SJ sportsweekly 060519

INsIdE ThIs IssuE Meet Moorestown’s two-time state champ

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‘You need to play for them’ After losing key starters McKenzie Blake and Elise Fiannaca to season-ending knee injuries, the Bulldawgs rallied around their two teammates

By MIKE MONOSTRA Sports Editor

Haddonfield girls lacrosse defeated Seneca, 17-11, on April 26, but the team suffered two big losses in the victory.

In a span of a couple hours, the Bulldawgs’ leading goal scorer at the time, sophomore McKenzie Blake, and one of the team’s top defenders, Elise Fiannaca, both went down with season-ending knee injuries. The injuries forced Haddonfield to make a bunch of lineup changes and adjustments just as the team was entering the final stretch of the regular season.

“We had a long talk after it all happened,” senior Gabi Connor. “We knew we just had to come out strong, play our own role and play for them.”

After stumbling in their first week without their teammates, the Bulldawgs rallied down the stretch. The Bulldawgs

MIkE MoNoSTRA/South Jersey Sports Weekly Haddonfield’s McKenzie blake and elise fiannaca look on as their teammates warm up prior to last Thursday’s nJSiAA Group 2 state semifinal game. both blake and fiannaca stayed heavily involved with the team after they both suffered ACl tears in a game against Seneca in late April. won nine consecutive games to finish May, cruised to a third straight South Jersey Group 2 title and punched their ticket to a third straight NJSIAA Group 2 state championship game with a win

over Manasquan in the state semifinals last Thursday.

Head coach Jessica Blake called the knee injuries to McKenzie and Fiannaca a “big stroke of bad luck.” However,

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she talked to her senior leaders after the Seneca game about how the team still had the talent to make 2019 special.

“There’s so many seniors and they please see DAWGS, page 5

sOuTh JErsEY sPOrTs wEEkLY

POwEr

POLL!

1. Moorestown Girls Lacrosse

The Quakers were dominant in an 18-5 win over Notre Dame to advance to the NJSIAA Group 3 state championship game for the ninth straight year. (Previous: 3)

2. Williamstown Boys Golf

The Braves brought home one last piece of hardware on May 23 by winning the Gloucester County Tournament team title. (1)

3. Cherry Hill East Boys Tennis

The Cougars suffered their only loss of the season in the NJSIAA Group 4 state semifinals against top-ranked Montgomery on May 22. (2)

4. Haddonfield Girls Lacrosse

Victory over Manasquan last Thursday was the Bulldawgs ninth in a row and put them in the NJSIAA Group 2 state finals for the third straight year. (6)

5. Moorestown Boys Golf

Not only did the team win the NJSIAA Group 3 state championship, but the Quakers finished their season with a perfect 16-0 record in regular season matches. (4)

6. Moorestown Boys Lacrosse

Win over Shawnee on May 25 gave Moorestown its 12th South Jersey Group 3 title in the 13 years since sectional playoffs began for boys lacrosse. (NR)

7. Delran Softball

Strong pitching from junior Lindsey Cramer lifted the Bears to their first sectional championship since 1995. (NR)

8. Winslow Girls Track

The Eagles won their seventh straight South Jersey Group 3 title in dominant fashion, outscoring second place Timber Creek by 52 points at sectionals. (NR)

9. Deptford Boys Track

A 46-year drought was snapped at the South Jersey Group 2 sectional meet as the Spartans won their first team title in the spring season since 1973. (NR)

10. Eastern Girls Lacrosse

A thrilling 9-8 win over Princeton in last Thursday’s NJSIAA Group 4 state semifinal put the Vikings in a state championship game for just the second time in program history. (NR)

GaMEs TO waTCh

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SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY — JUNE 5-11, 2019

sOFTBaLL

Heads held high Shawnee lost in the sectional championship, but its seniors succeeded in flipping the script on what was supposed to be a rebuilding season

By RYAN LAWRENCE Sports Editor

Three months ago, there weren’t any real expectations.

