Portland’ High School’s indoor track and field coach Deb Rooth said that Owen Delisle has “the heart of a lion.”
Delisle, a 2022 PHS graduate, will now take his lioness heart and relentless running legs to the Fairfield Country to continue his track and cross-country journey. “I am beyond excited to announce my commitment to further my academic and athletic endeavors at Sacred Heart University next fall,” Delisle posted on social media. “At this time I would like to thank all of my coaches, family, friends, and teammates for helping me throughout this journey. Onto the next chapter!” During his four years at PHS, Delisle saved his best performances for the biggest stages. Following top-ten finishes at the cross country Shoreline Conference Championship (SLC) and Class S finals this fall, Delisle ran a personal-best 17.10 in the 5000 meters during the State Open championships during his final high school cross country meet. In the indoor season in winter, he placed as the runner-up in the 600 meters at the SLC championship and then placed 3rd in the Class S championship. He then posted a personal-best 1:26.27 at the State Open in the same event. “He is one of these kids that would run until he would drop. I am a big pace person and teach the kids to set paces for the race, but Owen is one of those kids that would never give up. He was great to coach,” said Rooth, who first started coaching Delisle in middle school. “He played a huge role in helping the team. He was always team-first and very supportive of his teammates.” This spring, Delisle cemented himself in the record books at PHS, teaming with Jake Thompson, Simon Kandeke, and Teddy Williams to shatter the school record in the 4x400 relay (3:30.36) at the outdoor SLC championships. He also finished 2nd in the 400 meters, running a personal-best 52.02, at the same event. Not a bad resume for someone that only started running full-time a few years ago. Delisle, a lifelong Boston Celtics fan, started running competitivly in the eighth grade to stay in shape for basketball season. Once entering PHS, he continued to play basketball in the winter, while running cross country in the fall and outdoor track in the spring. He said that the closeness of the cross-country and outdoor track and field teams made him switch to a three-season running between his sophomore and junior years. Delisle credited cross-country and outdoor track & field head coach Isha Murphy for providing a positive environment at the high school and said the senior class was very welcoming during his first year at PHS, adding, “I can’t thank them enough. When I was a freshman they made me fall in love with the sport and because of that I stuck with it.” Becoming a year-round runner proved to be beneficial Delisle earned first-team all-conference as a junior and continued to slash his times over the next two seasons. The Portland native said he “will miss everything” about the high school and the community, pointing to the camping trips and pasta parties with his running mates as some of his favorite memories. “The comradery of the team is second to none,” said Delisle. “I love my teammates, I love my coaches. I hope the next level will be like this and I am forever thankful for these memories.” When he’s not running, Delisle can be found playing or listening to music. He has been playing the drums since the sixth grade and he described himself as “an avid concert goer.” He’ll join a Pioneers running team that competes in the Northeast Conference (NEC) and are led by Christian Morrison, who has led the program for over a quarter-century. “I’m looking forward to being somewhere new in the Fairfield area and to meet new people,” said Delisle. “I’m excited to see what the future holds.”
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On July 30, Blackledge Country Club at 180 West Street in Hebron unveiled a new, massive outdoor practice facility that is second to none.
