PSA girls' team adds coach
PUTNAM — Stephanie Coro was recently named to the coaching staff at Putnam Science Academy.
She had quite the career at the University of Rhode Island. A 2013 graduate at URI, Coro was a four-year varsity basketball player racking up 1,516 points which landed her 2nd all time in school history. The writing was on the wall from the get go as Coro was named Rookie of the Year during her freshmen season and was later named a 4 time All-Conference player for the Rams.
Before making her way to Putnam Science Academy, Coro played basketball professionally in Spain during the 2014-2015 season. After a year stint overseas, Stephanie then took on the role of an assistant coach for the girls’ varsity team at St. Andrew’s School in Rhode Island for the 2015-2016 season. Coro would work with the guards and help develop skills while also scouting opponents and compiling footage for highlight tapes and future opponents down the road.
One year later, Coro would join the staff of her alma matter at Rhode Island as the coordinator of Basketball Operations. “I loved what I did and loved working with the team but I wasn’t able to be on the court and actually coach the girls.”
Coro went on to add, “I love being on the court and the itch to get back on kept growing. That led me to find the PSA job posting where I was able to contact (Putnam Science Academy girls’) coach Marchione and eventually be hired for the position. I am grateful to be here.”
Coro said: “I look forward to being able to help these girls grow as athletes and women. I want to make sure they have every opportunity to succeed and they have the resources to do so.”
The girls’ prep team will open the season at home Oct. 31.
Josh Sanchas
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy

The Woodstock Academy girls’ cross-country team opened its dual season with a pair of wins Sept. 11 in Ledyard.
The Centaurs downed host Ledyard 24-35 and Killingly 15-50.
“It’s a good way to begin,” said first-year girls coach Joe Banas.
The boys’ team had mixed results as it lost to the host Colonels 26-30, but also handed the Redmen a 19-42 loss.
The Centaurs girls got the expected, a 1-2 finish.
Freshman Linsey Arends crossed the line first in 21 minutes, 4 seconds followed closely behind by sophomore teammate Stella DiPippo 11 seconds later.
The win was important for the freshman who had just encountered a little adversity the weekend before at the Haddad Windham Invitational.
There she took a wrong turn and it cost her a top-five finish in the event. She settled for seventh but was not very happy afterwards.
“She was still until the beginning of the race (in Ledyard). It was not going to go away until a victory came her way,” Banas said.
She didn’t have to wait long.
Three Ledyard runners followed DiPippo across the line.
But the meet was won shortly thereafter when Shannon D’Alessandro, Julia Theriaque and Aria Gianfriddo crossed the line about 2 ½ minutes after their front-running teammates.
“I stressed to them again that I wanted to get that pack a little closer because if we’re really going to be a serious contender that’s a must,” Banas said.
Banas didn’t feel everyone had their best effort.
A few of the girls were off their pace a bit, but Banas considered it a pretty “unusual” day for early September.
The heat and humidity were cranking and they weren’t the only challenges that Mother Nature threw at the runners.
“There were bugs everywhere,” Banas said. “There were as many bugs (gnats) as I’ve ever seen and runners were getting them in their eyes.”

Aspiras wins
Sophomore Ethan Aspiras got a little confidence boost.
He came home first in the race with the Colonels and Redmen, finishing ahead of three Ledyard runners.
“He ran smart,” said boys’ cross-country coach Peter Lusa. “He ran with the guys who were right there and then we yelled at him that he had to make a move.”
Aspiras listened.
He put on a little burst and established some distance between he and two of the Ledyard runners. He ran the final loop by himself.
“Not every course will allow for that, this course was broken into parts enough that we were able to say in this part, accomplish this. He’s in shape enough to be able to do those things. Some of our other athletes were told to pick it up and catch someone and it never materialized,” Lusa said.
Junior Christian Mink, freshman Hamilton Barnes and junior Matt Roethlein finished 6-7-8 for the Centaurs. Senior Kenneth Birlin was the fifth man in 12th place.
“It was just a strange day. We expected it to be much cooler and drizzly and it was just the opposite. I think some kids just didn’t fully hydrate,” Lusa said. “We’re not fully there yet.”
The Centaurs take part in the Ocean State Invitational this weekend but don’t have another dual meet until Sept. 25 when they have a tough battle at East Lyme with the Vikings and Waterford.
East Lyme is the team to beat in both boys and girls in the Eastern Connecticut Conference.
“It’s a very good thing,” Lusa said of the week off prior to the East Lyme meet. “With this group of coaches, it’s a good thing because we’re trying to dial in workouts for kids. Not everyone did their summer running, but they did do some and we’re trying to develop them as the season goes on.”
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
The Woodstock Academy

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Woodstock Academy football coach Sean Saucier challenged junior running back Jaden Dennett before the game with Amistad Sept. 15, “I wanted him to just be at his best, work harder, finish his runs and be consistent. He took it to heart,” Saucier said.
Dennett took those words and ran with them.
Literally.
He finished with 120 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead the Centaurs to a 41-6 win over Amistad at the Bentley Athletic Complex.
“It was nice to win, but what was more rewarding was executing the things we worked on in practice. We fixed our mistakes from the previous week,” Saucier said.
The Centaurs jumped out on top, 21-0, in the first half.
Gavin Savoie, who finished with 45 yards in six carries, scored just 3 minutes, 18 seconds into the game on a 4-yard run.
Just six minutes later, Dennett found his way into the end zone.
The Centaurs built some momentum going into the locker room when Savoie scored his second touchdown and Dennett added the two-point conversion for the 21-0 halftime lead.
The Centaurs used some defensive plays to set up their offense in the second half.
“I really thought our defensive backs would have opportunities for some interceptions and they got us the ball a couple of times,” Saucier said.
Nick Bedard and Dan Suitum both came down with picks in the second half.
“Bedard had a great day,” Saucier said. “He had a heck of a game on both sides of the ball.”
Bedard scored the last touchdown of the game for the Centaurs (1-1) on a 35-yard run.
Dennett also scored on a 12-yard scamper and Travis White added a short touchdown on a shovel pass from quarterback Derek Thompson in the third quarter.
The Centaurs didn’t need much from Thompson, who passed for only 75 yards, since the rushing game accounted for over 300.
“The offensive line was outstanding. It was hot and I never had to sub them out. They opened holes all day,” Saucier said.
The Centaurs stay home Sept. 22 to play the Capital Prep/Achievement cooperative at 1:30 p.m. at the Bentley Athletic Complex.
“We know Capital Prep is going to be a quality team. It’s a good opportunity for us. They are not the powerhouse they were last year. We’re just going to have to have the confidence to play and compete with them,” Saucier said.
Capital Prep/Achievement has played two Eastern Connecticut Conference teams thus far. It lost to New London, 20-7, in its opener and fell Sept. 14 to Windham, 49-0.
“We’re going to have to tackle well against them. They play well in space and that will be one of the things that we focus on in practice,” Saucier said.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
The Woodstock Academy

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