INSIDE THIS ISSUE SJ POWER POLL ....... S2 GAMES TO WATCH .... S2 PLAYER OF THE WEEK ............ S3
Delran's Matera eager to make more history PAGE S3
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Moorestown boys basketball made history last season in claiming its first state championship in 60 years. But with nine seniors lost to graduation last spring, can this year’s Quakers make another run?
DECEMBER 25-31, 2019
By RYAN LAWRENCE Sports Editor
The banner was raised before their first practice and the memories of last March are still fresh. Last spring, Moorestown’s boys basketball team collected the program’s first state title since 1959. But it’s easy to forget that those Quakers didn’t reach their full potential until after Groundhog Day. Moorestown was 13-5 in the season’s first seven weeks. Good, but not great. And then Moorestown be-
RYAN LAWRENCE/South Jersey Sports Weekly
The banners in Moorestown's gym were updated prior to the season with the inclusion of '2019' under the boys basketball state title banner, the program's first since 1959. The team's ability to make a run in 2020 will depend on newcomers filling the void from a starstudded senior class that graduated in June. came great, reeling off a 15-game winning streak that culminated with a victory over Haddonfield in the Tournament of Champions three days after claiming the Group 3 state championship. It’s not a bad history lesson when Moorestown considers its
quest to make another run in 2020. The Quakers lost nine seniors from last year’s state title team to graduation, including South Jersey Player of the Year Nick Cartwright-Atkins and 1,000-point scorer and program three-point record holder Jag-
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ger Zrada. As Quakers head coach Shawn Anstey ran through a practice a few days before the team’s first game of the 201920 season, he was almost more teacher than coach, trying to get some of the younger players
FREE into the varsity flow. “The challenge is getting all of the guys who have the experience to gel with the guys who don’t,” Anstey said. “That’s a tough process. We have a sophomore group who is getting some minutes this year and they didn’t play varsity last year, so they’re adjusting to the speed, adjusting to the physicality of the game. And our offense (will be a challenge). We’re going to take our bumps and bruises, but I think by February we’ll be good to go.” Cartwright-Atkins, who was six points away from 1,000 points in his career, formed a foursome with Zrada and fellow threepoint sharpshooters, Akhil Giri and Vinnie Caprarola that scored 1,329 of Moorestown’s 1,918 points on the season. If you do the math, that’s four seniors accounting for 69 percent of the team’s total points. But don’t get too lost in the arithmetic and underestimate the potential of this year’s senior class. Kevin Muhic, the Quakers' standout soccer goalie who will continue that sport at Gettysburg, is entering his third varsity season after a strong junior season (he was second on last year’s team in rebounds and third in assists). Hayden Greer, who won state championships in basketball and golf as a junior, could help fill the threepoint shooting gap left behind by please see QUAKERS, page S4
SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY
POWER
POLL!
1. Cherry Hill East Boys Swimming
How strong have the Cougars come out in the opening month? They entered the holiday break 5-0, including an upset over Christian Brothers Academy, the previous No. 1 team in the state. (Last week: 1)
2. Camden Catholic Wrestling
Did you know: the Irish haven’t lost to a South Jersey foe in the last two seasons. Their last South Jersey defeat came to St. Augustine in February of 2017. (2)
3. Gloucester Catholic Ice Hockey
There’s no shame in having losses to two of the state’s top two teams, and the Rams, who coasted to a 3-0 win over Pope John on Dec. 16, are likely a top-five team in New Jersey, too. (6)
4. Cherry Hill East Girls Swimming
Unbeaten against South Jersey foes for two calendar years, the Cougars scored an impressive 95-75 win over reigning Public B state champ Moorestown on Dec. 17. (7)
5. Winslow Township Girls Track
The multi-talented Tionna Tobias is now at Iowa but Winslow’s depth is still a force to be reckoned with, led by Janeya Hammond and Jaia James. (3)
6. Moorestown Boys Basketball
The Quakers won’t look quite the same without Nick Cartwright-Atkins and Jagger Zrada, but this year’s senior class, led by Hayden Greer and Kevin Muhic, is eager to make another run following a historic 2019. (5)
7. Haddonfield Boys Basketball