The golfing oasis features 40 hitting stations, numerous target greens and bunkers, 7,500 square feet of putting greens, and much more. Owner Bill Anderson said the development is the newest improvement aimed to make the public course a destination spot for both experienced and novice golfers, as well as families to enjoy together. “It’s very unique. It’s well beyond what is out there.” Anderson said about the gorgeous golf facility. It’s the latest expansion for a nearly 60-year-old establishment that first opened in 1963 and prides itself on being “a public course with a private touch.” Anderson is a second generation owner, taking over in 1984 and running a facility with his late-father, Ernie, who previously ran the business with his three partners. In 1995, the original facility added nine more holes and another nine holes in 2000. In expanding to a 36-hole venue, the facility lost its previous practice range and the plan was to someday rebuild new state-of-the-art one. Anderson knew the land across the street from the club would make and ideal location for a practice facility and had a chance to buy the property, which was farmland, but was unable to obtain the land until it became available again in the spring of 2020. Anderson jumped at the second chance and two years later the facility came to fruition. “It came back around, which usually never happens. You usually only get one shot,” recalled Anderson. “We thought it was meant to be.” With the help of Anderson’s two sons and the club’s Director of Operations, Kevin Higgins, construction of the practice facility broke ground on August 1, 2021 before its grand opening almost exactly a year later. Anderson said his sons and third generation partners, Chris and Ryan, were instrumental with “putting the pieces” together during the construction. Following a year of meticulous planning and developing, the facility debuted last weekend and Higgins said the opening was a smashing success. “It was definitely well received,” Higgins said of the beautifully manicured 12-acres of open greenery. “When people see it for the first time they’re awe-struck.” Known as The “Bea” Practice Facility at Blackledge — named in memory of Anderson’s mother, Beatrice, whose family’s roots in Hebron date back to the Mayflower — features a picturesque barn-style building surrounded by a massive putting green and seemingly endless fairways, bunkers, and target greens that are ideal for practice. Blackledge also maintained some of the vibe of the original property by building over 800 linear feet of stonewall with stones from the land and repurposing the granite posts from the foundations of the old farmhouse that burnt down three decades ago. Nicole Damarjian was also brought aboard as the Director of Instruction at the new practice facility. Damarjian, who was recently awarded Golf Digest’s Best in the State and a Top 50 Instructor from the Ladies Professional Golf Association, will also head up youth programs and other special events throughout the season. The new practice facility is located directly across the main entrance of Anderson’s Glen, which was the original 18-hole course, known as the “Old Course”. The newer 18-hole course, known as Gilead Highlands, offers a fresh look and feel that differs from the original course. Higgins, who has also been a golf instructor at the club since 1992, said the pair of courses gives golfers “two different experiences”. Blackledge is a year round facility, featuring a full Pro Shop and a Golf Simulator for the winter months that allow patrons to play some of the world’s best courses virtually. An award winning restaurant, Blackledge River Tavern & Sports Pub, offers a full menu with local beer on tap. They currently have a Summer Music Series, featuring live music on Friday and Saturday nights through Labor Day. During the winter months, the club offers cross-country skiing on the property and the plan is to someday add a swimming pool to the growing lists of amenities. “We want to have it all, the whole enchilada,” said Anderson, who is proud that the club is able to maintain his experienced staff throughout the year, “That is why our customer service is so good and the continuity of our business is so good. We have people that have been here for 30 years.” Higgins believes the addition of the practice facility makes Blackledge a welcoming destination for players of all ability levels. “We have all the facilities, a great restaurant, two courses, and this adds another level,” stated Higgins. “There is no practice facility like it anywhere else in the state, especially for public courses. It’s really special.” For more information on everything that Blackledge has to offer, including hours and rates, or to book a tee time, visit blackledgecc.net online or call 860-228-0250. Wethersfield's inaugural Eagles Youth Football Camp was last week with nearly 40 kids partaking in the weeklong program.
Wethersfield head football coach Matt McKinnon and his coaching staff completed the inaugural Eagles Youth Football Camp last week. Nearly 40 kids, entering grades 5-8, learned the fundamentals of football at Wethersfield High School during the five-day camp, which ran July 25-29. “It’s been fantastic. Parks and Recreation reopened this summer and it has allowed these kids to come out and learn the game safely,” McKinnon said last Thursday, “We all came together and we’ve had a lot of fun with the kids.” Campers teamed up to develop skills, better understand the nuances of the game, and get a firsthand experience at what it’s like to play on the field turf at Cottone Field. Along with learning and enhancing skills, the campers also were treated to fun games, guest speakers, and even ice cream. McKinnon said it is important that kids in this age range are taught every position and learn all three phases of the game — offense, defense, and special teams. “It’s not about wins and losses at this age, it’s about learning the game so when you come to the high school level you’re prepared,” added McKinnon, who had his dedicated coaching staff and player volunteers helping out. “It’s a community effort. [The campers] will learn how to get in a stance, how to take on a block, and how to throw and catch the ball correctly. We harp on the fundamentals.” McKinnon added that he was surprised at the skills level of many of the campers, saying, “These kids can throw