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12/5/17 - 12/18/17

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Volume 23 • Issue 531

JerseySportingNews.com

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LAST ONE STANDING

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Page 2 Jersey Sporting News • 12/5/17 - 12/18/17

12/5/17 - 12/18/17 • Jersey Sporting News

Page 3

LATE SOMERVILLE TOUCHDOWN DENIES RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN A SPOT IN THE RECORD BOOKS

By Mike Ready

RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN’S #6 ALEX MALDJIAN PISCATAWAY - Rumson-Fair Haven’s shot at winning a record-tying fifth consecutive state title essentially came down to one play.

With the Bulldogs clinging to a 15-14 lead, Somerville was looking at a thirdand-10 from the 50-yard line with only 1:44 left in the game.

Pioneer junior quarterback Jalahn Dabney was flushed out of the pocket on the play by Rumson’s Henry Sullivan but the multi-dimensional Dabney avoided the rush and found his tight end, Joe Ciempola, all alone for 45 yards down to the five-yard line.

Two plays later Dabney ran it up the gut of Rumson’s defense reaching the end zone from three-yards out for the go-ahead and winning touchdown. Devin Hack was stopped on the two-point conversion attempt and the score stood at 20-15 with 21 seconds left in the game.

“They were one play better than we were,� said Rumson-Fair Haven head coach Jerry Schulte. “There was just some miscommunication on the play.�

The elusive Dabney passed for 211 yards and one TD going 14-of-22 through the air and added 84-yards rushing on 13 attempts.

The Bulldogs had one last chance but on fourth-and-9 from their own 22 Rumson quarterback Dan Harby’s pass to junior tight end Ian O’Connor fell incomplete putting an end to Rumson’s incredible run of four straight sectional championships.

Somerville outgained the Bulldogs in total offensive yardage 315 to 234.

Rumson (10-2) was attempting to be the first team to equal Manasquan’s Shore Conference record of five straight state championships achieved between 1998 and 2002.

With the score tied 8-8 at the half, the Pioneers (11-1) went 90 yards in eight plays on their first possession of the second half to take a 14-8 lead on a Dabney to Ryan Hinton 38-yard touchdown pass. Hinton was wide open down the seam on the play beating cornerback Liam Donohue who was a couple of steps behind.

Rumson’s Keegan Woods’ interception in the end zone thwarted Somerville’s twopoint conversion attempt keeping the Pioneer lead at six points with 2:36 left in the third quarter.

The two teams exchanged punts twice before the Bulldogs mounted a 64-yard drive for a 15-14 lead that mistakenly appeared to be the game-winning drive. “We thought that last TD sealed things up,â€? Rumson star running back Peter Lucas said. “But one little mistake‌. we thought we had enough to get the fivepeat.â€?

Facing a fourth-and-9 at the Somerville 47 with 4:18 left in the game, Harby found senior wideout Mike Martino for 13 yards and a first down at the Pioneer 33-yard line.

RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN’S #4 IAN O’CONNOR

RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN’S #22 PETER LUCAS

On their ensuing possession, the Bulldogs advanced to the Pioneer 21-yard line but Harby was sacked by Ciempola for an eight-yard loss and Lucas lost another three on a screen pass from Harby forcing a Bulldog punt.

Harby then hooked up with O’Connor for 12 yards before picking up his own fumbled snap and gaining seven yards setting up a second-and-three from the 14.

The score remained 8-0 with 4:50 to go in the first half after Rumson returned a Somerville punt to the 45-yard line.

Lucas – who was playing on a bad ankle and still rushed for 82 hard-earned yards on 24 attempts – ran it in from there but Rumson’s two-point conversion attempt failed and the score stood at 15-14 with 3:13 left in the game.

Four straight runs by Lucas netted 20 yards and an illegal substitution penalty on Somerville gave the Bulldogs a first down at the Pioneers 30 with under three minutes to play in the half.

The rest is history but not the kind the Bulldogs were hoping for. “We lost to a great team,� Schulte said. “We had a great season and we have nothing to hang our heads about.�

Maldjian then got in the act carrying four consecutive times sandwiching an incompletion to set up a second-and-goal at the two-yard line before bulling his way up the middle for the touchdown. Harby connected with O’Connor for the two-point conversion to knot the score at 8-8 with 55 seconds left in the half.

RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN’S #27 PETE CROWLEY Somerville drove to the Bulldogs 18-yard with 17 seconds left but an unnecessary roughing penalty pushed them back to the 33 and two incompletions ended the half tied at eight.

The Pioneer defense held Rumson to just 146 net yards rushing on 41 attempts in the game for a 3.6 yard average. Lucas came into the game averaging 9.98 yards per carry and almost 200 yards a game.

He came in with 2196-yards rushing on 220 carries. “This feels terrible, it feels like we disrespected the other teams that came before us,� McAllister said of the heartbreaking loss. “The four championships we won before us don’t really matter now. This one was supposed to be mine along with the other seniors.� “This is tough,� Lucas said. “We felt like our defense would get the stop.�

Somerville took the opening kickoff and drove to the Bulldog 10-yard line but on fouth-and-6 Rumson defensive end Elijah McAllister stopped Somerville junior running back Robbie Fiorentino for a five-yard loss turning the ball over to the Bulldogs.

Rumson took over at the 15 but went nowhere going three-and-out and were forced to punt on fourth down from near their own end zone.

Following the punt the Pioneers went 42 yards in six plays with Dabney taking it in from one-yard out to finish off the drive.

Dabney accounted for all but seven yards on the drive going 2-for-2 for 23 yards through the air and rushing another 24 yards.

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Page 4 Jersey Sporting News • 12/5/17 - 12/18/17

Point Pleasant Boro Falls to Hillside in Central Group II Title Game

By John Sorce

Four plays after senior Tajae Irby connected with Charles Amissah for a 71-yard gain to end the first quarter, sophomore Nahree Biggins got the scoring going for Hillside with a two-yard touchdown of fourth and goal with 9:47 remaining in the first half to give the Comets a 6-0 lead after the extra point attempt was no good.

Turnovers proved costly for Point Boro early on. After driving down to the Hillside 20-yard line, they fumbled a snap, and Hillside’s Elijah Cotton emerged from the pile with the ball. That turnover did not lead to any points for Hillside, but an interception by Biggins gave the Comets one more chance to add to their lead before the half with 1:16 remaining, and they did just that.

POINT BORO’S #12 JAMES FARA

By Mike Ready OCEAN COUNTY – Point Pleasant Boro’s Devin Hart and Brick’s Damian Dilcher will be flying cross country to San Diego, California to compete in the Foot Locker National Cross Country Championships Saturday, Dec. 9 after qualifying at the Northeast Regionals at Van Cortland Park, New York.

PISCATAWAY – Seeking their fourth state title and first since 2005, the Panthers of Point Pleasant Boro got things going on a long day at High Point Solutions Stadium on Saturday in the Central Group II title game, but fell to Hillside, 20-13. It was the Comets’ first state championship since 1985.

“This is not the outcome we wanted, but we have a great group of kids and great senior leadership,” Point Boro head coach Matt Cilento said.

“They put this program where it’s at right now.”

POINT BORO’S HART, BRICK’S DILCHER HEADING TO SAN DIEGO FOR NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS

POINT BORO’S #3 BRANDON CIPRIANO Photos by: Tom Smith It was Biggins once again, getting the ball on the screen and going all the way 36 yards to the end zone with just seven seconds remaining.

