2009 GHS graduate Kevin Gately helped the Colorado Avalanche win the franchise's first championship in over 20 years. Gately is pictured with the Conn Smythe Trophy (to his left) and Stanley Cup.
Kevin Gately, a 2009 Glastonbury High School graduate, was a member of the Colorado Avalanche organization that won the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Stanley Cup in June. Gately is the head strength and conditioning coach for the Colorado Eagles, the Avalanche’s minor league affiliate, and was a support staff member for the Avalanche during the team’s playoff push which ended with a triumph over the two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning. It marked the franchise’s first championship in over two decades. “It was very cool,” Gately said about the Avalanche bringing their first Cup back to Colorado since the 2000-2001 season. “Everyone trusted each other’s contributions and skills.” He described the entire organization as relaxed, adding that there was a “confident air” in the locker room during the quest through the postseason. Gately’s road to the Stanley Cup wasn’t a direct route. After four years of playing football and lacrosse at GHS, he enrolled at the University of Connecticut to originally pursue a degree in computer engineering. Following a few semesters of trudging through the monotony of his chosen major, Gately realized the course material “was a little boring” and went to his advisor to transfer to the exercise science program. He said the quality of the exercise science program, combined with the course material appealed to his active lifestyle. Upon graduating from UConn in 2013, he moved to Los Angeles and worked for a private athletic performance company before a previous contract he made while coaching lacrosse at Tolland High School helped him get a job as an assistant strength and conditioning coach with the Hartford Wolf Pack, the New York Rangers’ affiliate. Following a stint with the Charlotte Checkers — who were the Carolina Hurricanes minor league team at the time — and three more years with the Wolf Pack, Gately worked for the University of Denver for a year before taking over as the head strength and conditioning coach with the Eagles in Loveland, CO. Next year will mark a decade since Gately first started his career in athletic training, mostly spent in the hockey universe. He played hockey as a youth and said that the sport appealed to him because “it’s a similar culture to lacrosse.” Gately added that the training methods among the different sports are more similar than one might think, yet vary in hockey. “Hockey is played on a sheet of ice on skates, so there are quite a few training considerations that you have to take into account,” stated Gately. During his time spent at the various locations, Gately has had around a dozen prospects make the leap to the top level. This past season, Eagles’ players Jason Megna, Sampo Rante, and others had call-ups and saw playing time with the Avalanche. Gately also helped Avalanche backup goalie Pavel Francouz during his rehabilitation stint with the Eagles last fall. “The goal is to work with and develop these players and hopefully they make that full time jump up to the NHL,” said Gately. “Being able to be a part of the development, even being a small slice of an athlete’s success, and helping them live out their childhood dream is the coolest part.” In helping player’s achieve their dreams, Gately is living his. He credits his time spent in the weight room during high school and the influences he made in Glastonbury as being a launching point for his career. Peter Pfeffer coached Gately in both lacrosse and football for all four seasons at GHS, including during the football program’s last state championship in 2008 when Gately was a senior. “Coach Pfeffer instilled how much and how positive of an impact that sports can make on your life, not only while you’re playing them but after,” recalled Gately. “The relationships that I fostered throughout my time playing sports at Glastonbury High School were a major contributor to my success.” The 2022-2023 season, which starts October 14, will be his second with the Eagles and his long term goal is to become a strength and conditioning coach in the NHL. Gately said that being away from his family, which is still based in and around Glastonbury, has been the hardest part of his life on the road, yet he described his journey thus far as a “really incredible experience.”
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The Rocky Hill High School football team helped clean up Quarry Park on Aug. 10. The team is pcitured in front of the old Compressor House, which was filled with garbage prior to the clean up.
