Paz headed
to Franklin
Pierce
Maybe it got lost a little bit in translation, but when Claudia Paz said she didn’t trust herself to think she could play soccer at the college level, it raised a couple of eyebrows. After all, Paz, a member of the PSA girls’ soccer team, draws immediate eyes when people see her play.
“The second I brought her to a showcase, we had coaches reaching out instantly. She has a great presence on the field and is very talented,” said her former coach Jen Bennett.
“She has handled herself really well the last three months I have known her,” said Atobra Ampedu, her current coach. “Hardworking, very humble, and dedicated to getting better each day. If we had a team, she would be the team captain. She embodies what I stand for and how I want my players to act as a coach.”
Those are the words Paz trusts. She said she is hard on herself, her harshest critic, and sees more of the things she should have done better rather than the ways she moves the ball, wins tackles in the midfield, and unleashes powerful shots from outside the 18.
But regardless of how she got to this point, here she is.
Paz, from Madrid, Spain, signed a National Letter of Intent this past week to play next year at Division II Franklin Pierce in New Hampshire.
“I am so happy,” she said. “So happy. Because really, for myself, I will not think I can play at that level or go to college. I know I’m not bad but I’m always comparing myself and I’m not satisfied with what I have. So I always want more, more, more. I’m the type of person who can play well but I know that I should have given more, so I’m not happy with how I do. I always want to improve myself more.
“Maybe I have to use my left foot more, I have to have less touches, I have to play more within the team, I have to communicate more with my teammates. These things that I’ve seen in the past are what I’m trying to improve at the next level.”
Franklin Pierce went 6-8-2 in its last season, 2019. Ampedu believes she has a really good chance to compete for a spot right away and become a key player for the Ravens. She was accepted academically in December, but before anything could happen on the soccer side, the staff wanted to see her play. Because the girls season at PSA was cancelled this year, it has been strictly through game film from 2019 and showcases, one of which she attended at the school in late March.
“I chose Franklin Pierce because they have very good facilities and they have a very good athletic program, and that caught my attention,” said Paz, who scored six goals in five games last year. “When I went to the (showcase), I saw a very good bond between players and coaches and that family and community is also what I was looking for in my team. I am very excited about being there and being part of that with those girls.”
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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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.
March 30
Jeffrey Wong, 59, Ravenelle Road, N. Grosvenordale; speeding.
Miranda Daab, 23, Marshall Street, Putnam; disorderly conduct.
March 31
Richard B. Chenail, 60, Sabin Street, Putnam; OUI.
April 1
Rachel Martin, 58, Laconia Court, Putnam; creating a public disturbance.
Kimberly Ann Martin, 49, Laconia Court, Putnam; creating a public disturbance.
April 2
John Noel Caez, 39, Smith Street, Putnam; disorderly conduct, two counts of criminal violation of protective order.
April 3
Jonathan Sabourin, 32, Pomfret Street, Putnam; disorderly conduct, criminal lockout.
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Food drive
a success
PUTNAM — As far as northeastern Connecticut goes, please mark us down for “plays/works well with others.”
The Putnam Rotary Club’s annual Good Friday Food Drive was a resounding success. Volunteers from the Putnam Rotary Club, the Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact Club, the Putnam Rotary Club’s Rotaract Club, the Putnam Lions Club, the Putnam Lions Club Leos Club and the Putnam Lodge of Elks all stood fast in some chilly windswept weather to collect nonperishables and donations to benefit Daily Bread. A steady stream of cars filled almost two vans with food and the money box with checks and cash totaling $6,093, according to Karen Osbrey, Rotarian and head of the Interfaith Human Services of Putnam.
In addition to the nonperishables, Rotary Club Interact advisor Roberta Rocchetti said a local bakery dropped off bread and a local farm dropped off eggs. Osbrey said 1,320 pounds of food were donated. There was no drive in 2020. This year’s drive raised less money but saw more food donated.
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PUTNAM — Leon “Bing” Gothreau, 91, of Fairmount St., died March 28, 2021, at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Worcester.
He was the husband of the late Claire L. (Petrin) Gothreau for 65 years. They were married on Oct. 11, 1952, at St. Mary Church of the Visitation.
Born in 1930 in Putnam, he was the son of the late Leon N. Gothreau Sr. and Edna (LaDoux) Gothreau.
Mr. Gothreau was a graduate of St. Mary School and went on to graduate from Putnam High School in 1948.
He was a member of the 1946 undefeated Putnam High School football team and part of its track team.
He served his country during the Korean war. He worked as a journeyman millwright carpenter for Rogers Corp. from 1964 to 1992. He enjoyed traveling.
He leaves his son, James Gothreau of Putnam; his daughter, Elaine Richmond (Clark) of Pomfret Center; his sister, Dolores Ziobrowski of Chandler, Ariz.; his grandchildren, Michele Norman, Clinton Richmond, Paisley Jaymes Gothreau, and Shai-Lin Gothreau; his great-grandchildren, Lorenzo Richmond, Luke Norman, Lydia Norman, and Francesca Richmond; and his daughter in-law, Ann-Marie Gothreau of Putnam.
The Mass of Christian Burial was April 6 at St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery.
Donations: PAWS animal shelter, 240 Rt. 171. Woodstock, CT 06281. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St. Putnam.
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