James Lewis converted the two-point conversion and Hillside went into the locker room with a 14-0 lead.

Hillside received the second half kickoff and wasted little time extending their lead. Junior Shadon Willis hauled in a long 34-yard reception and ran four yards untouched on the jet sweep to the end zone with 8:54 in the third quarter, extra point was no good, giving Hillside a 20-0 lead. They would take that lead into the fourth quarter.

Point Boro cracked the scoreboard with 6:51 left in the game when senior James Fara found a wide-open junior Kyle Komanitsky for a 26yard score. The extra point was no good, to make it a 20-6 game. The Panthers recovered the onside kick, but the turnover bug came back to bite Point Boro again as junior Boris Nicolas-Paul intercepted Fara and gave Hillside possession with just over four and a half minutes remaining.

Point Boro scored again late in regulation as Fara scrambled in himself from seven yards out on fourth down with 42 seconds left, but Hillside recovered the ensuing onside kick and walked away with the 20-13 victory and its first state title in 32 years.

Dilcher, a senior, placed second behind Tristan Shelgren of St. John’s Prep (Mass.), with a time of 15:37.0, 0.8 seconds ahead of another Massachusetts runner, Lucas Aramburu, while Hart, only a junior, will also be making the trip to San Diego after placing sixth in 15:42.5, edging out Drew Thompson of Connecticut by 0.1 seconds.

“He’s excited by it,” said Hart’s coach, Kevin Conheeny, about going to San Diego. “Devin’s personality was to go for the win but I tried to tell him if you can count to 10 that’s all you need to do. He was also kind of run out a little bit from three hard races and it was kind of a psychological exhale after the Meet of Champions. So he needed a break mentally and physically from trying to be the winner and I was very pleased he did what he needed to do and didn’t gut it out like he normally does.

“I would love for him to be in the top 20 (at the nationals) but I don’t really know his competition out there. I really feel that he can run with the best kids in the country but it’s going to be a very different format for him. It’s a challenging course and I think there will be a learning curve for all the kids on the course for the first time. So I think a top 20 finish would be respectable for him but he always surprises me and he’s not one to shy away from any competition.”

The top 10 runners of the seeded boys qualified to make the trip for the Nationals at San Diego’s Balboa Park. Hart was one of two nonsenior runners to qualify.

Hart’s sixth-place finish was his only race of the cross country season that he didn’t win. His resume of wins is one, if not the, most impressive in the state.

He placed first in the prestigious Baldwin Park Classic (15:58.5) and the Shore Coaches Invitational (15:57.0) before recording his personal best time of 14:51.0 to win the Ocean County championship distancing himself from Dilcher, who placed second with a time of 15:14.0, by a good 23 seconds.

“He’s an incredibly focused young man both academically and athletically,” Conheeny said of his star harrier. “He has a mission and this has been a culmination of his focus and determination. He’s had a target on his back with everyone trying to knock him off and that’s a big burden for anybody going into competition knowing everyone’s gunning for you. He’s only a junior, so I think that just shows a lot of depth of character to be able to deflect that pressure at that age.”

After Hart’s win in the Ocean County championships Conheeny decided not to race him in the Shore Conference championships the following week.

“He really went for it the week before (Ocean County championships) trying to break the record as well as to make a statement, and after the race he told me his hamstring was tight,” said Conheeny about his decision to hold Hart out of the Shore Conference championships.

“So I gave him the weekend to see how he felt. The next week it was still there and it was definitely tweaked with the possibility of pushing it to the next level, so we shut him down the whole week. He finally pulled the plug on it and agreed with me the Wednesday night before the race to sit out. He was determined to get into that race and I was determined not to get him in. It’s a delicate balance between having an athlete performing at their peak and pushing them over the edge.”

Skipping the Shore Conference championships paid off handsomely as Hart went on to win the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III championship (15:35.5) and the NJSIAA Group III title (15:34.0) before taking home the coveted New Jersey Meet of Champions title with a time of 15:35 beating out second-place finisher Chris Romero of Voorhees by 9.1 seconds.

“The Shore Conference championships are a nice venue, but I hold the philosophy that the races people are going to remember are the state championships and then the Meet of Champions.” Conheeny added. “It always a gamble and you hope you made the right decision for your athlete to get them to the next level. The Meet of Champions is the pinnacle of distance running in New Jersey and this was a statement win for him. Devin’s always about pushing the envelope and as his coach I’m always reminding him it isn’t about the time but the win and entering the legendary category by winning the Meet of Champions. It’s a great

POINT BORO’S DEVIN HART honor for him but it’s also a testimony to his hard work.”

Hart was a 2016 first-team All-Shore selection as a sophomore after placing first in the Thompson Park Class Meet, the South Jersey Open, the Ocean County championships, and the South Jersey Group II title. He also placed second in the Shore Coaches Invitational and the NJSIAA Group II championships and third in the Shore Conference championships.

Dilcher – a 2016 second-team All-Shore selection when he won the Battle of Ocean County (15:53.0) and placed second in the Ocean County championships (15:36.0) and the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III championships – added three wins to his resume in 2017.

He won his second consecutive Battle of Ocean County (15:28.0) then recorded his personal best time in winning the Shore Conference championship (15:02.0) before winning the Central Jersey Group III championship with a time of 15:32.8.

In the NJSIAA Group III championships, Dilcher placed sixth, 20 seconds off the pace. He then ran a 16:28.0 in the Meet of Champions for a disappointing 31st place finish after hanging with Hart for almost two miles into the race before fading.

However, he made up for his disheartening finish in the MOC with his monumental secondplace finish in the Northeast Regionals and a trip to the Nationals.

12/5/17 - 12/18/17 • Jersey Sporting News

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Page 6 Jersey Sporting News • 12/5/17 - 12/18/17

Saint John Vianney Gymnastics Captures First Shore Conference Title

By Lou Monaco

Just a mere three years ago, the Saint John Vianney girls gymnastics program was just starting.

Last season, the team only competed with independent schools.

By John Sorce

This season, it claimed its first-ever Shore Conference and NJSIAA Central Jersey, Section I championships and finished with a No. 2 final state ranking by NJ.com, behind top-ranked Freehold Township.

After compiling a 6-1 regular season, then-7thranked Saint John Vianney edged then-topranked Freehold Township by the narrowest of margins, 112.625-112.225, to capture its firstever Shore Conference title on Oct. 28, and dethroning four-time consecutive champion Red Bank Catholic.

“We have six amazing gymnasts on our team this year and it was our biggest team yet,” said SJV head coach Tracie Vaz, who has been at the helm since the school started the program in 2015 after a 15-year stint at Manalapan and recently was named this year’s Gymnastics Coach of the Year

by NJ.com.

“Kylie Fallon specialized in two events and Sydney Prestup specialized in three events. Four of the girls did all events including juniors Ariana Agrapides and Alex Panetta plus sophomores Grace Costello and Caroline Larkin. Alex, Grace and Ariana's scores counted almost every single time toward our team score. They were very consistent and that made it a lot easier for our team, although each gymnast worked hard and each brought something special to our team. I also had amazing coaches by my side. Kim Cardi-

Mater Dei Denied Title Repeat in Loss to St. Joseph Hammonton

noza and John Poloski both played a huge role in coaching the girls. We could not have done it without them.”

