North Boys Soccer
Last season was quite a ride for High School North, which went on a five-game winning streak, leading to the school’s first NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III title. The team defeated Neptune and Red Bank before losing a heart-wrencher in the state sectional final to Ocean City in a game that came down to penalty kicks. And it achieved all of this after being seeded 12 out of 14 teams heading into the tournament. The team’s regular season record was 13-7-2.
One of the team’s strengths this year is the team’s togetherness, says Coach Trevor Warner, who is in his 14th year of coaching, pointing out that the team returned 12 seniors this season.##M:[more]##
This year’s captains, Scott Kelly, Drew Eccleston, and Nassir Silwany, have all played on the varsity level since their freshman year. Still, Warner says, there are so many players who have stepped up to contribute in their own ways, it is hard to point out single key players. “Our older players have played with each other for a long time,” he says. “They respect each other.”
He did say that last year’s end of the season run in the states and playing under pressure for as long as the team did “was a big time education for them as players.”
To have a repeat of last year’s extreme success will be a challenge, Warner says. “To get to that point for any good team is such an accomplishment because there’s so many good teams out there, especially in our conference,” he says. You not only have to be good, things have to fall your way, and you have to get some luck.”
Still, “we definitely have the pieces to make a good showing,” he added.
The team got off to a good start in the preseason with a win in a scrimmage against Northern Burlington, 4-0. The team’s opening game is on Friday, September 12 at Allentown, followed by a game at home on Saturday, September 13 against Peddie.
South Boys Soccer
Fifteen seniors will return to High School South’s boys’ soccer team this fall, and that should help the Pirates in building on last year’s 11-6-2 record.
Some key players to watch out for are Ryan Brand, who has been a sweeper and defensive leader for the Pirates since his sophomore year, David Borsack, and Ralph Aurora, the team’s three captains. Also key for the team will be senior standout Keisuke Murata, at center midfield, and returning goal keepers Anthony Sitek and Eric Valero, said Coach Brian Welsh, who is entering his 27th season as head coach at South. Tom Carrol and junior Alex Prieto will also be a big help.
“It’s a large senior class that’s been in the program for three years,” he said. “In the area of experience, we’re in good shape. We need a little work on putting it all together.”
Last year, the Pirates lost in the first round of both the state and county tournaments. “That certainly was a big disappointment last year, and we want to make sure we don’t do it again.”
While most coaches say they are focusing on one game at a time, Welsh says he is focusing on one week at a time. “Each week offers new challenges, and you have to try to meet them.” Their opener this year is on Friday, September 12, home against Trenton High.
North Girls Soccer
Ten players are returning to the girls’ soccer team at North, despite losing nine seniors to graduation last year. Last season, the team went 7-6-3 and made it to the first round of the state tournaments.
Among the returning players are four seniors who coach Kevin Mackenzie says will be key this year. Mackenzie, who is entering his ninth season with the Knights, said: “They’ve been together for quite a while and have shown great leadership.”
Sarah Alesio, a midfielder, and Briana Taft, a defender, are leading the team as captains, and Carolyn Girandola and Courtney Carnevale, are both senior forwards, says Mackenzie, pointing out that the seniors are really anchoring each part of the field. Jacquie Mihalyi, a junior sweeper, and Megan Chismar, a sophomore midfielder will round out the team.
Mackenzie says the team’s experience combined with the contributions of the younger players will give the Knights a good chance at making the state tournaments again this year. “We’re a little young, so we’re going to have to grow rather quickly, but the players are showing ability to learn from their mistakes,” he said.
Rounding out the roster are returning juniors Jackie Kercheval and Lexie Forsel, and returning sophomores Jenna Carlen and Stefanie Parrott. The team’s first match is Friday, September 12 at home against Allentown.
South Girls Soccer
Coming off a 13-4-1 season, the Pirates have a young team this year, although the experienced players who are returning are expected to pack a punch.
Returning to the team this year are seniors Maura McLaughlin, goalie Liz Huttner, Stephanie Dontas, and Catherine Murphy. They will be joined by juniors Ally Schwartz, JoJo Schutzer, Erica Simi, Keighly Bradbrook, Alexandra Werth, Sarah Szostak, Grace Garbini, Allison Pungello, and Amanda Colonna. Erike Deetjen, and Victoria Matthews are returning sophomores this year.
