The Sports Department-Vernon Edition (Sept 6-19)

Vernon Edition September 6-19, 2011

The Sports DepartmentServing • Ellington • South Windsor • Tolland • Vernon

Also Serving • East Windsor • Enfield • Somers • Stafford

The Stafford Seniors baseball team had quite a season to remember. See page 4

The Sports Department names its All-Area Softball team. Begins on Page 10

Inside The Sports DepartmentFREESubscription

Kicking It Into Gear

Tolland’s Mariah Elliot returns to the Eagles for her junior season as the high school fall season gets un-derway. Check out the Fall previews, beginning on page 5. Photo by Steve Palmer, The Sports Department, www.stevepalmerphotography.com

Team Chants Should Be Censored

By Jon BuzbyThe Sports Department

Chants have always been a part of sports at every level. Whether it’s “Let’s go team” at a tee-ball game or “J-E-T-S” at The Meadowlands, chants get players, parents and fans excited for the big game.

But sometimes youth sports teams can take chants a little too far. Last weekend I went to watch my 6-year-old niece play in her team’s first soccer game at the local recreation complex. The weather was perfect, the kids looked great in their oversized shirts and above-the-knee shin guards, and the familiar sight of chairs being unfolded along the sidelines was a welcome sign of another fall youth sports season on the horizon.

Watching warmups, where half the kids paid attention and the other half attended to everything but soccer, was a reminder that unlike many of the college and high school games I cover, this one was going to be a laid back and relaxed atmosphere.

Getting ready

Warm-ups ended, the ref blew the whistle, balls were cleaned up and teams gathered around their coaches. My niece looked as innocent and nervous as the rest of the kids, some playing an organized sport for the very first time. Video and

See “COACHES ”, Page 3

KnightsKnightsKnights

Morgan McPartland

All-NCCC

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September 6-19, 20112 The Sports Department

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The Sports DepartmentP.O. Box 746, Ellington, CT 06029

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“With the Red Sox and Yan-kees staging yet another clas-sic September battle, the time seems about right to re-introduce our Monthly Trivia Contest, and this time with a baseball theme. Here is the Ques-tion for Septem-ber:

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September 6-19, 2011 3The Sports Department

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Continued from Page 1digital cameras were out, grandparents began arriving and even younger siblings were still paying attention at this point. All eyes and ears were on the team.

And then team broke the huddle chant-ing loudly: “Seek, destroy, kill!”

I almost fell out of my chair. I couldn’t believe my ears. At the high school level, a cheer such as that would get the coach suspended, and at some fields it might warrant an arrest for making terrorist threats.

In all my years coaching and cover-ing sports at any level, I had never heard anything close to that chant. Here I was, at a community field in an upper-middle-class suburban town, watching a coach teach his players a chant that wouldn’t be acceptable in leagues housed in the worst neighborhoods in the country.

Changes Needed

My first thought was: At least I have a

column topic. And then my second thought was: I never dreamed I’d be writing this column because I thought we were past this type of blatant over-aggressiveness at any level of youth sports, let alone this local recreation league that doesn’t even keep score (although something tells me this coach does, and probably statistics, too).

My sister plans to complain if it happens again. I’m just hoping someone else com-plains before it does. The message has to be clear to this coach: A chant like that is unacceptable and if it doesn’t stop, we’ll find another coach.

I thought we were past this type of behavior. Let’s hope this league soon is. And let’s hope your league is, too. If not, please help it be.

Jon Buzby’s columns appear in newspa-pers and magazines around the country as well as numerous websites. Email your comments to [email protected]

Coaches Should BeAbove Obscene Chants

Ellington/Somers 2011 High School Football Schedule

Tolland High School’s2011 Football Schedule

• September 9: Ellington/Somers at Rockville (scrimmage), 6:30 p.m.

• September 17: Canton at Elling-ton/Somers, noon

• September 23: Ellington/Somers at SMSA/University High, 6:30 p.m.

• October 1: Gilbert/NW Regional at Ellington/Somers, 1:30 p.m.

• October 8: Granby at Ellington/Somers, 1 p.m.

• October 14: Ellington/Somers at Stafford/East Windsor, 6:30 p.m.

• October 22: Windsor Locks/Suf-field/East Granby at Ellington/Som-ers, 1 p.m.

• October 28: Ellington/Somers at Enfield, 7 p.m.

• November 12: Avon at Ellington/Somers, 1 p.m.

• November 19: Ellington/Somers at Housatonic/Wamogo, 1 p.m.

• November 24: Ellington/Somers at Coventry/Windham Tech, 10:30 a.m.

• September 10: Windsor Locks/Suffield/East Granby at Tolland, 9 a.m.

• September 17: Weaver at Tolland, 1 p.m.

• September 24: Plainville at Tolland, 1 p.m.

• September 29: Tolland at Berlin, 7 p.m.• October 8: Northwest Catholic at Tol-

land, 1 p.m.• October 14: Tolland at Bloomfield, 7

p.m.• October 22: Platt at Tolland, 1 p.m.• October 28: Tolland at Rockville, 6:30

p.m.• November 5: Tolland at East Catholic,

2:30 p.m.• November 12: Rocky Hill at Tolland, 1

p.m.• November 24: Tolland at E.O. Smith,

10 a.m.



Stafford Seniors Summer a SuccessBy Mark PopovitchThe Sports Department

With the Little League World Series coming to a close soon, it’s only fitting that The Sports Department put a cap to sum-mer with a recap of the spectacular tourna-ment run of the Stafford Seniors baseball team.

Stafford Seniors had an easier road to the state tourna-ment than most teams, as they were awarded an at-large bid after the other two towns in District 8 (Tolland and Ellington) had to back out when neither team could field a full roster. Basically, Stafford claimed the District 8 crown without having to play a single game in district, which meant yet another championship for the town of Stafford this summer, raising their tally to three in 2011.

The state tournament was held in Orange, and featured some powerhouse teams from Haddam-Killingworth, Edge-wood (a team from the Bristol area), and Amity (from the Orange area). In the opening game, Stafford was shut out by Edgewood, 10-0. The offense was limited, but Tom Jacobson and Dalton Zbierski each picked up a hit, while Luke Hoss couldn’t come up with any answers against Edgewood’s deep lineup.

But the boys from District 8 stormed back in their second game against Hadd-am-Killingworth, beating them, 16-1. Brent Henderson was solid on the mound, allow-ing just one hit and striking out four. Zach Rollins provide the pop at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two triples, and Tom Jacobson knocked in four runs with a couple of hits. Jake Kallette also picked up a pair of hits in three at-bats.

Then, with a trip to the championship round at stake, Jacobson scattered four hits over six innings, striking out seven, to help Stafford to a 5-3 win over Amity. Zach Rollins hit a solo home run in the first in-ning, while Austin Zbierski chipped in two

hits and two RBI.The state championship final was a

best-of-three series against Edgewood. In Game 1, Edgewood jumped out to a 2-0 lead that would stand until the seventh in-ning, where Stafford crossed the plate six times and hold on for the 6-2 victory and a 1-0 series lead. Pitcher Dalton Zbierski held Edgewood in check by surrender-ing four hits and striking out five. In the seventh, Kallette, Adam Brassard, Hoss, and Austin Zbierski each had a single to drive in a run.

Things don’t go so well for Stafford in Game 2. Edgewood ran away with the contest early on and evened the series at a game a piece after a convincing 15-2 win. Evan Thereoux and Dustin Majewski each had two hits to pace Stafford’s ef-forts.

The decisive Game 3 was a thriller, as most championship games this sum-mer have been across the board in Little League and Senior League. Stafford had a 5-3 lead in the sixth. Jacobson was working on a three-hitter when he ran out of pitches. Edgewood pushed a run across and then scored two in the seventh to take a 6-5 lead. In the bottom of the seventh, Stafford had the tying and winning runs in scoring position, but couldn’t capitalize.

The state championship that could have been came up just a bit short.

Nevertheless, the effort poured in from the team made Stafford’s manager Les Rollins, and coaches Brian Vail, Dan Ford and Emerson Dolby, proud to be along for the ride. From outstanding pitching from Jacobson and Brent Henderson to timely hitting from Rollins, Austin Zbierski and Hoss, Stafford’s postseason run was a success even though they barely missed out on a state championship. The hustle, effort, and determination from players such as Tim Ford, Austen Young and Nate Kopp brought Stafford as far as they went, which is still another District 8 crown to their credit, and the defensive gems of Evan Theroux, Brassard and Kallette en-abled Stafford to stay in even the closest of contests.