Agrapides earned the individual all-around title (38.425 points) for the Lancers, placing first in balance beam (9.525), and vault (9.825), a second-place showing on uneven bars (9.575), and a fourth-place placing in floor exercises (9.5).

Costello placed sixth in the all-around (37.575), had a first-place finish on the uneven bars (9.625), a fifth-place showing in floor exercises (9.45), and a sixth-place posting on the beam (9.125). Panetta placed eighth on vault (9.5), and had a 12th-place finish on uneven bars (9.225) to help lead the Lancers to the win.

GLASSBORO – In its quest to repeat as NonPublic Group II champions, the Seraphs of Mater Dei fell short against St. Joseph (Hammonton), 30-14, at Richard Wackar Stadium at Rowan University on Sunday afternoon.

The Wildcats struck first five minutes into the first quarter. Qwashin Townsel sprinted 57 yards to take the ball down to the Mater Dei seven-yard line, and Jada Byers scored from a yard out on fourthand-goal. Townsel added the two-point conversion to give St. Joseph an 8-0 lead with 7:00 left in the opening quarter.

into the locker room down, 14-6.

Mater Dei put a drive together to open the second half and went for it on fourth down at the St. Joseph 46-yard line, but the pass was batted down. The Wildcats took over and scored on a 19yard touchdown run by Townsel with 1:06 to play in the third quarter. The two-point conversion was good and St. Joseph extended its lead to 22-6, which it took into the fourth quarter.

Saint John Vianney ended its season with a second-place finish (111.125 points) and the second-best team in the state behind first-place and revenge-minded Freehold Township at the NJSIAA State Team Championships.

St. Joseph found the end zone again early in the second quarter. Runs of 30 yards and 11 yards by Byers set up the Wildcats inside the Seraph five-yard line and Townsel ran it in from three yards out. The two-point conversion was no good, but St. Joseph went up, 14-0, with 9:36 in the first half.

Both teams scored in the final quarter. St. Joseph struck first on a seven-yard run from Byers, who also added the two-point conversion to make it 30-6 Wildcats with 4:22 remaining. Mater Dei scored two minutes later when Pearson found Kyle Devaney for a 10-yard touchdown. Malik Ingram added the two-point conversion, but it would be too little, too late for the Seraphs as St. Joseph celebrated its eighth state championship in nine years.

The best thing about this team heading into the 2018 season: no seniors lost. All the girls will be returning and Vaz hopes to add on some new talent with some incoming freshmen.

Mater Dei got on the board late in the half on a 44-yard touchdown from George Pearson to Gunnison Bloodgood with 27 seconds left. The extra point was no good and the Seraphs went

“At the end of the day, I love my team,” Pearson said. “Not everyone makes it to the state playoffs, especially three times. Mater Dei is going to be a great program. They are on the way up.”

Six days later, the Lancers posted another milestone victory as SJV captured its first NJSIAA/Parisi Speed School Central Jersey, Section 1 title as it recorded 113.325 points to upend yet-again topranked Freehold Township, which placed second (113.025), and then eighth-ranked Marlboro, which rounded out the top three (110.875).

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12/5/17 - 12/18/17 • Jersey Sporting News

Freehold Township Shares NJSIAA Group IV Title for 2nd Time in 3 Years

By Lou Monaco

The Freehold Township girls soccer team will gladly accept the trophy.

Freehold Township, then-No. 2 in the NJ.com Top 20, faced then-No. 3 Ridge for the second time in three years in the NJSIAA Group IV final at Kean University’s Alumni Stadium in Union.

The result was the same in 2017, as it was in 2015 -- A 0-0 tie that resulted in a cochampionship for both teams. Again.

“The game was a great battle. They are an outstanding team who plays a strong, ag-

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP Photos by: Mike Ward

gressive style. They have talent and speed all over the field, but we were prepared for a team of this caliber. We played many of the top teams in the state this year and we were not going to back down to the pressure. We did a very good job between the 18’s of possessing the ball, finding feet and getting numbers up. Our possession didn’t always turn into chances on goal, but that had a lot to do with the defensive job that Ridge did,” said Freehold Township head coach Dave Patterson, who just completed his eighth season at the helm.

“They are well-coached and have a very disciplined defense. Ridge, mainly due to

their style, was able to get some very good chances to score, but our defenders, especially senior Amanda Meinster, and our keeper, Alessia La Rosa, were outstanding and turned away every chance that Ridge got. In the end, it wasn’t exactly what the girls wanted, but we are still state champions and that is a great accomplishment any way you look at it!”

Here is how far they have come as a program – this senior class ended its four-year run with a combined record of 75-12-8 with a share of two Group IV championships, the only two state titles that the program has ever won.

“Winning a second Group IV championship in three years has been a great experience for this program. While we have not always reached our potential, our accomplishments in the last few years have shown that this program is one of the top in the state. When I first took over the program, I looked to the top teams in the state and reached out to some of those coaches to learn from them, to find out what they were doing and what they weren’t doing.

I wanted Freehold Township girls soccer to be listed among the best in the state,” said Patterson, whose squad finished with

a record of 23-1-1, with its only blemish, a 4-2 home setback to Wall on Oct. 26.

“Obviously, to be able to reach that goal, we had to be fortunate enough to have talented and dedicated athletes, and we have been very fortunate to have both of those for this period of time. To win this championship, even though we shared it with Ridge (again), it means that Freehold Township is among the best. It means that our first championship in 2015 was not just a great postseason run, but rather, it means we are a program that knows how to get to the big games and do well once we get there. Obviously, the challenge now is to remain at that level. We are graduating a lot of very talented players; the groups that follow must be ready to step up and maintain the high level of play.”

Senior midfielder and Albany-bound Jada Colbert scored a team-high 25 goals with 11 assists… senior forward and Albanybound Jasmine Colbert added 21 goals with a team-high 18 assists… senior defender Sarah Hughes tallied two goals with seven assists and was the leader of the defensive end… senior midfielder and Montclair State-bound Laura Noseworthy scored 16 goals with eight assists… senior defender and four-year starter Meg Latona dished out seven assists… senior midfielder Paige Farrell had five goals with four assists and was the leader of Freehold Township’s offensive attack…

Moravian-bound Meinster had two assists and was instrumental in the Group IV title game… junior goalkeeper La Rosa recorded 13 shutouts, highlighted by eight saves in the Group IV final.

“What impressed me the most about this team this season was how they were able to turn up their level of play every time we stepped on the field. We had a very difficult schedule, often playing three times a week, but the girls didn’t complain, they

Page 7

relished the opportunity to go out there and show that we are a great team,” said Patterson. “Most teams, even very good ones, have games here and there where the energy is not there, or they have trouble getting the job done. This team, however, didn’t have those lapses. They were ready to go each and every game. The high school season can be grueling, but this team rose to the occasion time and time again.”

Page 8 Jersey Sporting News • 12/5/17 - 12/18/17

EICHENBAUM’S LAST-SECOND GOAL HANDS SHORE REGIONAL THIRD STRAIGHT GROUP TITLE

By Mike Ready

about eight yards out before her left-footed shot found the upper part of the goal for the game winner.

