The Woodstock Academy girls’ track team is strong on the track.
But the field events could use some work and a few more participants.
The Centaurs found that to be their Achilles heel last week when they lost to Fitch in their season-opening meet, 86-57, in Groton.
“We were in control of the meet through all the distance events and actually performed better in the sprints than I assumed we would. Fitch usually has a stronger sprint program, but we have talent where we were able to pick up some first and thirds and get some points. Where we fell behind was in the throws. Fitch was dominant there and took all five places in all the throws,” said Woodstock Academy girls’ track coach Josh Welch.
There were a couple of athletes who put together some first-place finishes against the Falcons.
Welch thought senior Maddie Grube put together a “fantastic” performance in the long jump where she cleared 15-feet-4-inches.
The jump qualified her for the Class M state championship meet.
“It relieves some of the pressure for the rest of the season,” Grube said.
That performance came despite a less than ideal weather day.
“It was very tough. My legs were a little numb but it was good for a first meet. I’m proud of myself and the team did pretty well, too,” Grube said.
Grube easily surpassed her goal of clearing 14-feet in the first meet of the season. She hopes to clear 16-feet by the time the state championship meet.
“It’s going to take some work. I definitely need to get more height on my jumps but we’re practicing each day,” Grube said.
Grube finished third in the 100m hurdles with a 15.4 finish and third in the triple jump.
The distance events, like the boys, were a strength for Woodstock Academy.
Junior Megan Gohn won both the 800m and 3,200m races for the Centaurs while freshman Linsey Arends was first in the 1,600m and, along with Danuse Horka, Carla Simal and Alexia Bourbeau, won the 4 x 800m relay event.
The Centaurs swept the top three spots in the 1,600 with Iris Bazinet and Bourbeau taking second and third.
The same could be said about the 800 where Horka and Bazinet finished second and third.
Marina Monrabal was first in the 100m with Aochen Li third, Li was also third in the 200m.
Aria Giandfriddo was third in the 300m hurdles.
“In this meet, the focus for me was on scoring and to see if we could put up a decent score and be competitive. When we look at a team like (Norwich Free Academy on April 24), they’re so big and there is so much talent there that I’m less worried about a team score and I may move some kids around to focus on an individual event. It’s a great time to qualify (for states). It’s in the middle of the season, against great competition, and I don’t have to have them double or triple to try and get our points up,” Welch said.
The Centaurs will be outnumbered in both the meets against NFA and East Lyme.
“We have a very young team and a smaller team than usual,” Grube said.
Plus, the NFA meet will follow on the heels of spring break which takes place this week at The Academy.
“We will practice some, but it’s going to be tough because a lot of kids are on vacation. We’re working up workout plans for the kids who won’t be here and we’re hoping they stay consistent,” Welch said.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
The Woodstock Academy
.
For the most part, prior to last week, the Woodstock Academy boys’ golf team had spent its time in hibernation so to speak.
“Learning the new USGA rules, hitting balls in the fields across the street from South Campus or working out in our new weight facility with our strength and training coaches,” Woodstock Academy coach Rich Garceau said as to what practice had generally consisted of.
Some teams down by the shoreline have had considerably more chances to get out on to the course.
That was shown a bit in the first match of the season where the Centaurs lost to East Lyme, 7-0, on their home course at the Quinnatisset Country Club April 10.
The Centaurs finished with an aggregate score of 187 compared to the Vikings’ 164 total.
“East Lyme is solid and should contend for an ECC title, and maybe even a state title this year,” Garceau said. “Coach (Rudy) Bagos always runs a class program and has great young men playing for him. I have a lot of respect for their program and do wish the best for their success this season.”
Mason Stewart paced the Centaurs with a 42 with Owen Borski next at 44.
Freshman Kyle Brennan chipped in with a 50 while Robert Mahue finished with a 51 total.
That didn’t cut it against the Vikings who had all five players at 47 or less.
Evan Kluge was the medalist with a 38 while both Ben Bohmbach and Matt Orefice each added 41’s.