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In Ellington, Fall And Winter Registration Being Accepted

By Bob Tedford, Ellington RecreationAs the summer of 2011 pretends to

come to a close, the recreation department has prepared an outline of fall programs for town residents. The current fall pro-gram brochure can be viewed/accessed by going to the Town of Ellington’s website, www.ellington-ct.gov. Click on town ser-vices and click on parks and recreation.

A myriad of activities will be available to town residents and pre-registration is required. The recreation office phone number is: 860-870-3118. Office hours are: Mondays: 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Tuesday-

Thursday: 8:30 a.m.- 4 p.m.; Friday: 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Fall SoccerFinal registrations for fall soccer are be-

ing accepted on a ‘roster space’ availability only from 3 years of age (as of Dec. 31, 2011) to 8th grade.

Fall LacrosseLate registrations, where openings exist,

will be accepted for boys, grades 2-8, and girls, grades 6-8.

See “BASKETBALL ”, Page 6


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Ellington Soccer Looks To Build On SuccessBy Tim LarewThe Sports Department

Boys head soccer coach Roy Gurnon expects his squad to come back strong after a year that ended with a 1-0 loss in the semifinals of the Class M state tournament last season. “The team chemistry and focus on trying to build on what they’ve started is key, and that seems to be moving along in the right direction,” said Gurnon.

A very experienced group of seniors re-turns, and Gurnon expects junior Drew Co-hen to be a major contributor. The returning seniors include Cam King, Brian Tiedt, Kyle Plickys, Stone Oliver, Ryan Whit-ing, Zach Topor, and Jeff Patrick. “After a week of practice, one of the things we’ve noticed is that we have some pretty decent team speed,” said Gurnon, “The returning players are extremely motivated to help the younger players help us do well.”

Football With a slew of returning seniors, El-

lington High football coach Keith Tautkus believes the Knights have a great chance of contending for the league title if they play to their potential. Some key returning play-ers from last year’s squad that finished 6-4 include senior captains Victor Viega (OT/DT), Mitch DiResta (RB/DB), Sean Cover-dill (G/DT), and Luke Levasseur (LB/RB), as well as four returning All-Conference players in Zack Paquette (DT), Jake Sch-neider (E/RB), Ken Vallaro (RB/DB), and Jason Hoffman (OT). While Tautkus sees experience as a key strength, he is focused on making sure his squad doesn’t fall victim to overconfidence, especially against league foes Avon and Gilbert.

Boys Cross CountryThough last year was a bit of a down

year for coach Aaron Flamino’s boys cross country team, this season will see the return of three seniors, including top runner Alex Smith, who will set the pace for the Knights. “Alex took a big jump in training and racing last year and should be poised to capitalize on it this fall,” said Flamino. Smith was named to both the All-Conference and All-State (Class SS) teams last year, and Ellington finished with a 16-8 record. “To have success this season, the back end of our top seven runners will need to have had a good summer of training to

Senior Monica Ferrara will look to go all out to help her Knights on the volleyball court this season. Photo by Steve Palmer, The Sports Department, www.stevepalmer-photography.com

Ellington hopes Cam King can use his head - and feet - to lead the Knights on the soccer field. Photo by Steve

Palmer, The Sports Department, www.stevepalmerphotography.com

make the necessary improvements to be competitive,” said Flamino.

Girls Cross CountryIt won’t be an easy task for the Ellington

girls cross country team to replicate last year’s perfect 12-0 season that was capped off by a conference and Class M state title. However, all but two of the Knights’ top seven runners are returning, and they could very well be poised to make another deep run. All-Conference senior Josie Gerber is back, and so are the two dynamic juniors, Kayla Sgarlata (2010 All-Conference) and Jen Hulstein (All-Conference and All-State). Hulstein returns as the defending NCCC Champion, and Flamino expects big things from her as well as the rest of the junior class. “The core of our top seven included only two upperclassmen last year,” Flamino said. “Now many of those under-classmen are juniors and should be able to step up their roles on the team.”

Girls VolleyballHead Coach Allison Watras is looking

forward to her first season as coach of the Ellington girls volleyball team. “We have a bunch of girls with a lot of heart and desire,” said Watras, “I’m excited to see what we can accomplish this year.” The Knights fin-ished with a 12-6 record last year and lost five seniors to graduation. This year, Wa-tras is looking to a duo of seniors, Alyssa Jones (middle hitter) and Monica Ferrara (defensive specialist) to lead the way, and to sophomore Lanae Schneider (outside hitter) to be a key contributor as well.

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Student Athlete of the MonthNickname: CoAccomplish-ments: All-Con-ference Lacrosse 2010; Scholar Athlete Awards 2008-2011; National Honors Society; Harvard Radcliffe Book Award 2010-2011; American Legion Auxiliary Girls’ State Participant; High Honors StudentGPA: 4.0Other sports: LacrosseHow do you prepare for a game: Eat a healthy snack and listen to music with all the girlsThoughts on the season: We have a lot of new, talented girls coming up this year, and I’m really excited to come together and do our best.Toughest team to play against: Suf-field and AvonFavorite sports memory: Making it to our first ever state tournament in girls’ lacrosseFavorite memory of high school: Par-

ticipating in the Cool Schools assembly last year that aired on Channel 3 with Mark DixonRole model or inspirational person in your life: My mom and dadMost embarrassing moment: Show-ing up to soccer tryouts freshman year without my socks and shin guards.Toughest challenge I’ve overcome: Managing my academics and sports in order to be successful in bothFavorite athlete: Alex MorganMost famous (or near famous) person I ever met: Senator Richard BlumenthalPerson I’d like most to meet: Taylor SwiftFavorite way to relax: Watch TVFavorite class: Pre-CalculusFavorite snack food: NachosFavorite band: Dave Matthews BandFavorite restaurant: Texas RoadhouseRed Sox or Yankees: Red SoxFavorite movie: The Notebook and Shutter IslandFavorite television show: Pretty Little LiarsPlans after high school: I hope to attend UConn next year with a focus in math or medicine.

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Ellington

Continued from Page 4Youth Winter Basketball Registration Schedule

Registration for winter youth basketball will begin on Oct. 3 during normal busi-ness hours. Please check the website for information related to fees, evaluation process and guidelines for participating. A schedule that defines the evaluation dates for travel basketball will be posted on the website by the last week of Sep-tember and printed in the October edition of The Sports Department.

Coaching ClinicNew and returning basketball coaches

are welcome to register for Fall 2011 coaching clinics in an effort to prepare for the 2011-12 season. Two sepa-rate clinics will be offered: one for new coaches and one for experienced coach-es. Please email [email protected] if you wish to be included on the contact list.

Fall FestivalThe annual family fall festival will be

held Oct. 22, noon-2 p.m., at Brookside Park. Please access the website to se-cure more information.

Special EventsAED/CPR First Aid Training: The fol-

lowing sessions will be offered, free of charge to town of Ellington Volunteers: coaches, instructors, officials.

Oct. 13: 5-10 p.m.; Oct. 15: 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; Nov. 7: 5-10 p.m.; Nov. 19: 9 a.m.-

2 p.m.; Dec. 6: 5-10 p.m.Email [email protected]

with your name and phone number, the sport you are involved with and the date you have chosen to attend.

Athletic OpportunitiesThe following programs are available

for registration:Youth and adult tennis lessons, adult

and youth Yoga, Jukido and Karate, Adult Indoor and Outdoor Soccer, Wom-en’s Soccer League, Adult Body Fitness, Zumba Fitness, Nordic Walking, Youth Zumbatonic, Pre School Programs, After School Bowling, Ultimate Frisbee, Infor-mal Adult Basketball, Badminton Along with Youth, co-ed and adult men’s and women’s volleyball.

New To The MenuRevised and revamped programs such

as multi-sports, and co-ed floor hockey have returned for specific grade levels, pre-registration is mandatory so proper program preparation may be made.

Social EventsAdded to the list of choices: Tie Dye

Night, Cookless cooking night, Dinner and Show, Crafty Critters, and Game Night. Please review the town website for pertinent information.

CPR Heart Babysitter Safety CourseThis course is intended for children

ages 11 to 15, please check the website for specific course dates.

Basketball Coaching Clinics Available

September 6-19, 2011 7The Sports DepartmentTolland


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Tolland Cross Country Looks To Repeat As ChampsBy Katy SproutThe Sports Department

After a flawless 2010 season, the boys cross country team has several returning members from the State Open champi-ons. Of the returning runners, captains Ryan Possardt and Matt Mensher, both All-State in 2010, are expected to continue their success. Also returning are senior Matt Snydal, junior Colin Sauter and sophomore Connor Lafontaine. Coach Brandon Elliot said Tolland, which went 14-0 last season, will compete again as long as it stays healthy. Both E.O Smith and Rocky Hill have strong distance pro-grams that could stand in the way of that goal.

