Date: Fri 08-Sep-1995

By KIM HARMON

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: KIMH

Illustration: I

Quick Words:

Volleyball-History

Full Text:

Volleyball History

The Newtown High School volleyball team has knocked on the door to the Western

Connecticut Conference championship more than a few times since the team's

inception in 1975 under coach Pam Northrup, but only once - in 1979 - did

someone answer the door.

The Lady Indians have been close a number of times and although they have won

just one championship, sharing it with Weston, the program has been a

consistent won, with a total record of 169-142.

Present coach Russ Weiss has 118 of those victories to his credit, carrying a

118-93 career mark into the 1995 season.

History began for the Lady Indians in 1975, under coach Pam Northrup. But even

with girls like Donna Leavitt and Carol Hensel, they could not secure that

first victory, finishing 0-12, but the following year, with All-WCC players

Leavitt and Linda Scharf, the Lady Indians improved to 7-11 and started their

climb towards the top of the WCC.

The Lady Indians were mediocre through the 1977 and '78 seasons, winning 12

and losing 13, but almost out of noweher, judging from their 5-8 mark in 1978,

the Lady Indians exploded for 12 wins in 14 contests and claimed a WCC

co-championship with Weston. Newtown lost a bid to own the title outright when

it lost to Weston at the end of the season, but that did not stop the Lady

Indians from being ranked third in Class M and from seeing their coach, Miss

Northrup, being named volleyball coach of the year. The team was led by the

presence of Pam Leavitt, Amy Barrows and Sue Roman.

What followed was three seasons of near misses. In 1980, the Lady Indians went

8-4 in the WCC, 8-5 overall, and lost to Foran in the state tournament. The

following year, the girls finished 10-5 overall, 9-4 in the WCC, yet missed

the conference playoffs.

That changed in 1982, in coach Weiss' first year. The Lady Indians went 10-6

but lost, 3-1, to Brookfield in the WCC championship final. " The two teams

were like a couple of junkyard dogs out there, " coach Weiss said at the time,

scraping and battling it out. "

After a one-season slump of 4-9, the Lady Indians were back, but a 12-4 record

did not prevent them from losing to Central Catholic in the WCC playoffs. It

was much of the same in 1985, with the girls winning 14 of 18 contests yet

losing in the WCC playoffs and in the first round of the state tournament. Kim

Pelletreau was a sophomore star before moving over to soccer. Michele Roberts

and Kelly Sorenson were big parts of the team.

Three years later, Newtown knocked at that door again. After 7-11 and 5-13

seasons, the re-tooled Lady Indians took another shot at the WCC championship

in 1988, finished 14-2 - the only two losses coming at the hands of New

Milford. The Lady Indians ended up losing to New Fairfield in the WCC title

game and then lost to Staples in the second round of the state tournament.

Elene Alonte, Jen Wyslick, and Michelle LaRondelle were All-WCC selections

that year.

That was a peak, however, that the girls seemed to stumble from. In 1989, the

Lady Indians finished 10-5 and then fell to 7-9 in 1990, the freshman year of

one of coach Weiss' future stars, Dee Carroll. In 1991, the Lady Indians won

five of 13 matches and the following year were 7-7, 7-9 overall, second in the

Briggs Division.

Things started coming around in 1993, with an 11-8 record in the WCC, 11-9

overall, in which Lysha Lockwood emerged as a powerful hitter and Caitlin

Swetts and Carroll were named All-WCC.

With Lockwood, Allison Stephenson and Kristin Denninger up front, Erica Hanson

and All-WCC star Alison Bernstein, the Lady Indians had a clear shot at a

conference title, but after finishing 11-4, 9-3 in the WCC, Newtown was

shocked in post-season - getting bounced in the first round of the conference

playoffs and then losing to Danbury in the first round of the CIAC Class L

state tournament.

The Lady Indians are going to keep knocking, only this time it will be on the

door to the newly-formed South-West Conference.

