Tre Mitchell took a leap of faith and joined a first-year prep basketball program at Woodstock Academy two years ago.
It netted the native of Pittsburgh and now Woodstock resident a couple of National Prep Championship tournament appearances, a Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year Award and the chance to be the cornerstone of a team that went 73-7 in the past two seasons.
Why not try it again?
The 6-foot-9 forward recently verbally committed to play Division I college basketball for UMass.
Mitchell had offers from more well-established programs such as Syracuse, Indiana, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech and Providence College.
Instead, he chose the Minutemen.
UMass finished with an 11-21 record this past season and the Atlantic-10 Conference team has not had a winning season since it went 17-15 in the 2014-15 season.
“Of course, there are people who are a little confused as to why I am going to what would be considered a lower program than some of (his other choices), but it’s my life to live,” Mitchell said.
It’s also what he is used to.
“I’ve thought about it a lot. Obviously, some of the other programs were bigger but I like the challenge. My entire life I have kind of been the underdog, I’ve gone unnoticed. I picked (Woodstock Academy) and it was a first-year program. I took a chance and look what I got out of it. I kind of like that idea, that challenge, going in to help turn a program around.”
Mitchell had a little help in his decision.
Fellow Woodstock Academy Gold player T.J. Weeks committed to UMass just a few days before Mitchell.
The two spoke about the school when Mitchell went on his official visit and went over some things that the two had mutual affection for.
“We both kind of came to the conclusion that we wanted to go there together,” Mitchell said.
There was one other eavesdropper.
Another Woodstock Academy Gold player, Preston Santos, had already committed to UMass last fall.
“Preston was in both of our ears, consistently, telling us about the place and once we got there, everything he said was true,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell’s signing gave UMass the top-rated recruiting class in the Atlantic-10 this season.
It also gives the Minutemen a chance for a new start under third-year head coach Matt McCall.
“He kind of cleaned house a little,” Mitchell said. “The players that I met and spent some time with, I really enjoyed. I think we’re going to be great moving forward.”
McCall also showed Mitchell some film of the style of game that the UMass coach envisions for his new recruiting class.
“He showed us films of how he runs sets and things and how to get guys open looks. It’s kind of similar to the way we play (at Woodstock Academy). I think it’s a system that all three of us will be able to thrive in,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell scored over 1,000 points and grabbed over 700 rebounds in a Woodstock Academy uniform over the past two years. He was named Power 5 Conference Player of the Year and tournament Most Valuable Player in each of the last two years.
Earlier in the season, he was debating whether or not he was going to stay at Woodstock Academy for a post-graduate season. Now, that decision and where he will be going next are all behind him.
“It’s nice,” Mitchell said. “No one is hitting my phone any more except the coaches from UMass and I can focus even more than I was before on just developing my body and getting better than I was before to be even more ready when I get there.”
The commitments by Mitchell and Weeks increased the number of Woodstock Academy Gold prep basketball players who will play Division I basketball in the fall to 10.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
The Woodstock Academy
..
Legal Notice
*Notice of Auction*
2013 Buick Enclave
5GAKVCKD6DJ234902
Available for public
auction: April 12, 2019
King Cadillac GMC
139 Pomfret Street,
Putnam
M-Th 8-7 F 8-6 S 8-4
April 3, 2019
April 10, 2019
Legal Notice
Town of Pomfret
Inland Wetlands
and
Watercourses
Commission
At the April 3, 2019, meeting the following application was acted upon:
1. NELTA, Inc., 10 Murdock Road, application for the construction of a crane training facility and an addition to an existing building. APPROVED with conditions.
Town of Pomfret
Inland Wetlands
and Watercourses Commission
Dated this 8th day
of April 2019
Lynn L. Krajewski,
Clerk
April 10, 2019
.
PUTNAM — Just two years ago Ariana Koivsito, a junior at Woodstock Academy, decided to make a change. After playing two seasons for the Woodstock Academy Centaurs, Koivisto elected to transfer from Woodstock to join an up and coming girls’ basketball program at Putnam Science Academy.
In a junior season where the skilled forward averaged 10 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists per game, Koivisto helped lead the Centaurs to an ECC Division 2 title and took home MVP honors.
Koivsito would then send shock waves throughout the local girls’ basketball scene when she joined Putnam Science. “Every kid played multiple sports at Woodstock and I only played basketball so I really wanted to excel in just that.”
Koivisto then started to hear rumblings about the start of a prep girls’ basketball program less than 10 minutes away at Putnam Science Academy. “I started to see some of the other girls attending the school and the skill level that was on the court, I knew that Putnam Science was where I should go to take my game to the next level and earn a scholarship to play in college.”
