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Moment of Pride
The Woodstock Academy gymnastics team proudly displays its plaque for finishing third overall in the New England gymnastics championship meet March 12. Photo courtesy of Kasey Tocchio/The Woodstock Academy.
The Woodstock Academy gymnastics team saved its best for last.
Unfortunately for the Centaurs, so did Franklin, Mass., and Daniel Hand High School.
The Centaurs finished with a 143.1 total in the New England Gymnastics championship March 12.
Franklin, however, paced the field with a 148.2 total and Daniel Hand had its best performance of the season as a team with a 143.225 to finish second just ahead of the Centaurs. Nine New England schools competed.
“I feel like we had some of our best performances (March 12). We really did a good job. It was an awesome end to our season to be able to score two points higher (than the Centaurs had all season) and finish on a high,” said coach Kasey Tocchio. “Franklin was awesome; they had some really great kids. Daniel Hand just hit a great meet.”
Woodstock junior Taylor Markley finished second in the individual competition with a 38.175 All-Around total.
Emma White of Franklin posted a 39.0 to take home the title of individual New England champion.
“It was awesome,” Tocchio said of Markley’s runner-up finish. “No one is really happy with second place, but the girl who won was just phenomenal. She’s a senior, was absolutely beautiful and it’s cool to watch that. For Taylor to see that she’s up there will just make her hungrier for next year. I think she was happy.”
The Centaurs started on vault and did very well. Markley finished second overall with a 9.825 and freshman Olivia Aleman posted her best score of the season, getting a 9.475 and a sixth-place individual finish. The team finished second as a whole with a 37.0
They followed that with another good performance on bars, a fourth-best 35.425 total, with Markley again getting second place with a 9.75.
But the great equalizer lay ahead and the Centaurs did not do so well on beam. Markley fell off the beam on her last skill, a front aerial, but still finished with a more than respectable 9.1.
The Centaurs finished tied for sixth on the apparatus with a 34.6. But they did not go into their final event, the floor, with their heads hanging.
“Taylor was upset with beam, but for her to come back, show she was a captain, pick herself and the team up to go over to floor. I’m just so proud of her,” Tocchio said.
The Centaurs finished with a 36.075 on the floor with Markley finishing second again with a 9.5 while Aleman placed fifth with a 9.375.
Tocchio said it was a good ending to what was a good season especially at the end where the Centaurs captured the ECC title, the Class M state team championship and the State Open championship.
“It built all year long like we were hoping that it would after everyone came back from injuries. When the kids were there, we just kept pushing every week and just kept getting better. That’s all I could ask,” the coach said.
The experience will be helpful.
“We have a really young team. I feel like we usually have a little more diversity with it so it was good to show that we could go far this year and, hopefully, that helps the freshmen to be able to lead this team and move forward. The freshmen on the team know they have to pull their own weight next season” Tocchio said.
The Centaurs lose only one impactful gymnast, Lindsey Gillies, to graduation.
“Lindsey will be a tough loss next year,” Tocchio said. “We’re already talking and Maddie (Martinez) had a great meet (Saturday). She competes in three events and was our fourth scorer in all three events. She was our MVP. She’s excited to really train, step up and improve her scores.”
The Centaurs will have Markley back for her senior season and a, hopefully, healthy Aleman back for her sophomore campaign. But especially with the departure of Gillies, the Centaurs need people to step up into the third and fourth scorer’s role.
“We have some work to do to fill those spots,” Tocchio said. “Olivia will come back really strong, Taylor should come back really confident. Maddie is capable of moving up and there is definitely some talent on the team that can be pushed and worked hard. They know how important those third and fourth scores are now and I think and hope, they’re ready to step up.”
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
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Paul R. Stanton, WWII vet
Paul R. Stanton, 97, formerly of Woodstock, died March 6, 2022, at home in Preston.
Born to Frank B. and Mabel (Dempsey) Stanton, he graduated from Putnam High School in 1942. Drafted after his first semester in college, he was a WWII Army Mortar Gunner for K Company, 377th Regiment, 95th Division, serving in France, Holland, and Germany. After assisting with the defeat of the Germans, his unit provided food and aid to Polish work-camp survivors. He then returned to the U.S. with orders to be trained for deployment to Japan, but the war ended and he was honorably discharged. Using the GI bill, Paul graduated from UConn with a degree in engineering.
He became reacquainted with a former Putnam High classmate, Marjorie Seely. They married in 1956 and settled in Woodstock. Paul spent most of his career as a mechanical engineer at Belding Heminway Thread in Putnam. He also worked as an engineer for the State of CT.
Books, family activities, golf, bridge, chess, and volunteering kept him busy. If an invitation to travel arose, he gladly accepted. His volunteer work included Woodstock Academy Trustees, Community Health & Home Care, Woodstock Housing Authority, the CT Society of Professional Engineers, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and the Woodstock Hill Congregational Church, of which he was a member for more than 60 years.
Paul was a descendant of Thomas Stanton of Stonington and a member of the Stanton Society. His interest in genealogy also took him to Ireland, where he met some distant Irish cousins.
Paul was devoted to Marjorie, who died in 2005. In more recent years, he lived at Creamery Brook Village in Brooklyn, and then spent his final months living with his son and daughter-in-law in Preston.
