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Fall season
comes to end
at Woodstock
Academy
The final event of the fall athletic season for Woodstock Academy student-athletes took place last week.
The annual Fall Sports Awards Night honored many of those who participated on the fields and in the gym this past season.
The highlight of the night was the Coaches’ Awards which were given out by the coaching staffs of the programs.
Those who received Coaches’ Awards:
Boys’ Cross-Country: Varsity – Christian Menounos, Colton Sallum; Junior Varsity- Carter Mydlarz
Girls’ Cross-Country: Varsity- Julia Coyle, Olivia Tracy; Junior Varsity-Brooke Roireau
Cheerleading: Varsity- Jenna Forcier, Chyanne Machamer
Volleyball: Varsity- Cassidy Ladd, Liliana Bottone; Junior Varsity- Alexa Delmonaco; Freshman- Izabella Bernstein
Field Hockey: Varsity- Avery Crescimanno, Corinne LaMontagne; Junior Varsity- Kaylyn Converse
Girls’ Soccer: Varsity- Macy Rawson, Kaylee Saucier; Junior Varsity- Vayda Payne
Boys’ Soccer: Varsity- Eli Susi, Hunter Haynes; Junior Varsity- Tyler Odorski
Prep Soccer 1: Alvaro Medrano Jr., Max Maneke; Prep Soccer 2: Kevin Thomson, Jack Buyers; Unified Soccer: Athlete- David Rahall, Partner- Noah Sampson
Football: Varsity- Zach Majewski, Dylan Phillips; =Junior Varsity- Griffen Bloom
In addition to the Coaches’ Awards, those who received postseason national, state and league recognition were also honored.
Those who were named All-American, All-State, and ECC All-Stars included:
Prep Soccer All-American: Kelvin Da Costa; Class MM All-State and ECC Div. I All-Star in Boys’ Cross-Country: Christian Menounos; Class MM All-State and ECC Div. I All-Star in Boys’ Cross-Country: Colton Sallum; Class L 1st team All-State and ECC Division I All-Star in girls’ soccer: Freya Robbie; Class M 2nd team All-State, Junior Select All-Star game selection and ECC Honorable Mention in Field Hockey: Grace Pokorny; Class L 2nd team All-State and ECC Div. I All-Star in volleyball: Liliana Bottone; Class L 2nd team All-State and ECC Div. I All-Star in volleyball: Sophie Gronski; ECC Division I All-Star in football: Jacob Lizotte; ECC Division I All-Star in football: Lucas Theriaque; ECC Division I All-Star in football: Henry Wotton; ECC Division I All-Star in football: Sam Clark; ECC Division I All-Star in girls’ cross-country: Julia Coyle; ECC Division I All-Star in girls’ cross-country: Olivia Tracy; ECC Division I All-Star in girls’ soccer: Leah Costa; ECC Division II All-Star in boys’ soccer: Garrett Bushey; ECC Division II Honorable Mention in boys’ soccer: Eli Susi; ECC Division I Honorable Mention in girls’ soccer: Juliet Allard; ECC Honorable Mention in field hockey: Corinne LaMontagne; ECC Division I Honorable Mention in football: Dylan Phillips; ECC Division I Honorable Mention in football: Teddy Richardson; ECC Division I Honorable Mention in boys’ cross-country: Charlie Caggiano; ECC Division I Honorable Mention in volleyball: Dorisabel Mojica.
Those who were named ECC Scholar-Athletes included: Girls’ Soccer – Taylor Lamothe; Volleyball – Emma Kerr; Football - Hunter Larson; Boys’ Cross -Country – Charlie Caggiano; Girls’ Cross-Country – Kira Greene; Field Hockey - Abby Converse; Boys’ Soccer – Addison Tyimok.
And those who received ECC Sportsmanship Awards included: Girls’ Soccer – Kayla Leite; Volleyball – Reegan Reynolds; Football – Eric Mathewson; Boys’ Cross-Country – Joel Koleszar; Girls’ Cross-Country – Greysen Dery; Field Hockey – Talia Tremblay; Boys’ Soccer – Hunter Haynes.
