| ECC Spring Tournament Highlights 2011 |
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Dear ECC Athletes, Fans and Friends,
Thank you for participating in another exciting spring sports season! Below are some highlights from the recent tournaments and competitions. We hope you enjoy this newsletter. A special thank you goes out to our spring sponsors, The Connecticut National Guard, The Bulletin, The Norwich Orthopedic Group, Suisman Shapiro Attorneys at Law, The Waterford Speedbowl, Gerardi Insurance Services and Jewett City Savings Bank for making these events possible. If your company or business is interested in becoming an ECC sponsor, please email us at contact@ecctoday.org. Donations are tax deductible, and help to enhance educational, athletic and arts programs within the eighteen Eastern Connecticut Conference High Schools. On behalf of the ECC, have a great summer! |
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Girls Track and Field
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NFA's Alie Sullivan clears the bar at 12 feet, setting an ECC pole vault record
Photo: The Bulletin |
NFA girls win ECC title
Sullivan sets record
The Bulletin, May 21, 2011
One broken record wasn't enough for Alie Sullivan at the ECC track and field championship.
She wanted more.
The NFA pole vaulter's first jump yielded a school and ECC record.
Sullivan's performance punctuated a
stellar afternoon for NFA as the Wildcats won their forth straight conference crown with a 148-96 win over second place East Lyme. Ledyard (86) came in third, Fitch (58) was fourth and Montville (57) took fifth place. |
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CHECK OUT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE
"EASTERN CONNECTICUT CONFERENCE"
The Eastern Connecticut Conference now has a Facebook Page so athletes and fans can get more involved. Don't forget to "Like Us" and tell your friends to visit!
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East Lyme's Ben Lakeman takes first place in the final heat of the 400 meter race during the ECC track and field championship on May 21, 2011 at Montville High School.
Photo by Tali Greener, The Bulletin |
Boys Track and Field
ECC Champion...
NFA boys track team
By Tim Ehrens
The Bulletin, May 22, 2011
The distance events have been carrying the Norwich Free Academy boys track team all season. It's not odd to see the Wildcats sweep the top three spots in any given meet.
NFA's dominance in those events didn't stop Saturday.
The Wildcats won all but one relay and distance event to take their second straight Eastern Connecticut Conference championship with a 155-82 win over second-place East Lyme. |
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The Connecticut National Guard is a Big Hit
at the ECC Track Championship! Officers from The Connecticut National Guard attended the ECC Track Championship on May 21, 2011 at Montville High School. The National Guard is a Platinum sponsor of the ECC and does much to support student athletes. They came prepared with a fully decorated vehicle and their own professional display, giving out fun items for the high schoolers to take home such as footballs, t-shirts, pens, lanyards, magnets and more. Visit their web site at http://www.nationalguard.com to learn more. |
| Boys Lacrosse
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East Lyme's Kevin Renshaw early in the season vs Bacon
Photo: Khoi Ton,
The Bulletin |
East Lyme's defense
key for boys lacrosse title
By Joe Perez
The Bulletin, May 27, 2011
As each quarter arrived, so did an increasing number of shots in the direction of East Lyme keeper Kevin Seery.
There were seven in the first, eight in the second, 12 in the third and 17 in the fourth.
Despite the 44-shot barrage leveled at him by Stonington, Seery held strong when his team needed him the most, making 20 saves, earning MVP honors in the Vikings' 11-6 triumph in the Eastern Connecticut Conference boys lacrosse championship on Friday.
Walking off the field exhausted, Seery said he felt none of it as he and his teammates joyfully celebrated the return of the conference title after losing it in overtime to Ledyard a year ago.
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Above: The Bulletin Publisher, Paul Provost (yellow shirt in center) with athletes and fans
at the ECC Track Championship
The Bulletin Provides Reading Material for Athletes' Downtime
The Bulletin's Publisher, Paul Provost, distributed hundreds of free newspapers during the ECC track championship on May 21, 2011 at Montville High School. This gave athletes an opportunity to read Eastern Connecticut's hometown newspaper between their events. Every week during the school year, The Bulletin publishes "ECC World," which includes articles written by student journalists on topics such as academic and art programs, school events and more. The Norwich Bulletin is a Platinum sponsor of the ECC. Visit their web site at: http://www.norwichbulletin.com/
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| Girls Lacrosse
East Lyme earns 5th straight ECC girls lacrosse title
By Joe Perez
The Bulletin, May 27, 2011
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East Lyme lacrosse player Jessica Lillquist, (third from left) and her East Lyme teammates celebrate after they beat Waterford 18-9 for their 5th ECC lacrosse championship at East Lyme
Photo: Tali Greener, The Bulletin |
Sept. 7, 2010 is a date Lexi Hadcock won't forget. That was the day she tore her right anterior cruciate ligament in a soccer scrimmage.
