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DECEMBER 18-24, 2019

r collected e k o o H a r r ie T senior Timber Creek mpions titles last season and a two Meet of Ch Mississippi State, too. to just committed

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By RYAN LAWRENCE Sports Editor

After finishing in second place in backto-back years in the high jump at the outdoor Meet of Champions as a freshman and sophomore, Timber Creek’s Tierra Hooker finally collected her gold last June.

Hooker cleared the 5-10 mark to earn her first outdoor MOC title as a junior.

The medal was nicely complemented by the Meet of Champions firstplace finish she earned during last winter’s indoor season, too.

None of these wins should come as a surprise to anyone who has followed Hooker’s acclaimed scholastic career.

She pretty much announced her arrival as not only one of

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the state’s best, but among the top track and field teenagers in the country three years ago, when she broke the (ages) 13-14 high jump and pentathlon records at the USATF Junior Olympics in Kansas.

And now Hooker has one of her final high school chores checked off well before graduation, too: her college choice. Hooker announced last week that she will continue her track and field career (while studying animal sciences) at Mississippi State University.

“One of the coaches (Holland Sherrer) who had been recruiting me to go to Syracuse took a job at Mississippi State, and they texted my club coach and came to my house,” Hooker said.

“Coach (Steve) Thomas, the heptathlon coach, is one of the best coaches in the country.”

South Eastern Conference track and field is no joke: 24 of the last 31 team state championships have been awarded to SEC programs.

“I think I’m ready for it,” Hooker said.

The Chargers star and soon-to-be Bulldog chatted with South Jersey Sports Weekly last week: please see TIERRA, page S5

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sOuTh JerseY sPOrTs WeekLY

POWer

POLL!

1. Cherry Hill East Boys Swimming

The defending Group A state champions have dominated South Jersey for most of the past decade. The Cougars haven’t lost a dual meet to a South Jersey opponent since January of 2013.

2. Camden Catholic Wrestling

Last year’s 145-pound state champion Lucas revano graduated in June, but the defending nonPublic B state champions will have two wrestlers who medaled at states last year return for 2020.

3. Winslow Girls Track

The eagles have been a dominant force recently in Group 3, winning the state title in the indoor season six of the last eight years. Winslow returns most of the athletes who competed in last year’s indoor group championships.

4. Haddonfield Girls Swimming

Last season was a breakthrough one for the Bulldawgs as they captured the program’s first state championship since 2009. Haddonfield opened the season with wins over Lenape and Washington Township.

5. Moorestown Boys Basketball

The defending Group 3 state champions will have a very different look when they take the court for their season opener on Dec. 21. Moorestown lost its top four point scorers from 2019 to graduation.

6. Gloucester Catholic Ice Hockey

The rams turned a few heads last Monday when they took down previously unbeaten Christian Brothers Academy, 4-1, at home. Senior goalie Chris Liscio stopped 32 of 33 shots in the win.

7. Cherry Hill East Girls Swimming

The Cougars have been unable to conquer Group A powerhouse Bridgewater-raritan in the state finals the last three seasons, but they have not lost to a South Jersey team in nearly two full calendar years.

8. Haddonfield Boys Basketball

The Bulldawgs will try to do something they have only done once before in program history: win three consecutive state titles. A new core will need to continue the program’s streak, Haddonfield graduated their top five point scorers from 2019.

9. Gloucester Catholic Girls Basketball

Two-time South Jersey Player of the Year Azana Baines graduated in June, but the rams return first-team all-non Public selection Jada Williams as they try to improve on last season’s 24-win total.

10. Washington Township Boys Bowling

The Minutemen are dominating the competition early on this season. After winning their first three matches of the season, Washington Township took first place at last Wednesday’s Olympic Conference Holiday Bowl. ■

GaMes TO WaTCh

S2 SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY — DECEMBER 18-24, 2019

WresTLING

Minutemen wrestling hungry for success WTHS has high expectations after ending a playoff drought last year

By ANTHONY J. MAZZIOTTI III Staff Writer

The Washington Township High School wrestling team played the role of the underdog last year. The Minutemen ended their playoff drought by earning the eight seed before running into the buzzsaw that was Southern Regional High School in the first round of the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 5 tournament.