Shawnee High School’s softball team was going to try to fill the void of Kayla Pagano, a fouryear varsity player who did the bulk of the pitching during her career, and hope the only two starters returning to their positions on the diamond, shortstop Madison McGehrin and catcher Samantha Volpe, would come together with fellow senior Julia Cooker, to provide leader-

Wednesday, June 5

Baseball: Non-Public State Championships Game 4 and 7 p.m. at Veterans Park in Hamilton Township

RYAN LAWRENCE/South Jersey Sports Weekly Shawnee coach Paula escudero, in her 20th season coaching the renegades, meets with her infield during the sectional championship game.

ship to a young team, a group that long-time head coach Paula Escudero labeled as “rebuilding” on the preseason information sheet she sent to local media members.

To envision back in March that her Renegades team would host a South Jersey Group 4 championship game? It wasn’t in their wildest dreams.

“I would have laughed at you,” Escudero said.

But here they were. Shawnee’s season wasn’t so much rebuilding as it was reinvigorat-

Friday, June 7

Softball: Tournament of Champions Finals 7:30 p.m. at Seton Hall University – Ivy Hill Park

ing, showing that a little hard work and a lot of heart can pave the way to unexpected success.

When the 2019 South Jersey Group 4 title game came to an end – Kingsway Regional stunned the home team with seven runs in the opening inning en route to a 13-3 victory – it wasn’t the final score that stung as the Renegades gathered for the final time in left field for a post-game meeting, but the reality that the season they had put together and their softball careers were coming to

Saturday, June 8

Baseball: Public State Championships Games at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Veterans Park in Hamilton Township

Saturday, June 8

an end.

“We came into this season and we really didn’t know what to expect,” Cooker said. “We had a really young team. But we built up from the bottom. We played with a lot of heart this year and you really just have to cherish the moments you have.

It goes by fast.”

“Coming from the beginning of the season,” added McGehrin, “we were a brand new team with a bunch of underclassmen starting. Honestly, we were the please see reneGADeS, page 8

Boys and Girls Lacrosse: Tournament of Champions Finals Girls ToC final at 5 p.m., boys ToC final at 7:30 p.m. at kean University

Saturday, June 8

Track and Field: NJSIAA Meet of Champions 2 p.m. at Northern Burlington County Regional High School

JUNE 5-11, 2019 – SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY

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Shawnee senior Madison McGehrin pats freshman lauren Petitt on the helmet Shawnee senior shortstop Madison McGehrin Shawnee junior center fielder Melissa bercun throws a ball after hitting a two-run home run. gets into position. back toward the infield.

Shawnee freshman third baseman Anna Katherine Prestridge applies a tag on a base runner.

Shawnee senior pitcher lindsey Durboraw delivers a pitch to the plate.

Shawnee’s Madison McGehrin makes contact at the plate.

Shawnee junior Anna Swerdlow prepares for a pitch.

Shawnee junior Melissa bercun keeps an eye on the opposing pitcher.

Shawnee players watch from the bench during the South Jersey Group 4 championship game.

ALL PHoToS (RYAN LAWRENCE, South Jersey Sports Weekly)

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SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY — JUNE 5-11, 2019

ONE ON ONE

A man for all seasons

Moorestown’s Akhil Giri may have had the best senior year of any athlete in the state, winning state titles in basketball and golf before graduation

By RYAN LAWRENCE Sports Editor

From launching long-range jump shots from behind the arc in the winter to sinking high-pressure putts in the spring, Moorestown’s Akhil Giri showed off an athletic skill set that demonstrated his physical and mental aptitudes in 2019.

The versatile, multi-talented Quakers senior was a major player in two of South Jersey’s top teams this school year: the basketball and golf teams at Moorestown.

Giri pulled off a rare feat – something he shared with junior teammate Hayden Greer – in winning state titles in back-toback seasons.