The Centaurs did have a better result at the River Ridge Golf Course in Jewett City April 11.
Four Woodstock Academy players finished in the 40s, led by Stewart with a 45 total. Borski was one-stroke back of Stewart followed by Liam McDermott at 47. Jake Starr also finished in the scoring with a 49.
Griswold (1-2) did have two players in the 40s. Coby Hagstrom turned in the best score of the day with a 42 and Matt Ladd shot a 49.
“Many of the golfers that I have coming back put up scores consistently under 45 and often dove into the 30s so with time and patience I have faith that they will be there by the time we have our next match against Plainfield and Putnam (April 22),” Garceau said of the scoring thus far for the Centaurs.
“We have been in the 30s a few times in practice, we just need to carry that over to our matches. The boys are so anxious to be out and playing that their enthusiasm sometimes gets the better of them out on the course. This has been leading to some over swinging and poor tempo at times. With time and practice that rhythmic golf swing that we have been working will come back into play and all will be good,” the Woodstock coach added.
Girls Open with Win
Three players finished within four strokes of one another to lead the Woodstock Academy girls’ golf team to a 224-236 win over Norwich Free Academy in the season opener for both at the Norwich Golf Course April 10.
Linda St. Laurent led the way with a 51 while both Katherine Harrington and Kailey Lachappelle finished four strokes back with a 55.
Norwich Free Academy’s Haley Price led all golfers with a 48.
Harrington, a senior captain, had a personal moment of glory.
She had her first career hole-in-one in a practice last week.
Harrington used a seven-iron on the seventh hole at Quinnatisset to record the ace.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
The Woodstock Academy
.
Alums come up short
PUTNAM— After one of most improbably runs to an NCAA Championship Game, the #3 seed Red Raiders of Texas Tech had their magical run come to an end at the hands of #1 seed Virginia in the title game. The Cavaliers, who were eliminated in the 1st round last year by #16 seed UMBC, returned with a vengeance making the title game and holding off the Red Raiders in overtime 85-77. Even in a loss, Texas Tech made headlines with the recent internet sensation song “Old Town Road” blasting in their locker room throughout the tourney and how they were able to make it to the big dance.
Putnam Science Academy’s Malik Ondigo and Josh Mballa are members of the Red Raiders who don’t have what the main-stream media calls “star power.”
“We aren’t pet store dogs,” forward Malik Ondigo said before the national championship game in an interview with SB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell. “We’re street dogs. There aren’t any five-star recruits here.” Ondigo and Mballa both weren’t five-star recruits when they joined Head Coach Chris Beard and the Red Raiders but that was something Beard was okay with.
There were multiple chances at the end of the game to win it but Virginia did what they had to do, forcing over time and holding off Texas Tech in what felt like a team that was on the verge of something special. Texas Tech is back on the college basketball map and with multiple seniors on their way out along with star guard Jarrett Culver, look for Putnam Science Academy’s Malik Ondigo and Josh Mballa to see their minutes increase next year and play a role in the team’s success. They aren’t the only Mustangs holding court for the Red Raiders as Senior big man Russell Tchewa will attend Texas Tech next year on scholarship after a dominant year at PSA where the 7’0, 250-pound center averaged a double-double for the 38-2 Mustangs under Head Coach Tom Espinosa.
Josh Sanchas
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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caption:
Pitcher
Mackenzie Leveille shows off her winning pitching form in a victory over Griswold. Photo by Marc Allard.
It’s been a long time.
Over a dozen years in fact since the Woodstock Academy softball team last beat a Griswold team.
Woodstock Academy coach Jason Gerum should know.
He was there — in the other dugout.
“The last time Woodstock Academy beat Griswold was when I was coaching there, Woodstock upset us, and I was devastated,” Gerum said.
Therefore, it was another upset April 9 when the Centaurs downed the Wolverines, 5-4, at Roseland Park.