This year, head coach Eric Ring has other plans for his squad.

“This year, the goal is to get back in the playoffs and not sneak in as the eight seed,” he said. “Get there, get a little better and make some noise in the playoffs.”

A simple goal, right? With leaders on the team who properly set the tone for what Washington Township wrestling is, the sky’s the limit.

Sophomore Ethan Wilson, a state qualifier last season, is setting the bar high for himself and his teammates.

“You know the saying ‘You’re only as strong as your weakest link?’ That’s how everybody is,” Wilson said. “Say one person is having trouble in the practice room, you gotta bring them up.

Wednesday, Dec. 18

Boys Swimming Cherry Hill east vs. Haddonfield 7:30 p.m. at Camden County Tech - Sicklerville

AnTHOnY J. MAZZiOTTi iii/South Jersey Sports Weekly

Sophomore Ethan Wilson, left, was a state qualifier in the 2018-19 season. He and Jack Dunn, right, are two of the leaders of the Washington Township wrestling team. The duo, nicknamed “the bookends” by coach Eric Ring due to Wilson and Dunn wrestling at opposite ends of the lineup, have high expectations for the 2019-20 season, including another playoff berth after ending a postseason drought last year.

Keep pushing pace in the practice room to get better and better. Drive the team to meet your goals and theirs.”

This is done by having the proper mindset, in Wilson’s opinion.

“My goal is to be a state champion. I can’t win

Thursday, Dec. 19

Wrestling Seneca vs. Cinnaminson 6 p.m. at Cinnaminson High School

Friday, Dec. 20

ice Hockey St. Augustine vs. Bishop eustace 7 p.m. at Flyers Skate Zone Pennsauken

state and have a state qualifier mindset or a region place-winner mindset. I have to give it my all even when I’m not feeling good. Like today, I had a headache. I’m sick but I still go hard,” he said. “I gotta make sure every one of my teamplease see WRESTLING, page S8

Saturday, Dec. 21

Boys Basketball eighth annual Jimmy V. Classic tournament Games begin at 10 a.m. at Cherokee High School

Monday, Dec. 23

Girls Basketball Shawnee vs. Paul Vi 2 p.m. at Paul Vi High School

DECEMBER 18-24, 2019 – SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY

The Eastern boys team gathers for a picture after taking second place in the tournament.

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Atlantic Tech celebrates after getting its second place trophy.

Dozens of bowling teams from around South Jersey converged on Laurel Lanes in Maple Shade last Wednesday for the 2019 Olympic Conference Holiday Bowl.

On the boys side, Washington Township took first place, while GCIT was the highest scoring girls team. ■ Eastern’s Ericka Sheehan watches her ball head down the lane toward the seven pin.

GCIT’s Megan Prettyman celebrates after getting a spare in the second game.

Seneca’s Riley Packard gets congratulations from her teammates after hitting a spare in the first game.

ALL PHOTOS Mike Monostra/South Jersey Sports Weekly

Washington Township’s boys team continued its strong start to the 2019-20 season with a first-place finish in the tournament.

sOuTh JerseY sPOrTs WeekLY

PLaYer OF The Week!

Abby Bink

GLOUCESTER CITY HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMAN BOWLING

Gloucester City’s girls bowling team got off to a 4-0 start this season in part due to the instant impact of freshman Abby Bink.

The ninth grader had team-high sets of 466 and 472 against Clayton and Salem, respectively, and then did it again last Tuesday against Overbrook when she had a personal-best game of 266 en route to a 570 set.

Quotable: “The team is off to a great start (and) from our first practice, Abby has had a tremendous impact on our team,” said Gloucester bowling coach Jen Grelle. “She is a very focused, controlled bowler who has already proven that she can handle the anchor position. We have had a couple of close matches and Abby kept her composure and pulled the team through. We are taking it one match at a time and the girls are committed to working together to improve as individuals and as a team.” ■

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SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY — DECEMBER 18-24, 2019

BOYs sWIMMING

Triple Threat

Mike MOnOSTrA/South Jersey Sports Weekly

The senior trio of Kyle Hare, Andrew Taylor and Jack Artis is poised to lead Shawnee to a fourth consecutive winning season in 2019-20. All three swimmers individually qualified for ‘A’ finals in different events at last year’s NJSIAA Meet of Champions.