As time was winding down in the second half it looked as though it might be the Ridgers’ day when Lindsay Jaiyesimi scored her third goal of the contest to put Glen Ridge up, 4-2, with 24:41 left in the contest.

SHORE REGIONAL GROUP I CHAMPIONS FOR 3RD STRAIGHT YEAR WEST LONG BRANCH – With Shore Regional trailing, 4-3, in the 77th minute of the NJSIAA Group I championship game, super sophomore Julia Eichenbaum scored the equalizer with 3:09 left on the clock, then with nine seconds remaining in regulation she delivered the game winner to cap off a wild, come-from-behind 5-4 win over Glen Ridge.

The stunning win snatched victory from the jaws of defeat for the Blue Devils and delivered Shore Regional its third straight NJSIAA Group I championship – all coming against Glen Ridge.

However, you can never count the Blue Devils out and it didn’t take them long to pull back within one goal. Junior Frankie McDonough lined up a direct kick on the left side of the field just outside the 18-yard box and bent a 23-yard shot into the far right upper corner to cut the deficit to 4-3 in the 60th minute.

Shore answered right back though, with Birdsall blasting one into the upper corner to tie the game, 1-1, before Jaiyesimi scored backto-back goals in the 21st and 33rd minutes to put the Ridgers back up, 3-1.

Eichenbaum’s equalizer was in similar fashion as her game winner as she battled a number of defenders for the ball before gaining control and unleashing a ground-burner that beat the goalie to her right then followed that up with her heroic game-winner.

The Blue Devils got one back before the half when Birdsall scored her second goal of the half beating the goalie, Vicky Woznick, to the ball following a shot on goal by Eichenbaum that deflected off Woznick’s hands directly into her path.

Shore Regional and Glen Ridge have battled in the Group I final in five of the last six seasons with the Blue Devils now holding a 3-11 advantage.

With the win, Shore also clinched their third consecutive 20-win season and appears in excellent position for another run at the title next season. The Blue Devils started only three seniors in the final and most of the team, including Eichenbaum, Birdsail and McDonough will be back for another go at it.

Glen Ridge opened the scoring taking a 1-0 lead when Tara Feenaghty converted on a penalty kick in the 17th minute.

In the Central Jersey Group I championship game, the fourth-seeded Blue Devils beat No. 3 seed Palmyra, 3-0, for their sixth consecutive sectional title. That gave them the opportunity to play for their third group title in a row, which they ultimately cashed in on.

By Mike Ready

HOLMDEL – The Holmdel Hornets started and finished the season ranked No. 1 in the Shore Conference after their historic run through the postseason stamped them as one of the all-time greats in the annals of Shore Conference boys soccer.

scored six tim twice in ing the final.

The Hornets (22-1-1) put an exclamation point on their season when they defeated Dover, 4-1, for their first group title since 2010 and second in program history.

“Antho group howeve a lot o use,” N is off, what w

But the son wa

HOLMDEL’S

In the NJSIAA Group II semifi#6 JUSTIN MCSTAY Not to nals, Holmdel upset Delran (194-2) – ranked No. 5 in the state Stay ha at the time – 3-1, for its second sectional title in ing with 26 goals and 18 three years and a shot at the state championship.

“He has 26 goals, whic “In July, there was a special feel about this team,” record if Anthony didn’t Holmdel head coach John Nacarlo said. “We carlo said. “But it’s the talked about coming together as a team, and gets overlooked because that’s what we really focused on. And with the talWhat he does defensivel ent, physicality and mental toughness, we’re just balls – he does everything a tough team to beat.” never complains.”

At the start of the season, all the talk was centered on the return of senior Justin McStay, who opted to not play high school soccer last season, and the addition of fellow academy standouts Cyrus Darvish and Matt Leon – both seniors.

Leon added 17 goals an and Darvish 12 goals an senior Mike Neff chipped eight assists, including a in which McStay, Leon an

However, with all the excitement surrounding the team focused on the addition of the talented trio, rising star Anthony Arena was somewhat overlooked.

And that was understandable because no one could’ve ever imagined that Arena would take such a gigantic leap from up-and-coming star to superstar.

Arena set a Shore Conference Tournament record when he scored five goals to lead Holmdel to their first-ever SCT championship – a 7-1 drubbing of Monmouth Regional. His second goal of the game broke the Holmdel High School record for goals scored in a season that stood at 29.

In the Group I final, the Blue Devils had to overcome deficits of 3-1 and 4-2 before storming back in classic fashion to win the game.

Junior Hannah Birdsall set the winning play in motion carrying the ball up the left side of the field before sending a cross into the middle of the 18-yard box where Eichenbaum battled two defenders and gained separation

HOLMDEL BOYS SOCCER COMPL

SHORE REGIONAL Photos by: Arielle Figueredo

He was named the Shore Sports Network Player of the Year after leading the Shore Conference in goals scored (35) and assists (25) and the accolades will keep pouring in as the season-ending awards are announced. The standout junior

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12/5/17 - 12/18/17 • Jersey Sporting News

LETES A SEASON FOR THE AGES

e Hornets success this seaas truly a group effort.

ony struggled a little in the final, but he contributed er he could and we have of other weapons we can Nacarlo said. “If one guy kids step up and that’s we did.”

o be overshadowed, Mcad a monster year finish8 assists.

ch would be the school score 35 this year,” Naother stuff he does that e he scores a ton of goals. ly, on free kicks, winning g you need to win and he

nd 14 assists this season nd six assists while fellow d in with nine goals and a goal in the group final nd senior Joe Arena also

Long Branch Stuns Freehold Boro in Instant Classic Central Group IV Title Game

By John Sorce PISCATAWAY – For the first time since 1999, the Long Branch Green Wave can call themselves state champions as they edged Freehold Boro, 43-42, in an overtime thriller at High Point Solutions Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

d three goals in a game mes this season including n the postseason include SCT final and sectional

scored with Anthony Arena assisting on one goal.

In their 3-1 semifinal win versus Delran, Anthony Arena, Leon and McStay all scored.

McStay, Neff, Joe Arena and senior Torre Avitable were all starters on the 2015 team that reached the Group II final before losing to Garfield, 2-1.

In that game, the Hornets took a 1-0 lead into the final three minutes, only to see it disappear over the final 2:30 in a devastating loss.

So you can see how gratifying winning the state championship this season must be, not only for these four, but for the entire squad that had that loss hanging over the program’s head.

In the final NJ.com boys soccer Top 20 the Hornets ended the season ranked fourth in the state for their highest state ranking since 2010 when they also finished ranked No. 4.

UP II STATE CHAMPIONSHIP Smith

Page 9

Long Branch won the overtime toss and elected to defer. Freehold senior Ashante Worthy scored his sixth rushing touchdown of the game to give them a seven-point lead.

But the Green Wave answered with a six-yard touchdown pass from Juwan Wilkins to Pasa Fields, and then Wilkins found Elijah Sherin for the title-clinching two-point conversion.

and senior Juwan Wilkins connected with a wide open junior Matt Clark down the right sideline for a 22-yard score. The two teams entered the locker room tied at 21.

LONG BRANCH GROUP IV STATE CHAMPS Photos by: Tom Smith

“Football in Long Branch is alive and well,” Long Branch head coach Dan George said. “We’re doing the right things. We’re winning football games. Now we’re winning championships.”