Girls Cross Country

The girls cross country team is ready for a fun and successful year. Depth will be its strength this year as they have many contenders for the seven varsity spots. Seniors on the team are: Emily Howard, Katie Jacobs, Rachel Gedansky and Christina Macklem. Howard is a well-rounded runner who was All-New England, All-State and All-Conference in track, and All-Conference in cross country. Sopho-more Melissa Caron is also a return-ing All-Conference runner. Coach Judi Lafontaine said new members Kierra Laramie and Courtney Akerley will add to the depth and hopefully help the team beat E.O. Smith and RHAM, the top teams

in the CCC East. “This team of 20 girls is committed and unified like no other team I have coached. They are ready for a fan-tastic season,” Lafontaine said.

Girls Soccer

The girl’s soccer team is sure to have another very exciting season. Standouts on the field this year include senior captain Alli Gallo. Gallo, a forward and midfielder, has been All-Conference and All-State twice, and is in her third year as a starter. Gallo is “a dominant and dangerous player anywhere” head coach Ken Boucher said. Senior captain Kristin Carr, a three-year starter, was All-Conference and voted team MVP in two consecutive years.

Boucher said Carr is a natural scorer who isn’t selfish. Senior Brandi Borrowski “will be valuable at many positions with differ-ing responsibilities,” Boucher said. Juniors Hannah Fay and Megan Lester will be an asset to the team as well. Boucher said he is looking forward to a break-out year for Lester, who has good speed and increas-ing ball and shooting skills. Tolland, 15-3-1 last season, won the conference title before advancing to the state quarterfinals. By losing only four starters, Tolland has similar aspirations this year.

Football

An 0-10 record was motivation in the off-season, and with five seniors graduated, there are plenty of returning players look-ing to change those results. Seniors on the team are: Connor Gay (center), Jimmy Edinger (offensive tackle), Brett Aker-ley (halfback) and co-captain Jamison Boucher (halfback). Junior Mike Criniti is a halfback and was an All-Conference cornerback last year, and co-captain Chris Byam was All-Conference quarterback last year. Head coach Andy Bourquin says that the team is “much improved in speed, size and strength, but they need to be much more physical and play with more discipline.”

VolleyballThe girls volleyball team is rebuilding in

different positions as six seniors graduated

The Eagles will rely on their speed and quickness to try and improve from a win-less campaign in 2010. With all-world runner Bryan Fowler gone,

the State Open champion Tolland Eagles will try and duplicate last season’s suc-cess.

last year. Returning this year is Kristin Schatzlein, who was All-Conference and led the team in kills and service aces. Junior Kelsey Lewis was second in kills and aces last year and was also All-Conference. Seniors Jenna Lovett and Lindsay Price are also solid hitters in the middle and outside respectively. Head coach Ken Brown says the strength of the team is “we never give up, we have a great attitude, and we revel in the success of our team and our teammates. We have a balance of talented players and are a force to be reckoned with.”



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Student Athlete of the MonthNickname: RickyAccomplishments: CIAC All-Confer-ence Soccer 2009 and 2010. Hartford Courant All-Area Soccer Team 2009 and 2010. CSCA All-State 2010. CIAC All-Conference Tennis 2010 and 2011. Hartford Courant All-Area Tennis Team 2011. Tennis All-State 2011.GPA: 3.6/4.0Other sports: TennisHow do you prepare for a game: Be-fore a game I like to shower and shave. Most people don’t believe this because I went my whole sophomore season without washing the shirt I warmed up for games in.Thoughts on the season: We have a good team this year; we have to focus on making the postseason, then making magic.Toughest team to play against: El-lington. We’ve played stronger teams than them before but all the emotion that comes with a Tolland-Ellington game makes it the toughest.Favorite sports memory: The 2009 soccer season as a whole was unbeliev-able. We had a great team that year and to cap the season with a state champi-onship was amazing.Favorite memory of high school: Be-ing in school the day after Dylan Roman and I won the Class M Tennis Doubles Title this spring. Our friends and teach-ers reactions to our underdog win were fun to be around.Role model or inspirational person in your life: I’ve been really lucky to have some great leaders that were older than me in the Tolland soccer program. I’ve always looked up to them, especially the seniors on our team in ’09.Most embarrassing moment: Having the ball hit the cross bar, hit me in the face, and go in against RHAM last year in our night game at Eastern.

Toughest challenge I’ve overcome: Losing in only the second round of states last year provided any extra moti-vation I needed to put in the extra hours in the off-season to make sure it doesn’t happen again.Favorite athlete: Tim HowardMost famous (or near famous) person I ever met: Sean Kingston, we fist-bumped.Person I’d like most to meet: Hope SoloFavorite way to relax: Have a big meal with my mom’s homemade tomato sauce.Favorite class: U.S. History with Mr. WieseFavorite snack food: OreosFavorite band: MGMTFavorite restaurant: Tolland PizzaRed Sox or Yankees: YankeesFavorite movie: Kickin It Old SkoolFavorite television show: SportsNationPlans after high school: I plan to continue playing soccer at the collegiate level while majoring in Political Science.


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EaglesEaglesEagles

Eric VeneziaSoccer

Fall Fun Around The CornerBy Tom AinsworthTolland RecreationHappy Fall Everyone,

Another fun and successful summer sea-son is over. Next up Fall and Winter.

For those of you less than thrilled about cold weather, sorry I used the W word.

Hopefully we have a long, warm au-tumn to look forward to. Regardless of the weather we have a full compliment of programs and activities to help keep you and all the members of your family active and happy. We try to provide something for everyone. Watch for our flyer which is part of the Town of Tolland Newsletter coming out this month.

Speaking of looking for things, if you are looking for us we are now located in the new Tolland Recreation Center (back addition of the old Parker School). It is a great space with a lot of room for programs and activities. Once we get things sorted out we will have space to rent for birthday parties, special events, meetings, and more. Look for com-plete information at Tolland.org, If you are free during office hours stop by for a tour.

We will be having an open house in Octo-ber as well.

If you can’t find a program you are inter-ested in, give us a call and let us know. We are always looking for new ideas.

Our Youth programs run the gamut from Magic School, Painting, Jewelry making, and Pumpkin Carving and a lot more. Don’t

forget to sign up early for the Saturday basketball program (3rd grade and up). No registrations will be accepted after Novem-ber 15th.

Programs for adults cover the basics of health, fitness, hobbies and education. Yoga, Pilates, Zumba, Karate, Kickbox-ing, coed volleyball, pickup basketball, golf lessons, Guitar lessons, Piano/keyboard les-sons, Social Dancing, and more as well as a bunch of great on line programs covering a wide range of interests and topics.

We are offering some great family trips including a day in New York City, and the Statue of Liberty, Mary Poppins on Broad-way, and Radio City Music hall for the Christmas Spectacular.

As usual the many non-profit groups in town are working hard to provide some fun special events as well. The Celebrate Tolland Festival will be held at the high school on September 17th from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.. If you haven’t registered yet, get an application in for the Art show, or the Apple Dessert Baking Contest sponsored by Kollas Orchard, or the Craft Fair.

The 12th Annual Cider Mill 5K and family fun run is set for October 1st, which is a lot of fun for the whole family.

All in all a lot of good reasons to look forward to Fall and that other season that follows.

As always hope to see you out and about.

Tolland


Golf pagE


Locals Fare Well At Mid-Amateur TournamentRounds two and three scheduled for Sept 7

A number of local players have fared well thus far in the 24th Mid-Amateur Championship being played at The Farms Country Club in Wallingford.

KJ Camera of South Windsor and play-ing out of Ellington Ridge Country Club, is currently tied for fourth place. Camera carded an even score of 37-35 and sits three strokes behind first round leader Scott Farrell from Black Hall CC.

The tournament was originally sched-uled to be played August 30-31 but due to Hurricane Irene and scheduling conflicts

round one was played on August 31st and the final two rounds to be played Wednes-day, September 7th. Round two will begin at 7:30 am followed by round three at 12:30 pm with round one leaders teeing off their final round at 1:50pm.

Glen Boggini from Twin Hills CC in Coventry is tied for 14th at 3-over par along with Tim Heaney of Ellington Ridge. John Sawka, playing out of Topstone GC in South Windsor is four shots off the lead while Brian Powers of Ellington Ridge is 5 back.

Twin Hills Country Club in Coventry was the site of four aces recently.Tolland’s Ed Chagnot aced the 204-yard 13th hole on July 4. Tuan Hoang of

Coventry pulled off a hole in one on the 153-yard 16th at Twin Hills on 7/14 and Frank Zemek of Tolland knocked his tee shot into the hole on the 150-yard 4th hole on 7/28. Chris Coleman completed the string of aces with a hole in one on the 16-yard 8th hole on 8/21.

