Centaurs girls
finish 2nd
in MM;
15th in State
The girls’ cross-country season came to an end for Woodstock Academy Nov. 5 — but it was a great run. Literally.
The Centaurs surprised even themselves with a second-place finish in the Class MM state championship meet. That qualified them for the State Open championship on Friday.
Woodstock finished as 15th-best in the state with a 15th-place finish at the Open.
“It was an incredible experience to be here,” said Woodstock Academy coach Joe Banas. “This is a great group of girls here. I will take 15th-place. We are now on notice. Other schools are saying, ‘Who is this Woodstock Academy?’ They’ve never had to think about us before.”
Senior Linsey Arends was hoping to crack the top 25 at the State Open and qualify for the New England championship but fell just a little short in 40th place, finishing in 20 minutes, 9 seconds.
“Honestly, I’m a little disappointed for this to be the end of the season in my senior year. I’m happy with what I did do this season and accomplished in my comeback from anemia, “Arends said.
One runner who was positively beaming was junior Lauren Brule as she finished second on the team in 68th place, finishing in a personal best time of 20:52. She termed her effort “insane.”
Brule’s effort and that of Julia Coyle (137th overall), Carah Bruce (141), Sydney Lord (156) and Tessa Brown (169) gives Banas hope for the future as he loses only Arends and fifth runner Leah Castle (151st) to graduation.
Earlier in the week, Banas was walking around Wickham Park trying to process it after the Class MM race had concluded.
Due to weather and course conditions, the event had to be moved from Saturday to Monday and his Centaurs were ready.
They finished second to Guilford (65 points), amassing only 90, and finished nine points better than ECC rival, E. Lyme.
Arends paced the Centaurs with a seventh-place finish. It was a planned finish. The first was that she wanted to qualify for the State Open individually, an honor that went to the first 12 runners in each division. “And I just wanted to make top eight to make All-State and I did so I made my goal,” Arends said. She also wanted to save a little for the State Open just three days later.
Brule was not far behind Arends, coming home in 14th. Coyle placed 21st with Bruce in 24th and Castle in 30th.
Boys
Woodstock coach Peter Lusa was hoping for a top-10 finish in the Class MM state championship and got his wish. The Centaurs finished sixth.
Senior Ian Hoffman led the way with a 16th-place finish. “It feels really good. I didn’t really get the time that I had wanted but I have to take into consideration that the course was kind of trashed (from rain and use), so overall, I’m pretty happy,” Hoffman said. Hoffman finished in 18 minutes even.
Vincente Bastura placed 24th. “I had a great race. I almost fell a couple of times but overall I’m happy with how I pushed myself (Monday),” Bastura said.
Christian Menounos placed 40th; Seamus Lippy was 54th.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
captions, page 2: Celebration
The Woodstock Academy girls celebrate after a second-place finish in the Class MM girls’ cross-country state championship meet.
Finish-Line Chute
Senior Ian Hoffman comes down the finish line chute enroute to a 16th-place finish at the Class MM boys’ cross-country state championship meet. Photos by Marc Allard.
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The following charges were listed in the Putnam Police Department logs. The people charged are innocent until proven guilty in court. The Town Crier will publish dispositions of cases at the request of the accused. The dispositions must be accompanied by the proper documentation. The Putnam Police Department confidential Tip Line is 860-963-0000.
Oct. 26
Donovan Houghton, 18, Litchfield Avenue, Rogers; weapons in motor vehicle, second-degree false statement, first-degree reckless endangerment.
Oct. 28
Nathan R. Cordell, 24, Providence Street, Putnam; second-degree breach of peace, third-degree assault, violation of probation.
Oct. 29
William Vasbinder Jr., 40, Senexet Village, Woodstock; third-degree assault, third-degree criminal mischief, disorderly conduct.
Jessica A. Collette, 38, Flagg Street, Putnam; third-degree assault, second degree breach of peace.
Oct. 30
Alicia L. Eastwood, 37, Providence Street, Putnam; operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, operating a motor vehicle under suspension, improper turn/stop signaling, risk of injury to child.
Oct. 31
Hector Morales, 42, Crystal Road, N. Windham; operating without a license.
Mackenzie Livingston, 23, Woodstock Street, Putnam; creating a public disturbance.
Nathan Thompson, 26, no address listed; interfering with an officer.