On Aug. 10, members of the Rocky Hill football team helped clean up Quarry Park on Esther Drive. Along with the normal litter and debris along the trail, the old Compressor House — used while the quarry was active — was filled with old metal and other junk from around the area. Over 40 Rocky Hill football players, led by head coach Rich Dance, joined forces with Rocky Hill Historical Society President Ed Chiucarello, Kerry Wood (State Representative of Connecticut’s 29th House District), Derek Caelin of Sustainable Rocky Hill, and Ester Drive resident Alan Baglia to fill up a 40 cubic foot dumpster. “This is a good way to get together as a team and do something outside of football, and also give back to the town,” said Dance, who is entering his fourth season as the head coach at RHHS. “The town and the parks and rec do a lot for us, making sure our fields are ready to go and that we have the support and resources we need to have a successful season. This is a good way to give back and to build comradery as a team.” Alex Peruta, a returning team captain, said the event allowed the team a chance to return the favor to the town. “The community comes out for us every single game,” stated Peruta, “We need that energy from them, so it means a lot to us to get out here and clean up a park that a lot of the community likes to go to.” The local quarry was in commission from the early 1900s into the 1950s and Rocky Hill originally got its name from the hill that is now the lookout point at the defunct quarry. Quarry Park, which was opened in 1991, was in desperate need of a cleaning overhaul because someone had filled up the 120-year-old Compressor House with rusty items from around the area. With the help of the police and town officials, Chiucarello was able to get the person to stop dumping items in the house, but the mess remained from April 2021 until last week. “The town wasn’t able to clean it up, but luckily Alan took the lead and parks and rec got involved,” said Chiucarello. “Thankfully the high school got involved and we were able to get it done in one day.” Baglia said that the idea of cleaning up the park was first brought forth on Earth Day and they planned an official date once the Rocky Hill High School Football Booster Club reached out looking to help with a town project. The town donated the dumpster, wheel barrels, shovels, and rakes before the players put on gloves and got to work. After an 18 month wait, it took around three hours for the Compressor House to be emptied and the dumpster to be full. Wood said that it was nice to have so many players helping out the community, adding, “We had many people hiking through that were so grateful that we were cleaning this stuff up.” For the team, it was a nice break before the long grind of the football season begins. Dance said the large player participation is an indication of the team’s dedication to the team and the town. “These guys have bought it all summer long. It’s all optional, but we’ve gotten a great turnout all summer and got a great turnout today,” added Dance. “I couldn't be more proud of my guys for what they were able to accomplish together as a team and for the town.” Peruta added that the entire experience was rewarding and beneficial for the team because it gave the team a chance to give back while bonding as a team away from the field. Rocky Hill football’s season kicks off at Hartford Public on Sept. 9, which is the first of three straight road games to start the season. The Terriers’ home opener is against E.O. Smith on Sept. 30 at 7:00 p.m. Along with dealing with all the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, 2022 Glastonbury High School graduate Annika Hurley also had to battle a series of running-related injury setbacks during her high school.
A healthy Hurley gets a second wind and will compete for four more years at the State University of New York (SUNY) Geneseo in New York. “Running has been my favorite thing, it’s helped with stress relief,” said Hurley, who has spent the last few years overcoming injuries and adversity. “It has pushed me even more to know that my college career will be better.” Hurley originally had her mind set on another school before budget cuts and things out of her control ended that opportunity. She was forced to scramble to find a school and, with the help of assistant/distance coach Brain Gaudreau, was able to commit to the Knights in New York. Gaudreau said that although injuries hindered Hurley in high school, her dedication for the sport was never in doubt and that she led by example whether she was healthy or not. “She is a kid that coach [Brian] Collins and I agreed that if there was a kid that was more passionate about running than us it would be her,” said Gaudreau. “Everyone on the team understands how much she loves the sport. She is truly dedicated to it and it means everything to her.” Hurley said it took her a while to get over the initial disappointment of the college search, but she quickly discovered that Geneseo was the right fit. “It felt like an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up,” recalled Hurley. “It’s definitely an amazing opportunity with an amazing program.” Hurley first started running at an early age — following in the footsteps of her mother Christine, who was a marathon runner — and was primed to make a big splash in high school before multiple injuries, including three stress fractures in her foot, limited her ability to train and compete. She said the injuries, particularly the time-consuming rehab from the stress fractures, took a toll on her mentally. “It has made me a very grateful runner,” added Hurley, who is in a training program this summer. “It makes me more thankful for the sport. I have always been a really hard worker and in the times I’ve been healthy I definitely tried to take advantage of that.” When she was at full strength, she was a consistent contributor during the cross country seasons in the fall and on the track in the winter and spring seasons. Over the last two years, she was part of a half dozen state championship teams at GHS. She won a Class LL title with the cross country team in fall of 2021, a pair of class championships and a State Open victory with the indoor track and field teams in the winter, and back-to-back Class LL titles in outdoor track and field in the spring. Hurley was also a standout in the classroom, along with being part of National Honor Society and Foreign Language Honor Society. Despite rehabbing injuries for a good portion of her high school career, Hurley has remained focused that her next destination will allow her to flourish and remain healthy. Hurley, who loves hiking and the outdoors, will study sustainability at SUNY and join a running program led by cross country head coach and distance specialist Dan Moore. Moore is an alumni of the college and in his eight years as head coach he has continued a standard of excellence as both the men’s and women's program are staples in the NCAA tournament each season. Hurley said she that program appealed to her on several front and looks forward to four productive and more importantly healthy years at SUNY. “They have a great reputation and an amazing running program,” added Hurley. “I’m excited to be surrounded by people that have the same mindset as me.” Colchester Bocce Club members and titles (top row l-r) Chris Day- Director of Construction, Anton Smith “Topps”- Director of Telephony, Craig Salamone “The Gambler”- Director of Communications & Spelling, Chuck Schroll “Pink Panther”- Chief Compliance / Rules Officer, Jeff Blumberger “Blumz”- President, Frank Ricci “ Frankie Fingers”- CEO, Pat Walsh “Walsh”– VP , Jeff Ward “Wardo”- Director of Photography: (bottom row) Chris Gould “Goldilocks” - Player Safety Officer / Security, Brett Mahon- Director of Officiating, Joe Romanowski “Romo”- Director of Stone Quality: Missing: Rich Santini “The Great Santini” Director of Court Maintenance.
