COVID-19
pushes winter
athletics back
at WA
Last week, the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference gave the go-ahead to Connecticut schools for some winter athletics to begin practice on Jan. 19.
But northeastern Connecticut is in the midst of a surge of COVID-19 cases and the Northeast District Department of Health has recommended that the area hold off for two weeks before starting winter athletics.
Thus, high school basketball, hockey and gymnastics at The Woodstock Academy will not begin practices until Feb. 1, according to head of school Chris Sandford.
“The town of Woodstock has seen 21.4 percent of its total cases thus far in the last 9 days alone (66 new cases in the last 9 days, out of a total of 306),” Sandford said Jan. 15. “Based on these numbers, eLearning from home rather than on-campus learning and the delay of most winter sports is appropriate.”
The Woodstock Academy prep basketball teams, due to the student-athletes remaining on campus and being tested on a regular basis, were able to restart practices on Jan. 19.
“At this point, we’ve learned to take it day-by-day and kind of roll with the punches a little bit but they’re certainly starting to feel like punches,” said Woodstock Academy athletic director Sean Saucier.
The CIAC has said that no regular season games can be played before Feb. 8. The delay means high school games at Woodstock Academy will likely start a little later than that.
“That’s still a solid month and a half of the winter season happening, hopefully, that means 8-12 games of competition for certain sports and, at this point, I would take that. I am hopeful that our local area will settle down a bit in terms of (COVID) metrics so that we can get going,” Saucier added.
When those games are allowed to begin, the schedule will follow a format similar to that of the past fall season with up to 12 games against regional ECC opponents.
At Woodstock Academy, basketball is likely to be the one most likely able to get some games in.
There will be no state championship tournament, but there is the possibility that the ECC and others will be allowed to play a conference tournament. If not, regional conference tournaments could possibly be held.
“I’m excited for the kids’ sake. This has been a rough time to be a student-athlete so it’s good to have a light at the end of the tunnel, let them get back out on the floor and have a sense of normalcy,” said Woodstock Academy girls’ basketball coach Will Fleeton.
Normalcy may be hard to come by when it comes to games as the delayed start has shown.
Some local high schools require students to be in the classroom before interscholastic athletic contests are held. Others may not allow their teams to play if their town is in a COVID “red zone” (15 or more cases per 100,000 tests) or if their opponents are coming from a “red zone”.
As of press time, only three towns in the state were not considered red zones, all were on the western side of Connecticut.
There is also the possibility of teams and schools having to shut down in the event of a positive case(s), something that altered many schedules in the fall.
Fleeton said playing games, however, is not the top priority.
“Of course, you want to compete. That’s what it’s all about but we’re going through a different time period right now. Just getting them in the gym, letting them come together, being with their friends and getting some work in. That is what will rise to the top this season,” Fleeton said.
“We have to be especially careful and thoughtful as we progress. The NFL had a lot of injuries early on. I don’t want to put these student-athletes in tough positions. We’re going to take it slow and steady and be sure that they are ready,” said boys’ high school basketball coach Marty Hart.
In addition, all student-athletes this winter will compete in masks.
“For some, it might be a tough adjustment but it will be well worth it to play,” Hart said. “They have to think it’s part of their apparel. I’ve seen some video of kids in Massachusetts playing with masks on and (The College of) Holy Cross does. It’s certainly possible. It will take some getting used to. We will lean on our (athletic) trainers as to how to keep our kids safe.”
Hockey at Woodstock Academy has its own set of hurdles.
The hockey teams have a big hurdle. The boys’ and girls’ teams play and practice at the Pomfret School but Pomfret School is not returning to campus until the end of winter. The Jahn Ice Rink has been closed.
“We’re trying to figure out where we can get ice, how can we train, be creative and give our kids a season,” Saucier said.
Gymnastics will be allowed to compete but whether that happens for Woodstock Academy is a question.
“Going virtual would be ideal but it’s very new in the gymnastics world. It’s not something we have done although other regions have,” said Centaurs coach Kasey Tocchio. “I think we will have a judge come in but I don’t think we will have any other teams coming to our facility.”
Tocchio was hopeful that there would be a state championship that the gymnasts could shoot to qualify for. At best, it looks like there could possibly be a regional or league championship to compete for.
Indoor track, due to the number of people that are generally involved in a meet and lack of venues, will have no competitive events although athletes will be allowed to practice this winter.
“We’re going to bring the kids in, probably by rotation by event — throwers, distance, sprinters, jumpers — and allow them to come in and train a few times a week and, basically, prepare them for outdoor (track),” Saucier said.
The CIAC also announced that the proposed spring football season, meant to replace the canceled fall season, has also been canceled due to the continuing threat of the pandemic.
“I guess the finality of it is disappointing but I would be lying if I said I didn’t see it coming,” said Saucier, who is also Woodstock Academy’s football coach. “There just wasn’t time. Once I saw the timeline for the winter season, it was clear that there was time to insert any alternate season. Disappointed for the team and the seniors, obviously, but it wasn’t a huge shock.”
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
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Space tip: Since space is at a premium, you'll find extended versions of some stories and the calendar on the Putnam Town Crier online at: www.putnamtowncrier.com.