the ball. Their parents are doing a great job in the backyard with these kids.” Campers of all levels — from highly-talented to novice players — attended and McKinnon said regardless of skill level all the kids brought maximum energy for the two hour sessions each day. “The one thing I love with all these kids is that they are playing together,” said the fifth-year head coach. “They are out here making new friends and learning from the coaches and player volunteers from the high school program. It’s a great community on the field.” McKinnon had originally planned to have the initial camp in previous years, but the Covid-19 pandemic threw a wrinkle into the plans, causing the Parks and Rec. to hold up activities. McKinnon said the long wait allowed him and his staff to put together the best possible camp. He also consulted his brother, James McKinnon, who is the girls' basketball coach at Rocky Hill High School and runs a basketball camp for kids of similar ages called ‘Hoop Hill’. Immediately following camp, McKinnon said that he and his staff will start planning for next year’s camp where they expect the numbers to increase. They will then turn their attention to the upcoming high school season with practices starting later in August and the first game scheduled for Sept. 9 at Windsor High School. The Eagles home opener at Cottone Field is slated for Sept. 23 against Joel Barlow at 7:00 p.m. How it started vs how it's going...Cromwell's dynamic duo of Aubrey Kulpa and Mary Kate Sullivan started playing soccer together in grade school eight years ago and recently celebrated a national championship with the U-17 Oakwood Soccer Club team on July 10
Mary Kate Sullivan and Aubrey Kulpa have been playing soccer together for nearly a decade. Fittingly, their final season as teammates yielded championship results. The pair, who have both grown up in Cromwell, were members of the Oakwood Soccer Club U17 team that won the Girls Academy (GA) National Championship on June 10 in St. Louis, Missouri. “Our team dynamic is amazing,” said Sullivan, a team captain. “We all had the same goal and wanted to do it for each other.” Kulpa added, “We are a family on and off the field and we knew going in whatever happened we did it together.” Following a 1st place finish in the GA Northeast Conference, Oakwood went to California and won three playoff games to reach the knockout stage in St. Louis. There they would defeat TSJ FC Virginia in the quarterfinals and Lonestar SC in the semifinals before ending the championship run with a 1-0 redemption win over Florida United in the title tilt. Kulpa scored the lone goal in the title game, stealing a pass in the first half and beating the keeper on a breakaway. Following the title, Kulpa was named the National Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP). “Going into that game [the MVP] wasn’t what I was looking for. I wanted to win first, but it was awesome to get it afterwards,” Kulpa said. “It was a great feeling. I know how hard I’ve worked.” Head coach Chris Mogavero said Kulpa was unselfish on the field with the ability to strike quickly with either foot. “She sees the game on the ball and off the ball,” added Mogavero, “She has created just as many goals for others as she has scored herself.” Kulpa also scored in the semifinals match before exiting the game with a calf injury. With some rest — and help of her best friend — she was ready to go by the time the championship game rolled around. Sullivan suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the playoff stage in California. She spent the rest of the championship run as a supportive spectator, coach of the sidelines, and player-turned-physical therapist. “I did a lot of stretching of calves,” joked Sullivan, who added that the championship was the result of years of hard work. “I saw how hard everyone was working and how the whole team wanted it. It was crazy and so surreal.” Mogavero called Sullivan a “great leader and advocate for the rest of the team” who was supportive and helped team morale from the sidelines. “She goes as hard as she can all the time. She is willing to play any position,” added Mogavero. “She does a lot of the dirty work defensively as a forward as far as attacking the ball and pressuring opponents.” The victory over Florida United was memorable for several reasons. The Sunshine State team had previously beaten Oakwood in March in the GA Champions League finalist match and in a consolation round a year ago. The third time was a charm as Oakwood knocked off their nemesis from the south to bring the trophy back to Connecticut. Being a part of a national championship club is a dream come true for Sullivan and Kulpa, who first met each other in grade school during youth soccer. Sullivan recalled Kulpa scoring in a game in 2014 and running out to give her a hug. After that initial embrace, the two have become nearly inseparable on and off the field. Both attend Cromwell High School and Sullivan said they were both previously “ballers”, playing basketball as underclassmen before choosing to focus solely on soccer. Sullivan, who will be a senior at the high school this year, has already committed to play soccer collegiately at Indiana University starting in the fall of 2024. “The culture is like nothing I have ever seen before. I didn’t realize how good the culture was until I was on campus. The coaches are amazing,” said Sullivan, who recently visited the home of the Hoosiers in Bloomington. Sullivan added that she looks forward to the challenges of college soccer, adding, “One thing I love about soccer is you can keep getting better and there is so much to the game. With the knowledge my coaches have I think they will be able to push me and get me to that next level. I would love to be able to compete for a Big-10 title.” Kulpa will be entering her junior year at CHS. This fall the two will practice together at Oakwood, but the championship game may have been their last as a duo. Sullivan referred to the pair as the “dynamic duo” and Kulpa said they can read each other’s minds. “It is going to be very sad. She’s my buddy. It’s going to be hard, but I know she’s off doing her thing” added Kulpa, who has yet to decide where she will play college soccer. “But maybe we’ll meet one day in the Big-10.” 2022 GHS graduate Brian Pawlowski will continue to swim competitively in college at Fordham University.
