enfield edition september 2012

September 2012

Inside The Sports Department

Jon Buzby says parents need to learn to adapt to a new coach. See page 3.

See how the boys soccer scene is shaping up as Rick Kelly takes over

for a legend in Somers. See page 15.

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The Sports Department

Enfield’s Caron Helps Make USC Trojans

Stronger

Pantuosco Takes Over

Somers Girls Program

By B.N MazzoneThe Sports Department

LOS ANGELES—In the past 30 years, off season strength training has become just as important as the actual games. Ath-letes train year round for their sports, often-times using a

barbell, not a ball. One former Enfield man has made a living out of training these athletes. Tim Caron, 31, an Enfield High class of 2000 graduate, is currently entering his third season as an associate strength, nu-trition, and recovery coach for the Univer-sity of Southern California (USC).

By Reid WalmarkThe Sports Department

Mike Pantuosco, a long-time Spartans boys assistant coach, has taken over from Mark Lacafta as head coach of the Somers girls soccer team, which finished 9-8-0 in 2011 with a second-round loss in the Class S tournament. Pantuosco, whose brother, John Pantuosco, led the Spartans boys team to back-to-back state titles as head coach, needs to replace one starter. Mike Pantuosco says experience on defense and athleticism on offense will be team strengths. Game 1 is September 11th at East Granby. Senior midfielder Kylen O’Hearn was All-NCCC last fall. The leading scorers from last year–No. 1 in goals Jaclyn O’Grady, a sophomore midfielder, and No. 2 Kathryn Lavallee, a junior forward–will lead the attack. Other players who should be contributing include senior forwards

It’s a “Pick-Six” for No. 7 as JT LaPointe intercepts this pass and heads for the end zone for the En-field Ramblers A Team during opening day ac-tion at Cromwell.

September 20122

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860-872-0TSD (0873) • 860-614-5866 • thesportsdept.comPublisher: Kevin Hayes • [email protected]

Editor: Brendan FahertyProduction Manager: Patty Hunter

Contributing Writers: Jon Buzby • Tom Ainsworth • Steve SmithReid L. Walmark • Damian Frasinelli • Nate Owen • Steve Krajewski

David Heuschkel • Amy Locandro • Tim Larew • Erin QuinlanRobert Tedford • Brendon Willis • Katy Sprout • Katie Powers

Steve Krajewski • Matt Lebel • Ryan Kane • Bruce Watt • Mike Bidwell Jennifer Charette • Melissa Green-Maltese

Photography: Steve Palmer • Andre Dumais • Rich Tanguay Bernie Sheridan • Sherrene Wells • Alan Bastarache • Robert Pospisil

Steve Smith • Andre Garant • Melanie Oliveria

The Sports Department is published on the second Wednesday of each month and is available at more than 250 locations across eight towns in North Central Connecticut. More than 50,000 readers currently enjoy The Sports Department’s comprehensive coverage of the local sports scene. If you know of an establishment that would like to carry The Sports Department, please call our office at 860-872-0873 or email our publisher, Kevin Hayes at - [email protected].

1. How many Olympic medals did swimmer Michael Phelps end his career with?A) 15B) 22C) 25D) 102. Who hit the only grand slam in an MLB All-Star Game?A) Fred LynnB) Jim RiceC) Babe RuthD) Melky Cabrera3. Who is the Boston Celtics all-time leading scorer?A) Bill RussellB) Paul PierceC) Larry BirdD) John Havlicek4. Who is the New York Yankees all-time leader in hits?A) Babe RuthB) Derek JeterC) Mickey MantleD) Don Mattingly5. New England Patriots quarterback played at which college?A) Notre DameB) TexasC) MichiganD) Ohio State

The Sports Department invites you to take our trivia challenge. Get the most answers correct and you have a shot at winning a hoodie, courtesy of The Sports Department. Enter online at www.thesportsdept.com

6. Who is the only college football player to win two Heisman Trophies?A) Archie GriffinB) Tim TebowC) Peyton ManningD) Charles Woodson7) What college did Eli Manning go to?A) LSUB) TexasC) UConnD) Ole Miss8) Who is UConn men’s basketball all-time leading scorer?A) Chris SmithB) Ray AllenC) Tate GeorgeD) Kemba Walker9) Who caught Doug Flutie’s famous hail mary against Miami in 1984 for Boston College?A) Jerry RiceB) Gerard PhelanC) Art MonkD) Lynn Swann10) Who scored the only TD in Super Bowl III for the New York Jets?A) Joe NamathB) Matt SnellC) Don MaynardD) Tim Tebow

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September 2012 3The Sports Department

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By Jon BuzbyThe Sports Department

Learn To Adapt To New Coach

It can take time for a player to adapt to a new coach, just like it takes time for a student to adapt to a new teacher. Some parents also need time for adjustment.You may already be questioning if your child’s coach is the right one to lead the team, regardless of what level your child is playing. And those parents who are not doubting, probably have kids who are. Some parents coach for that exact rea-son — then there’s no question, at least in the paren t’s mind, whether the coach is getting the job done. But for parents who don’t coach, and for kids who don’t call the coach Mom or Dad, getting used to a new coach can be frustrating at first. Try to remember that a coach is a volun-teer doing the very best he or she can. Ev-ery decision made might not be the most popular one, or in the players’ or parents’ opinion, the best one, but it is the coach’s decision and therefore has to be respected

as long as safety is not an issue.Let The Little Things Go Most of the little things parents get frustrated about usually aren’t that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things. Parents fight over little items such as how drills are run, if they are effective, and players’ positions on the field. My rule of thumb as a parent is if it’s not jeopardizing the safety of my child, I keep my opinions to myself. After all, I didn’t skip dinner to plan the practice and I’m sitting in the bleachers with a cup of coffee and the sports page during it.Don’t Demean The Coach In Front Of Your Child Any time my son questions his coach, I tell him that it’s a good experience to play for different coaches with varying person-alities, just like I strongly believe it’s good for kids to have teachers with different teaching styles. I remind him that part of being a good athlete is being adaptable to a variety of situations on and off the field. It’s no different than at the varsity, college or professional level.You Can Approach The Coach ... The Right Way However, if you think there’s an issue that needs to be discussed, don’t be afraid to meet with the coach and ask why things are done a certain way. I just wouldn’t do it one week into the season. And if and when you do approach the coach, consider start-ing the conversation this way: “Coach, I’ve never seen a game situation handled that

way and I am always eager to learn, and so I’m just wondering why you do it that way.”You Still Might Not Like The Answer, But At Least You’ll Have One Don’t make the season any longer than it has to be — accept early on that not every coach is perfect, and remember, neither is every athlete or parent. Jon Buzby’s columns appear in newspa-pers and magazines around the country as well as numerous websites. Email your comments to [email protected] and follow him @JonBuzby on Twitter.

