Past Issues of the Putnam Town Crier
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Player commits
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Oswin Erhunmwunse is from Benin City, Nigeria.
But when the Putnam Science 6-foot, 9-inch defensive wiz announced last week that he was committing to Providence College, a major factor was that he wanted to stay home.
“Putnam has made me who I am, on and off the court,” said the freakishly athletic Erhunmwunse, who chose Kim English’s Friars over Creighton, Okla., and Georgia Tech. “I’m one of the top prospects, in a New England prep school. So if I can do it at the prep school level, I can do it at the college level. I want to be a guy other commits look up to, like ‘Oh yes, he stayed in New England.’ I want to be a legend here. I want to hopefully make it to the NBA and know I did everything in New England.
“New England accepted me. The whole time I’ve been in America, I’ve been in New England. New England has taken me as its own. I go to PC games and everyone is like ‘We want you here!’ Not that I didn’t get that from the other schools too, but I felt like I was loved at Providence. I’m not going to miss that opportunity. I feel like I can go there, play through my mistakes, get better, and know that I have the alumni and fans backing me up.”
Erhunmwunse, who came to the U.S. in May 2022 and plays his AAU ball with Team New England, is in his second season with PSA. He averaged 7.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks in 27 games (he joined the Mustangs in mid-December). PSA took on an entirely new identity with him patrolling the paint and went on to win a fourth national title last year. His block in the final seconds of the championship game helped seal that win.
“When I got here last year, I struggled a little bit because I was the man (at my previous school) and when I got here there were a lot of good players,” he said. “I wasn’t that guy. I had to buy in and do something that other people don’t do. Every day, coach Espo tells us to do something different. I looked at the team and looked at what they didn’t have, which was a shotblocker and a rim runner. That’s what I decided to do. That’s what got me my minutes. I started playing 10 minutes, then 20 minutes, sometimes the whole game.”
Erhunmwunse injured his shoulder last season but opted to put off surgery until this past summer. His rehab was long but has finally come to an end, and he suited up for the first time this season over the past weekend, with PSA mired in an unprecedented five-game losing streak.
“Hopefully now that I’m back, I can be a guy who makes a difference,” he said. “I think we can still make a run and win it. We have guys who want to win, guys who buy in to the team.”
Erhunmwunse’s much-anticipated debut Friday night wasn’t enough to bring PSA a win though, as the Mustangs endured a sixth straight loss (the longest such streak in program history), 82-81 to Vermont Academy. Erhunmwunse had 12 points and six rebounds but PSA couldn’t overcome a 16-point halftime deficit. Justin Johnson finished with 14 points, Grant Randall added 10 points and six boards in his first game with PSA, and Ben Ahmed had 11 points and four rebounds.
The losing streak ended Sunday night though with an 88-63 win over Cushing Academy. Erhunmwunse had just two points but grabbed a couple rebounds and blocked three shots in what was designed limited playing time. Johnson scored 19 points on just nine shots, Amdy Ndiaye had 13 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals, and Tony Williams (four points, five assists) and Cris McElveen (nine points, six rebounds) provided a needed spark off the bench.
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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Mandela grandson to speak at Pomfret School
POMFRET — Pomfret School will host Ndaba Mandela as this year’s Schwartz Visiting Fellow. Following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Nelson Mandela, Ndaba Mandela hopes to inspire and unite people to build a fair and just world. The author of Going to the Mountain: Life Lessons from My Grandfather, Nelson Mandela, Ndaba, is a captivating speaker who shares stories of being raised by and learning important lessons from the iconic leader.
The public lecture will be at 7 p.m. Jan. 26 in Hard Auditorium on the Pomfret School campus. A book signing and reception will follow. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. To register, visit pomfret.org/schwartz. For those who cannot attend in person, a livestream will be available at pomfret.org/live.
“With his message of shared humanity and the importance of using our influence and one’s privilege for the good of all, our students and members of the greater Pomfret community are sure to learn a great deal from Ndaba Mandela,” says Library Director and Schwartz Visiting Fellow Chair Elizabeth Jacquet.