Twin Hills CC Junior Club Championship ResultsA-Flight B-Flight C-Flight1st. Patrick Stratton 84 1st. Colin Cordero 85 1st. Eric Goff2nd. Brian Boudreau 88 2nd. Allan Andrews 91 2nd. Ben Norstrom

Holes In One And Junior Championship Results From

Twin Hills CC

Glen Boggini (left) and Brenden Mailloux hooked up in an epic battle for the men’s club championship at Twin Hills CC last month. Boggini finally prevailed after seven extra holes of sudden-death play. Courtesy of: THCC

Upcoming Golf TournamentsEllington Senior Center Building Fund Golf Tournament• Honorary Chairperson Chris Dailey• Monday, October 3rd at Ellington Ridge

Country Club• $185 per golfer Scramble format includes lunch, contests, dinner, raffle. Sponsorship op-portunities available. For more informa-tion contact Stu Magdefrau, Chairperson 860-871-0373 or email [email protected]

Little Sisters of the Poor: 21st Annual Golf Tournament and Dinner

Will be held at the Elmcrest Country Club on Sept. 12. There is a $125 cost per golfer, which includes a $45 gift certificate for an additional greens fee to return to Elmcrest for a round of golf.

Call Sister Jane or Kathy White at 860-741-0791, St. Joseph’s Residence, 1365 Enfield St., Enfield, CT 06082

Tri-Town Hockey Alumni Golf OutingSaturday, Sept 10, at Rolling Meadows

CC in Ellington1:30 p.m. shotgun, $125 per person, includes 18 holes with cart, dinner, raffle, prizes, etc.

For more information or to reserve a

spot please call Chris Pape at 860-741-2630 or Jay DiResta at 860-875-3716

Second Annual Tina Niewinski Memorial Golf Tournament To Be Held Sept 9

The Second Annual Tina Niewinski memorial Golf Tournament will be held on September 9 at the Elmcrest Country Club in East Longmeadow MA

Cost is $100 per golfer and includes greens fees, golf cart, cookout lunch, pig roast and a gift certificate for one compli-mentary round at the Elmcrest Country Club - a $45 value.

All proceeds will benefit the Lupus Foun-dation, Checks should be made payable to Lupus Foundation of America. Reserve your foursome by Wednesday August 31st.

Also you can be a sponsor for the event. Sponsors names will be displayed on the golf course and listed in newspapers after the tournament.

All sponsors will receive a letter from Lupus Foundation for tax purposes.

Sponsor Level $50, $100, $250 and $500.

For additional information, reserve a foursome or register as a sponsor please conact Jerry Niewinski Jr 860-836-1851 or email [email protected]



EaglesEaglesEagles

Jess OlsenJunior

9-3, 1.50 ERA

“She is a finesse pitcher with great

control. She recorded keys wins

against our toughest competition all

year and was great in the State tour-

nament. She is a great competitor,

smart, and consistently keeps hitters

off balance.” - Coach Tom Drury

RamsRamsRams

Kaitlyn Lajoie

Sophomore

.462 Average, 16 runs, .533 OBP

“Kaitlyn Lajoie

in my mind is

the best pitcher

in high school

next year she

has great speed

pinpoint accu-

racy and is also

just a great kid

in general who

works hard on

and off the field

looking forward

to a great sea-

son with her on

the mound next

year.” - Coach

Frank Levick

FalconsFalconsFalcons

Ashley ReidSenior

.410 average, 17 SB, 12 RBI

“I am so proud of A-Reid and at the same time sad to see her graduate from the program. After breaking her thumb for the 7th time, Ashley basi-cally had to learn from scratch how to hit left-handed. She developed into a great team leader, great player and an even better person.” - Coach Sean Sweeney

RamsRamsRams

Brianna LevickSenior

36 Runs, .538 average, 6 triples, 12 RBI

“Bri will continue to impress at Fairfield University this fall and spring.I wish her are the luck under her new coach and hope she enjoys the successes at FU as she did at RHS” - Coach Frank Levick

The Sports Department is pleased to announce our 2011 All Area Teams. Selections to the All-Area Teams are

determined through a nomination and voting process among all of our area coaches for each sport.

All Area Softball

The Sports Department All Area Softball Team 2011

M-Th 8-8F-Sun 8-9


SpartansSpartansSpartans

Jo Jo

MeunierSenior

1.56 ERA,

12-3, 202K,

5 Shutouts

EaglesEaglesEagles

Sammie OlsonSophomoreLed team in batting average (over .400) last two seasons

“Sammy has been our offensive catalyst for two years. She has led

the team in batting aver-age (over .400) each year. Sammy usually leads off or bats 2nd and makes thing hap-pen on the base path. Missing 6 of the first 8

games due to a basket-ball injury, she made her presence known as

soon as she was healthy this year and was one of the main reasons for our successful late season run.” - Coach Tom Drury


Morgan McPartland

SeniorAll-NCCC

All Area Softball

The Sports Department All Area Softball Team 2011

RamsRamsRams

Elissa

GrafJunior

29 RBI, .538 Average, 3 home runs

“Elisa Graf will be one of the top if not the best third base-man in the state next year excel-lent glove and arm also hits the ball with a lot of author-ity hit 538 last year.” - Coach Frank Levick

BobcatsBobcatsBobcats

Stephanie Rahm

Senior

36 Runs, .538 average, 6 triples,

12 RBI

“Had an excel-

lent senior year

both on the

field and at the

plate. She was

a quiet threat,

but always

came through in

the clutch. Was

very vocal as a

team leader.” -

Coach Amanda

Roczniak

Chris Dailey

Monday, October 3rd

Ellington Ridge Country Club

ELLINGTON

Senior CenterBuilding FundGOLF TOURNAMENT

Honorary Chairperson Chris DaileyHonorary Chairperson

Register today!Contact: Stu Magdefrau, Chairperson

Phone: 860-871-0373 · email: [email protected]

$185 per golferSponsorship opportunities available

Scramble FormatLunch • Contests • Prizes

Raffle • Dinner • Silent Auction

Photo by Alan Basta-rache, The Sports Depart-ment, www.basta-rache-photos.com

Photo by Robert Pospi-sil, The Sports De-partment, www.rgp-pho-tography.smugmug.com

Photo by Steve Palmer, The

Sports De-partment, www.stevepal-merpho-tography.com

Photo by Steve

Palmer,

The Sports De-

partment,

www.stevepal-

merpho-

tography.

com


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September 6-19, 2011 13The Sports DepartmentVernon

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A new shoulder replacementprocedure offers hope for peoplesuffering from shoulder arthritis androtator cuff damage. The procedure,called Reverse ShoulderReplacement, has consistentlysucceeded where traditional shouldersurgeries have failed, providing painrelief, increased range of motion, and greater joint stability.

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Rams Looking To Gain Experience in 2011By Reid L. WalmarkThe Sports Department

David Jedidian (7-24) begins his fifth year as head coach for the Rams, who went 1-9 last year and finished seventh of eight teams in the CCC Division IV at 1-6. The team will play in the newly aligned CCC Division III East.

Seniors Masaim Baqar (offensive line, linebacker), Neil Gentile (quarterback, defensive back), Kevin Lukas (fullback, linebacker) and junior Geoff Barry (offen-sive, defensive lines) are the captains.

“We are a young team that needs to jell early if we want to be competitive,” said Jedidian, who is impressed with the Rams speed but is concerned over their inexperi-ence.

Boys SoccerJamie Bunker (22-54-3) begins his

sixth year as coach for a team that went 3-12-1 last year, finishing sixth of seven teams in the CCC East at 3-10-1. The Rams are replacing seven starters.

Three seniors midfielders are captains – Tyler Jones, who led the team in scoring in 2010, and Jacob McRey and Ryan Schmidt, who are in their third years with the Rams. Senior Collin Crane and junior Matt Beaulieu are in their second years. Juniors Danny Moncada, a forward, and Connor McCullough, a defender, are ex-pected to contribute as well. Sophomores Matt Tracey and Nico Perella should anchor the defense in front of goalie Dan Hansen.

“The potential is there for some over-

achieving as long as we play with the energy we’ve shown in the preseason,” Bunker said.

Girls SoccerSeniors Jenny Mears (goalie) and

four-year starter Shannon Lipe (defender) are captains for coach Jennifer Brindisi, who begins her 13th year. Four starters graduated from last year’s 4-11-1 team that placed sixth of eight teams in the CCC East (3-10-1).

Also expected to play are senior forward Jennifer Lippmann, junior midfield-ers Emily Vincze, Lindsey Brosseau, Colleen Donohue and Denise Bartlett, junior defenders Olivia Tani and Sarah Provencher and sophomore forward and Sarah Vincze.