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September 20124 The Sports Department

Football NotebookFootbal

l

Fresh Faces For Some Area TeamsBy B. N. MazzoneThe Sports Department

Fermi and Rockville will both look for a fresh start this season with first time head coaches in Joe Tata Jr. and Rob Scholtz.Tata Jr. takes over a Fermi program that went 0-10 last season and he is looking forward to a bright future. He will begin his tenure against a strong Middletown team at home on September 14th. Scholtz took over at Rockville late in the summer after Pat Cox’s position at Tolland was changed to full time athletic director. Scholtz is extremely comfortable with Rockville and worked as Cox’s right hand man during the entire off-season. Scholtz is also eager to rebuild a program that has struggled in the past. He plans to build on what his staff started in January and hopes to restore pride in the Rams program. Ellington, which finished undefeated (10-0) during the regular season and captured the Pequot League title, graduated 18 starters. The Knights do however return strong athletes in 6-4 receiver Brendan Coverdill, 6-3 receiver Austin Tautkus, and 220 lb. fullback Neal Janiga. In his 14th year, coach Keith Tautkus expects

his team to compete. Enfield returns a strong backfield that is led by Avery Boissy and head coach Jay Gaucher (also in his 14th year) will look for his team to be a solid contender this season. South Windsor will look to improve upon its 1-9 record from last season and try to build back towards the .500 mark.Enfield The Raiders will also have to replace two strong offensive players in WR Hugh Lindo (The Sports Department Male Ath-lete of the Year) and QB Tony Romano (all-conference selection). The Raiders started the season on fire at 5-1, but limped to a 6-4 finish. However, Enfield will look to build on a 6-4 season, while returning a strong senior core that is led by Avery Boissy, Michael Crowley, and Lukasz Kluk. Crowley was an all-conference DB last year, and Boissy was the team’s leading rusher. Gaucher will also rely heavily on seniors Anthony Trotta, an all-confer-ence place kicker last season, Sean Gill, Nicco Liucci, and Kyle Dabrow. Gau-cher believes that his team has depth at both the running back and defensive back positions. However, he also feels that his team is small in stature and that it could be a problem.

“Our team needs to find a way to prac-tice at a high level in order to win games this year,” Gaucher said. His team opens with Granby at home on September 14.Fermi Tata Jr. begins his first season as the Falcons head coach and he is enthusias-tic about the program and the challenges that lie ahead. Tata Jr. sees depth on his offensive line with three starters near 300 lbs. in Lecour, Menaker, and Triston

Dixon. Tata Jr. also believes that he has talent at the WR/DB positions in the Mc-Carthy twins and Sroka. Tata Jr. thinks that a new offense and restricted defense will vastly improve the Falcons. Although he is taking over a 0-10 team, he believes that Fermi can contend for the league crown. One of the biggest challenges that lie ahead is facing what Tata Jr. calls "The Past Demons." He looks to challenge his team to build confidence and establish a

new foundation for the team. Despite Fermi’s 0-10 record, they graduated 16 seniors, many two way starters. The Falcons are relatively inexpe-rienced at the varsity level and Tata Jr. hopes that will help the players begin with a clean slate. “I believe in my players, the new system of football opera-tions, conforming to new rules, and team goals is a plus,” Tata Jr. said. “I want to establish a new tradition for Fermi Football and give the players lessons that will track with them forever.”

See “Ell/Somers” Page 11Avery Boissy is one of Enfield's top return-ing players.


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Youth Photos

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Jahlil McWhite goes up high to break up a pass to the end zone at Cromwell.

The Ramblers get a rest and a halftime talk during their opening day game at Cromwell.

The Ramblers line says “Bring it on.”


COLLEGE NOTEBOOKMotorsports pagESomers Brings

Championship Pedigree To Elms

By Reid L. WalmarkThe Sports Department

Five former Somers boys soccer play-ers are at Elms College, including four who won back-to-back CIAC Class S state championships the last two years. Adam O’Grady (SHS 2010) is a junior midfielder. The four 2012 Somers gradu-ates are defenders Connor O’Grady, Richard Vanasse and Joe Pellegrini and midfielder Lorenzo Rolocut. Junior Alex Elia (Somers 2010) is a forward at Endicott College. He had six goals and two assists in his first two season, including a pair of game-winning goals as a freshman. Senior Alex Danais, of South Windsor, a graduate of Worcester Academy, is a defender on the Sacred Heart University men’s soccer team. Entering this season, he had played in 44 matches, start-ing half of them, with one goal, a game winner against NJIT last fall. Freshman Luca Parteseano, a 2012 graduate of Glastonbury High School, is a midfielder at Sacred Heart. Ian Hunter (Ellington 2009) is back for his second year as captain at Castelton (VT) State. He is a defender who began the season with three goals in 53 career matches. Sophomore Michael Thomas (Ellington 2011) is a midfielder at Stone-hill College. Sophomore Ben Zandonella (South Windsor 2011) is defender who started five games last season. Se-nior Ryan Mocadlo (Ellington 2009) is defender at WPI. Sophomore Eric Crevoiserat, a graduate of Glastonbury, is a midfielder at WPI, and Sam Russell (GHS) is another sophomore midfielder for WPI. Sophomore Kristen Tetrault (Tolland 2011), who was named Commonwealth Coast Conference rookie of the year last fall, is a midfielder for the Roger Williams women’s soccer team. She had six goals and six assists in 2011, third best on the team, although she started nine of 22 matches. Tetrault scored in RWU’s 1-1 tie against Wheaton College on Aug. 31.Six of Tetrault’s former teammates at Tolland are freshmen playing in col-lege. Kristin Carr (Tolland 2012) is a midfielder/forward at St. Rose College. Carr had three goals and an assist in a 10-0 win over NYIT on Aug. 30. Al-

Joe Pellegrini is one of five former Somers soccer players at Elms College. File photo

lison Gallo (THS 2012) is a forward at the University of Connecticut. Two of Gallo’s teammates with the Huskies are senior midfielder Karen Gurnon (THS 2008) and Michelle Baj (South Windsor 2009), a senior defender who transferred from Siena College. Fresh-man Kaitlin Thibideau (THS 2012) is a defender at Eastern Connecticut. Three of Thibideau’s teammates are senior forward Taylor Buchanan (Ellington 2009), freshman defender Gio Kara-halios (South Windsor 2012) and senior midfielder Kelly Wallace (SWHS 2009). Alyssa Valenti (THS 2012) is a defender at LIU Post. Allie Nuccio (THS 2012) is a defender at Manchester Community College and Kailee Doerfler (THS 2012) is a midfielder at MCC. Sophomore Bryan Fowler (Tolland 2011) is running cross country at UConn. The season opens on Sept. 15. His high school teammate, Trevor Lafontaine (THS 2011), is a sophomore on the Army cross country team, which opened on Sept. 7. Matt Mensher (THS 2012) is a freshman running at Quinnipiac. Senior Andrew Sullivan (Ellington 2009) is running cross country at Sacred Heart. Freshman Alex Smith (EHS 2012) is a freshman running for the As-sumption College men’s team. He placed 74th out of 143 finishers on Sept. 1 at Keene State. Senior Allison Landry (Ellington 2010) is running at Georgian Court, where she is the school record-holder in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in track. Alexandra Maciolek (EHS 2012) is a freshman runner at Eastern Connecticut where she placed 115th of 147 finishers on Sept. 1 at Keene State.