New to the team this tear are freshmen Bridget McLaughlin, erica Borsack, Jane Calder, and Heather Deamond. New sophomores include Michelle Morris, Kathryn Philbin, Sarah Solomon, Caroline Ziedonis, and Kendal Borup. Coach Chris Miller is in her 13th season with the team.
North Field Hockey
While it will be a year of rebuilding for the Knights, who lost 13 seniors to graduation, coach Shannon Maruca, who is in her sixth year as head coach, says she thinks the girls have what it takes to repeat the success they have had in the past three years.
Last season, the team won the conference championship for the third consecutive year, and this year, lead by senior Emily Nolan and juniors Katie McEwen and Denise Pyfrom, as captains, “I have very high expectations for the offense,” Maruca says. The defense is young, and the team as a whole is working on getting used to playing together, getting used to varsity level play, and strengthening, she says. Jackie Silva, the team’s new goalie, is doing a solid job so far, Maruca says. The team defeated Nottingham, 4-0, in a scrimmage, and the offense was able to get quite a few shots at the goal. The team will face Nottingham again for the season opener on Friday, September 12.
Despite the team’s youth, “I do expect a lot because these girls are not just your average players,” she says. “We can definitely do it again,” she added, referring to the conference title.
Field hockey has traditionally been successful at North, mostly because of the team’s dedication, Maruca says. “In rebuilding years, we’ve always done really well, and I honestly don’t expect anything less this year.”
South Field Hockey
With a new head coach at the helm, it will be a rebuilding team for the South field hockey team this season as well, as almost every starter last year has graduated, leaving few with varsity experience.
However, coach Christine Cabarle, who played field hockey for Rider University, has had experience with some of the girls from her time as the junior varsity coach from 2004 to 2005. “The seniors now were only at the freshman level,” Cabarle says. “And I’m familiar with some of the players from doing local camps.”
She was drawn to the Pirates after doing her student teaching in the district a couple of years ago. The team started with informal practices over the summer, but has been officially practicing since August 20. “They’re really eager to win,” she says of the girls’ progress. “They want to bring the program to the next level.”
However, she says doing so will take time. “It’s incredibly challenging to take over a program because it’s natural to immediately want to be successful,” Cabarle says.
While Cabarle says no captains have yet been named and is undecided whether there will be any captains this year, senior forwards Tori Sharpless and Stef Gati have really stepped up and should help lead the Pirates this year. “In every facet, they came into preseason in shape, they’re super positive, and they lead by example,” she says. “They are a coach’s dream.”
The team opens on Friday, September 12, against Hopewell at Mercer County College. “Our philosophy and our motto is to go the extra mile,” she says. “We just want to improve every game, every day, and the big goal is to make the state tournament.”
North Tennis
Coming off a solid 15-5 season last year, only two starters graduated from the Knights roster. Returning to the roster are seniors Deesha Sarma, Caroline Change, Natasha Sastri, and Sara Hoge. They are joined by juniors Alex Dworsky, Ali Berg, and Aparna Shankar, and sophomores Melissa Traub and Avanti Dabholkar.
Chang will move into first singles this year, replacing her sister, Alma, one of the graduated players from last season. Sarma and Hoge, who have been a doubles team since their freshman year, will take on the first doubles spot, while Sastri will move into second singles. Traub, who played JV doubles last year, will take on the third singles spot for the Knights this year.
The team will face crosstown rival South on Friday, September 12.
South Tennis
The South girls’ tennis team also has a new coach — Carla Crawbuck — who bring with her a wide range of coaching experience.
Last year Crawbuck took the head coaching job at Trenton Catholic Academy, but took the opportunity at High School South this year, after having experience with the district already. She coached junior varsity three years ago, and has coached the Community Middle School team for the past two years. Prior to this, she has coached all over Burlington County, and even has a state championship with Holy Cross.