“We return 12 letter winners from last year’s team so the majority of the team has experience playing together. Defense has been a strength for us in the past,” Brindisi said.

Boys Cross CountryLauren McCarthy begins her sixth year

as coach for a team that went 4-10 last year and placed sixth of eight teams in the CCC East. The Rams were 19th of 24 teams in the Class MM championships last season.

Junior Dan Arcand wasn’t on the team a year ago and won the team time trial. Sophomore Andrew Pilkons didn’t run this summer and senior John Epes will try to avoid injuries that had plagued him in 2010. Ben Allen, Tyler Hull and Zach

Polanski are freshmen.“As a team we really emphasize person-

al responsibility to getting better, thinking about what they want to get out of each practice and meet, and giving maximum effort daily,” McCarthy said.

Girls Cross CountryRay Owens is back for his ninth year as

coach of a team that placed fifth of eight teams in the CCC East with a 3-4 record in 2010.

Sophomore captain Shayla Schoen-eberger placed 68th of 129 finishers in the Class MM championships last year. She was 60th of 170 in the CCC conference meet. Owens says the team is in a rebuild-ing mode and must overcome having few runners and overall inexperience.

Girls VolleyballKimberly Marinan is back for her 11th

year as coach, hoping to see improvement from last year when the Rams finished 3-15 overall and sixth of eight teams in the CCC East (3-11). She needs to replace six starters.

Senior setter Alyssa Holmes is the lone returning starter. The Rams will rely on two senior outside hitters, Elissa Graf and

Jenny Mears took control of the net last season for the Rams girls soccer team. Photo by Andre Dumais, The Sports Department, www.imagingbyandre.com

Neil Gentile got the snaps last season as a junior for the Rams. Photo by Andre Dumais, The Sports Department, www.imagingbyandre.com

Nicole Ciampa. Senior Lakara Carter will contribute as a setter.

Marinan believes versatility will be her team’s chief asset but is concerned over inexperience.

September 6-19, 201114 The Sports DepartmentVernon

Student Athlete of the MonthNickname: NeihAccomplishments: Honors/High Honors; All-Academic team for football, basketball and baseball; Football CaptainGPA: 3.5Other sports: Basketball and baseballHow do you prepare for a game: Listen to music in the locker room, think about the game plan, and talk to my coaches beforehand.Thoughts on the season: Can be success-ful if the hard work is put forth.Toughest team to play against: BerlinFavorite sports memory: Winning the A-Team Youth Football Championship in 2006 with the Vernon Vipers.Favorite memory of high school: Winning the annual Volleyball Lock-in Championship with all of my friends.Role model or inspirational person in your life: My father, mother and sister are my biggest role models.Most embarrassing moment: Kicking a 1-yard punt in youth football. Ha!Toughest challenge I’ve overcome: Living in two households.Favorite athlete: Tom BradyMost famous (or near famous) person I ever met: Johnny DamonPerson I’d like most to meet: Neil Arm-

strongFavorite way to relax: Going to the beach or having a barbecue with family and friends.Favorite class: HistoryFavorite snack food: Pretzel M&M’sFavorite band: Rage Against the Machine, the Gorillaz.Favorite restaurant: HootersRed Sox or Yankees: Sox all the way.Favorite movie: All of the Transformers.Favorite television show: Jersey Shore, American Dad and Manswers.Plans after high school: A four-year col-lege and hopefully playing a sport.


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RamsRamsRams

Neil GentileFootball

Soccer, Yoga Among Programs Offered In Vernon

By Amy LocandroThe Sports Department

To register for any program you can come to the P&R office, 120 South Street or register online at www.vernon-ct.gov. Fall registration has begun!

Pee Wee TrackThis program is open to children ages

3 to 5 years old. Learn the fundamentals of track running. Here is the opportunity to meet new friends, release that bundle of energy and have fun learn the sport behind running. Participants will play fun drills and activities to develop an ap-preciation and love for running track. All participants will receive a T-shirt. • Tuesdays; Sept. 13-Oct. 4• 5:45-6:30 p.m.• Rockville High School Track• Fee: $40 residents; $45 non-residents• Instructor: Ms. Pat

Pee Wee Soccer

This coed program for children 3-6 years old, teaches the fundamentals of soccer to young players using a variety of fun drills and activities designed to develop soccer skills and a love for the game.• Where: Henry Park• When: Wednesdays, Sept. 7-Oct. 12

(note that scheduled days may vary due to the RHS Soccer schedule)

• Time: Ages 3-4: 5:30-6:15 p.m.; Ages 5-6: 6:30-7:15 p.m.

• Fee: $43 resident; $48 non-resident

ZumbatomicsFitness for kids. Join us for 45 minutes

of Zumbatomic with Hula Hoops. Children ages 5-10 will dance, move and twirl to exciting Zumba approved music. No prior skills needed. They’ll be having too much fun to realize they are exercising. Don’t miss out on this new and fun class.• Mondays; Sept. 12-Oct. 24 (no class Oct.

10)• 4:45-5:30 p.m.• Drop-in Fee: $8

Cross Country Running Club

This program, sponsored by Ticket-Network, is open to children ages 6 to 12 years old. Learn the fundamentals of cross country running. Here is the opportunity to meet new friends, release that bundle of energy and have fun learn the sport behind running! Participants will play fun drills and activities to develop an appreciation and love for running. All participants will receive a T-shirt. This program will run for four weeks Tuesdays and Thursdays; participants are required to attend one day a week, two days is pre-ferred. The coach will give you a detailed schedule the first week. Some weeks practice will take place at various Rails to Trails in Vernon (ex: Valley Falls, VCMS, etc)• Schedule: Sept. 6; Sept 8; Sept 13; Sept

15; Sept 20; Sept 22; Sept 27; Sept 29• 5:30-6:30 p.m.• Location: Rockville High School Track• Fee: $40 resident; $45 non-resident

American Red Cross CPR for Adult, Child & Infant-NEW 2 Year Certification

American Red Cross training such as CPR helps everyday people save lives. The new CPR program incorporates the latest science in CPR and emergency cardiovascular care and features a wealth of educational innovations to enhance the learning experience for students. New training DVDs that are customized with the specific types of emergency scenarios that are likely to occur in community, school or workplace environments, enhancing the relevancy of training for students.• Sept. 24; 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.• Vernon Teen Center Small Room

See “PILATES”, Page 18



Pos. Driver Points1 Ryan Preece 6642 Woody Pitkat 6003 Keith Rocco 5844 Todd Owen 5505 Eric Berndt 528

SK ModifiedPos. Driver Points6 Dan Avery 4507 Curt Brainard 4488 Frank Ruocco 4469 Glen Reen 44210 Michael Gervais, Jr. 440

Pos. Driver Points1 Kevin Gambacorta 7102 Shawn Thibeault 7083 George Nocera Jr. 6984 Norm Sears 6365 David Burnham 600

Limited Late ModelPos. Driver Points6 Duane Provost 5987 Jesse Hinze 5828 Cory Casagrande 5689 Joseph Nogiec 49410 Daniel Flannery 488

Pos. Driver Points1 Don Wood 6802 Andrew Hayes 6723 Cliff Saunders 6544 Joshua Wood 6445 Kristopher Fluckiger 608

DARE StockPos. Driver Points6 Kyle Casagrande 5967 David Arute 5568 Albert Saunders 4909 Vince Gambacorta 47210 Andrew Marchese 406

Pos. Driver Points1 Matthew Galko 6702 Joseph Cipriano, III 6303 Frank Cardile 542

SK Light ModifiedPos. Driver Points4 Kyle Spencer 5365 Jay Goff 5206 Thomas Barrett, Jr. 5147 Stephen Greer 4908 Tony Santangelo 4889 Harry Wheeler 48210 Cody Gneiting 464

Pos. Driver Points1 Ryan Posocco 6902 Woody Pitkat 6603 Dillon Moltz 5924 Jim Peterson 5765 Corey Hutchings 5726 Mark St. Hilaire 5687 John Hill Jr. 5428 Keith Rocco 5409 Tom Fearn 51210 John Kasper 496

Late Model

Stafford Motor Speedway StandingsMotorsports pagE

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FIVE STAR

Standings as of September 2Racing Version Of A Pennant Chase Shaping Up At Stafford

With four feature events remaining Stafford’s Woody Pitkat is in position to make a run at a rare double cham-pionship. Pitkat, who picked up his first SK Modified victory of the sea-son on Friday night, is within striking distance of the points leaders in both the SK Modified and Late Model divi-sions at Stafford Motor Speedway.