Before he headed off to graduation and a golf scholarship at Colgate University, Giri sat down with South Jersey Sports Weekly.

South Jersey Sports Weekly: Could you have ever envisioned your senior year going this well?

Akhil Giri: It’s funny you ask, because coming into basketball season our goal was to win a sectional championship and then as we progressed in the playoffs we started to see our true capability and how much potential we had and we were able to win the state championship. Right after that season I was like, man, it would be pretty sweet to win back-to-back state championships to end my senior year and now I can say proudly that I am a twotime state champion, going back-to-back. I hadn’t thought about it until after basketball, but after basketball I did think it was a true possibility. I’m super thankful it was able to happen.

SJSW: I watched the highlight reel today of your Pemberton game: 10

straight three-pointers. And then there was the state semifinal vs. Wall (five three-pointers). When were you more in the zone?

Giri: I’d have to say Pemberton. I pride myself on shooting threes but to make 10 in a row in a game is something I could have never thought of. Both are special in their own way. Pemberton, I set the record for threes for most in a quarter and in a game in a row. Whereas at Wall, it was a state semifinal game in their gym. Coming up big in that game allowed us to go to the state championship game along with the other help from teammates.

SJSW: I know Jagger Zrada has the career record here. Between the two of you, who would win in a three-point shooting contest?

Giri: Uggggh. I think we’d split pretty evenly. But I’m going to say I would win, just for confidence. But, no, he’s probably the best shooter I’ve seen. And to pair us both on the court really puts a lot of pressure on the defense to extend out, and then we have Nick (Cartwright-Atkins) inside who plays like he’s seven-feet tall.

SJSW: Say you are picking teams for a game of HORSE. Who are your top five picks from South Jersey?

Giri: My first pick is definitely Jagger.

My second pick is Vinnie Caprarola (also Moorestown). I would then pick Anthony DiCaro from Cherokee. Myself. And then I’d probably pick – I’m going to go with another Moorestown player, Brian McMonagle.

SJSW: OK, flip the script and we’re picking golf foursomes. Who are you taking?

Giri: Oh, I’m taking the three guys on my team here, Will Tone, Hayden Greer and Stephen Eigenrauch in a heartbeat.

SJSW: When did you begin playing golf?

Giri: I started four years ago, when I was 14. My first tournament when I was 14. I really wasn’t into it before then, but I picked up a club with my dad one day and I realized I was kind of decent and that I enjoyed it. Then I got rapidly better to the point where it became my primary sport.

SJSW: Who are your role models outside of sports?

RYAN LAWRENCE/South Jersey Sports Weekly Moorestown High School senior Akhil Giri is heading to graduation in style — he excelled in the classroom enough to bypass exam season and was a major player in state championship teams in the winter (basketball) and spring (golf). Giri will continue his golf career at Colgate University next year, where he will begin a pre-med program.

Giri: My parents (Kartik and Veda Giri) they’re both extremely hard-working.

They’re both physicians and they’re super busy, but to spend time with me and my sister and take a big part in our sports. Seeing how hard they work has instilled that in me. I can’t thank them enough for all they’ve done for me.

SJSW: Do you have a favorite movie?

Giri: I’m going to have to go with “Silence of the Lambs.”

SJSW: Do you have a favorite book?

Giri: That’s a good question. I’d probably have to say “1984.” That strange world, censorship, it intrigued me.

SJSW: Anything on TV you’re marathoning?

Giri: There are two shows I watch.

“Narcos” is my favorite show on TV and then another show on Netlifx called “Fauda” about the conflict between the

Palestinians and the Jewish people.

SJSW: If you could have a walk-up song in your sport, what would you come out to?

Giri: “The Final Countdown” by Europe.

SJSW: Do you have a motto to live by?

Giri: Yeah, mine is to never take anything for granted. Things come in strides, there are highs and lows in everything.