The Colchester Bocce Club (CBC) emerged from the boredom and isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Frank Ricci had some extra lumbar and a pile of stone and decided to build a bocce court like he remembered playing as a kid. After a month of manual labor the court was ready, but Ricci asked himself, “Will anyone know what bocce was or even want to play?” It didn’t take long for Ricci to get his questions answered and just like Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella learned in Field of Dreams — If you build it, they will come. “I had some extra 2x8s sitting around and that April we had really nice weather. I built it by hand and leveled it by hand,” Ricci recalled about constructing the 60 foot regulation-sized court in the early stages of the pandemic. “My wife said I was out of my mind.’ What started as six guys looking for an excuse to get out of the house has expanded to an exclusive club, consisting of 13 bona fide bocce players with equally impressive personalities. In mid-July, the CBC was eager to test their skills against other competition and sent two teams (consisting of four players each) to the 47th annual World Series of Bocce (WSOB). The WSOB is the largest bocce tournament in the country — hosted by the Toccolana Club in Rome, NY — and attracts roughly 130 teams for a double elimination tournament across 15 professional courts. Competing against some of the top players and teams across the country, the new kids on the bocce block held their own and being on the biggest stage further fueled their passion for one of the oldest games in existence. The CBC’s first official game was a loss to the defending WSOB champs and then they were eliminated from championship contention following a narrow defeat in their second contest. The resilient team rebounded in the consolation round by winning a pair of games. Not bad for a group of guys that hadn’t heard of, let alone played the game prior to Ricci’s backyard renovations. The game of bocce or bocce ball is played with a smaller ball, called a pallina, which is tossed and used as a target for the participating players to toss larger balls at it with the goal of getting the larger balls as close to the pallina as possible. The game was first documented in 5200 B.C. with a picture of two boys who were playing. The game was adapted by the Ancient Romans and eventually brought to Italy where it was modernized before the first Bocce Olympiad was held in Athens, Greece in 1896. Over 120 years later, the game found its way to Colchester and into the hearts of 13 dedicated players. The group meets every Thursday night and sometimes multiple times a week to practice, play, and unwind from the stresses of the outside world. Ricci’s shed, previously used to house lawn equipment and tools, has been transformed into a player’s lounge equipped with a bar, refrigerator, and even an air fryer. What once was a horseshoe pit is now the home of the CBC’s official bocce court. Made with pressure-treated wood and consisting of over eight-inch deep of material that comprise the surface. Prior to the WSOB, Ricci’s home court was topped with crushed stone. However, the surface put the CBC at a competitive disadvantage in New York because the professional courts are topped with Har-Tru, the finely ground material used on tennis courts. Upon returning from the national competition, Ricci decided his court needed a professional upgrade and re-surfaced the court with Har-Tru. Additionally, he covers the court in calcium chloride to give the surface the proper amount of moisture needed to be true to form and uses an oversized roller used to smooth the surface between games. A scoreboard, inspired by Pinterest, is the backdrop to the court. The makeshift wooden display features wires holding moveable painted tennis balls to indicate the score. Several other improvements have been made in the 28 months since the court was first erected and the commitment from the players has become unwavering during that time span. Last year the club did not miss a single month, even playing in through the winter blizzards thanks to a roaring fire pit to keep the players cozy between games and a blowtorch, which Ricci uses to de-snow and de-ice the court. Games often extend into the wee-hours of the night and Ricci said that over the last year they have seen a Friday sunrise on occasion. Each of the 13 club members have designated roles and an official title. Ricci a.k.a. “Frankie