By Ron P. Coderre

A Marianapolis Prep School sports institution for more than three decades will soon be stepping aside from an athletic leadership role with the Golden Knights to assume a larger role with the school’s Alumni and Development initiatives.

In an announcement by head of school Joseph Hanrahan last week, Eric Gustavson, who’s served as the school’s athletic director for 30 years, will relinquish that role to current assistant athletic director Lauren Moore.  Although the beloved Gustavson, affectionately known as “G” by his friends and students on the Marianapolis campus, will no longer be the AD, he will maintain a marked presence on the sprawling Thompson Hill campus.

“It is time for Eric to serve Marianapolis in a new capacity as the school looks to its future initiatives, especially our athletic program and facilities.  The school will be forever grateful to Eric for his role in enhancing the athletic program at Marianapolis.  He is certainly a legend and an iconic teacher and coach in our community,” said Head of School Hanrahan.

Gustavson arrived at Marianapolis in 1982 fresh out of Ohio Wesleyan University.  Shortly after  his arrival on campus he assumed the role of boys’ varsity soccer coach.  After 34 seasons at the helm he stepped down in 2013 with a school record 347 wins, 200 losses and 75 ties.  In 2013 he was recognized by his soccer coaching colleagues, being named Connecticut State Coaches Association “Coach of the Year.”  

He was appointed as the Golden Knights athletic director in 1986 at a time when the school had approximately 200 students and about a dozen athletic programs.  Today the school boasts 400 students and approximately 50 athletic offerings to its student-athletes.  He’s held the hand of the athletic teams as they’ve transitioned over the years from the Quinebaug Valley Conference to the Eastern Connecticut Conference in the high school ranks.  He’s guided the programs back to prep school competition in the Southeastern New England Prep School Athletic Council and eventually to the New England Prep School Athletic Council.

“It’s been a wonderful experience, and to witness the growth of the school and the athletic program.  I’ve been proud to be a part of it.  When I started in the ‘80s, athletics was secondary.  Now, it has been made a real part of the Marianapolis experience between residential life, service and academics.  What I’ve enjoyed most is that our athletes always give it their all with tremendous sportsmanship; that it isn’t all about winning,” said Gustavson.

Marianapolis recently concluded the construction of a $2 million track and multi-sport turf field, which will be dedicated on May 21 during the school’s 90th Alumni Weekend.  The administration and Board of Trustees are currently in the planning phase for the construction of a fieldhouse to meet the increasing demands of its athletic teams.

Gustavson will remain on the Marianapolis faculty teaching history.  He’ll also become an integral part of the Alumni and Development office, working with alumni and parents around the country and the world.  

“I’m happy and proud to be able to assist the school in raising funds so that we can continue to grow athletics to be everything we have strived for,” he noted about the new role he’ll assume in September.

Gustavson lives in Putnam with his wife Ann Marie, the proprietor of Roland’s Cleaners in Putnam.  The couple has two sons, Abraham a 2007 graduate of Marianapolis and Benjamin who graduated in 2011.

 

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Legal Notice

Town of Pomfret

Board of Finance

PUBLIC HEARING 

THURSDAY, 

APRIL 28, 2016 

7:00 PM

POMFRET 

COMMUNITY 

SCHOOL 

CAFETERIA

The Board of Finance of the Town of Pomfret will be holding a Public Hearing on Thursday, April 28, 2016, at 7:00 PM at the Pomfret Community School Cafeteria in accordance with Section 7-344 of the Connecticut General Statutes.

Itemized estimates of expenditures of the Town for the ensuing fiscal year of 2016-2017 will be presented and the Board of Finance will hear all persons who wish to be heard in regards to any appropriations which they are desirous the Board will recommend.  Copies of the proposed budgets are available at the Town Clerk’s Office, Town of Pomfret, Five Haven Road, Pomfret Center, Connecticut.

Dated at Pomfret, Connecticut

this 20th Day

of April, 2016

 

Kenneth W. Kristal,

Chairman

Pomfret Board of Finance 

 

April 21, 2016

 

Legal Notice

Town of Putnam

Notice is hereby given that the Town of Putnam, Connecticut, Audited Financial Statements for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2015, is on file in the office of the Town Clerk, Town Hall, 126 Church Street, Putnam, CT.

 

Dated at Putnam, 

Connecticut, 

this 14th day 

of April, 2016.

 

Sara J. Seney,

Town Clerk

 

April 21, 2016

 

caption:

 

Committed

Marianapolis' Emily Taft, surrounded by her family, recently committed to Quinnipiac. Courtesy photo.

 

 

 

 

By Ron P. Coderre

This week’s RPC shoutout is sent along to Jonathan Tremblay.  The former Ellis Tech standout basketball player is currently more involved in doing good deeds for his community, primarily through his membership in the Putnam Rotary Club.

A Marianapolis senior who’s been involved in gymnastics for 13 years is reaping benefits for her dedication and hard work as she prepares to graduate and move on to college.  Emily Taft, a Putnam resident, officially committed to the Acrobatics and Tumbling team at Quinnipiac University in Hamden April 13.