For me, fortunately I’m a multiple state champion winner, but I realize there are other kids that have worked just as hard that aren’t as fortunate to have won, so I continue to stay humble and realize I’m blessed to have won these and I’ll continue to work hard for everything. ■ This is an edited version of the Q&A. For the full version, log onto southjerseysportsweekly.com

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JUNE 5-11, 2019 – SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY

5

DAWGS

continued from page 1 were all out there and they knew it was their last season,” Blake said. “We told them, you’re not the ones injured.

You need to play for them. I think they shifted their mindset and are playing for McKenzie and Elise.”

“We’ve always been a team,” Blake added. “It’s never been about one or two players. But with those injuries there was an emotional setback more than anything. They needed about three games to figure it out and get themselves back.”

Senior Wayden Ay said the team needed time to adjust to the lineup changes. In its first game without McKenzie Blake and Fiannaca, Haddonfield suffered a 10-7 loss to Rancocas Valley on the road. Despite losing, Ay views the game as the turning point for the Bulldawgs.

“Even though we took the loss, it was in that game where we figured out what to do,” she said.

“Once we knew a couple people were hurt, we all had to step up and almost have a new role,” Connor added. “A lot of seniors had to step up and even the underclassmen who weren’t playing much stepped up and played really well.”

In the team’s four playoff games leading up to the state finals, Haddonfield outscored the opposition by a combined 70-25. Connor was one of the players who stepped up, scoring five goals in the team’s sectional semifinal win over Lower Cape May as well as in the sectional championship victory over Camden Catholic.

Senior Caroline Beckett also stepped up offensively, eclipsing the 100-point plateau for the season in last Thursday’s state semifinal win. Ay has been a force on both sides of the ball for Haddonfield, contributing offensively while remaining an anchor on defense.

Even after their injuries, Blake and Fiannaca remained an integral part of the team.

The two players were on the sidelines for every game and involved in the team’s pregame huddles. Even though they

Mike Monostra/South Jersey Sports Weekly Wayden Ay slaps hands with her teammates as she’s introduced prior to last Thursday’s game. can’t step on the field, Ay said the team is making sure they remain a part of the team through the end of the season.

“Our (hair) ribbons, we have their numbers

on them,” senior Wayden Ay said. “A lot of us have their numbers on our cleats. We have them in our pre-game huddle all the time. They’re still here.” ■

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SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY — JUNE 5-11, 2019

GIRLS TRACK

Distance domination

Lindsey Cramer

Delran High School Junior Softball

The Bears headed into the final week of the softball season as hot as any team in the state, taking a nine-game winning streak (and wins in 12 of their previous 13 games) into a state semifinal match with Bordentown last Friday. Thanks in part to the contributions of junior pitcher Lindsey Cramer, the Bears knocked off host Audubon in the South Jersey Group 2 championship game to collect the program’s first sectional championship since 1995. Kramer allowed just one run while striking out 24 batters in back-to-back wins over Haddon Heights and Audubon en route to a sectional championship.

Quotable: “It was amazing, we knew how tough of a team Audubon was after watching them (in the previous round) against Cinnaminson. We talked about our game plan, staying aggressive and focused, and we were able to do that,” Delran coach Danielle Worman said. “I think (Lindsey) has really been hitting her spots. She’s been working ahead, which has helped tremendously. And she’s stayed mentally tough in tough situations. If there’s a runner on base and less than two outs, she’s been finding a way to get back to the dugout. She has a lot of focus and commitment to working hard and getting better every game.

That’s really been key for her.”

“I just try to focus on every batter and try to pitch pitches they can’t hit, working on the inside and the outside of the plate,” Cramer said. “(The sectional championship) was really exciting for us.