Fingers” is the CEO and the other dozen have specific tasks and have been dubbed with individual monikers on game worn uniforms. Brett Mahon is the Director of Officiating. He is in charge of any violations on the court as well as measurements to determine awarded points. Mahon wears a pair of colorful arm bands to make him an “official” official and uses an empty Campbell’s soup can with a string attached for close measurements that can’t be determined by the naked eye. Bylaws have also been created and typed up. There is also an exclusive group text message between the members to approve any date changes, visitors, or lingering issues. Like any family, the fun-loving club doesn’t agree on everything and often internal disputes arise. But the club members agree that “drama is half the fun” and any issue can be settled on the court. Friendly wagers, usually initiated by Craig Salamone, are sometimes made between members. Salamone a.k.a “The Gambler” lives by the saying that you lose 100% of the bets that you don’t make and is known for calling out other members for one-on-one battles. Salamone said the wagers are all in good fun and added the bocce group is “one of the best things that has ever happened to me in my life.” Salamone’s sentiments are shared by the rest of the group, all of whom have all come from different backgrounds to become a band of bocce brothers. Ricci said rekindling a childhood game has been great, but more importantly the group “has forged lifetime friendships and built memories to last a lifetime.” Top: Boden Landers, pictured with his parents at RHAM’s signing day, will play lacrosse at Wentworth Institute of Technology. Bottom: Sean Braunwart, pictured with his parents, will play lacrosse at Clark University
Boden Landers and Sean Braunwart starred as teammates on the lacrosse fields at RHAM High School this past spring and will now play collegiate lacrosse at separate locations in Massachusetts. Landers will attend Wentworth Institute of Technology (WIT) in Boston to study mechanical engineering and Braunwart will attend Clark University in Worcester to major in accounting. Landers made all-conference this season after serving as one of the team’s main scoring threats, including a career-high eight-goal performance in a win over Rockville on April 16. He also played football in the fall and wrestled in the winter at RHAM, calling his senior wrestling campaign, “fun the entire season.” With Lander’s help, RHAM wrestling won their third straight Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) East title following an 18-1 regular season this winter. The Raptors would finish 4th overall at the Class M meet at states. “There’s a lot of friend that I will miss,” Landers, a Hebron native, said about leaving RHAM. “I will miss this town; I love this town.” Landers will now join a Leopards lacrosse program led by longtime coach Dan Russo, who led the program to their most wins in seven years this spring, which included a berth in the Commonwealth Coast Conference tournament. He said that he knew WIT was the place for him when he went for his official visit and talked to Russo. “When I saw the campus I knew it was the school and the fact that they had lacrosse was the cherry on top,” said Landers, who added the idea of living in Beantown was intriguing. “I have never lived in a city, so just meeting people and finding new things to do is going to be very exciting.” Braunwart was a standout at long stick midfielder and defender for a Raptors team that held multiple opponents to three or fewer goals. He also coached and officiated youth lacrosse for the town of Hebron, along with being part of Model UN and National Honor Society at the school. In going to Clark, Braunwart is following in the footsteps of his brother and 2021-RHAM graduate Kevin Braunwart, who is entering his sophomore year at the school and is part of the Cougars cross-country team. The younger Braunwart will be joining a Cougars lacrosse team that plays in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) and are led by Jeff Cohen, who has the most wins in program history and is entering his 15th year in Worchester. Braunwart said that success of the lacrosse program sealed his decision to fully commit to the school, adding, “I’m excited to be part of the team.” Devon Riggio, a 2022 Cromwell High School graduate, will play soccer at Castleton University. Riggio is pictured at CHS signing day with her parents, Keith and Stacey.
