Boys’ outdoor track
Getting back into shape a priority for Centaurs
In the mind of veteran Woodstock Academy boys’ track coach Peter Lusa, it’s just another spring. “There is definitely excitement. I see so many people just so happy to be outside in general since we’ve been in our houses for the last year. Everyone is just pumped to work out and to socialize again,” said senior Ethan Aspiras.
There will be some differences.
Woodstock Academy will compete in Division II of the ECC this season and will face only one Division I school, NFA.
That meet will open the season for the Centaurs April 14.
“We have to play the schedule that is dealt to us,” Lusa said. “It will be tough starting with NFA.”
“I hear from people, saying they are out of shape, I tell them that we have a world pandemic so I think you have a good excuse,” Aspiras said. “There is definitely work that will be needed by every school out there. We will be working a little harder than most years.”
The Centaurs do have one advantage coming into the season.
Those athletes who competed in indoor track have not had the last month off.
Instead, indoor track rolled into March with a couple of outdoor competitions.
“(Indoor track coaches) Josh (Welch) and Joe (Banas) did a great job molding a competitive team. It was great to roll right from indoor track with all available athletes conditioning for a week in between seasons versus having a majority of the athletes having a month off,” Lusa said.
Aspiras said the lack of an offseason may have helped and because there was little in the way of competition, those who competed in indoor track, were able to concentrate on conditioning.
It may have also helped the turnout.
Lusa was concerned that a year away from the track may spell fewer numbers this spring.
Instead, his numbers are in the 40s, giving it some substantial depth especially considering the competition this spring will come from like-size or even smaller teams.
Aspiras, once he gets a wrap off his leg which has held up his training a bit in the early spring, can be counted on for points in the distance events and he will have help from Vincente Bastura.
Other points will come from Adam Schimmelpfennig in the hurdles and Eric Phongsa in the sprints with Seamus Lippy adding points in that event and mid-distance running.
River and Scout Favreau and Jack Marshall are also nice additions to the squad according to Lusa.
The Centaurs will enjoy their first four meets of the season at home before ending with two on the road at Plainfield and Windham in May.
Lusa said the goals are probably more individual than team-oriented.
He would like to see 10-15 of his athletes qualify for the Class MM state championship.
Schedule: Wed., April 14: NFA, Home, 3:30 p.m.; Wed., April 21: Killingly, Home, 3; Wed., April 28: New London, Home, 3; Wed., May 5: Bacon, Home, 4; Wed., May 12: Plfd., Away, 3:45; Thurs., May 20: Windham, Away, 4; Wed., June 2: Class MM championship, Away, 10 a.m.
Girls’ Preview
No break is a good thing
Woodstock Academy girls’ outdoor track coach Josh Welch didn’t exactly have the winter off.
Even though his boys’ and girls’ indoor track teams had very few meets, they still worked out both inside and outside over the course of the winter.
They also benefitted from some late winter outdoor meets against the likes of Plainfield and NFA.
In addition to the physical aspect of continued conditioning, Welch thought the indoor season, especially the end, helped his team’s mental outlook as well.
“Just getting the core of our team back into the swing of competing, and the pacing and structure of a meet is a huge help,” he said.
The Centaurs have over 35 athletes out this spring which is about 10 more than the team sported in the 2019 season.
The other good thing about those numbers is that there are less than a handful of seniors among them meaning there is the chance for youngsters, like sophomore Bella Sorrentino, who was also recently named a 1st team All-State gymnastics performer by the Connecticut High School Coaches Association, to develop over the next three seasons.
Sorrentino came in from Brooklyn Middle School last year but didn’t get a chance to enjoy outdoor track which was canceled.
The sophomore, during the indoor track season, was working on events that would prepare her to compete in the state heptathlon.
She’s been working on throwing the javelin, something she had never done before and was also getting ready to begin working on the 800-meter. “I’m not excited about that,” she said with a laugh about the lengthy running event.
Welch is just happy to see members of his team willing to try new things since many of the freshmen and sophomores have to figure out where they fit in.
Sorrentino and freshman Lillian Edwards put up a lot of points in the outdoor meets the Centaurs had against Plainfield and NFA and will be needed to do so again in the outdoor season.
“Both compete in sprints, hurdles, relays, and jumps depending on the meet.  Bella is also a factor in the throws.  They are two of the most diverse and focused athletes I have seen since coaching at Woodstock Academy,” Welch said.
Junior Linsey Arends and senior Iris Bazinet will be the mainstays of a distance group that Welch hopes will form a very competitive 4x800-meter relay team. Arends, a cross-country standout, will likely also run the 1,600 or 3,200 meter.
Junior captain Leah Castle (1,600m and shot put) and sophomore Lauren Brule (distance) will also be members of the 4x800m team.
Freshman Talia Tremblay also runs distance events and may help in the high jump this season.
“The distance program has always been a core for our team but I think in this season, we are going to see a lot more talent and depth in sprints and jumps than we have in the past few years.” Welch said.
The team will also only face one team with huge numbers, that being an opening meet in Norwich against NFA April 14.
Welch said he would like to see his team run the table and sweep its regular season meets, which he admits may be a lofty goal but he’s happy with what he sees as a winning attitude beginning to develop among the members of his team.
Schedule: Wed., April 14: NFA, Away, 3:45 p.m.; Wed., April 21: Killingly, Home, 3; Wed., April 28: New London, Home, 3; Wed., May 5: Bacon Academy, Home, 4; Wed., May 12:  Plfd., Away, 3:45; Thurs., May 20: Windham, Away, 4.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
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