Worthy followed a 31-yard run with a one-yard score to open the scoring and give the Colonials a 7-0 lead with 6:18 in the first quarter. Sophomore Jermaine Corbett got the Green Wave on the board late in the opening quarter with a twoyard score with 54 seconds left, tying the game at seven.

scramble to the left pylon for a score that ended with a leap into the end zone tying the game at 14 with 3:39 remaining. Another fumble recovery by Krauss set up the Freehold offense at the nine-yard line and a two-yard score from Worthy gave Freehold a 21-14 lead with 2:54 in the opening half.

Long Branch put together a scoring drive to tie the game in the final seconds of the first half,

Corbett found the end zone a second time on a run to the left, untouched, for 29 yards to give the Green Wave a 14-7 lead with 9:21 left in the first half.

But Long Branch responded with a seven-yard touchdown reception by Kaymar Mimes early in the fourth quarter, cutting the Freehold lead to 35-28. Late in the quarter, the Green Wave took advantage of three Freehold penalties and Wilkins punched it in himself from a yard out, tying the game at 35 with 1:07 in regulation and ultimately forcing overtime.

Wilkins finished 18-25 for 260 yards and three touchdowns passing and recorded a rushing touchdown. TJ Fosque, who will attend Monmouth University next season, led the Green Wave with 8 catches for 88 yards, and Corbett ran for 152 yards and two scores on 29 carries.

Worthy put together arguably the greatest single season in New Jersey football history. He ended this game with 271 yards rushing and six touchdowns, plus 141 yards through the air. He broke single-season records for rushing yards (2,860), total touchdowns (61) and total yards (4,966).

But Worthy took over for the rest of the half after Freehold junior Matt Krauss recovered a fumble, capping the ensuing drive with a six-yard

LONG BRANCH’S #3 JERMAINE CORBETT

Freehold struck first out of the locker room as Worthy’s fourth rushing touchdown gave the Colonials a 28-21 lead with 6:34 in the third quarter. They added to that on a five-yard scamper from Worthy which was set up after he connected with Krauss for a 29-yard gain, giving Freehold a 35-21 lead with 3:15 in the third quarter.

LONG BRANCH CELEBRATION

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Page 10 Jersey Sporting News • 12/5/17 - 12/18/17

Successful Season for Holmdel Girls, Boys Cross Country Point Pleasant Beach Falls to Middlesex

By John Sorce in Central Group I Championship

By John Sorce

PT. BEACH’S #8 JOHN NISTA HOLMDEL’S BOYS AND GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY HOLMDEL – Many Holmdel programs saw great deals of success in 2017, and the cross country teams were no different.

In cross country, everyone makes the state sectional meet, where teams have to place in the top five to go on to the state group meet. There, you have to finish top three to move onto the New Jersey Meet of Champions.

Both Holmdel boys and girls qualified for the sectional meet after finishing second in Central Group II. The girls placed third and moved onto the Meet of Champions where they placed 13th in the state.

They came a long way in just three years under third-year head coach Damon Godfrey.

“Our progression over the last three years on the girls’ side has been awesome. In

a three-year period, we went from eighth in Central Group II not even making the group meet to three years later coming in 13th in the entire state with five sophomores,” Godfrey said. “The fact that we bring everybody back the next two years, there’s a lot of excitement around the program right now.”

The number one runner for the girls is sophomore Emily Levonas, who had an outstanding freshman year a season ago.

She qualified for group championship and finished 15th in the state in the 3200 in indoor track as a freshman, and also qualified for the Meet of Champions outdoors. She finished 12th this year at the Shore Conference meet, and fourth at the Central Group II meet.

The Holmdel boys were led this season by seniors Jake Snodgrass, Andrew Cruz, and Ean Jaffe. They did not qualify for the Meet of Champions, but Holmdel was the only Shore Conference team to have both boys and girls place in the top four in the Group Championships.

programs. He wanted to give recognition to his two assistant coaches, Maggie Hanlon and Chelsea Crowley, who have been vital to the teams’ success this season.

“My assistants this year were both great,” Godfrey said. “There’s only a few Shore Conference teams where there’s only one head coach for the boys and girls.

They’re both former runners and they did an awesome job, especially with the girls program. I feel like they had a big hand in their success. I try my best to relate to them on a lot of levels but it’s easier for a girl coach to get through to them with some things better than I can. Having Maggie and Chelsea on the staff this year was definitely a big help and we wouldn’t have done as well as we did this season without them.”

UNION – After winning just one game a season ago, the Middlesex Blue Jays capped off a historic season with the Central Group I championship in a 33-21 victory over Point Pleasant Beach at Kean Alumni Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Middlesex received the opening kickoff and scored on the game’s opening possession as Anthony Mason gave the Blue Jays a 7-0 lead on a 35-yard touchdown run with 8:34 in the first quarter.

The Blue Jays took that lead into the second quarter, but it did not last long as Point Beach had fourth-and-goal at the oneyard line and Luke Frauenheim delivered with a one-yard keeper to tie the game at seven, just five seconds into the second quarter, to cap a 17-play, 80 yard drive.

Middlesex took the lead back on a oneyard run from John Kressbach. The extra point was no good, and Middlesex took a 13-7 lead with 4:36 left in the first half.

Josh Ramirez added to that lead on a 21yard scamper to the left with 34 seconds remaining. The two-point attempt was stopped, but Middlesex took a 19-7 lead into the locker room.

PT. BEACH’S #3 JOSH YATES Point Beach responded out of the intermission as Frauenheim connected with Josh Yates from four yards out, cutting the deficit to 19-14 with 6:11 left in the third quarter.

But Middlesex answered right back with an electric 60-yard touchdown pass from Kressbach to Zach Godfrey. Mason converted the two-point conversion, and the Blue Jays took a 27-14 lead with 5:05 left in the third quarter.

Middlesex took that lead into the fourth quarter, when Point Beach’s John Nista ran up the middle and pushed the pile for a four-yard score, cutting the Middlesex lead to 27-21 with 8:40 left. But Tom Rau sealed the deal for Middlesex with a five-yard rumble up the middle, giving them a 33-21 lead with 3:45 remaining and ultimately the title.

“We told the kids that when you are playing this time of the year, you are either going to go home happy or sad,” Point Beach head coach John Wagner said. “This is a disappointing end, but my hat is off to our seniors. I thought they played great.”

“The boys just missed making the Meet of Champions, we finished second in Central Group II and fourth in all of Group II,” Godfrey said. “The boys were division champions and they won the Randolph Invitational earlier in the year. They won the Fall Classic Invitational as did the girls. The boys had an excellent season as well.”

