Valley Breeze

north smithfield blackstone woonsocket edition | valley breeze | febrUary 27-march 5, 2014 sports & recreation 17 So it was on a Monday morning earlier this month when I first got the news that my friend George Nasuti had been seriously hurt in a freak accident. He fell and struck his head while refereeing a kids basketball game, something he did with regularity without incident. I heard it was pretty serious, but having known him for decades, I figured he would pull out of it. See, Nasuti was a bull of a man who was a weight lifter and stronger than almost anyone I know. He also had the moral fiber and character, and if anyone could pull through, I figured it would be him. The following day, the mood shifted to pride when our own Tom Ward, our publisher, was honored by the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce as the winner of its coveted Ben Mondor Award for service to the community. In his usual fashion, Tom used his speaking time to applaud others for their vol- unteerism, deflecting the spotlight from himself, where it should have been for all of the things that he has done for northern Rhode Island. I was there and proud, as the mood shifted. The next morning, the mood became somber. The phone rang. It was my buddy Tom Brien, who has been long asso- ciated with the sports scene in northern Rhode Island. His voice cracked. "Georgie didn't make it," he said. The news was met with stunned silence. How could it be? I had been with Nasuti only the week before as he refereed a Woonsocket Middle School basketball game where I was taking photographs and we shared a brief hello, and the usual small talk. "Hey, heard you're retiring soon," Nasuti said. "I can go in June because I'll have my time in, but I don't plan on going anywhere." Not surprising. He had a passion for Woonsocket and its school children like none I've ever seen. He served as a teacher, principal and as athletic direc- tor, and as a member of the administrative team, and even in the face of devastating bud- get cuts, kept the school sports program afloat. He held fund-raisers that he helped organize, took part in them, and volunteered his time over and over to help so that boys and girls from the city could continue to have their cherished sports venue. As an administrator, there were several times through the years that we had to call him for information on touchy subjects, and his response was always candid and truthful. He never sugar-coated anything, offered his personal solutions and was open, even though that may not have sat well with his superiors. He was a man's man, taken from us way too soon. Here 'N THere • I thoroughly enjoyed the Winter Olympics and con- gratulations to Russia for over- coming pre-Olympic fears by making certain that everyone was safe throughout. It was spectacular. While I enjoyed most of the competition, I had to chuckle the day following the indi- vidual women's figure skat- ing championship when the headline blared that there was controversy. What else is new? Can you ever remember an Olympics where there was not controversy over that event? Maybe that's why I prefer the races, where events are timed, and whoever wins gets the medal. • Ah, spring training has begun, and once again hope springs eternal for all of the teams starting a new sea- son. Maybe the Yankees can make a run at the defend- ing WORLD CHAMPION BOSTON RED SOX this year! • And still in the baseball mode, Derek Jeter exudes class and has already announced that this, his 20th year as a Major Leaguer, will be his last. He was wise to announce it early to avoid the bombard- ment of questions and distrac- tions that would have followed him all season. • A special congratulations to the Smithfield High School boys swim team. In a David and Goliath act, they beat 24-time defend- ing state swim champ Bishop Hendricken to capture the school's first state swim title on Sunday at Brown University. It's only the team's fourth year in existence. DUKe from Page 15 25 gymnastics meets in the country, the largest in Rhode Island by far, and has grown to the point where it is hav- ing a strong positive economic impact on the area. The event will have more than 925 competitors rang- ing in age from 6-18, and they are some of the best young gymnasts in the country. Represented will be teams from New York, Virginia Beach, Maine, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Maryland. It is anticipated that more than 4,000 viewers will channel their way into the Twin River Event Center to view 11 differ- ent age and level sessions. Many visitors will be staying in area hotels for the duration. "We're Hampton Inn's best friends this time of year," said Anne Lyons. "That place is completely booked for the weekend and we've had some excess that will be staying at the local Marriott." Preparation to get the Event Center ready for the expand- ing event began on Wednesday when rented equipment from Deary's Gymnastics Supply Company in Danielson, Conn., was delivered to Twin River. From there, a team of eight OSSG workers placed and assembled apparatus in the cen- ter of the hall, including vault tables, uneven parallel bars, uneven bars, floor mats, bal- ance beams and other materials used to complete two full gyms. Gymnasts ranging from level four for the least experienced, to the very accomplished level 10, will be taking part. There are 86 OSSG students partici- pating this year. OSSG began the classic in 2000. Initially, it was a small venue and was held at OSSG, but the word got out that the event is a class act, and soon outgrew the school. It was moved to the Community College of Rhode Island in Lincoln, and then to La Salle Academy in Providence. But more participants and larger crowds necessitated a larger venue, and four years ago, the Lyonses moved it to the Twin River location. More than 4,000 attended last year. For the youngest competitors, those on level four, every child is awarded either a trophy or a medal, and every single com- petitor receives a commemora- tive gift. "This year, we decided to give each child a blanket that we ordered right here in the Blackstone Valley from Cool Air Creations," said Anne Lyons. "We try to support the local businesses." "We also hold special opening ceremonies for each level," said Lyons. "We try to play it up a bit for the kids. We have a spot- light on the American flag and shut off all the lights and give the kids flashsticks and play the national anthem." For gymnastics purists, per- haps the best time to view will be on Friday about 5 p.m. when the Level 10 gymnasts perform their routines. The girls participate in four events: floor exercise, uneven parallel bars, vault and balance beam. "For people who enjoy gym- nastics, they will see the very same things that they saw at the national competitions and Olympics when the girls per- form on Friday night," said Tim Lyons. "People coming in will see great skills and action, and they will be in comfortable individual seats as opposed to bleachers. There's plenty of food and drink venues at Twin River, and of course, there's the casino for those adults who enjoy that." There will also be a coaches and judges party hosted by OSSG at Twin River's Wicked Good Bar and Grill. "We have an appreciation dinner and will have a come- dian come in to entertain," said Lyons. "It's really a fun event." This year, crowds should approach 4,000. Cost is $18 for adults, $12 for children and seniors, with weekend passes available for $30. CLASSIC from Page 15 WOONSOCKET – The final registration for the new Woonsocket Little League will take place tonight, Thursday, Feb. 27, from 6-8 p.m. at the Woonsocket Harris Public Library, 303 Clinton St. Registration will be taken for both baseball and softball. Cost is $55 for the first child in a family, $45 for a second child, with a family maximum of $125. Cost is $35 for T-ball, and $65 for Junior league. Children between the ages of 4 and 12 may sign up for baseball programs, and girls between the ages of 6 and 16 may play softball. 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