Chris Polakowski:
CLASS OF 1974
Barlow High SchoolClass of 1974
Redding, CT
Southern Connecticut State UniversityClass of 1978
New haven, CT
Chris's Story
Life
Life after Barlow started at Southern Connecticut. Received a BS in Physical Education. Besides my degree work, my favorite time in college was with the Track Team. Held the school record (short lived) in the high jump (6'7") my Junior and Senior year (it was broken the first year I was out). My long term enjoyments are the friends I still hear from on that team.
After college, I was offered a job teaching at Cider Mill School in Wilton,CT. Coached at Wilton HS (X-Country/JV Basketball and Track) as well.
My teaching position was RIFd (Reduction in Force). The last one in (me) is the first one out. I started to look at places outside of the state.
Accepted a position at a private school in Vermont for learning disabled adolescents. It didn't take me long to realize, I was not meant to work with special populations full time.
The following year, I accepted a job at Essex Middle School (Vermont), where I was until my retirement in 2021. Having a teaching position has given me the opportunity to coach most of those years.
Teaching middle school children is a blast. You can expect something new and challenging everyday. Spring time with 8th graders, is a real hoot.
I've also coached several sports, including: X-Country (20 years), Basketball (11 years), Track (30 years) and a sport I've grown to enjoy. Weightlifting.
It started in college where we'd snatch, clean & jerk, squat and do a lot of other lifts to gain functional strength and power. I started to introduce it to my athletes I coached (mostly the track team). They saw results. Kids would ask me about the competition side of lifting. I inquired (USA Weightlifting), and got educated. Started to have kids do well. In short, I've had 65 different athletes qualify for National events. Nine National Champions (including my own daughter). Six who've been on International Teams and one who went to the Olympic Games. I myself, have been to seven different Countries (and Puerto Rico) as either a personal coach or Team USA Coach (2016 was my last trip as team coach in the country of Georgia). Cuba was my favorite country to visit. I'd go back to that country in a heart beat if I could again. Love the people there.
Vermont allowed me to meet my wife of 36 years (Carol Specht). Time sure does go by fast, as I can't believe it's been that long. I'd spend more time talking about Carol, but I'm running out of...Expand for more
characters (our introduction is an interesting topic. By all means, ask).
Carol worked at IBM (the state's largest employer). She was there for 28 years. After being let go ten years ago, took a job with our financial planner (Flood Financial) until 3 years ago. A very good investment in more ways then one.
We have two children. Jason is our eldest. For those that know me, yes he did track in both High School and College. He did the high jump (6' 2") like me, but his best events were the high hurdles (State Champ in 110s in 2007 as well as Runner up in 300 Hurdles). He was also on the 1st place 4x400 relay team in the State. Finished 4th in the State Decathlon Championships. He continued doing track in college (Southern Connecticut), finding his calling as a decathlete. Making All New England his Junior and Senior Years. Just missed qualifying for Nationals. He's also did well in his Undergrad Years ending with a 3.73 GPA. He went right into Grad School (Springfield College). He's presently employed by our Government as a strength coach for the Marines.
Katie is our youngest. Katie is very strong. Clean & Jerk 176 pounds (80 kilos). While in High School, Katie made two time All Sate as a defensive player in soccer. Her sophomore year, her team was State Champs. Junior Year, lost in the Championship Game. In basketball (leading scorer for her middle school team) she decided to hang up her round-ball shoes for Indoor Track Spikes her sophomore year on. She's won a total of nine individual track titles in combined Indoor and Outdoor Track. She's currently the State record holder in the 300 hurdles. She finished HS with a 95 average. She's got a BS in Bio/Chemistry at Stonehill College. In May of 2022, she received a doctor of osteopathic medicine. She's doing her residency at a hospital in New Hampshire.
Carol is from Maryland. Since knowing her, we've summer vacationed at her childhood vacation spot (Southern Delaware). After our retirement, we moved to Delaware permanently. Vermont has been good, but it'll be too cold for an old timer to live. We'll also be spending 2 months in Florida each Winter.
I could go on, but I'll leave it there. Love to know what you other oldies (but goodies) are doing with your life. Don't be shy.
I've restarted my subscription, after being off for five years.
Next birthday, I'll be 67. How cool is that!
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