The boys’ cross-country team was selected as the Best Dressed team in attendance at the event while the girls’ soccer team was honored for having the top grade point average among the fall teams.
Girls' Hockey Preview
Chemistry now a strength for Woodstock girls’ hockey team
Last season, it was a case of getting to know one another.
The girls’ hockey program was in its first year as a cooperative program encompassing schools from the entire ECC.
This season, the team won’t have that issue to deal with.
“We have a lot of returners,” said Eric Roy. “We’ve had offseason workouts all summer long and were in the gym. Some of the girls played on spring and summer teams. This is now a team that has been together for a full year, going on two. There are no chemistry issues, they all like one another and get along. It’s one big, happy family.”
The Centaurs finished 3-17-1 a season ago in its first year, not only as a cooperative program, but also as a member of the Connecticut High School Girls’ Hockey Association.
“I, definitely, can see us exceeding the three-win total and competing for a shot at the state playoffs which is 12 teams and I can see us in the top 12,” Roy added.
The Centaurs ranks were buoyed last year by additions from East Lyme, Ledyard, Fitch and Wheeler.
Those connections remain in place with senior Mia Williamson from East Lyme serving as one of the captains alongside Ledyard junior Juliette Hammer.
Woodstock will be represented by Ellary Sampson.
The sophomore will serve as assistant captain.
“I’m very proud of that. It’s a very big honor having all my teammates be so supportive of me,” Sampson said.
She added that she, Williamson and Hammer have a good working relationship.
“We’re very close friends since we did play together last year and we’re getting even closer as the year goes on,” Sampson said.
Sophia Gouveia returns from Wheeler and Sky Patterson from the Marine Magnet School at Fitch is also back in a Centaur uniform.
New additions this year hail from Norwich Free Academy, Killingly and a new Ledyard player.
“It was huge this offseason when (athletic director) Sean (Saucier) reached out to the ECC and a bunch of athletic directors were on board. There were more with eighth-graders who will be huge fillers for us next year. It’s great to see the name of the Woodstock Academy program getting out there and girls wanting to come and join us,” Roy said.
The team did get a pair of welcome additions this season.
The Centaurs lost goalie Liz Morgis to graduation but Woodstock junior Renee Porter and NFA freshman Genevieve Nash are ready to fill the void.
“Genevieve heard this offseason that we needed a goalie so she tried it out, put in the work all summer long going to camps and has taken a great liking to it. I like what I’m seeing. She works hard. She was a defenseman before and now to see her in pads is pretty cool,” Roy said.
Porter will be the starter.
“What I’ve seen out of her is incredible. She works hard and has made some saves at practice that leaves jaws dropping,” Roy said.
The team also has some key personnel back up front.
The top three scorers return with Woodstock sophomore Maci Corradi (13 goals, 4 assists last season), Williamson (3, 10) and Gouveia (6, 6).
“They all work well together since they have been playing together for a couple of years. We have very even lines this year. We have three lines that I think will be very good this year,” Sampson said.
Sampson and Hammer both had eight points last year with sophomore defender Riley Faber adding six.
Sampson is listed as a center but Roy calls the sophomore his “Swiss Army Knife” as she can play just about anywhere on the ice.
“I love playing wherever (Roy) wants me to play. It’s good to have (several) positions because that’s probably going to be my future in hockey,” Sampson said.
Paige Hinckley from East Lyme is another sophomore forward as is Woodstock’s Grace Lescault and Ledyard’s Stella Morrison. Freshmen Mia Auger from Woodstock Academy and NFA’s Ireland Wilford will also see varsity ice time.
“Mia Auger has a lot of skills and mixes in well with everyone so I don’t think goals will be hard to come by like last year,” Roy said.
On the defensive side, in addition to Hammer and Faber, will be Patterson, sophomore Avery Nielson from Woodstock, Chloe Cesolini, a freshman from Killingly, and Woodstock freshman Kaylyn Converse.