Senior captain Ian Hunter, of Ellington, looks to get Castleton State College over the hump for a NAC title after finishng run-ner-up to Husson last season. Hunter, a defender, has three goals in his career.

Pitkat's To Do List Not Finished

STAFFORD — His resume reads like a scrapbook of SK Modified accomplish-ments. Woody Pitkat has won 40 laps races. 100 lap races. 150 laps. He's pitted for tires and has won. He's been two laps down and has won. There's one item remaining on his "to do" list, however, and it's leaving a hole a moon crater could fit through. Pitkat is still looking for an SK champion-ship at Stafford Motor Speedway, a cham-pionship that would put an exclamation point on his exceptional career. "It would be huge," Pitkat said. "I've done just about everything else except that."Pitkat has a chance to pull it off this year, but it's not going to be easy. He trails Ted Christopher by 34 points with two races remaining on the 2012 schedule. The task may be difficult. Pitkat, however, would be the first to tell you it's not impos-sible. "There was one year when Lloyd Agor was ahead by 92 points on a night when there were double features," Pitkat said. "And at the end of the night, his lead was down to 4. So it can happen. You just have to win. As Joey Logano says, you have to win and hope that something bad happens to the other guy." Christopher, however, has been consis-tent all year, with four wins and 12 Top 5 finishes in 16 races. Pitkat, meanwhile, has two wins and 10 Top 5s."I'm not wishing Ted any bad luck," Pitkat said. "But I'll need some help."Pitkat says his crew has gone above and beyond what's expected to keep the title aspirations alive. "One week we broke the yoke on the drive shaft," Pitkat said. "Any other team would have loaded up the car and gone home. Our team fixed it. When we came back on the track, we were 14 laps down. And we were still able to pick up 12 spots before the end of the race." Pitkat's fight for the SK title is only half of the story. He leads by Mike Quintiliano by 44 points with two races left. He has won three times and has finished in the Top 10 in all 15 races. "The last two years, I think we should have won," Pitkat said. "Two years ago we lost by just two points. And last year we were disqualified three times, or we would have won it. I really would like to win this year for my car owner, Bill Snow. He has been great." It would be Pitkat's second Late Model title. If he could also win the SK crown,

however, he would become the first Staf-ford driver ever to win both an SK title and a Late Model crown. "We've worked hard for it every year," Pitkat said. "The only trouble is when I win, Ted seems to finish second. And when Ted wins, I'm always a few spots farther back."Pitkat's drive to a title won't be a joyride. Making history, however, never is.Stafford Success Two other Stafford drivers have legitimate shots to win titles. Cliff Saunders finished second in the Dare Stock feature on Sept. 7 and leads Austin Bessette of Stafford by 28 points with two races remaining. Cory Casagrande also had a big night on Sept. 7. There were twin Limited Late Mod-el features and Casagrande had strong finished in both races. He won the first, finished second in the nightcap and now leads Josh Wood by a mere two points with two races left.Ricard Recovery It's been a season of rust removal for Ed Ricard of Stafford. He had been out of action for two seasons and he had some work to do to get his rhythm back. "We had to restructure a few things on our car to keep up with the Joneses," Ricard said. "Some of our equipment was outdated. We have struggled a little. But we're also having a lot of fun, and that's the reason we came back. It's the only way I can get an adrenaline rush." Ricard drives the AA Budget Repair and WCCC-FM106.9 Late Model and is looking for a strong finish."Our goal was to finish in the Top 10 in points," Ricard said. "And we're currently ninth. So if we can finish in the Top 10, it certainly be satisfactory. Then we can regroup for next season."Harry's Last RideVeteran SK Light driver Harry Wheeler of Stafford says this season will be his last."I'm putting my car up for sale," Wheeler said. "I'm getting my hip operated on this winter and I think it's time to give it up."Wheeler has been happy with his final sea-son.He is sixth in the point standings and was able to collect his second career win. "We've been running good, but we just can't seem to stay out of people's way. The car is turning good. We just need more luck." Wheeler will have two more races left in which to find it. "It's time to quit," Wheeler said. "I'm just don't know where I'm going to have as much fun as I do when I drive the car. That's going to be the toughest part."



Long Days and Nights Paid Off For Caron

Continued from Page 1

USC’s football team is currently ranked No. 2 in the country in the associ-ated press poll and is an early season favorite to win the national champion-ship. Caron has taken a long road from Enfield, CT to Los Angeles, CA as a volun-teer, intern, and full time staff member. “It wasn’t the easiest road. I worked for free, for credits, lived on couches, but I knew this is what I desired to do. It was the only thing I wanted to do. Now, I sit back and laugh about it. It’s definitely been worth it,” said Caron. Upon graduating from Enfield High, Caron attended Springfield College and pursued a double major in Math and Education. After one year, he transferred to Westfield State in pursuit of the same degree. In the end, Caron finished the Math degree, but along the way, he lost the desire to teach. “I was doing my student teaching and the entire time I was in there I’d be thinking about how to train, how to improve my workouts, what I’d do at the gym and all that,” said Caron. “One day I woke up and said to myself, ‘Being a math teacher is what I’m supposed to do. It’s not what I want to do!’ After that, I did some research, met with advisors and I pursued a degree in exercise science.” Caron spent time as a volunteer football coach at Enfield High while pursuing his degree, but realized that he wasn’t keen on coaching football either.“It was fun and all, but I realized that I didn’t care about it all that much. Foot-ball is great, I have a love for it, but I just wanted to get in the weight room. I wanted to help the kids there, not on the field,” Caron said. Caron first became interested in lifting during middle school. Over the years, the interest in improving his performance grew. “I always lifted to become better at foot-ball. I wanted to be the best football player. Then when I became a junior or senior I realized that all football did was get in the way of lifting. I loved it more than football. I saw direct results in the gym and I loved that. I felt at home in the gym and with other people who worked hard there,” said Caron. Caron was a three sport athlete playing football, basketball, and track at both En-field and Fermi High (he transferred after two years at Fermi). Although his teams continually struggled while in Enfield, he feels that his experience helped mold him. “I learned so much in Enfield,” Caron said. “Enfield has a different culture. En-field gave me a great experience. I mean I meet kids and coaches from other states and towns who focused on one sport and barely made the teams. Me, I got to play three sports. If me and my friends lived

in a different part of the country we would have been cut from the football teams, laughed off the courts on the basketball teams and giv-en no chance to compete. In Enfield, I could play three sports and excel. It was a great experience. Today, I think that helps me relate to my athletes better because I get what a bas-ketball player

