Town Topics Newspaper, January 1, 2025.

Growing Town Balances Optimism, Concerns at 2024 Year End

In 2024 Princeton saw another year of major ongoing construction projects, accompanied by a certain amount of controversy; 15 new businesses coming to town; a sharp focus and signi cant progress on environmental issues; a more peaceful year than last in the Princeton Public Schools; a year of accomplishments along with a certain amount of turbulence at Princeton University; and an abundance of both hope and fear for the new year.

The opening of the Graduate by Hilton Princeton hotel and the Triumph Restaurant & Brewery, the completion of the Witherspoon Street Improvement Project in downtown Princeton, and the nal stages of the Alice and Avalon Princeton construction on Harrison Street near the Princeton Shopping Center were major development milestones, and the approval of a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreement with Herring Properties for construction of apartments on the former Princeton Theological Seminary property suggests that the building momentum will be continuing into 2025 and beyond.

There were demonstrations in town, most significantly in support of Princeton’s immigrant community following a July 10 raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials, and on the Princeton University campus, where the Gaza Solidarity Encampment occupied McCosh Courtyard then Cannon Green for a total of about three weeks.

A December 19 discussion at the Nassau Presbyterian Church on “Strengthening Rights in Immigration, Healthcare, Environment, and Law,” with a panel including some of New Jersey’s leading officials, re ected both priorities and concerns that Princeton and the state carry into the coming year.

Development and Construction

If 2023 was the year when parts of downtown Princeton resembled a construction site, 2024 was the year when things began to get back to normal. While there is still plenty of building going on, most of it is taking place outside of the Central Business District.

The much-anticipated Graduate by Hilton Princeton hotel at 10 Chambers Street nally opened in August and became an immediate hit with visitors and locals, many of whom had suffered from traffic tie-ups and road closings due to the extended construction. The hotel was the rst to open in Princeton since the

Nassau Inn began operations nearly 90 years ago.

The newest of the collegiate-inspired Graduate chain, which was acquired last spring by Hilton, the hotel’s memorabilialled lobby has been welcoming to all. Ye Tavern, the lobby restaurant named after a bar said to have been located in the spot nearly a century ago, is especially popular.

The hotel encompasses 20 Nassau Street, a former office building that dates from 1918, and a large section behind it on Chambers Street, where smaller structures were demolished to make room for new construction. The demolition and construction process took longer than expected, but most agree that it was worth the headaches and the wait.

A few blocks away at the site of the former post office on Palmer Square, Triumph Restaurant & Brewery welcomed its rst guests at the end of June after an extensive renovation, and has been going strong ever since. Originally built in 1934, the post office was targeted for closing in 2013. Two years later, it was relocated to a smaller location behind the 7-Eleven on eastern Nassau Street.

That made room for the move of Triumph from its previous home, a former bowling alley on Nassau Street, to the historic post office site. The Planning Board gave its approval in 2017, but it was another seven years before the sleek new restaurant could open its doors.

About 20 percent of the building has been restored, and about 80 percent

completely reconstructed to t the new needs of a restaurant and brewery. The historic WPA mural, painted in 1939 in the lobby, is on loan from the U.S Postal Service and now illuminated with special lighting.

The municipality announced the official completion of the Witherspoon Street Improvement Project on December 10. The three-phase initiative resurfaced and restriped the roadway, raised crosswalks, widened and repaved sidewalks, and made this main thoroughfare of downtown Princeton tidier and more user-friendly. Parking along the street has been restored, and the speed limit has been lowered, from Nassau Street to Valley Road, to 20 miles per hour. A few tweaks remain, including raingarden plantings and the installation of pedestrian lighting, both scheduled for 2025.

Developer James P. Herring’s plan to build 238 apartments on the former Tennent/Roberts/Whiteley campus of Princeton Theological Seminary took a major step forward on December 19, when Princeton Council voted to approve an ordinance granting Herring Properties a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement. This makes the developer exempt from taxes for 30 to 35 years, during which 95 percent of payments are made to the municipality, and ve percent to Mercer County. Herring’s plan includes 48 units that are designated affordable.

The news was welcome to some, unwelcome to others — speci cally some residents of the surrounding neighborhood who are members of the Princeton Coalition for Responsible Development. The nal plan is still subject to review from the Planning Board.

A proposed development at the other end of town, in the historic Jugtown district, drew considerable concerns in 2023 from residents opposed to the four-story, 20,000-square-foot addition of 15 apartments at the Hornor House, located at the busy corner of Nassau and Harrison streets. In May of this year, the neighbors got a proverbial shot in the arm when Preservation New Jersey included the property on its “10 Most Endangered Historic Places.”

The designation came just a week before the issue was set to go before the town’s Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) for review. After two hearings, the HPC voted to reject the proposal.

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NEW HOTEL IN TOWN: The Graduate by Hilton Princeton, which has an

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READY TO REENACT: An unprecedented number of regiments have signed up to participate in the January 5 Experience the Battle of Princeton event.

Princeton Battlefield Society Announces 52 Regiments Fifty-two reenactor regiments have committed to participate in the 2025 Experience The Battle of Princeton (EBOP) at Princeton Battlefield State Park on Sunday, January 5 starting at 10 a.m. Each year, barring calamitous weather conditions, PBS hosts a reenactment of the Battle of Princeton at the historic battlefield on Mercer Road.

On the morning of January 3, 1777, George Washington’s army, after an allnight march from Trenton in bone-chilling temperatures met and defeated British Crown forces. The victory capped what historians now call the “Ten Crucial Days,” in which Washington and the American forces rescued the War for Independence after months of crushing battlefield defeats in New York and New Jersey. Without Washington’s successes in Trenton and Princeton, the war would have likely ended in American defeat.

In one of the fiercest battles of the American Revolution, American troops under General George Washington surprised and defeated a force of British Regulars on the morning of January 3, 1777. American soldiers, pushed back by a strong British assault, were rallied by Washington who rode his horse between the British and American lines, leading his men to his first field victory over British troops. The Battle of Princeton capped 10 days of maneuvering and fighting, including three battles, two in Trenton, which began with Washington’s famous December 25, 1776, crossing of the Delaware.

The forces reenacting the Battle of Princeton will include 40 American units and 12 British units, including infantry, artillery and cavalry, said Princeton Battlefield Society (PBS) President Ben Strong.

“We are grateful to these men for their commitment to keeping the history of this battle alive,” he said. “This

was one of the most important battles of the war and it was fought right here in Princeton.”

“I’m really excited by this turnout,” said Ken Gavin, PBS vice president, EBOP Committee co-chair, himself a reenactor and overall commander of Continental forces. “Over 20 of the units represent units that fought on the Battle 248 years ago, and they’ll be joined by many others who recognize just how important this is.”

While the event starts at 10 a.m., being on the battlefield by 9:30 a.m. is strongly encouraged. To learn more about EBOP and the individual regiments who will join the event, visit pbs177.org.

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Leighton Listens: Councilman Leighton Newlin holds one-on-one conversations about issues impacting Princeton from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on January 9 at Tipple and Rose, 210 Nassau Streee; January 15 at Delizioso, 205 Witherspoon Street; January 22 at Bagel Nook, Princeton Shopping Center; and January 29 at Jammin’ Crepes, Princeton Public Library lobby, 65 Witherspoon Street.

Food Pantry: Arm In Arm’s mobile food pantry is at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch of Mercer County Library System, 2751 Brunswick Pike, on Monday afternoons from 2-4 p.m. Fresh produce, eggs, milk, frozen proteins, and quality baked goods as well as canned and boxed items and personal care items are available for those in need. Sustainable Princeton “Lending Library” : Sustainable Princeton offers residents and nonprofits in Princeton the opportunity to borrow sustainable home items such as electric landscape equipment, induction cooktops, and repair tools, for free, for up to two weeks. Visit sustainableprinceton.org for more information.

Free Rabies Clinic: Open to all New Jersey residents, at Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad, 1 Valley Road on Saturday, January 18 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Pets must be at least 3 months old. Dogs must be leashed; cats secured in a carrier. All pets must be accompanied by an adult. Visit princetonnj.gov for more information.

2024 Year in Review

Continued from Front Page

With construction of The Alice and Avalon Princeton on Harrison complexes almost finished, Princeton Shopping Center is morphing from a tired-looking outdoor mall with lots of empty parking spaces into a multiuse neighborhood of market rate and affordable housing.

The town’s efforts in this direction were recognized by New Jersey Future in October, which gave the municipality with a Smart Growth Award for “the Terhune Harrison Mixed Use Village.”

Human Services, and Racial, Social, and Economic Equity.

One of six initiatives to be so honored, the project was described as “a transformational redevelopment knitting together several residential and commercial sites to form a revitalized suburban mixed-use village with affordable housing.” And speaking of affordable housing, the fourth-round obligations of New Jersey’s fair housing laws were released in October. Princeton’s goal was set at 276, to be built by 2036. Cranes and construction vehicles have also been busy this year at the former site of SAVE animal shelter on Herrontown Road, where 64 affordable units are being built.

Retail and Restaurants

According to Experience Princeton’s annual report for 2024, 15 new businesses were welcomed to Princeton this year. Among them: eateries Pastiamo, J.S. Foodies, and the Princeton Shopping Center Starbucks outlet, which took the place of the former Bon Appetit gourmet store. The 300 Witherspoon location of Sakrid Coffee closed during the year, but the 20 Nassau Street café remains open and highly popular, especially with its proximity to the Graduate by Hilton Princeton hotel.

Lilly Pulitzer, Hermès, and Faherty added to the highend fashion offerings on Palmer Square. Alo, which sells luxury activewear, brought the former Kitchen Kapers site, empty since the pandemic, back to life.

Municipal Actions

Princeton Council’s approval in January to consolidate the Civil Rights Commission, the Human Services Commission, and the Affordable Housing Board into one single committee was controversial, to say the least. Emotions ran high among some who had served on those committees, and Council members endeavored to assure them that the goal was to make dealing with issues of racism, equity, and homelessness more efficient.

The ordinance was amended to change the entity’s name from the Community Services Advisory Committee to the Advisory Committee on Affordable Housing,

Council passed an updated ordinance on outdoor dining in March, replacing the sidewalk cafes ordinance dating back to 1974. The new measure recognizes changes brought on by such factors as the widening of sidewalks on Witherspoon Street, and the increased demand for outdoor dining that was particularly strong during the COVID-19 pandemic. The approval applies to thoroughfares other than Nassau Street, which is overseen by the New Jersey Department of Transportation since it is a state right of way.

A discussion by Council in October about revitalizing Hinds Plaza raised concerns

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SERENITY AFTER THE STORM: Geese and ducks gathered amidst the beauty of the Millstone River after a snowstorm

(Photo by Melissa Bilyeu)

among Council members and the public, who like the 20-year-old plaza just fine as it is. The consultant Arterial LLC’s report suggesting removal of the honey locust trees in the plaza was particularly distressing to some. Additional proposals included providing more space for public events by extending the square to the edge of Witherspoon Street, a new stage for performances or speeches, and moveable seating. Work will continue on the redesign before any action is considered.

Another proposal that raised hackles was the vote by Council to remove the informational kiosks on Nassau Street at the intersections with Witherspoon Street and Vandeventer Avenue. At an October meeting, some members of Council spoke in favor of taking away the “eyesores,” which are papered with messages and announcements, and replacing them with some sort of digital displays. But others expressed concerns about first amendment concerns.

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During a public hearing at the next meeting, several residents spoke up against the idea, citing the free speech issue. While no final decision has been made about how the kiosks will be replaced, Councilwoman Michelle Pirone Lambros assured the public at a recent meeting that their concerns were being considered.

Council approved a resolution in late November to pay for the study of the Princeton Fire Department’s headquarters at 363 Witherspoon Street. On the list are future space needs, environmental issues, HVAC and ADA-compliance issues, accommodations for staff, and more. Since it opened in 1992, the building has had leaks and other problems. A concept plan is expected to be completed within six months.

The November 15 ribboncutting on Princeton’s newest open space preserve, the 153-acre expanse formerly known as the Lanwin tract, was a proud moment for local government and environmental officials. Located in the northwest corner of Princeton, with frontage on Province Line and Cherry Valley roads, the parcel was at one time targeted for a housing development. But through an agreement struck in October 2021 between the town, Bryce Thompson, and Lanwin Development, it was acquired for $8.775 million and set aside for conservation and passive recreational use.

The long saga of the future of the Westminster Choir College’s former Walnut Lane campus moved toward closure in October when Council approved the second of two ordinances authorizing the acquisition of the property by the town. Westminster, which is part of Rider University and has been operating from Rider’s Lawrence Township campus, remains the subject of several lawsuits.

Just what the town will do with the site, should the purchase go according to plan, remains to be seen. While some faculty from Westminster Conservatory of Music and the Westminster

Oliver: “I want to go running a few more times a week. I sit down too much — a lot of time at the library, meals, and my dorm.”

Leila: “I want to get more sleep and be more on time.” —-Oliver Yukica, Thetford, Vt., with Leila Eshaghpour-Silberman, San Francisco, Calif.

“Work more and make more money. I’m part time, so full time.” —Jordan Torres, West Windsor

Ron: “To get her to move to the West Coast.”

Cailyn: “To get him to move to the East Coast.”

—Ron Elmo, Grover Beach, Calif., with Cailyn Kemka, Florham Park

“Drink less, eat healthier, exercise, be kind — pretty standard stuff.”

—John Astrab, Princeton

2024 Year in Review

Continued from Preceding Page Community Orchestra, both of which still operate from the Walnut Lane campus, expressed concerns about the future if the town takes over, Councilmembers reassured them that a proper planning process is in place.

Health Issues

With COVID-19 now considered “endemic,” and managed like other respiratory viruses, public health responses are focusing on routine prevention, most notably vaccinations, and treatment strategies such as Paxlovid, that reduce the severity for high-risk individuals.

It seemed like a healthy year for Princeton with respiratory illnesses increasing as the winter season approached, but the numbers of severe cases remaining relatively low.

In early December Princeton Deputy Administrator/Director of Health Jeff Grosser stated that flu, COVID-19 and RSV numbers are likely to peak in the winter months. RSV activity in New Jersey was recently reported by the New Jersey Department of Health as relatively high, and COVID-19 remains a concern, he said, but “the response to COVID is now integrated into the broader management of seasonal respiratory illnesses.”

Grosser emphasized the importance of vaccinations, “your best defense against severe illness,” along with good hygiene, using proper respiratory etiquette, eating healthy, and getting enough sleep. He added, “Remember,

we’ve made tremendous progress in managing respiratory illnesses like COVID-19, and public health measures continue to improve as we navigate the seasonal peaks.”

Sustainability

With predictions of worsening storms and devastation from weather-related events all over the world, concerns about sustainability and resiliency continue to grow. In October, Princeton Council heard a progress report on the town’s fiveyear-old Climate Action Plan from the nonprofit Sustainable Princeton. Executive Director Christine Symington and other staff members told Council that they were making significant progress in reaching the goals of the plan, specifically in solid waste collection.

The town hired a community compliance officer to help facilitate changes in leaf, branch, and log collection. A Sustainable Homes Expo and eCommuterFest were held during the year.

In response to the loss of more than a million trees due to an invasive insect, the Sourland Conservancy and volunteers have been busy since 2000, installing deer “exclosures” and planting more than 50,000 native trees and shrubs. In 2024, the Conservancy celebrated the planting of its 10,000th oak tree.

Nonprofit Initiatives and Milestones

Princeton-area nonprofit organizations were in the news throughout the year, providing ongoing support, staging popular events, and contributing in many ways

to the community’s vibrancy and well-being.

Celebrating major milestones in 2024 were the Princeton Public Library, which observed the 20th anniversary of its move into the new Sands Library Building next to the transformed Hinds Plaza; Morven Museum and Garden, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in May, as well as a number of cultural and historical events throughout the year, culminating in the December Festival of Trees; the Jewish Center, which on May 4 commemorated its “Diamond Jubilee,” 75 years in Princeton; the Watershed Institute, based in Hopewell Township, which marked 75 years of protecting water and the natural environment; and the D&R (Delaware and Raritan) Canal State Park, with its towpath extending from New Brunswick to Trenton and beyond, which celebrated its 50th anniversary with a series of events from March to November.

The Pennington United Methodist Church hosted a year-long celebration of its 250 years in the Pennington area with community worship services, a hymn festival, performances, and receptions.

Princeton Battlefield State Park, with major funding from the state and additional support from the American Battlefi eld Trust, the Princeton Battlefield Society, and others is underway with the creation of new tourist-friendly historical signage and an array of additional upgrades, as the park prepares for the upcoming 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.

FINAL TAKEOFF: Princeton High girls’ swimmer Kyleigh Tangen takes off to do the anchor leg in the 400-yard freestyle relay on February 25 as PHS battled Chatham in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group B state final at the Rutgers Aquatics Center. Tangen and the Tigers fell just short of a second straight state title as they lost 89-81 to the Cougars to end the winter at 14-1. (Photo by Steven Wojtowicz)

CELEBRATING PI DAY PRINCETON: Albert Einstein reenactor Bill Agress, rear, gathered with young participants in the Einstein Look-Alike contest on March 9 at Princeton Public Library. Presented by the Princeton Tour Company, the event was one of many scheduled in honor of Einstein’s birthday, March 14 (3.14) — the numeric equivalent of pi. (Photo by Sarah Teo)

2024 Year in Review

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Among other busy environmental organizations focusing on Princeton in 2024 were Friends of Princeton Open Space, based at the Mountain Lakes Preserve and prioritizing preservation of land and biodiversity

in Princeton, and Friends of the Herrontown Woods, “Princeton’s first and most whimsical nature preserve,” both of which carried out a busy year of events and productive initiatives.

The Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice offered programs and events supporting the LGBTQIA+ community on a daily basis throughout the year, and in June hosted its sixth annual Pride Parade and AfterParty.

For 10 days in August, the Witherspoon-Jackson community hosted its annual Joint Effort Princeton Safe Streets Summer Program, offering a variety of cultural, spiritual, educational, civic, and athletic events honoring local individuals and celebrating the community.

Also in the WitherspoonJackson district, the Paul Robeson House of Princeton

is nearing completion of its extensive renovations and has announced an April opening of what will be an expanding educational and cultural center preserving the Robeson legacy.

The Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) seemed to be generating news stories almost every week throughout the year, with thousands of residents and visitors attending its events, exhibitions, classes, and workshops. The ACP also created several murals on Spring Street and elsewhere for the enjoyment of the community.

The Princeton-based Coalition for Peace Action completed another extremely busy, productive year with forums, webinars, demonstrations, conferences, and multifaith services, as well as its candidate briefings and 2024 Peace Voter Guide leading up to the 2024 election.

innovation, creativity, and progress.

Foster, who became acting superintendent in late 2023, was, in July 2024, authorized by the BOE and approved by the state to serve as interim superintendent until July 2025. The BOE launched its search for a new superintendent in August, and was reportedly interviewing candidates during the past month. It is expected to share information with the public early in 2025, and to select a new PPS leader by March 2025.

Sustainable Princeton was constantly in the news in 2024, working with the schools, residents, businesses, local government, and other organizations, sponsoring a wide range of events throughout Princeton in carrying out its stated “mission to inspire the community to develop and implement solutions that positively impact the environment.” Continued on

Princeton Public Schools

Following a rather turbulent year in 2023, Princeton Public Schools (PPS) enjoyed a productive, relatively calm 2024 under the dependable, sure-handed leadership of Interim Superintendent Kathie Foster. With two newlyelected Board of Education (BOE) members stepping up on January 1, the district looks forward to a major Facilities Bond Referendum on January 28, the selection of a new permanent superintendent by the spring, and another year of topnotch teaching and learning,

The $89.1 million bond referendum, if approved by voters in the January 28 vote, would address aging infrastructure and space needs as the town anticipates about 1,000 units of new housing in the next several years, with additional population growth and statemandated development also expected in the near future.

The BOE has provided a number of information sessions, as well as building tours, to help inform the public before the January vote. The proposal calls for expanding and upgrading school buildings at Community Park and Littlebrook elementary schools, expansion and renovation at Princeton Middle School, and renovations at Princeton High School. After reductions through state aid, the referendum is expected to have a tax impact of about $543 annually for the owner of a home at Princeton’s average assessed value of $853,136.