Pitkat figures to play a promi-nent role in the Late Models points chase as he has closed within 32 points of defending champion Ryan Posocco. Pitkat has three victories thus far in the Late Models and has a solid grasp of second place, 60 points ahead of Dillon Moltz. The SK Modified division has turned into a three-way race with Ryan Preece leading the way followed by Rocco and Pitkat.

Other local notables to watch down the stretch include Stafford’s Cliff Saunders who is running third in the DARE Stock standings and Elling-ton’s Kevin Gambacorta who is just 16 points behind Shawn Thibeault (Plainville) in the Limited Late Model standings

Stafford’s Woody Pitkat found the winner’s circle for the first time on Friday night. Photo by: Steve Palmer


Outdoors pagE

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DEP Weekly Fishing ReportInland ReportPost Hurricane Irene

Some state parks (remember that some boat launches are within state parks) and forests remain closed.

Anglers and boaters are advised to pe-riodically check the DEEP websites (www.ct.gov/dep or www.ct.gov/deep) for the latest status of DEEP facilities.

A number of rivers including the Con-necticut River, Housatonic River and Farmington River are currently unfishable due to the extremely high flows and dif-ficult/dangerous for boating. Some lakes and ponds may also be difficult to access, fish or boat. See the Notes and Notices section for additional information.

Largemouth Bass fishing was generally fair to good last week with the best reports from Wononskopomuc Lake, Winchester Lake (including a 6 lb bass), Ball Pond, Candlewood Lake, Mudge Pond and Lake Hayward, and fair reports from Quad-dick Lake (lots of “small” fish), Powers Lake, Gardner Lake (lots of 1 lb “cookie-cutters”) and Long Pond. It was tough finding many bass at Beseck Lake and East Twin Lake.

Smallmouth Bass – Candlewood Lake smallmouth fishing has been good, and last week some action was also reported from Gardner Lake and Highland Lake.

Northern Pike – Some catches reported last week from Bantam Lake, Pachaug Pond and Quaddick Lake.

Rivers & streams – Flows have be-come very high and unfishable in some areas, especially larger rivers such as the Housatonic and Farmington Rivers. Those wishing to fish should try smaller streams and tributaries, as they are the first to recede. Anglers can find real time stream flow data for a number of rivers

and streams in CT on the USGS website at: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ct/nwis/current/?type=flow

Farmington River – Trout fishing had been very good. Since the arrival of Hur-ricane Irene, much of the river has been unfishable due to high flows and flood-ing. Although Still River inputs continue to slowly drop to more comfortable levels (currently 580 cfs), West Branch flows have again increased as releases from the Goodwin Dam have been increased to 750 cfs and are expected to continue until at least Sept. 6 to facilitate lowering Cole-brook River Lake. Due to the current high flows the annual pre-Labor Day stocking of the West Branch Farmington has been postponed. Flow conditions will be re-evaluated early next week, at which time the stocking will be rescheduled.

Housatonic River – The river is cur-rently unfishable due to very high flows, about 6,800 cfs at Falls Village and about 9,300 cfs at Gaylordsville. For updated flow information, anglers should call First-Light Power at 1-888-417-4837. Anglers in this area should try the smaller streams and tributaries, as they typically drop to fishable levels quickly. The thermal refuge areas on the Housatonic, Naugatuck and Shetucket Rivers reopened on Sept. 1.

The thermal refuge recently established on the Salmon River in East Haddam is closed to fishing and access through Sept. 30. This refuge is located around a spring entering the Salmon River approximately 220 feet south of the unused paved boat launch at the state-owned property for-merly known as the Sunrise Resort off of Route 151. The refuge includes all water within 100 feet from the end of the pipe as posted.

Lakes & Ponds – Anglers had been finding some trout in a number of lakes

and ponds, including Crystal Lake (El-lington; target 25-30 ft early morning), East Twin Lake (30-35 ft), Highland Lake (target 30+ ft), Mashapaug Lake (target 25-27 ft), West Hill Pond and Beach Pond.

Connecticut River – The river has crested at both Hartford and Middle-town, but remains above flood stage and very turbid, with lots of debris (large and small) moving downstream. These conditions are unsafe for boating and make angling (from shore or boat) difficult to impossible. Last week (before Irene) Northern Pike fishing had been picking up, with catches at the mouth of Salmon River, along the mainstem downstream from Hartford to Harbor Park and in the Haddam Meadows area. Catfish had been providing some great late summer action on cut bait (chunking). Anglers had been finding some nice Black Crappie (use small shiners in back coves). Smallmouth Bass fishing in the Enfield area was fair, and some nice smallies were reported from the mainstem from below Hartford to Middletown.Notes and Notices

Lake Zoar – Water ski clinics for the disabled are scheduled for Sept. 10 in the upper end of Lake Zoar. These events run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and boaters are asked to take care when passing through this area (marked by buoys) of the lake, and avoid interfering with the

event.Lake Lillinonah - Lake Lillinonah

remains drawn down (approximately 11.5 feet from its current level as a flood control measure. The use of both state launches (Route 133/steel bridge launch and Pond Brook launch) by trailered boats will be impossible during the drawdown this week-end. Anglers can call FirstLight Power at 1-888-417-4837 for updated lake level (and Housatonic River flow) information.

Lake McDonough - The boat launch facility is currently closed because of Irene. Anglers/boaters should check the MDC website (www.themdc.com) for updates concerning its availability for the Labor Day weekend (typically the last weekend of operation for the year).

Connecticut River Launches - The Haddam Meadows and Salmon River State boat launches are closed because of flood-ing, as are the Riverfront Recapture facili-ties in the Hartford/East Hartford area (Riv-erside Park, Charter Oak, Great River).

Statewide State Boat Launch Sta-tus - Most state boat launches remained open, but anglers are advised to check access roads carefully and use extra care when launching. Although Gardner Lake State Park is listed as closed, the boat launch is open. The East River launch in Guilford was reported as closed because of downed wires as of Aug. 30 (no further update available).

September 6-19, 2011 17The Sports DepartmentSouth Windsor


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South Windsor Football: New Players, New DivisionBy Reid L. WalmarkThe Sports Department

Mike Bullock (31-30) begins his seventh year as head coach for a football team that went 6-4 overall last year and finished fifth in the CCC Division I at 4-3. The Bobcats, who need to replace 19 starters and 27 letter-winners, will play in Division I East in the new alignment of schools.

Senior Matt Braddock, also a tight end, is a three-year starter at linebacker. Senior DJ Slater is returning to both lines, and senior running back Dujean Hines will seek 1,000 yards.

Bullock is looking for big plays from senior safety Ryan McClausland. He expects the senior-laden offensive line to open holes to ignite the running game.

Boys Cross Country

Coach Peter Anthony is expecting his team to improve from last year with six of the top seven runners returning. The Bobcats were 9-3 in 2010, finishing third of seven teams in the CCC North champi-onship meet and 13th among 21 scoring teams in the CIAC Class LL champion-ships.

Senior Joey Bonazelli was 37th of 148 in the state meet and 24th of 198 over-all in the CCC conference meet. Senior Kevin Morse (64th CCC conference), sophomores Ethan Gasta, Cooper Goslin and Ken Erikson also are back.

Junior Ryan, who missed last year (in-jury), returns, too.

Girls Cross CountryCoach Andrew Brindisi (38-27 career

record) is back for his fifth year with the team that finished 11th of 19 scoring teams in the 2010 Class L champion-ships. The Bobcats were 9-5 a year ago, placing third of six teams in the CCC North meet.

Senior Abby Colburn was 62nd out of 170 in the CCC conference meet last year and 53rd out of 135 in the L cham-pionships. Senior Megan Gauer (injury) returns after missing 2010.“We need our senior leaders to motivate the team to work hard and leave it all out on the course,” Brindisi said.

Boys SoccerDave St. Jean enters his ninth year as

coach of a team that went 7-6-4 last year, losing in the first round of the CIAC Class LL tournament. The Bobcats (5-5-4) were fourth of eight teams in the CCC North a year ago.

Senior Dean Jackson had a nine-goal, five-game stretch last year. Junior mid-fielder Andrew Smith was All-CCC North and junior goalkeeper Eric Hintz was 6-2-2 before sustaining an injury in 2010.

“Instead of tying or barely losing all those close games, we need to find the confidence and ability to win them,” St.

Jean said.

Girls SoccerVeteran girls lacrosse coach Ed Du-

clos replaces coach Melissa Morgan-Hostetler for a team that finished 13-3-2 with a quarterfinal loss in the CIAC Class LL tournament in 2010 and has lost just two starters. The Bobcats were second of eight teams last season in the CCC North with a 10-2-2 record.

The key returning players are midfield-ers Molly Baum and Taylor Merrow, defenders Gia Karahalios and Jess Maneeley and goaltender Erica Carey,

all of whom are seniors.