HOLMDEL’S JAKE SNODGRASS

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MIDDLESEX GROUP I STATE CHAMPIONS Photos by: Arielle Figueredo

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12/5/17 - 12/18/17 • Jersey Sporting News

Page 11

Page 12 Jersey Sporting News • 12/5/17 - 12/18/17

Tori Hyduke - George Washington University - Basketball Stephen Edler - University of Richmond - Lacrosse Wyatt Feinberg - Haverford College - Lacrosse Billy Garavente - Chestnut Hill College - Lacrosse Lily Bedell - Lafayette College - Lacrosse Gillian Curran - Elon University - Lacrosse Megan MacGillis - Vanderbilt University - Lacrosse Grace Reid – Merrimack College - Lacrosse Emily Worobel - Indiana University - Crew Lily Croddick - Stanford University - Field Hockey Kaitlyn MacGillis - Cornell University - Field Hockey

Dakota Fiedler Charleston Southern University Soccer

Carl Bullock III Misericordia University Volleyball

Milena Wilton - University of Hartford - Softball Tyler Ras - University of Alabama - Baseball Garrett French - Rutgers University - Baseball Nicole Gasser - Monmouth University - Tennis

Matthew Gets Sacred Heart University Fencing

Gianna Gomez East Stroudsburg University Track and Field

Meghan Schienvar Florida Gulf Coast University Swimming

Erin Shields - Merrimack College - Lacrosse

Dylan Breen - Georgian Court High Jump, Long Jump & Triple Jump

Joseph Sprake - Elon University - Baseball Matthew Lepine - Providence College - Track and Field and Cross Country Madison Brand - Michigan - Cross Country Olivia Buthorn - St. Leo University - Lacrosse

Melissa Astarita - Penn State – Gymnastics Justin LeVito - Sarced Heart University – Baseball Madison Euffer - Canasius - Swimming

Tom Ruscitti FDU-Teaneck Baseball

Katie Rice - Lehigh University - Basketball Rose Caverly - University of Vermont - Basketball Blaise Panzini - United States Military Academy - Baseball Kristen Pezzullo - University of Louisville - Lacrosse Hayley Moore - Binghamton University - Basketball Lily Salcedo - Lehigh University - Lacrosse Carly Friend - Lehigh University - Track Alexandra Cucich - University of New Hampshire - Gymnastics Taylor Lane - Syracuse University - Softball Gabrielle Ciancio - Seton Hall University - Softball Nicolette DiPrisco - Northern Illinois University - Gymnastics Allison Tomaino - Bryant University - Softball

Alexa Mavica - Stevens Institute of Technology - Lacrosse Lindsey Baron - Monmouth University - Softball Madison Doring - American University - Basketball Sarah Furch - United States Military Academy West Point - Basketball Antonia Pacillo - Misericordia University - Softball

Mike McIntyre Monmouth University Lacrosse

Katlin Conroy - Rider University - Field Hockey

Anthony Galason - Elon University - Baseball Maggie Diebold - Central Michigan University - Lacrosse Anthony Sasso - Furman University - Baseball

Salvatore Monticciolo Fairleigh Dickinson University Metro Campus - Baseball

YOU SEE A STRONGER SOLUTION. WE SEE A STRONGER LEADER.

Ryan Ford - Penn State - Baseball Veronica Sowinski - Iona - Swimming Cai Martin - Ohio State - Lacrosse Elena Andreyev - LIU-Brooklyn - Field Hockey (Not Pictured)

Mary Kate George - Ohio State - Lacrosse Max Walther - Princeton - Swimming Abey Kopec - Ohio State - Field Hockey

JSN would like to congratulate all NLI signees. We at JSN are very proud of all the students, academically and athletically, in the Shore Conference.

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Richie Bianchi - Monmouth University - Lacrosse Emma Vasen - Yale - Softball Jake Benner - Rutgers University - Wrestling

12/5/17 - 12/18/17 • Jersey Sporting News

Page 13

REINHARDT’S GOLDEN GOAL HANDS WALL GIRLS SOCCER GROUP II CHAMPIONSHIP

By Mike Ready

WALL – The Crimson Knights needed 90 minutes to complete the job but in the end they emerged as the NJSIAA Group II champions defeating Westwood, 4-3, in overtime.

The win clinched Wall’s first-ever outright state title after finishing as co-champions last season when they battled Northern Highlands to a 0-0 double-overtime tie in the NJSIAA Group III final.

Prior to their group title, the Crimson Knights (24-1-2) beat second-seeded Steinert, 4-0, to win their second straight sectional title after not having won one since 1998.

Senior defender Hailee Reinhardt sent a free kick in from 40-yards out for the golden goal when her shot deflected off a defender’s head and into the net for

the game winner with 20 seconds left in the first overtime period.

wood foul gave them a free kick in the 89th minute.

“Right before the overtime, they were talking about it and they brought up the possibility of being co-champions (again),” Wall girls soccer coach Michael Juska said. “And after last year, we weren’t so happy being co-champions.

This group didn’t want to do that again.”

Reinhardt then sent a rocket into the middle of the 18-yard box that went off the head of a leaping Westwood defender and into her own net.

Wall appeared ready to cruise to the title going up, 2-0, early in the first half.

Senior midfielder Sara Gordon put Wall on the board first with a goal in the fifth minute, tapping in a rebound off a shot by senior midfielder Lauren Karabin that goalie Camryn Collova failed to cover up for a 1-0 lead.

Senior Jenna Karabin – Lauren’s twin sister – then controlled a corner kick from senior Jaimie Iorio before slamming it home for 2-0 lead 11 minutes later.

Jenna Karabin has been a godsend for the Knights after star forward Amy Paternoster was lost for the season with a foot injury on Oct. 19 missing the playoffs. When Paternoster went down, Karabin stepped in as Wall’s top offensive option and finished with 14 goals in Wall’s final nine games.

Paternoster still finished second on the team in goals (29) and assists (20) while Jenna Karabin led the team with 30 goals and added 13 assists.

WALL’S LAUREN KARABIN

Westwood wasn’t about to lie down though, as they scored three unan-

“They fought today like they did all year,” Juska said. “It’s been a great group of girls, especially leaders like Amy and Maggie (Wishart). I’m going to be very sad losing them but I’m thrilled they’re leaving as champions.”

WALL’S MEGAN CORBRAN swered goals over a span of 24 minutes to take a 3-2 lead with 33 minutes left in regulation. Westwood’s third goal came on its third shot of the game, scoring on all three shots they took up to that point of the game.

Their Group II title capped a memorable four years for Wall’s group of 12 seniors on the roster. During those four seasons, Wall won three division titles, two Shore Conference Tournament championships and two overall group championships while posting a combined record of

83-12-4 including back-to-back 24-win seasons.

Just prior to the game, Wall was voted the No. 1 team in the NJ.com Top 20 poll and with the win should hold on to that ranking when the final top 20 is released.

Reeling from Westwood’s flurry of goals and seeing the game slipping away, Gordon came to the rescue in the 60th minute. Taking a cross from Lauren Karabin, Gordon controlled the ball with her left leg before her right legged boot beat a diving Collova to her right for the equalizer.

Wall continued to create offensive pressure into the overtime period but couldn’t find the back of the net, failing to score on a number of set pieces until a West-

WALL GROUP II STATE CHAMPIONS Photos by: Arielle Figueredo

Middletown South’s First State Final in 17 Years Raises Expectations in 2018

By Lou Monaco

With 10 returning starters to this season’s squad and a great state tournament run to reach its first NJSIAA Group III final in 17 years, the Middletown South girls soccer team gave its fans and supporters something to look forward to in 2018.

After upsetting and upending Northern Highlands (who was unbeaten and then-ranked No. 1 in the NJ.com Top 20 rankings), 1-0, in the Group III semifinals at Livingston High School, the Eagles (14-6-5) late-season run came to an end with a 2-1 loss to then-ranked No. 12 Allentown (22-1) in the Group III final at Kean University’s Alumni Stadium in Union on Nov. 18.

