Date: Fri 08-Sep-1995

By KIM HARMON

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: KIMH

Illustration: I

Quick Words:

Girls-Swim-History-1995

Full Text:

Girls' Swim History

No sense in wastin' time.

The Newtown High School girls' swim team was in existence just a couple of

years - and swimming in the fall for the first time - when it rode a wave of

success right to the top.

In 1975, under coach Deann LeBeau, the Lady Indians went 10-4 and finished

third in the CIAC Class M meet behind the efforts of girls like Lorraine Ross,

Karen Sullivan, Martha Draper, Carol Cassidy, Kim Bocchino, Diane Novello, Kim

Gay, Ruth Cassidy, Nancy Smith, Melissa Guck, Pam Dickerson, Linda Polcyn,

Carrie Kerstein, Wendy Wilson and Kelly Sullivan.

" I still can't get over it, " coach LeBeau said at the time. " On paper, at

least, Sheehan and Windsor Locks were supposed to beat us . . . and possibly

others . . . but the kids just wouldn't let it happen. "

It got better. In 1978, records were falling as the Lady Indians claimed the

Western Connecticut Conference championship with an 11-2 record. Diane King

set records in the 200 individual medley and 500 freestyle while Maureen

McDougal earned a diving record and Ruth Cassidy set a 50 free mark.

The girls finished second in Class L, using the talents of Nancy Streeter,

Nanci DeMeo, Mary McQuail, and Carrie Rispoli.

With McQuail, King, Dori and Nancy DeMeo, the Lady Indians finished 7-4,

runner-up to Weston for the WCC championship, and then, for the third year in

a row, finished runner-up in Class L.

The Lady Indians sloughed off that runner-up label in 1980 when they went

undefeated in the WCC, claiming the championship after the first-ever league

swimming and diving meet. The names McQuail, Streeter, King, Sue Emslie and

Dori DeMeo were prominent again.

Things started to slip in 1981, though, as the Lady Indians dropped to 6-4.

Sue Judge set a diving mark of 199.55 points and a girl by the name of Cathy

Carney started to make her presence felt.

Newtown only won seven of 23 meets in the next two seasons, despite the

presence of swimmers like Paulette Malanga and Noelle Van Doren, both of whom

were WCC meet medalists in 1983.

Carney had three years to prepare for her senior season and she did not waste

the opportunity. In 1984, Carney set records in the 500, 200, and 100 free,

the 100 fly, and the 200 IM . . . all of which still stand 11 years later. She

guided the team to an 8-4-1 record in her last year with the team.

The Lady Indians struggled mightily through the latter part of the 1980s. It

got so bad, the Lady Indians won just three meets in 1986 and 1987 combined,

despite the presence of Kasey Keating - who broke a seven-year-old record in

the 100 back - and Trina Poplawski.

Around 1987, also, the first year of Heze Clark's tenure, is when the turnover

rate in the position of girls' swim coach started climbing high. Clark lasted

three years, but then came Al Wachs, John Abrami, Brian Reiff, and the team of

Trish Norman/Doug Saunders. Deann LeBeau also returned for one season in 1991.

But in all that time the girls did not manage a record better than the 4-5

they earned in 1989. And a lot of credit for that success can go to Susie

White, who became a WCC champ in the 50 free and 100 back that season.

Oh, there were a lot of good swimmers - like Becky Young, Poplawski, Keating

and Penny Guerra, who set a 200 free relay record in 1988 - but just not

enough to bring the Lady Indians the kind of swimming success that the program

enjoyed in its early years.

Hopefully, with an enthusiastic new coach, the NHS program can get back on top

as the new era of the South-West Conference begins.

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

Newtown Earth Day Festival Was A Success

Local Fourth Grader To Host ‘Gaming For Change’ On May 16

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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