Bits & Pieces

 

By Kim J. Harmon

M

oments trapped in time – I got to thinking about ‘em last week. I will have been in this town eight years come November 21 (one day after my birthday, if anyone is interested) and there are some things that seem – to me – to define Newtown sports in that time. These things – these instances – seem to be etched permanently on the inside of my skull . . . like Neanderthal paintings on a cave wall.

These things can be beautiful.

These things can be stunning.

These things can be just plain awesome.

Of course, the most recent are the most fresh. The others may have collected a bit of dust over the years but – like the day I pooped my pants in kindergarten – I will always be able to remember them.

I have to start with the two things that got me to thinking about this stuff. One thing we have become accustomed to over the last couple of years and one thing we will become accustomed to over the next couple of years.

+Allison Frobey as she rears back to throw a ball in from the sidelines in a girls’ soccer game (long – loooong throw-in, one of the best I have ever seen).

 

+Chelsea Morin, busting a move on some poor defender one-one-one (a little deke, a little foot fake . . . simple magic).

 

And others . . .

+Leah Blewett singing the National Anthem (Shannon Kohn and Heather Gunn really do a nice Anthem, but – for my money – no one is better than Leah).

+Diver Alyssa von Oy in the midst of uncoiling from a one-and-a-half twist, right before she hits the water.

+Guard Ali Giannini setting up in the corner for a three.

+Dee Conley suspended above the net, her arm back, the spike inevitable.

+Defensive end Matt McCarthy poised on the end of the line and instant before the snap of the ball.

+Kyle Tobin leaping that first hurdle.

+Sprinter Janelle Tracy lurching out of the blocks in the 100-meter dash.

+Vaulter Reid Warner as he goes over the bar.

+Striker Shannon Rouse elbowing a defender and taking the ball off her foot – and getting away with it (no one was better at that – no one).

 

+Kate Ryan’s jumper with seven seconds to go in the 1999-2000 SWC final (I know I only saw it on tape, but it was even better watching it one frame at a time).

 

+Caitlin Collier as she got the ball on her lacrosse stick and got that gleam in her eye.

+Melissa Eigen’s layup at the buzzer against Masuk.

There are more – many more. Everyone has them, those little moments trapped in time. Snapshots collected in a virtual scrapbook.

What are yours?