thinks, a hitter in baseball, a full back in football, and a thrower in track. I under-stand those kids because of what Enfield provided me.” Caron credits his father, Phil, who still lives in Enfield, for helping him become the employee that he is today. “I couldn’t have had a better role model. My dad was awesome. He never has a bad day. I always waited for him to come home mad, upset, angry, and he never did. He was consistent every day. He was reliable, consistent, and honest and those were MVP traits for me. I love what he provided for me,” Caron said. Upon completing his degree, Caron ended up back at Springfield College and started his master’s in Strength and Conditioning. In the meantime, he volun-teered for a semester at Harvard, interned at Georgia Tech, and Ole Miss. Along the way he met some people who had a huge influence on his career. “I interned at Tech and my boss (Eric Cia-no) recommended me to his best friend, a guy who worked with him at the University of Tennessee, Aaron (Ausums). Aaron was Eric’s friend and he was the Ole Miss head strength coach. I interned at both places and stayed in touch with those guys. That summer while working at Ole Miss, Ciano called me and offered me a full time job at Tech,” said Caron. He accepted the job at Tech and sus-pended his work at Springfield. He enrolled in an online master’s program at the University of California Pennsylvania in performance enchantment and injury prevention. Once that was done, Caron finished the degree at Springfield. “When I got hired at Tech I had achieved what I wanted. But I always knew that I’d want those degrees and I’d want bigger things. That extra education was important to me. It took a while, but it made me more marketable,” said Caron. At Georgia Tech, Caron was an assistant for the football team and was the head trainer for the women’s basketball pro-gram. During that time the football team won the ACC Championship, and faced Iowa in the Orange Bowl. Caron was on the sidelines for all of that. The women’s basketball team also competed in the NCAA tournament for all three years that Caron coached the team. He worked with athletes such as Calvin Johnson, Derrick Morgan, and Iman Shumpert. After three years on the job, his boss Eric Ciano left for the Buffalo Bills.

Enfield native Tim Caron has been a strong addition to the USC football training staff. Caron is in his third season as an associate strength and nutrition coach at the school. Courtesy of: University of Southern California

Golf pagELocal Golf Tournament

ListingsTo submit information about your golf tournament please email us at: [email protected]. Listings are free and will run both online at TheS-portsDept.com and in print.

Eastern Connecticut Hockey Tournament On September 21, 2102 the Eastern Connecticut Hockey Organization (ECHO) will hold their 11th Annual Golf Tournament at the Blackledge C.C. in Hebron, CT. The cost is $448 for four-somes ($117 for Single Golfers) and includes Lunch, Golf, Cart and Dinner. Not a Golfer? Then come for dinner and the Raffle (over 50 items). Silent& Live Auctions as well. Cost for Dinner only is $43. Lots of sports memorabilia. Please visit www.echostars.com or call Bob Pilney at 860-647-9398.

Stafford Bulldog Youth Football League Tournament The Stafford Bulldog Youth Football League will hold its golf tournament on Sept 21 at Cedar Knob Golf Course in Somers. Entry fee is $110 and includes golf, cart, lunch, dinner, prizes, golf awards and more. The format is a scramble and shotgun play begins at noon. Silent Auction and Chinese Raffle also held. For more in-formation please contact Henry Engel (860) 262-1651 or Scott Gilbert (860) 993-4865; [email protected]. COME JOIN THE FUN AND SUP-PORT THE CAUSE!

NCCCC ANNUAL ROXY BURKE SCHOLARSHIP WOMEN’S GOLF

TOURNAMENT The North Central Connecticut Cham-ber of Commerce is proud to announce its annual Roxy Burke Memorial Schol-arship Golf Tournament. This year’s tournament will held on September 21st, at the Rolling Mead-ows Country Club located at 76 Sadds Mill Road in Ellington, CT. A continental breakfast for the golfers will be held in the club’s banquet hall at 8am, followed by a 9am shot gun start. The 9-hole tournament will be followed by a lun-cheon and raffle. This year’s tournament will include the first of hopefully many Silliest Hat Contests. Golfers: be sure to have your silliest hat in tow for a chance to win prizes! The fee per golfer is $65.00, which includes continental breakfast, lunch, greens fees, and golf cart. All proceeds from this event will be awarded to stu-dents from the five area high schools, as well as NCCCC member’s children, and one student from Asnuntuck Community College. To register for this event please contact the chamber at (860) 741-3838.

Vernon Orioles Tournament Slated For October 6 The Vernon Orioles baseball club will hold its 21st annual golf tournament on Oct 6 at Twin Hills CC in Coventry. En-try fee is $110 per golfer and includes greens fees, cart, post-tournament barbecue, golf towels, balls and team picture. All proceeds benefit the Vernon Orioles and Vernon Park and Recre-ation. Deadline for registration is Oct 1. Please call Steve Krajewski at 860-870-3520 for more information or to have a registration form emailed to you.


ASK THE TRAINER

By Kristen Weiman, PT, DPT *Certified Athletic Trainer Certified Athletic Trainers (ATCs) are al-lied health care providers trained in the prevention, evaluation and rehabilitation of sports injuries. They work under the direction of a physician and they are board certified nationally and licensed in CT. Visit www.NATA.org for more information. Certi-fied athletic trainers at Enfield High School and Enrico Fermi High School are pro-vided by Eastern Rehabilitation Network (www.easternrehab.net ), a department of Hartford Hospital (www.harthosp.org).Eastern Rehabilitation Network (ERN) and The Sports Department have partnered to bring readers a monthly column on sports medicine topics. Readers may submit questions related to injuries, training advice, rehabilitation or any other sports medicine topic. Submit questions to:Ben Stralka, ATC (Enrico Fermi High School) – [email protected], Kyle Hicks, ATC (Enfield High School) – [email protected], Wendy Nichols, Physi-cal Therapist (ERN Enfield) – [email protected]. Many of you may be wondering about that colorful tape seen on the bodies of many Olympic athletes, with sometimes what appeared to be very exotic designs. What is it and how does it work? That tape is known as Kinesio tape. It comes in a variety of both classic and

What Was All of that Tape at the Olympics?

neon colors. Kinesio tape is a textured and elastic cotton tape that was engineered and developed by a Japanese chiropractor and acupuncturist, Kenzo Kase, in 1979. Depending on the technique (design), the tape’s purpose is to facilitate muscular re-education, reduce pain, and reduce swelling. Kinesio tape is unlike other athletic tapes, as it allows support and stability without re-stricting range of motion. There are myriad ways to apply Kinesio tape depending on the injury. The efficacy of Kinesio taping is based mostly on anecdotal information from clinicians and athletes. There has not been much scientific study so the actual mechanism of how it might work is not well understood. There is agreement, however, that Kinesio tape should be applied by physical or occupational therapists and/or athletic trainers who have been trained in its application using their knowledge of the musculoskeletal system. Eastern Rehabilitation Network, a depart-ment of Hartford Hospital, has clinicians trained in Kinesio taping at most of their locations. Kinesio taping is often an impor-tant adjunct to a rehabilitation treatment plan. It can be used for a variety of ortho-pedic, neuromuscular, and neurological conditions. The Kinesio taping techniques seem to prolong and enhance the benefits of exercise and manual therapy adminis-tered during a physical therapy session.

