THREE TIME COACH OF THE YEAR: THANK YOU LADYSPARTANS!

The sheer delight of having the Legendary Dick Atkinson and the Incredible Lou Tozzi present me with this award makes the circle complete.

Lou Tozzi was the person that got me totally involved with the MSTCA and becoming an E-Board member. He is a huge advocate of youth sports, particularly Track and Field and is a no nonsense type of guy that puts on clinics and meets each year. As the James Bond theme goes "Nobody does it better".

I met Dick Atkinson in 1974 while running Cross Country. He is the most popular coach ever from Western Mass. When I first started coaching at the high school level, he was one of my opponents, but you would never know it. Always the gentleman and always supportive. I have learned so much from him including the ability to give instructions to runners in competition from anywhere in the arena and they KNOW it's me!

WELCOME MR. MARCHEWKA!

East Longmeadow Ladies Track & Field welcomes our newest Athletic Director, Mr. Robert Marchewka, formerly the AD at Belchertown HS.

Mr. M has many terrific ideas on how to improve East Longmeadow athletics and beat out a host of other qualified candidates to secure the position. Our own Poison Ivy was on the selection committee along with Mrs. Kennedy.

His office is located next to the conference room near the Ladies locker room. He is the latest person to shed "Orange and Black" for the "Scarlet and Gray".

OPEN PANTRY LOOKING FOR DONATIONS - PLEASE HELP!

Updated: Monday, 26 Dec 2011, 8:27 PM ESTPublished : Monday, 26 Dec 2011, 3:36 PM EST
Anaridis Rodriguez
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The overwhelming need for food during the holidays has left shelves bare at the Open Pantry. Now, the community service group is looking to stock up for the upcoming new year.
In the last two days, the Open Pantry has helped feed more than 400 people. Christmas Day, the community group hosted a holiday meal at the High School of Commerce in Springfield. Monday, nearly a dozen volunteers served lunch and leftovers at the Christ Church Cathedral.
Darleen St. Jacques is the meal services program director. She told 22News it has been a busy holiday season, and to prepare for 2012 they need to replenish the pantry with some much-needed essentials.
“Here at the kitchen, we could really definitely use beef stew, tuna and coffee. And also for the guests that I serve, here at the kitchen we definitely could use new gloves, men and woman's new white socks, jackets and thermal outerwear or underwear,” St. Jacques said.
The food pantry is in need of protein items like canned meats or peanut butter. They are also looking for non-perishable boxed meals like macaroni and cheese. If you would like to donate, you can call the Emergency Food Pantry at (413) 737-5353 or fax them at (413) 737-4440. You can visit them at 2460 Main Street (Plaza del Mercado) in Springfield.

Ladyspartans and followers. CHECK IN!

Contact Coach Budd via e-mail to let him know you are okay.

Yesterday I just missed being in the tornado. As I was going home via Island Pond Road area, I witnessed the devastation.

Let me know that you are okay. THIS MEANS YOU!

TEAM PICTURES

Thursday after school. Everyone must attend.

HOUSE HOUSE HOUSE

Yes, we built it!

But guess what?

We've got to do some remodeling now and a home improvement.

Team pictures on Monday and then we've got to get back to work...there is this OTHER meet we have to make some noise in, it's called the State Sectionals!

Rest up this weekend, we have 14 days of work ahead!

CANNED GOODS DRIVE

Saturday from 8 to 11am at the high school as well as at the East Longmeadow Stop & Shop,we'll be taking in canned goods for the benefit of the Open Pantry.

The goal is 500 or more cans. We are also doing a can and bottle drive.

CAPTAINS NAMED

At long last the Cross Country captains have been named: Dolly and Band Camp

Both performed admirably at the Ted Dutkiewicz Memorial Races this past Saturday!

Mountain Dew also made a nice showing with the elite competition.

DJ BAND CAMP

So yesterday, the Ladyspartans were represented on 90.7 WTCC!

Wait a minute...does anyone in East Longmeadow actually LISTEN to TCC? Something to ponder. We were representing in the Carl Joseph Walker Hoover scholarship run.

A couple of things to be noted:

School record holder Danyelle' (Miyagi) Thorpe's parents were there offering support and took on the walk portion of the event.

Carl Joseph was the cousin of one of our best shot putters of all-time and STILL a current school record holder: Shucky Ducky (quack quack) a.k.a. Andrea Walker.

Bootstrap actually THINKS she can dance.

And Band Camp did a great job as spokesperson for the team on the airwaves.

We'll be doing at least one more benefit as a team in the near future. Stay tuned to the Ladyspartan XC squad!

BONUS CAMP DAY POSTPONED

One of the symbols of our team is the "Flash" lightning bolt. Unfortunately we are not faster than it.

With lightning a strong possibility until about 9Pm forecast and darker clouds in the West, it makes sense to delay the bonus camp day until Monday August 23.

TRACK CENTRAL LINEUP

The lineup is set on Track Central for the Challenges!

SEEDINGS UP

Holiday Invitational information is up:

http://www.mstca.org/Winter_Season/Entries/JackLangPerList.htm

Freshman-Sophomore information is up as well:

http://www.mstca.org/Winter_Season/Entries/FSS.htm

CLINIC DECEMBER 4

Springfield College is hosting a clinic in specific events this winter (this is in addition to the one we are attending at the Reggie Lewis Center).

Communicate with Coach Budd to secure the details. The slots are filling up fast!

REMINDER

SPORTS NIGHT is Thursday November 5 at 6:00PM. All Track & Field candidates MUST attend and bring either one or both parents/guardians.

Forms shall be available to get eligible.

SCHEDULE

The Indoor Schedule has been pretty much finalized. The only thing missing is meets in Connecticut where we shall be Pole Vaulting.

TRACK CAMP EXTENDED

Track camp shall be held on 8/10 at the high school and the following week at the high school as a special added bonus.

PRE-SEASON MEETING MOVED TO THURSDAY

Because of the weather, the pre-season meeting shall be held on Thursday after school. Flyers shall be placed at the school tomorrow in anticipation of the turnout.

Sorry for the change.

MEETING TUESDAY AT 2:00PM

There shall be an informational Track & Field meeting Tuesday at 2:00PM in the Large cafeteria for OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD.

Also on TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS there are weight lifting training sessions with Mr. Bean starting at 2:30. This is the start of pre-season training for Outdoor!

S.I.S.T.E.R. program also starts on Sunday (weather permitting) at Springfield College.

AEROBICS!

November 18 and 25 at the High School. Open to everyone! Run by none other than Coach Budd's wife! Time will be in the evening. Soon to be determined.

PRE-SEASON MEETING

Monday November 5 at 2:00 PM in the Large Cafeteria. This is informational, I also am scheduling a meeting on Wednesday November 7 at 7:00 with the parents.That meeting is just as important as the Monday meeting. Please advise your parents.