FARM FUN: Children enjoyed riding trikes at Terhune Orchards’ Bunny Trail Spring Festival on April 1. The play area was one of the many attractions at the annual event celebrating spring.

(Photo by Sarah Teo)

ECLIPSE EXCITEMENT: Hundreds gathered in Palmer Square on April 8 for the Total Solar Eclipse Viewing Experience hosted by the Princeton University Astrophysical Sciences Department, the Council on Science and Technology, and the Office of Science Outreach. (Photo by Sarah Teo)

2024 Year in Review

Continued from Preceding Page

Sustainability was one major theme for the year as PPS announced in September that all six schools had been awarded certification from Sustainable Jersey Schools for their numerous green initiatives, which reduced the schools’ carbon footprint.

Among the other news stories coming from the Princeton schools were numerous awards and accomplishments by talented students of all ages and their teachers; a new Cor Cordis (the heart of hearts) Center for Exceptional Leadership at Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart; and an innovative series of podcasts from Princeton Montessori School, offering practical

advice for parents.

Princeton High School 2010 graduate Evan Gershkovich was the focus of one of the biggest local and international news stories of the year. That story reached a happy resolution on August 1, when Gershkovich was released from a Russian prison as part of a prisoner exchange and returned to the United States.

The 33-year old Wall Street Journal reporter, who grew up in Princeton and was co-captain of the PHS boys’ soccer team, had been arrested in March 2023 on charges of espionage that were widely disputed and condemned. He was detained in the notorious Lefortovo Prison for 16 months.

Princeton University In many ways it was not an unusual year for Princeton University, which remained on top of national rankings. And as University President Christopher L. Eisgruber reported in his “State of the University” letter early in the year, Princeton continued to carry out its exceptional scholarship and research, its ongoing expansion and increasing socioeconomic diversity, the construction of new facilities for the School of Engineering and Applied Science and Environmental Studies, and the Art Museum, as its academic excellence “increased substantially across every segment of its undergraduate population.”

The new Meadows

Neighborhood on Washington Road across Lake Carnegie is up and running with a full complement of graduate student housing and athletic teams; Princeton’s professors and students won numerous national and international awards, including Professor John Hopfield’s Nobel Prize in Physics “for foundational discoveries and inventions that enable machine learning with artificial neural networks,” and the University continued to make voluntary contributions to the town of Princeton, totaling about $50 million over the past five years. Princeton University, however, was not immune to turmoil and controversies that arose locally, nationally, and globally — and created some

of the major news stories of the year.

For nearly three weeks in late April and early May hundreds of Gaza Solidarity Encampment protesters occupied first McCosh Courtyard, then Cannon Green behind Nassau Hall, and at one point moved into the Clio Hall administration building, where 13 students were arrested.

There were charges of Islamophobia, countered by protests against antisemitism, rallies, lectures, art installations, banners and posters, various gatherings, and a hunger strike as protesters highlighted the Palestinians’ plight. The students were not permitted to sleep outdoors or to set up tents, and the numbers of protesters fluctuated significantly, eventually dwindling with the onset of reading period and final exams, along with the increased involvement of University administrators, who demanded removal of the encampment in time to prepare Cannon Green for

official end-of-year events. By late night on Wednesday, May 15, the encampment had ended, though the student leaders would continue to pursue their demands: 1) for divestment and dissociation from companies involved in Israel’s military and apartheid policies and 2) that charges and disciplinary action against the students who had been arrested be dropped.

This longest demonstration in Princeton’s history was at times disruptive, angry, and less than civil, but it did seem to resolve peacefully and avoid the extremes of protest activity at other universities that resulted in several resignations of university presidents.

In attempting to resolve another issue with wideranging reverberations, the Princeton University Board of Trustees announced in October that the statue of founding father and former University President John Witherspoon would not be

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CALM ON CANNON GREEN: It was quiet on May 7 at the Gaza Solidarity Encampment at Princeton University, but activity was expected to heat up in the evening as protestors gathered for a rally and town hall meeting. The demonstration continued through mid-May.

(Photo by Donald Gilpin)

2024 Year in Review

removed from its prominent place in Firestone Plaza, despite Witherspoon’s ownership of slaves.

The decision followed a debate and deliberation process of more than two years, and still on the table are the questions of whether the statue should be moved from its present location and how it should be “contextualized” with the addition of “a more complex and accurate history” of Witherspoon. The Campus Art Steering Committee is currently considering those questions.

In a clash engaging a substantial impassioned segment of the local populace, the University disputed with community members over

its decision to end the lease of the Nassau Swim Club (NSC), located on University-owned land on Springdale Road between the University and the Institute for Advanced Study.

gifts

Despite appeals by the NSC Board, a petition signed by more than one thousand locals, and many letters to Town Topics describing the pool as a great asset to the community, the University stood by its decision to terminate the lease in April, citing the NSC’s financial difficulties in recent years, including its failure to make tax payments and meet debt obligations.

“Nassau Swim Club is a Princeton tradition,” wrote one NSC board member, “and has a devoted community of past and present members.”

Another campus controversy culminated on May 14 when Princeton graduate students, reversing what seemed to be an earlier position, voted 652-391 against unionization. The previous week the University’s postdoctoral researchers voted by a margin of 484 to 89 to join a union with the United Auto Workers (UAW).

At Princeton University’s 277th commencement ceremony on May 28 in Princeton Stadium, Eisgruber urged the graduates to “lean into life,” as they, along with the University itself, have surely done and continue to do.

Elections

The presidential election dominated the nation’s headlines in 2024, but locally it was competition for the Board of Education (BOE) of the Princeton Public Schools (PPS) that attracted the most interest and passion, in a year when school issues quieted down from the 2023 conflicts over the dismissal of the high school principal and the resignation of the superintendent of schools.

With incumbent BOE members Betsy Baglio and Brian McDonald stepping down and Mara Franceschi running for a second term, the field was open with three

seats on the line. Franceschi was the top vote getter, indicating perhaps a vote of confidence for the current BOE, and new candidates Chris Santarpio and Ari Meisel also won three-year BOE terms that start on January 1.

Municipal government elections saw three Democratic candidates running unopposed, with Mark Freda winning another term as mayor, Leighton Newlin another term as Councilman, and McDonald moving to occupy the Council seat held by Eve Niedergang, who had announced that she would be retiring on December 31 after six years in office. Democratic candidates also came out on top in Princeton’s 12th Congressional District, where Bonnie Watson Coleman coasted to reelection for her sixth term, and in the New Jersey race for the U.S. Senate where Andy Kim defeated Republican candidate Curtis Bashaw.

Princeton voted for presidential candidate Kamala Harris over winner Donald Trump by a 83-16 percent margin, and Harris won the New Jersey electoral votes, but Republicans made substantial gains. The coming year promises to be interesting with all 80 New Jersey Assembly seats up for grabs, and numerous candidates stepping forward to get on the ballot in the governor’s race to follow Phil Murphy, since he is not permitted to run for a third term.

Departures and Appointments

After nearly 25 years with the Princeton Police Department — three as chief — Jon Bucchere retired in August from the force. Taking Bucchere’s place was former Captain Chris Tash. Also retiring this year was Lt. Benjamin Gering. Like Bucchere, Gering first served

Service!

609-933-7886 | Office: 609-921-2600 judith.budwig@foxroach.com

Continued from Preceding Page

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY P-RADE 2024: Point Marshals Rob Wolk ’91, left, and Bruce McBarnette,’80, center, were among the participants in the annual Reunions Weekend event on May 25. (Photo by Steven Wojtowicz)

MOVING ON: Princeton High School saw 366 seniors graduate on June 14. As the graduation season ended, it was on to summer academic and construction projects at Princeton Public Schools. (Photo courtesy of Princeton Public Schools)

CELEBRATING PRIDE: Despite the excessive heat, the annual Princeton Pride Parade, sponsored by the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice (BRCSJ), made its way from the Municipal Building on Witherspoon Street to an After-Party at the Princeton YMCA on June 22. (Photo courtesy of BRCSJ)

2024 Year in Review

Continued from Preceding Page the department as a patrol officer in 2000.

Effective December 31, Councilwoman Eve Niedergang stepped down from the governing body after two terms in office. Known for her dedication to issues focused on the environment and social justice, Niedergang is continuing her work as a coordinator of volunteers for The Watershed Institute.

In November, Princeton University said farewell to Lou Chen, founder of the Trenton Arts Program (TAP), when he accepted the job of CEO of INTEMPO, a Connecticut nonprofit that engages immigrant families through classical and intercultural music education. Chen’s work during his days as an undergraduate with young instrumentalists at Trenton High School was the foundation for the TAP program, which he expanded to include dance, theater, and singing.

Less than six months after former Executive Director Jill Barry departed Morven Museum & Garden, Rhonda DiMascio was named to the post in February. A veteran museum and gardens leader, New Jersey native DiMascio served as executive director of Friends of the Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia for past four years before taking over at Morven.

Witherspoon Media Group, which encompasses Town Topics newspaper and Princeton Magazine, said farewell to longtime EditorIn-Chief Lynn Adams Smith, who retired at the end of 2024 after 27 years working at the newspaper, and 15 publishing the magazine.

Losses

Within a few months this past summer, Princeton lost several of its most distinguished personalities. Ingrid Reed, a public policy expert and pioneer in civil rights, passed away on July 27 at the age of 88. Author Landon “Lanny” Jones, former managing editor of People magazine and numerous other publications — the man who coined the phrase “baby boomer” — died on August 17 at age 80. Just a week later on August 24, former Princeton Township mayor and elected official Bernard Miller, who was an aeronautical engineer, died at age 95.

Among the many others with impressive Princeton connections who died during the year were longtime Town Topics Associate Editor Barbara Johnson, Princeton High School fencing coach Aaron Sam Blanchard, Princeton University Professor Paul M. Lion III, photographer Pryde Brown, Princeton University scholar Victor Brombert, Princeton Girlchoir founder Janet Continued on Next Page

DRIBBLE DRILL: Kamau Bailey led youngsters in a dribbling footwork drill on August 10 at the Joint Effort and Bailey Basketball Academy Youth Basketball Clinic at Princeton Middle School. The skills clinic was part of the annual 10-day WitherspoonJackson Joint Effort Princeton Safe Streets Summer Program. (Photo by Steven Wojtowicz)

MASTER CARVER: Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) fall Artist-in-Residence Nathan Jackson, right, a nationally renowned Alaskan Tlingit artist, worked with his wife, Dorica, on the ACP’s new totem pole at a public carving demonstration on September 20. Made from western red cedar, the 8-foot-high work will permanently reside in the ACP front lobby. (Photo by Jeffrey E. Tryon)

2024 Year in Review

Continued from Preceding Page Westrick, and pharmaceutical executive David Penman Jacobus.

Also: scholar and physicist Charles Edward Bush, inventor and entrepreneur George A. “Arky” Vaughn III, Princeton Public Schools teacher and coach Norman C. Van Arsdalen, scientist and health policy consultant Richard “Dick” Bergman, opera singer Donald Craig Sheasley, scholar and attorney Richard D. Kuhn, scholar and author Donald Bernard Gibson, and executive and devoted Princeton University alumnus Peter E.B. Erdman.

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nual event on October 19 in the courtyard of the Princeton Shopping Center. Trick-or-treating, live music, a pet costume contest, balloon artists, and more were also featured. (Photo by Sarah Teo)

COW SERENADE: Cows were celebrated and honored at the Annual Cow Parade festival at Cherry Grove Farm in Lawrenceville on November 2. The tradition comes from the Swiss Alps, where the cows are brought down from the mountains to the lower pastures each fall, with elaborate decorations. (Photo by Sarah Teo)

The views of the letters do not necessarily reflect the views of Town Topics.

Referendum Aims to Solve Capacity Problem; Town is Growing, and Schools Must Keep Up

To the Editor:

On January 28, Princeton residents will vote on a threequestion referendum to enable the Princeton Public Schools to accommodate sharply rising enrollment. I’m writing to urge my fellow Princetonians to vote yes on all three questions. Over the past few months, I’ve paid close attention to the district’s referendum planning process, and I am deeply impressed by the care and wisdom with which the planners have worked to meet the district’s urgent needs while maximizing state aid and minimizing cost.

The primary problem the referendum aims to solve is capacity: Princeton is growing, and the schools must keep up. Over the next five years, over a thousand new housing units will come online, and more are likely. This means that we’ll be welcoming hundreds more students into our schools, most of which are already at or over capacity. If we don’t expand our facilities, class size will go up, elementary school attendance zones will be redrawn (with attendant busing costs), and programming will suffer. Expensive stopgap measures like renting trailers to serve as makeshift classrooms will only go so far, likely making another referendum necessary in another few years.

The district cannot meet its growing needs out of its annual operational budget, which funds salaries and programming and which cannot increase by more than 2 percent each year, per state law. By funding these necessary facilities improvements through a referendum that renovates existing structures, the district is able to capture nearly $20 million of state funding that is unavailable to support operating expenses or new construction.

The referendum questions are tiered, which means that for Question 2 to pass, Question 1 must pass, and for Question 3 to pass, both Questions 1 and 2 must pass. Question 1 expands Community Park elementary school and replaces the high school’s end-of-life HVAC system. Question 2 expands the already overcrowded Princeton Middle School and renovates space at PHS to maximize use. Question 3 expands Littlebrook elementary school, which last year was so crowded that the music teacher had to wheel his materials around on a cart.

The total cost of all three questions is $532 for the average assessed Princeton home. That’s not an insubstantial number, to be sure, and the referendum’s three-question structure reflects the district’s sensitivity to this reality. But it’s an amount that will fund crucial improvements without compromising school quality. Voters should remember, moreover, that our public schools’ excellence is one of the key reasons that Princeton is such a desirable place to live — and that Princeton home values continue to rise. When my husband and I moved here nearly 14 years ago, we did so because of the schools, and because of what Princeton’s wonderful public goods (schools, library, pool, etc.) say about our town’s values. We are a community that takes seriously our responsibility to provide for each other and to educate the next generation. This is precisely what the PPS referendum sets us up to do. I strongly encourage my fellow Princetonians to vote yes.

JANE MANNERS Wheatsheaf Lane

Making Improvements Through Referendum Is Most Responsible Approach District Can Take

To the Editor:

I write in support of the PPS Facilities Bond Referendum and to encourage Princeton voters to approve of the three Referendum questions on the ballot on January 28.

As a longtime resident of Princeton whose children thrived in our schools (grades K-12) quite a few years ago, I feel strongly that Princeton voters today should support the proposed building improvements outlined in the referendum so that the students of today and tomorrow will have the same opportunity to thrive in school as my own kids did.

The proposed improvements are necessary to avoid current and future overcrowding, maintain small class sizes, continue some very important services and programs, create space to serve students better, and allow more students to attend their neighborhood school. From the district’s website and other materials, it is plain to see that much thought and attention has been put into the three referendum questions that address the various needs facing our schools today.

Question 1 provides funding to replace the end-of-life HVAC system at Princeton High School (PHS) and to expand and renovate Community Park School.

Question 2 provides funding to expand the overcrowded Princeton Middle School, and renovate/reconfigure PHS.

Question 3 provides funding for new classrooms and expanded common areas at Littlebrook School.

It’s important to highlight that Question 1 must pass in order for Question 2 to pass, and both Questions 1 and 2 must pass in order for Question 3 to pass.

It’s also crucial to note that making these vital improvements through this referendum is the most responsible approach the district can take. State aid comes only with a voter-approved referendum. If these referendum-funded projects are approved, the district will receive an estimated $19.9 million in debt service aid. Projects that are funded through the annual budget are not eligible for this state debt service aid. Thus, the impact on our local property taxes of

these much-needed improvements is minimized.

As an advocate of affordable housing and socio-economic diversity in our town, I’m excited about all of the new housing (particularly the affordable units) going up, and I applaud the district for looking ahead and formulating a smart growth plan for current and future students of the PPS. Please join me in support and vote Yes to all three questions on the ballot January 28.

CAROL GOLDEN Snowden Lane

Supporting Facilities Bond Referendum For Future Generations of PPS Students

To the Editor:

Princeton needs more affordable housing, and I am proud to live in a community that has taken its obligations under the state Mount Laurel Doctrine seriously and encouraged the development of new housing, including much needed affordable units. But with Princeton growing, we need a corresponding expansion in the physical capacity of our schools to house the academic classrooms, music venues, social spaces, and athletic facilities that make our district such a great place to learn.

Princeton residents know that making a house into a home requires upkeep and investment — that’s why there are so many contractor trucks around town renovating heating and cooling systems, adding additional rooms, and making much needed repairs to aging buildings. Most of these homeowners borrowed money to make these needed repairs, and many take advantage of government programs that defray the cost of renovations. That’s just what Princeton Public Schools is doing with its Facilities Bond Referendum, borrowing a reasonable amount of money that will be invested in the physical plant of our schools, and taking advantage of state funding allocated for this type of building program. I am supporting the Facilities Bond Referendum so that future generations of students can take advantage of Princ

eton’s excellent academics and award-winning music programs, and so that more students can walk to neighborhood schools. I hope you will too.

AARON SHKUDA Moore Street

Encouraging Residents to Vote Yes on Princeton Public Schools Referendum

To the Editor:

As a longtime Princeton resident, I am grateful that the public school system provided excellent education opportunities for our three children and continues to be forward thinking in meeting our students’ needs. The referendum presented to us carefully addresses physical plant, learning needs, and cost efficiency; I fully support passing the full measure.

While our children are now in their 30s, my husband and I feel strongly that all of us in our community have a responsibility to support our schools, just as those before us supported the last very successful building expansion and maintenance. We appreciate the approach to expand rather than build new, and to make use of state funds to reduce costs. But above all we support maintaining small class size and spaces comfortable for learning.

With climate change causing more hot humid days, we cannot risk letting the HVAC system fail in the high school. Imagine our teens trying to concentrate in 90+ heat; we must be proactive!

And imagine the joy that a music teacher can create in a dedicated music room instead of carting materials around to each classroom as was done last year at Littlebrook.

These are just a few of the day-to-day benefits the referendum will provide for our students. And the act of our community coming together to support our schools will benefit us all with a united spirit in valuing and nurturing education in Princeton. I hope you will join me in voting yes on all three PPS Referendum measures on January 28!

LIZ COHEN Terhune Road

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Town Topics welcomes letters to the Editor, preferably on subjects related to Princeton. Letters must have a valid street address (only the street name will be printed with the writer’s name). Priority will be given to letters that are received for publication no later than Monday noon for publication in that week’s Wednesday edition. Letters must be no longer than 500 words and have no more than four signatures.

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Authors Gardner and Burns In Conversation at Library

Author Lisa Gardner will be joined by writer Amy Jo Burns to discuss Gardner’s latest novel, Still See You Everywhere , at a ticketed Book Brunch event on Sunday, January 12, at 11 a.m. at the Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Registration is required for this event, which is co-presented by Labyrinth Books.

Doors open at 10:30 a.m. for pastries, coffee, tea, and other light brunch fare. The author talk will begin at 11 a.m. with a book signing to follow. Tickets are $20 (plus tax and fees, totaling $24.71), and the price includes brunch and a copy of the book. The registration ticking clock and an incoming tropical storm.

“I love Lisa Gardner’s fantastic series starring Frankie Elkin, a kickass female heroine who works missing-persons cases with heart, humor, and straight-up bravery,” writes author Lisa Scottoline. “The cold case superheats when Frankie takes it on, and this thriller has enough twists and turns to make you dizzy. If you haven’t read Frankie Elkin yet, start now.”

Gardner, a New York Times bestselling thriller novelist, has transformed her interest in police procedure and criminal minds into a streak of internationally acclaimed novels, published across 30 countries. Her novel The Neighbor won Best Hardcover Novel from the International Thriller Writers. She has also been honored for her work with animal rescue and at-risk children. An avid hiker, gardener, and cribbage player, she lives with her family in New England.