Almost eight months later, Hadcock's three-goal, five-assist performance led East Lyme to its fifth straight Eastern Connecticut Conference girls lacrosse title with an 18-9 victory over Waterford.
Hadcock, who was named the tournament's most valuable player, didn't get back on the field until April 1. "At first it was a little rocky, I wasn't as confident with my leg," she said. "Now, I have my confidence back and the team's there for me. It's been awesome."
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The Norwich Orthopedic Group Generously Provides Gift Bags
for ECC Athletes
The Norwich Orthopedic Group provided more than sixteen hundred gift bags for student athletes at the ECC boys and girls lacrosse, baseball, softball, and track championships. Inside the re-usable goodie bags were goodies such as granola bars, frisbees, magnets and other useful items. The Norwich Orthopedic Group is a Gold sponsor of the ECC and lets the athletes know that if ever injured, they will work hard to get them back into sports! Check out The Norwich Orthopedic Group at http://www.norwichorthopedic.com |
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Waterford pitcher Kelli Conners throws a bunted ball to first for an out against Fitch during the ECC softball championship at Griswold High School on Friday, May 27.
Photo: Tali Greener, The Bulletin |
Softball
Waterford tops in
ECC ... again
By Tim Ehrens
The Bulletin, May 27, 2011
Watching the Waterford softball team's offense is a guessing game. The question isn't how much it will score as much as when the dam will break.
Nursing a one-run lead late in Friday's Eastern Connecticut Conference championship game against Fitch, the only team to beat the Lancers this season, there was a sense that Waterford was biding its time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
"All we need is something little," Waterford shortstop Katelyn Sykora said.
There was nothing little about the bottom of the sixth for second-seeded Waterford as the Lancers batted around, scored seven runs on six hits and won their third straight ECC title with an 8-0 win over their divisional rivals at Griswold High School. |
 Suisman Shapiro Keeps Student Athletes Hydrated! Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-At-Law has been an ECC sponsor from the beginning. Volunteers from the firm (left to right: Emily Flemming, Judith Flemming, Joanna Lazarus and Waterford Speedbowl race car driver, Josh Galvin) attended the ECC Track Championship on May 21, 2011 with a huge supply of water to hand out to the hardworking athletes. Suisman Shapiro is a Silver sponsor for the conference, and is the largest law firm in Eastern Connecticut, serving the community for over 70 years with a wide range of legal services. Visit their web site at http://www.suismanshapiro.com/ |
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Vikings win second ECC baseball title
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East Lyme's Chase Livingston hugs coach Jack Briggs after the Vikings beat St Bernard 4-3 in the ECC championship. Photo by Aaron Flaum, The Bulletin |
By Marc Allard
The Bulletin, May 27,2011
When the ball bounces your way, even the little things don't seem to get in your way.
East Lyme didn't play a perfect game and it was a far cry from their best performance of the year, but the Vikings rallied in the bottom of the 7th to beat Saint Bernard 4-3 in the Eastern Connecticut Conference baseball tournament championship game at Dodd Stadium. It was the Viking's second straight ECC title.
"The first championship last year was pretty amazing, but to go back to back with a team that everyone asked where are you going to finish is pretty amazing," Vikings coach Jack Briggs said. |
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Woodstock's Christian Egeberg hits out of the sand trap at the ECC golf championship. Photo by Khoi Ton, The Bulletin |
Golf
Woodstock golf finishes on top again at ECCs
By Brian Girasoli
The Bulletin, May 26, 2011
They're seasoned at this point," Garceau said. "They play tournaments over the summer, and I think that's really showing in their confidence level. They don't get flustered when things go bad. They avoid big numbers and they can keep their heads about themselves."
Windham won the Medium Division title with a 321, and Stonington earned ECC Small honors with a 329.
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 Ankle Sprains
by Ammar Anbari, MD
Team Physician for WNBA CT Sun, Norwich Free Academy, Bacon Academy, Lyman Memorial and
The Williams School
Norwich Orthopedic Group / 860-889-7345
Ankle sprains are the most common athletic injury, with more than 27,000 sprains reported every day. That equates to approximately 6% to 10% of all emergency room visits, costing more than $3.65 billion per year.
Ankle sprains are caused by injuring the ligament that stabilizes the ankle. They can happen during sports, but they also can occur when people land wrong on an uneven surface, such as a curb. The fibers in the ankle ligaments are able to stretch; however, severe sprains can actually cause the ligaments to tear. Some people report hearing a pop when the injury occurs and the pain can be delayed or immediate.