“We have a good ‘core-4’ led by Hammer on defense, Riley (Faber), Avery (Neilson) and (Sky) Patterson. They are all returning and I’ve already told them that they have a lot of ice time coming their way and, we as coaches, trust them with it. They are great stay-at-home defenders, like to protect the goalie and players like Hammer and Patterson are feisty. If you get near our goalie, they will let you know not to do it again,” Roy said.
The challenge on the defensive side is to get them to move past the blue line a bit more and get involved in the offensive rush.
What has to go right for the Centaurs?
“We have to stay gritty,” Roy said. “Toward the end of last year, we got a little more gritty. You could say we were a soft team in my first year here but with the additions of Auger, some of the other new freshmen and now Williamson and Hammer as our leaders who are feisty and in your face, the atmosphere has changed in the locker room.”
The Centaurs will not have it easy to start.
They travel to Simsbury to play the first game of the season on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
“We have a lot of the tougher teams early and my thought there is to catch them before they get in their groove and maybe we can steal a couple of wins from the upper-tier teams,” Roy said.
Simsbury finished in the top six a year ago in the CHSGHA.
“This is a good benchmark right away. Right off the bat, we will know where we are,” Roy added.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
IMG 8130 – Woodstock Academy student-athletes who were named All-American, All-State and All-Stars were honored during the Fall Sports Awards Night.
IMG 8120 – The Fall Sports Awards Night at The Woodstock Academy recognized those who were named ECC Scholar Athletes for their respective teams.
IMG 4305- The Fall Sports Awards Night recognized those who received the ECC Sportsmanship Award for their respective teams.
Photos by Collin Singleton/Woodstock Academy
The cooperative girls’ hockey team will be led by, from left: assistant captain Ellary Sampson (Woodstock Academy), and co-captains Mia Williamson (East Lyme High School) and Juliette Hammer (Ledyard High School).Photo by Woodstock Academy.
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The following charges were listed in the Putnam Police Department logs. The people charged are innocent until proven guilty in court. The Town Crier will publish dispositions of cases at the request of the accused. The dispositions must be accompanied by the proper documentation. The Putnam Police Department confidential Tip Line is 860-963-0000.
Nov. 20
Mark A. Taber, 54, Ballou Street, Putnam; operating under the influence, failure to have tail lamp lit.
Nov. 21
Lillian Auger, 53, Cloran Street, Putnam; second-degree breach of peace, disorderly conduct, third-degree criminal mischief.
Nov. 25
Jonathan Bain, 21, Perrin Road, Woodstock; evading the scene of a motor vehicle crash and failure to maintain lane.
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Fri. Dec. 1
‘A Christmas Story’
PUTNAM --- The Bradley Playhouse on Front Street will present “A Christmas Story” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16 and at 2 p.m. Dec. 3, 10 and 17. $23 for adults; $20 for seniors, students, veterans and first responders. www.thebradleyplayhouse.org or 860-928-7887.
Sat. Dec. 2
Art/Craft Show
E. WOODSTOCK --- The East Woodstock Congregational Church will hold its annual Holiday Art/Craft Show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Holiday Fair
POMFRET --- The annual Saint Nicholas Victorian Fair in Pomfret will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 2 (snow date: Dec. 9) at Christ Church. It supports community outreach.
Holiday Bazaar
PUTNAM --- The Hale YMCA Youth and Family Center will hold its annual Holiday Bazaar from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hale YMCA. 40-plus vendors. 860-315-9622.
Sun. Dec. 3
Tree of Life
The DKH 34th Annual Hospice Tree of Life Ceremonies will be held at 5 p.m. in 11 towns in NE CT. Benefits Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Connecticut. For info: daykimball.org/treeoflife.
Lunch With Santa
POMFRET --- The Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp on Taft Pond Road will present Lunch With Santa fund-raiser from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. $8 for kids up to age 8; $12 for 9 and older for lunch. Photo with Santa, $8. 860-974-3379.
Concert
CHEPACHET --- The Music at the Meeting House will present its Christmas concert, at 2:30 p.m. at the Chepachet Baptist Church on Rt. 44. Free. All welcome. Freewill offering will be taken. Refreshments.