September 2012 9American Legion Notebook

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Enfield Parks and Recreation

Picnic Packs Are AvailableBy Alison Alberghini-DurlerThe Sports Department

Picnic packs are available to Enfield resi-dents to use for a maximum of three days. The packs include volleyball, badminton, balls, bats, bases, horseshoes and more. Reservations are mandatory and must be made one week prior to the pick-up date. Reservation forms are available at the Recreation Department. Phone reserva-tions will not be accepted. Note: You may not register for picnic packs online. Payment is by cash or check only. Picnic packs will be available until September 30, 2012. Fee: $10 plus a $20 refundable deposit.Fall 2012 Program Information & Reg-istration The Enfield Recreation Department fall program information will be online start-ing Friday, August 31, 2012. Offerings will include programs for toddlers, youth & adults. Look for information on special events, playgroup, classes, indoor swim-ming lessons, bus trips and more! Pro-gram registration for Enfield residents will begin on Friday, September 14 at 9 a.m. and on Friday, September 21 at 9 a.m. for Non-Residents. Log onto www.enfield-ct.gov and click on Recreation under the Departments tab to get to the Recreation homepage. Enfield Youth Basketball Program Information: The 2012-2013 EYBL infor-mation is now available online for viewing at www.enfield-ct.gov on the Recreation Department homepage. Registration will begin on Friday, September 28 at 9:00 am. This program is for residents only. Pro-gram flyers will go home with students in grades 3-8 the first week of school. Adult Over 40 Basketball LeagueInformation on the Adult Over 40 Bas-

ketball League is now online at www.enfield-ct.gov on the Recreation Depart-ment homepage. Registration deadline for teams is October 19, 2012 at 5:00 pm. Individuals who are interested in joining a team can contact the Recreation Depart-ment at (860) 253-6420 to add their name to an interest list. New teams are also welcome to join the league. Space in the league is limited and teams will be ac-cepted on a first come, first serve basis.Dolphins Swim Team Dolphins Swim Team is a competitive swim team that swims at the Fermi High School Pool (124 North Maple Street, En-field). The team is coming off an outstand-ing season where many best times were achieved. Practice is usually offered 3-4 times per week. Swimmers are expected to attend at least two practices per week and compete in swim meets. Practice will begin in early October and the season will run through mid-February. Meets begin in December and are held on Saturdays or Sundays. There are usually five meets plus a Championship meet. Swim Team is a great way to continue on the success of swimming lessons or lots of swim time from the summer months. Swim team keeps swimmers in the pool and progress-ing. It’s also a great way to get a jump on really improving and perfecting strokes. Swimmers are welcome to join even if they are playing other sports. We just ask that you let the coaches know. Remem-ber even the Olympians were once just new swimmers at their first swim practice! Come join the fun! For detailed program information contact the Enfield Recre-ation Department or visit the Recreation homepage on the town’s website at www.enfield-ct.gov.For more information contact the Enfield Recreation Department at (860) 253-6420.

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FermiStudent Athlete of the Month

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OTHER SPORTS NOTEBOOK

Nickname: QuailAccomplishments: Varsity Softball (Left-Fielder). Varsity Volleyball (Libero). 18U CT Tigers Travel Softball (Left Fielder).GPA: 7.4How do you prepare for a game? Before a game, I usually like to listen to music to build up energy. If we are on the bus to an away game, my friends and I like to joke around, and maybe sing to whatever song we are listening to. This helps create positive energy not only for yourself, but your teammates as well.Expectations for the next season/Thoughts on the season: I feel as if the team will take what we learned from last season, and use it in a positive way. Last year our team created a strong bond, almost like family. Having that bond helped us play much stronger as a team.Favorite Career Moment: During the 2012 High school softball season, when we played our first and last state tourna-ment game against Bacon Academy. This had been the first time that our team had made the state tournament in three years, and our team wanted to make our coaches proud. We played strong defense, and were aggressive on base. Unfortunately, we lost the game in the 7th inning. Some people may look at it as a negative that we lost, but for many of the players, including myself, it made us realize what we can accom-plish. The lesson of that day was If you work hard, it will pay off.What area were you strongest in? What area did you improve the most in over your career? I have become more of a strategic player. I have learned to think ahead for what may be coming, instead of just hoping to make a good play. Before I improved my strate-gic thinking, my strongest area was my aggressive ability on defense.Looking back, what are you going to miss the most about playing for your team? Overall, what are you going to miss the most about high school? The fact that you can play hard, and compete against tough teams, and have a great time while doing it. When I leave high school, I am going to miss my teachers. The past three years I have had some of the greatest teachers, who will do anything they can to help, and see you succeed. When you know you have a teacher that wants to see you do well, is a great feeling because it makes you want to do your best, and many of the teachers I have had in Fermi High have made that happen for me.What is the toughest challenge

you’ve overcome? Losing my mother to lung cancer at a very young age. The realization of not having a female role model in my life was a challenge to overcome, and I believe I have created a positive outlook on a negative situa-tion, by doing the best I can to strive and accomplish things in my life that would make her proud of me.Favorite athlete? Which athlete do you most model your game after? Curtis Granderson (Center Fielder for the New York Yankees is my favorite ath-lete. I model my game after him because he is one of the most aggressive players in the game, and he is modest.Red Sox or Yankees? UConn men or UConn women? Yankees, UConn WomenFavorite band, movie, TV show? My favorite artist is Drake. My favorite movie is Stepbrothers. My favorite TV show is Awkward.What is your favorite sports website to follow-elaborate? ESPN.com. This would be my favorite sports site to follow because it contains all the stats for my favorite teams if I missed a televised game, but it also has up to date news stories about my favorite sports or athletes.How do you believe sites like Twitter and Facebook have changed how you watch and follow sports? If I am not watching a Yankee game, I see tweets from some of my friends that are Yankee fans, about what is going on in the game and that lets me know what is going on even when I am not watching. I also follow my favorite athletes such as Curtis Granderson, Robinson Cano, and Mike Trout so I can see their thoughts about their performance.Plans after high school: Go to a four year college. My area of interest for studies are Business Finance, or Com-puter Science.

Emily QuailVollyball & Softball

Enfield Cross Country Making Progress

By Danny AtkinsonThe Sports Department

After a tough 2011 campaign, head coach Rob Barnes discussed how Enfield’s boys and girls cross country teams are cur-rently mirror images of one another. Both programs were 2-12 last season and are in the midst of a rebuilding phase. The top returning runners for the girls are Stephanie Malicki and Megan Rund. For the boys, Ian Turnberg and Jacob Boyle are the top returners. The two will receive valuable support from KeJuan Williams and Sean Richards. “The strength for the boys’ team is that our numbers are growing and we are making steady progress with many new runners,” Barnes said. “On the girls’ team our numbers are increasing every year,” he stated. We finally have a team to score and compete in meets.” The Enfield/Fermi/Somers co-op swim-ming program went 2-9 last season. The team has a solid amount of experience, having graduated only three starters. The goal for 2012 will continue to be develop-ing a young program. The Raiders are looking forward to great seasons from returning swimmers Rebecca Kalif, Erica Bushey, Amy Sullivan and Mykela Ori-fice. Kalif earned All-Conference honors last season as a freshman. The volleyball team went 3-15 last season and graduated four starters. Head coach Albina Belisle is hoping the Raid-ers will improve by focusing on defense and speed as well as confidence in 2012.bThe team returns two seniors in Macy Peach and Morgan Doiron, who have improved tremendously since taking up volleyball last season. Enfield's field hockey team went 1-15 last season but are returning 10 starters. Head coach Cookie Bromage is confident they can qualify for the state tournament. En-field returns a significant amount of young talent this season. Defenseman Rachel

