Members of UMass’ Outing Club competed in the Connecticut River Challenge over the weekend, a 273-mile long canoe relay that spanned from Canaan, Vt., to Northampton.

Participants began their quest on Friday night at 6 p.m. in Vermont, and finished on Monday at 10 a.m. at the UMass Boathouse, braving the elements and some animal encounters along the way.

Twenty-five UMass students competed in the relay, with canoes being paddled at all hours of the day to complete the relay on schedule.

The relay is an annual event put on by the Outing Club during Patriots’ Day weekend, with this year’s event being organized by Nat Alonzo, Thomas Oberlander, Celia Harnish, Eric Bragg and John White.

UMass Outing Club members complete the Connecticut River Challenge in canoes on Monday. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Northampton Parks and Rec Basketball Skills and Drillsย 

Registration is now open for Northampton Parks and Recreationโ€™s Basketball Skills and Drills program. Youth entering grades 2-8 this fall can participate in this skill-based program led by Northamptonโ€™s own Coach Joe Mantegna.

Mantegna is currently the head boysโ€™ basketball coach at Blair Academy in New Jersey, and also serves as a coach for both the South Sudan Menโ€™s National Team and the USA Basketball Junior National Team. He brings his experience, knowledge and love of the game throughout this program.

Led by Coach Mantegna and current basketball players, this program will take place July 13-15 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Smith Vocational High School gym.

Registration information can be found online atย www.northamptonma.gov/recreation.ย ย 

Ryan Ames is a sports reporter at the Gazette. A UMass Amherst graduate, he covers high school and college sports and is on the UMass hockey beat. Reach him at rames@gazettenet.com and follow him on Twitter/X...