2022 Cromwell High School graduate Devon Riggio will play soccer at the next level. “I am excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and soccer career at Castleton University,” Riggio posted on Instagram in January. “I would like to thank my family, coaches, and friends for making me the player I am today.” Riggio was a team captain, serving as a wing and midfielder, for a Panthers team that finished the regular season without a loss in the fall. Her next stop will be Castleton, Vermont where she will join a Spartans soccer program led by head coach Chris Chapdelaine, who is entering his 18th year with the program. The Spartans are perennial contenders in the Little East Conference (LEC) since joining the conference in 2018. Prior to joining the LEC, Castleton won the North Atlantic Conference during their final season in the conference in 2017. “When I met with the coach and went for an interview I fell in love with the campus, and it felt like a very at-home atmosphere and close-knit,” Riggio said “Coach Chap is very good about building a strong relationship within the team and from an academic standpoint.” Along with soccer, Riggio also played lacrosse at CHS and was very involved academically, making the honor roll regularly and being part of National Honor Society and French National Honor Society. She also held a senior position on Student Council. She said she will miss the “small town vibe” of Cromwell and recalled the encouragement she received from the soccer program and school when she tore her Anterior Crucial Ligament during her freshman year. “The team was overwhelmingly supportive,” recalled Riggio, who rehabbed and returned with three strong seasons. “I had great relationships with everyone on the team and with the coaches.” Riggio, who will study political science, added that she is looking forward to the college experience and everything that it has to offer. 2022 Rocky Hill High School graduate Marina Perry, who won the state championship in the shot put, will throw for CCSU. Perry is pictured at her college signing day at RHHS with her grandparents, Sharon Finn and Sherwood Anderson.
Over the last two years, Rocky Hill High School’s Marina Perry became one of the most elite throwers in the state of Connecticut. The 2022 RHHS graduate will now make the short trek to New Britain for the next chapter of her career at Central Connecticut State University. “So excited to be part of the CCSU track and field team for the next four years,” Perry announced on May 28. “This is a dream come true, thank you to everyone who supported me along the way.” Perry’s time at Rocky Hill was nothing short of spectacular and ended with a state championship send off. On June 6, Perry won the State Open in the shot put. The victory completed a clean sweep in the shot put for Perry – who won the conference, class, and state finals in the event over the course of a two-week period. Perry called the victory “bittersweet” because she had eyed a state championship in the discus as well, but added. “It was an amazing experienced. The moment of winning was definitely a great feeling.” She also won a conference title in the discus and javelin during spring’s outdoor track and field season. During the indoor season in the winter and last spring’s outdoor season, she took home a handful of throwing titles during the conference and class finals. Perry’s accomplishments over the last two years are even more impressive considering that prior to high school she hadn’t throw and doing the sport in college was certainly not on her radar. She had been a dancer since the age of three and began wrestling as a freshman in high school before her grandfather convinced her to give the projectile sport a whirl. She went out for outdoor track and field in the spring of her freshman year and the rest is history. Perry said it took her a while to get the technique down, but improved quickly thanks to her athletic background and she even made states in the discus during her first year competing. “[Dance] helped a lot to keep my balance and composure in the circle,” added Perry. She credited both of her throwing coaches with helping her ascend up the leaderboards. Craig Kelly mentored her at the high school for all four years and Damien Larkin, of Bloomfield, was her coach outside of school. The two throwing technicians helped transform Perry into a state champion and also taught her the hammer and weight throws, where competed unaffiliated with the school. Outside of the throwing circle, Perry was part of National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, and Tri-M Music National Honor Society. She also was part of the school’s marching band, playing the saxophone. Perry, who grew up her entire life in Rocky Hill, said she will miss the how supportive everyone was in the area. She added that she was amazed at how many people showed up for college singing at day at RHHS, adding, “My friends invited their friends and so many teammates and teachers showed up to support me. I’ll miss that sense of community from the school.” Prior to making her college commitment, Perry waited longer than most athletes and the extended time paid dividend. CCSU reached out late in the process and a few weeks later she made her official commitment to stay close to home. “I was the last one of my club team to commit,” recalled Perry. “I was a little stressed that I hadn't committed, but it worked out and it was perfect timing.” Central allows her to continue to do what she loves around those that she loves, particularly her grandparents. “I have been so close with them and they have been so supportive,” Perry said of her grandparents, Sharon and Sherwood. “They have driven me to countless practices and I am really glad that I am close enough where they can see me compete and I can continue to see them.” She’ll join a Blue Devils team in New Britain that competes at a Division I level and is part of the Northeast Conference. She will study health science with a goal of completing a doctorate in occupational therapy. “I am excited compete at collegiate level,” stated Perry. “You have to motivate yourself a lot more. In high school there are coaches pushing you, but in college you have to push yourself if you want to be great. I am excited to see how I can perform on that level.” Carolyne Gatesy, owner of Main Street Center LLC in the town center, recently completed her 15-year goal of running a half marathon in all 50 states in the country.
