The Woodstock Academy Gold prep basketball team raised its record to 5-0 with a pair of wins in the Power-5 Conference Tip-Off tournament held at the Alumni Fieldhouse.
“You can’t argue with that,” coach Tony Bergeron said of the season-opening win streak.
The Centaurs downed the Knox School, 90-43, Nov. 12. That win followed a 103-85 win over DME PG Nov. 11.
Woodstock Academy was able to accomplish something else in the win over Knox- get some rest for its starters.
After a tough battle with DME, the game versus Knox was essentially over at halftime.
The Centaurs led 58-21 behind a 19-point effort from Elijah Buchanan who finished with 22 points.
“I felt really great. I thought I was going to have mad 3’s (Sunday),” Buchanan said.
He didn’t get the chance.
After hitting his fourth 3-pointer of the game just 53 seconds into the first half, Buchanan and the remainder of the starters got a chance to sit and watch.
“When you can get the top five or six guys some rest, it’s always good. I didn’t have to play (Joe) Kasperszyk or (Chaylyn) Martin at all in the second half. (Luis) Rodriguez didn’t go more than three or four minutes,” Bergeron said.
Chris Child added 11 and Ty Perry had 10 in the win.
Tre Mitchell led the Centaurs in the Saturday victory with 27 points and 19 rebounds.
Blue breaks losing streak
The Centaurs Blue prep basketball squad broke a two-game losing streak with an easy win of their own, 97-66, over the Isaiah Christopher School.
“We stopped the bleeding a little bit,” said coach Nick DeFeo.
The Centaurs (3-2), playing their third game in three days, broke out to a 53-29 halftime lead.
The second half was a little dicey again as Isaiah Christopher clawed back and closed to within nine points, 59-50, with 11 minutes, 17 seconds to play.
“Rebounding,” DeFeo said when asked what the second-half problems that the Blue squad has experienced can be attributed to. “We’re giving teams way too many second-chance points. On Friday, (a 90-88 loss to Notre Dame Prep), we gave up 33 offensive rebounds.”
E.J. Dambreville, who signed a National Letter of Intent with Florida Southern Nov. 11, led the way with 23 points.
“We needed this win to get back on track after two tough losses. (Sunday) was good, we won by 30,” Dambreville said.
Football
WOODSTOCK – “The Chain” goes to the Player of the Game according to the Woodstock Academy coaching staff.
Nov. 11, it hung around the neck of sophomore Luis Miranda.
Miranda was the defensive stalwart for the Centaurs with a pair of touchdown-saving tackles, a reception over the top of an Abbott Tech-Immaculate defender and two of the biggest plays in the 34-20 win for the Centaurs.
On the first series of the second half, The United drove to the 14-yard line of the Centaurs. In four plays, it could only move the ball one yard. The final play being a pass from quarterback C.J. Cianflone to Matt Christie in the end zone.
Miranda stepped in between the ball and Christie and knocked it away.
Then, with three minutes left in the gamer, Cianflone sent a floater downfield that nestled itself in Miranda’s arms.
“I just saw the receiver coming up the inside, I read it, got the ball and went down. (It) sealed the game,” Miranda said.
The Centaurs were able to run out the clock for their fourth win in nine games.
“He and (Jacob) Straub have become a pretty good duo (in the defensive secondary. They understand what each other does now. (Miranda) is really coming alive, he’s going to be an outstanding football player,” Saucier said.
Before the game, the Centaurs honored the five seniors on the squad, Kameron Janice, Tyler Stuba, Straub, Seth Benoit and John Forest as well as the senior cheerleaders.
Janice will remember the day. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. I will never get it again until I hit Senior night in college. Until that time, I’m just grateful for the family I have and the hard work we put in (Saturday),” Janice said.
He made the day even more memorable for himself.
Janice finished with 366 yards in 32 carries and four touchdowns to give him 29 on the season. The yardage helped him become the first Woodstock Academy football player to pass 2,000 yards rushing (2,235) in a season.
“I knew he could do it, it was obviously within range and he deserves it,” Saucier said. “It’s just another nice step in a nice season for him.”
