caption:
From left: Sophomore Liliana Bottone, senior Morgan Bonin and Sophie Gronski (3) and middle hitter Reegan Reynolds (10). Photos by Bradley O’Connor.
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Woodstock Academy volleyball coach Adam Bottone had tried to keep his young team at ease going into the Class L semifinal against top-seeded Joel Barlow Nov. 16.
“I don’t know if it was ,’Oh no, we’re playing the No. 1 undefeated team’ so we went into it with those nerves instead of staying loose and relaxed which is what we tried to get them to do,” Adam Bottone said. “But we struggled to receive the ball and because of that, we couldn’t get our offense going and sent a lot of easy balls over which put the defense back on its heels.”
And the Falcons took advantage of that. Joel Barlow finished with a straight set, 3-0, victory over the Centaurs to advance to the Class L championship match.
The Centaurs finished the season at 15-10.
Barlow quickly established itself as it rolled to a 25-11 win in the first set. The Centaurs thrown off kilter as much by the Falcons’ style as their talent.
“Going into this, we knew we had to play the best game we had all year if we wanted to hang with them. They ran a really fast offense which was tough for us to try and get up and block because we’re a fairly small team. Our reaction to the quicker offense was a little slow. Hopefully, it’s something our girls who are returning next year will learn from,” Adam Bottone said.
Woodstock did bounce back a bit in the second set but Barlow still prevailed, 25-17.
The Falcons finished up with a 25-12 win in the third set.
“We made a lot of great plays and some good digs. We did the best we could but when we weren’t able to get our offense going, we struggled. We really needed to side out on the first ball that came over the net and we had trouble doing that,” Adam Bottone said.
The Centaurs also didn’t serve any aces. On the good side, they didn’t have many service errors either.
“We served very conservatively to keep the ball in play, which is what we’ve been working on, but our serves weren’t difficult either,” Adam Bottone said.
Liliana Bottone had five kills and six digs for the Centaurs while Reegan Reynolds and Morgan Bonin had three each. Bonin and Sophie Gronski (12 assists) each had 10 digs.
The Centaurs won eight of their first nine matches.
The up-and-down play that occurred in the middle of the season could easily be attributed to a rash of injuries and illness. Instead of COVID this year, concussions were the largest trouble.
There were a couple of factors working in the coach’s favor.
He had a team that probably had the more depth and versatility than most of his past teams.
The Centaurs lose only four seniors, Bonin, Leila MacKinnon, Jade Desmond and Nunes to graduation.
“I have a lot of pieces coming back,” Adam Bottone said. “Obviously, Liliana and Sophie will be a big part of that; Cassidy Ladd is going to continue to improve. Reegan will be back. Mia Sorrentino will be a threat on the outside, too, so we definitely have a lot of pieces in place.”
Liliana Bottone finished with 250 kills, 213 digs and 54 aces this season. Gronski had 612 assists.
The biggest concern for the Centaurs will be replacing the middle hitter position which was occupied by MacKinnon (49 kills, 15 blocks) and Bonin (205, 27) this season.
“I think we will have girls playing club (in the offseason) and if that happens, it will be good. If the CIAC allows us to do some coaching in the summer - I’m crossing my fingers that will happen – it will help establish and build the basics we need to move forward,” Adam Bottone said.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
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WA community
participates in
Give Back Day
at arboretum
WOODSTOCK --- The annual volunteer-based community service initiative, WA Gives Back, took place recently at the Palmer Arboretum. More than 50 students, faculty, and staff participated in a day of cleaning the rain garden, raking leaves, preparing to lay mulch, and general yard clean up.
WA Gives Back was created in alignment with The Woodstock Academy’s mission of helping its students grow as global citizens, fostering volunteerism, and showing appreciation for community support.
“The local community generously gives to our students year after year in so many ways,” said Head of School Chris Sandford. “WA Gives Back is just one way that our community can show our appreciation and gratitude to those who have such a positive impact on our students.”
The WA Gives Back program will soon be headed to other locations across The Academy’s sending towns (Woodstock, Pomfret, Canterbury, Brooklyn, Eastford, Union) to assist with fall clean-up, allowing for additional community service opportunities for students.