Burns is the author of the memoir Cinderland and the novel Shiner, which was a Barnes & Noble Discover Pick, NPR Best Book of the year, and “told in language as incandescent as smoldering coal,” according to The New York Times. Her latest novel, Mercury , is a Barnes & Noble Book Club Pick, a Book of the Month Pick, a People Magazine Book of the Week, and an Editor’s Choice selection in The New York Times. Her writing has appeared in The Paris Review Daily, Elle, Good Housekeeping, and the anthology Not That Bad.

New Year’s Eve 2024: Beat Muse Joan Adams Vollmer Crashes the Party

I am forced to the appalling conclusion that I would have never become a writer but for Joan’s death...

—William S. Burroughs

A book of great beauty and maniacally exquisite insight with a wild and deadly humor

—Norman Mailer on The Naked Lunch

Dreaming of another fantastical New Year’s Eve party like the Harpo Marx/Charlie Parker/Times Square centenary blast I arranged for 1911/2011, I checked celebrity births for 1924 on the Notable Names Database (NNDB: “Tracking the Entire World”), and found a starstudded cast headed by Marlon Brando, Lauren Bacall, and James Baldwin, with supporting players like presidents George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter sharing a table next to one occupied by country singers Chet Akins and Slim Whitman. For comic relief, you’ve got Brando’s buddy for life Wally Cox ( Mr. Peepers ), Carroll O’Connor’s Archie Bunker ( All in the Family ), Dr. Strangelove’s Terry Southern, and Twilight Zone’s Rod Serling, not to mention Bill Dana (“My name José Jiménez”) and Don Knotts (“Are you nervous?”) from the Steve Allen Show, plus Norm Alden, the coach who drowned in a bowl of chicken noodle soup on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman

Okay, let’s set this year’s party at Birdland just up Broadway from the Royal Roost, site of the 2011 celebration. Among jazz stars born in ‘24, there’s alto saxophonist Paul Desmond (runner up to Charlie Parker in the 1954 Downbeat poll), trombonist J.J. Johnson, pianist Bud Powell, drummer Max Roach, trumpeter and arranger Shorty Rogers, and tenor man Sonny Stitt, plus songs by Dinah Washington, the Divine Sarah Vaughan, and Doris Day, who got her start singing with Les Brown’s Band of Renown. At the ringside table with Brando and Cox are Marlon’s co-stars Katy Jurado ( OneEyed Jacks ) and Eva Marie Saint ( On the Waterfront ). Fresh from Paris and Rome, respectively, Charles Aznavour ( Shoot the Piano Player ) and Marcello Mastroianni ( La Dolce Vita ) are being interviewed by Truman ( In Cold Blood ) Capote, who is covering the Farewell ‘54 celebration for The New Yorker.

The Party Crasher So far no one has taken any notice of the 28-year-old party crasher haunting the scene. And why should they? Nobody’s heard of her. She’s there thanks to a fluke. NNDB’s “Born in 1924” list identifies her as “Joan Vollmer Adams (Occupation: Victim).” But even though the date of her sudden death by a bullet to the head is correctly recorded (September 6, 1951), her birth date slot contains no month or day, no doubt because she was born on February 4, 1923. Yet here she is, at the

top of the 1924 list as the “common-law wife of William S. Burroughs,” who wrote his “wild and deadly” masterpiece The Naked Lunch for her — if you accept the rationale that he would never have become a writer “but for Joan’s death.” In the introduction to Queer (Penguin 1985), Burroughs expresses his “realization of the extent to which this event has motivated and formulated” his writing: “the death of Joan brought me in contact with the invader, the Ugly Spirit, and maneuvered me into a lifelong struggle, in which I have had no choice except to write my way out.”

Although Burroughs’s novella Queer was not published until three decades after he killed Joan during a drunken William Tell stunt, he began writing it while he was living with the constant threat of a murder conviction in Mexico City. Eventually returning to the U.S. after awaiting a “continuously delayed” trial, he was convicted in absentia of homicide and given a two-year suspended sentence.

Action Hero

Burroughs would be amused in absentia by the 21st century theatre of the absurd wherein he’s portrayed on screen by two action heroes, Kiefer Sutherland (aka Jack Bauer) in Beat (2000) and Daniel Craig (aka James Bond) in Queer (2024). Never a Bond fan, I was engrossed by Fox TV’s thriller machine 24, a fitting number on this 1924-2024 timethemed New Year’s Eve. Thanks mainly to the heroics of the Counter Terrorism Unit’s Bauer, my wife and I surrendered ourselves to six seasons of sheer excitement, ears ringing and eyes glazed, as multiple cliffhangers descended on us at the end of each hour in a pounding delirium that propelled us headlong into the next action-packed 24hour cycle.

stand the sight of blood”) — the William Tell stunt being her idea, her way to break the spell of soul-deadening boredom no amount of drinking and drugging could dissipate. The only thing that kept the film itself from the same fate was Courtney Love’s charismatic, film-star-worthy presence. The real Joan Vollmer Adams would have been less attractive and far more verbally daring and pungently outspoken even at this low point in her life, when a recurrence of childhood polio had left her limping and drinking from eight in morning on, meanwhile dealing with two kids (briefly seen in Beat ) and a husband who was chasing the boy of his dreams through the jungles of Guatemala.

Looking for Joan

From Jack Kerouac’s journal in The Unknown Kerouac (Library of America), September 8, 1951: “Even though poor Joan is dead I have to continue this selfsatisfied diary.” October 16: “It’s like Joan Adams said... 1951 was a beat year ... poor girl.” October 17: “Joan Adams was young & pretty & later told me I should have come back for her, or what she really said ‘That was the time when you should have tried (making love to me).’ “

“I Dare You”

In 24, Sutherland was manly, magnetic, and totally believable as he accomplished impossible missions. In Gary Walkow’s Beat , which must have been filmed just before (or even as) he took on the role of his life, Sutherland played Burroughs by the numbers right up to the moment he nervously pointed a gun at the glass of gin on his wife’s head, pulled the trigger, and missed — maybe accidentally on purpose (the “Ugly Spirit”) or maybe because Courtney Love’s deeply bored, insolent Joan had been needling him about his pursuit of young men, her lips a shiny, succulent red, seen in close-up mouthing the words: “I dare you.”

In “real life,” Joan ended it all with a jest (“I’m turning my head; you know I can’t

Joan appears throughout Kerouac’s work, under various names, like Jane, June, and Mary. The best example of her take-noprisoners attitude, however, enlivens Joan’s 1949 letter to Allen Ginsberg: “I was not much surprised to hear of your hospitalization, as I’ve been claiming for three years (today being my third anniversary from Bellevue) that anyone who doesn’t blow his top once is no damn good ... No percentage in talking about visions or super-reality or any such lay-terms. Either you know now what I know (and don’t ask me just what that is) or else I’m mistaken about you and off the beam somewhere — in which case you’re just a dime-a-dozen neurotic and I’m nuts.”

Kerouac provides a more vivid picture of what Joan “knows” in The Town and the City (1950) by way of the Allen Ginsberg character [Leon Levinsky]: “What she has to say about the world, about everybody falling apart, about everybody clawing aggressively at one another in one grand finale of our glorious culture, about the madness in high places and the insane disorganized stupidity of the people who let themselves be told what to do and what to think by charlatans — all that is true! There’s only one real conclusion to be drawn ... — everybody’s got the atomic disease, everybody’s radioactive.”

Joan and Bill According to Todd Tietcen’s chronology in The Unknown Kerouac , it was after the news of Joan’s death in September 1951 that Kerouac began rewriting On the Road, wherein he describes the “marriage” of Burroughs and Joan: “His relation with his wife was one of the strangest: they talked till late at night; Bull [Bill] liked to hold the floor, he went right on in his dreary monotonous voice, she tried to break in, she never could; at dawn he got tired and then Jane [Joan] talked and he listened; ... there was a very deep companionship that none of us would ever be able to fathom. Something curiously unsympathetic and cold between them was really a form of humor by which they communicated their own set of subtle vibrations.”

Dreaming of Joan In A Dream Record: June 8, 1955, Allen Ginsberg writes, “I lay asleep. darkness: I went back to Mexico City and saw Joan Burroughs leaning forward in a garden chair, arms on her knees. She studied me with clear eyes and downcast smile, her face restored to a fine beauty tequila and salt had made strange before the bullet in her brow.... Then I knew she was a dream: and questioned her -- Joan, what kind of knowledge have the dead? can you still love your mortal acquaintances? What do you remember of us? She faded in front of me — The next instant I saw her rain-stained tombstone rear an illegible epitaph under the gnarled branch of a small tree in the wild grass of an unvisited garden in Mexico.”

A Late Arrival

Jimmy Carter’s death forces a reality check on my fantasy of New Year’s Eve 1954 at Birdland. I imagined him seated at a table with his post-presidency pal George H.W. Bush, who could have at least afforded a ticket to the Apple at a time when Carter had resigned from the Navy and was living with his wife Rosalynn and three sons in a Public Housing apartment in Plains, Georgia. Not to worry, this is a fantasy, after all, so I’m taking the sentimental liberty of imagining him nodding and smiling along to the music of Count Basie on my make-believe bandstand.

As for Joan Vollmer, I imagine her in 1944, fresh from Barnard, a stunning girl known for prowling bars like the West End near Columbia, “her appetite for books rivaled only by her appetite for men,” in the words of her roommate Edie Parker, Jack Kerouac’s first wife. At Birdland she’s a flirtatious ghost, whispering sweet nothings in Brando’s ear, ruffling Mastroianni’s hair, nuzzling Charles Aznavour, daring him to sit in with Basie, and teasing Truman Capote into dropping his pen, only to vanish into the midnight roar from the crowd on Times Square as 1954 makes way for 1955, and 2024 for 2025.

—Stuart Mitchner

• Specialized Yoga poses and technique

• Improve strength, flexibility, and bone mineral density

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• Natural approach

Joan Adams Vollmer. (Wikipedia)

New Jersey Symphony closed out the first half of its 2024-25 Princeton series the week before Christmas with an enduring holiday favorite. George Frideric Handel’s oratorio Messiah is always a crowd-pleaser at this time of year, and the Symphony’s performance this season was an especially unique musical experience. Preparing a work of this scope every year under a different conductor keeps the Symphony players on their toes, with each director reimagining the music to their own taste and scholarly background. Guest conductor Jeannette Sorrell, who led a Friday night presentation in Richardson Auditorium (the concert was repeated the following night) brought Baroque-era expertise, creative musical thinking and her own harpsichord skills to lead the Symphony musicians, four vocal soloists and chorus in a version which captured the audience’s attention.

With close to 50 choruses, arias, and duets and a complete run time of three hours, Messiah has long been subject to excised numbers and abbreviated adaptations for the sake of audience appeal. Handel’s timeless work is a musical arc over three parts, telling the Christmas story and the narrative of the crucifixion and resurrection, together with affirmation of redemption. When conductors adjust the score, the arc and Handel’s overall message cannot help but be affected. Sorrell made most cuts in the second and third parts, while retaining arias which encapsulated the liturgical texts and showcasing popular choruses.

Sorrell was a directorial firecracker from the opening “Sinfonia,” crisply leading the orchestra and creating drama through shifts in dynamics and delicate cadences. Throughout the concert, Sorrell brought out the lower strings as a foundation to the sound, with drawnout sustained notes to support the contrapuntal activity and attention to precise rhythms and phrase direction. Varied instrumental colors were clear as accompanying passages alternated between soloists cellist Jonathan Spitz and double bassist Ha Young Jung and the full sectional sound. Spitz and Jung also joined harpsichordist Robert Wolinsky and organist Gabe Shuford to create a continuo ensemble accompanying recitatives and more poignant arias.

Most intriguing was Sorrell’s treatment of the opening of Part II, which customarily launches the Passion narrative with the command to “behold the Lamb of God” who was “despised and rejected.” Sorrell began this section with several “crowd” choruses,” followed by the aria “He was despised,” expressively sung by counter-tenor John Holiday. The new placement of this aria allowed the soloist to be part of the crowd scene and emphasized the somber text.

The quartet of vocal soloists for this performance each possessed vast experience on opera and oratorio stages. Singing mostly from memory and unencumbered by scores, soprano Sonya Headlam, counter-tenor Holiday, tenor Ed Lyon, and bass-baritone Kevin Deas brought out the operatic side of Handel’s music, connecting to audience members in all corners of the hall. Headlam sang the trademark “Rejoice greatly” with ease, effortlessly tossing off the extended vocal runs and hitting solid high B-flats. Sorrell left the podium for the harpsichord for Headlam’s convincing singing of “I know that my Redeemer liveth,” elegantly accompanied by violin soloist Eric Wyrick and continuo

Counter-tenor Holiday showed a great sense of dramatic flair, emphasizing the “refiner’s fire,” aided by orchestral strikes from the lower strings. Tenor Lyon took his time on the ornamented lines of his arias and set the scene well as the first soloist of the oratorio. He was also able to effectively convey the “scorn” and “derision” of later arias in the crucifixion passages. Bass-baritone Deas commanded the stage effectively to declare the Lord’s will and created an ominous atmosphere when proclaiming that “darkness shall cover the earth.” Accompanied by trumpet soloist Anderson Romero, cellist Spitz, and double bassist Jung, Deas joyfully launched Handel’s vision of hope with the reminder that “the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised.”

New Jersey Symphony’s presentation of Messiah included most of the choruses one would expect from the oratorio. Joining the Symphony was the Montclair State University Singers, meticulously prepared by Heather J. Buchanan and singing with clarity and solid command of the choral style. In the Part I “And the glory of the Lord,” Sorrell led the chorus with melodic sweep and emphasis on the word “glory.” In all the choruses, the bass section provided a solid underpinning, while all voices moved lithely through the melismatic runs. In Part II, inventive choreography moved the chorus to surround the orchestra and tenor Lyon to dramatically create a “crowd” scene to deride that “He trusted in God, let Him deliver Him.”

As evidenced by her long leadership and more than 30 recordings with the period instrument ensemble Apollo’s Fire, Sorrell is an innovator, and definitely not afraid to take a new look at traditional musical works. New Jersey Symphony’s interpretation of Messiah unquestionably brought something new to the table, while simultaneously giving the audience the chance to relisten to an old seasonal friend.

— Nancy Plum

New Jersey Symphony’s next Princeton concert will be on Friday, January 10 at 8 p.m. in Richardson Auditorium. Conducted by Kevin John Edusei, this performance will feature piano soloist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, and works of Ravel, Shin, and Sibelius. Ticket information can be obtained by visiting njsymphony.org.

LAW

LAW OFFICE

LAW OFFICE

Future Presence: An Immersive installation featuring selections from Felix Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream

• Divorce

B.

Esq.

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134 South Main Street

Alisandra B. Carnevale, Esq. Member of New Jersey Bar

Performing Arts

NAZI-ERA DISCOVERY: This photo from the New York Theatre Workshop’s production of “Here There Are Blueberries” shows one of several haunting moments from the play, which is coming to McCarter Theatre January 24-February 9.

“Here There Are Blueberries” Next Production at McCarter

The national tour of the play Here There Are Blueberries, a co-production with La Jolla Playhouse, comes to McCarter Theatre January 24-February 9. A Pulitzer Prize finalist for 2024, the play is by Moises Kaufman and Amanda Gronich.

The play is focused on a mysterious album featuring Nazi-era photographs that arrive at the desk of a U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum archivist in 2007. As curators unraveled the shocking truth behind the images, the album soon made headlines and set off a debate that reverberated far beyond the museum walls.

Based on actual events, the play tells the story of these historical photographs, and what they reveal about the perpetrators of the Holocaust, and our own humanity.

McCarter Theatre is at 91 University Places. For ticket information, visit mccarter.org.

Folk Music Society Presents Mari Black

On Friday, January 17 at 8 p.m., the Princeton Folk Music Society presents an evening of virtuosic violin

music with multistyle violinist and champion fiddler Mari Black. The concert is at Christ Congregation Church, 50 Walnut Lane.

Black is known as a master of diverse musical styles and winner of several major international competitions, playing global dance music: Celtic, American, and Canadian fiddling; jazz, tango, and klezmer tunes; original works; and more. A guitarist and a bass player round out Black’s trio.

Raised on a rich blend of traditional musical styles, Black became Scotland’s Glenfiddich Fiddle Champion, two-time U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion, and two-time Canadian Maritime Fiddle Champion, all within a three-year period. She has since appeared as a featured artist at performing arts centers, Celtic festivals, Scottish Highland Games, folk venues, world music concerts, and classical venues.

Tickets are $25 ($20 for members, $10 for students). Visit princetonfolk.org.

“Freestyle Flashback” at State Theatre New Jersey State Theatre New Jersey and Fever Records present “Freestyle Flashback 2025,” featuring freestyle artists

hosted by Sal Abbatiello from Fever Records and Speedy with music by DJ Whiteboy KYS.

State Theatre New Jersey is at 15 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick. For tickets, more information, or group discounts, call at 732-246-SHOW (7469) or visit online STNJ.org.

Upcoming Programs at ARB Include Premieres and More With performances of The Nutcracker finished for the season, American Repertory Ballet will next focus on Spirit of the Highlands , a ballet by artistic director Ethan Stiefel set for performances at New Jersey

Performing Arts Center in New Brunswick March 7-9. Based on the classic La Sylphide , the ballet reimagines the tale of a Scotsman’s romantic pursuit of a mystical forest spirit. According to information from the company, “Steifel traces his mother’s family roots back to the Scottish Highland Clan Munro, and will infuse his own authentic Scottish heritage into the choreography and overall design aesthetics of this lively and bewitching ballet.”

Stiefel will partner once again with scenic designer Howard C. Jones, costume designer Janessa Cornell Unwin, and lighting designer Joseph Walls. The final program of the season is titled “Pasion.” The mixed bill of new and familiar works includes an excerpt from the classic Marius Petipa ballet Paquita , as well as the return of Stephanie Martinez’s commission The Time That Runs Away . The program will also include a world premiere by Princeton Ballet School faculty member and choreographer Luis Napoles. Performances are May 9-11 in New Brunswick. Visit arballet.org for more information.

Sound Journey with Ruth Cunningham

from the ’80s and’90s, on Saturday, January 18 at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $39-$99.

This concert event features dance-pop and freestyle artists including TKA (“Maria,” “Come Baby Come”), George LaMond (“Bad of the Heart, “Look Into My Eyes”) Judy Torres (“No Reason To Cry,” “Come Into My Arms”), Noel (“Silent Morning”), Cynthia (“Change On Me,” “Dreamboy Dreamgirl”), Betty D Of Sweet Sensation (“Hooked On You,” “Love Child”), Lisette Melendez (“Together Forever,” “A Day in My Life”), Soave (“Crying Over You”), C-Bank (“One More Shot,” “I Won’t Stop Loving You”), and Joe Zangie (“When I Want You Back”). Freestyle Flashback is

Princeton University Chapel January 8 at 5:30pm

Join Ruth Cunningham , founding member of Anonymous 4 and Sound Healing practitioner, in this time of live music for meditation and introspection.

VIRTUOSIC FIDDLING: Violinist and fiddler Mari Black comes to Christ Congregation Church on January 17 at 8 p.m. (Photo by Glenn Black)

(Photography by Matthew Murphy)

Judy Torres

This work by Judith Marchand is part of “Trio,” on view January 2 through March 3 at the Green Building Center in Lambertville. An opening reception is on January 4 from 5 to 8 p.m.

“Trio” Art Exhibition at Green Building Center

The “Trio” art show will open with a reception on Saturday, January 4 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Green Building Center at 67 Bridge Street, Lambertville. Visitors can enjoy two floors of artwork by Modern Fossils (Judith Marchand and David Horowitz), David Horowitz Studio, and Mike Mann’s Art. Light refreshments will be served.

The artists said they are happy to exhibit their art in a gallery space provided by an organization that shares their love for our Earth.

Marchand and Horowitz both create their work with salvaged materials. Mann’s

paintings reflect the beauty of the region, and he travels by bicycle to paint whenever possible. The artists will donate and plant a native tree for every piece sold at their show.

“Trio” will be on view through March 3. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 12 to 4 p.m.

