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Sports

Naugatuck Falcons Racks 'Emup' as Billiard Champs

Local team, the Polish Falcons, takes the league championship for the second year in a row.

The Polish Falcons billiards team brought home the hardware as they laid claim to its second league championship in the last four years.

Nest 65 on School Street in Union City plays in the District Polish Falcons billiards league against other clubs in Connecticut and the Naugatuck chapter with 59 wins this season beat out the Southington chapter with 51 wins for the coveted title.

“The teams consist of up to 12 players with six single matches and six doubles matches,” said team coach Brian Howard Jr. “The maximum any one player can compete in is three matches. Our go-to-guy is Francis (Frenchie) Gagnon, who usually goes up against the top player from the other team.”

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“I have been player coach for the past three years coming on after they won their last title,” he said. “So this was nice for me to have the team come together and bring the championship back home to Naugatuck.”

It was hardly a slam-dunk with the Southington Nest on its tail. Naugatuck went out and got the job done as they disposed of Meriden by a 9-3 final margin assuring that the title would be headed back to the Borough.

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Leading the way to victory was Francis Gagnon along with fellow team members Al Terry Sr., Vic Kloc, Lucas Hehl, Mike Schmitt, Bruce Kirk and Dennis Cotrell along with club officers, president George Carlson, vice president David Howell, recording secretary Al Litke and team coach Brian Howard Jr.

“I’m on the roster but they don’t use me much,” said Carlson. “It’s all in fun though. We have a few new members who have really made us competitive and it’s a nice time for the guys to get together and have a good time.”

The Polish Falcons is a non-profit organization that has Nests in Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania and stretching all the way to the Midwest. The Naugatuck Falcons Nest 65 is involved in charitable events for the Ecumenical Food Bank, St. Vincent DePaul Mission, Ronald McDonald House of Charity and a host of other local charities that includes the Leever Regional Cancer Center, American Heart Association and they offer scholarships to a Naugatuck High School graduate that is a child or grandchild of club members.

The club also sponsors teams in the Union City Little League and the YMCA Little Pal basketball league.

The Polish Falcons began its chapter in 1905 under the first president Stanislaw Wisniewski and has been serving the town of Naugatuck for over a century. In April the club will celebrate its 105th anniversary with an Awards Ceremony Dinner at the club honoring members who will receive National honors.

“We have 13 club members who will receive awards,” said Carlson. “One member will receive the Gold Level Award the highest honor presented by the Falcons on a National level.”

“The Awards Ceremonial Dinner is for members only and will be held on April 30th. We have other events coming up this year to highlight our 105th year. We are in the planning stages of holding our 1st annual Chuck Waskowicz golf tournament who was our former club president.”

“All the proceeds from all of our events are designed to give back to the community. That’s what the Polish Falcons are all about.”

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