Fast forward to her senior year and she has helped the Lady Mustangs in their second season as a program reached the Final Four of the Independent School National Championship. PSA took home third place overall. Koivisto also completed what she set out to do by earning a scholarship to play basketball at the University of Southern New Hampshire, the ninth Lady Mustang to earn a scholarship on this year’s team.
Koivisto has no regrets on her decision.
“It was one of my best decisions, the relationships I’ve been able to create here at Putnam Science Academy with not only staff but the girls on the team; it’s truly special” said Koivisto. “We all clicked, we all love each other and we all want each other to succeed on and off the court.” She stood out as a leader for the Mustangs as she was one of the pioneers of the girls’ basketball program.
Head Coach Derek Marchione said: “Ari is so talented with her skill set and what she can do on the floor. Ari made plenty of winning plays for us throughout the year and the coaching staff at the University of Southern New Hampshire is not only getting a girl who is tough, but someone who is going to stand-out and help the program because she’s a winner.”
Koivisto committed to Southern New Hampshire earlier this year and was sold on the style of play and the coaching staff led by Head Coach Karen Pinkos. “When I went there and got to watch them play, the fast- paced style, get up and down the court, I felt that fit my style of play.” Koivisto, at 5-feet, 11-inches, can rebound well and is no stranger to pushing the ball up the floor quickly under Marchione’s fast-paced offense at PSA. “I like to run and not necessarily sit in an offense every time down, get the ball and go” added Koivisto.
The senior begins to count down the days until graduation at Putnam Science Academy May 23, and reflected on her two years as a Mustang. “My biggest memory from Putnam Science Academy is meeting people from all over the world” said Koivisto. “Students with all sorts of different cultures, kids from France, Brazil, all over, it was an amazing experience.
Ari will attend the University of Southern New Hampshire in the fall and join the Penmen girls’ basketball team. She will major in communications with a minor in sports management.
Josh Sanchas
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
.
The Centaurs girls’ lacrosse team is off to a rather nice start this spring season.
Ivy Gelhaus scored four goals and had four draw controls to lead the Centaurs to their third consecutive win to start the season, 14-4, over Griswold in Jewett City April 7.
Rachel Canedy added a hat trick for Woodstock Academy while senior captain Emma Ciquera scored her 12th goal of the season.
Aislin Tracey (1 assist) added two goals while Peyton Saracina (1 assist), Ashley LaFramboise, Julia Schad (2 assists) and Katie Mason also scored for Woodstock Academy.
It was the first loss in three games this season for the Wolverines.
“Super-happy, super-proud of the girls, we’re just a fabulous team and, as the girls have talked about, we have a lot of threats all over the field so it’s making it a team game and makes it difficult for opponents to defend or challenge us,” Woodstock Academy coach Kathleen Johnson said of the fast start.
Indeed, there has been little in the way of a challenge so far.
The Centaurs opened with a 13-2 win over RHAM April 1 and followed that up with a 16-4 one-sided win over E.O. Smith April 2.
“I think we’re just a really close team,” said senior captain Ciquera. “We really connect and that really helps us. We know where to put the ball and know where everyone is supposed to be.”
Ciquera has been a scoring machine for the Centaurs early.
She scored half-dozen goals in the win over the Sachems in the opener and followed that up with a five-goal effort versus the Panthers.
“She has been on fire,” Johnson said.
It’s a little different for Ciquera.
She plays defense for her club lacrosse side.
“I’m a little surprised, but I couldn’t do it without my team,” Ciquera said. “I love playing all the positions. I love playing defense also, but it’s good to put some in the net too.”
Gelhaus (9 goals this season) also scored five goals in the win over E.O. Smith while Arielle Johnson had a goal and a pair of assists. Emma Redfield, Tracey, Saracina, Schad, and Canedy also scored.
Redfield, Tracey and Saracina all had two goals in the opening win over RHAM with Schad also netting one. Gelhaus had eight draw controls against the Sachems.
“People don’t realize how much Ivy does on the draws. She will win over 50 percent of the draws each game and if you don’t have possession, you can’t score,” said Kathleen Johnson.
Another help has been the experience. The Centaurs feature 11 seniors.
I think they have come hungry, ready to play and some have played club in the offseason. I’m not surprised, just excited, but the toughest (games) are still to come. We’re looking forward to facing them and, hopefully, we will have some good results,” Kathleen Johnson added.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
The Woodstock Academy
.