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PUTNAM — The Putnam Police Department is looking for any information on the theft of a car at a gas station on School Street Oct. 30.
Putnam Police Captain Justin Lussier said around 9:50 a.m. a tan/gold 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee with RI registration plates 1AJ837 was parked unattended with the motor running and the doors undocked in the Global Gas station parking lot.
An individual passing by on foot got in and fled. The vehicle was then involved in a single-vehicle crash at the intersection of Railroad and Bolles streets. The car crashed into a stone wall causing damage to the wall and then left the scene.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Ofc. Kyle Maheu at 860-928-6565, or through the police website at www.putnampolice.com. Tips can be called in to 860-963-0000.
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Oct. 30 the Pomfret School boys’ varsity soccer team beat Wilbraham & Monson 2-0. Pomfret goals came from: Frederick Coulibaly 70th (unassisted); and Devin Walcott 75th (unassisted). Saves came from: Austin Kendig 7; and Javier Alonso 5.
Coach Patrick Burke said: “While the first half was a back and forth affair, Pomfret had more of the possession and opportunities in the second half and our persistence paid off with goals in the 70th and 75th minute. In the first half our defense of Eumir Rodriguez, Gerald Gao, Ryan Cho, Lyle Bernard, Ethan Forbes, and Henry Cattell did a nice job of dealing with Wilbraham’s counter attacks while goalkeeper Austin Kendig responded well to Wilbraham’s free kicks and shots including one great diving save. Our midfield of Caleb White, Grant Maurer, Kaya Horvath, Lawrence Viola, Anson Meerbergen, Nick Ferrucci, Devin Walcott, and Nate Watson strived to facilitate play for us while also working hard to get back when Wilbraham pushed numbers forward. Van Horvath, Dylan Tran, Declan Chapman, Cole Castro, Jerry Da, Fred Coulibaly, and Tareq Altayyar were instrumental in our attack and their hold up play allowed us to get forward. “We found more time on the ball and more possession in the second half. Declan, Cole, Lawrence, Kaya, Grant, Dylan and Devin were consistent threats. On the other side of the ball our defense remained solid while goalkeeper Javier Alsono controlled his box well. We got a spark from Nate streaking down the flank. Although the shot this run gave us momentum and just a few minutes later we broke the deadlock. A nice combination from Caleb, Devin, and Grant put Fred through and, although the ball was a bit out of reach; Fred’s pressure forced a mistake from Wilbraham’s keeper which resulted in a deflection goal for Fred. Minutes later another nice play in the midfield got the ball to Devin who went on a strong solo run. Devin kept his composure and coolly finished low and hard into the net. Up 2-0 we continued to attack as Fred, Devin, and Declan all went close again.”
Loss to S. Kent, 5-0
Oct. 27 the Griffins lost to South Kent 5-0. Pomfret Saves: Austin Kendig 7; and Javier Alonso 3.
Burke said South Kent was able to capitalize on a number of Pomfret errors. "Pomfret’s offensive opportunities came mostly through Fred Coulibaly and Nate Watson on the wing, while Declan Chapman, Devin Walcott, and Dylan Tran found some time on the ball. Goalkeeper Austin Kendig came up with some nice saves early and things seemed to be settling in, but a loose ball in our box resulted in a penalty kick for South Kent. Their talented #2 scored and seven minutes later South Kent had a second goal. We responded well and the final 25 minutes of the half were pretty even. Caleb White, Kaya Horvath, Ethan Forbes and Lawrence Viola gave us strong minutes in the back and midfield while Cole Castro and Nick Ferrucci gave us a spark up top. Our defense (Gerald Gao, Henry Cattell, Eumir Rodriguez, Ryan Cho, Lawrence, and Ethan) reorganized and focused, and we had some run outs and chances with Fred testing South Kent’s keeper, but we went into the half down 2-0. In the first 15 minutes of the second half, Grant Maurer came the closest while Dylan, Fred, Devin, Cole and Declan all found time on the ball. In the 60th, 62nd, and 75th minute some mistakes in our back line and lapses in focus allowed South Kent to increase their lead to 5-0. Jerry Da, Nate, and Kaya played a strong final 15 minutes, and we were a bit unlucky to not get one after Declan put Nate through and the South Kent keeper came up with a strong save. At the final whistle it was 5-0 in favor of South Kent.”
By Patrick Burke
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