Granby Memorial's Mason Named Coach of the Year by CT Sportswriters' Alliance

The following is a press release from the Connecticut Sportswriters' Alliance:

Sandy Wickman Mason, who led Granby Memorial to its third straight state championship this past fall and sixth state crown overall in her nine years, was selected the Doc McInerney High School Female Coach of the Year by the Connecticut Sports Writers’ Alliance.

Mason will be honored at the 71st annual Gold Key Dinner on April 29 at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington.

A 1980 graduate of Granby Memorial and a former field hockey player herself, Wickman Mason coached her alma mater to a 17-1-0 record in 2011, culminating with a thrilling 1-0 double-overtime victory against Lauralton Hall in the Class S state championship game.

That came on the heels of a perfect 19-0-0 season in 2010, which was capped off by a 3-0 win over Haddam-Killingworth in the Class S state title game. In 2009, the Bears beat Lewis Mills 3-1 in the state finals to complete a 16-3-1 campaign.
Granby Memorial has been the state finals five straight years, falling to New Fairfield in 2008 while beating Canton 3-0 in 2007 to finish 18-1-1.

Wickman Mason has guided the Bears to the state finals in seven of her nine seasons, winning state titles her first two seasons in 2003 and 2004, while her 2005 team reached the semifinals.

Through nine seasons, Mason has compiled a sparkling record of 141-24-7, reaching double-figures in victories all but one season (2006 when the Bears posted nine wins). She’s also led Granby Memorial to four North Central Connecticut Conference championships (2004, 2007, 2008, 2010), and in 2005 was honored as Coach of the Year by the Connecticut High School Coaches Association.

Prior to coaching, Mason, who also played at the University of Maine, was a field hockey official for 20 years on the high school and collegiate level, including officiating Division I games.

In addition to Mason, by the Connecticut Sports Writers’ Alliance, which will also be presenting Gold Keys to Kristine Lilly, Dave Shea, John Dunham and Mike Walsh. Other award winners will be announced in the next few weeks.

Tickets to the 2012 Gold Key Dinner, which begins at 4 p.m., can be purchased by contacting either CSWA President George Albano of The (Norwalk) Hour at Truckin114@AOL.com, or Vice President and Dinner Chairman Bob Ehalt of The New Haven Register at Ehalt.Bob@sbcglobal.net. Tickets can also be obtained by mailing a check to Connecticut Sports Writers' Alliance, P.O. Box 70, Unionville, CT 06085. For more information on the history of the dinner, visit the Alliance web site at ctsportswriters.org