The United scored the first touchdown of the game when Jake Payton (eight carries, 98 yards) and Matt Christie (18 carries, 91 yards) took all of three carries to go 67 yards with Payton scoring from 11 yards out.
But there was little time for celebration for The United (5-4) as the Centaurs answered with a three-play drive of their own capped by a 3-yard Janice score.
Abbott Tech-Immaculate saw a drive end at the Centaurs’ 40-yard line on a fake punt.
The Academy’s offensive coordinator Greg Alexander decided it was time to strike. He dialed up a Derek Thompson (4-for-11 passing, 86 yards) to Benoit 60-yard pass that put the Centaurs ahead to stay, 14-8.
Janice gave The Academy some breathing room at the half when another fake punt by The United did pan out. The Centaurs got the ball on the ATI 47 and Janice covered all of that in one carry for the 21-8 lead.
But the United didn’t go away. Jordan O’Brian (26 carries, 241 yards) made it a one possession game with a 13-yard run with 2:39 left in the third quarter.
Janice took some of the sting out of that with a 57-yard score on the Centaurs next play from scrimmage.
The Centaurs gambled at the beginning of the final quarter, electing to go for it one a 4th-and-10 from the 50.
An incomplete pass turned the ball over and O’Brian scored from a yard out with 11:05 to play to make it 28-20. “I was very concerned,” Saucier said. The Centaurs took away that concern with 3:11 left when Janice broke free for a 54-yard score and Miranda guaranteed the win with his interception.
The Centaurs finish off the season on Thanksgiving Day when they host undefeated Killingly in the first meeting between the two on the holiday.
Soccer
A nice win Nov. 6 meant a long trip Nov. 8.
Unfortunately for The Woodstock Academy boys’ soccer team, the trip was not a fruitful one.
The 13th-seeded Centaurs made the nearly two-hour journey to Monroe where they met No. 4 Masuk and saw their season come to a close after a 5-1 loss in a Class L state tournament second-round match.
“It was a disappointing end to the season, I thought the boys played well,” said Woodstock Academy coach Paul Rearden.
The Centaurs felt like they were still in the match with the Panthers (16-1-1) at the half when they only trailed, 2-0.
But Masuk made it 3-0 just under 10 minutes into the second half and added a fourth goal seven minutes later.
Eli Child scored the only goal for Woodstock (12-7-1), his third of the season, when he stole a clear and zipped it back 25 yards into the Panther net with 18:17 to play.
“I’ve been proud of the lads, how they have played and their commitment. We, obviously, would have liked to go further in the (Eastern Connecticut Conference) tournament, but we were proud of the first-round win over a really good Brookfield side,” Rearden said.
The Woodstock Academy coach thought that victory on Monday was the highlight of the season.
“It showed everything good about the team and the season,” Rearden said of the 4-3 win over Brookfield. “We had some great team play, strong defense and a never say quit attitude.”
It was also the healthiest the Centaurs had been in a while.
Junior Ethan Holcomb (4 goals, 2 assists) and senior Italian exchange student, Jacopo Ambrosetti (17 goals), have been bothered by injury for much of the second half of the season.
Holcomb was injured early and never really made it back to 100 percent. Rearden said that hampered not only his, but also the team’s rhythm and effectiveness.
Ambrosetti suffered an injury midway through the season after a fantastic start.
“He was, obviously, a massive add to the squad and was a great education for the lads playing next year. He is a player of a level rarely seen and we have been fortunate to have him. It was really frustrating not to have him fully fit,” Rearden said.
Rearden said the team captains, Holcomb and Cole Hackett, both of whom will return next season, and senior Jack Gelhaus were “the spine of the team this season both on and off the field.”
“Their ability on the field is top quality as is their leadership, a good example to the younger players who look up to them so much,” Rearden said.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
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Lucille E. Rhault
PUTNAM — Lucille E. (Gagne) Rhault, 94, of Sunnyside Ave., a lifelong resident of Putnam, died Nov. 11, 2017, at home. She was the wife of the late Ronald A. Rhault.
