How about A Retiree: For legendary coach and Putnam native Tom Auclair: some warm sun and a box of Titleist Pro Vs to chase around the golf courses.
And maybe for some local veterans: for Alan Joslin and Mr. Legion Ron Coderre: another successful project from the Putnam American Legion post to beautify our town like the banners that celebrate our local hometown heros. Well done, gentlemen, well done!
How about some local baseball: For TriTown: another year of both programs making the state of Connecticut Legion tournament and for the coaching staff and executive to run another outstanding program in which others try to mirror!
For local baseball guy David Austin: the gentle nudge to come out of retirement so he may return to the coach’s box to pass on the knowledge that so many players need in this area.
For the guys we love to hate, the officials: For the Vitale brothers Peter and Andrew: more varsity games in the area and for the dad Dave to make sure that happens for local soccer.
For the assistant fire marshal and fellow smoke-eater Scott Belleville: a full baseball and basketball schedule, your talent behind the dish and the hardwood are being wasted doing the lower level games a solid official hard work pays off!
How about some football: For the QV Pride head coach Joe Asermelly: a resurgence of Putnam kids from 7 to at least double digits in numbers. And for assistant coach Kevin Dupre: some big bad nasty talented linesman to teach. Let’s see a tournament berth next season.
Did I just hear Fore? How about coach Rob Loomis and his Putnam golf team: a season of being under par and no rain in sight at Connecticut National!
And last but not least for all the crazy sports junkies , players and coaches past and present a Merry Christmas and, of course, a happy New Year !