The Bulldawgs will be tested before the holiday break (and after the deadline of this poll) against Timber Creek as they begin their bid to make a run at a third straight state title. (8)
8. Washington Twp. Boys Bowling
The Minutemen rolled into the holiday break unbeaten in the season’s first month thanks to the efforts of seniors Josh Dicks, Jason Aquino, Troy Clifford and junior Marcus Spann. (10)
9. Gloucester Catholic Girls Basketball
After two out-of-state games over the holiday break, the Rams will open their South Jersey schedule against a very talented Rancocas Valley team on the first Saturday of January. (9)
10. Paul VI Boys Basketball
A talented, athletic team gets a boost in Italian transfer Nicolo Nobili, a 6-9 forward with a shooter’s touch. The Eagles take on Episcopal Academy (PA) in the Boardwalk Classic on Monday. (Not ranked). ■
GAMES TO WATCH
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SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY — DECEMBER 25-31, 2019
WRESTLING
Championship or bust After falling short in the sectional finals the past three years, Haddonfield wrestling is determined to win the program’s first-ever sectional title in 2020 By MIKE MONOSTRA Sports Editor
Haddonfield wrestling’s seniors have managed to advance to the South Jersey Group 2 finals in every year of their high school careers. What the seniors haven’t experienced yet is what it’s like to win a sectional title. In three straight seasons, the Bulldawgs have advanced to the sectional final with a chance to become South Jersey champions for the first time in program history. Each year, Haddonfield has fallen short. This year, the senior class wants to make sure the heartbreak it experienced in past seasons does not happen again in 2020. “We’ve got to win it,” senior Ryan Bolletino said. “We can’t just keep making it there and falling short of our goal. We have to make it there and win it.” “(Making it to the sectional final) is not enough,” senior Declan Skelly added. “We really want to win and move on to (states) and see what we can do there.” The Bulldawgs will go for their first-ever sectional title with a senior-heavy lineup that includes a trio of former district champions. Senior Luke Benedict was a District 28 champion at 138 pounds as a sophomore in 2018. Last year, Haddonfield had two district champions with Bolletino winning at 132 and Skelly at 145. Skelly would advance all the way to the state tournament. “It was completely different,” Skelly said of his experience at states, where he
Thursday, Dec. 26 and Friday, Dec. 27
MIKE MONOSTRA/South Jersey Sports Weekly
Seniors Luke Benedict, Ryan Bolletino and Declan Skelly have all won district titles during their careers at Haddonfield. They’re hoping to make more history in 2020 and help the Bulldawgs to the program’s first-ever sectional title. lost his first-round match. “It’s a huge crowd. There’s just rows and rows of mats set up. It’s a completely different vibe.” Bolletino came up short of making it to states last year, but his district title run last year is pushing him to take another step forward in 2020. “It was an awesome feeling,” Bolletino said of winning a district title. “It was probably one of my best feelings last season. At regions, I finished in fifth and fell short of my goal of making it to states last season. I’m just going to work harder to achieve my goal of making it to states.”
Friday, Dec. 27, Saturday, Dec. 28 and Monday, Dec. 30
The three district champions will lead a team with a new head coach this season. Eric Hamrick, one of the most decorated wrestlers in the history of Collingswood High School, is now in charge of the program at Haddonfield. A 2011 Collingswood graduate, Hamrick was a three-time district champion and set the Panthers’ alltime record for wins. Hamrick said the team’s strong senior leadership has made the transition to becoming head coach at Haddonfield an easy one. please see BULLDAWGS, page S4
Saturday, Dec. 28
Wrestling Bert Payne Holiday Tournament Girls Basketball Boys Basketball (Cherry Hill West, Paul VI, Carol Stutzer-Harris Tournament (Paul Blue and Red Tournament (Williamstown, Highland, Cinnaminson) 9 a.m. at Haddon VI, Delran, Haddonfield, Burlington City) Timber Creek) Games begin at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 27 Games at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Paul VI HS and 28 and 1:30 p.m. Dec. 30 at Williamstown HS Township High School
Saturday, Dec. 28
Monday, Dec. 30
Ice Hockey St. Augustine at Gloucester Catholic 7 p.m. at Hollydell Arena in Sewell
Wrestling Gloucester City Pool Play Tournament (Gloucester City, Holy Cross, Shawnee) 9 a.m. at Gloucester City HS
SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY
PLAYER OF THE WEEK!