Seniors Jack Artis, Kyle Hare and Andrew Taylor received All-South Jersey honors in 2019 and hope to lead the Renegades to another winning season

By MIKE MONOSTRA Sports Editor

At the start of the 2019-20 season, Shawnee boys swimming had something no other team in South Jersey had: three returning seniors who were named All-South Jersey one year ago.

Jack Artis, Kyle Hare and Andrew Taylor may be the best one-two-three combo in South Jersey. All three swam with the best at the 2019 NJSIAA Meet of Champions, with each of them qualifying for “A” finals.

Artis finished fifth in the 100-yard breaststroke and seventh in the 200-yard individual medley, Taylor came in fifth place in the 500-yard freestyle, and Hare finished eighth

in the 200-yard freestyle.

The Shawnee trio are more than just high school teammates. Artis, Hare and Taylor also swim for the same club team, South Jersey Aquatic Club in Voorhees, after Artis and Taylor opted to change club teams in the spring.

“I think it’s cool,” Artis said. “At practice we’re racing against each other and we’re competing against each other, but then at meets we’re competing together, working together and trying to win.”

“We help each other out when we need it,” Hare added.

The friendly competition between the three seniors may be part of the reason behind their success last season. While Artis, Hare and Taylor all qualified for the Meet

of Champions for the first time in 2018, Artis said last season was the year all three of them really broke out. “(Practicing together) has just made me want to push myself more and push each other more,” Artis said. “I think that’s helped me tremendously.”

“My intensity and my training back when I first joined, especially freshman year, I wasn’t that into it,” Hare said about his development. “But as I got faster and faster, I realized … the more I train and the more practices I go to, the better I’m going to get.”

Taylor did not dive into competitive swimming until he began competing for Shawnee as a freshman. After performing well in his first season, he decided to focus on the sport year-round and compete in club.

“I was not expecting to get anywhere close to here freshman year,” Taylor said. “I dropped roughly 40 seconds in my (500 freestyle time). I wasn’t good freshman year, I was part of the team, but as all of our trainings started to ramp up, I feel like all of us have gotten better and better.”

The senior trio enters the high school season hungry to prove how strong Shawnee is in 2019-20. Hare said the team is entering the season with an underdog mentality despite winning seven or more meets in each of the past three seasons.

Last year, the Renegades came up inches short of advancing to the South Jersey Group B final after falling to Ocean City, 8783, in the semifinals.

Artis, Hare and Taylor will likely win their fair share of points during Shawnee’s dual meets. However, the three downplayed their roles on the team, saying many of the other Renegades will be just as essential to the team’s fortunes.

“We definitely have some juniors that are going to be really good this year and are going to step up,” Artis said.

Taylor believes head coach Eric O’Neil does a great job of getting the team focused prior to big meets, saying he gives the team a ton of positive energy. Taylor believes that energy could be a difference-maker in some of Shawnee’s close meets.

“I feel like it’s easy to have good group energy and a couple guys that can step up and lead that energy if you’re swimming with guys who you’re comfortable with,” Taylor said.

Individually, the senior trio is looking to simply improve on last year’s performances at the Meet of Champions. The three are also looking to make more noise at the season’s final meet as a relay team.

Last year, the three competed with 2019 graduate Alex Mann to finish 12th overall in the 200-yard freestyle relay. Artis feels with some of the underclassmen improving, the Renegades could place much higher in the Meet of Champions relays in 2020. ■

DECEMBER 18-24, 2019 – SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY

TIERRA

continued from page S1 South Jersey Sports Weekly: Senior year. How does that feel — bittersweet, fun?

Hooker: For the most part I feel like this season I want to have fun. Since I already know where I’m going to school I can just enjoy it and not put as much pressure on myself. So I mainly just want to have fun.