Mann paints primarily in oils, but also works in acrylics, watercolors, and ink. He describes his style as realistic impressionism. His paintings are colorful and lively. He studied at the Art Students League of New York.

Marchand and Horowitz

create their “Modern Fossils” in plaster using materials they salvaged during environmental cleanups. Their works are inventive, imaginative, and always carry a message about the importance of keeping our planet clean and healthy.

Horowitz creates unique furniture and free-standing sculptures that give new life to fallen trees.

For more information, visit greenbuildingcenter.com.

Juried Photography Exhibit

At Gallery 14 in Hopewell

Gallery 14 Fine Art Photography presents its “Annual Juried Photography Exhibition” January 11 through February 2. An awards ceremony and meet the artists reception with light refreshments are on Saturday, January 11 from 1 to 3 p.m.

There were 33 artists accepted into this exhibition with 50 images to be displayed in the gallery.

Gallery 14 Fine Art Photography is a co-op gallery located at 14 Mercer Street in Hopewell. It is dedicated to the promotion of photography as a fine art form. Its members work in all photographic styles.

Gallery hours are Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by appointment. To make an appointment, email galleryfourteen@yahoo.com. For more information, visit gallery14.org.

“Mark Sfirri: The Flower Show” Exhibit at Michener Museum

Bucks County artist and woodworker Mark Sfirri’s first solo exhibition at the Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, Pa., displays an all-new springtime series, resulting from a twoyear obsession with turned wood flowers. This garden

of botanical creations is on view through May 4.

The concept for “Mark Sfirri: The Flower Show” emerged when the artist learned that his son’s wedding venue, the Museum for Art in Wood in Philadelphia, did not allow cut flowers at events in order to protect its collection from potential bugs, pests, and pollen. Sfirri decided to make the wedding flowers himself, creating a bouquet for the bride and a boutonniere for the groom. The preoccupation continued for years as he incorporated different exotic woods, painted elements, and produced more elaborate compositions.

Sfirri’s flowers dance on twisting brass stems and emerge in lively arrangements from custom-carved and turned bases. The artist is known for continually blurring the line that separates woodturning from sculpture. These floral sculptures convey a whole range of personalities and emotions, with accompanying titles like The Gossipers , Sibling Rivalry, and Des Patates de Divan (Couch Potatoes).

Selections of Sfirri’s work are already included in the permanent collection at the Michener Art Museum as part of its studio craft holdings. Sfirri’s humorous sculpture, Rejects from the Bat Factory , is displayed alongside pieces by American studio craft luminaries Wharton Esherick and George Nakashima.

“Mark considers objects and shapes that should be straightforward — bats, rolling pins, bottles, and table legs — and reimagines them as playful, strange, and unexpected,” said the Michener Art Museum’s Gerry and Marguerite Lenfest Chief Curator Laura Igoe. “His flowers display the artist’s characteristic sense of humor, whimsy, and experimentation evident in his previous bodies of work.”

Sfirri is professor emeritus at Bucks County Community College where he ran the Fine Woodworking Program from 1981 to 2017. He is the recipient of

the Distinguished Educator Award from the Renwick Alliance (2010), the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Collectors of Wood Art (2012), and the Professional Outreach Program’s Merit Award from the American Association of Woodturners (2024).

Sfirri received his BFA and MFA in furniture design at Rhode Island School of Design. His specialty is multi-axis spindle turning, an area that he has been exploring since the early 1990s. He has lectured and demonstrated his techniques throughout North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Norway. His work is included in the permanent collections of 28 public institutions.

The Michener Art Museum is at 138 South Pine Street in Doylestown, Pa. Hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is open until 8 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month. Admission is free on the second Sunday of the month. For more information, visit michenerartmuseum.org.

Area

Exhibits

Art@Bainbridge, 158 Nassau Street, has “Heléne Aylon: Undercurrent” through February 2. Artmuseum.princeton.edu.

Artists’ Gallery, 18 Bridge Street, Lambertville, has “Mostly Small Works” through January 5 and Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Lambertvillearts.com.

Art on Hulfish, 11 Hulfish Street, has “Under a Southern Star: Identity and Environment in Australian Photography” through January 5. Artmuseum.princeton.edu.

Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, has “Annual Member Show 2024” through January 18. Artscouncilofprinceton.org.

D&R Greenway Johnson Education Center, 1 Preservation Place, has

“When the Land Calls” through February 28 in the Marie L. Matthews Gallery. drgreenway.org.

Ficus Bon Vivant, 235 Nassau Street, has “Capture the Rhythm” through January 12. Ficusbv.com.

Gourgaud Gallery, 23-A North Main Street, Cranbury, has works by Kathleen Maguire Morolda January 4 through January 26. Cranburyartscouncil.org. Grounds For Sculpture, 80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton, has “Members’ Musings: Light as Material” through February 23, among other exhibits. Groundsforsculpture.org. Historical Society of Princeton, Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road, has “Princeton Reflected: Stories from HSP’s Collection” and “Einstein Salon and Innovator’s Gallery.” Museum hours are Thursday through Sunday, 12 to 4 p.m. Princetonhistory.org

Mercer Museum, 84 South Pine Street, Doylestown, Pa., has “The Doan Gang: Outlaws of the Revolution” through December 31, 2026. Mercermuseum.org.

Michener Art Museum, 138 South Pine Street, Doylestown, Pa., has “Monuments and Myths: The American Sculptors Augustus Saint-Gaudens and Daniel Chester French” through January 5, “Charlotte Schatz: Industrial Strength” through March 9, and “Mark Sfirri: The Flower Show” through May 5. Michenerartmuseum.org

Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, has “Morven Revealed: Untold Stories from New Jersey’s Most Historic Home,” through March 2. Morven.org.

Small World Coffee, 14 Witherspoon Street, has “Worldling Art Show,” featuring art from past and present employees, through January 7. The exhibition is also at the 254 Nassau Street location through January 7. Smallworldcoffee.com.

“HANGRY HIPPO”:

“AUTUMN GLORY”: This work by Valerie Chaucer Levine is featured in the “Annual Juried Photography Exhibition” on view January 11 through February 2 at Gallery 14 Fine Art Photography in Hopewell.

“THE FLOWER SHOW”: Turned wood botanicals by Bucks County artist Mark Sfirri are featured in an exhibition at the Michener Museum in Doylestown, Pa., through May 4.

Town Topics | Mark Your Calendar

Saturday, January 4

9:30 a.m.: Trenton Walks program, starts at the Battle Monument and continues to Mill Hill Park and back. Visit gmtma.org/ trail-happenings for details.

12-5 p.m.: Winery Weekend Music Series at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Wine, light bites, hot cocoa kits, and music from 1-4 p.m. by Greg McGarvey. Terhuneorchards. com.

5:30-6:30 p.m.: Fiesta del Día de Los Reyes Magos, or Three Kings Day, celebration at the Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, featuring adult performers of the flamenco program. Tickets are $10; all proceeds benefit Arts Council community programming. Artscouncilofprinceton.com.

Sunday, January 5

10 a.m.: 2025 Experience the Battle of Princeton, at Princeton Battlefield State Park, Mercer Street. More than 50 reenactor regiments recreate the historic battle that capped the “Ten Crucial Days.” Pbs1777.org.

12-5 p.m.: Winery Weekend Music Series at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Wine, light bites, hot cocoa kits, and music from 1-4 p.m. by Allan Willcockson. Terhuneorchards.com.

5-7 p.m.: Pianist David Leifer plays Italian Music from the 18th-20th Centuries , at Dorothea’s House, 120 John Street. Bring refreshments to share at a post-program reception. Dorotheashouse.org.

Tuesday, January 7

7 p.m.: Princeton Symphony Orchestra presents a “Soundtracks” talk at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, featuring Music Director Rossen Milanov and former executive director Melanie Clarke looking back at favorite moments and celebrating Milanov’s 60th birthday. Princetonlibrary.org.

Wednesday, January 8

6:30 p.m.: Reporter Matt Katz discusses his podcast, “Inconceivable Truth,” and the search for his birth father, with reporter Charlie Stile at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.

7 p.m.: “The Simple Life of James Herriot ,” presented by Anglophile Claire Evans, via Zoom. Register at Princetonlibrary.org.

Thursday, January 9

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Leighton Listens. Councilman Leighton Newlin is available to discuss current events with members of the public at Tipple and Rose, 210 Nassau Street.

Friday, January 10

10 a.m.-2 p.m. Hunterdon County Rug Artisans Guild holds its monthly meeting at the administration building of the Hunterdon County Complex, 314 State Highway 12, Flemington. Hcrag.org.

12:30 p.m.: Pianist and writer Sir Stephen Hough discusses his collection of essays , Rough

Ideas, in advance of his upcoming performance with the Takacs String Quartet. On Zoom, visit princetonlibrary.org for link.

5-8 p.m.: Trivia in the Winery , at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. With DJ Mike. Terhuneorchards.com.

7 p.m.: A Capella Night at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Vocal groups from Princeton’s four high schools perform at this teens-only event. Princetonlibrary.org.

Saturday, January 11

10 a.m.: Beginning of the Mahler Chamber Orchestra’s “Future Presence” experience in virtual reality and spatial sound, on the Princeton University campus, sponsored by Princeton University Concerts. Runs through Monday, January 13 at 10 p.m. Interactive music experience of Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Visit puc.princeton.edu or call (609) 258-9220.

12-5 p.m.: Winery Weekend Music Series at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Wine, light bites, hot cocoa kits, and music from 1-4 p.m. by Sarah Teti. Terhuneorchards.com.

8 p.m.: “Croce Plays Croce: The Jim Croce Birthday Bash” at State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. $29-$99. Stnj.org.

Sunday, January 12

11 a.m.: Author Lisa Gardner discusses her latest novel, Still See

You Everywhere, with Amy Jo Burns at this ticketed Book Brunch event at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.

12-5 p.m.: Winery Weekend Music Series at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Wine, light bites, hot cocoa kits, and music from 1-4 p.m. by Michael Montemurro. Terhuneorchards.com.

3 p.m.: Bad Kitty Birthday Bash with Nick Bruel, at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Celebration of Bad Kitty’s 20th birthday. Princetonlibrary.org.

4 p.m.: The Princeton Society of Musical Amateurs presents a choral reading of Gilbert & Sullivan’s Iolanthe at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 50 Cherry Hill Road. Mini rehearsal at 3 p.m. Vocal scores provided; walk-in singers and listen-only participants welcome. Musical. amateurs@gmail.com

Monday, January 13 Recycling

6 p.m.: Feminist Book Discussion Group at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. The topic is “Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times.” Princetonlibrary.org.

Tuesday, January 14

10 a.m.: Read and Explore: Gingerbread Man, at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Kids read The Gingerbread Man and decorate a cookie to take home. Register online. Terhuneorchards.com.

6 p.m.: “Sustainable Creativity: Inspiring Change through EcoConscious Art” at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. A panel of Princeton-area artists explore how their creative processes are eco-friendly. Princetonlibrary.org.

Wednesday, January 15

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Leighton Listens. Councilman Leighton Newlin is available to discuss current events with members of the public at Deliziosos, 205 Witherspoon Street.

7 p.m.: “Beyond Words: An Evening with Brooke Shields ,” at Richardson Auditorium, Princeton University. The Princeton University alumna discusses her new book, Brooke Shields is Not Allowed to Get Old: Thoughts on Aging as a Woman, with author Idra Novey. Princetonlibrary.org.

Friday, January 17

8 p.m.: An Evening with Mari Black , presented by the Princeton Folk Music Society at Christ Congregation Church, 50 Walnut Lane. $25 ($20 members). Princetonfolk.org.

Saturday, January 18

10 a.m.-1 p.m.: Native Seed Sowing Extravaganza at Hopewell Valley Central High School. Get a done-for-you jug with soil and native plant seeds, leave outside over the winter, and transplant seedlings in the spring. $5. RSVP for event and educational pre-event at tinyurl.com/HopewellExtravaganza.

10 a.m.-12 p.m.: Free Rabies Clinic at Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad, 1 Valley Road. Open to all New Jersey residents. Princetonnj.gov.

10 a.m.: Read and Explore: Gingerbread Man, at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Kids read The Gingerbread Man and decorate a cookie to take home. Register online. Terhuneorchards.com.

January

12-5 p.m.: Winery Weekend Music Series at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Wine, light bites, hot cocoa kits, and music from 1-4 p.m. by Brian Bortnick. Terhuneorchards.com.

2:30-5 p.m.: “Lord, Write My Name: The Gospel and African American Experience in Spirituals,” at the Unitarian Universalist Church at Washington Crossing, 268 Washington Crossing Road, Titusville. $25. SSAAM.org.

Sunday, January 19

12-5 p.m.: Winery Weekend Music Series at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Wine, light bites, hot cocoa kits, and music from 1-4 p.m. by Carmen Marranco. Terhuneorchards.com.

Wednesday, January 22

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Leighton Listens. Councilman Leighton Newlin is available to discuss current events with members of the public at the Bagel Nook, Princeton Shopping Center. 6 p.m.: An Evening with Dr. Aditi Nerurkar at Princeton Public Library. The Harvard physician discusses her book The 5 Resets: Rewire Your Brain and Body for Less Stress and More Resilience. Princetonlibrary.org.

6 p.m.: Panel discussion, “Latinas/os in New Jersey,” with editors Ulla Berg and Aldo Lauria Santiago, at Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street. Princetonlibrary.org.

Saturday, January 25

12-5 p.m.: Winery Weekend Music Series at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Wine, light bites, hot cocoa kits, and music from 1-4 p.m. by Jerry Steele. Terhuneorchards.com.

Sunday, January 26

12-5 p.m.: Winery Weekend Music Series and Wassailing the Apple Trees at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Wine, light bites, hot cocoa kits, and music from 1-4 p.m. by Spiced Punch. Singing, dancing, and playing of primitive instruments, the Handsome Molly Dancers and Kingsessing Morris Dancers perform. Free. Terhuneorchards.com.

Monday, January 27

Recycling

Tuesday, January 28

10 a.m.: Read and Explore: Animal Tracks at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Kids read books about animals in winter and make bird feeders to take home. Register online. Terhuneorchards.com.

Wednesday, January 29

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Leighton Listens. Councilman Leighton Newlin is available to discuss current events with members of the public at Jammin’ Crepes, Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street.

Setting Goals and Improving Sports Skills Is Mission of The Better Athlete Program

Alana Asch’s mission is to help young athletes improve their performance on the field or on the court, and at the same time boost their self confidence in all areas of their life.

Owner of The Better Athlete program, Coach Asch brings special skills to her new endeavor.

IT’S NEW To Us

An athlete, having excelled on the soccer field, she continues to play in a weekly league. Having earned an undergraduate degree in fine arts from the University of Vermont and an M.S. in exercise physiology from the University of Northern Colorado, she is uniquely equipped to help her young clients understand and deal with the mental aspects of their sport, and also with the many challenges facing teens in our society today.

Strength, speed, and agility, including body weight resistance, external load, and injury prevention, are all part of the Better Athlete program, and the mental aspect of sports performance is also emphasized.

Necessary Tools

“We will train better by talking care of your mind too,” explains Asch. “We will work to incorporate breathing, journaling, hydration, sleep, and daily habits, including social media consumption.

“I struggled with my mental health and my confidence throughout my youth athletic career and into my 20s. I get what it’s like to have that hold you back on and off the field. Today, I teach athletes and teams the tools that I wish I had had as an athlete to help with mindset. The truth is that everyone has self-doubt and fear. Success happens when you learn to walk through it.”

Growing up in South Brunswick, Asch was an excellent soccer player, but as she notes, she struggled with low self-image, anxiety, shyness, and isolation, leading to eating and addiction problems.

These issues lasted for many years, but eventually with the help of friends from a support program, which she is still a part of, she was able to overcome these difficulties and move forward.

She worked on strength and conditioning for several teams at the Hun School, and later taught health and wellness at Princeton Day School for several years.

While she enjoyed her work at both schools, Asch began to think about establishing her own program, including aspects from her own experiences, which she felt are relevant to today’s teens.

Positive Messaging

She is very open about the challenges she has faced, and believes sharing them can be beneficial to others.

“I had felt isolated as a child and teen, and didn’t have many friends,” she reports. “Now, I am able to have better communication, and I have friends. I filled

my brain with positive messages through reading and podcasts, which I think is a very underrated way to help with anxiety and depression. I also walk my dog, appreciate nature, and have a small but close group of friends.”

“I like working with teens,” she continues. “I feel I can relate to them. Kids are dealing with a lot today, including stress and anxiety. Addressing that can be important in our sessions.”

When she meets a prospective client, Asch first wants to know why they are coming. “I’ll ask about their goals, what they hope to achieve. I’ll ask questions to assess their confidence level. Then, we’ll have a movement assessment, with lunges, squats, sprinting, and broad jumps.

“They have many reasons for coming,” she points out, “but primarily, it’s to perform better on their team. Most are members of their school basketball, soccer, and field hockey team. Based on the person’s movement pattern, goal, and conversation, I will create a program for them.”

Workout sessions are one hour, generally one-on-one, and small groups are also available. Students may come once or twice a week, and as Coach Alana notes, “They can really make a lot more progress when they come twice a week. Also, one of the benefits of my program is the one-on-one focus. I’m able to give each person individual attention.”

Strength Foundation

The physical program can vary, depending on each individual’s conditioning, goals, and skill level. “I believe in the importance of a strong strength foundation and proper movement,” she explains.

“Also, strength training has been proven to help with injury prevention. Obviously, there are some injuries you can’t prevent, but I do a lot of exercises with my athletes to combat overuse, improper movement patterns, and muscle imbalances, among other things.”

“The progress my clients have made is very encouraging,” she reports. “One added 10 inches to his broad jump in just four weeks. Others have dramatically improved their 20-yard dash times.

“What I enjoy most about my work is watching athletes transform in front of my eyes. This can happen in one of two ways, or both. One is when a shy and quieter athlete comes to work with me. As someone who is naturally very shy and quiet, I get it. Watching them really come out of their shell working with me is awesome. And hearing from their parents or themselves about how they are doing much better on the field and playing with more confidence is extremely rewarding.

“The other is when athletes tell me they can’t do pull-ups, for instance. Or they can’t lift the weight that I know they can lift (because we have been progressively overloading them for weeks leading up to it), and they then do those things. Everyone is stronger than they think they are, physically and mentally.”

Time For Play

As she has pointed out, Asch is aware of the variety of challenges facing teens today, and she makes an effort to be receptive and understanding about their issues.

“I think the fact that I have had difficulties with anxiety and addiction in my life has given me an ability to relate to the kids, who may be having problems of their own. They know I can understand and try to be helpful.”

And she says further, “I’ve been surprised by how busy these kids really are. Many of them don’t have time to be a kid anymore. They don’t just play. Unstructured playing actually has so many benefits to it for things like speed, agility, and injury prevention. It also helps the mental part of the game because they can be present, and it helps with things like problem-solving and strategizing. Something I have wanted to do because of this is to host things like complimentary field days and kickball games for anyone who wants to come.”

As she emphasizes, her Better Athlete clients are enthusiastic, especially when they see they are making progress. She also notes that the format of her program offers more opportunity for teens’ self-expression.

“We do deal with a variety of issues in addition to the workouts. I stress the importance of nutrition, including hydration, drinking more water, knowing about carbs and which are better. We also talk about their phone and screen time.

First Thing

“There was one girl, who said that the first thing she did every morning when she woke up was to check her phone. This is true of many teens. I said instead, how about stretching to start the day, and now, this is what she does.”

This emphasis on their lives and lifestyle and the mental aspect in sports can help them to have a better life as well as a better athletic performance, she points out.

Having opened The Better Athlete just two years ago, Asch is very encouraged that so many young athletes have joined the program. They are coming from Princeton and the area, and as far away as Mt. Laurel and Manalapan. They meet weekdays after school and evenings, and Saturday morning.

She is pleased to see that her athletes are willing to take their training seriously and put in the time.

As she explains, “It is really important to make an effort and work hard. There is a saying that ‘Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work out!’

“The fact that we emphasize hard work and the mental performance is important. This is part of life management.”

As for herself, she is encouraged. “I look forward to where this journey is taking me.”

or further information, call (908) 208-3818. Visit the website at alanaasch.com.