Field HockeyJennifer Bolduc is the new coach. The

Bobcats finished 13-5 with a quarterfinal loss in the Class L state tournament last year.

Girls VolleyballTina Holt is back for her 18th season

as coach of the team that finished 14-5 a year ago with a second-round loss in the Class L tournament. The Bobcats were second of eight teams in the CCC North (12-2) in 2010.

Senior outside hitter Kirsten Warner was second in kills last year and senior defensive specialist Mindi Chen was named All-CCC North. Seven players are returning.

Girls SwimmingHeather Lodge is back for her sec-

ond year as coach with the team, which finished 5-3 in dual meets in 2010, placed 10th of the 20 scoring team in the Class L championship meet and lost no swimmers through graduation.

Captains are seniors Stephanie Peli-kan and Katherine White and junior Mi-chelle Robidoux. “I think that this year we will have much more success with the addition of six swimmers and two divers,” Lodge said.

Christian Lopes tries to stop a player from getting past him during a game last season.

Junior Kelly Pantason boots a ball down field during a game last season. Photo by Steve Palmer, The Sports Department, www.stevepalmerphotography.com

September 6-19, 201118 The Sports DepartmentSouth Windsor

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South Windsor Recreation Accepting RegistrationBy Patrick TelmanSouth Windsor Recreation Department

The Fall/Winter version of Parks & Rec-reation Magazine is out and delivered to all South Windsor mailing addresses. The Magazine details upcoming programs through April including sports leagues, preschool classes, adult fitness and more. In addition, the Parks & Recreation website (recreation.southwindsor.org) will be continuously updated with the same program information leading up to the Magazine release.

Registration for All Fall winter programs and offerings are now being accepted. You can register for programs at the office, by mail or online. The recreation office can be reached at: 860-648-6355. Office hours are: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Youth Wrestling ProgramParticipants will learn the basic wres-

tling skills with an emphasis on proper body mechanics, movement skills and proper techniques. Wear t-shirts, shorts, or sweat pants and sneakers to class (no long sleeves). A mandatory meeting for parents will be held on Nov. 22, at 6:30 p.m. at the South Windsor Community Center Room 205 to discuss the program and to complete necessary forms. Grades 1-8, (groups to be determined at parent’s meeting). Monday/Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Dec. 5-March 15.

Middle School VolleyballIn this eight-week program, teens will

develop basic skills with an emphasis on mastering the proper techniques, move-ments and postures through instruction, drills and play. Students will participate in organized games at the end of each class.• Grades: 6-8 Timothy Edwards Gym,

Fee: $30• Thursdays, 5-6:45 p.m., Jan. 5-March 1

Jim Snow Youth Basketball LeagueDevelop your basketball skills while

you become a team player in this league program. Participants will be placed on a team and will be coached by volunteers.

They will practice one hour a week, 5:30-9:30 p.m., Monday-Friday. Each team will play 10 regular-season games on Saturdays or Sundays. Junior, Intermedi-ate, Advanced and Senior Divisions will also have a championship tournament at the end of the season.• Fee: $98 for Grades 3 and 4, $103 for

all higher grades.• Register on or before Oct. 7 and receive

a $20 discount. Registration deadline is Oct. 14.

Golfing at WillowbrookThis weekly program is perfect for

golfers of all levels. Students will be transported to Willowbrook Golf Course in South Windsor and can play nine holes. Within these seven weeks students will be teamed in groups and will have the opportunity to play in a variety of golfing formats (i.e. stroke, best ball, tourna-ments, etc.) The students will need their own equipment and transportation home from Willowbrook at 5 p.m. Students must ride a bus on Wednesdays after school to Willowbrook. Storage of clubs can be provided only on the day of the class in the main office.• Wednesdays, 3-5 p.m. Sept. 14-Nov. 2.• Willowbrook Golf Course, Fee: $200

Baseball Training CampThis training camp will provide oppor-

tunity for players on all levels to work on your baseball skills. You will receive the specific knowledge on proper condi-tioning, hitting, defense, pitching and baserunning.

All registered participants are required to provide their own helmet, glove, bat, cleats and catcher’s equipment if needed.• Thursdays, 2:45-4:05 p.m., Sept. 8 -

Nov. 27. No class Nov. 29.• Instructor: Travis Edwards Rm: T.E. /

Orchard Hill Field Fee: $120

Adult Programs and ClassesThere are many adult fitness program

offerings from Aerobics to Zumba. Boot Camp, Pilates, Yoga and more visit our website for a listing of all adult offerings.

South Windsor High 2011 Football Schedule

• September 17: South Windsor at Conard, 1 p.m.

• September 24: Manchester at South Windsor, 1:30 p.m.

• October 1: Hall at South Windsor, 1:30 p.m.

• October 6: Simsbury at South Windsor, 7 p.m.

• October 14: South Windsor at Southington, 7 p.m.

• October 21: South Windsor at East Hartford, 7 p.m.

• October 28: South Windsor at Newington, 7 p.m.

• November 5: Glastonbury at South Windsor, 1:30 p.m.

• November 11: South Windsor at New Britain, 7 p.m.

• November 24: Rockville at South Windsor, 10:30 a.m.

Continued from Page 14• Fee: resident $45; non-resident $50

Yoga

Learn to relax, reduce stress, stretch, strengthen muscles and joints, and develop a more flexible body. Special attention is given to the spine, as the focus is on proper alignment, posture, and limbering up. Re-laxation with deep breathing is emphasized, so that both mind and body feel restored and rejuvenated. Classes are appropriate for all ages, levels of ability, and belief sys-tems. Please wear loose clothing and bring a mat or towel for extra comfort. • Tuesdays, Sept. 13-Oct. 18, 5:45-6:45

p.m.• Vernon Teen Center Fitness Room• Fee: $50 residents; $55 non-residents• Instructor: Kathleen

PilatesWhat Is Pilates? Pilates is an exercise

option for everyone. Designed to develop a strong core (stomach, back and glutes) while maintaining loose, limber limbs. The exercises provide multiple variations to meet the needs of different body types. It strengthens the body while keeping all the joints mobile and flexible. While it’s not cardiovascular exercise, you’ll feel your muscles working and probably break a sweat. Bring a mat, comfortable clothes, and water. This is a mixed-level class taught by certified instructor from Personal Euphoria. All skill levels are welcome to attend. This is a six-week class. Minimum class size eight.• Mondays: Sept. 12-Oct. 24• 5:45-6:45 p.m.• Vernon Teen Center Fitness Room• Fee: $60 residents $65 non-residents• Instructor: Gina from Personal Euphoria

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September 6-19, 2011 19The Sports DepartmentHealth & Wellness


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Fall Back Into RunningBy Krista CatalanMSPT Physical TherapistIntegrated Rehabilitation Services

For many of us, the cooler temperatures of fall make it a great season to get in some outdoor exercise. Whether you are just start-ing out or returning after some time off, the most important things to keep in mind are to start slow, progress moderately, and use the right equipment.

Running sneakers are the most important piece of equipment needed to ensure proper support is given to the foot, ankle, knee, and hip. Your physical therapist can recommend specialty stores and specific training questions to avoid injury.

Running shoes should be replaced ev-ery 350-500 miles regardless of wear

The next step is to develop a train-ing plan. Determine the type of surface, frequency, and duration of your running regimen. Keep in mind that trails, parks, and tracks are better than streets and sidewalks. If you choose to run on roads, then be sure to run facing the traffic and obey all traffic laws.

The harder the surface, the more stress on the joints

Running sneakers are the most

important piece of equipment needed to ensure proper support is given to the foot, ankle,

knee, and hip.

Initially, training session should last for thirty minutes, three to five times per week at a comfortable pace. The easiest way to find your pace is the talk test. If you can talk without gasping while you run, you’ve

found your pace.When starting a running

program remember that walking is not cheating. Walk breaks can you run longer, faster, and easier. To maximize the benefit of your “walk interval” walk for at least one minute but no longer than five minutes.

To avoid common run-ning injuries, always warm up and cool down and do

NOT increase your mileage and speed at the same time. Using 10% is a good rule of thumb.

10% Rule – Do not increase time or dis-tance by more than 10% per week when beginning a running program

Whether you are running competitive cross country or going out to get some exercise, the fall is a great time to get back into running. By taking a few simple pre-ventative steps you can avoid many of the painful injuries associated with overuse!

For more information on running pro-grams, contact Krista at [email protected]


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Every now and then a new product will come along that is fun, practical and has the potential to save you money. The electric bike is one of those inventions, and one area business has been booming as a result of this latest trend.

John Ouelette said he has been riding his bicycle for more than 25 years. But injuries and arthritis threatened to curtail his bikeriding plans.