After trailing 1-0 at halftime, senior midfielder/forward Christina Sundt scored from 25 yards out off an assist from junior back Emily McCarthy to tie the game at 1-1 in the 53rd minute.

Allentown scored the game-winner 16 minutes later and the Eagles’ season came to an end, losing for just the first

MIDDLETOWN SOUTH’S #22 EMILY MCCARTHY

time (4-1-1) in its last six games to end the season.

“Going into the postseason, the girls knew they had a chance at something big, as they were aware of the quality of play they were capable of (i.e. tying Wall, 1-1, on Sept. 28), and with every game they played and won, the more confidence that they gained, and with that, the better they played. While the girls hoped to have as much success as they did, they were unsure of what to expect and humbled by the entire experience,” said Middletown South girls soccer coach Megan Barry, who just completed her third season at the helm. “The girls loved and appreciated each opportunity to play in the postseason, and they were so proud of their accomplishments that with every win they charged the field with tears in their eyes. They could really feel that they were doing something special and extraordinary for the program and the school, and they didn't want to let it go.

“This feeling caused them to play a fantastic game in the final against Allentown. The girls went into their tackles with everything they had, knowing Allentown is a strong, aggressive team, and they played a great possession game, knowing that we are most dangerous when we play as a unit,” Barry continued. “Unfortunately, we were not able to get the result that we had hoped for, but each girl knew that we left it all on the field. There were no regrets walking off that day, only pride in what we did accomplish and sadness that this special season was over. If we could go back and relive it all, both wins and losses, I'm sure we would all agree that we would.”

The Eagles were making the program’s first state final appearance since a tie with Cranford in 2000.

ing – physically, mentally, and emotionally – when they showed up. This team really started to play for one another and it became one of the best motivators of all. In the state tournament, everyone was refusing to lose because they didn't want their season to end, they wanted to see each other succeed, and to have a title for their seniors, for the program, and for the school. It was an amazing thing to be a part of.”

MIDDLETOWN SOUTH’S #14 GRACE MASSELL “Thinking about the season as a whole, it is amazing the progress that the team made throughout. We began the season with a few hard losses, but the way that the girls responded was amazing.

It lit a fire in them that caused them to start playing with ferocity. After those first few games, we went on a 10-game streak (7-0-3) of no losses. Some opponents even mentioned that we were ‘a totally different team’ than the first few games. In addition to the change in attitude, something else that contributed to our turnaround was that they started to recognize the fantastic camaraderie that they have,” continued Barry. “Being that we only lost one senior last year, we came back with almost the same team.

This allowed us to build on the bonds that we had already created and the foundations of last season and really move forward with our level of play. Most importantly though, the girls impressed me with their passion for the game and the amount of fun they have together.

They really created an atmosphere that made everyone not only want to come, but to also give every ounce of their be-

Rider-bound goalkeeper and two-time co-captain senior Gabrielle Cook (165 saves) recorded nine shutouts, including two in the state tourney, this season… Kean-bound senior forward Grace Massell was the team’s leading scorer (15 goals w/four assists)... University of Chicagobound senior midfielder and two-time co-captain Rachael Hutson led the team with 11 assists. Sophomore forward Emma Laudisi posted 13 goals with nine assists and scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 road victory over Mendham in the NJSIAA, North Jersey, Section 2, Group III sectional quarterfinals on Nov. 2; tallied three goals, including the game-winner, in a 4-3 triumph

at Somerville in the sectional semifinals on Nov. 6; and assisted on the gamewinning goal in the 1-0 upset of thentop-ranked Northern Highlands in the Group semifinals on Nov. 14. McCarthy and sophomores Filomena DeGregorio and Lindsay Thompson also provided significant contributions throughout the season and will be expected to do more next year.

“Each year I have been so privileged and honored to have a group of girls who have great character and who are coachable, fun, hard-working, and respectful. We have been working hard at playing as a unit not only tactically, but also with the right mindset -- one that is confident and determined,” said Barry, whose team finished with an 8-1-2 home record. “It really started to show as we moved through the season and even more so when the girls started believing in themselves as much as the coaching staff always has. When they started realizing they could really go the distance in the postseason, the way they were playing became that much more impressive.”

MIDDLETOWN SOUTH’S #15 LUCIANNA POWELL Photos by: Mike Ward

Page 14 Jersey Sporting News • 12/5/17 - 12/18/17

On the Sport in Which I Found a Home

By Alexis Kelly

By John Sorce

It turns out that teamwork, friendship, loyalty, and random acts of kindness can have unfathomable impacts on people. It can inspire, change perspective, and reassert one's belief in themself. I discovered all this in gymnastics, through the people therein and experiences I shared with them. Gymnastics gave me direction when I was lost. It taught me to prevail in the face of fear. It taught me that life is about more than being the best; it's about learning from failures and challenging oneself to remain positive, despite difficult situations.

HOLMDEL – Not many programs are able to graduate a senior class that won the Shore Conference Tournament and had a chance to win the Tournament of Champions all four years.

Such was the case for the Holmdel girls tennis program.

“I told them after we lost to Millburn they have to realize as disappointing as it was in the moment, there’s not many teams in any sport that get to win group championships four years in a row and get to this point four times,” Holmdel head coach Chuck Chelednik said. “It was also the first team in school history, in any sport, to win four group championships, so it’s a pretty big deal and it’s a testament to these seniors.”

Growing up in gymnastics, I've always known fear to be one of life's greatest challenges.

I've grappled with skills and mental blocks, yet the biggest fear I faced was when my dad was diagnosed with brain cancer. I was nine and understood only that my world was falling apart. I was scared. When I finally broke down at practice, my coach, Marisa, hugged me as I cried; she told me what I desperately needed to hear: it'll be okay. I had a team who'd help me through.

When my dad's cancer returned sophomore year, all the insecurities, all the fears I'd fought to put behind me overtook me.

When, after a meet, my parents were held up at the hospital, my team's captain, Olivia, rather than offering me a ride, asked if I was alright. I wasn't and, in her asking, I'd found the courage to admit it. She'd told me about dealing with her own issues and taught me that I wasn't alone. We talked for hours, I cried, laughed, and, in the end, she drove me home. I, again, found stability in gymnastics -in teammates and coaches. Gymnastics gave me people to rely on and hope.

High school gymnastics, in particular, has given me a new perspective on what life is about.

In cheering on, not only my own teammates, but also those from other teams, with nothing other than the earnest hope that they do their best, I've realized life mustn't always be a competition of survival of the fittest. It's possible to be competitive and still want the best for others, still see the best in others. In high school gymnastics, I discovered that being a good person -- a good teammate and leader -- is

Holmdel Girls Tennis Tournament of Champions Runners-Up for Fourth Straight Year

Holmdel has won the Shore Conference each year since 2014 and has raised expectations with their annual success. But Chelednik felt the team might take a step back this season after graduating key seniors after last season.

ALEXIS KELLY essential to being a good gymnast. In having team spirit, win or loss, I'm able to fully enjoy the sport I fell in love with so long ago.

Today, as team captain, I take care to include everyone, especially underclassmen. Life is full of overwhelming anxieties, but gymnastics needn't be one of them. I strive to be someone to whom my teammates can turn for support, be it in or outside the gym. In gymnastics I found hope, numerous life lessons, and people to love. I found personal values, unforgettable experiences, and a place where, despite fears of skills, the one thing I need never fear is being alone. In gymnastics I found a home. In gymnastics I found the courage to overcome fear.