DECEMBER 25-31, 2019 – SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY
ONE ON ONE
Breaking barriers
Kate Ruona
SHAWNEE HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMAN GIRLS SWIMMING
A group of talented freshmen has Shawnee girls swimming on a roll entering the new year. The Renegades finished off December with a 4-0 record, including an upset win over last year’s Public C state champion Haddonfield on Dec. 14. Ruona had a big role in the Haddonfield win, taking first-place in the 200 individual medley and helping Shawnee to first-place finishes in the 200 medley relay and the 200 freestyle relay. In last Thursday’s win over Washington Township, Ruona helped the Renegades to another win with a first place finish in the 100 backstroke. “It feels really good,” Ruona said about her start to the season. “All of the girls every meet always have really great swims. It’s so fun to watch people go out and (swim) a best time.” Quotable: “It’s been really fun to watch Kate contribute,” head coach Meghan Warren said. “I actually have known her for quite a while through summer swim and have been able to coach her there. She’s a team player. She’ll do whatever we ask her to do. There are certain events she loves, but we can put her in anything and she’ll do it with a smile on her face and probably (set) a best time on the way too. “She’s definitely been a big contributing factor,” Warren said. “We have some freshmen just like Kate that are really on top of things and they’ve been contributing a lot. It’s really given the whole team a huge boost of confidence this year.” ■
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RYAN LAWRENCE/South Jersey Sports Weekly
A year ago, Delran’s Emma Matera was one of South Jersey’s trailblazers as a member of the first group of female wrestlers to compete at the inaugural NJSIAA girls wrestling state tournament. This year, the sophomore has helped usher more girls into a Bears’ program on the rise.
As a freshman, Delran’s Emma Matera was among the first wave of girls in the state to compete for a wrestling state title. The Bears sophomore is ready to make more history in 2020. By RYAN LAWRENCE Sports Editor
The highlight of the season didn’t come in her first match, nor in advancing to the first-ever Girls Regional Tournament Championship match, nor in walking into Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall for the premiere event of the NJSIAA wrestling season. For Emma Matera, the top moment of her memorable, historic freshman season was on the team bus following a holiday tournament at Hunterdon Central. Delran High School wrestling coach Nathan
Marter congratulated the Bears’ two firstplace finishers, Bryan Miraglia (the winningest wrestler in school history) and Matera. “Everyone started chanting my name,” Matera said. “That was pretty cool.” Her season was remarkable. The only female wrestler at Delran last year, when the sport became officially sanctioned for girls to wrestle for individual postseason titles, Matera was a runner-up at regions and placed fourth in the state. When the season ended she continued to work, in the weight room and on the recruiting trail.
“We have 10-12 girls in the room right now, we’re hoping to fill out a whole lineup — it’s pretty exciting,” Marter said. With three years of high school wrestling still in front of her, maybe Matera will make more history and become the school’s first female state champ, too. “She definitely deserves it; she’s devoted to it, committed in the off-season, works her butt off and puts the time in,” Marter said of Matera, who went out for soccer in the fall to keep up her athleticism. Prior to the start of the season, Matera spoke with South Jersey Sports Weekly. SJSW: How long have you been wrestling? Matera: This will be my fourth season. SJSW: How did you get into it? Matera: I’ve done martial arts for almost all of my life and some of the guys I train with we’re like, yeah, you’re great, but if you had wrestling, that would make you so much better. So when I was in seventh grade, I walked in the room (at Delran Middle School) and I was the only female on the team. SJSW: Intimidating? Matera: A little bit. I was always taught just because you’re the only one doesn’t mean that it’s wrong. SJSW: What did your parents think? Matera: My dad (Mark) was a little hesitant but my mom (Cheryl) was like, “Of course.” She loved the idea of me doing it. SJSW: So martial arts was your first sport? Matera: I’ve been around it all my life and started (training) when I was 8. Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai. SJSW: What did it mean to make history as Delran’s first female wrestler to compete for states? Matera: It’s cool. I feel like it hasn’t hit me yet. I’ve met a lot of girls who are like, “Oh I’ve heard about you, fourth in the state.” I’m like, yeah, cool. All my life I’ve been expected to do great things. My mom always holds a high standard with academics, everything. She’s always pushing me. So it’s just another thing to work at. SJSW: Do you have any role models, whether inside or outside wrestling? Matera: My mom. She’s one of my biggest role models. And I got to meet one of my favorite wrestlers, Jordan Burroughs. He’s an amazing person and an amazing wrestler. He had a clinic (in September) and I saved up the money and went up to see him. SJSW: Let’s talk about your teammates. Who is the toughest person on your team? Matera: We’re all tough in our own please see MATERA, page S4