Nighthawk Track And Field Teams Host Meet

New Heights Vacation Bible School Returning

Next HRRA Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Event Scheduled In Newtown

Genealogy Club's Next Program To Dig Into 'Dissecting A Civil War Pension Record'

Choral Society Planning ‘Voices Of America’ Performance

The editorial took no position on the budget going up or down so you're reading things into the editorial that simply aren't there. The turnout is tied to the lack of passage, in that people who came out to vote last time did not this time, indicating a lack of support on their part. Perhaps it wasn't spelled out clearly enough, but that's what the editorial was driving at, people showing lack of support by not casting a vote. The editorial did address likely concerns among voters that may have led to lack of support and lack of turnout. This lower turnout also follows increasing turnout over the past four referendums in three years (meaning it is an aberration from that), and increased turnout is something that I do push for regularly in editorials. Any disappointment you might be seeing is at the break in that trend, not at whether the budget passed or not. I'd rather see more people come out and vote "no" then not vote at all.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Clearly, property owners no longer want to bear the burden of expenses while the state does not meet it’s responsibilities. Rising costs must be addressed by actions that do not include yearly increases of property owners’ taxes. The state of CT must meet its share of the educational costs, and other costs.

Town And School Budgets Fail At Referendum

This feels like an oddly misleading headline and narrative, particularly coming from the Editorial Board. The headline "Lower Turnout Results in Two Budget Defeats" pushes a misleading narrative regarding voter turnout, and then seeks to tie the outcome of the referendum to that misleading narrative. Sure, voter turn out for this year's referendum, 18%, was lower than last year's. However, last year's turnout, 25.4%, represented the highest turnout in the most recent 10 budget referendums. If you take the time to examine turnout percentages between 2017 and 2026 (2017: 19.9, 2018: 15.7, 2019: 17, 2020: 0, 2021: 8.98, 2022: 7.7, 2023: 8.8, 2024: 15.1/17.49, 2025: 25.4, 2026: 18), this year's turnout was actually the third highest in the past 10 cycles. Perhaps the headline of this article should say "Lower Voter Turnout Than Last Year", which is more accurate, rather than creating an impression that this year's turnout is some type of aberration - a narrative that the turnout numbers, in all their binary glory, simply do not support. Further, the headline of this article appears to tie the "lower turnout" to the defeated budgets. Sure, that could be true. But, perhaps, its more likely that Newtown residents are feeling the squeeze of multiple economic influences. In Newtown, we've experienced property revaluations and increased municipal spending. Eversource continues to raise rates. The state legislature gives PURA the authority to impose Public Benefit charges that benefit a tiny percentage of the public (and subsequently burdening the rest of us). At the national level, inflation has run rampant for years and many of those costs remain high to this day. In short, the data tells a far less dramatic—and far more honest—story than the headline suggests. This wasn’t an electorate vanishing in apathy; it was a fairly typical turnout delivering an verdict that, perhaps, some at the Editorial Board didn't like. At some point, it’s worth considering that residents aren’t confused, disengaged, or misled by turnout; they’re simply doing math at their kitchen tables and concluding that “no” is the only responsible answer left.

Enjoyed the forum which only confirmed my support for Brandon Moore as the Democratic candidate to run for the state representative position. Brandon Moore did not waiver about his duty to all the people, if elected, when an issue presents itself that requires that he voice a difference of opinion for the wellbeing of Newtown residents. If Michelle Ku’s 16 years have led to her loyalty being to other elected officials, as she implied, then Newtown is going to continue to witness actions that do not protect its residents. She could not unseat republican, Mitch Bolinsky, during a Blue Wave, and once again, will not do it now. Winning that seat is critical for all. That explains why her previous campaign committee now campaigns for Brandon Moore. It explains all the endorsements he has received from local elected democratic officials. It’s why we need Brandon Moore to be the democratic candidate to run for state representative.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

Appreciated the opportunity to hear from both candidates as we were present for the College Dems forum but only heard from Brandon Moore. It was an opportunity to see who can unseat the Republican incumbent and there is no doubt that Brandon Moore should be the Democratic candidate. One concerned parent posed a question about discrimination unaddressed by the school district and interestingly enough, Michelle Ku, who proudly speaks of her Board membership years, said little, while Brandon Moore passionately addressed the issue along with his experience as an Apache Helicopter Commander. This family is supporting Brandon Moore. We need change and someone who is not afraid to disagree, especially about the rising costs of living in Newtown.

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Date: Fri 08-Sep-1995

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