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Winners
Rectory School's winning basketball team. Courtesy photo.
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Winners
The Rectory School ice hockey won its tournament. Courtesy photo.
POMFRET — January was a good month for Rectory Athletics. The boys’ varsity basketball and the varsity ice hockey teams both won tournaments in their sports.
The basketball team travelled to New York City Jan. 19 to participate in the annual Boys’ Club of NY (BCNY) 2016 “Future Stars” Basketball Jamboree. Rectory competed against BCNY and Eaglebrook School, winning both matches and earning a spot in the playoffs.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Rectory Wolves played Cardigan Mountain School. According to coach John Seaward, “The Wolves played a great defensive game and advanced to the championship game against Fessenden. It was a pleasure to see the hard work of each team member throughout the entire tournament on both ends of the court.”
With outstanding leadership from team captains Angelo Santiago, Rashid Woods, and CJ Robinson, Rectory was able to win the victory over Fessenden School and earned the tournament trophy. In addition to the tournament trophy, Santiago was presented with the All-Tournament Team Award, and Woods won the MVP Award.
Seaward said, “Rectory always enjoys participating in this tournament. All of these athletes understand that team spirit and good sportsmanship is just as important as
bringing home a trophy. I couldn’t be prouder of these boys.”
In mid January the varsity hockey team travelled to Kennett Square, Penn., for the Upland Country Day School’s 42nd Annual Boys’ Invitational Hockey Tournament, and came away with the first-place trophy. Most of Rectory’s 15 players are from the tri-state (CT, MA, RI) area.
One of the team’s captains, Zoe Wilcox of Pomfret said the Rectory team had made great improvements since the beginning of the season. “We knew we had a good chance of winning the tournament, and we spent the entire bus ride charging each other up,” said Wilcox, a ninth-grader who has participated in this tournament for the past three years. “Once we stepped on the ice, we were on fire! It was a great team effort, and I am proud of my teammates for playing with such passion and cohesion.”
“What made the biggest difference in our winning the close games was the players’ willingness the play unselfishly. Our top players were much better about passing and back checking than our opponents,” said coach Mike Healy. “This was a wonderful experience for our players, both on and off the ice; certainly a weekend they will remember for many years.”
This was Rectory’s 18th year competing in the longest running (consecutive-year) middle school tournament in the country.
On dean’s list
CLINTON, N.Y. — Daniel D. Kellaway, son of Genevieve and James Kellaway of Pomfret Center, has been named to the Dean’s List at Hamilton College for the 2015 fall semester.
Bank assets
surpass
$1.4B
EASTHAMPTON, Mass. — bankESB held its quarterly Director’s meeting Jan. 20 and Matthew S. Sosik, president and CEO of bankESB, reported that the bank’s total assets surpassed $1.4 billion at the end 2015.
Gil Ehmke, executive vice president and CFO, reported the bank’s assets were up $373 million from a year ago, an increase of 35.7 percent. “Much of the growth this past year was driven by our mid-year acquisition of Citizens National Bank in Connecticut,” he added.
Ehmke added, “Total loans increased $210 million over the last quarter.” Total loans now stand at just over $983 million."
He also said the bank’s deposit growth was over $361 million, up 42 percent from a year ago. “bankESB continues to be one of the most profitable and successful banks in the State.” Ehmke added.
Sosik said, “2015 was a true milestone for bankESB. In addition to exceeding all of our goals for asset growth and earnings, we also once again donated over $350,000 to local charities and community organizations. At the same time, we were able to successfully close on the acquisition of Citizens National Bank and announce a second merger with Hometown Bank out of central Massachusetts, which is scheduled to close in early 2016.
2015 was just a great year and was the result of a lot of hard work and dedication from our Board and staff.”