Zanor column: NFA gymnasts shine, and other award winners
Just thought I’d empty out my reporter’s notebook while perusing the bracket I filled out for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. It looks like an Aqueduct racetrack program after a rainstorm turned the track from muddy to sloppy …
NFA gymnasts shine
It was a big night for the NFA gymnastics team at the Connecticut High School Coaches Association annual all-state banquet. Wildcats sophomore Trinity Ambruso was recognized for making First Team All-State and was also awarded Gymnast of the Year for winning first place in the All-Around at the State Open.
Wildcats sophomore Allison Wojnar was recognized for making Second Team All-State, while Wildcats coach Emma McMillan was selected the CHSCA Assistant Coach of the Year award.
Football scholar-athletes
The Southeastern Connecticut Chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame will hold their annual awards banquet on Sunday, April 21 at 5:00 p.m. at Lake of Isles Golf Club and Resort.
The National Football Foundation Chapter Network, spread across 120 outposts in 47 states, encourages leadership, sportsmanship and academic excellence among America's high school football players.
This year’s Scholar-Athlete award winners include: Kevin Claffey (Bacon Academy), Bryce Manwaring (East Lyme), Gianni Drab (Fitch), Sam Martin (Griswold), Devin Exarhoulias (Killingly), Ben Rusczyk (Ledyard), Jack Bubucis (Montville), Masyn Smith (New London), Simon Loewenstein (Norwich Free Academy), Ethan Torres (Stonington), and Noah Westkott (Waterford).
"Our chapter's eleven recipients represent some of the best and brightest from more than 5,000 high schools covered by the National Football Foundation Chapter Network,” said Jim Buonocore, Southeastern Connecticut Chapter vice president and Ledyard High School athletic director. “We are very proud of our local award winners for their hard work and success on the football field and in the classroom. These young men are outstanding representatives of their school communities and this honor represents all that is great about high school football.”
Also being recognized are Jon Crowley, Eastern Connecticut Football Officials (Officials Award); Mike Ellis, Jr., Fitch (Active Coach); Ellen Turner, Wheeler (Dick North Administrator Award); Brooke Janney, United States Army (Distinguished American); and Erik Dobratz and John Pierson, WTNH Channel 8 (Bill Cawley Media Award).
For event information or to purchase tickets, please contact Jim Buonocore at jbuonocore@ledyard.net
Gatorade Player of the Year
Kudos to St. Thomas More’s Tyler Betsey, who was selected the Gatorade Connecticut Boys Basketball Player of the Year award for the second straight season. The award celebrates the nation’s top high school athletes for excellence on the court, in the classroom and in the community.
The 6-foot-8, 210-pound senior wing averaged 23.1 points and six rebounds per game this past season, leading the Chancellors a 29-9 record.
Betsey has volunteered locally at a Hartford-area soup kitchen and by organizing a school backpack drive in his hometown of Windsor. He has maintained an A average in the classroom. Betsey has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball on scholarship at the University of Cincinnati this fall.
Betsey joins UConn’s Donovan Clingan (2021-22 & 2020-21, Bristol Central High School) as a two-time Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year award winner.
More: Plainfield's Yonush leads Bulletin girls basketball all-star team
Trivia time
Boston Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello, 25, became the third youngest Red Sox starting pitcher to win on opening day in the last 86 years when the Sox topped the Seattle Mariners, 6-4, on Thursday night. Who was the youngest Red Sox pitcher to win an opening day game since 1939?
Wrestling Hall of Famers
Nine outstanding individuals from the state’s wrestling community have been selected for induction into the Connecticut Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame dinner will take place on April 26, 2025 at the Mohegan Sun.
The new inductees include Shirzad Ahmadi, long-time high school, collegiate coach and wrestler; Drew Black, head coach at Wesleyan University; Fritz Blasius, benefactor to many local charities and organizations; Gerry deSimas, Jr., long-time sportswriter; the late Dave D’Alessio, former coach and teacher in Madison; David Green, head coach at Nonnewaug in Woodbury; Ted Oczkowski, coach, official and administrator; Chris Piel, head coach at New Milford; and the late Ray Southland, long-time official and middle school principal.
All nine will receive a Lifetime Service award for coaches, officials, or contributors with at least 20 years of service and will permanently be recognized in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame (Stillwater, Oklahoma) with an embossed name plaque, and each receives a plaque and jacket to commemorate this special occasion.
More: Griswold's Kazlauskas leads Bulletin's Boys Basketball All Star Team
Trivia answer
The legendary Dennis Eckersley allowed just two hits over seven innings to lead the Boston Red Sox to a 7-1 opening day victory over the Cleveland Indians on April 5, 1979 at Fenway Park. Eckersley was 24.
Stuck in the '70s
On March 31, 1975, UCLA defeated Kentucky, 92-85, in the NCAA men’s basketball championship game at the San Diego Sports Arena. It was the 10th national championship for UCLA coach John Wooden, who had announced his retirement two days earlier.
Richard Washington scored 28 points and grabbed 12 rebounds and was named the tournament’s most outstanding player. Dave Meyers (24 points, 11 rebounds) and Ralph Drollinger (10 points, 13 rebounds) also posted doubles-doubles, while Andre McCarter dished out 14 assists for the Bruins.
Kevin Grevey scored a game-high 34 points, while future Boston Celtic Rick Robey had a team-high nine rebounds for the Wildcats, who were coached by Joe B. Hall.
NBC broadcast the game with announcers Curt Gowdy, Billy Packer, Jim Simpson, and Jerry Lucas.
Jimmy Zanor is a sportswriter for the Norwich Bulletin and can be reached at jzanor@norwichbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter@jzanorNB.
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: NFA's Trinity Ambruso selected CHSCA Gymnast of the Year