“Honestly I felt like it had the most sense of community,” Pawlowski said of the New York-based University. “When I talked to the coaches they were really supportive and seemed encouraging.” Pawlowski will study political science and swim for the Jesuits of Fordham, who are led for the past three decades by head coach Steve Potsklan, a two-time Atlantic-10 Coach of the Year. It’s the next step in an unexpected journey for Pawlowski, who started swimming in the second grade out of a lack of options. “It was really just because I was bad at all the other sports so my parents wanted me to get into it and eventually I grew to like it,” a modest Pawlowski recalled. A decade later, Pawlowski helped the Guardians win the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) championship. He also qualified for class championships in the 200 freestyle and as a member of the 200 freestyle relay, helping the team placed 4th overall at the Class LL finals. He called the CCC victory this winter his favorite moment, saying, “Everyone swam really well and the energy was really high. It was definitely memorable.” GHS swimming head coach Suzie Hoyt has known Pawlowski since he was seven years old from the town’s Parks & Recreation swimming. She called him a “tremendous teammate” and “very talented” in the pool. “I have enjoyed watching him grow up and I’m thrilled he is swimming at Fordham. He’ll be successful there,” added Hoyt. Hoyt named Pawlowski the team’s Hartwell Award winner this season for being a well-rounded student athlete, in and out of the pool. This summer, Pawlowski expanded his horizon and coached youth swimming at Pine Brook Club in Glastonbury. He said he was apprehensive at first but quickly learned to love coaching, adding that he related to the kids he was teaching. “When I started off I barely knew how to swim,” recalled Pawlowski. “So the younger kid reminded me of when I started.” Along with swimming, Pawlowski also did outdoor track for a season and was part of DECA – the business club – at GHS. He is also musically gifted, playing piano for the past decade. He added that because of the Covid-19 pandemic he has more of an appreciation of all the activities he does and that he’ll take that gratitude to the next level as he goes from Glastonbury to New York City. “I will miss the community and the swim team the most, we’ve gotten really close the last four years,” said Pawlowski, who will now make the Bronx his home. “I’m looking forward to the scenery in the middle of the city. I have never really experienced that before.” Jackson Stone (seated center) will run cross country and track at the University of New England. Stone is surrounded by his cross country and track & field teammates at GHS.
The Stone family is full of athletes. Jackson Stone, a 2022 graduate at Glastonbury High School, is the latest family member to commit to athletics at the next level. “I am excited to announce my commitment to running cross country, outdoor track, and study nursing at the University of New England.” Stone posted on Instagram on April 9. He’ll join his older brother Thomas Stone, who runs at Eastern Connecticut State University, and older sister, Christina Stone, who plays soccer at the University of Hartford. His fraternal twin brother, Cody Stone, also ran beside him that past four years at the high school and his younger brother Brady Stone is entering his senior year at GHS, starring on the lacrosse fields. It was Thomas who influenced Jackson to start running in middle school, but it wasn’t until the summer before his freshman year that he hit his stride. Jackson became hooked after attending North Kingdome Running Camp (NKRC) in Lyndon, Vermont. “I went there and fell in love with the sport,” he recalled. “I hadn’t really met anyone from the team, but once I got there I met a lot of girls and guys from the teams and we had such a good experience. It got me excited to do cross country in the fall.” He would attend the camp throughout high school, training and being a counselor for the younger runners. In his four years at GHS, he became a consistent runner on the cross country trails and a versatile member of the indoor and outdoor track and field teams, running a variety of distances and competing on several relay teams. This spring, he broke the 5-minute mark in the 1600 meters, running a personal best 4:57.82 to take first place at the Randy Smith Journal Inquirer Greater Manchester Invitational on May 21. “I’ll miss the people the most,” Jackson said of departing Glastonbury. “I’ve made some really good friendships and met people I will remember my whole life. All the girls and guys are amazing people.” Jackson will next join a Nor’easters program in Biddeford, Maine that competes in the Commonwealth Coast Conference. He said he was looking for a place that fit all the criteria with an emphasis on his major. “I was also looking at schools where I could study nursing. I went to tour it with my dad and it was a gorgeous campus,” recalled Jackson who added he looks forward to running 8ks instead of 5k in college. “I’m excited for a new setting. It’s a whole new environment and I want to try something new.” Jackson said he wants to go into the medical field because of his desire to “help people” and UNE gave him the opportunity to continue both of his passions. Glastonbury residents Kelly Stepnowski (left) and Katherine Zaino celebrate by kissing the trophy after Oakwood's 17-U team won the national championship on July 10
