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Just thought I’d empty out my reporter’s notebook while eagerly awaiting the return of Jayson Tatum to the first place Boston Celtics lineup.
Griswold boys basketball coach Rob Mileski is impressed with the job Mike Vrabel has done coaching the New England Patriots this season.
After going 4-13 a year ago, Vrabel, who replaced head coach Jerod Mayo in the offseason, has the Patriots just two wins away from another Super Bowl championship. The Pats travel to Denver on Sunday for the AFC championship game. Kick-off is at 3 p.m. on CBS.
“I’m turning into a big Vrabel guy,” Mileski said.
Mileski loved how Vrabel built a culture and a close-knit team that bonded this season through the Patriots’ Four H’s: History, Heroes, Heartbreak and Hope. Each “H” represents a significant part of a player’s life:
During team meetings, Vrabel had the players talk about their experiences through the Four H’s. Soon, the players felt connected and accountable to one another.
“We did the four ‘H’s’ yesterday,” Mileski said following the Wolverines’ 46-42 win against Killingly. “I’m trying to get my guys to talk. I started it with things like, ‘Who am I? Who were my parents? Where did I live? Where did I go to school? What did I do?’ I thought it could go either way, but the kids liked it.”
“The past week, we really needed to come together and create a bond,” Griswold senior Kaiden Kazlauskas added. “We sat down and had a talk and said we really need to play for each other, and I think we all bought into that. Unselfish basketball.”
History, Heroes, Heartbreak and Hope.
“Vrabel is doing it with the best athletes in the world and they’re breaking down. It’s hard for males to talk about stuff,” Mileski said.
Griswold, which is off to an 8-2 start, came within two wins of winning the school’s first state basketball championship last season. The Wolverines fell to Ellington in the Division IV state semifinals.
“I feel like we have a good path to the state championship,” Kazlauskas said. “We’re just playing for each other.”
Just like the New England Patriots.
“Vrabel gets them to talk and they learn about their teammates and they fight for them,” Mileski said.
More: Basketball future is bright for Plainfield's Cam'Rynn Cross
East Lyme Athletic Director Kevin Marcoux announced that Paige DiTommaso has been hired as the head coach for the girls soccer program. DiTommaso replaces longtime coach Rachel Redding, who stepped down last fall after leading the program since 2005.
After a successful high school playing career at Lewis Mills, DiTommaso earned All-Conference and All-New England recognitions at Endicott College. She graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Exercise Science.
DiTommaso has coached girls soccer at various levels, including serving as the junior varsity coach at Conard High School, varsity coach at Old Saybrook High School (2018-2020), and the East Lyme Youth Soccer Association (fall of 2025).
“Paige comes in with an extensive background of playing, coaching and developing student athletes into competitive, highly skilled soccer players while focusing on developing the whole person for life after high school,” Marcoux said in a press statement. “We look forward to watching her grow the program and developing a positive culture with her consistent and effective leadership style.”
DiTommaso also holds a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Central Florida and is a Certified Nutrition Health Coach. She currently works as a Clinical Therapist in Guilford and resides in Niantic.
“I look forward to building an empowering and competitive culture that emphasizes player development, teamwork, and a strong work ethic,” DiTommaso said in a press statement. “My goal is to help our athletes grow both on and off the field while fostering a program that the school and community can be proud of.”
The UConn football team announced their home opponents and dates for the 2026 season, which kicks off a new era under coach Jason Candle.
Here are the seven games slated for Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field this fall. Lafayette (Sept. 5), Maryland (Sept. 12), Syracuse (Oct. 3), UMass (Oct. 24), North Carolina (Nov. 7), James Madison (Nov. 14), and Old Dominion (Nov. 21).
More: NFA girls basketball gets confidence boosting win against Killingly
On February 1, 1979, the undefeated Indiana State men’s basketball team traveled to Las Cruces to play the other top Missouri Valley Conference team, New Mexico State.
The Sycamores trailed 83-81 with three seconds left in regulation. The Aggies were at the foul line for a one-and-one. And Indiana State forward Larry Bird was on the bench after scoring 37 points, grabbing 17 rebounds, and dishing out nine assists. Bird had fouled out with 19 seconds left.
There was no 3-point line, so New Mexico State needed just one free throw to clinch the win. The Aggies, however, missed the first free throw and Sycamores reserve forward Bob Heaton launched a Hail Mary shot from half court. The ball bounced off the backboard, rolled around the rim, and dropped through the net to send the game into overtime.
The Sycamores prevailed 91-89 before 13,684 fans at the Pan American Center. The victory left Indiana State (19-0) as the only unbeaten team in the country.
Jimmy Zanor is a sportswriter for the Norwich Bulletin and can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter@jzanorNB.
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Griswold basketball adopts Mike Vrabel, Patriots' Four H's motto
Continue reading...
The Patriots Four H’s
Griswold boys basketball coach Rob Mileski is impressed with the job Mike Vrabel has done coaching the New England Patriots this season.
After going 4-13 a year ago, Vrabel, who replaced head coach Jerod Mayo in the offseason, has the Patriots just two wins away from another Super Bowl championship. The Pats travel to Denver on Sunday for the AFC championship game. Kick-off is at 3 p.m. on CBS.
“I’m turning into a big Vrabel guy,” Mileski said.
Mileski loved how Vrabel built a culture and a close-knit team that bonded this season through the Patriots’ Four H’s: History, Heroes, Heartbreak and Hope. Each “H” represents a significant part of a player’s life:
- History: Reflects a player's past, including their hometown and the people who have shaped them.