Born in 1923 in Putnam, she was the daughter of the late Joseph T. and Lillian (Labossiere) Gagne.
Lucille was a graduate of the Putnam Catholic Academy. On Aug. 24, 1940, in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, she was united in marriage to Ronald A. Rhault. He died in 1967.
Mrs. Rhault worked for many years as an aide at the John Dempsey Regional Center working with special needs children.
Mrs. Rhault enjoyed vacationing with her family traveling to Pennsylvania, Florida, and northern New England.
She leaves her children Caroline Perron (Edward) of Putnam, Ronald Rhault (Diane) of Mansfield Center, and Paulette Gilman (Paul) of Groton; a sister Rochelle Beaudry of Putnam; nine grandchildren Phyllis, Brian, David, Roxanne, Valerie, Ronald Jr., Stacie, Melinda, and Christopher; 15 great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a grandson Michael Perron and two sisters Annette Duval and Theresa Johnson.
Visitation is from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Nov. 16 in Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Providence St., Putnam. Burial follows in St. Mary Cemetery. Donations: Adoration Chapel, c/o St. Mary Church, 218 Providence St., Putnam, CT 06260.
James Bump
PUTNAM — Jim Bump died Nov. 6, 2017.
He was born Oct. 15, 1945, in Springfield, Mass., son of C. Kilbourne and Gertrude (Lapham) Bump.
He went to Williston Academy after attending Minnechaug High School. At Westminster College, New Wilmington, Penn., class of 1969, he majored in piano, after realizing that he could read music faster than text. There he began to build instruments, laying the foundation for several years of lute building and about 19 years at Old Sturbridge Village. At OSV, he demonstrated crafts and built replicas of furniture and tools, from plows to looms to a printing press, so that historical techniques could be shown without damaging the original antiques.
In the 1990s, Jim worked as a church organist and accompanist to students, soloists and choruses. Trying a week of classes at Summer Keys, Lubec, Maine, he was taken on as piano accompanist for adult amateur musicians. He fell in love with Lubec, and bought a five-bedroom house, where he rented rooms to music students, making friends from around the world. After 10 years, he resigned from accompaniment and concentrated on hosting string quartets, in which he was always the viola.
In 2012, Jim helped to start the Northeast Connecticut Community Orchestra, which continues to meet in Ashford and perform in nearby towns.
He leaves his brother Ben and sister-in-law Ellen Bump; cousins, and longtime companion Rachel Lewis and her family.
They are planning a gathering with music and memorabilia, to be announced later. Funeral arrangements and cremation have been entrusted to the Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam. Donations: Northeast Connecticut Community Orchestra, Saul Ahola, treasurer, 88 Butts Rd., Woodstock, CT 06281.
Alan L. Chase,
Korean conflict vet
WASHINGTON, Iowa — Alan L. Chase, 88, of Highway 92, died Oct. 20, 2017, in Manor Care Health Services in Davenport, Iowa. He was the husband of Margo Mitts. Born in 1929 in Newark, N.J., he was the son of the late Julian and May (Green) Chase.
Mr. Chase worked as a civil engineer and as a county planner for many years. He was a published writer. Active in community theaters in Ohio, Michigan and Florida, he both acted and directed. He performed with operatic and other choral groups. A Korean war veteran, he served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army.
In addition to his wife, he leaves his daughter, Nina (Brett) Chase, currently a resident of Fort Mohave, Ariz.
A graveside service will be held in the spring of 2018 in Westfield Cemetery, Danielson. Gilman Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Florence S. Verrier
KILLINGLY — Florence S. “Flossie” (Clouart) Verrier, 98, died Nov. 7, 2017, at Westview Healthcare. She would have celebrated her 99th birthday on Nov. 9. She was predeceased by her husband, Lawrence P. Verrier, who died in 1990.
She was born in 1918 in Uxbridge, Mass., the daughter of the late Jennie S. (Postma) and Leo J. Clouart. She and Larry lived in their hometown of Uxbridge until they retired to Cape Cod in 1978. Florence and Larry were avid golfers and for a number of years owned the former Pine Ridge Country Club in Upton with the late Walter Taylor of Northbridge.