Paul was predeceased by his parents, wife, brother Frank Stanton, and sister Mary Palmer. He leaves daughters Pat (Brian) Taylor, Elaine (John) Polhemus, Meg (Wayne) Sawyer, son Matthew (Wendy) Stanton, grandchildren Ashley Taylor, Erik Taylor, Kate Polhemus, Karis (Quincy) Berglund, and Kristen Sawyer; nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be held in May. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Lucille L. Hebert
ARCADIA, Fla. — Lucille L. (Auger) Hebert, 84, of Southwest County Rd. Arcadia and Thompson, died March 9, 2022, at her home in Florida.
She was the wife of Roland F. Hebert.
Born in 1937 in Webster, she was the daughter of the late Rudolph and Rose (Raymond) Auger.
Mrs. Hebert worked for many years as a secretary at American Optical prior to becoming the assistant manager at Sherwin-Williams in Putnam and Sturbridge.
Mrs. Hebert enjoyed traveling, watching NASCAR rooting for her favorite driver Rusty Wallace, and cheering on the Boston Red Sox.
Lucille had a true passion for Florida and was a proud member of the Red Hat Society.
She leaves her husband, Roland Hebert; her children, Linda Valade (Joseph) and Lorie Bonnette (Corey), all of Woodstock; her grandchildren, Troy Valade, Chelsea French, Vanessa Pescheta, Eric Boucher, Kendra Bonnette, and Miranda Bonnette; and her great-grandchildren, Adrien Valade, Alida Pescheta, Elijah Pescheta, Mirabella Bonnette, Felicity Sweetland, and Joshua Sweetland.
She was predeceased by her daughter Lorna Boucher and an infant son Richard Hebert.
A Memorial Service is being planned for July.
Valade Funeral Home and Crematory, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale.
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PUTNAM — Five individuals were named as the Class of 2022 for the Putnam High School Wall of Honor. Established in 2016, the “Wall” recognition honors graduates who used their Putnam High education to enhance their career success while demonstrating leadership qualities, high standards of citizenship and ongoing service to their community.
Fifty-one applications were reviewed by the Wall of Honor committee for this fifth class of inductees which will include: Robert Miller, Class of 1938; Jonathan Gradie, Class of 1969; Peter Deary, Class of 1973; Laura Phipps, Class of 1976; and Shawn Johnston, Class of 1977.
Miller served on several town and city committees including Board of Selectmen; but is probably best remembered for his knowledge and promotion of Putnam history , leading to his being named First Putnam Town Historian. Affiliation with Boy Scouts of America spans 33 years; and his progression from foreman, sales manager and vice president at National Chromium started in 1940 and ended at retirement in 1985.
Gradie has been directly involved in the creation and growth of high technology companies. His astronomy interests in observing solar system objects led to recognition by the International Astronomical Union of Dr. Gradie’s contributions by naming an asteroid after him, No.3253 Gradie. He was also an Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award finalist in 2000.
Deary used his business management degree to expand the long established local family business to 17 convenience stores, while still finding the time to establish a long history of service to various community organizations including board chairman of Day Kimball Hospital. Lifetime of dedicated service earned him the “Civic Achievement Award” from the Northeastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce.
Phipps made an early decision to pursue a career as physician’s assistant and used this as a springboard to focus on women’s health and child sexual abuse victims. As a forensic medical examiner she was instrumental in developing the medical trauma program at “Kid’s House” in Seminole, Fla., which is the initial point of contact for child abuse investigations. “Laura Phipps Legacy Award” presented annually by Rotary Club of Altamonte Springs, Fla.
Johnston lost his father when he was 6 but was blessed by a community that provide much support. He has paid that debt back ten-fold with his ongoing involvement in the Putnam community.
While serving as a State House of Representative for 16 years, he still donated time and energy to several boards. And along with family members and friends, started the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Dip which has raised several hundred thousand dollars for Muscular Dystrophy.
In an effort to recognize outstanding individuals who have a direct connection with Putnam High School and to keep alumni connected with the school and community, the Putnam Board of Education conceived the idea of a forum to celebrate graduates’ achievements and the result led to the formation of a Wall of Honor. To date, 20 past graduates have been honored and the their plaques are currently displayed on a “wall” in a corridor adjacent to the gymnasium. All nominations remain on file for at least five years following submission.
Annual choices have been difficult and tough decisions have been made by the Committee over the past five years. However, those honored to date have all met the criteria for selection and all have proven themselves in their respective career fields and communities. This represents a positive sign of the quality education that has been provided by Putnam High School through the years.
Members of the Wall of Honor Committee include: Lee Konicki, chair; Scott Pempek, vice chair; Susan Johnston, secretary; Jeanne Benoit, treasurer; Sandra Ames, Carrie Blackmar, David Gaudreau, James Gothreau, Nelson King, and Carrie Riendeau.
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Honored
WORCESTER — Worcester Academy announced its Honor Roll and Headmaster’s List for Semester 1 of the 2021-2022 School Year. Local students on the list include:
Ethan Jasmin of Pascoag, Class of 2023, First Honors.
Emma DeRoche of Thompson, Class of 2025, Second Honors.
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