During her gymnastics career Taft, who trained at Deary’s Gymnastics in Danielson, has placed in the Top 5 in numerous competitions.  In recent years she’s been especially successful on the beam.  In 2010 she held a record, when she recorded a 9.750 and received the prestigious Ro Carlucci Memorial Award for winning the All-Around in State competition, according to a news release from Marianapolis.

“What I love most about gymnastics is definitely the challenge of it, and the support from my teammates and coaches.  Trying new skills for the first time, especially on a 4-inch wide beam is scary at first, bur being able to conquer it is the best feeling,” said Taft.

Quinnipiac University is an NCAA Division I school.  It’s one of 13 schools that will be competing at the Nationals this year.  The Bobcats are currently ranked 5th in the nation and have won six of eight meets during the 2015-2016 season.

“I chose Quinnipiac University because when I walked on campus it felt like home.  I remember visiting there as a junior.  I told my parents to leave me there because I fell in love with it right away,” noted Taft.

Taft is planning to study exercise science with a goal of becoming a physical therapist.  She’s the daughter of Tim and Kaleen Taft, a 1987 Marianapolis graduate.  Her younger sister Lydia is a freshman at Woodstock Academy and a member of the school’s championship gymnastics team.  Her grandparents are Cosmo and Bernadette Quercia of Thompson.

Classic Competitor…

Mamadou Diarra, who recently concluded a stellar basketball career at Putnam Science Academy and is headed to UConn in September, recently competed in the Jordan Brand Classic at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.  Diarra was a member of Team New York, which competed in the regional game.  Diarra’s future teammate at UConn, Alterique Gilbert of Lithonia, Ga., played for the East team.

Diarra, who hails from Queens, N.Y., put on a great show in front of his home folks.  He had 19 points on a 9-of-10 shooting performance.  Many of his shots were of the dunk variety.  He also had three rebounds.

Diarra led the PSA Mustangs of coach Tom Espinosa to a 37-4 record this season.  He finished his last year on the 18 Maple Street campus, averaging double figures in points and rebounds.

A Master’s Memory And More…

Tom Watson, at the age of 68, competed in his final Master’s in Augusta, Ga., this year.  Among Watson’s accomplishments was the fact that he won the “Green Jacket” at the Master’s twice.  Throughout his career the man on Watson’s bag was his longtime caddie Bruce Edwards.

As a young man Edwards played his golf at Wethersfield Country Club in Connecticut.  Edwards died in 2004 of ALS, familiarly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.  When he caddied for Watson at the Master’s, he would always eat an egg salad sandwich on the 13th tee at Augusta National Golf Club.  Since Edward’s death, Watson has left an egg salad sandwich on the 13th tee in each of his Master’s appearances.

Watson once again left an egg salad sandwich on the tee this year, his final gesture on the 12th anniversary of his good friend and caddie’s death.

A little known fact about Bruce Edwards is that he graduated from Marianapolis Prep in 1973.  Two local individuals, Doug Daniels, the school’s financial officer, and John Miller of Putnam, have fond memories of Edwards.  Daniels notes that Edwards was also a pretty good basketball player at MPS.  Miller remembers that whenever Edwards had a free moment and the weather was conducive, he’d be outside chipping golf balls on the scenic campus.  In his yearbook, Edwards’s future plans indicated he wanted to play on the pro golf tour.

Although Edwards never achieved that goal, caddying for Watson had to be the next best thing.  As Watson told the Hartford Courant this year, “He (Edwards) loved to caddie here more than any place in the world.”

Cohasse CC Helps Young Golfers…

Cohasse Country Club in Southbridge is doing something positive to encourage and grow the game of golf.  The private club has awarded free junior memberships this year to 10 high school students.

The Club sent letters to local high school athletic directors inviting young golfers to write essays about why they would like a free membership.  They received 10 essays and decided to award all 10 individuals.

Included among the lucky winners were two Woodstock residents, Roxanne and Hunter Garceau.  Roxanne Garceau is the #1 golfer on the Woodstock Academy Women’s golf team.  She and her brother Hunter have great golf genes.  Their dad is Richard Garceau, boys’ golf coach at Woodstock Academy.  Their grandparents are Dick and Gale Garceau longtime members of Quinnatisset Country Club in Thompson.

Golfing For a Cause…

If you’re looking for an early season golf tournament, look no further.  The Trevor Palonen Golf tournament is scheduled for Friday, May 13 at Foster country Club with a shotgun start at 10 a.m.  The cost is $100 per golfer or $400 per foursome.

Trevor Palonen, who was born prematurely, became acidotic six weeks after his birth.  Although he was predicted to have a very short life span, Trevor was 16 years old when he died.  During his brief lifetime, young Palonen was a regular participant in the Walk America CT Chapter raising and amazing total of $76,964.  He also, along with his mom’s support, raised $12,298 for the March of Dimes, where he was honored for his effort by being named in 2004 the “Top Youth” in the Nation.  His motto was “Always Help Others.” 

For more information or to participate in the tournament, contact Pat and Arvid Palonen by telephone at 860.564.5965 or by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  Checks may be made out to TPMSF, c/o 500 Canterbury Road, Plainfield, CT 06374.  

 RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: “Those who are happiest are those who do the most for other.”  Booker T. Washington

(If you have news worthy sports information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

 

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