The Oakwood Soccer Club U17 team became national champions on July 10, defeating Florida United to secure the Girls Academy (GA) National Championship in St. Louis, MO. Girls Academy is the leading youth development platform for soccer players in the United States, comprised of 80 clubs in eight conferences across the nation and consisting of over 10,000 female players. Oakwood head coach Chris Mogavero called the co-op of 16 girls a “cohesive group” that was dedicated and determined. The title team featured players from 11 towns, including three Glastonbury residents in Skylar Fiske, Kelly Stepnowski, and Katherine Zaino. Following a 1st place finish in the GA Northeast Conference, Oakwood went to California and won three games in the playoffs to reach the knockout stage in St. Louis. They would defeat TSJ FC Virginia in the quarterfinals and Lonestar SC in the semifinals before ending the championship run with a 1-0 redemption win over Florida United in the title tilt. “Their willingness to make small sacrifices individually made the team better,” Mogavero said of the championship club. The win over Florida United was memorable for several reasons. Along with earning a championship trophy, they also avenged a pair of losses to The Sunshine State team, who had previously beat Oakwood in March during the Champions League and in the consolation round a year ago. After a semifinal exit last summer, the team returned this season with plenty of motivation and talent. Mogavero said the team had a single focus once the playoffs started this summer. “The girls were saying they were going to St. Louis no matter what. All of them were really committed to putting their best foot forward for the playoffs,” recalled Mogavero, who could sense a rematch with Florida looming. “The girls didn’t care who they played. They were pretty confident in themselves and the team, and they were pretty comfortable with whoever we played. None of them were scared.” All three Glastonbury players played pivotal roles for the small, yet mighty squad. Fiske was a gritty defender that played every minute in the semifinals and championship match. Mogavero noted Fiske’s improvement this season, adding, “Her fitness and work rate are excellent.” Stepnowski played midfield, shining defensively and setting up teammates offensively. “She can run all day long,” said Mogavero. “She is super-fast and athletic” Zaino gave the team positional flexibility with her ability to play anywhere in the middle and on the defensive end. Mogavero called Zaino a technical player that was “excellent with the ball in the air” and “one of the best passers on the team.” In the championship victory over Florida, Aubrey Kulpa (Cromwell) scored the game’s only goal and earned the Most Valuable Player. Goalie Kaitlyn Dedame (South Windsor) was awarded the Golden Glove after helping preserve the shutout. Dedame and Katrina Chorzepa (Berlin) rotated at goalie in the championship game and throughout the season. The Oakwood Soccer Club is based in Glastonbury at 40 Oakwood Drive, practicing and playing at the indoor facility in Glastonbury during the winter months and at Sports Medicine & Orthopedic, PC Park on Glastonbury Turnpike in Portland during the fall and spring season. Mary Kate Sullivan (Cromwell), a team captain, said that the culture at Oakwood is what makes championship-worthy teams, adding, “I hear stories where people don’t have good experiences or coaches ruin the game for them. We’ve been fortunate to be in such great environments.” “We try to build a culture that is a family,” said Mogavero. It’s not a huge club, it’s a smaller club. We want to get all the girls on the same side, so they are not competing against each other and instead with each other and promoting each other.” Mogavero added that the local club is about creating a positive environment where the girls can develop soccer skills and “become good citizens along the way.” Visit oakwoodsoccer.com for more information about the soccer club. |
AuthorSports Editor for the Rare Reminder, Glastonbury Citizen, and Rivereast News Bulletin Archives
April 2024
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