Mon. Dec. 4
Dedication
PUTNAM --- The Town of Putnam and local artists will dedicate the Boxcar Children Mural at 4:30 p.m. on South Main Street.
Wed. Dec. 6
Toy Drive
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Police Department will hold its Stuff-a-Cruiser toy drive from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at WINY Radio. All new unwrapped toys will benefit the Putnam Family Resource Center Holiday Toy Drive.
Sun. Dec. 10
Candlelight
POMFRET --- Pomfret School will present “Candlelight,” an evening of music and candle lighting, starting at 7 p.m. in the Clark Memorial Chapel. Doors open at 6:30. Refreshments follow in Hard Auditorium.
Sat. Dec. 16
Cookie Sale
BROOKLYN --- Our Lady of LaSalette Church on Rt. 6 will hold its annual Holiday Cookies Sold by the Pound and basket drawing from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the church basement.
Sun. Dec. 17
Christmas Pageant
POMFRET --- The Christ Church’s annual Christmas Pageant will be at 10 a.m. at the Rectory School’s Tang Center.
Thur. Dec. 28
Camp Game Day
POMFRET --- The Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp is offering a Camper Game Day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for kids ages 6-12. Games, food and fun during the holiday vacation week. $20 includes lunch and snacks. Outdoor gear required. Preregister by 12-22. 860-974-1122.
Sat. Feb. 10
Fire and Ice
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Business Association and the Town of Putnam will present Fire and Ice around downtown.
Sat. April 20
International Day
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Business Association will present International Day.
Sat. May 18
Fairy Fest
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Business Association will present a Fairy and Magic Fest
Sun. Aug. 11
Pluck a Duck
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Business Association will present Pluck a Duck Aug. 11 and 12.
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Man arrested
after burglary at
Putnam VFW
PUTNAM — A 32-year-old man was arrested after the State Police Troop D K9 tracked him from VFW Post 1523 on Providence Street.
Police Chief Christopher D. Ferace said police responded to an alarm about 6:30 a.m. Nov. 22 and found it had been burglarized.
A K9 team from Troop D tracked to a Battey Street residence where the suspect and evidence of the burglary were found.
David F. Hallaman, 32, no known address, was charged with third-degree burglary, sixth-degree larceny, third-degree criminal trespass and third-degree criminal mischief.
Charges for the warrants were: second-degree failure to appear, sixth-degree larceny and disorderly conduct.
According to the VFW an empty cash register was stolen and a window was broken.
All accused are innocent until proven guilty.
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Albert L. Cormier, Vietnam war veteran
PUTNAM — “On the Wings of Love” Albert Louis Cormier, 80, of Vandale Street, passed away peacefully Nov. 26, 2023, at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, after an unexpected illness. Born on July 24, 1943, in Putnam, Al was the son of the late Louis V. and Eva (Marion) Cormier and lived in Putnam for the majority of his life. He attended St. Mary’s School and Marianapolis Preparatory School, graduating from St. Francis College (University of New England) in Biddeford, Maine, with a bachelor’s degree in French in 1967.
After enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1968, Al studied at the 528th Military Intelligence School at Fort Meade, Md., in the Interrogation Prisoners of War School, and was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division – 25th Military Intelligence Detachment at Cu Chi, halfway between Saigon, Vietnam, and Cambodia, where he served from August 1968 until November 1969, receiving a Bronze Star Medal for his service. He then served in the Army Reserves until 1974 and enlisted in the Connecticut Army National Guard in 1981, retiring as a Major in January 2001. Al was awarded a Meritorious Service Medal from the U.S. Army, Medal of Merit from the State of Connecticut, and the Meritorious Service Award with Bronze Medal from the Selective Service System. His combined military career spanned 26 years.
In November 1974, Al married his sweetheart, Joyce Jewell, at St. Joseph Church in N. Grosvenordale; together, they had two daughters, Carrie and Mandy, as well as two grandsons, Marcus and Miller. Al worked at local schools as a teacher, counselor, and administrator for 40 years, retiring from The Woodstock Academy in June 2010 after 22 years. As a beloved and highly respected educator, Al provided wisdom, humor, and love as he supported countless students and colleagues in northeastern Connecticut.