SJSW: Does that help you perform, when you're almost stress-free?

Hooker: Yeah. If I’m thinking too much then you can see it in my whole performance. If I’m thinking too much during high jump, you can tell. So it’s less stress and it makes everything easier.

SJSW: Do you have a No. 1 goal you want to accomplish before graduation?

Hooker: Obviously hitting 6-foot for high jump. But I also want to be more versatile. I know that I do long jump, high jump and hurdles. When it’s time to execute and get medals, I want to be able to do that to get points for my team.

SJSW: What inspires you or makes you tick?

Hooker: With a lot of people, they have to work hard, but with track it just came easily to me. So I feel like God put me on this earth for that. A lot of people in other sports have to work for it, but this just came easy to me. I know I still have to work hard, but this just feels like the right sport.

you’re at right now?

Hooker: She always tells me not to think about things too mentally, to just know that everything happens for a reason, so if I did bad in one meet, that’s just God setting me back and letting me know I have to work on things and I have other blessings coming toward me. Like if I don’t get the height that I wanted or time that I wanted, then it’s just God telling me I need to work harder.

I just have to be patient and let everything come to me.

SJSW: I know you had an older sister at Timber Creek last year. Do you have any other siblings?

Hooker: Six sisters. I’m the baby.

SJSW: What’s that like growing up? Were they tough on you?

Hooker: Yes. Yes. Every day my mom would make us match with the same colors, same dresses or shirts.

SJSW: [Laughs] Hooker: It was crazy.

SJSW: Tiyanna wrestled here and is in college for rugby, right?

Hooker: Yeah she’s in Missouri, at Lindenwood University.

SJSW: You tried rugby, too, right?

Hooker: Yes.

SJSW: Are you a better high jumper than she is?

Hooker: Yes. [Laughs]

SJSW: Did that make you better in track in any way?

Hooker: It helped me become more aggressive, because that sport is very aggressive.

It was kind of easy because a lot of time when I got the ball nobody could catch me, so it was really just running. But it taught me to be aggressive and to work harder and I’ll be better.

SJSW: Who is the athlete in South Jersey you most admire?

Hooker: I would say my best friend; she goes to Pennsauken: Jade Pope.

SJSW: What’s the one thing your mom has taught you either in track or outside of track that’s helped you get to where

SJSW: If you could pick one person from South Jersey’s event to add to your own game, who would you take? You

SJSW: You were given this gift so you have to work for it.

Hooker: Yes. SJSW: Your mom was a track athlete at Camden High.

What was her speciality?

Hooker: She was mostly sprints, but did high jumps too.

could take their sprinting or their hurdling.

Hooker: I would take Athing Mu. She runs the 800. She’s up in Trenton and runs for her club team; she doesn’t do high school track.

SJSW: How about on your own team here at Timber Creek. Who is your funniest teammate?

Hooker: Well, we had this girl named Princess Hayes — she transferred to Overbrook — but she was literally the funniest person on our team and the second fastest behind me.

SJSW: So if she’s no longer here, who is the second fastest person on the team after you?

Hooker: Chastiney Pearson.

SJSW: How about the smartest?

Hooker: Ali Hauer.

SJSW: Who is the best male athlete at Timber Creek?

Hooker: Tarheeb Still.

SJSW: Oh, yeah, he’s a wide receiver going to …

Hooker: Maryland.

S5

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SJSW: Do you have a favorite school subject at Timber Creek?

Hooker: I’m not taking it this year, but math is definitely my favorite.

SJSW: Do you have a favorite teacher?

Hooker: Ms. Alicia Truman; she teaches marketing.

SJSW: Best movie you’ve seen recently?

Hooker: “Queen & Slim.”

SJSW: How about a TV show you’ve been into lately?

Hooker: Well you know how Disney+ just came out? I’ve been watching “Hannah Montana.”

SJSW: If you win another Meet of Champions trophy and you can pick any song to come out to when they announce your name at the medal ceremony, what song are you walking up to?