No one really expects Delran softball to be that good, so us accomplishing this was a really good feeling.” ■

MIKE MONOSTRA/South Jersey Sports Weekly Lindsay Colflesh, Sarah Naticchia, Payton Weiner, Allison Colflesh, Lilly Sirover and Olivia Stoner dominated the distance events at the South Jersey Group 2 sectional meet during Memorial Day weekend. The six runners accounted for more than half of the team’s 117 points as Haddonfield won the sectional title.

Haddonfield girls track’s distance runners have put up huge performances in some of the 2019 season’s biggest meets

By MIKE MONOSTRA Sports Editor

Sophomore Payton Weiner knew how much talent and depth Haddonfield girls track’s distance running team had entering the 2019 season. But she never anticipated the Bulldawgs would have the success they did at the 2019 South Jersey Group 2 sectional meet.

The Bulldawgs put up a monstrous performance in the three distance races at sectionals, sweeping first, second and third place in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs and taking first, second and fourth place in the 800-meter run. Haddonfield dominated the distance events behind a young core of runners who are just as close off the track as they are in their finishing order in meets.

“In the beginning of the season, if you asked us if we would be in those places, I don’t think any of us would have thought we would have done so well,” said Weiner, who took second place in the 1,600 and

3,200.

“It’s really cool that I’m part of a team that’s succeeding so much,” added sophomore Sarah Naticchia, who placed first in both the 1,600 and 3,200. “I never thought I would be part of something so special.”

Sectionals was a truly special meet for junior Lilly Sirover and sophomores Naticchia, Weiner, Olivia Stoner, Lindsay Colflesh and Allison Colflesh. The group of six was responsible for the outstanding finishes in the three distance events and combined to score 78 of the team’s 117 points to boost Haddonfield to the team sectional championship.

What’s even more remarkable is one year ago, the only girls in that group of six to qualify for an individual event at the NJSIAA Group 2 Championships were Lindsay and Allison Colflesh. This year, all six girls made it to states with times considerably faster than in 2018.

“A year ago this time, we weren’t even sure we would qualify for states,” Stoner said. “A year ago this time, we ran 20 sec-

onds slower. Just to see the growth over the past year has been crazy.”

The distance team shares a very tight bond in a mostly individual sport. Sirover believes this tight bond has been the secret behind the team’s success in 2019.

“It’s been really fulfilling and rewarding to see each other’s successes and it’s been really great to see the team spirit,” she said.

“The impact they’ve had on each other has been tremendous,” Haddonfield head coach Jason Russo added. “They’re redefining fast for each other in the group.

That, in turn, re-defines fast for the girls who aren’t racing at this point in the season. It invigorates the other girls who are getting ready to compete.”

The tight team chemistry was apparent at sectionals. In each of the three distance events, Haddonfield’s runners focused on running together in the same pack to help push each other to season-best times. The team-first strategy paid off.

“Literally the whole race we worked together as a group,” said Sirover, who finished third in the 3,200 behind Naticchia and Weiner. “I think there’s something really special about that because eight laps is very hard to do and very long.”

“When you see the last lap of an event or the last 200 meters of an event, you always saw the Haddonfield girls coming in with a kick,” said Stoner, who finished in fourth place in the 800 behind winner Allison Colflesh and second-place Lindsay Colflesh.

“That was really special that we were able to close the race as well.”

In the 1,600-meter runs, Naticchia, Weiner and Allison Colflesh all had the goal of getting their times under 5:10. All three were able to achieve their goals, with Naticchia less than three-tenths of a second ahead of Weiner at 5:03.26 and Colflesh finishing with a time of 5:07.01 in third place.

Having the support of her teammates is what Colflesh remembered most from that race.

“Just having them being there and cheering you on and supporting you after the race, it really touches your heart,” she said.

The team-first atmosphere is a hallmark of Haddonfield’s track program. Russo preaches a team-first mentality to all of his athletes and believes his distance runners exemplify it.

“It’s not about who wins,” Russo said.