She graduated from Uxbridge High School where she was a majorette for the marching band and a member of the drama club. She and Larry were president and vice president, respectively, for their 1936 graduating class. She worked for many years at the Whitinsville Savings Bank, where she started as a teller and became bookkeeper. In 1966, Florence and bank co-worker, Elva McNeil completed their goal of swimming a total of 50 miles in the Whitinsville Community Center pool during weekly lunch break swims.
Florence enjoyed reading, gardening, crossword puzzles, walking, loved family gatherings. She was a communicant of St. Mary Church of the Visitation in Putnam.
She leaves a son, Brian P. Verrier (Jean) of Uxbridge; and a daughter, Lauren J. Dignam (John) of Putnam, with whom she made her home; five grandchildren, Lawrence Verrier II of Whitinsville, Mass., Scott Verrier of Holden, Mass., Brian Verrier Jr. of Grafton, Mass., Allison Morin of Killingly, and Timothy Dignam of Putnam; 10 great-grandchildren, Stephanie, Brandon, Nicholas, Reagan, Matthew, Theresa, Sean, Cole, Kieran, and Brynn; and one great-great-grandchild, Landon. Florence was predeceased by her sisters, Annie Mitchell, Marion Dillon, and Eleanor Cassidy; and a great-grandson, Patrick Verrier.
A Mass of Christian Burial was Nov. 11 at St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam. Donations: Westview Recreation Fund, 150 Ware Rd., Dayville, CT 06241. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Clarence E. Pike
HAMPTON — Clarence E. Pike, 61 of Hampton died Nov. 6, 2017, at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam from respiratory problems.
He was born Sept. 2, 1956, son of the late Charles and Virginia Pike.
A lifelong resident of Hampton, he graduated from Parish Hill High School in 1974.
Clarence worked at Pikes Sawmill with his dad all his life.
He leaves siblings, Daniel, Alice Pike Lee, Charles Jr. William and Norma Pike; two nieces, one nephew, and six grandnieces and nephews.
Services were private. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Claire Sandra Martin
Claire Sandra Martin, 81, entered into her heavenly rest Nov. 10, 2017.
She was born July 27, 1936, in Putnam, to George and Evelyn Basto Davis. She graduated from Woodstock Academy in Woodstock in 1955 and attended Northeastern Bible Institute in Essex Fells, N.J.
Sandra and her husband, Francis Martin, ran a camping and marine business as well as a small dairy farm for several years in Canaan, Maine. Throughout Sandra’s life her main interest was serving God and worshipping Him by singing in choirs as well as a soloist, attending worship services, being a counselor at the Billy Graham crusade in New York, and serving as camp counselor for teenage girls at the Word of Life camp in Schroon Lake, N.Y. She later was a substitute teacher in Christian schools and also the public school systems in Maine and Connecticut. Sandra moved to Georgia and then eventually to Cleveland, Tenn., where she took many encore courses at Lee University and was considered an alumni. She is a former resident of the North Cleveland Towers.
She leaves her son, James Martin (Martha); daughter, Bethany Moilan (Arne); granddaughters, Sarah Orluck (Tom), Rebekah Martin, and Naomi Martin (Hunter); two great-grandchildren Caleb Thomas Orluck and Memphis Grace Scoggins, twin sisters, Jennifer Simms (Phil), and Johanne Wenger (Jim). Sandra is preceded in death by her husband, Francis Martin; parents, George and Evelyn Davis; brother, George Davis.
The Funeral was Nov. 13 at Serenity of Cleveland Funeral Home with interment in the Old Tasso Methodist Church Cemetery. Donations: North Cleveland Church of God, 335 11th St NE, Cleveland, TN 37311.
CDR Michael Masley Jr.,
Navy veteran
THOMPSON — Commander Michael C. Masley Jr. died Nov. 7, 2017, at home.
Commander Masley led an active and fulfilled life.