Hooker: “Bop” by DaBaby. ■

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S6

SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY — DECEMBER 18-24, 2019

BOWLING

GCIT on a roll to start season After winning its first three matches of the season, the Cheetahs’ young and confident lineup took first place in the girls division at last week’s Olympic Conference Holiday Bowl

In your hands, every week.

By MIKE MONOSTRA Sports Editor

Gloucester Tech isn’t allowing high expectations to cloud its belief about what bowling is supposed to be: fun.

The Cheetahs arrived at Laurel Lanes last Wednesday for the Olympic Conference Holiday Bowl tournament wearing matching holiday sweaters and enjoyed the festive Christmas music played during warm-ups.

The atmosphere loosened up the team for a tournament it was hoping to win.

“We try to make this a fun tournament,” head coach John Holland said. “They all wore (holiday) shirts. Bowling can be fun. It can be stressful, but it can also be fun.”

One year after finishing second to Eastern, GCIT rode a pair of strong performances from sophomore standouts Gianna McGahan and Megan Prettyman to take first place in the girls’ tournament, with a score of 2,315, at last Wednesday’s Holiday Bowl. The firstplace finish was the first big accomplishment for a GCIT team off to a fast start in the 2019-20 season.

“It was crazy,” McGahan said of the Holiday Bowl win. “I didn’t expect it.”

McGahan may not have expected it, but the Cheetahs were certainly thrilled with the outcome after entering the season with high hopes. GCIT returns all but one player from last year’s 10-win squad. The emergence of Prettyman as GCIT’s anchor was a big part of the team’s success in 2018-19. As a freshman last season, Prettyman finished seventh at the South Jersey sectionals to punch her ticket to the state tournament.

While Prettyman has continued to bowl very well this season, the improvement of her teammates has been a big part of GCIT’s early success. Junior Kasey DeLorenzo shot a 465 or higher in each of her first four

Your Towns.

Your Teams.

Mike Monostra/South Jersey Sports Weekly

GCIT’s girls bowling team of Kasey DeLorenzo, Megan Prettyman, Isabella Roman, Rebecca Long and Gianna McGahan celebrates after winning the girls’ tournament at last Wednesday’s Olympic Conference Holiday Bowl. The Cheetahs are off to a strong start after easily winning their first three matches leading into last week’s tournament. matches after only topping 465 once during match play last year. After tallying a 400 or better series only once last season, senior Isabella Roman has scored 400 or better in three of her first four series this year.

The biggest improvement may be from McGahan, who was the star of the Holiday Bowl’s girls tournament. In her second game, McGahan shot a 244, the best of any girl in the tournament. Her 585 series was also the highest of the day.

“I feel like my ball was just doing what I wanted it to do and that was when the team really started picking each other up,” she said. “The first game, we didn’t do that, but the second game, we really made it a focus.”

One of GCIT’s biggest strengths is its experience. Four of GCIT’s bowlers this season were also regulars in the lineup last year.

The lone newcomer to this year’s lineup, junior Rebecca Long, got some varsity time in a few matches last year. The Cheetahs’ experience is striking considering Roman is the only senior out of the five starters.

“I think last year helped,” Holland said. “(A lot of them) were young, freshmen and sophomores, and they really kind of bonded last year. They really have a tight bond.”

“I think that we have the energy as a

team, when one of us has a bad day, other people have good days,” Prettyman added.

“We’re not the kind of team where, if one of us tanks, we all tank.”

With most of the lineup back and vastly improved, the Cheetahs have lofty goals in 2019-20. In addition to winning the Holiday Bowl, GCIT hopes to win the New Jersey Technical Athletic Conference Tournament, finish the season undefeated and advance to the NJSIAA team championships.

“I think that it helped because knowing who was going to be in our lineup, we could set our goals,” Prettyman said of the team’s goals. “We could expect more because we knew (who we had).”

The team’s goals may be big, but so far GCIT has lived up to expectations. The Cheetahs easily won their first three matches heading into the Holiday Bowl by a score of 4-0, and after defeating nearly two dozen South Jersey teams last week, GCIT is no longer flying under the radar.