Kobosh will be a linchpin as a sophomore. Hannah Lapinshi will be an important contributor on offense, and junior goalie Madison LaRusso returns after having earned All-State honors in 2011.East Windsor East Windsor placed 14th in the Class S championship meet last season and looks to improve that mark this year. East Windsor returns seven experienced run-ners, with six juniors joining lone senior Sonny Chaleunphone. Head Coach Bob Lengyel is proud of his squad’s work ethic, and believes the Panthers could feature five runners with times under 20 minutes. If the team reaches this goal, Lengyel is confident it can be competitive in the NCCC.Stafford Stafford will again go through significant growing pains in 2012. Eight of its 12 runners are freshmen and sophomores, and none of the juniors or seniors are cur-rently standouts. Head coach Mark Dunn believes sophomores Matt Moore and Brendan Goodwin can Stafford's best runners by the end of the season.Somers The Somers boys cross country team went 6-7 in 2011 and was more com-petitive in a tough NCCC conference than years past. Head coach Michael Niziolek and his charges are looking to build on that progress this season. Seniors Cullen Roberts and Robert Bauman are the Spartans top returning runners. “Cullen and Robert are excellent athletes who are leading the team by example, while demonstrating excellent sportsmanship and support for their fellow teammates,” Niziolek said.Field Hockey Somers went 5-10 in 2011 and missed out on a state tournament berth. This sea-son, the team is looking to take a signifi-cant step by qualifying for the tournament

See “JUMP HEADER” Page 15


Somers Parks and Recreation

Fall Programs For All Ages

By Amy SaadaThe Sports Department

The town of Somers has programs for all ages this fall. To register for any of the following programs, please go to somers.recdesk.com/recdeskportal.Tot SoccerThe Little Kickers Program for ages 3-5 is devoted to the enjoyment and devel-opment of soccer players. The purpose of Little Kickers soccer is to provide an opportunity for the participants to have fun, learn the sport and develop life skills including a lifelong love of the game.Training sessions will be held once a week for four weeks.Two Sessions to choose from: Session A is at 9 a.m. and Session B is at 10 a.m.Each player will receive a soccer ball, jersey/tee and a participation medal.Fall 2012 season will be from September 22nd - October 13th. The program is $45.ZumbatomicDesigned exclusively for kids (ages 4-12), Zumbatomic classes are rockin’, high-energy fitness-parties packed with specially choreographed, kid-friendly routines and all the music kids love, like hip-hop, reggaeton, cumbia and more. Parents love Zumbatomic because of the effects it has on kids, increasing their focus and self-confidence, boosting metabolism and enhancing coordination. Zumbatomic rounds out family fitness goals by giving parents a great reason to head to the gym – for themselves, for their kids, for a totally fun family experi-ence. The program runs four weeks on Friday evenings beginning September 28th from 6 p.m. - 6:45 p.m. at Kibbe

Fuller Gym. Class fee is $25 for the four-week program. Register today as space is limited. To register, please contact the Recreation Department at (860) 763-4379 or visit us at 19 Battle Street.Baton TwirlingBaton Twirling is a very beneficial & popular sport. It improves coordina-tion, teaches timing, concentration, self-esteem, confidence and teamwork. Students will be learning how to twirl, march, parade march, model and some dance. All groups will learn a Dance Twirl routine which will be performed during the final show as well as the competition. The program begins in September and concludes the first week in June. Many awards will be given throughout the year along with special awards at the end of the program. Classes are Monday nights from 6 p.m. - 7 p.m., $25 per month.Zumba GoldZumba Gold targets the largest grow-ing segment of the population: baby boomers. It takes the Zumba formula and modifies the moves and pacing to suit the needs of the active older partici-pant, as well as those just starting their journey to a fit and healthy lifestyle. What stays the same are all the elements the Zumba Fitness-Party is known for: the zesty Latin music, like salsa, merengue, cumbia and reggaeton; the exhilarating, easy-to-follow moves; and the invigorat-ing, party-like atmosphere. Active older adults want camaraderie, excitement and fitness as a regular part of their weekly schedule. Zumba Gold is the perfect fit. It’s a dance-fitness class that feels friendly, and most of all, fun. The cost for the program $25.

SomerSStudent Athlete of the Month



Nickname: K-SteidsAccomplishments: Beta Club, High Honors, Varsity player freshman year for field hockey, basketball, and lacrosse. All conference award for lacrosse as a sophomore.GPA: 10.7Other sports: LacrosseHow do you prepare for a game: Hang-out with my teammates, listen to music, and vision what I want to happen in the game.Thoughts on the season: I believe we have a strong team this year and think we are able to go far. We just need to push our limits and strive for the big W.Toughest team to play against: AvonFavorite sports memory: When we tied Avon freshman year and Coach brought us to Olive Garden for our great game.Favorite memory of high school: Getting to watch the soccer team when states two years in a row.Role model or inspirational person in your life: My DaddyMost embarrassing moment: Falling up the stairs multiple times with people behind me.Toughest challenge I’ve overcome: Being able to have the confidence to become the student, athlete, and person I am today.Favorite athlete: Jordyn WieberMost famous (or near famous) person I ever met: Unless someone I know now becomes famous, no one yet.Person I’d like most to meet: Mila KunisFavorite way to relax: Baking

Favorite class: ChemistryFavorite snack food: Chex mixFavorite band: TrainFavorite restaurant: ChipotleRed Sox or Yankees: Red SoxFavorite movie: How the Grinch Stole ChristmasFavorite television show: AwkwardPlans after high school: College, col-lege lacrosse, and where ever the world takes me.

Kristen SteidlerField Hockey

The Falcons open at home with Middle-town, a team that held them to -17 yards of offense last year. “Hard work and discipline are the keys to our success and having them believe in that is the importance for the culture change that is needed to contend,” Tata Jr. said.Ellington/SomersEllington/Somers will look to compete while replacing 18 starters from last year’s Pequot Conference Champions. The Knights lost eight defensive start-ers, but return a strong core that is led by seniors Neal Janiga, Austin Tautkus, and Brendan Coverdill. All three will be counted on as two way starters for the Knights. Tautkus feels that overall team depth is a concern as the program is smaller in numbers this season. Tautkus will also rely heavily on senior linemen Nick Salvador, Sean Tynan, junior backs

Ell/Somers Goes For RepeatChristian Schneider, Mike Casciano, and Joe Leslie. “We have to stay healthy to stay com-petitive. We have a good core group but we will need others to step up for us to continue to be successful.” Leslie will begin his first year as a quarterback for the Knights. He replaces Bryan Rider (all-conference, TSD all area team 2011) who led the Knights as a pounding rusher and strong passer. Les-lie is a speedy back who runs the option well. He also has a strong arm that he carries over from the baseball diamond. The Knights graduate a class that Taut-kus calls, “A once in a lifetime class.” The Knights defense ranked second in the state last season and only gave up 7.7 points per game. Replacing those pieces will be a tough task.Tautkus believes that his team works very well together and that teamwork will be strength.