On June 3, Gatesy completed her final 13.1 mile trek in Pennsylvania to finish the Independent Series Half Marathon in Berks County, Pa. Upon finishing, Gatesy said she popped open mini bottles of champagne with friends as her emotions ran wild. “It was fun, it was a relief, it was elation, it was relaxing,” recalled Gatesy, “I celebrated. It was getting a goal done that had been so long on my shoulders.” Her journey began in 2007 when Gatesy ran her first half marathon in Maryland, but the cross country tour didn’t become a goal until 2010 when she completed half marathons in Florida, Louisiana, and Maine. A dozen years and hundreds of miles later, the former Division I swimmer crossed the finish line in her fiftieth state. Gatesy said there were “so many beautiful runs” across the nation and certain ones stood more than others. Last summer she completed the Mayor’s Half Marathon in Alaska, where she saw several moose along the trail and had to yield to nature in The Last Frontier. In California, she ran the Avenue of Giants Half Marathon where she ran around and alongside the massive sequoia trees in the Redwoods State Forest, calling the run “spectacular.” Indiana was unique because part of the course is the two-and-a-half mile loop around the Indy 500 track inside Indianapolis Motor Speedway. But perhaps the most memorable was in Utah where she followed the lead of Gena Davis and Susan Sarandon, who played Thelma and Louise in the blockbuster hit film from 1991. “We ran the route they drove before they drove off the cliff,” recalled Gatesy, who added the race began behind a replica of the infamous car and the people manning the water stations dressed like Brad Pitt’s character from the movie. “It was a really fun run. I love Utah; there is much to do there and so many outdoor activities.” Gatesy said that the marathons became only part of the experience, and that the unintended benefit was seeing the nation’s hidden gems across the country. “There were places that I went to that I didn’t know I’d enjoy,” recalled Gatesy, who would use an app to find the unique landmarks in each state. “You discover new places and learn more about them and become a fan of that community.” People also made the expedition enjoyable. Prior to setting the lofty goal, Gatesy met a group from Texas at the Hartford Marathon, who were attempting to complete the 50-state quest. She said she became close with the group and they would often make the runs together. They still get together for “girls weekends” around the country. Gatesy also met many strangers along the way that made profound impacts on her runs and her life. “There are really interesting and very friendly people out there from all walks of life. You could be running next to someone that is a garbage truck driver one day and the next day you are running with a lawyer,” she said. “It’s funny because you might share stories with them that you wouldn’t even share with your best friend.” She described the running community as “very close-knit and very welcoming” and recalled training for the races as “meditative.” “When I started I had two younger kids and I was running more than one business at the time, so it was a time I could get out of the house and no one could call me,” recalled Gatesy, who has been a business owner in Glastonbury for over 30 years. “Running was almost like a religious ceremony. It was a time to get out and clear your head.” Because of scheduling, there were times when Gatesy would run multiple half marathons in a short time period. She hammered out five in a five-day period after flying into Montana and then driving to North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Nebraska to accomplish 65.5 miles of running and the hundreds of miles of driving over the handful of days. Sometimes she would run multiples just for the heck of it. This January she decided to checked Hawaii off the list and ended up doing a pair of half marathon during the trip – one through the scenic gardens of the of The Aloha State and another along the ocean side For most of the races, the schedule was the same. Gatesy would fly or drive to a destination a day or two ahead of the race, run her half marathon, check out the highlights of the local city the following day before heading back home. But it didn't always go according to plan. During her first visit to Mississippi, Gatesy was hit in the head by an articulating arm (the device used to let cars in and out of parking garages or parking lots) while leaving the expo the night before the race. She spent the night in the emergency room and was unable to race the following day. The Hospitality State proved to be not-so hospitable, but she would return later for her redemption run on a separate trip. Prior to her first half marathon, Gatesy said she wasn’t much of a runner. She grew up in Torrington and was a swimmer throughout her youth and would eventually break records in the pools at Purdue University. She said the lung capacity and muscular strength from swimming allowed her to transition into a distance runner. Gatesy added that the running has taken a toll on her body, requiring multiple foot surgeries, so for now she is doing a lot of walking and has begun swimming again. Her new passion, which started on her nationwide running adventure, is reaching the highest point in each state. So far she has checked off about half the states of the list but doesn’t want to commit to making it a goal and instead just wants to enjoy the peacefulness of the hikes. “I love hiking,” stated Gatesy, who now resides between Glastonbury and New Hampshire, “It is so beautiful and meditative. It’s similar to running, but without the pounding.” Rachel Davis was a record breaking swimmer and honor student at Glastonbury High School before graduating in June.