—Jean Stratton

WORKING OUT:

“In our program, we work on the importance of health, stress reduction, and relationships, as well as helping the students improve their athletic skill and performance. I try to help build physically resilient and mentally strong athletes on and off the field.” Alana Asch, owner of The Better Athlete sports program, enjoys demonstrating workout techniques to her clients.”

ALL-INCLUSIVE,

Breakfast, Homemade Lunch, Nutritious Afternoon Snack

Breakfast, Homemade Lunch, Nutritious Afternoon Snack

Breakfast, Homemade Lunch, Nutritious Afternoon Snack

Bilingual Music Classes with Music Together con Español Curriculum

Bilingual Music Classes with Music Together con Español Curriculum

Bilingual Music Classes with Music Together con Español Curriculum

Healthy Breakfast, Homemade Lunch, Nutritious Afternoon Snack

Bilingual Cooking Classes with In-House Chef

Bilingual Cooking Classes with In-House Chef

Bilingual Cooking Classes with In-House Chef

Bilingual Music Classes with Music Together con Español Curriculum

Art Classes with the Arts Council of Princeton

Bilingual Cooking Classes with In-House Chef

Local Princeton Walking Trips and Engaging Field Trips

Art Classes with the Arts Council of Princeton

Art Classes with the Arts Council of

Art Classes with the Arts Council of Princeton

Storytimes with Princeton Public Library Children’s Librarian

Local Princeton Walking Trips and Engaging Field Trips

Local Princeton Walking Trips and Engaging Field Trips

Local Princeton Walking Trips and Engaging Field Trips

Storytimes with Princeton Public Library Children’s Librarian

Storytimes with Princeton Public Library Children’s Librarian

Storytimes with Princeton Public Library Children’s Librarian

PU, Local High School Teams Made

2024 a Topsy-Turvy Year, Creating a Slew of Highlights Along with Postseason Drama

Over the course of 2024, Princeton University athletic teams and local high school sports programs produced a number of highlight moments along with some dramatic postseason near-misses.

In the winter season, the Princeton University men’s basketball team appeared to be building on the success it experienced during its magic ride to the NCAA Sweet 16 in March 2023, getting off to a 24-3 start on the way to winning its third straight Ivy League regular season crown. Things went awry, though, in the postseason as the Tigers were stunned by Brown in the Ivy tournament semis and then lost to UNLV in the first round of the NIT. The Princeton women’s hoops squad won the Ivy regular season title and tournament and seemed poised for an NCAA run.

Facing West Virginia in a first-round contest, the Tigers rallied to trail by seven late in the game but ended up falling 63-53 to end the winter at 25-5. The Princeton women’s squash team brought a 12-2 record into the College Squash Association (CSA) Howe Cup final but fell short of a national title as it lost 6-2 to Trinity.

On the high school scene, the Princeton High girls’ swim team produced a dominant winter, rolling to its third consecutive Mercer County Championships title. Going for their second straight state crown, the Tigers won the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Central Group B sectional title and then topped Shawnee

in the Group B state semis before getting edged 89-81 by fellow powerhouse Chatham in the state final. The Princeton Day School girls’ hockey went 7-3 down the stretch, winning the Librera Cup and advancing to the NJSIAA state tournament semis. The Panthers led 3-1 early in the third period against Immaculate Heart in the semifinal contest, only to fall 4-3. The PDS boys’ hockey team won their NJSIAA Non-Public first round contest and then nearly pulled the upset of the tournament as they battled eventual state champion St. Augustine tooth-and-nail before falling 3-2 in overtime.

In the spring, the Princeton University men’s lacrosse team rode a high-powered attack to the Ivy tournament title but couldn’t overcome an early deficit in losing to Maryland in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The Tiger women’s lax team rebounded from a losing season in 2023 to get back in the NCAA tourney. The Tigers won their first round game over Drexel, but fell short in 21-16 shootout against Boston College in the second round. The Princeton softball team won the Ivy regular season title and the league postseason tournament. The Tigers then topped Ole Miss 4-2 at the NCAA Louisiana regional to earn the program’s first win in the national tourney since 2005 but ended up getting eliminated by host Louisiana in the double-elimination regional.

Across town, the Hun School softball team brought a 16-1 record into

postseason play and were looking to make a deep run in both the Mercer County Tournament (MCT) and Prep A state tourney. The Raiders ended up falling in the MCT quarterfinals and the Prep A final. The Hun baseball team, however, did close the deal in playoff action, winning the MCT and the Prep A crown to go along with taking first in the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL). The PDS girls’ lacrosse team featured a powerful attack that got it to the Prep B state final where it lost to Montclair Kimberley Academy. Sparked by the dynamic duo of Patrick Kenah and Brendan Beatty, the Princeton High boys’ lax team advanced to the MCT final for the first time since 2017 but came up short as it fell 16-11 to Hopewell Valley in the title game.

The return of Beth Yeager from a year-long hiatus to play for the U.S. national team at the Paris 2024 Olympics sparked Princeton field hockey to a stellar campaign that saw it win the Ivy regular season title. The Tigers edged Boston College 1-0 in the first round of the NCAA tournament before dropping a 1-0 heartbreaker to Saint Joseph’s in a quarterfinal clash. The Princeton men’s soccer team went 5-1 in its last six regular season games and then went on to win the Ivy League tournament, topping Cornell in the semis and Penn in the final. The Tigers finished the fall by losing 1-0 to Akron in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The Princeton women’s soccer team produced a title double, winning both the Ivy regular season

FINAL PUSH: Princeton University women’s basketball player Ellie Mitchell pushes past a foe in a game last season. Power forward Michell was named the Ivy Defensive Player of the Year for the third time in her career and was a second-team All-Ivy choice. She ended her Tiger career with 1,125 rebounds, the most-ever at Princeton for either a men’s or women’s player. Mitchell’s gritty play was a key factor in Princeton’s success last winter as it went 25-5, winning both the Ivy regular season title and the league’s postseason tournament. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

title and league tournament. Playing at Virginia in the opening round of the NCAA tournament, the Tigers saw their stellar campaign end with a 2-1 defeat.

Having rolled to the NJSIAA Group 4 state title in 2023, the Princeton High boys’ soccer team looked formidable again this fall. The Tigers won the first-ever Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) tournament, edging Notre Dame 1-0 in the final. Going for its second state title, PHS topped Monroe 1-0 in the Central Jersey Group 4 sectional final, but then fell 1-0 to Southern in the state semis. The PHS girls’ volleyball team did achieve its goal of earning a second straight NJSIAA Group 3 title, winning each game in the state tournament by 2-0 scores, culminating with a comprehensive 25-8, 25-11 victory over Ramapo in the state final. Another Tiger girls’ program, cross country, made history as well. The Tigers placed first in both the CVC Championship and the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 4 sectional meet. The squad, which featured a core of young runners, went on to win the Group 4 state championship meet for the first time in program history and then took second at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions, the best-ever finish for the team at that event.

The PDS boys’ soccer team produced a magical run to the NJSIAA South Jersey Non-Public final. First-year coach Gary Roberts guided his sixth-seeded squad to 1-0 wins on the road in the quarters and semis before it fell on penalty kicks in the sectional final at Moorestown Friends. Paced by Grayson McLaughlin, boys’ cross country came through in postseason competition, placing first at both the Prep B state championship meet and the NJSIAA Non-Public Group B Championships. Featuring a balanced attack and a stingy defense led by goalie Diego Pena, the Hun boys’ soccer emerged as one of the top teams in the area. The Raiders advanced to the Prep A state final for the first time in years where it fell to perennial powerhouse Pennington to end the fall with a 13-4-2 record.

LPU – Winter

ed by the dynamic duo of sophomore stars, Caden Pierce and Xaivian Lee, the Princeton University men’s basketball team produced another stellar campaign. Coming off a 2022-23 season that saw the Tigers reach the NCAA Sweet 16, coach Mitch Henderson’s squad picked up where it left off, reeling off nine straight wins to start the season.

With forward Pierce providing inside punch and guard Lee emerging as an electrifying performer, Princeton posted a 24-3 regular season record and earned its third straight Ivy League regular season title. But running out of gas, the Tigers faltered in postseason, losing to Brown in the Ivy Madness tourney semis and then getting defeated by UNLV in the first round of the NIT to end the winter

UP IN ARMS: Princeton University women’s hockey player Sarah Fillier celebrates after scoring a goal last winter. Fillier ended her sensational career on a high note, tallying a teamhigh 43 points on 30 goals and 13 assists. Fillier, who helped the Canadian women’s national team win the gold medal at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, tallied 93 career goals (sixth all-time in program history), 101 career assists (second all-time), and 194 career points (fourth all-time). She was later picked first in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) draft by New York.

at 24-5. Pierce was named as the Ivy Player of the Year while Lee joined him as a first-team All-Ivy selection.

Senior standouts Ellie Mitchell and Kaitlyn Chen starred as women’s basketball won its sixth straight Ivy League regular season title and then went on to win its fifth straight Ivy Madness postseason tournament.

Coach Carla Berube’s squad fell 63-53 to West Virginia in the first round of the NCAA tournament as it finished with a 25-5 record.

Senior point guard Chen was named as a first-team All-Ivy selection, leading the Tigers in scoring (15.9 points) while shooting a career high from the floor (49.1 percent) and from the three-point line (32.2 percent). Power forward Michell was named the Ivy Defensive Player of the Year for the third time in her career and was a second-team All-Ivy choice. She ended her Tiger career with 1,125 rebounds, the most-ever at Princeton for either a men’s or women’s player.

Sarah Fillier ended her sensational career with women’s hockey on a high note, tallying a team-high 43 points on 30 goals and 13 assists. Coach Cara Morey’s squad posted a 14-12-6 record as it advanced to the ECAC Hockey quarterfinals.

Fillier, who helped the Canadian women’s national team win a gold medal at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, tallied 93 career goals (sixth all-time in program history), 101 career assists (second all-time), and 194 career points (fourth all-time). She was later picked first in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) draft by New York.

Adam Robbins and Brendan Gorman sparked the offense while Nick Carabin and Noah de la Durantaye spearheaded the defense for men’s hockey. Coach Ron Fogarty guided the Tigers to an overall record of 10-16-4. In March, Fogarty was fired and a month later, Ben Syer, a longtime assistant coach at Cornell and Quinnipiac, was named as the new head coach of the program. There was drama for wrestling before the season even started as head coach Chris Ayres unexpectedly left the program in September after 17 years, taking the head coaching job at Stanford. He was succeeded by one of his assistants, Joe Dubuque, who guided the Tigers to a 6-7 record in duals. Princeton performed well at the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) Championships as Matt Cover took fourth at

(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

285 pounds, Tyler Vazquez placed fifth at 141, and Luke Stout finished sixth at 197.

Aidan Wang starred as men’s swimming placed second at the Ivy League Championships. Wang was named the High Point Diver of the Meet after sweeping the one-meter and threemeter diving events. Coach Matt Crispino’s squad piled up 1,321 points at the Ivy meet with Harvard winning with a total of 1,682.

Dakota Tucker led the way as women’s swimming placed first at the Ivy League Championships. Tucker was named the Most Outstanding Swimmer after winning three events — the 200-yard individual medley, the 400 IM, and the 200 breaststroke. Coach Abby Brethauer’s team tallied 1,403 points, well ahead of second-place Harvard’s 1,317.5 as the program won its 25th Ivy title.

Distance running star Nicholas Bendtsen set the pace as men’s track took first at the Ivy League Heptagonal Indoor Championships. Bendtsen placed first in both the 3,000 and 5,000 meters at the meet. Coach Jason Vigilante’s squad piled up 168 points in taking first with Cornell coming in second at 115. It marked the ninth consecutive and 25th Ivy Indoor Heps Title for the program.

Tessa Mudd and Georgina Scoot flew high for the women’s track as it placed

second at the Ivy League Heptagonal Indoor Championships. Mudd won the pole vault and was named the Most Outstanding Field Performer of the Meet while Scoot won both the long jump and triple jump. Coach Michelle Eisenreich’s team fell just short of the title as it scored 134 points with Penn posting a winning total of 140.

Outside hitter Ben Harrington starred for men’s volleyball, earning firstteam All-Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) honors for the third time in his career. Nyherowo Omene and Henry Wedbush were also named as first-team AllEIVA selections. Coach Sam Shweisky guided the Tigers to a 12-12 record as it fell in the EIVA quarterfinals.

Making its first appearance in the College Squash Association (CSA) Howe Cup final since 2020, the women’s squash team took second as it fell to Trinity in the title match. Zeina Zein, the Ivy League Rookie of the Year, was named as a first-team All-American while Emma Trauber and Liyen Teoh were secondteam choices. Coach Gail Ramsay’s team finished the winter with a 12-3 record.

Sparked by the trio of Karim Elbarbary, Hollis Robertson, and Thomas Rosinmen, men’s squash advanced to the CSA semifinals. Elbarbary, Robertson, and Rosinmen were each named first-team All-Americans. Coach Sean Wilkinson

guided the Tigers to a 10-3 record.

Tristan Szapary provided a highlight as fencing placed fourth at the NCAA championships. Szapary won the men’s épée championship, making him the ninth Princeton men’s fencer to win an NCAA individual title and first since 2012. Coach Zoltan Dudas’ squad had 131 wins between the men’s and women’s fencers at the event, which was won by Harvard with a total of 169. In August, Tiger rising junior Maia Weintraub helped the U.S. women’s foil team earn a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

PU – Spring

Apair of precocious freshmen, Nate Kabiri (32 goals, 25 assists) and Colin Burns (26 goals, 9 assists), along with junior standout Coulter Mackesy (40 goals, 24 assists) sparked the attack for the Princeton University men’s lacrosse team as it won the Ivy League tournament.

Coach Matt Madalon’s squad fell to Maryland in the first round of the NCAA tournament to end the spring with an 11-5 record.

McKenzie Blake (67 goals, 5 assists) and Haven Dora (29 goals, 40 assists) led the offense while Amelia Hughes (13.40 goals against average, 157 saves), the Ivy League Goalie of the Year, spearheaded the defense as women’s lacrosse got back on the winning track. Coming off a disappointing 7-9 campaign in 2023, coach Jenn Cook’s squad posted

a 11-7 record and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Jacob Faulkner (8-1 record, 3.24 ERA) starred on the mound while Nick DiPietrantonio (.293 batting average) and Jake Koonin (.319) had big years with the bat for baseball. Coach Scott Bradley guided the Tigers to an 18-26 record and a spot in the Ivy League tournament.

It was another banner season for softball as it went 30-18 and won both the Ivy regular season title and the league postseason tournament. It marked the fifth Ivy regular season crown for Princeton in the last eight

years and the 22nd overall.

Coach Lisa Van Ackeren’s squad topped Ole Miss 4-2 at the NCAA Louisiana regional to earn the program’s first win the national tourney since 2005. The Tigers were eliminated by host Louisiana in the double-elimination regional. Princeton was led by first-team All-Ivy performers Sonia Zhang (.388 batting average), Lauren Sablone (.363), and Julia Dumais (.308). Van Ackeren, for her part, was named the Ivy Coach of the Year.

Jackson Clarke set the pace as men’s track won the Ivy League Heptagonal Outdoor Track Championships. Clarke was named

the Most Outstanding Track Performer at the meet after winning the 100 meters and the 200 meters while also helping Princeton finish second in the 4x100 meter relay. Coach Jason Vigilante’s squad piled up 204.5 points in taking first with Harvard coming in second with 126. It marked the 22nd Outdoor Heps title for the program and the first of Vigilante’s tenure.

Alexandra Kelly came up big as women’s track placed second in the Ivy League Heptagonal Outdoor Track Championships. Kelly was named the Most Outstanding Field Performer at the

X-FACTOR: Princeton University men’s basketball player Xaivian Lee flies to the hoop in a game last winter during his sophomore season. Guard Lee emerged as a star in 2023-24, averaging 17.1 points and 5.7 rebounds a game up from 4.8 points and 1.8 rebounds as a freshman. Lee’s heroics helped Princeton win the Ivy League regular season title on the way to a 24-5 record. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

YOUNG GUN: Princeton University men’s lacrosse player Nate Kabiri heads to goal in action last spring. Attackman Kabiri tallied 32 goals and 25 assists in his debut campaign, leaving him second among all-time among Princeton freshmen scorers with 57 points. Kabiri’s production sparked the Tigers to an 11-5 campaign as they won the Ivy League postseason tournament. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

meet after winning the long jump and finishing second in the triple jump. Coach Michelle Eisenreich’s team fell just short of the title as it totaled 184 points with Penn scoring 184.5 to take first.

Paul Inchauspe made quite a debut for men’s tennis, earning first-team All-Ivy League honors and getting named as the Ivy Rookie of the Year. In dual match action, Inchauspe compiled a 20-6 record, going 19-6 at the No. 1 position and 5-1 in league play. Coach Billy Pate’s squad went 22-8 overall and 5-2 Ivy League as it earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament where it lost to VCU.

Continuing its domination of Ivy League competition, women’s tennis won its fifth straight league title and 18th overall. Coach Jamea Jackson guided the Tigers to a 16-7 overall record and 6-1 Ivy as it advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament where it fell to Virginia. Singles stars Neha Velaga and Maia Sung earned All-Ivy honors while Johnson was named the league’s Coach of the Year. After the season, Jackson left the program to become the head coach at Arizona State. Former Tiger assistant coach Elizabeth Begley was named to succeed Jackson.

Rachael Carver and Kayla Yelensky spearheaded the offense while goalie Lindsey Lucas starred on defense as women’s water polo won its second straight Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) title. Carver tallied 32 goals and 65 assists and Yelensky had 60 goals and 20 assists. Lucas, for her part, went 16-6 with a .554 save percentage and 222 saves, getting named as the CWPA’s Most Valuable Player. Coach Derek Ellingson guided the Tigers to a 23-7 record as they fell to Hawaii in the NCAA quarterfinals. In August, former Tiger star goalie Ashleigh Johnson ’17 and rising Princeton junior Jovana Sekulic helped

the U.S. national team take fourth in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Continuing to dominate the national scene, the women’s lightweight rowing varsity eight won its fourth straight Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) Championships title. Princeton won its third straight Commissioners’ Cup, which is given to the women’s lightweight program that scores the most points at the regatta. Coach Paul Rassam’s team totaled 67 points to edge runner-up Stanford by one point.

Led by a second-place performance from its varsity four boat, women’s open rowing took fourth place in the team standings at the NCAA Championships. Earlier in the spring, coach Lori Dauphiny’s squad won its seventh straight title at the Ivy League Championships as the varsity eight placed first to lead the way.

Second-place finishes from its second varsity eight and third vagary eight helped men’s heavyweight rowing take second in the Ten Eyck standings at the IRA Championships. The second-place finish in the team standings by coach Greg Hughes’ program was the highest mark for the program since 2016. In August, former men’s heavyweight standout Nick Mead ’17 helped the U.S. men’s four win the gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

With its varsity eight taking second in its grand final at the IRA Championships, men’s lightweight rowing took third in the team standings. Coach Marty Crotty’s top boat has medaled in six of the last eight IRA grand finals.

William Huang and Riccardo Fantinelli led the way as men’s golf placed second at the Ivy League Championships. Huang placed second individually while Fantinelli tied for fifth for coach Will Green’s squad.

Victoria Liu produced another stellar campaign for women’s golf as she won her second career individual Ivy League Championship. Coach Erika DeSanty guided

the Tigers to a sixth-place finish in the team standings at the Ivy competition. Liu went on to tie for 25th at the NCAA Las Vegas Regional.

PU – Fall

The return of Beth Yeager after a one-year hiatus from school to play for the U.S. national team at the Paris 2024 Olympics helped spark the Princeton University field hockey team to a memorable campaign. Junior forward Yeager tallied 16 goals and 11 assists in getting named as the Ivy League Player of the Year for the third time. She also earned All-American honors for the third time. Yeager’s production helped the Tigers win the league’s regular season title. Coach Carla Tagliente’s squad advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals where it lost 1-0 to Saint Joseph’s to end the fall with a record of 14-6.