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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.
Dec. 30
Craig Bernier, 22, Woodstock Avenue, Putnam; OUI/failure to maintain lane.
Jan. 2
Malaika Lee, 28, Singleton Road, Chaplin; second-degree breach of peace and third-degree assault.
Jan. 5
Jenna Stebbins, 18, 24 Wilkinson St., Apt. #3, Putnam; third-degree criminal mischief, disorderly conduct.
Jan. 8
Herbert E. Long III, 39, Coit Street, New London; second-degree failure to appear.
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George 'Randy' Daggett
POMFRET — George Randolph “Randy” Daggett, 71, of Fay Road, died Dec. 30, 2020, at home after a brief illness. Born Aug. 19, 1949, in Patterson, N. J., he was the son of the late George Randolph Daggett, Sr. and Fern (Lewis) Daggett. After his mother’s untimely death when he was a teenager, Randy moved to Webster to live with his uncle and aunt John and Evelyn Lewis and their family. He graduated from Bartlett High School, where he played varsity basketball and football and sang in the choir.
Randy wed Judith St. Germain in 1969, and soon afterwards they welcomed first a son Christopher and one year later, a daughter Dawn. While supporting his young family with multiple jobs, Randy attended Worcester Junior College before earning bachelor’s degrees in management and secondary education from Nichols College in 1973.
Randy travelled throughout Massachusetts as an account executive for Hallmark Cards from 1977 until 1987 when he purchased Dowe’s Hallmark on Main Street in Danielson. He was a leader in the local business community, where he sold greeting cards, gifts, baseball cards, candy, newspapers and magazines, greeting residents daily with a smile, a piece of news, a joke or a retort until 2004.
After moving to Connecticut, Randy found his true calling as a first responder, serving first as a volunteer firefighter for the Danielson Fire Department and later South Killingly and Pomfret Fire departments. He became certified as an E.M.T. and was a member of the Board of Directors of K.B. Ambulance Corps for seven years before being hired as the administrator and chief of Service in 2004. Randy was famous for his ability to stretch a dollar. During his tenure as chief, he grew the nonprofit from a small, volunteer operation with just two ambulances, into a thriving, essential service provider with 26 paid staff and 28 volunteers, that responds to more than 5,000 emergency calls every year for Killingly, Pomfret, Hampton, and Eastford. Since 2018, K.B. paramedics have also annually provided Advanced Life Support to thousands of additional residents of seven towns in the “Quiet Corner.”
One job was never enough for Randy; he always had at least two, a tradition that began in his youth when he held two newspaper delivery routes. In addition to serving the community as a first responder, Randy was a fixture in his adopted hometown of Pomfret. As a part-time member of the Pomfret Parks and Recreation and Public Works staff for than 10 years, he tended to the town’s green spaces atop a tractor on hot summer days and plowed miles of town roads through snowy winter nights.
He leaves his son Christopher (Shannon) of Webster; daughter Dawn and her partner Angela Boone, of Cheverly, Md.; grandson Benjamin Daggett, also of Webster; lifelong friends and fellow Nobles, including his cousin James Lewis, Peter Bolduc and Jay Lamy, and Stanley Ciesla, who remained a trusted and stalwart friend until the end of his life. He also leaves behind his beloved family of dedicated staff and volunteer E.M.T.s and paramedics of K. B. Ambulance Corps, many of whom he trained, mentored and nurtured, who will continue his legacy of service and care by responding every day to people in crisis in the Quiet Corner.
Randy is remembered for his dry wit and love of a good joke, especially if it was making fun of his family, friends, co-workers, or politicians. He is also remembered as a tireless worker and a firm leader with a kind heart who through his professional and volunteer service saved many lives, and privately helped countless other people in need.
To protect the health and safety of the community, Randy requested that no services be held at this time. Please check www.facebook.com/KB.Ambulance/ for details of a safe, socially distant memorial parade in late January. Donations: K.B. Ambulance Corps, P.O. Box 209, Danielson, CT, 06239. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Norma A. Jordan
PUTNAM — Norma A. (Beliveau) Jordan, 92, of Perry St., died Jan. 7, 2021, at Apple Rehabilitation Center in Uncasville. She was the wife of 40 years to the late Raymond H. Jordan. Born in 1929 in Coventry, R.I., she was the daughter of the late Peter and Blanche (Truchon) Beliveau.
Norma was a visiting CNA and home maker who enjoyed cooking, caring for her family, crocheting, Western genre films and gardening.
She is best described by her late grandson, Brian R. Kallio: “You’re the centerpiece of our family, the gravity that holds us down; you make everyday a holiday, just by being around. Your family is your world, the backbone to your life; a mother and grandmother, an inspiration in our life.”
She leaves her daughters, Cynthia Peterson of Putnam, Sandra Kallio of Putnam, Susan Jordan of Clairmont, N.H., and son, Peter Jordan of Putnam; nine grandchildren, Meaghan Plaza, Brian Kallio, Brittany Kallio, Raymond Jordan, Ashley Jordan, Lori, Rebecca, Justin and Jennifer; two great-grandchildren, Chase David Plaza and Skyla Marie Paquette. She was predeceased by all of her siblings. Gilman Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
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