He had the ability to truly see the good in everyone as he provided the guidance that so many high school students needed. Because Al believed in them, he inspired them to believe in themselves. Beyond his work as a counselor, he coached soccer and used his GI Bill to earn graduate degrees, including a master’s degree in psychology and counseling from Assumption College. He was involved in numerous student, counseling, professional, and community service-related activities and organizations at the local, state, regional, and national levels and received countless awards and honors over his lifetime, including the Warren E. Shull National Student Council Adviser of the Year Award from the National Association of Student Councils (NASC/NASSP) in 1998 and the Melvin Jones Fellow Award from the Lions Clubs International Foundation in 2014.
A dedicated community member, Al was active with the American Legion Post 13 and was a member of the Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse. He conducted a Veterans Coffee House at Matulaitis Nursing Home and was a member of the Military Officers Association, the 25th Infantry Division Association, and AMVETS. In addition, he was a Life Member of VFW Post 1523 in Putnam, the Putnam Knights of Columbus, and the Putnam Lions Club, where he founded the Putnam Leo Club and served as an adviser-team member.
Called “Chief” by those close to him, Al loved spending time with his wife and family, as well as attending Putnam and Thompson senior luncheons and ROMEO breakfasts with his retired teacher friends. He adored his two grandsons and was able to share in the joys of their activities.
He leaves his wife, Joyce (Jewell) Cormier; his daughters Carolyn (Cormier) Riendeau (and her husband Christopher, and their sons, Marcus and Miller) and Amanda (Cormier) Bernat (and her husband, James); his sisters Claire (Cormier) Emond (and her husband, Philip) and Janet (Cormier) LaBelle (and her husband, John) and their families; as well as his sisters-in-law Jane Ellison and Sandra LaBonte (and her husband, Lawrence); cousins, nieces, nephews, and their families; and countless close friends, who were an extension of his family.
Visitation is from 2 to 5 p.m. Dec. 3 in the Gilman Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam. Additional visitation is from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Dec. 4, also in the Gilman Funeral Home and Crematory, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Dec. 4 at St. Mary’s Church, 218 Providence St., Putnam. Burial will follow at noon. in West Thompson Cemetery, Riverside Drive, Thompson. Donations: Putnam II Leo Club, P.O. Box 535, Putnam, CT 06260-0535; or the Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse, c/o Putnam Elks Lodge, 64 Edmond St., Putnam, CT 06260-2221.
Richard W. Lamothe,
National Guard
PUTNAM — Richard W. Lamothe, 70, of Walnut Road, died Nov. 27, 2023, after a short illness surrounded by his family. He was the loving husband of Christine (Beaupre) Lamothe for 46 years. Born in 1953 in Putnam, he was the son of the late Raymond Lamothe and Blanche (Montpelier) Lamothe.
Richard was the third generation to own and operate the family business, Modern Lumber where he served his friends and neighbors for the last 54 years. He began working for his uncle at age 16 and purchased the business in 2003.
He also served in the Army National Guard. He enjoyed cars, gardening and going to his cottage at Roy Carpenter’s Beach in Matunuck. He also thoroughly enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and his dog, Libby.
In addition to his wife Christine, he leaves his son Chad Lamothe and his wife Natasha and her children, all of Putnam; his daughter Holly Mayo and her husband Troy and their children Benjamin Mayo and Bethany Mayo, all of Putnam; his brother Robert Lamothe (Simonne) of Brooklyn; his sister Linda Bernier (Gerard) of Scotland; nieces and nephews Melanie Whitcomb, Courtney Lamothe, Dawn Bernier, Devin Bernier, and Emily Waite.
Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. Dec. 1 in the Gilman Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam. A gathering will begin in the funeral home at 9 a.m. Dec. 2 followed by a Funeral Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, 218 Providence St., Putnam. Burial will be private. Donations: Daily Bread or to TEEG.
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