“The way we started the regular season, the expectations were we’d be in the topthree (at Holiday Bowl) again,” Holland said. “You just have to hope for how they bowl.

“They’ve been bowling fairly well.” ■

Whether you're in Haddonfield or Mullica Hill, Deptford or Medford, or any of the other towns with Sun Newspapers in South Jersey, a scope that includes more than two dozen high schools, South Jersey Sports Weekly has you covered.

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DECEMBER 18-24, 2019 – SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY

Gloucester Catholic sophomore Angelina Barrera tries to fend off Williamstown’s Kayla Dougherty.

Williamstown junior Jilonne Daley looks for an opening on the offensive end.

S7

Williamstown senior Danielle Jeffreys looks for an open teammate on an inbound pass.

Cherokee High School’s girls basketball team hosted a tri-scrimmage last Tuesday with Williamstown and Gloucester Catholic. The Chiefs’ regular season tips off this Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at Sterling. Williamstown’s season gets underway Friday at 7 p.m. at home against Triton, while Gloucester Catholic’s first game arrives on Sunday, when the Rams host Archbishop Carroll at 1:30 p.m. ■ Cherokee players Amami Reed, Avery Kessler and Gabby Recinto keep an eye on the ball from the defensive end.

Cherokee senior Olivia Kessler makes a move on offense.

Gloucester Catholic junior Jada Williams focuses on a free throw.

Gloucester Catholic senior Lynzie Eggers tries to get off a shot.

ALL PHOTOS RYAN LAWRENCE/South Jersey Sports Weekly

Gloucester Catholic senior Mycala Carney tries to direct traffic from the point.

S8

SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY — DECEMBER 18-24, 2019

WRESTLING continued from page S2

mates are doing that if they want to get where they want to be.”

While Wilson’s sight is set purely on standing atop the podium in Atlantic City this March, Jack Dunn is a little more reserved.

“Our goal is always take it one match at a time; win matches one by one,” he explained. “Whatever comes, comes. If playoffs come, playoffs come. I know that’s the end goal, but we’re more focused on the short-term goals, taking it match by match.”

Two separate styles of leadership, but both are effective. With Wilson’s eyes on the end prize and Dunn keeping the ground level for the team, the possibilities

are endless, especially with the work ethic shown by its leaders.

“I have a lot of big goals this year; I want to make sure I achieve those goals or at least do my best to achieve those goals,” Dunn added. “I don’t wanna look back on the season and say ‘I could have done this.’ I’m gonna maximize my effort and my potential.”

While Dunn preached patience, he acknowledged his goal is to go as far as he can in the season-ending tournaments such as districts, regions and states.

“I just want to win, I want to put points on the board for my team,” he said.

Ring knows the team is in good hands with Wilson and Dunn at the helm.

“Ethan’s a kid who eats, sleeps and loves wrestling

— everything he does is wrestling. I don’t know if he owns other shoes besides wrestling shoes,” Ring joked. “He’s just a pleasure to have.”

Dunn, according to Ring, is the opposite.

“He does everything,” the coach said. “Varsity football player, big-time wrestler, plays cello in the orchestra.

He’s the most well-rounded kid I’ve ever been around.

“They’re fantastic leaders and they’re the epitome of student-athletes.”

The bookends are a reflection of the culture Ring instilled when he became head coach three years ago.

“I look a lot to me being a graduate here and being at Washington Township when we had a lot of success and when we were getting a lot of state medals and com-

peting for South Jersey and New Jersey titles as a team, trying to get back to that,” he noted.

“It’s a lot of hard work, a lot of dedication, a lot of sacrifice and kids buying into that growth and buying into what wrestling is. I see the kids take to that and look to take it to the next level this year.”

Washington Township is hungry, not because it is cutting weight, but for success.

The team kicks off its season Dec. 21 and 22 at the Beast of the East tournament at the University of Delaware.

Dunn is looking forward to the challenge.

“It’s exhilarating, it’s exciting, they’re the best people to wrestle,” he said. “The best way to get better is to throw yourself in the fire.” ■

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