“When we talked about sectionals, the message I gave them was at the end of the race, I want the three girls to look at each other and say, ‘Look at what we did,” not, ‘Look at what I did.’”

At the start of their high school careers, Haddonfield’s distance runners set a please see TRACK, page 8

JUNE 5-11, 2019 – SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY

riley Smith looks to make a pass.

Juliet Walls closely shadows a Manasquan player.

Haddonfield goalie Maya feinstein prepares to pass the ball after making a save.

ALL PHoToS MIkE MoNoSTRA, South Jersey Sports Weekly

Haddonfield girls lacrosse punched its ticket to the NJSIAA Group 2 state championship game last Thursday when they defeated Manasquan, 14-9, in the state semifinals. It is the third straight year the Bulldawgs made it to the state finals. Last Thursday’s game was originally scheduled for Wednesday at Moorestown, but was postponed one day and moved to Haddonfield due to inclement weather.

Gabi Connor turns upfield with the ball.

Caroline beckett keeps an eye on a Manasquan defender.

Haddonfield huddles for one last pep talk prior to the start of the game.

7

Wayden Ay watches as her pass sails to a teammate.

emily Smart prepares to sprint up the field with the ball.

Jenna Walls looks to get the ball out of the Haddonfield end.

8

SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY — JUNE 5-11, 2019

RENEGADES continued from page 2

underdogs. We weren’t predicted to win. We defied the odds. We ended up becoming a two-seed even though no one thought we would be good enough to go to the playoffs in the beginning. I’m really proud of these girls. They’re my sisters.”

Shawnee, which hadn’t played in a sectional championship game in a half dozen years and hadn’t won one since 1979, began the season with just as many losses as wins in the season’s first two weeks but then hit its stride.

The Renegades gelled as a group and won 10 of 12 games in a fiveweek stretch to move into a spot most people didn’t think they’d be in: a favorite to make an extended playoff run.

“I’m proud of them,” Escudero said. “We had home field advantage, the second seed. Who would have thought? We didn’t have to drive to Kingsway. We didn’t have to go to Vineland.”

The Renegades regularly started three freshmen in their infield this spring. But they had five seniors who helped bring the younger players along.

“They have been fantastic role models,” Escudero said. “They set the groundwork for Shawnee softball.”

“It was a big role for us,” Cooker said. “We really wanted to make sure that everybody was together and as one, so we could play as a team. I think that’s a big key, being able to work together and pull through together.”

Although the tears flowed easily when the finality of it all set in at the conclusion of their final game, the senior Renegades could walk off the field for the final time with their heads held high, knowing they set an example and propelled the program forward.

“Everyone got along so well (and) I think that’s part of the season I got emotional, we just got along so well,” Volpe said. “It’s hard to get a group like that with girls, that gets along so well but we did. It meant a lot, this season, to get this far for my senior year. … It’s tough to come back from that (first inning). But we’ll definitely remember this season, it was a really awesome season for all the girls.” ■

Special to South Jersey Sports Weekly Delran High School's softball team did something no Bears team had accomplished in 24 years: it won a sectional title. The Bears beat host Audubon, 4-1, on May 28 in the South Jersey Group 2 title game to collect their first championship since 1995. Freshman Brooke Acker went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI, Zee Zee Shreter went 2-for-4 with a double and junior pitcher Lindsey Cramer struck out 10 batters.

Delran was set to play in the Group 2 state semifinals last Friday.

TRACK

continued from page 6 bunch of short and long-term goals. Now, the six girls find themselves needing to completely rewrite their goals list.

In just a couple short years, they’ve already run faster than they ever expected in high school.

“I’m meeting goals that I wanted to reach by the end of high school,” Weiner said. ”I have to set new goals. I love it, it’s so awesome, all of these (goals) I’ve checked off already.”

The good news for Haddonfield is Sirover still has one season of high school track left and the five sophomores have two years to achieve new goals. And there’s no telling how fast any of them will be when they finish their careers. ■

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