Big Check. Big Gift.
PUTNAM — J. Scott Pempek, president of the Putnam Rotary Club, displays the large check representing the money raised by the Putnam club for the Rotary Disaster Fund. Behind him are the club members who donated so generously. Pempek said the effort started after he was involved in a Zoom meeting with the Rotary Club of Avon-Canton. The Zoom presentation was a live feed from Kyiv about the war and the refugees.  “That was the impetus to do something,” Pempek said. Putnam Rotarians “stepped up with donations” and Pempek said the Putnam Rotary Club board voted to match the donations up to $1,000. While the check says $2,000, Pempek said the club actually raised more than that. And the club’s Interact Club held a carwash and raised a separate $847 toward refugee relief. Pempek said the Rotary Disaster Relief Fund will work through Rotary International. Almost 100 percent of the funds raised will go toward refugee relief for Ukrainians. Linda Lemmon photo.

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On dean's list
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. --- Western New England University named Matthew Weiss of Thompson, to its dean's list for the fall semester 2021. Weiss is one of over 700 students who achieved this mark of academic excellence. Students are named to the Dean’s List for achieving a semester grade point average of 3.30 or higher.

On team
WILLIMANTIC --- Eastern Connecticut State University’s men’s baseball and women’s softball teams are set to begin their spring 2022 seasons.
Among the student-athletes is senior Bryan Albee of Danielson, number 16, who majors in criminology and plays pitcher on the baseball team.



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caption:
Key to Team
Woodstock Academy seniors, from left: Seamus Lippy; Keenan LaMontagne, who recently announced he has committed to compete for Bucknell University track and field in college; and Ian Hoffman will be key to the Centaurs efforts in boys’ outdoor track. Photo by Marc Allard.



LaMontagne to compete
for Bucknell
There are plenty of unknowns for Woodstock Academy boys’ outdoor track and field team this season.
Coach Peter Lusa has 36 athletes out for the team, but only 12 were with the squad a year ago.
“I don’t know how this team will shake out,” Lusa said. “It’s a little trial-and-error. There are kids with question marks over their heads. They don’t know what they want to do, so, it becomes let’s build a team culture.”
One person with no question marks: Keenan LaMontagne. The senior recently made the decision to attend Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Penn., and compete in Div. I track and field for the Bison in the Patriot League.
“It’s a step up. I toured the school. I love the place. I’m looking forward to take the next step there,” LaMontagne said. “I was surprised to get the D-I offer. It was a cool experience. (The Bucknell coaching staff) followed me on Instagram. I emailed them after that, got communication going for an official visit and I really liked the place.”
LaMontagne was impressive outdoors last year and earlier this year indoors.
The senior captured the Class MM boys’ outdoor track state championship in the discus last season, winning by over 18-feet with a throw of 149 feet, 4 inches.
“I want to repeat and I want to go further. Last year, we missed out on the New England (championship) due to COVID and this year, I want to see how far I can take it,” LaMontagne said.
He would have qualified for the New England championship last spring as he increased his distance to 158-04 in the State Open championship for a third-place finish.
Then, over the winter, LaMontagne furthered his ability in the shotput in indoor track. He finished fourth in the event in the State Open and qualified for the New England championship.
“I feel a lot more confident,” LaMontagne said of his shotput abilities. “I got the technique down and I plan to continue to work on it this season. Picking up where I left off in the winter will be a huge help for that.”
It may also help him in his primary event, the discus. “I think his confidence is where it needs to be,” Lusa said. “Shotput is a nice distraction. If all he did was throw discus, it could be internalized. Gosh, forbid, you have one bad meet and now that’s in your head. I’m glad that he has other things to pay attention to.”
Lusa will also rely on LaMontagne for another reason: Leadership.
LaMontagne’s father, Gerry, serves as the throwing coach for the Centaurs boys’ and girls’ track programs.
The Centaurs also have a couple of other seniors. River and Scout Favreau return to run middle distance events and will join LaMontagne and fellow senior Silas Strandson in throwing events. Ian Hoffman also runs middle distance and has been improving in the pole vault, Seamus Lippy is a middle distance and distance runner.
The Centaurs also added four seniors who did not come out last year.
Junior Vince Bastura is also a strong distance runner while fellow juniors Jared Eaton (throws), Carter Saracina (sprints) and Jeff Phongsa (sprints) are also capable of scoring for the Centaurs.
That group will have to try and replace the some of the points the Centaurs lost when Adam Schimmelpfennig and Ethan Aspiras graduated after last season.
The Centaurs finished 3-2-1 a year ago in Div. II of the ECC but won the Div. II and III championship meet. They also placed fourth in the Class MM state championship.
Both of those are confidence builders which may be important considering Woodstock is again back in Div. I of the ECC with Norwich Free Academy, E. Lyme and Fitch.
Boy’s Track Schedule: Wed., April 13: vs. NFA 3:45 p.m.; Wed., April 27: at Fitch, 4; Sat., April 30:  at Ledyard Relays,  TBA; Thurs., May 5: at E. Lyme, 4; Sat., May 7, at Middletown Invite, 10 a.m.; Sat., May 14: at Greater Hartford Invite , TBA; Wed., May 18:  vs. Waterford, 3:45; Mon., May 23: at ECC Championship, TBA.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy

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