Diagnosis
Symptoms of an ankle sprain include pain and swelling. The grade of a sprain is determined by the force of the injury. Grade one injuries cause minimal disability. Putting weight on the ankle is possible, and swelling is localized and minimal. The fibers of the ligament are stretched but not ruptured. Grade two sprains cause moderate disability. Putting weight on the ankle is more difficult, and swelling is more severe over the area of injury. Only one of the three ankle ligaments is completely torn.
The most debilitating sprains are those classified as grade three. Many times it is not possible to put weight on the leg, and severe swelling is present over the whole ankle and foot. In these cases, two or three ligaments are completely torn. Noticeable instability is apparent when a physician pushes or rotates the ankle.
Depending on the severity of the sprain, a physician may order an x-ray or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to determine the grade. In severe cases, the surface of the ankle joint is also damaged. It is important to get medical treatment for proper diagnosis because a broken bone may have similar symptoms as a grade three sprain.
There are several risk factors for sprained ankles. Participating in sports such as basketball, soccer, and football increases the risk. Also, those who suffered a previous ankle sprain or who are overweight are at increased risk of a severe sprain. Perhaps the worst statistic is that approximately 40% of ankle sprains can lead to chronic problems if not treated correctly.
Treatment
Proper treatment should start with PRICE (protection, rest, ice, compression, and elevation). Through this approach, a person with a grade one sprain should be able to walk without a limp within a week and return to normal activities in one to two weeks. Swelling should be minimal at this point, and in some cases, anti-inflammatory medications are used to control pain and swelling. Conversely, if noticeable improvement is not seen by this time, it is important to see an orthopedic surgeon who can check for a more serious injury.
If no other serious injury is present, the physician may recommend muscle-strengthening and range-of-motion exercises, followed by activity-specific rehabilitation training, which allows for a faster and safer recovery and has been shown to minimize chances for re-injury.
Rehabilitation may include electric stimulation to ease pain and swelling and/or water exercises, which can be a less painful alternative. Rehabilitation typically involves three phases:
1. Rest and protection (to decrease swelling)
2. Strengthening and flexing the muscles and tendons
3. Gradually returning to normal activity (this process varies significantly depending on the grade of the injury and can range from weeks to months.)
Surgery for a sprain is rare, unless the ligament fails to heal correctly or the patient
has recurrent sprains due to a "loose ankle."
Prevention
Recurring sprains or chronic ankle pain can be easily prevented with rehabilitation and proper healing time. It is important that the ligament heals completely before returning to activities that may aggravate the injury. Risk can be reduced with braces, but be careful. Ankle braces can increase strain on the knee joint. Once an ankle has been sprained, strengthening exercises should never cease, even if a brace is worn. Quitting exercises can lead to a recurrence of the injury, particularly if they are stopped too early. Abnormal mechanics of the ankle joint complex also can be a contributing factor to ankle sprains, so the use of orthotics may help prevent injury. Wearing sensible proper-fitting shoes is as important as staying fit enough to keep muscles strong and supportive. Patients should watch for uneven surfaces when exercising and pay attention to the body's warning signs if pain or fatigue occurs during physical activity
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Girls Tennis
Stonington's Emilie Burgess
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wins girls ECC tennis title
By Marc Allard
The Bulletin, May 28, 2011
This wasn't your typical girls championship ECC tennis match. This was a battle between two Stonington players, the top two seeds in the tournament who were not only teammates but sisters.
That couldn't happen, but the next best thing did. They both played well. Annika said "she played her best match of the season," but it wasn't enough to upend her sister, Emilie Burgess who scored the 7-6, 7-3, 6-3 win.
In the doubles match, the East Lyme duo of Amy Whitehouse and Nicole Stevens captured their second consecutive title with a 6-1 , 6-2 win over Windham's Ali Risley and Haley Mather. It was a rematch of last years finals. |
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 | | East Lyme's Chris Foster hits a return against Waterford's Alan Lunar. Foster won, 7-5, 6-2 to help Vikings claim their fifth straight ECC Large title |
Boys Tennis
Vikings tops in ECC Large
By Marc Allard
The Bulletin, May 24, 2011
Two wins are better than one, especially when it could be the difference between winning and losing.
Chris Foster and Dominic Aleo will be in the doubles competition when the Eastern Connecticut Conference tournament begins on Thursday. But on Tuesday, they were playing individually.
The familiar strategy worked as the Vikings edged Waterford, 4-3, to claim their fifth consecutive ECC Large Division crown.
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THANK YOU TO OUR ECC SPONSORS!
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