“What’s special about WA Gives Back is watching students enjoy being outside with each other while making our community a cleaner, brighter place,” said Sara Dziedzic, social studies and English department chair and WA Gives Back organizer.
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PUTNAM — Elizabeth (Herlihy) “Betty” Aucoin, 74, of Liberty Highway, died Nov. 17, 2022. She was the wife of Peter Aucoin. Born in 1948 in Putnam, she was the daughter of the late John and June (Morse) Herlihy.
Mrs. Aucoin worked as a secretary for Belding Heminway for 10 years. She was a volunteer for Day Kimball Hospital for 20 years. She enjoyed cake decorating, baking, and sewing. She especially enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren.
In addition to her husband Peter, Elizabeth leaves her daughter Allison Darigan (John) of Woodstock; her brother, Ellsworth “Butch” Herlihy (Diane) of Putnam, and Brian Herlihy of Woodstock; her sisters, Maryanne Loomis (Dick) of Putnam, and Katherine Saucier (Ronald) of Putnam; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her daughter, Melissa Pelletier.
Funeral services are private.
Donations: Day Kimball Hospital Cancer Fund, P.O. Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
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Thur. Nov. 24
Happy Thanksgiving!
Fri. Nov. 25
Santa’s Coming
PUTNAM --- Santa will be at Rotary Park at 3:30 p.m. to bring a special gift to the town. And then at 4 he will light up Putnam for the holidays. In case of inclement weather, he'll be in front of the Jewett City Savings Bank. Candy canes, cookies and hot chocolate supplied by Putnam Recreation Department and WINY Radio.
Sun. Nov. 27
Dazzle Light Parade
PUTNAM --- The Dazzle Light Parade will kick off at 5 p.m. from Grove Street and wind its way through downtown to the Municipal Complex.
Wed. Nov. 30
Blood Drive
PUTNAM --- The American Red Cross, the Putnam Rotary Club, the Putnam Business Association will hold a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hale YMCA Youth and Family Center. Sign up: redcrossblood.org
Sat. Dec. 3
Concert
WOODSTOCK --- The Loos Center for the Arts and the Performing Arts of Northeast Connecticut will present the Ocean State Pops Orchestra at 6:30 p.m. at the Loos Center. Tickets are $27+. TheLoos.org
Victorian Fair
POMFRET --- The Saint Nicholas Victorian Fair at Christ Church on Rt. 169 will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Snow date Dec. 10. Lunch and take-out lunch available. Benefits local outreach programs.
Sun. Dec. 4
Santa Breakfast
PUTNAM --- The Albert J. Breault VFW Post 1523 will hold a Christmas Breakfast with Mrs. Claus fund-raiser from 8 to 11 a.m. at the post. $10 per person; $5 for 60 and older and veterans and kids under 11 admitted free. Gift Drive for TEEG.
Concert
CHEPACHET --- The Music at the Meeting House concert series at Chepachet Baptist Church on Rt. 44 will present “An American Christmas” at 2:30 p.m. No charge but a freewill donation would be appreciated. Refreshments. www.chepachetbaptist.org.
Concert
WOODSTOCK --- The Concert Choir of Northeast Connecticut will present its Holiday Concert at 2 p.m. at the Woodstock Evangelical Covenant Church on Child Hill Road. $15 for adults and $5 for 17 and younger.
Lunch With Santa
POMFRET --- The Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp on Taft Pond Road will present Lunch With Santa from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. $8 for kids up to age 8. $12 for 9 or older for lunch. Photo with Santa $8. 860- 974-3379, email
Sat. Dec. 10
Bazaar
THOMPSON --- Thompson Recreation will present the Snowflake Bazaar from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the TMHS Auditorium. Admission is a nonperishable for TEEG’s Food Pantry.
Winter Fest
WOODSTOCK --- The Woodstock Recreation Department will present the third annual Winter Fest from 1 to 5 p.m.
Holiday Bazaar
PUTNAM --- The Hale YMCA Youth and Family Center will hold a Holiday Bazaar from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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