He graduated from Tourtellotte Memorial High School in 1971. He then graduated from the U.S, Naval Academy with honors in 1975 with a bachelor’s degree in oceanography/physics. CDR Masley attended the Surface Warfare Officers’ School in California where he was awarded the Admiral Arleigh Burke Award; later he attended the Surface Officers’ School where he again earned the Admiral Arleigh Burke Award; During CDR Masley’s 20 years of service in the Navy, he was the first lieutenant and navigator aboard the USS Robert E. Peary from 1975-1977. He then served as the Main Propulsion Assistant on the USS Nicholson from 1979 to 1981. He was assigned to the USS Olendorf in 1983 as the Operations Officer and other duties included Combat Systems and Nuclear Weapons Officer and Tactical Action Officer. In 1985 he received orders to report to the USS Sterett as the Operations Officer. Other duties included Anti-Air Warfare Coordinator and Electronic Warfare Coordinator. The USS Mahlon S. Tisdale became his last ocean-based tour of duty from 1987-1989 where he was the Executive Officer.
CDR Masley reported to his first shore duty in May 1989 at the Pentagon in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations where he held several positions. In 1992 CDR Masley was assigned to the College of Continuing Education at the Naval War College in Newport, as a professor teaching National Security Decision Making courses and was National Decision Making Coordinator. He retired from active duty on Aug. 1, 1995.
While serving his country, CDR Masley earned a master’s degree in Systems Management and a certificate in informations systems from the University of Denver in 1991 and a master’s degree in international relations from Salve Regina University in 1995. CDR Masley was awarded a second-place award from the American Council on Oceans Law for his research paper on U.N. Ocean Laws Impact on the New Navy Strategy in 1993 . This paper was requested for use by the United States delegation to the United Nations and is still used today. CDR Masley had many papers published during his time at the War College. During his 20 years of service, CDR Masley received multiple medals and awards and prided himself on his service to his country.
Upon retirement in 1995, CDR Masley was hired as the first Senior Naval Science Instructor and began the Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Core (NJROTC) unit at Oxford High School. Under his direction, the unit earned 25 national program awards in 20 years. In the first year, an award was created for his unit “Outstanding First Year Program Award” for NJROTC Area 4. In the second year, the unit was awarded the Chief of Naval Education and Training Unit Award, the only second year unit to receive this award. CDR Masley’s unit also earned the White House National Daily Point of Light on Sept. 28, 1999 and became the first NJROTC unit of any service branch to receive this distinction. Other NJROTC unit awards under CDR Masley’s direction include 16 Distinguished Unit awards in 17 years in Area 4. As Color Guard Coach, CDR Masley led his teams to 14 National Championships.
A former cadet nominated CDR Masley for and he received the coveted Thomas S. Green Public Service Award for outstanding municipal employees in 2013. He retired from his post as Director of the NJROTC Unit in October 2017.
CDR Masley was a member of the US Naval Academy Alumni Association, the US Naval College War Foundation, St. Bernard’s Council Nights of Columbus in N. Grosvenordale, the Oxford American Legion Post # 58, the Military Officers Association of the United States, and more.
CDR Masley won the Award of Merit by the Armed Forces Committee of Worcester County and was presented with the Keys to the City of Worcester, an Oxford Tercentennial Award.
CDR Masley was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Church in Dudley. He was fond of the New England Patriots, not just for their winning record but also for their dedication to hard work to achieve the goal of being a winning team.
Commander Masley’s greatest gift was his love for life and he led his life as a public servant. He never hesitated to give a smile, offer words of support and encouragement, and provide a helping hand to anyone, anywhere in need.
He leaves: his brother Joel Masley (Juliana), and their children Arianna, Nicholas, and Alexandra; his brother John (Elaine) and their children Kristen Dahlman (Andrew) and Evan. He was predeceased by his parents, Michael C. Masley Sr. and Agnes Masley,
The Mass of Christian Burial was Nov. 13 at St. Anthony Padua Church with in St. Anthony Cemetery, Webster. Donations: The Commander Michael C. Masley Jr. Fund at the Webster Five Cents Saving Bank (for scholarships at Oxford HS and Tourtellotte Memorial HS and to support veterans’ affairs). Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.