- Heroes: Represents individuals who have inspired or impacted the player's life.
- Heartbreaks: Highlights personal challenges or losses that have shaped the player's character.
- Hopes: Expresses aspirations and goals that drive players to strive for success.
During team meetings, Vrabel had the players talk about their experiences through the Four H’s. Soon, the players felt connected and accountable to one another.
“We did the four ‘H’s’ yesterday,” Mileski said following the Wolverines’ 46-42 win against Killingly. “I’m trying to get my guys to talk. I started it with things like, ‘Who am I? Who were my parents? Where did I live? Where did I go to school? What did I do?’ I thought it could go either way, but the kids liked it.”
“The past week, we really needed to come together and create a bond,” Griswold senior Kaiden Kazlauskas added. “We sat down and had a talk and said we really need to play for each other, and I think we all bought into that. Unselfish basketball.”
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History, Heroes, Heartbreak and Hope.
“Vrabel is doing it with the best athletes in the world and they’re breaking down. It’s hard for males to talk about stuff,” Mileski said.
Griswold, which is off to an 8-2 start, came within two wins of winning the school’s first state basketball championship last season. The Wolverines fell to Ellington in the Division IV state semifinals.
“I feel like we have a good path to the state championship,” Kazlauskas said. “We’re just playing for each other.”
Just like the New England Patriots.
“Vrabel gets them to talk and they learn about their teammates and they fight for them,” Mileski said.
More: Basketball future is bright for Plainfield's Cam'Rynn Cross
New East Lyme coach
East Lyme Athletic Director Kevin Marcoux announced that Paige DiTommaso has been hired as the head coach for the girls soccer program. DiTommaso replaces longtime coach Rachel Redding, who stepped down last fall after leading the program since 2005.
After a successful high school playing career at Lewis Mills, DiTommaso earned All-Conference and All-New England recognitions at Endicott College. She graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Exercise Science.
DiTommaso has coached girls soccer at various levels, including serving as the junior varsity coach at Conard High School, varsity coach at Old Saybrook High School (2018-2020), and the East Lyme Youth Soccer Association (fall of 2025).
“Paige comes in with an extensive background of playing, coaching and developing student athletes into competitive, highly skilled soccer players while focusing on developing the whole person for life after high school,” Marcoux said in a press statement. “We look forward to watching her grow the program and developing a positive culture with her consistent and effective leadership style.”
DiTommaso also holds a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Central Florida and is a Certified Nutrition Health Coach. She currently works as a Clinical Therapist in Guilford and resides in Niantic.
“I look forward to building an empowering and competitive culture that emphasizes player development, teamwork, and a strong work ethic,” DiTommaso said in a press statement. “My goal is to help our athletes grow both on and off the field while fostering a program that the school and community can be proud of.”
Huskies football schedule
The UConn football team announced their home opponents and dates for the 2026 season, which kicks off a new era under coach Jason Candle.
Here are the seven games slated for Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field this fall. Lafayette (Sept. 5), Maryland (Sept. 12), Syracuse (Oct. 3), UMass (Oct. 24), North Carolina (Nov. 7), James Madison (Nov. 14), and Old Dominion (Nov. 21).
More: NFA girls basketball gets confidence boosting win against Killingly
Comments and Observations …
- Loved this one on X from Chad Graff (@ChadGraff): “The Patriots have played in half of the AFC Championship Games this century. Sunday will be their 13th appearance in the conference title game in the last 25 seasons.”
- Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones are headed to Cooperstown. The two players were the only vote getters from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America to reach the 75% election threshold of (319) votes from the 425 ballots cast. Beltran got 358 votes (84.2%) and Jones got 333 votes (78.4%). They will join Jeff Kent, who was elected in December by the contemporary era committee, in the Class of 2026.
- This was Boston Red Sox legend Dustin Pedroia’s second year on the Hall of Fame Ballot. He received 11.9% of the votes a year ago and almost doubled that total to 20.7% this year. That is good news. Pedroia, whose career was cut short by injuries, will be on the ballot for eight more years. Pedroia is definitely a Hall of Famer in my book. But the Baseball Writers’ Association of America loves longevity and compilers, and Pedroia’s career-cut-short numbers make Cooperstown a long hill to climb.
STUCK IN THE 70s
On February 1, 1979, the undefeated Indiana State men’s basketball team traveled to Las Cruces to play the other top Missouri Valley Conference team, New Mexico State.
The Sycamores trailed 83-81 with three seconds left in regulation. The Aggies were at the foul line for a one-and-one. And Indiana State forward Larry Bird was on the bench after scoring 37 points, grabbing 17 rebounds, and dishing out nine assists. Bird had fouled out with 19 seconds left.
There was no 3-point line, so New Mexico State needed just one free throw to clinch the win. The Aggies, however, missed the first free throw and Sycamores reserve forward Bob Heaton launched a Hail Mary shot from half court. The ball bounced off the backboard, rolled around the rim, and dropped through the net to send the game into overtime.
The Sycamores prevailed 91-89 before 13,684 fans at the Pan American Center. The victory left Indiana State (19-0) as the only unbeaten team in the country.
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Jimmy Zanor is a sportswriter for the Norwich Bulletin and can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter@jzanorNB.
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Griswold basketball adopts Mike Vrabel, Patriots' Four H's motto
Continue reading...