Continued from Page 4 Sean Tynan, of Somers, will be a force on defense for the Ellington/Somers co-op team. TSD File Photo

Zach Rollins returns for his senior season at Stafford.

September 201212

Girls’ Soccer NotebookGirls’ S

occer


Kathryn O’Connor and Kelsey Sloan, senior defender Kelsey Charette, junior defender Julie Folger, junior midfielder Lisa Lorenzi and junior goalkeeper Hailee Stetson. “Teams generally go as far as their seniors lead them,” Mike Pantuosco said. “We should be no different.”Enfield The Raiders–coached by Ashley Hurley, whose previous four years were spent as junior varsity coach–were eliminated in the first round of the Class M tournament in

2011 to finish at 9-6-2. Hurley is trying to replace four starters. Senior defender Sierra Trzepacz, All-NCCC last season, and senior goalie Sydney Ballou, are the captains. Hur-ley will rely on sophomore midfielders Samantha Dumas and Christina Leon-ardo. Leonardo will play some on defense. Senior Kaylee Polmatier will be a target on attack. Seniors Valeigh Kauffman and Carly Roy will play midfield, sophomore Olivia Carrona will be on attack and juniors Rachel Bearse and Jordyn Walsh will be defenders. “They have been communicating very

well on the field and becoming strong in the middle,” Hurley said. “The for-wards have been putting things together and get-ting stronger by the day.” Enfield opens 2012 on September 11th at home against Stafford.Fermi The Falcons were 4-11-0 last fall and placed sixth of eight teams in the CCC East at 4-9-0,

missing the Class L tournament. Coach Bob Evans, in his 13th year, is replacing seven starters. Senior midfielder Stephanie Wence, All-CCC East last fall, and Kimberly Evans are the captains. Junior Ashley Kennedy will play an important role on attack, senior Rae-ann Brodeur will help on attack and in the midfield and junior Kaley Kennedy will be the goalie. “Unity, this year’s team is already show-ing how tight of a team they are going to be,” Evans said. Fermi opens on Septem-ber 12th at Conard in West Hartford.East Windsor The Panthers did not qualify for the Class S playoffs by finishing at 1-14-1 in 2011. Coach Bill Arzt is replacing four starters.Senior defender Allison Rodrigue, junior forward Samantha Couture and junior defender Sierra Vallerio are the cap-tains. Seniors Molly Gallant and Ashley Gallant and junior Abigayle Morin each will play defense and midfield, seniors Melanie Byrne and Samantha Sargent will play on attack and in the midfield, and junior Makinsey Carolus will play in goal.“We have a great core of returning juniors and seniors this season. This team finally feels like they belong here and can win some games with hard work,” Arzt said. East Windsor kicks off on September 11th at home against Suffield.Stafford The Bulldogs were 4-10-1 in 2011 and unable to qualify for the Class S tour-

Sierra Trzepacz was an All-NCCC selection last season for Enfield.

nament. Coach Steve Budaj said he is expecting senior captains Vanessa Knowlton, a defender, Lauren Webb (midfield) and Kianna Woods (forward) to lead the team. Budaj may have to rely on the contributions of younger players, such as Jordan Hosey, a junior.Stafford opens September 11th at Enfield.

Lauren Webb, of Stafford, returns for her senior season.

Enfield Expects To Rely On Youth MovementContinued from Page 1



The teams and players from our past are a huge part of what shapes our memories and overall appreciation for sports. And nothing can cause memories to come rushing back quite like an old team photograph or an action shot from someone’s “glory days.”

If you have a photo you would like to see in next month’s edition of The Sports Department you may email it to us at [email protected] or mail it to us at The Sports Department, PO Box 746, Ellington, CT 06029. Mailed photos MUST be accompanied by a paid return postage envelope in order to be returned to sender.

Somers High boys soccer won the first of four state titles in 2004, de-feating Northwest Catholic-West Hartford 4-3 in double overtime. The Spartans also won titles in 2008, 2010 and 2011. Courtesy of: Somers High School

In 1979 no one was better than the Somers girls field hockey team which captured the Class S title. Courtesy of: Somers High School

Chris Ballard was the last line of defense for the 2004 Somers Spartans boys soccer team. Courtesy of: Somers High School


To Advertise in The Sports DepartmentCall 860-872-0TSD (0873)

East Windsor Parks and Recreation

eaSt WindSorStudent Athlete of the Month



Bryan PerronSoccer - Basketball

Baseball

Sport: Soccer (goal keeper) Basketball (guard) Baseball (catcher)Nickname: BPGPA : Average “B” studentHow do you prepare for a game? Listen to music prior to any game, say a prayer & have a "go get them" attitude.Expectations for the next season/Thoughts on the season: Make it to states and advance. The soccer team is looking good right now, and I am excited & looking forward to each coming gameFavorite Career Moment When we beat Enfield in soccer. This is one of the hard-est teams to beat.What area were you strongest in? What area did you improve the most in over your career? Goal keeping / con-trolling field goals, good communication is a must.Looking back, what are you going to miss the most about playing for your team? Overall, what are you going to miss the most about high school? My teammates and coaches, will also miss always having a good time & making the best of our time togetherWhat is the toughest challenge you’ve overcome? Meeting life’s toughest chal-lenges, as life presents us all with chal-lenges, some we can meet alone, other we can only meet with the help of others. Life in general is a challenge, just put our best foot forward and hope for the best as they say.Favorite athlete? Which athlete do you most model your game after? Dustin Pedroia of the Boston Red Sox – great attitude, team player

Red Sox or Yankees? UConn men or UConn women? Red Sox, UConn womenFavorite band, movie, TV show? Italian Job (movie) – Skrillex – (favorite band) – Family Guy (favorite TV show)What is your favorite sports website to follow-elaborate? I don’t follow sports on any websiteHow do you believe sites like Twitter and Facebook have changed how you watch and follow sports? They have no bearing on me what so everPlans after high school I would like to study sport medicine – practice of medi-cal principles related to the science of sports, particularly in the areas of sport injury diagnosis and treatment, including exercises & workouts & nutrition.

Dance The Night AwayBy Lori TitusThe Sports Department

East Windsor Parks and Recreation will be offering our Dance Program again this year. Saturday classes will begin Septem-ber 29th and Tuesday classes will begin October 2nd. Special Registration Night with the teachers will be held September 13th 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. at the East Windsor High School, Parks & Recreation Office. Fee for this program is $140 for residents and $155 for non-residents. Please call the Parks and Recreation Office at (860) 627-6662 with any questions.Men's Open GymMen's open gym will be held at the East Windsor High School, Monday nights Sep-tember 17th and 24th, October 1st, 15th, 22nd, 29th, November 5th, 19th, 26th from 8 p.m. – 9:45 p.m. Fee is $2 per week.YogaEast Windsor Parks and Recreation is of-fering an 8-week session of Yoga. Classes will be held at the East Windsor High School from 6:15 pm to 7:30 pm. Monday classes will be held September 10th to No-vember 5th with no class on October 8th.

