Masciarelli named Gatorade Player of the Year
THOMPSON — Recent Marianapolis graduate Sydney Masciarelli has been named this year’s Gatorade Connecticut Track & Field Player of the Year.
Masciarelli was also named Connecticut Track & Field Player of the Year for 2018-19.
She’s been named Gatorade Connecticut Cross Country Player of the Year twice, for 2018-19 and 2020-21.
“I’m thankful and honored each time I receive a prestigious award like this.  It means a lot to end my high school career with a reward that represents all of the hard work I have put in over the last four years,” Masciarelli said.
During her time at Marianapolis, Masciarelli broke several records and won multiple titles.
She won the 2018 Foot Locker Northeast Regional Championship (17:12), 2018 Foot Locker National Championship (17:00), and 2019 New Balance Outdoor Track & Field National Championships, as well as being a NEPSTA D III Track & Field Champion and a NEPSTA D IV Cross Country Champion.
Her records include beating Olympian Shalane Flanagan’s under-18 record at the Mayor’s Cup in Boston with a time of 17:04, the female world record for the fastest mile while dribbling a basketball with a time of 5:08.57, and multiple school records.
Masciarelli’s most recent accomplishment was breaking the national high school 2000-meter steeplechase record with a time of 6:25.35 this past June.
“We are so proud of Sydney’s setting a national record!” said Marianapolis Track & Field head coach David DiCicco.
“Her record-breaking performance is a testament not only to her talent but the incredible effort and focus she brings to her training and indeed everything she does. We are excited to cheer Sydney on as she continues her running career next year at UNC.”
Next season, Masciarelli joins DI University of North Carolina cross country and track & field teams to compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program recognizes the nation’s most outstanding high school student-athletes for their athletic excellence, academic achievement and exemplary character.”
Gatorade will also donate $1,000 to a sports-based organization of Masciarelli’s choice through their Play It Forward incentive.

.

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY
DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND
DRAFT FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT FOR
THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF
A READINESS CENTER IN PUTNAM, CT
Description. Interested parties are hereby notified that the Connecticut Army National Guard (CTARNG) has prepared a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and a draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) regarding the proposed action described below.
Statutory Authority. This notice is being issued to all interested parties in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (40 CFR 1500-1508) and 32 CFR Part 651 Environmental Analysis of Army Actions.
Proposed Action. The CTARNG proposes the construction and operation of a readiness center on a 17.00-acre portion of a 19.67-acre State-owned property on Pomfret Street (Route 44) in Putnam, Connecticut (the “Proposed Action”). The property is currently occupied by several large, paved parking areas connected by driveways, two Connecticut Department of Developmental Services buildings, and wooded areas. Under existing conditions, approximately 6.2 acres of the Putnam Readiness Center (PRC) site have been disturbed, including 1.27 acres of existing 100-foot wetland buffer disturbance. The total area of permanent disturbance from the Proposed Action is approximately 6.56 acres.
Construction of the Proposed Action would result in no direct wetland impacts but would have 1.15 acres of permanent impacts within 100-foot wetland buffers. The Proposed Action would require clearing of approximately 0.81 acres of wooded areas.
Between 150 and 175 CTARNG soldiers would train at the PRC one weekend per month and two weeks per year of duty. Approximately five full-time staff would be on site for day-to-day PRC operations. Over drill weekends, approximately 30 to 40 military vehicles (e.g., wheeled vehicles such as Humvees, armored security vehicles, and supporting cargo trailers) would move to and from the PRC along local/regional roadways. Field-based training events and weapons qualifications for PRC members would occur at other existing CTARNG properties.
Housing for soldiers would not be provided at the PRC. No vehicle maintenance facility or fuel trucks would be provided on the site.
Public Review. The EA and the draft FONSI will undergo a 30-day public comment period from July 1 to August 4, 2021**, in accordance with §651.14 of 32 CFR Part 651 Environmental Analysis of Army Actions. During this period, the public may submit comments on the EA and the draft FONSI. The EA and the draft FONSI can be accessed on CTARNG website or at the following address:
Putnam Public Library
225 Kennedy Drive
Putnam, Connecticut 06260
Comments. Comments on the draft EA and the draft FONSI should be submitted during the 30-day comment period via postal mail, fax, or e-mail to: Robert Dollak, Environmental Program Manager, Connecticut Army National Guard, 360 Broad Street, Hartford, CT 06105, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., (860) 524-4945.
**PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD EXTENDED TO AUGUST 4, 2021.**

.

Anthony
heading
to 'Cincy'
CJ Anthony wanted to play Division I basketball. And he wanted to play it at a high level.
But the offers didn’t come in as hoped following a solid postgrad season at PSA in which he averaged 10.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and drew a team-record 18 charges over 20 games. But Anthony also didn’t give up.
Anthony’s belief in himself, which Mustangs coach Tom Espinosa said was second-to-none in the program, paid off, as he announced on July 6 that he had accepted a walk-on spot at the University of Cincinnati.
“We’ve been in contact about a month or so,” Anthony said. “It’s a great program, great new coach, and everything just kind of flowed naturally with that. I’m happy I’ll get a chance to compete at a high level at a great college and be able to do all that close to home (his hometown of Canal Winchester, Ohio is only about a two-hour drive to Cincy), a lot of things just really checked the boxes. It’s an opportunity that God put on your plate and you have to take it.”
As a walk-on, Anthony – who scored nearly 2,400 points in high school – will have a different road to travel than in the past. He will likely be a practice-player for the foreseeable future, though he said the idea for him and the coaching staff is that he will become a scholarship player at some point. Cincy is coached by Wes Miller, who was named to the job in April and was tabbed ESPN’s No. 1 coach younger than 40.
“They were already aware of my talents but they just want to see me,” he said. “They want me to be part of the program and be part of the team. I just couldn’t pass up that opportunity. There’s not a timetable on it for me. I just go day-by-day and work hard.
“I don’t think it’s any different than any situation I’ve been in. No one has ever just handed me a position to go score or to have the ball. For me, I feel like everything I’ve gotten, I’ve worked for. It’s going to be the same thing at Cincinnati. Maybe I have to  start out a little lower but the work is
going to happen.” Anthony’s energy and personality were contagious. He was always the loudest player in the gym, and that almost never stopped. He plans on being the same guy from Day 1 in college too.
“That’s just who I am, I never shy away from being myself,” he said. “They want me to come in there and be me. Talking to a teammate, yelling and getting guys going, taking a charge, asking coaches questions…whatever the role is, I’m going to excel at it and make it better.”
By Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy

.