Danny Ittycheria (9 goals, 1 assist) and Jack Jasinski (1 goal, 9 assists) sparked the offense while Giuliano Fravolini Whitchurch spearheaded the back line as men’s soccer caught fire down the stretch. Coach Jim Barlow’s squad went 5-1 in its last six regular season games and then went on to win the Ivy League tournament, topping Cornell in the semis and Penn in the final. The Tigers fell 1-0 to Akron in the first round of the NCAA tournament to finish its 2024 season with a 12-7 record.

The one-two punch of Pietra Tordin (10 goals, 2 assists) and Heather MacNab (2 goals, 9 assists) along with the stellar play of goalie Tyler McCamey (0.65 goals against average) helped women’s soccer win both the Ivy regular season title and league tournament. Coach Sean Driscoll’s team lost 2-1 to Virginia in the opening round of the NCAA tournament as it posted a final record of 14-5.

Decimated by a number of injuries, football struggled to a 3-7 campaign. Star running back John Volker helped coach Bob Surace’s squad end the season on a high note, rushing for 130

yards and gaining 40 yards receiving as Princeton edged Penn 20-17 in the season finale. After the season, Princeton and the other Ivy League football programs got some good news as the league announced in December that it will allow league teams to play in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs starting in 2025. The decision reversed the league’s previous policy of barring its football programs from competing in the tourney despite allowing all other sports to take part in national postseason play.

Overcoming a shaky 2-8 start, women’s volleyball got into a groove as it ended up going 12-2 in Ivy League play to tie for the league title. Coach Sabrina King’s team advanced to the final of the Ivy tournament where it fell 3-0 to Yale to end the fall with a 15-11 record. Sophomore Kamryn Chaney emerged as a star, tallying 421 kills on the way to getting named the Ivy Player of the Year.

Producing another dominant campaign, men’s water polo won its fourth straight Northeast Water Polo Conference (NWPC) title. Coach Dusty Litvak’s squad lost 15-8 to Stanford in the NCAA quarterfinals to conclude a stellar 23-9 campaign. Roko Pozaric tallied 75 goals and was named the league MVP for the third consecutive year.

Myles Hogan set the pace for men’s cross country as it earned its fourth straight Ivy League Heptagonal Championships. Hogan placed fifth individually as the Tigers had a winning score of 51 with Harvard coming in second at 62. Coach Jason Vigilante guided the Tigers to 24th place in the NCAA Championships.

Mena Scatchard led the way as women’s cross country placed first at the Ivy League Heptagonal Championships for the first time since 2015. Scatchard placed second individually as the Tigers posted a winning score of 40 with Harvard taking second at 53.

Coach Brad Hunt’s squad ended up placing fourth at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional. Scatchard qualified individually for the NCAA Championships where she finished 123rd.

Making history, women’s

rugby earned the first wins in its three seasons as a 15s varsity program, defeating Division III Bowdoin 59-0 in late September and then rolling to a 49-12 win over Division I foe Mount St. Mary’s in late October. Coach Josie Ziluca’s team ended the fall at 2-6.

Hun

The backcourt combo of Mac Kelly and A.J. Mickens excelled as the Hun School boys’ basketball team advanced to the Prep A state semis. Coach Jon Stone’s team ended the

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it won the Ivy regular season title and advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals. Yeager tallied 16 goals and 11 assists, getting named as the Ivy League’s Offensive Player of the Year for the third time. She also became a three-time All-American.

Taking care of Princeton’s trees

WRAPPED IN THE FLAG: Nick Mead poses with the U.S. flag during the closing ceremony this August at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Former Princeton University men’s heavyweight crew star Mead ’17 served as one of the U.S. flag bearers at the ceremony along with swimming star Katie Ledecky, becoming the first American rower to be so honored. Earlier, Mead rowed for the U.S. men’s four that won the gold medal, earning the first victory in the event for the Americans since the Rome 1960 Games. (Photo provided by Nick Mead)

STICKING WITH IT: Princeton University field hockey player Beth Yeager races upfield in a game this fall. Junior star Yeager, who played for U.S. national team at the Paris 2024 Olympics, helped Princeton go 14-6 in 2024 as

(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

GOLDEN GIRL: Princeton University women’s fencer Maia Weintraub, right, celebrates a win at the 2022 Ivy League Championships. In August, Tiger rising junior Maia Weintraub helped the U.S. women’s foil team earn a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. (Photo provided courtesy of Princeton Athletics)

University commit Caputo tallied 100 goals and 61 assists in 2024 to help PDS go 15-6 and advance to the Prep B state final. Caputo ended up with a program career record of 435 points on 275 goals and 160 assists.

2024 Year in Review

Continued from Preceding Page

winter with a 10-14 record. Sophomore transfer guard Gabby D’Agostino made an immediate impact, scoring 47 points in her debut for girls’ basketball. D’Agostino went on to lead the Raiders in scoring as coach Sean Costello’s squad finished the season at 10-14.

Ryan Levesque and Justin Laplante sparked the offense for boys’ hockey. Coach Eric Szeker led the Raiders to a 5-12 record in his debut season at the helm of the program.

Achieving a title triple play in the spring, baseball won both the Mercer County Tournament and the Prep A state title along with taking

first in the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL). Charles Batista starred with the bat (.433 batting average) and on the mound (0.21 ERA) to help coach Tom Monfiletto’s club go 20-5.

Lexi Kobryn ended her stellar career by hitting .571 and striking out 205 with a 0.27 ERA as softball went 18-3. Kobryn, a Villanova commit, became the first Raider with 500 strikeouts in her career and just the second to have 100 hits in addition to Lauren McQuade. Coach Kathy Quirk’s team advanced to the Prep A state final where it fell 3-2 to Pingry.

Brendan Marino and Danny Cano led the attack to help boys’ lacrosse go 8-9. Coach Alex Lopes guided the Raiders to the Mercer County Tournament (MCT) semis in his first season with the team.

The one-two punch of Ava Olender (69 goals, 31 assists) and Gabby Kim (57 goals, 11 assists) powered girls’ lacrosse as it went 9-8. First-year coach Geoff Chrisman led the Raiders to the MCT semis.

Quarterback Jack Moran put up some astounding statistics, connecting on 203 of 278 passes for 4,513 yards and 47 touchdowns to fuel the offense for football this fall. Coach Todd Smith’s team produced another dominant campaign as it posted a 9-1 record.

Featuring a balanced attack and a stingy defense led by goalie Diego Pena, boys’ soccer emerged as one of the top teams in the area. Luke Donahue, Sasha Mykhalchuk, Christopher Meehan, and Luciano Verduci each scored six goals on the season as the Raiders

advanced to the Prep A state final. Coach Pat Quirk’s squad ended the fall at 134-2.

Graduate transfer Sophia Clark, a native of England, provided a spark for field hockey, tallying 10 goals and five assists. Coach Tracey Arndt’s team got off to a 7-3 start but faltered down the stretch as it finished the fall with an 8-10 record. It was a season of nailbiters for girls’ soccer as it had four one-goal games and five ties. Coach Krista Sahrbeck guided the Raiders to a 2-10-5 record. Making its debut as a varsity sport, girls’ volleyball made progress. Coach Vicky Santiago guided the Raiders to a 3-10 record, highlighted by a pair of wins over Pingry.

PDS

Wyatt Ewanchyna (7 goals, 20 assists) and Jake Harrison (6 goals, 12 assists) triggered the offense as the Princeton Day School boys’ hockey team produced another winning season.

Coach Scott Bertoli’s squad won their first-round game in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public state tournament and then nearly pulled the upset of the tourney in the quarterfinals as they battled eventual state champion St. Augustine tooth-and-nail before falling 3-2 in overtime and ending the winter at 10-8-1.

Going 7-3 down the stretch, girls’ hockey won the Librera Cup and advanced to the NJSIAA

Tournament semis. The Panthers went 12-6 under new coach Jamie Davis as Eibhleann Knox (9 goals, 12 assists) and Logan Harrison (11 goals, 4 assists) led the offense while goalie Brigid Milligan (176 saves) had a strong season between the pipes.

The trio of Gary Jennings (213 points), Jordan Owens (212 points), and Adam Stewart (187 points) starred in the backcourt for boys’ basketball. Coach Eugene Burroughs’ squad ended the winter with a 7-16 record.

With senior star Mia Hartman getting sidelined by injury early in the season, Nandini Kolli and Sophia Rae Barber stepped up for girls’ basketball. Coach Seraphine Hamilton’s squad

TRIPLE CROWN : Members of the Hun School baseball team celebrate after they defeated

Lawrence High 10-2 in the Mercer County Tournament final in mid-May. Hun, which went 20-5 in 2024, also won the Prep A state tournament and took first in the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL).

(Photo by Steven Wojtowicz)

RECORD PACE: Princeton Day School girls’ lacrosse player Tessa Caputo heads to goal in a game this past spring. Senior star and Fairfield

(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

posted a 3-16 record. Hamilton later left the program to coach the William Smith College women’s hoops program and was succeeded by Pat Reddington.

Sebastian Rzeczycki (42 goals, 14 assists) and Matt Whittaker (38 goals, 13 assists) sparked the attack for boys’ lacrosse this spring. The Panthers posted a 7-12 record for first-year coach Nick Taylor.

Tessa Caputo produced a huge final campaign for girls’ lacrosse, piling up 161 points on 100 goals and 61 assists. Caputo, a Fairfield University commit, totaled a program career record of 435 points on 275 goals and 160 assists. First-year coach Lucia Marcozzi guided PDS to a 15-6 record as

the squad advanced to the Prep B state final and the quarterfinal round of the NJSIAA Non-Public Group B tournament.

Nathan Bennett placed first in the 400 meters while Avery Hall won the high jump to help boys’ track take third in the Prep B state championship meet. Coach Mark Adams guided his squad to a 10th-place finish at the NJSIAA Non-Public Group B championships.

Distance runner Emily McCann starred as girls’ track finished third in the Prep B state championship meet. McCann placed first in the 800 meters and third at the 3,200 at the competition.

Coach Mark Adams’ team went on to finish 10th at the NJSIAA Non-Public Group B championships.

Junior transfer Santino

Cignarella made a big impact for baseball, batting .421 with 18 runs and 24 hits. Coach Eric Schnepf’s squad went 6-17, earning its first-ever win in the NJSIAA South Jersey Non-Public B tournament as it topped St. Joseph (Hammonton) 10-4 in the first round before losing to Gloucester Catholic in a quarterfinal contest.

Freshman Abhishek Srinivasan starred at third singles to help boys’ tennis advance to the quarterfinal round of the NJSIAA Non-Public South Jersey tournament. Coach Michael Augsberger’s squad posted a 10-8 final record.

Paced by Grayson McLaughlin, boys’ cross country produced a historic fall, placing first at both the Prep B state championship meet and the NJSIAA Non-

Public Group B Championships. In the Prep B meet, McLaughlin placed third individually with Edward Letko coming in sixth and Alexander Chai taking seventh as PDS had a winning score of 42 with Newark Academy finishing second with 61. At the NJSIAA Non-Public Group B meet, McLaughlin finished third again and Letko took fifth as the program earned its first ever Non-Public title. Coach Mike Mazzei’s team posted a winning score of 57, 32 points better than runner-up Rutgers Prep. Olivia Lumba took 11th individually at the Prep B state championship meet to help girls’ cross country finish sixth in the team standings.

Coach Mike Mazzei’s team went on to place 16th at the NJSIAA Non-Public Group A meet.

Freshman Arundhati Prabhu starred at second singles as girls’ tennis enjoyed another superb season. Catching fire down the stretch, coach Michael Augsberger’s team advanced to the final of the NJSIAA Non-Public tournament state final and ended the fall at 11-6.

Abby Leonardi helped trigger the offense with her setting as girls’ volleyball advanced to the Burlington County Scholastic League (BCSL) final and the quarterfinal round of the NJSIAA South Jersey Non-Public B tournament. Coach Mike Villafane’s squad posted a final record of 10-15.

Keegan Fullman (9 goals, 4 assists) and Todd Devin (7 goals, 4 assists) led the way as boys’ soccer produced a magical run to the NJSIAA South Jersey Non-Public final. First-year coach Gary Roberts guided his sixthseeded squad to 1-0 wins on the road in the quarters and semis before it fell on penalty kicks in the sectional final at Moorestown Friends. The Panthers finished the fall with an 8-14 record.

Mackenzie Brodel and Nica Martin each had seven goals as girls’ soccer experienced an up-and-down campaign. Coach Chris Pettit’s squad went 8-9-1, highlighted by advancing to the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) quarters.

Senior goalie Molly Hall held the fort as field hockey battled through a tough campaign. Coach Heather Farlow’s squad posted a final record of 6-10.

PHS

Senior stars Kyleigh Tangen, Jesse Wang, Lauren Girouard, and Courtney Weber came up big to help the Princeton High girls’ swimming team

produce another championship winter. The Tigers went undefeated in regular season meets and then rolled to their third straight Mercer County Championships title. Going after their second straight state crown, the Tigers won the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Central Group B sectional title and then topped Shawnee in the Group B state semis before getting edged 89-81 by fellow powerhouse Chatham in the state final. Coach Carly Fackler’s squad ended the winter with a 14-1 record.

The quartet of David Brophy, Daniel Geo, and the Xu twins, David and Jaiden, starred as boys’ swimming enjoyed another stellar campaign. The Tigers won all their regular season meets and then took first at the Mercer County Championships for the third straight year. In the state tournament, PHS advanced to the NJSIAA North 2 Group B sectional final where it lost 96-74 to Chatham. The defeat left coach Carly Fackler’s team with a 13-1 mark.

Sparked by the all-around play of Anna Winters (332 points, 112 rebounds), girls’ basketball had one of its best seasons in recent years. Coach Dave Kosa guided the Tigers to 15-9 record. Over the summer, Kosa left PHS and was succeeded by Joe Smiegocki.

The one-two punch of senior stars Jahan Owusu (377 points) and Jihad Wilder (146 points) led the way for boys’ basketball.

Coach Pat Noone’s squad ended the winter with an 1113 record.

Blase Mele made history for wrestling as he took

Continued on Next Page

ON THE BALL: Princeton High girls’ volleyball player Pearl Agel sets the ball in a game this season. Senior libero Agel starred as PHS went 28-1 this fall, winning its second straight New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 3 state championship. Agel piled up 268 digs in 2024 to end her career with a program-record total of 848.

(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

SPECIAL K: Princeton High girls’ swimmer Kyleigh Tangen displays her freestyle form in a 2024 meet. Senior Tangen took first in both the 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle races at the Mercer County Swimming Championships in late January to help PHS win its third straight county crown. Tangen and the Tigers won the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Central Group B sectional title and advanced to the Group B state final on the way to finishing with a 14-1 record. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

sixth at 138 pounds at the NJSIAA State Wrestling Championships. Mele became the third wrestler in Tiger history to place at the state championships. Coach Jess Monzo led the Tigers to a third-place finish at the Mercer County Tournament and an 11-13 record in duals.

The dynamic duo of Patrick Kenah (61 goals, 47 assists) and Brendan Beatty (40 goals, 54 assists) powered boys’ lacrosse to a superb spring. Coach Chip Casto’s team advanced to the MCT final on the way to going 11-8.

Fueled by the finishing touch of Riley Devlin (66 goals, 20 assists), Leah Bornstein (56 goals, 22 assists), and Quinn Gallagher (49 goals, 22 assists), girls’ lacrosse bounced back from a 7-12 season in 2023 to go 12-9. The Tigers produced a major highlight for coach Kate Federico when they defeated Montgomery 9-8 in overtime in the first round of the NJSIAA North Jersey Group 3 sectional. PHS went on to fall to Northern Highlands in the sectional quarters.

Centerfielder and leadoff hitter Alex Winters capped his career for baseball with a superb final season, batting .400 with 26 runs, 19 RBIs, and 21 stolen bases. Coach Dom Capuano’s squad ended the spring with an 8-16 record.

Shortstop Natalie Hester stood out with her glove and bat (.475 batting average with 29 hits and 22 runs) as softball made progress. The Tigers went 4-4 down the stretch to end the spring at 7-12 under coach Marissa Soprano.

Throwing star Sean Wilton enjoyed a record-breaking season for boys’ track. Wilton placed first in the shot put at the NJSIAA Group 4 state championship meet with a personal record of 57’ 5.50. Wilton then outdid himself at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions, placing eighth with a best throw of 57’ 11.50 to medal at the meet and set a new school record. Coach Ben Samara’s team tied for 19th in the team standings at the Group 4 meet as Sawyer Quallen placed 13th in the triple jump and Josh Barzilai took 21st in the 800 meters.

The 4x800 relay of Madeline Aboumeri, Phoenix Roth, Rachel Xin, and Lena Murray provided a highlight for girls’ track as they placed 10th at the NJSIAA Group 4 state meet. Previously they had placed second at the Central Jersey Group 4 sectional as coach Ben Samara’s team placed 10th in the team standings in that competition.

Senior Melvin Huang’s gritty play set the tone for boys’ tennis. Huang placed first at second singles at the Mercer County Tournament to help the Tigers take second in the team standings, just 0.5 points behind firstplace WW/P-North. Huang and the Tigers ended up making the final round of the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 3 sectional where they fell to WW/P-South. Coach Sarah Hibbert guided the Tigers to a 16-1 record.

Brooks Cahill-Sanidas starred for boys’ golf as the Tigers placed second in the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 2 Group 3 tournament. Cahill-Sanidas placed second individually at the event with an even-par 70. Coach Pat Noone’s team, which also placed second at the

Mercer County Tournament, posted a 13-0 record in dual match play.

Jacqueline Zang led the way as girls’ golf placed sixth in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) championship Junior star Zang tied for 13th individually with a three-over 75. Earlier in the spring, Zang carded a one-over 73 to take second at the Mercer County Tournament, helping the Tigers finish first in the team standings as they edged runnerup Lawrenceville by one stroke. Coach Jess Monzo guided the Tigers to an 8-0 record in dual match action.

The quintet of Naomi Lygas, Pearl Agel, Lois Matsukawa, Kaelin Bobetich, and Charlotte Woods helped girls’ volleyball produce another dominant campaign this fall. The Tigers won their second straight NJSIAA Group 3 title, winning each game in the state tournament by 2-0 scores, culminating with a comprehensive 25-8, 25-11 victory over Ramapo in the state final. Along the way, Lygas set the program career record for kills (852) while Agel set the mark for digs (848) and Matsukawa set the mark for assists (1,738). Coach Patty Manhart’s team finished the fall at 28-1.

Azariah Breitman (21 goals, 6 assists) and Archie Smith (16 goals, 12 assists) triggered the offense while goalie Nicolas Holmelund (102 saves) and backs Chase Hamerschlag and Connor Hewitt spearheaded the defense as boys’ soccer added to its winning tradition. The Tigers won the first-ever Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) tournament, edging Notre Dame 1-0 in the final. Going for its second straight

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HAMMER TIME: Princeton High boys’ soccer player Chase Hamerschlag blasts the ball in action this fall. Junior center back Hamerschlag helped shore the Tiger defense and also contributed seven goals and

assists

PHS went 18-3-4. The Tigers won the first-ever Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) tournament

State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Central Jersey Group 4 sectional title along the way. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

NJSIAA Group 4 state title, PHS topped Monroe 1-0 in the Central Jersey Group 4 sectional final and then fell 1-0 to Southern in the state semis. Coach Ryan Walsh guided the Tigers to an 183-4 record in his second season at the helm of the program.

Saving its best for last, girls’ soccer went 6-1-1 in its last eight games. The Tigers pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the fall as 16th-seeded PHS edged top-seeded Freehold Township 1-0 on penalty kicks in the first round of the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 4 sectional. First-year coach Meghan Brennan’s squad fell 1-0 to Montgomery in sectional quarters to end the fall at 7-10-3. Kacey Howes (5 goals, 3 assists) sparked the offense for the Tigers while goalie Julia Zaladarriaga (96 saves) and back Romy Johnson led the defense.