Wednesday classes will be held Septem-ber 12th to October 31st. The cost of this program is: Residents $25 once a week or $40 twice a week; Non-Residents $30 once a week or $45 twice a week. Regis-tration is through the Parks and Recreation Office or online with our Webster Bank Payment link. Please call (860) 627-6662 with any questions. ZumbaEast Windsor Parks and Recreation is offering an 8-week session of Zumba. Classes are being held at the Town Hall Annex from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday classes will be held until November 12th with no class on October 1st and Novem-ber 5th. Wednesday classes will be held from September 12th to November 14th with no class on October 3rd and October 31st. Registration is through the Parks and Recreation Office, or online with our Web-ster Bank Payment link. Please call (860) 627-6662 with questions. The cost of this program is: Residents $35 once a week or $60 twice a week; Non-Residents $40 once a week or $65 twice a week; daily walk-ins are $5.

The Annual Tolland Soccer Club 3 v 3 tournament was held on August 25 and marked the unofficial beginning of the new fall season. A number of local teams participated in the event making for a full day of outstanding soccer.

Enfield’s Jessica Sakett takes the corner kick.

Stafford’s Holly Buchanan beats the defender to the ball during action at the annual Tolland Soccer Club’s 3v3 tournament.

September 2012 15

Joe Pantuosco scored 10 goals last season for Somers. Photo by: Steve Palmer, The Sports Department, www.stevepalmer-photography.com

Boys’ Soccer NotebookBoys’ S

occer



Defending Champs Start Season With New CoachBy Nate Owen, The Sports [email protected]

This fall marks the second year in a row the Somers Spartans have opened as defending Class S champions.Not a bad situation for first-year Spartans’ coach Rick Kelley to step into.Kelley replaces John Pantuosco, who resigned in the offseason after four state titles in ten years. While Somers lost eight starters from last year’s title team, the Spartans return plenty in Kelley’s first season, including 13 seniors and six juniors. “This is a group of hard-working players, who have experienced success in the re-cent past, and they are extremely focused and hungry on proving themselves this year as a formidable team,” Kelley said. Senior Joe Pantuosco returns for the Spartans. He had 10 goals last season.Stafford It’s been a rough two years for Stafford, but the Bulldogs should be ready to put things together this season. “I feel this squad is ready to compete for a state tournament berth,” head coach Rob Schadt said. “They have taken their lumps, many as underclassman, over the

past two years and are now primed for a much improved season.” Stafford lost three starters from last sea-son’s 3-12 team and return a number of experienced players led by senior captains Andrew Lauzier and Evan Theroux. Theroux led the Bulldogs with eight goals from his forward position, and should have a breakout season, while Lauzier provides leadership from the midfield. Junior midfielder Andrew Bachiochi is an impact player who has all-conference ability, according to Schadt, while goalie Jake Kalette is one of the top keepers in the NCCC.Enfield Enfield will look to a strong defense to help improve on its 2-10-4 mark from a season ago. The Raiders are lead by senior captains Josh Gaines, Liam King, and Joe Line-han. Other top returners include senior mid-fielder/forward Kyle Casey and senior de-fender Andrew Norris, along with juniors Kory Wells (defender/midfielder), Andrew Halgas (defender/midfielder), and sopho-mores Anthony Romei (forward/midfield), and Michael Knapp (goalie).Fermi

For one reason or another, the Falcons have yet to field a complete team in any of their preseason matches. As a result, its September 7th opener against Hall was the first time head coach Jim Russell was able to have his entire team together. “On the positive side, a lot of the younger players have gotten an opportunity to play, and on the whole, played very well,” Hall said of the preseason. Fermi was 9-7-1 last season, losing to Naugatuck in the first round of the Class L tournament. This year’s team features a thirteen-member senior class, which includes two all-conference players in captains Conor Glettenberg (striker) and Adrian Case (center/midfield). Senior Alex Zachary and freshman Matt Evans will vie for time in net, while Jacob Alaimo comes to the soccer field from the football team for his senior year.East Windsor It’s been several years since the Pan-thers made the state tournament, but they’re looking to reverse that trend enter-ing this season. “Our forwards are definitely ball hungry,” said head coach Mike Mosher. “Every-body is looking for goals. Our communica-tion is better than it was and we you put

that together with our drive to score, we can only move forward.” The Panthers (3-12-1) return eight se-niors, including the versatile Tyler Gibbs, who fills a number of spots depending on what the team needs. “I think we can definitely improve from last year,” Mosher said. “We open up against a couple of tough teams and hope-fully we’ll build momentum as the year goes on.”

and winning a first round game. Somers has a talented group of returning seniors in midfield/forward Kayla Renaud, for-ward Katy Sauwthrop and goalie Jenna Jablonski. ”These seniors are a very cohesive unit that always supports eacho-ther,” head coach Amy Cunningham said. They are excited about leading our team,” head coach Amy Cunningham said. The girls cross country team will rely on its camaraderie and work ethic to build the program and its participation numbers. The Spartans will heavily rely on senior captains Kayla Savage and Ellen Pfeiffer to motivate the team and build a close bound among the runners. Emily Jewel has demonstrated significant improvement during practice. The freshmen class of Megan Jewel, Megan Bartley and Maury Bauman will also be valuable runners in 2012.Fermi Fermi's field hockey team went 10-7 in 2011, qualifying for the Class M tourna-ment and losing in the first round to Joel Barlow. It is again looking to qualify for the tournament and hopes to have a solid run there. The Falcons will return four start-ers. Midfielders Marcy Macsata and Julie Pyruc and defenseman Danielle Lav-ender will be their top returning players. Head coach Amy Bartholomew praised her team’s defensive improvement and its strong attitude and chemistry. The volleyball team went 4-14 last sea-

Area Teams Ready For Fall SeasonContinued from Page 10

son and 2012 will be another rebuilding season. The team has just one returning starter and three varsity players return-ing. Seniors Emily Quail and Hannah Combes and junior Sam Delconte are Fermi’s best returning players. Head coach Alex Pyzar is hopeful the Falcons work ethic will allow them to improve. “Ev-ery girl has a great attitude, and I believe they possess the work ethic needed to improve,” said Pyzar. Walter Sullivan’s boys cross country team went 3-7 last season and placed 19th at the Class MM championship meet.

Macy Peach serves in a game for Enfield last season. Photo courtesy of Lifetouch Photog-raphy.

Fermi’s season opener is on the 11th in a road meet against Rocky Hill and Tolland. The girls team was .500 team last season un-der Walter Sullivan and placed 15th at the Class MM championship meet. Fermi’s season opener is on the 11th in a road meet against Rocky Hill and Tolland.

Kayla Renaud and the Somers field hockey team look solid heading into 2012

enfield edition september 2012

Documents

head coach

sports departmentjon

somers girls soccer

enfield man

spartans boys team

recovery coach

new coach

enfield high class