“I was planning on hanging up my bike shoes, until I visited my brother,” said Ouelette. “He is suffering from chronic Lyme disease,” he said of his brother. “I road his new electric bike and was hooked. It was comfortable and easy to ride. It made bike riding fun and pleasurable for me again.”

Ouelette then purchased his first hybrid elec-tric bicycle, last year, from Bloomfield Bicycle for an annual summer bike ride from Connecticut to Vermont with friends.

“It was great fun,” Ouelette said. “I craved more power, but I still wanted to get a good workout on those hills. The electric bike has allowed me to commute the 10-mile round trip to work. I’m losing weight and feeling more energetic.”

Mike Wolf, owner and operator of Bloomfield Bicycle, said he could have retired many years ago and been enjoying life, but the emergence of the electric bike has revitalized his energy level and has made his successful business even more successful.

“I just love what I am doing, and I love putting people on these bicycles,” said Wolf. “It’s such a great product and there are not a lot of places that are out there selling them.”

In fact, only six or seven bicycle business in the state of Connecticut are selling these bikes, Wolf said. Wolf also notes that those shops sell limited amounts of the bikes, carrying just two or

Electric Bicycle Trend Gaining Popularity In Connecticutthree at a time.

At Bloomfield Bicycle, riders can access to a wide variety of electric bicycles ranging in price from $600 to about $3,000. A good bike aver-ages around $2,000, Wolf said.

The average electric bike has a strong lithi-um-ion battery that takes approximately three to four hours to charge. That charge will get you from 15 to 40 miles of power on the bike. And that’s just the part you don’t pedal. The energy cost for those 40 miles? Definitely not $4 per gallon. It’s a mere 8 cents on your electric bill.

On average, a person can get about 1,000 charges out of the battery, making the product well worth its value, Wolf said. But the value of a bike goes beyond energy costs and envi-ronmental considerations. There are social, emotional and moral changes. Electric bicycle trend gaining popularity in Connecticut Wolf recalled one of his greatest experiences in sell-ing a bike was to a young girl who suffered from Down syndrome.

“She and her mother came into our shop, and this young lady was very physically limited,” said Wolf. “She was looking for a bike that would help her be able to keep up with her friends and take part in everything they do.”

Wolf showed the girl the electric bike.She took a crash course in how to operate

the bike, and then began to ride around the parking lot of the Geissler’s Plaza in Bloomfield.

“She came around the corner and yelled to her mom, ‘I can keep up with my friends now,’” said Wolf. “Her mother and I both had tears in our eyes. I would have given her the bike if I could at that moment, that’s how good it made me feel to do something that made such a dif-ference for that little girl.”

Wolf said the bike’s advanced technology

has also helped overweight people be able to bike around successful.

“One couple I had were overweight, and they were afraid they would not be to climb hills on the bike,” said Wolf. “After I let them test one out on a steep hill, they found that the bike had a lot of power.”

The bicycle has three different settings to ensure it is being utilized to its fullest potential. The bike can be turned off for normal bicycle pedaling. A power pedal assist function can be turned on, as well, where the rider will get a boost of energy from the battery to accelerate them while pedaling.

“And then there’s what happens when you get through with work and you’re really tired,” said Wolf. “You can just turn on the power and it will ride you right down the road.”

Wolf hopes getting the word out will help fur-

ther expand the electric bike trend, and hopes more residents from northern Connecticut will make their way to the shop and check out the bikes.

Barbara Courtney, of Granby, said she began using an electric bike just three weeks ago. She has noticed the difference in her ability to get around to more difficult terrains.

“Now I’m able to get up hills I normally have difficulty with,” she said. She said she likes to ride as much as she can and enjoys the energy efficiency the bike has to offer.

“It’s good for ecology and it’s good for my health,” Courtney said. “I can use it for so many things. My husband uses it to run to the grocery store.”

Bloomfield Bicycles, one of the largest sup-pliers of the electric bike, is located on Tunxis Avenue in Bloomfield.



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Local DigestEllington Coach Picked To Head UConn Lacrosse Program

Former Ellington coach Paul Scordato was named men’s lacrosse coach at UConn.

Scordato, who currently resides in El-lington, has been involved in coaching in the Ellington Public School system at both the middle school and high school level recently. He was one of the founding fathers of the sport in the town and was in-strumental in creating both youth leagues and the high school program within the last decade.

A native of Westchester, N.Y., Scordato was a two-time captain and first team All-County defenseman for Lakeland/Panas High School. Upon completing high school he attended the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, where he studied Marine Engi-neering and was a two-time captain for the Buccaneers men’s lacrosse program, as well as team MVP and conference MVP his senior year.

After graduating, Scordato became an assistant coach at the University of New Haven and helped turn the program around. In 1981, he was promoted to head coach at UNH and put together a 22-14 re-cord, including wins over Division I schools St. John’s, Vermont, UConn, Fairfield, Hartford and Marist.

Scordato left New Haven after the ‘83 season to work in the private sector, but he remained involved in the Connecticut

Valley Lacrosse Club over the next six years as both a player and coach, and he would also play for the Western Massa-chusetts Lacrosse Club.

Scordato became the Somers La-crosse Association president for 10 years, throughout the 1990s, and also coached in the Nutmeg State Games, before starting to coach in Ellington.

Longtime Ellington coach Paul Scordato was tapped to head UConn Club Lacrosse Team.

East Catholic Standout Will Attend Central Connecticut State UniversityEast Catholic guard/forward Nicole

Ferguson, an All-CCC East selection last season as a junior, has accepted a scholar-ship to continue her basketball career at Central Connecticut State University in the fall of 2012.

Ferguson, who played her first two sea-sons of high school basketball at Ellington High School, was a first-team All-Confer-ence selection during her first season at East Catholic.

As a senior, Ferguson is expected to be one of the top guard/forward combination players in the state this season. Fergu-son’ size (6 feet) and her outside shooting acumen make her a difficult matchup for defenses, especially against a zone.

Ferguson was pursued by a number of Division I programs but settled on Central for a few reasons.

“I really like Central because I really loved the coaching staff and they have a really competitive basketball program. I just like the school overall,” she said. “I’m

Nicole Ferguson will take her skills to Cen-tral Connecticut State University in the fall of 2012. Photo by: Steve Palmer

excited because the league (Northeast Conference) is really competitive and there are a lot of good teams that we will be play-ing. I’m looking forward to the competition.’’

Become A FREE I-Member! Interact with your community, comment on stories and columns

and participate in discussion forums. Go to www.thesportsdept.com for more information.


Local DigestTolland Youth Running Camp A Big Hit

The Tolland Youth Running Camp, sponsored by the Recreation Department had 50 participants this past summer. The campers - who ranged from grammar school through middle school - learned

The summer running camp attracted 50 kids this year in Tolland. Courtesy of: Judi La-fontaine

the finer points of running and enjoyed great weather throughout. The camp was held from Aug 8-12 and members of the Tolland High School girls and boys cross country teams served as counselors.

Ellington Thunderstix Make Some Noise At State Tennis Championships

The Ellington Thunderstix U-14 Junior tennis team won the United States Tennis Association’s Western Massachusetts state championship last month. The team then proceeded on to sixth place finish at the New England Sectional Tournament.

Ellington received strong contribu-tions from all 12 team members during the state tournament. The team included Austin Chen, Micah Fox, Mahit Mail, Tyler Schmidt, Max Shlafstein and Kevin Sisco, who were joined by Lexi Kubas, Jessica Maitland, Katheryn Sisco, Natalie Sullivan, Ashley Thomas and Madison White. In its last match of the weekend, the Ellington team, coached by Ellington High coach Rich Willis, won a showdown against the Enfield Slammers to take the champion-ship.

The tournament format included a boys

singles, boys doubles, girls singles, girls doubles, and mixed doubles match in each team match.Total games won throughout all matches determined the tournament winner. Ellington won their initial bracket on Saturday and moved on to win the championship bracket on Sunday.

Ellington also entered a team in the 18 and younger Western Massachusetts tour-nament held at Forest Park in Springfield and finished in second place in the ad-vanced bracket. Willis also lead this team that included Rob Hensley, Cam King, Joe Korzeb, Andrew Parker, Nick Salwa, Tyler Vanagas, Courtney McGowan, Hannah Riley, Lauren Schmidt, Allison Steinmetz, and Cristina Szepanski. Ellington lost a match to first place bracket team Forest Park “A” 3 matches to 2 matches and by only a total of 7 games.

The Ellington Thunderstix U-14 tennis team captured the USTA Western Mass State Title last month. Courtesy of: Jim Maitland

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Documents

The Sports Department-Vernon Edition (Sept 6-19)