The all-around play of Carmine Carusone helped football enjoy a memorable campaign. Running back/ defensive back/kicker Carusone rushed for 651 yards and five touchdowns, made 22 receptions for 285 yards and three TDs, had three interceptions and 56 tackles, and kicked four field goals and 16 extra points as the Tigers went 5-5. Coach Charlie Gallagher led PHS to its first appearance in the state tournament since 2014 where it fell to undefeated and eventual champion Winslow in the quarterfinal round of the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 4 sectional.

Senior Mia Ramirez went out with a bang for field hockey, tallying 21 goals and six assists in her final campaign for the Tigers.

Coach Heather Serverson’s team posted a 6-10 record.

Led by a core of young stars, girls’ cross country made history.

With junior Karol Karra, sophomore Grace Hegedus, sophomore Eowyn Deess, and sophomore Phoenix Roth setting the pace, PHS placed first in both the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) Tournament and the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 4 sectional meet. The Tigers went on to win the Group 4 state championship meet for the first time in program history and then took second at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions, the best-ever finish for the team at that event. Coach Jim Smirk’s squad took fourth at the Nike Cross Nationals Northeast Regional meet to cap its stellar season.

The trio of Braedyn Capone, Finn Wedmid, and Felix Farrugia were at the front of the pack for boys’ cross country as the Tigers placed fourth in the team standings at the Colonial Valley Conference Championships.

Coach Smirk’s team went to finish fourth at the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 4 sectional and 11th at the Group 4 state championship meet.

The first doubles pair of Maya-Alexandra Todorov and Ashna Bushan proved to be a constant for girls’ tennis. Playing in their second season together, Todorov and Ashna Bushan won their flight at the inaugural CVC Tournament after winning

the title at the final MCT in 2023. Coach Sarah Hibbert guided the Tigers to a 12-2 record as they advanced to the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 2 Group 3 sectional final.

Stuart

Taylor States averaged a double-double for the Stuart Country Day School basketball last winter, scoring 262 points and grabbing 138 rebounds in 12 games. Coach Tony Bowman led the Tartans to a 6-6 record.

The scoring prowess of Allison Lee (88 goals, 10 assists) powered lacrosse. Under new head coach Paige Meszaros, Stuart went 3-2 in its last five games to end the spring at 6-12.

Kirsten Brenya displayed her versatility for track at the Prep B state championship meet. Brenya placed first in both the high jump and triple jump and took third in the 400-meter hurdles. Sparked by Brenya’s heroics, coach Alec Valle’s squad finished fifth in the team standings at the Prep B meet.

Senior goalie Emily Harlan held the fort for field hockey in the fall, making 134 saves on the season, while Nyla Flamer sparked the attack with six goals and three assists. Coach Missy Bruvik guided the Tartans to a 5-11-1 record. It was a breakthrough season for volleyball as Stuart made its debut in New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) competition and ended up advancing to the semifinal round of the South Jersey Non-Public B sectional. Taylor States and Vlada Sokol starred on the front row for the Tartans while Alex Durish excelled at setter. Coach Anna Kachmarski led her squad to an 11-8 mark.

Claire McLaughlin provided a highlight for cross country. McLaughlin placed 22nd at the Prep B state championship meet for coach Gary Dura’s team. —Bill Alden

STATE OF GRACE: Stuart County Day School basketball player Taylor States heads to the hoop in action last winter. Over the course of 2024, States starred for both the Stuart hoops and volleyball programs.

(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

S ports

Overcoming Injury to Emerge as a Stalwart for PU Wrestling, Senior Star Stout Primed to End Tiger Career on a High Note

Luke Stout can appreciate his achievements in his first three years for the Princeton University wrestling team.

The senior at 197 pounds has been a steady contributor in the Tigers lineup since freshman year and qualified each season for the NCAA Championships.

“I think I’ve accomplished some good things, but I’m still looking for a little more,” said Stout. “I’d like to finish it off on a stronger note.”

Stout has been slowed by injuries in two of his trips to the NCAAs and didn’t feel up to his standards in the other. The start of his final year also has been slowed by another injury, but he’s looking forward to making a return after sitting out the Ken Kraft Midlands Championship, hosted by Northwestern University, to end December. He’s hoping to be back on the mat for the Tigers in a busy month that begins with Princeton hosting West Virginia on January 4 at Jadwin Gym.

“The biggest thing for me this year is going to just be believing in my training and having full confidence in my wrestling,” said Stout, who got off to a 4-1 start this season before getting banged up. “I’m wrestling guys like Chance Marsteller in the room, who is a world-class athlete. And there are plenty of other tough partners in the room pushing me. We’re working our butts off every day. It’s just going to be a matter of believing I’ve put in the work and when I get stuck out there on the mat I can put into play whatever I was working on that week. I think that confidence is the biggest piece for me.”

The Tigers too are looking to get healthy and turn the corner when they return from their winter break and Midlands. Princeton opened the season 2-4 with wins over Long Island University and Tennessee Chattanooga. They come off losses to powerhouse programs Iowa and Rutgers.

“We haven’t had our full lineup in any of our competitions including the Princeton Open,” said second-year head coach Joe Dubuque. “In that regard, it’s a little frustrating. But the good thing is that they’re not season ending injuries, so I feel like we’re going to be as close to 100 percent after a Christmas break. I’ve been pretty pleased overall with the effort and fight from the guys that have stepped into the lineup so that’s good just from a program standpoint, a culture standpoint.”

With Stout out, the Tigers are missing one of their most experienced returners. He placed second at Midlands a year ago, and has excelled in past Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) and NCAA championship meets. He remembers how his career started.

“My first college dual actually was against Iowa and so now it started off with a bang,” said Stout, who won his first match at Iowa.

“And then I just kind of tried to keep that ball rolling throughout the season. It’s cool to think back on those experiences and I’m trying to keep making those memories right now.”

His debut for the Tigers came after a 153-16 career at Mt. Lebanon (Pa.) that featured two trips to state championship matches with one culminating in the state crown. When the Ivy League canceled its 2020-21 athletic seasons, Stout took a gap year. He stayed in shape by working out with his two brothers and occasionally came to Princeton to work out with future teammates.

“I would stay with some of the freshmen in my class and get workouts up there and was kind of living out of a suitcase a little bit for some parts of the month,” said Stout. “It was a big year for me to mature and then also gain some experience wrestling some college guys. I think that really carried over into my actual first year when I got on campus the following year. I still had that same excitement from high school wanting to compete at the next level, and I came in ready to scrap whoever and whenever.”

Seeded third at the EIWAs, he upset the second seed to reach the final and went on to compete at the NCAA Championships where a knee injury curtailed his chances. He was back to the NCAAs as a sophomore but was not at his best, and when he returned to the nationals last year it was with shoulder and knee injuries that slowed him.

“I’ve made it to the tournament every year,” said Stout. “But in the same sense I haven’t really finished the season the way I’ve wanted to any of the years.”

Stout is hopeful that it will come together for him this year. He’s trying to use the ups and downs that he has had to remind himself how to approach his final college season.

“Staying the course has been a big part of it for me, not getting too high after a big win or getting too down on myself after I drop a bad match or don’t wrestle the way I want,” said Stout. “I think I’ve learned to appreciate any positives I can pull from the match. Recognizing what I did good no matter what I thought about the performance as a whole has been big for me to keep my confidence rolling.”

This year, Stout has been charged with also keeping the team positive and pushing forward. He is a captain for the Tigers and focused on ensuring that the team stays on track for its lofty goals.

“It kind of serves as a reminder that I’ve got to continue to hold myself to a high standard in the room,” said Stout. “Before I always had myself pushing me and trying to use my work ethic as an example and everything, but now even more so as a person in a leadership position, I know what my team expects of me and I’ve got to show up every day no matter how I feel.”

His experience is a big plus as he returns to campus for a busy month of wrestling. He can share with teammates what has worked for him.

“You hear it so much how mental our sport is, but the mindset has been a huge part of it for me,” said Stout. “In high school it’s a little different. You’re not going to have a tough match every week or that often at times. So a lot of it was pushing

season on a high note as the

in

myself in high school and I think in college, you’re wrestling tough guys every week. You know you can expect no matter if your guy’s ranked or not, you’re going to have a tough match.”

Princeton has been sorting out this season how to fill in holes left by last year’s graduations. The Tigers feel good about what they’ve gotten from Danny Jones at 133, Mikey Squires and Kole Mulhauser at 184 and Sebastian Garibaldi at heavyweight. Princeton will face another test at Midlands before getting back into the dual meet schedule.

“With multiple day tournaments I like to see how these guys are handling those routines,” said Dubuque. “Obviously I want them to win. I want them to have great performances and go there

get

and place as high as they can, knock off some nationally ranked guys, and just stick to our brand of wrestling and stick to their individual brand of wrestling. I think that’s the thing that we harp on the most. It’s not just about getting your hand raised, it’s about, what does your perfect performance look like and trying to stick to that every match that you wrestle.”

Stout has seen his share of the country’s top wrestlers and tough competition. He is preparing to return for the chance to ascend to the top of his weight class at nationals, something that has been stalled by injuries but remains a big goal.

“I think this break before the start of the New Year is going to help him kind of get back to as close to 100

percent as possible,” said Dubuque. “Hopefully we see a guy who is very offensive, very aggressive, something that has helped him gain success in the past.”

Stout is taking all that he has learned in his first three seasons with Princeton into the final stretch run. It begins with him getting back on the mat healthy and ready to lead the Tigers this month while putting himself in position for a big finish.

“It’s a really fun time of year,” said Stout. “That’s when you really get your team identity. We’re not in classes throughout January, so we’re pretty much just scrapping. It’s a fun time to see yourself make some jumps and head into the postseason.”

—Justin Feil

SUCCESS WITHIN HIS GRASP: Princeton University wrestler Luke Stout, top, controls a foe earlier in his Tiger career. Senior star and co-captain Stout is primed to end his final Princeton

Tigers

into the 2025 portion of their schedule. Princeton, now 2-4

duals, hosts West Virginia on January 4 at Jadwin Gym. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Tall Raises Her Game with Double-Double

As PU Women’s Hoops Tops Middle Tennessee

Fadima Tall realized that she would have to raise her game this winter for the Princeton University women’s basketball team when star guard Madison St Rose went down for the season in November due to a knee injury.

“Personally, I know that I have to contribute more, not only rebounding-wise but offensively,” said sophomore guard/forward Tall, a 6’0 native of Silver Spring, Md. “That is just finding my shot throughout the game and being more of a distributor, looking for those assists and those points on offense.”

Last Sunday as Princeton hosted Middle Tennessee State, Tall made a huge contribution, recording a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds, both career-highs, as the Tigers rolled to a 64-51 victory over the Blue Raiders and improved to 8-4.

Tall and her teammates were fired up to get back in action after the holiday/ exam break.

“We needed to get the rust off and play a really hard game; I think it would prepare us for the Ivy League season coming up,” said Tall of the Tigers who last played on December 21 when they defeated Vermont 60-45. “We settled into the game. We understood how they are playing us defensively and we understood what was working on offense. We were finding corners open and moving the ball really well on offense.”

After hitting her careerhigh of 13 points four times this season, including the last three games heading into Sunday, Tall was thrilled to break through with 16 points.

“Thank God,” said Tall

with a laugh. “I check the stats every game, it has been 13 for a while. I am happy to finally be on that upward spiral.”

Tall is definitely on an upward trajectory this season, averaging 9.6 points and 6.1 rebounds a game so far this winter, up from 3.0 points and 1.9 rebounds as a freshman.

“I think confidence,” said Tall, reflecting on her progress. “Last year, I was worried about what shot to take or am I in the right spot. Now that I have had a chance to find my groove with the people on the team, I can find my shot easier. I know that they will have my back if I miss a shot or it doesn’t go my way on offense.”

In addition to her increased offense production, Tall is becoming a force on the boards as her previous single-game high in rebounds was 10 before Sunday.

“It is aggressiveness for sure, we get after it at practice,” said Tall. “I don’t think there is a team that is working as hard as us in practice right now so it is second nature when we come into the game.”

In stifling the Blue Raiders, the Tigers were aggressive at the defensive end, setting the tone by holding Middle Tennessee to six points in the first quarter.

“I think knowing the scout really helps, knowing what they want to do,” said Tall. “At the end of the day, it is just about outworking them. We can know what they want to do as much as we want but if they are working harder, it is not going to work. I think we did our job today on defense.”

Princeton head coach

Carla Berube credited her players with producing a good job all around as they returned to action.

“It was great to get back against a really quality opponent,” said Berube. “They are really, really tough. I thought we did a great job. We executed the game plan, especially defensively.”

Berube was thrilled with how well Tall played at both ends of the court.

“It is so great when she has 13 boards and five of them are on the offensive end,” said Berube. “She is just getting after loose balls, she is getting us second chance opportunities. We knew she could do this, that is why we recruited her. She makes us so much better. She talks a lot, she has so many important intangibles defensively. She gets her hands on a lot of balls. She is making plays.”

The Tiger backcourt of sophomore standouts, Skye Belker and Ashley Chea, made a lot of plays against the Blue Raiders. Belker scored a team-high 17 points, highlighted by going 10 for 10 from the free throw line, while Chea contributed eight points and three rebounds.

“They play very well together, they are pretty poised,” said Berube. “I thought Skye did a great job of attacking and getting to the free throw line and making every one of them.”

Princeton made things hard for the Blue Raiders with their stellar defensive performance.

“We just did a great job executing the scout,” said Berube. “We were going to defend their actions and took away what they wanted to do. Their No. 2 (Anastaslia Boldyreva) is really tough inside. I thought our bigs did a great job. We dug in really well and doubled when we needed to and then got out on [Jalynn] Gregory, their best 3-point shooter, and made it hard for her to get good looks. I am really proud of the way we executed the game plan.”

PU Sports Roundup

PU Men’s Hockey Defeats Army 1-0

Freshman forward Jake Manfre scored the lone goal as the Princeton University men’s hockey team edged Army West Point 1-0 last Saturday.

Sophomore goalie Arthur Smith made 24 saves to earn the shutout and help the Tigers post their fifth straight win and improve to 6-4-1.

Princeton hosts the University of New Hampshire for a two-game set on January 3 and 4 at Hobey Baker Rink.

PU Hoops Alum Johnson

To Coach WNBA’s Mystics

Princeton University men’s basketball alum and former Tiger head coach Sydney Johnson ’97 was named last week as the new head coach of the Washington Mystics of the WNBA.

Johnson, 50, was most recently an assistant coach of the Chicago Sky of the WNBA. He previously served as the head coach at Fairfield University from 2011-19 after four seasons at the helm of Princeton.

Johnson guided the Tigers to a 66-53 record during his tenure at his alma mater, highlighted by leading Princeton to the Ivy League title and the NCAA tournament in the 2010-11 campaign. During his time at Fairfield, the Stags posted a 116-147 record

and made three appearances in

Earlier in 2024, he led the Team USA women’s three-onthree squad to a second-place

at the FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup in San Juan, Puerto Rico. During his playing career at Princeton, star guard Johnson became the only three-time team captain in program history and was named the 1997 Ivy Player of the Year. He was a three-time All-Ivy selection and ended his career with 1,044 points, 280 assists, and a program-record 169 steals.

After graduating from Princeton, Johnson had a sevenyear professional career, playing in Spain and Italy. He got his start in coaching in 2004, joining the staff of former Princeton star and head coach John Thompson III at Georgetown as an assistant coach.

MOVES: Princeton University men’s basketball player Caden Pierce dribbles past a Rutgers player when the Garden State rivals met on December 21 at the Prudential Center in Newark. Junior forward Pierce helped spark Princeton to a thrilling 83-82 victory over

game at Harvard on January 11.

With Princeton slated to host LeMoyne on December 31 and then start Ivy League play by hosting Cornell on January 4, Berube is looking for her players to sharpen things.

“We had some unforced turnovers so it’s just working on the execution of our offense and of course our defending,” said Berube. “We are nonstop working on our defense still. There were a couple of times we weren’t there on help when we needed to be.”

Looking ahead to starting Ivy play, Berube believes her team is where it needs to be as it looks to earn the program’s seventh straight league regular season title.

“We are excited for it,” said Berube. “We are building, we are getting better and better each game. It is great to be back after the break playing again and getting better.”

In Tall’s view, Princeton has what it takes to be back in the title hunt.

“From where we were at the start of the season, I feel very confident,” said Tall. “Going into Ivy League, we know our strengths now and we can keep building towards that throughout the season.”

— Bill Alden

KNIGHT

the Scarlet Knights, leading the Tigers with 21 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. It marked the 24th double-double of his Tiger career. Pierce scored the winning basket on a layup with five seconds remaining in regulation as Princeton improved to 9-4. Pierce was later named the Lute Olson National Player of the Week along with the Ivy League Player of the Week for his heroics in the win. Princeton, which was slated to play Akron on December 30, hosts Division III Kean University on January 4 in its final tune-up before starting Ivy play with a

(Photo by Steven Wojtowicz)

TALL TALE: Princeton University women’s basketball player Fadima Tall looks to pass through the ball in a game earlier this season. Last Sunday, sophomore guard/forward Tall recorded a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds, both career-highs, as the Tigers rolled to a 64-51 victory over Middle Tennessee State. Princeton, which improved to 8-4 with the win, was slated to host LeMoyne on December 31 and then start Ivy League play by hosting Cornell on January 4. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

David Xu Helps Key Rally for PHS Boys’ Swim Team

As it Edges WW/P-South to Remain Undefeated at 6-0

David Xu was primed to give his all for the Princeton High boys’ swimming team as it looked to rally past WW/PSouth in a battle of unbeaten squads in the final meet of 2024.

The Tigers found themselves behind the Pirates 8274 heading into the 400-yard freestyle relay, the final event of the December 19 clash between the rivals.

Senior star Xu moved to the B relay from the A quartet in an effort to hope PHS gets the one-two finish it needed to pull out the meet.

“I just came in saying, ‘You know what, I will just put everything into the pool, leave nothing to regret,’” said Xu. “That is really all I could ask for. Seeing everybody cheering and everybody standing up also motivated me.”

As Xu powered to the wall in the anchor leg closing in on second place just behind the Tiger A relay, the WW/PS bubble was in an uproar as swimmers from both teams were shouting encouragement and PHS coach Carly Fackler was stalking down the deck beside his lane waving her arms and yelling.

Xu touched the wall in second as PHS pulled out the 86-84 win, moving to 6-0 and avoiding its first dual meet loss since falling 106-64 to WW/P-North on December 3, 2019. The Tiger boys screamed, jumping up and down together on the deck when the win was confirmed.

“It just means that we get to keep our streak going in the regular season,” said Xu. “We are going to try to replicate the success in the postseason.”

In reflecting on the dramatic comeback, Xu acknowledged that the Pirates pushed the Tigers to the brink.

“That was scary; a lot of the guys on that team are on our club team,” said Xu, who swims club for the Princeton Tigers Aquatics. “We know they are pretty fast, they surprised us for sure. I didn’t think it was going to be this close in all honesty. There was definitely some drama.”

Xu swam fast in his individual events, taking first in both the 200 individual medley and the 100 backstroke.

“I was surprised with how I

swam because I was coming to this meet a little tired just in general because it was a school day,” said Xu. “I came into this meet looking for a fight and they definitely gave us the fight.”

Fighting together with his fellow senior teammates which include his twin brother, Jaiden, Daniel Guo, David Brophy, Matias Da Costa, Mark Lackner, and Jaden Jung has helped Xu swim his best.

“The senior group is really close, we have been together for four years,” said Xu, who will be attending Bowdoin this fall and competing for its men’s swimming team. “Seeing people like my brother, Jaiden, and David Brophy growing as swimmers has been really amazing. The reason why we can go so fast is because we are able to push each other during practice and things like that.”

PHS head coach Fackler realized that her squad had to swim fast to overcome the Pirates.

“They are a very good team and we knew that coming in,” said Fackler. “We were strong, they were strong. We knew that it was going to come down to the last relay.”

Before the last relay, PHS came through with a onetwo-three sweep in the 500 free, led by Jaiden Xu, and a one-two-four finish in the 100 back to put itself in position for the win.

“The 500 free was huge,” said Fackler. “The backstroke was huge too. Little things here or there didn’t go the way we wanted them to but other things that we were not expecting went in our direction.”