John Poplawski Jr.
DANIELSON — John Poplawski Jr., 67, formerly of Welsh Street, died Nov. 10, 2017, in Davis Place after a long illness.
He was born in Webster and raised in Thompson, a son of John Poplawski Sr. and Rose M. (Romanek) Poplawski. He lived there until moving to Danielson 19 years ago.
Mr. Poplawski worked in a variety of jobs for many years at the former John Dempsey Center in Putnam and then for Northeast Placement Services in Woodstock. He was a member of St. Joseph Church in N. Grosvenordale. He enjoyed participating in Special Olympics at Ellis Tech in Danielson and in Willimantic. Among his numerous awards, he earned gold medals in track and in swimming.
He leaves three siblings, Rose M. Tiernan (Thomas) of W. Haven, Mary B. Thiesing (Robert) of Jupiter, Fla., and Thomas Poplawski (Kathleen) of Thompson; nephews and nieces, a grandnephew, several grandnieces; cousins; and an aunt, Wanda Poplawski of Thompson.
Visitation is from 3 to 6 p.m. Nov. 16 in Scanlon Funeral Service, Webster. The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 17 in St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale with burial in St. Joseph Garden of Peace, Webster. Donations: Northeast Placement Services (NEPS), PO Box 185, S. Woodstock, CT 06267-0185.
Margaret Snyder
WEBSTER — Margaret “Maggie” (Soojian) Snyder, 87, died Nov. 11, 2017, at home after an illness. She was born and raised in Auburn, Mass., the daughter of Sarkis and Verona (Dasho) Soojian and lived in Leicester, Mass., before moving to Webster in 1953. She graduated from Auburn High School in 1948. Mrs. Snyder was a member of the First Baptist Church of Webster. She leaves her husband of 64 years, Albert W. Snyder Sr.; three children, Debra A. Snyder-Robillard (Bruce) of Putnam, Pamela S. Poitras (Albert) of Thompson, and Albert W. Snyder Jr. (Linda) of Altmar, N.Y.; five grandchildren, Albert William “Willie” Snyder III, Heidi Snyder, Brian R. Robillard (Sara), Scott W. Poitras and his fiancée Monique Ares, and Kevin R. Poitras; a great-grandson. She was preceded in death by her twin brothers, Krikor and Apraham Soojian. Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery. Donations: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Scanlon Funeral Service, Webster.
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Honored
Jon Gorman from QVCC was recently honored by the New England Regional Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee. Left to right: Ray Barry, ECC chairman; Gorman; Michael Smith, director-ECC Network Relations. Courtesy photo.
Gorman
is honored
DANIELSON — Many adjunct faculty members at Quinebaug Valley Community College bring years of work experience and the latest expertise to the classroom, most often to specialized programs such as allied health, computer science, and manufacturing.
One of those adjuncts also shares his skills with the community – mostly as a volunteer.
Jon Gorman, who teaches Basic Life Support at QVCC, is a nurse at Harrington Hospital in Southbridge who has worked in health care for 35 years. In addition, he works tirelessly as a volunteer trainer of CPR at many community events, schools, and other venues.
“My passion is for education for everyone, from health care providers to members of the community,” he explains. “After my father died of a sudden cardiac arrest early in my nursing career, I wanted as many people as possible to know what to do if the event ever happened to them.” Gorman has been teaching CPR and other advanced courses for close to 20 years.
Due to the costs for CPR classes, he started reaching out to the community and teaching Hands Only CPR in conjunction with the American Heart Association. Earlier in September he and the Harrington team offered Hands Only CPR training to attendees at the Eastern States Exposition Fair in West Springfield. He will spend Columbus Day weekend certifying people at Old Sturbridge Village.
Gorman was recently honored by the New England Regional Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) Committee at its meeting in Manchester, NH. He was presented the 2016-17 Outstanding Volunteer Award for having trained more than 3,500 people in Hands Only CPR during the year.
Top left: Branches over the Quinebaug River at Simonzi Park. Right: Off Paine Hill Road in Woodstock. Left: Birch tree over Quinebaug River.