The team responded by going 16-0 in Central Group II and getting right back to where they were each of the last three seasons.

“We graduated three starters the year before, but we’ve been very fortunate to have a lot of depth these last few years,” Chelednik said. “We were bringing a core back, and we had a lot of them step up this year. It was a little bit of a surprise getting back to where we did, because last year’s two and three moved up to one and two and we

HOLMDEL’S GIRLS TENNIS

had a lot of girls move up and get better, which is a testament to them.

“We have a lot of depth and that’s a testament to some of our upperclassmen sticking it out and staying with the program and them getting their chance to play. Alice Lai was one of the seniors on the team this year and was a starter for the first time, even though she was good enough to start on many other teams in the Shore Conference the previous three years. She got her time this year as a senior and made it count. The number of players and the depth has really been the key to our success.”

The team is graduating eight seniors this year, including four starters. Two of them, Alexandra Wojciak and Rita Vought, have been starters all four years, and have been “the rock of our success,” as Chelednik put it.

In tennis, doubles is what matters most in competitive matches. Chelednik noted most top teams will have strong singles players, but the game will usually come down to who has the advantage in doubles, as it has the past two years for Holmdel against Millburn in the Tournament of Champions final.

“Against Millburn last year, we lost, 3-2, and it came down to doubles,” Chelednik said. “We lost a close second-doubles match and we lost firstdoubles where we were and lost in the third set.

Almost every year with Millburn in the state finals, it’s always come down to doubles and it did again this year. We lost, 4-1. We did get a singles point, so we needed two doubles points and neither one came through, but they have crazy talent and depth, too.”

12/5/17 - 12/18/17 • Jersey Sporting News

Page 15

MANALAPAN’S POTENTIALLY HISTORIC SEASON COMES TO A CRASHING HALT IN HEARTBREAKING LOSS

By Mike Ready

Not to be denied, the top-seeded Braves almost pulled off the miracle of all miracles but as fate would have it, it was not to be.

With the odds stacked against them, the Manalapan offense took over at the 20-yard line with 49 seconds left in the game.

MANALAPAN’S #35 CHRIS MAKSIMIK PISCATAWAY – Manalapan rode its defense to an 11-0 record and a trip to the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV final this season but when they were counted on most it was the defense that let them down.

Clinging to a 14-12 lead with 3:55 remaining in the game, second-seeded South Brunswick was pinned back at their own eight-yard line following a Manalapan punt.

The Vikings (11-1) then proceeded to march 92 yards in 11 plays to take a 18-14 lead when senior quarterback Felix Quinones found senior Jaylon Lawson open on a 17-yard post pattern for the score.

The speedy Lawson was isolated on a linebacker allowing him to gain separation and Quinones put the ball on the money.

“I saw the Manalapan guys run out to cover him,” Quinones said of the play. “I looked and saw Jaylon in the slot and I knew I had to put it in on the spot.”

Quinones’ pass into the end zone on a two-point conversion attempt was intercepted by Chris Pisano giving the Braves (11-1) the ball at the 20 and one last-gasp with 49 seconds remaining in the game.

Senior quarterback Luke Corcione found senior wide receiver Scott Scherzer on back-to-back completions and a defensive holding penalty gave the Braves a first down at the South Brunswick 49 with 32 seconds to play.

Corcione then hit wide receiver Symir Blacknall for 20 yards and a first down at the 29-yard line with 10 seconds remaining.

It was “Pandemonium in Piscataway II” as fans on both sides of the stadium were now going berserk as they made their way to the line of scrimmage.

Corcione faded back to pass and spotted star running back Naim Mayfield open in the back of the end zone before lofting a perfect pass that Mayfield gobbled up for what appeared to be the winning touchdown and a fairy tale ending to Manalapan’s perfect season.

But hold on, incredibly, Mayfield was whistled for pushing off the defender to gain separation and the touchdown was nullified.

“I’m not going to complain about the call, but I thought Naim made a great adjustment on the ball,” Manalapan head coach Ed Gurrieri said when asked about the push-off call. “I’m not going to cry over spilled milk, they made the plays and we didn’t. Naim made a great adjustment on the ball. He high pointed and he turned his body. He came back and caught the ball. Whether it was a push-off or not, I don’t know.”

Manalapan scored on the opening possession of the game going 73 yards in nine plays to take a 7-0 lead on Mayfield’s 34-yard touchdown run. Mayfield took a handoff from Corcione before breaking it to the outside and outrunning the nearest defender down the right sideline for the score.

On the drive, Corcione connected with Scherzer for six and 12 yards with the latter going for a first down on third-and-7 at the South Brunswick 46 setting up Mayfield’s TD run on the next play.

On South Brunswick’s ensuing possession, Quinones completed a 32-yard pass to Justin Shorter on second-and-8 from their own 32 giving them a first down at the Manalapan 36-yard line. Senior defensive end Da-Shon Taylor then brought Quinones down for a five-yard sack before a six-yard run by Shorter and two incompletions, the latter coming on fourth-and-9 from the 35, turned the ball back over to the Braves.

Manalapan then went three-and-out and punted with South Brunswick taking over at their own 28. Three plays netted three yards after a false start and the Vikings were forced to punt on fourth-and-seven from the 31.

Mike Slover’s 29-yard punt was fielded by Mayfield at the near hash marks around the Manalapan 40-yard line and he raced untouched down the right sideline for a 60-yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead after David Gelb’s PAT. But that was all the scoring Manalapan’s offense would produce the rest of the day as South Brunswick scored three unanswered touchdowns.

Following Mayfield’s punt return, the Vikings answered right back putting together an 11-play, 85-

Corcione’s last ditch “Hail Mary” fell incomplete and Manalapan’s dream of going undefeated with a state championship vanished as quickly as the official flag disappeared into his pocket.

“We talked about being where we wanted to be,” said Quinones, who threw for 179 yards and three touchdowns along with picking up another 41 yards on the ground. “We fought all season long just to be in this moment.”

It was the Braves’ seventh sectional final appearance, including their sixth in the last seven years; however, their only sectional title came in 2014 when they beat South Brunswick, 21-7, in the Central Jersey Group V final.

MANALAPAN’S #5 NAIM MAYFIELD Photos by: Tom Smith

MANALAPAN’S #15 SCOTT SCHERZER yard scoring drive with Quinones connecting with Dylan Kriz for a 14-yard score. The two-point attempt failed and the score stood, 14-6.

The Braves took over at their own 33 and managed to advance to the Viking 33 but on fourth-and-15 in punt formation the ball was snapped over Gelb’s head and South Brunswick took over at the Braves 33.

Seven plays later Shorter hauled in a 10-yard Quinones pass for a touchdown and the Viking pulled within 14-12 with 17 seconds left in the half after another failed two-point conversion attempt.

Manalapan then held onto the lead until that fateful South Brunswick touchdown drive that put them ahead for good.

“Nobody has defensed us like that since last year in the final,” Gurrieri said. “When we were in our double tight formation, we couldn’t even pop anything all day. Hopefully we’re back next year.”

Page 16 Jersey Sporting News • 12/5/17 - 12/18/17