She signed on to coach the Pirates about a week before the pre-season, replacing Jim Giovacchini (the athletic department has not disclosed why he left, but indicated he would be back to coach boys’ tennis in the spring). Since then, the girls have been competing for spots on the team, and have found success already, including an opening win against Moorestown, 4-1, who frequently win the sectional titles.
Last year, the Pirates went 18-2 and only lost two girls to graduation. The singles lineup has been revamped, with two freshmen taking over the top two spots. At first singles is freshman Ammu Mandalap, who has fought her way to the top spot. At second singles is Sahana Jayaraman, also a freshman. Junior Lesley Norris is the team’s third singles player.
Annie Scharfstein, senior, is at first doubles with Larissa Lee Lum this season. “They complement each other,” says Crawbuck. “Annie did play for singles last year. She’s got the experience.”
Senior Catherine Yeh is playing with Jenna Katz, and the two are contenders for the second doubles spot, but Crawbuck says it is still up for grabs. Junior Amanda Stanton and sophomore Mallory Wong are also competing for the spot.
Crawbuck has high hopes for her squad. “The goal is to get a decent seed in the states, and see what happens and take it from there.”
North Cross Country
With only two of the top seven runners graduating from the Knights last year, there are still give key runners returning this season that should keep the Knights, who were undefeated last season, among the top teams in the state.
Returning this year are sophomores Jim and Joe Rosa, at the top spots, and captains Tyler Corkedale and Jon Squeri. Joe Rosa had a best time of 16:16, one second off the record, at Holmdel’s freshman course last year, and was just the third freshman boy to win a sectional title. In the 3,”200 at the June Meet of Champions, he ran a time of 9:15.38, for seventh place. Jim Rosa placed sixth, and broke a freshman record in the same event with a time of 9:11.56.
Rounding out the top seven are Stephen Ellwood, Anthony Lee, and Ryan Sleeper, says coach Brian Gould, who is in his sixth season with the team. “We had the best cross country season ever last year,” Gould says, noting the team claimed the NJSIAA Group III title and placed fifth at the Meet of Champions last season. “Improving on that is a goal, but that’s a big challenge. When the bar is set that high, improving upon that is a big task at hand.”
Still, the team is looking so good that it was nationally ranked 15 in the Harrier Super 25 preseason poll. Its season begins on Saturday, September 13, at home at the Knights Invitational meet.
North girls’ cross country coach Bill Mealy said all of his top runners are returning from last season, the best in the school’s history. The girls went 13-3 last year, and were the Valley Division Champs. The team also placed third in the county, and qualified for the Meet of Champions. The top returning runners from last year are Trish Reilly, Kelly Callahan, Emily Scott, Kailee Andrucyk, Alyssa Christie, Molly Mitlak, and Anum Shah. Mealy says he also thinks freshman Christina LiPuma is a promising new addition to the roster.
The girls also begin on Saturday, September 13 at the Knight Invitational.
South Cross Country
Despite losing Brian Leung, one of the best runners in the state last year, the High School South boys’ cross country team is also looking to be one of the region’s top contenders, with five of its top seven players returning.
Kevin Foy and Jeff McKee lead the Pirates this season as captains. Sam Macaluso, Brian Schoepfer, Max Margiotta, Nick Schmidt, Sameer Jaywant, Keith Griffith, Nate Ogden, and Doug Wallack also return to the team this year.
Under the direction of coach Kurt Wayton, who is in his third year, last year’s team only had one loss, and that was to North. The team finished second in the county, and placed fourth in Group IV and seventh at the Meet of Champions. “Every year I want to do the absolute best with what we have,” he says. “Last year, we finished seventh in the state. This year, I just want to see the same thing.”
The team’s first real challenge will be at the Shore Coaches Invite in the first weekend of October.
The South girls’ cross country team also only lost a couple seniors. The team’s captain, Katie Kellner, who was also one of the best runners in the region last year and placed 11th at last year’s Meet of Champions, returns as captain. Coach Josh Siegel, who is in his second year as head coach, said he is looking forward to facing Hopewell, who gave the team one of its very few losses last year. The girls placed second at the Mercer County Girls Cross Country Championships last year.
Some of the team’s runners will be heading to the Knight Invitational on Saturday, September 13.