Davis will now continue her already accomplished athletic and academic journey at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md. “Johns Hopkins had it all,” said Davis. “It had the academics and was in a location that I wanted, and the opportunity to swim there pushed it over the edge.” Davis said during the college search she focused on the academic opportunities first, making sure she found a place where she could study mechanical engineering, and then everything else just fell into place. During her four years at GHS, Davis built an impeccable resume. She was a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha National Honor Society, Math National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society and World Language National Honor Society, as well as a National Merit Scholar Finalist and recipient of the WPI STEM Leadership Book Award. GHS head swimming coach Suzie Hoyt called Davis “consistent” during competition and “very good at everything she does.” “She has always been a girl with a goal in her sights and she could always make things happen,” added Hoyt. “She will be terribly missed. Not just for her athletic ability, but for what she brings to the team. She is a wonderful individual and I’m thrilled for her.” Hoyt named Davis as the team’s Hartwell Award winner this fall for her leadership, in and out of the pool. Along with being an ideal teammate, Davis also starred during the biggest stages. She broke the school record in the 200 Individual Medley and excelled in the breaststroke, winning conference titles in both events. She said the 200 IM record, which she broke at states in November, was something she was most proud of. “I worked towards it all season and at the beginning of my high school career it wasn’t even in my sights,” recalled Davis. “It was exciting because of how supportive the entire team was. Everyone was so happy for me.” She prefers medley races because it combines all the strokes and is the “ultimate test” for swimmers. Davis first began swimming at the age of five, following the lead of her older brother, and a dozen years later her name is on the record boards at GHS Thanks to Davis and strong nucleus of swimming and divers, the Guardians had a top-three finish at the Class LL meet this past season. “I will miss the team the most. We had an amazing team,” added Davis. “Swimming was my favorite part of high school. It always made the fall so much better. Her next team will be the Blue Jays at Johns Hopkins, led by Scott Armstrong, who took over the program in 2016 and had led the women’s team to three top-10 finishes in the NCAA Division III competition. Davis hopes that joining her new swimming team will help her adjust to college life, adding, “I’m looking forward to meeting new people and friends. I hope the team there is as close-knit as we were at Glastonbury this year.” As a high school sophomore, Molly Bellmore was selected all-conference as RHAM High School’s girls’ soccer team won a Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) title in 2019.
Two years and two more All-CCC selection later, Bellmore will play at the next level. “I am so excited to announce my commitment to play soccer and continue my education at Plymouth State University. Go Panthers,” Bellmore posted on Instagram. Bellmore looked around to a variety of schools at all levels of competition before deciding that Plymouth State was the perfect place. “It came down to balancing school, sports, and life,” Bellmore said of her decision. “I met some pretty awesome people up at Plymouth and the coach and the team were super welcoming.” Soccer success was just part of Bellmore’s achievements at RHAM. She previously played basketball and was part of the Student Council and National Honors Society. This spring she was named a 2021-2022 Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Each year the Scholar-Athlete program recognizes two high school seniors from each high school whose academic and athletic careers have been exemplary and whose achievements are a model to others. Bellmore joined Liam Calhoun as the school’s recipients. “I’ve made some of my closest friends here,” Bellmore said of the high school. “There’s so much positive energy here and so many supportive people that help you get to where you want to be. [The school] provides us with so many opportunities.” It was the conference title in 2019 that Bellmore recalled as being the best memory at RHAM and she hopes for more moments like that at her next stop in Plymouth, New Hampshire. The Little East Conference (LEC) program is led by Ryan Joy, who is entering his ninth season with the Panthers. Bellmore said Plymouth State gave her the best opportunity to play right away and was the right distance between being close enough to home, yet far enough away to create some independence. "I like going into knowing I have people to look up to and creating that team bond,” added Bellmore. “I’m going into nursing, so I wanted somewhere where I could have a balance between academics and athletics and Plymouth was perfect. I’m super excited for it.” |
AuthorSports Editor for the Rare Reminder, Glastonbury Citizen, and Rivereast News Bulletin Archives
December 2023
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