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SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY — DECEMBER 25-31, 2019
BULLDAWGS
MATERA
“I can rely on them to help me get the young kids going during practice,” Hamrick said of the team’s leaders. “If I’m running late, I let them know and they can get everything set up. They’re in the weight room pushing kids, showing younger kids how to do it. I communicate with them.” “I love Coach Hamrick,” Bolletino said. “He’s a great dude. He pushes us to our limit, so we’re going to get better every single day.” Hamrick also knows what it takes to win a sectional title. Collingswood won one during his time with the program in 2008. “I want to get them to the state tournament,” he said. “I want them to go to Toms River.” The Bulldawgs have most of their lineup from 2019 back, with a couple holes to fill at the heavyweight and lightweight slots. The battle for starting spots in the lightweights has been competitive and Hamrick will be trying out multiple wrestlers in the team’s early-season tournaments to see who steps up. “The lightweights have been working hard,” he said. “I’m switching it up so they’re wrestling new people. But they’re pushing each other, they’re young, but they’re willing to learn.” The new additions to the lineup will play a crucial role as Haddonfield tries to make history in 2020. For the senior class, the message to the underclassmen is simple: it’s sectional title or bust this season. “We’ve been really good the past three years and we’ve made the South Jersey finals every year I’ve been in high school,” Benedict said. “This year, especially with a lot of seniors on varsity, I think we’re ready to win.” ■
way. But I’d say Eren Ibas is one of the toughest people. He’s always pushing me. Even last year I felt like he was a little rough, but I realized that came from (a good place). SJSW: Who is the funniest? Matera: That’s hard. They all like their jokes. But Malachi (McNeil) and Mark (Harrison). SJSW: What is your favorite thing to do outside of wrestling? Matera: I like spending time with my friends, taking walks. It’s one of the highlights. The time that’s not spent here. SJSW: It’s a good way to unwind from sports. Do you have a favorite teacher at Delran? Matera: Mr. (Phillip) Palumbo — he teaches photography and video production. SJSW: Best movie you’ve seen recently? Matera: “Ford vs. Ferrari” was good. SJSW: Any TV show your bingeing? Matera: Right now, not really, but one of my favorite shows is “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” SJSW: Do you have a favorite book? Matera: “All the Bright Places.” It’s about this guy with bipolar disorder and he’s on the brink of losing it all. He finds a girl who is also not in a great place and they kind of help each other. SJSW: It’s March and we’re at the state championship in Atlantic City and you’re wrestling for a state title. What would your entrance music be? Matera: “Welcome to the Jungle” (by Guns and Roses) would be a good one. ■
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RYAN LAWRENCE/South Jersey Sports Weekly
Moorestown head coach Shawn Anstey dribbles along the perimeter as he walks through a play during a recent practice. The Quakers are hoping a contingent of talented sophomores can take advantage of their first varsity experience in the next month in order for the team to reach its full potential.
QUAKERS
continued from page S1 last year’s senior class. Shane Knobloch, a lacrosse star committed to Rutgers, has jumped into Zrada’s role at point guard. “The seniors we have, we’ve been playing together since third or fourth grade,” Greer said. “So we know how each other plays. We just have to incorporate a few of the younger guys. Once we figure that out (we’ll be good).” “The talent is definitely there,” added Muhic, “it’s just getting the experience.” Thankfully for Moorestown, the most important games won’t come in December or even January. As long as the Quakers are competitive and growing as a unit, they could once again make a run on the back half of the four-month grind that is the high school basketball season. “We’re a scrappy, athletic team that just wants to win and doesn’t care how we do it,” Muhic said. “At the end, that will win us games more than talent sometimes. That will be important, on those days when our shots aren’t falling because we don’t have a Jagger or a Vinnie or Akhil, we still have a good mentality this year.” ■
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