Shortly after turning 11 and before South Africa’s first presidential election, Ndaba went to live with his grandfather. The two cautiously built a relationship that would affect both their lives in extraordinary ways. Being raised by a legend had its challenges, but Ndaba navigated the strict rules and exacting guidelines while overhearing calls from foreign dignitaries.
Since 1989, world-renowned experts have visited Pomfret School under the auspices of the Schwartz Visiting Fellow Program. This speaker series is the result of the vision and generosity of Michael Schwartz ’66 and Eric Schwartz ’69. Past fellows include animal science professor Temple Grandin; author Bill Bryson; human rights activist Madame Jehan Sadat; historian David McCullough; and celebrity chef Ming Tsai.
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Wall of Honor
nominations open
PUTNAM — Nominations are now open for the 2024 Wall of Honor. Nomination forms are available at: https://www.putnamschoolsct.org/sites
Applications must be submitted by Feb. 1 to be considered.
Please mail nomination forms to:
Putnam High School Wall of Honor Committee
Putnam Public Schools, 152 Woodstock Ave., Putnam, CT 06260
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JCSB emergency services grants
JEWETT CITY — Jewett City Savings Bank Foundation recently made more awards to local emergency services. Locally Sterling Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. received a $2,000 grant to purchase warning lights and a shatterproof windshield for the company’s new utility terrain vehicle (UTV). $1,500 grants were awarded to: the East Killingly Fire Department to help fund a Fastlite fast rescue sled and the Mortlake Fire Co. & Ambulance Service in Brooklyn to finish funding their iPad program. $1,000 went to Atwood Hose Fire Company in Wauregan to help purchase a battery-operated positive-pressure fan.
Last year the foundation’s local awards went to: The Canterbury Volunteer Fire Department received a grant of $1,100, $1,000 Attawaugan Fire Department; Atwood Hose Fire Company; Dayville Fire Company; East Brooklyn Fire Department; East Killingly Fire Department; Killingly/Brooklyn Ambulance Corps.; Moosup Fire Department; Mortlake Fire Co. & Ambulance Service; Oneco Fire Company; Plainfield Fire Company No. 1, Inc.; Sterling Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.; and Williamsville Fire Engine Company in Rogers.
Grants of $600 were presented to: Central Village Fire Company; Danielson Fire Department; East Putnam Fire Department; Putnam EMS Ambulance Service; Putnam Fire Department; South Killingly Fire Department; West Thompson Fire Department; and Woodstock Volunteer Fire Association.
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Putnam Elementary/Middle
Monday: Texas grilled cheese, tomato soup, cheddar Goldfish crackers, fruit. Tuesday - Wolf Meal: Beef burger with cheese, sherbet. Wednesday - half day: Chicken sandwich, fruit. Thursday: Pasta, meatsauce, roasted vegetables, fruit. Friday: Pizza, salad, fruit.
Putnam High
Monday: Pasta bar or spicy chicken sandwich. Tuesday: General Tsos chicken or bacon cheeseburger. Wednesday - half day: Beef taco pasta or chicken Caesar wraps. Thursday: Waffle bar or "Wild Mike's" cheese bites. Friday: Stuffed-crush pizza or buffalo popcorn chicken basket.
Pomfret Community
Every day: Meatball and cheese grinders, Yogurt Fun Lunch, Sunbutter & Jelly. Monday: Bosco sticks, marinara cup, broccoli. Tuesday: Chicken cutlet, egg noodles, peas. Wednesday: Soft chicken tacos, rice and beans. Thursday: BBQ chicken over brown rice, carrots. Friday: Pizza, salad.
Woodstock Public Schools
Every day: Fruit. Monday: Hot dogs, baked beans. Tuesday: Mozzarella sticks, marinara sauce. Wednesday: Chicken nuggets, dipping sauces, mashed potatoes. Thursday: Pasta and meatsauce, green beans. Friday: Pizza, carrots.
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