So, even though he beat his long ago, former program — Gerum has been coaching at The Academy for eight years — he said it was not even more satisfying for that reason.
“It’s more about the gauge,” Gerum said. “I had such a good career as a coach at Griswold and (Griswold coaches) Bob and Rick (Arremony) are good friends of mine and I know how hard they work and how good their teams really are, year in and year out. It’s satisfying for me because I use them as a gauge. If we can play with them, we’re playing good softball. I have such respect for their program.”
It was also the good news for the week.
The Centaurs traveled to Norwich April 11 and ran into a loaded Norwich Free Academy team.
The Wildcats posted an 18-0, 4 ½ inning win to drop the Centaurs to 1-2 and 0-2 in Division I of the Eastern Conference.
The Centaurs game versus Stonington April 13 was postponed by a wet field.
It almost appeared it would be a case of déjà vu for the Centaurs when the Wolverines came to town.
As they were in their season opener with Fitch on the previous Saturday, which ended in a 7-6 loss, Woodstock Academy was on top, 4-3, going into the top of the seventh.
Griswold tied the game when Kaitlyn Davis (3-for-4, 2 doubles, 1 triple) doubled down the right field line to open the top of the inning. Davis came across on an outfield error.
The difference from Saturday was that the Centaurs prevented the Wolverines from taking the lead.
Winning pitcher Mackenzie Leveille buckled down and got a pair groundouts and catcher Juliana Nuttall threw out pinch-runner Samantha Falco attempting to steal second.
The Centaurs then manufactured a run in the bottom of the inning.
Hannah Chubbuck (3-for-4, 3 runs scored, 1 RBI) singled to centerfield to lead off the inning.
Maia Corrado reached on an infield error and Leveille reached on a sacrifice fielder’s choice to load the bases
After a strikeout, sophomore Megan Preston stepped to the plate.
“A little bit of stress, a little bit of nervousness, but I knew I had to get the bat on the ball and do the best I can to get the runner in,” Preston said.
She barely accomplished getting the bat on the ball, but got enough to hit a roller to third. Griswold’s Hailey Hill fielded it cleanly but Chubbuck slid under catcher Kamryn Gurnee and the ball popped loose for the game-winning run.
A brief celebration ensued; after all, it was only the second game of the season.
“It was exciting knowing that we pulled it out and no one expected it. We didn’t really expect it,” Preston said.
The Wolverines (2-2) took the lead in the first inning on an RBI double by Sarah Aviles.
But Leveille helped her own cause in the bottom of the inning.
Hannah Burgess, who hit 1.000 for the first two games of the season (7-for-7) with a 3-for-3 performance, singled, was sacrificed to second and went to third on a single by Chubbuck. Leveille, one out later, stroked a ball down the left-field line that just stayed fair for a two-run double.
The Wolverines tied it in the second on a solo homer by Hill and went ahead in the third on a Davis triple and a single by Cheyenne Zvingilas.
The Centaurs re-took the lead in the fifth on a Burgess double, an RBI single from Chubbuck and an RBI single by Heather Converse.
“We had that game with Fitch the other day and we didn’t want to go through that again. We had the lead on Fitch the whole game and let it slip. We knew Griswold’s top batters were coming up and we talked about digging deep and knocking off a top team,” Gerum said.
The Centaurs did stop the Wolverines not only in the seventh, but also in the fourth and fifth innings. Losing pitcher Julia Janca had a lead-off triple in the fifth, but the Wolverines failed to push the run across. Griswold also had runners on first and third and one out in the fifth and could not score.
“We got lucky there, too, because Griswold had its meat of the order up,” Gerum said. “Every game, you learn from your last one. We went into the classroom after the Fitch game, spent an hour in there, talked about all the situations, talked about what we could have done better and (Tuesday) we did what we talked about.”
The Centaurs didn’t have much of a chance against the undefeated Wildcats April 11.
NFA scored 10 runs in the first inning and five more in the second.
Preston and Chubbuck had the only hits of the game for the Centaurs.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
The Woodstock Academy
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