Making the tactical decision to split up the A relay to move the Xu twins to the B group proved to be huge.

“It was David’s and his brother’s idea to come up to me and say I think we should split the last relay because I had originally stacked our A relay,” said Fackler. “As we are looking and moving things around, the breaststroke is happening and you have a limited time to make these changes.”

In Fackler’s view, her squad’s pluck helped it come through.

“Heart, that is what it really

comes down to,” said Fackler. “We didn’t win the medley relay, that was something we were hoping to get from the beginning. Starting out the first event being down 4-10 could potentially be a blow to the meet. They hung in there and they kept it close the entire time. They knew what they had to do from start to finish.”

Fackler was confident that David Xu would get it done when it counted.

“David Xu is somebody who loves to swim fast,” said Fackler.

“He loves to see where his times are at but he is also like I am going to do this for the team.”

Another senior star, Brophy, looked very fast against WW/P-S, winning both the 200 free and 100 butterfly.

“His free is so clean, so crisp, so smooth,” said Fackler of Brophy, a Colgate commit. “He is dialed in. It looks effortless when he swims. He sits so high on the water. He has just perfected everything that he needs to perfect and it shows.”

In assessing her team’s prefect 6-0 start, Fackler likes where the Tigers are at heading into 2025.

“Ending December on this note is great, everything we have done so far has been building to this point,” said Fackler, whose team is next in action when its hosts WW/PNorth on January 9.

“It is just to see where we are right now mid-season and what other work do we need to do gearing up for the rest of the season. I like where we are at. I am excited to put this result in and see where we landed on power points and how we rank in the rest of the section. It is always about that bigger picture. Winning the dual meet is great but how does that set us up for postseason. It is going to be tough, that is what you want. You want the competitiveness.”

Xu is excited to see what PHS can do when it returns to action in the new year.

“By then we are going to be a little bit tapered, we are going to be more into the season,” said Xu. “Our team is going to practice a little bit more aerobic so we are able to be a little less tired during races. I think great things are going to happen in the postseason for sure.”

—Bill Alden

December

With Senior Chorba Excelling in Distance Events, PHS Girls’ Swim

Team Produces Strong 5-1 Start

Although the Princeton High girls’ swimming team ended 2024 by losing 91-79 to WW/P-South to suffer its first loss in a regular season dual meet since December 17, 2019 (a 93-77 defeat to South), Elizabeth Chorba saw no reason for the Tigers to hang their heads.

“Seeing the score at the halfway mark, some people were a little disappointed,” said senior star and cocaptain Chorba reflecting on the December 19 meet. “After that, we shifted our focus to yeah we want to try to get points, but it is also OK if we lose, so just swim for fun and enjoy it. Have a good time.”

Chorba produced some good performances in the meet, taking third in the 200-yard freestyle and second in the 500 free in addition to helping the Tigers take second in the 200 medley relay and first in the 400 free relay.

“On the 200, I tried to sprint fast like the 50 I just did in the relay before it,” said Chorba. “I tried to have that pace in the 200. I didn’t do my best but I talked to my dad who is also a coach and was cheering me on. We decided that race is in the past. I am going to move on and in the 500 and I am going to do really well. On the 500, I tried to not lose as much speed. Towards the middle of the race, I tried to pick it up.”

Chorba enjoys competing in the longer events. “I like distance, I also do swim sprint but I am better at distance,” said Chorba, who swims club at the Fairless

Hills YMCA in Pennsylvania where she is coached by her father. “It is nice to have my dad as my coach.”

As a senior leader for the Tigers, Chorba has striven to create a nice environment around the PHS squad.

“I am a captain and getting to pick the psyches, I feel like I have a part in the team bonding,” said Chorba. “It is great seeing swimmers in the halls and saying hi. I get to see the underclassman as well as juniors and the other seniors and captains with me and just have fun as a team.”

PHS head coach Patrick Remboski had fun watching his swimmers battle the Pirates.

“We knew that it was going to be a great test, I am really happy with the way the girls swam and competed,” said first-year head coach Remboski. “Today was just a team effort all around. I was proud to see that the girls were willing to push it and do whatever they had to in whatever event. A lot of girls swam different events tonight than they are used to.”

Remboski credited Chorba with competing hard all season long.

“Elizabeth keeps getting better and better in the 200 and the 500,” said Remboski. “She just keeps working hard every practice, every meet.”

Sophomore Hannah Ploss also had a good meet, taking second in the 100 breaststroke and third in the 200 individual medley.

“Hannah has been a huge component to our team, we

are so happy to have her,” said Remboski. “She is really willing to swim any event. A lot of them have a choir concert tonight so she was putting in a full shift in the pool and then going to the choir concert. The commitment to the team is really special.” Other swimmers who stepped up against WW/PSouth included junior Vivian Lee, who took second in the 200 free and third in the 100 free and sophomore Nia Zagar, the second-place finisher in both the 200 IM and 100 butterfly. Junior Emily Walden placed second in the 50 free and fourth in the 100 back while freshman Charlotte Flanagan finished in the 100 back.

With PHS starting 2025 by hosting WW/P-North on January 9, Remboski believes that the defeat to the Pirates could benefit PHS as it heads into the homestretch of the season.

“We have had a really long December, this is our sixth meet this month,” said Remboski. “I think this was a really good one to have, it is going to help us in the long run. This is a good one to keep us humble and realize that we are going to have to work really hard, especially with the section we are in this year.”

Chorba believes that the squad’s camaraderie is going to help in the long run.

“I think our team is really good, it is really special team,” said Chorba. “It is really interesting seeing us on the deck in our swimsuits but also off with our backpacks and everything. At school in class, we talk about swim; it is just nice. On the bus, we play music and jam out.”

—Bill Alden

GOING THE DISTANCE: Princeton High girls’ swimmer Elizabeth Chorba heads to a third-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle as PHS faced WW/P-South on December 19 in its last meet of 2024. Chorba took second at the 500 free in the meet as the Tigers fell 91-79 to the Pirates. PHS, now 5-1, starts 2025 action by hosting WW/P-North on January 9. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

BREATHLESS PACE: Princeton High boys’ swimmer David Xu takes a breath during the breaststroke leg as he placed first in the 200 individual medley to help the Tigers produce a dramatic rally in edging WW/P-South 86-84 on

19 in their last action before the holiday break. PHS, now 6-0, starts the 2025 portion of its schedule by hosting WW/P-North on January 9.

(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Fueled by Romain’s Emergence as a Star, PHS

Girls’ Hoops Looking Formidable at 4-1

With the Princeton High girls’ basketball team trailing Delaware Valley 20-10 after the first quarter last Saturday in the semifinals of the WW/P-South Tournament, Sephora Romain went into overdrive.

“I feel like we needed to move more,” said junior guard Romain. “I tried to take it and pick it up. I just took it and went to the hoop.”

Making several forays to the basket, Romain scored eight points as the Tigers outscored Del Val 13-11 in the second quarter to keep PHS in the contest.

Continuing to battle back, the Tigers drew to within 4037 heading into the fourth quarter. Putting together a 10-3 run, PHS forged ahead 47-46 with 1:33 left in regulation. The Terriers, though, responded by draining four free throws in the waning moments of the contest to pull out a 50-47 win.

While the loss to undefeated Del Val dropped PHS to 4-1, Romain was proud of the character displayed by the Tigers as they clawed back in the game.

“I feel like it takes a lot of courage,” said Romain. “It is your teammates having your back and just being there with your teammates.”

Romain and her teammates are finding a groove playing under new head coach Joe Smiegocki.

“It was kind of hard to adjust because we had new plays and new everything but

we are warming up to him,” said Romain. “He lets us actually play, we are not only controlled by plays and stuff.”

Building on the progress she made last winter in her sophomore season, Romain is averaging 11.4 points a game so far this winter along with 3.6 rebounds and 1.6 steals.

“In my freshman year, I didn’t play,” said Romain, who ended up with eight points and three rebounds against Del Val. “In my sophomore year, I gained more confidence taking the ball to the basket. That is where my potential is at.”

In order to get more out of her potential, Romain has focused on strength training and played club.

“I did AAU off-season stuff so that helped me gain more confidence and get stronger,” said Romain. “There is going to be bigger competition so we have to be aware of that.”

Although the furious rally by the Tigers fell just short, PHS head coach Smiegocki was all smiles as he reflected on the way his players competed.

“I told them at the end of the game that I am extremely happy,” said Smiegocki. “We played well. When we were down 10, we could have rolled over and let the game get away from us but we fought back.”

Making a defensive adjustment helped the Tigers turn the game into a nail-biter.

“My two assistants [Mary Pat Lisinski and Christine Levering] suggested that we go to a zone in the second half which we did,” said Smiegocki. “It was a big help. We haven’t used it all year but today we did and it worked.”

Smiegocki some good work across the board against Del Val as Anna Winters scored 14 points with Katie Sharkey, Angela Cao, and Chloe Hunt chipping in seven apiece.

“We don’t live and die by one person,” said Smiegocki, who saw Winters foul out early in the fourth quarter and didn’t have star forward Luna Bar-Cohen for the game as she was sidelined by injury.

“That is what is good about it. Anna wasn’t in the game and others stepped up. That is what I think is going to be our MO all year, someone is going to step up every day.”

Romain has been stepping up all season for the Tigers.

“In the first four or five games, you can see that Sephora is very athletic, she has the ability to go to the basket,” said Smiegocki. “Sometimes I think she is a little unselfish. A couple of times she had a chance where she beat the girl and she should have muscled the shot up. Instead she was looking to pass the ball out to her teammate. You can’t yell at a kid for being unselfish.”

With PHS slated to play Somerville on December 30 to wrap up action in the WW/P-S event and then playing at Nottingham on January 3 before hosting Hopewell Valley on January 7, Smiegocki believes that the loss will help his squad fine-tune things.

“We always like to win; however we learn from our mistakes,” said Smiegocki. “We will work on getting the ball in from out of bounds on the side and work on getting it under the basket. It is the little things we need to work on. We will make some adjustments offensively and defensively.”

Smiegocki is confident that his players will make the necessary adjustments.

“They continue to work hard,” said Smiegocki. “Every day we get a little better. Someone steps up every day that didn’t step up the day before.”

Romain, for her part, believes that the Tigers need to step up a little verbally.

“I think we need leadership on the court, sometimes we are like really quiet,” said Romain. “I am the only one yelling sometimes.”

With Romain making noise, PHS looks primed to do some big things this winter.

—Bill Alden

Rider Furniture

Sparked by Davidson’s 4-Goal Outburst,

PHS Girls’ Hockey Ends 2024 with 1st Win

Taylor Davidson didn’t waste any time setting the tone for the Princeton High girls’ hockey team as it hosted Newark East Side in its last action of 2024.

Racing up the ice at Hobey Baker Rink, sophomore defender Davidson blasted the puck into the back of the goal to give PHS a 1-0 lead 1:50 into the December 20 contest.

About 11 minutes later, Davidson struck again, tallying her second goal as the Tigers doubled their lead to 2-0.

“It is a nice mood booster when anyone gets goals in the beginning,” said Davidson. “It makes it easier to have confidence in the rest of the game.”

Late in the second period, Davidson tallied again to achieve a natural hat trick as PHS built a 3-0 lead and never looked back on the way to a 6-2 victory and its first win of the season.

“Today was one of our better games, we didn’t have Cassie [Speir] and I feel like a lot of people were touching the puck,” said Davidson, who added a fourth goal midway through the third period as the Tigers improved to 1-2.

“The difference from last season is that everyone is understanding the game more. It is more fun, you can pass it around a little more.”

In Davidson’s view, PHS was primed for a win after a tough 7-6 loss to Randolph two days earlier.

“Even thought we were 0-2, we had close games,” said Davidson. “Last year, it was a bigger difference in scores. Now we are coming close, it is more of an even game.”

Davidson is looking to make a difference this winter from her defenseman spot.

“I have improved a lot as a player, I am trying to work on my defense this year,” said Davidson. “I am playing only defense, that is something that I am not used to from club. I never play defense there so it is nice to be able to do both.”

Playing for the Princeton Tiger Lilies club program outside of school has helped Davidson hone her skills.

“I think just having control of the puck and not throwing it away just overall,” said Davidson. “I have become a little more confident in terms of the game.”

PHS head coach Christian Herzog sensed that his squad was poised for a breakthrough.

“We had a real close one with Randolph, we were up 5-3 or something and ended up losing,” said Herzog. “It was a real close one to the end, a few bad bounces and there goes the game. We were leading most of the game so I think we brought the positives out of that game coming into this game.”

Herzog saw a lot of positives in the way his players stepped up in the absence of senior star Speir.

interesting to see that when you are missing certain players, other girls step up and fill those voids.”

Davidson’s production in the win was not surprising to Herzog.

“Taylor was a gamer from day one,” said Herzog of Davidson, who now has five goals. “When I spoke to her in September in her freshman year before hockey tryouts, I asked her what kind of player are you — when you play against the boys, do you leave your pony tail out? She said I let them know who I am. I was like you are going to fit in great. It is hard to say she is coming around because she has been a great player the whole time.”

Senior captain Hagt has been coming on, having scored three goals this season.

“Maya has been more consistent in terms of points, she has been putting some goals in the net this season compared to the previous seasons,” said Herzog. “She is the team mom, she has great leadership skills.”

The play of Sophia Lee and freshman Sophie Blejwas has given the Tigers a great boost.

“Sophia Lee has stepped up, she has double-shifted a lot on the first line,” added Herzog. “We have some newer players, Sophie Blejwas, she skates pretty well. We are waiting for her to put some pucks in the net. She has to find her way, it will come with time.”

With PHS starting the 2025 portion of its schedule by hosting Madison on January 7 at Hobey Baker Rink, Herzog is looking forward to seeing what his squad can do in the new year.

“Compared to previous seasons, this is the best overall skating team we have had,” said Herzog. “We still have some much higher at the top and a few at the bottom but the mid group is much more closer together so practices are a little more uniform and we can get a little more out of it.”

Davidson, for her part, is confident that the Tigers will be piling up more victories this winter.

“We are going to keep seeing wins in the close games the rest of the season which is nice,” said Davidson. “It is more fun because everyone is getting to be part of the game. We are doing good.”

—Bill Alden

PDS

Boys’ Basketball : Running into a buzz saw, PDS fell 70-38 to Bishop Eustace last Saturday in the Cinnaminson Holiday Showcase. The Panthers, who dropped to 2-3 with the defeat, play at WW/P-South in January 3.

Girls’ Basketball : Sparked by Nandini Kolli, PDS defeated Steinert 3327 in the MCCC Showcase last Saturday. Senior star Kolli recorded a doubledouble with 10 points and 13 rebounds as the Panthers improved to 3-3. PDS is next in action when it hosts WW/ P-North on January 7.

Pennington

Boys’ Basketball : Ending 2024 on a high note, Pennington defeated St. Joseph By the Sea (N.Y.) 63-36 last Sunday at the Boardwalk Classic at the Wildwood Convention Center. The Red Hawks, now 6-3, start the 2025 portion of its schedule by playing at the Solebury School (Pa.) on January 7.

Girls’ Basketball : Izzy Augustine had a big game in a losing cause as Pennington fell 49-40 to Haddonfield last Saturday at the Boardwalk Classic at the Haddonfield Holiday Classic. Augustine scored 21 points as the Red Hawks moved to 4-4. Pennington is next in action when it hosts the Hun School on January 7.

PHS

Boys’ Basketball : Michael Bess Jr. scored 10 points in a losing cause as PHS fell 6835 to host Montgomery last Friday in the Cougar Holiday Classic. The Tigers, who dropped to 1-3 with the defeat, were slated to face North Hunterdon on December 30 to wrap up play in the event and then play at Franklin High on January 5 and at Hopewell Valley on January 7.

Wrestling : Blase Mele and Forrest Rose provided highlights as PHS competed in the Sam Cali Invitational last weekend at the Morristown National Guard Armory. Mele placed first at 144 pounds while Rose took second at 113. The Tigers return to action with a quad at Hightstown High on January 4.

“Where

“Obviously not having Cassie is a disadvantage to us but we have also got Taylor and we have some other people that can play together,” said Herzog. “Taylor is a workhorse similar to Cassie. She put in some goals. Maya [Hagt] also put in two. We got some good quality saves out of Genevieve [Ritchie] today (13 saves). She is coming along nicely, she is still kind of green but she is working hard. It is

Boys’ Basketball : In its final action before the holiday break, Hun lost 79-45 to the Patrick School on December 22 in the Brick City Showcase. Luke Wafle and Seth Clarke each scored 10 points in the loss as the Raiders moved to 4-7. Hun returns to action when it plays at the Westtown School (Pa.) on January 7.

Girls’ Basketball : Wrapping up the 2024 portion of its schedule, Hun defeated Shore 52-32 on December 20 in the Shore Games. The Raiders, now 12-2, are next in action when they play at the Pennington School on January 8.

Stuart

Basketball : Taylor States starred in losing cause as Stuart fell 58-32 to South Brunswick on December 20 in its last action before the holiday break. States posted a doubledouble with 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Tartans, who moved to 1-1 with the loss. In upcoming action, Stuart will be competing in the Sacred Heart Basketball Tournament from January 3-4 at the Stone Ridge Academy of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda, Md.

HARD DRIVING: Princeton High girls’ basketball player Sephora Romain drives to the hoop in recent action. Last Saturday, junior guard Romain scored eight points and had three rebounds as PHS fell 50-47 to Delaware Valley in the semifinals of the WW/P-South Tournament. The Tigers, who dropped to 4-1 with the loss, were slated to play Somerville on December 30 to wrap up action in the WW/P-S event and then play at Nottingham on January 3 before hosting Hopewell Valley on January 7.

(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Obituaries

Shortly after graduation, Lynne married David Long at the Basilica of St Louis (old Cathedral), St. Louis, MO. They settled in their first home in Cherry Hill, NJ, where Lynne taught high school history. Shortly thereafter Lynne returned to St. Louis as David was called to active duty (U.S. Army) and subsequently gave birth to their first child. After David’s deployment they moved to New York and finally settled in Princeton, NJ, in 1972 where they raised their four sons.

she excelled, achieving the rank of Bronze Life Master and also serving as an instructor at the Fishers Island Club on Fishers Island, New York, where she and David summered for the past 26 years. And, while it didn’t involve any competition, her completion of the New York Times crossword puzzle every day in ink also attests to her tenacity and mental acuity.

ne and Marjorie Shields, the She attended high school cred Heart (City House) in St. Louis and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Loretto Heights Lynne Long

While her primary focus in life was being a stay-athome mom to her boys, she nonetheless found many ways to contribute to the betterment of the community. She served on the boards of the St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center and the American Red Cross of Central New Jersey. In addition, she volunteered much of her time to the University Medical Center at Princeton, co-chairing the Center’s two primary fundraising events — The Hospital Fete (the year it celebrated its Silver Anniversary), and, for two years, the Christmas Boutique. In addition, she was chosen and served for 10 years as the first Docent of the Drumthwacket Foundation, which was founded in support of the historic mansion when it became the official residence of the Governor of the State of New Jersey.

While Lynne was beloved and respected for her gentle, soft-spoken demeanor and her kindness, she could also be a fierce competitor, on the tennis court as well as the bridge table, where

She is survived by her husband, David; and her sisters, Judith Ann Flynn (Anthony) of St. Louis, Deborah Christine Shields of Princeton, and Mary Lucille Frye (Douglas) of St. Louis. She is also survived by her sons, David Ill (Jane), Jeffrey (Jenny), Christopher (Merrill), and Nicholas (Alex); her beloved cousin, Meg Shields Duke; and by her grandchildren, Alexander, Patrick (Rosa), Clare, Marjorie, Megan, Gwynne, Christopher, Kate, James, Annie, Maggie, Austin, Timothy, Sophia, and Aubrey.

She will be laid to rest at the Princeton Cemetery in a private ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the J. Thomas Davidson, MD, Surgical Education Fund of the Princeton Medical Center Foundation.

Arrangements by Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory, Vero Beach, FL. A guestbook is available at strunkfuneralhome.com.

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