The gym will no longer be called the Iron Palace and state tournament qualifiers will be seeing different competition than in the past; but the bottom line is that high school athletics are still being played on Hamilton’s Leonard Avenue.
What was previously Trenton Catholic Preparatory Academy (and before that, Trenton Catholic Academy, McCorristin and St. Anthony’s) has become the Thrive Charter School.
The school is open to residents of Hamilton and Trenton, who must enter a lottery to have a chance to enroll. Students who were at TCPA have been grandfathered in (regardless of their residencies), meaning the athletic teams are a hybrid mixture of new players combined with those who were already competing.
Charged with overseeing the program is Pat Snyder, who coached the boys soccer team the past several years. Snyder is a Hamilton resident who played for Notre Dame and has been a head soccer coach at Mercer County Community College, New Jersey City University, Hamilton West and TCPA.
“Overall, I am happy with how things are going so far,” Snyder said. “It’s exciting, it’s fun. I’m lucky being from the area, knowing a bunch of people. I’m able to lean on a lot of people to ask questions. Of course we can always be better at things and we’ll continue to improve.”
Aside from the behind-the-scenes responsibilities that now differ, there are two major changes to the program.
Teams will no longer have the Iron Mikes as their nickname, as a contest is being held among the students to declare a new mascot. And after always competing in the NJSIAA Non-Public B bracket for state competition, Thrive will be a member of Central Jersey Group 1, which consists of public schools with the smallest enrollments.
New teams have also been added. In the fall season, boys and girls soccer will be rejoined by girls tennis, which has not had a team since 2021. Boys and girls basketball remain as winter sports and indoor track and field has been added. In the spring, softball is back for the first time since 2021, while baseball and spring track and field return for the first time since 2022.
The teams will remain a member of the Burlington County Scholastic League, with basketball playing in the Liberty Division and soccer competing in the Independence.
One of the most important responsibilities that Snyder needed to tend to was the hiring of new coaches, but his hands were tied until approval for the new school became official in July.
“It’s a fun process. It’s interesting to do,” Snyder said. “We had some good interest for soccer and quite a bit of interest in boys and girls basketball. I got about 25 applicants for the boys basketball job and 12 to 15 for girls basketball.”
The toughest part of that job for Snyder was replacing himself, since he is not allowed to coach in his new role as A.D.
“I get jealous watching the boys team, wishing I was out there,” he said with a laugh.
Taking over the boys program is Ruben Morales, who had the team off to a 3-2 start as of Sep. 24. Morales is a former Princeton High goalie who played for Snyder at MCCC and NJCU. Matt Stout will remain as an assistant after filling that role last year.
“Ruben helped us out a bit last year,” Snyder said. “He brings a lot of experience to the table. He comes from a very similar place as these boys and he’s showing them a path to go to college and get a degree while trying to play soccer as well.
“It’s a family thing with Mercer soccer and all the tradition. It’s great for Ruben to come and be a part of. He knows the deal and Matt Stout knows the deal.”
Coaching girls soccer is Ashley Tutzauer, another former soccer goalkeeper. A Thrive physical education teacher now in her second year at the school, Tutzauer was a three-letter winner at both Toms River North and Cabrini University, and was a Susquehanna University assistant girls basketball coach. She will be assisted by former TCA standout Desiree Davis.
“Tut brings a lot of experience for us playing and excelling at the next level,” Snyder said. “She has a pretty good relationship with the students and I have to say the girls really drove this program coming back. They were pushing all the way through the spring. We have 17 on the roster. We started 0-3 but every game got a little better. It’s fun to see.
“A lot of the girls don’t have tons of outside playing experience, but coach has done a good job of teaching them the game.”
Snyder was enthused by the interest in the girls program, which had fallen into disarray recently.
“There was a group of girls knocking on my door, expressing interest, checking with me as the conversion was being completed,” Snyder said. “We were able to get started and have some summer practices. Once we hit preseason there was a little pushback with some games on our schedule before we knew everybody had clearance. But we’re off and running. It’s amazing to see; to watch something come back.”
The girls tennis team was still seeking its first win in late September, but 14 girls came out for the program. The head coach is Eusebio “Zeus” Smordoni, and former head man Don Swanson is assisting.
“The girls love it, they’re putting in a good effort,” Snyder said. “We had a fantastic turnout and Zeus is a great guy, super passionate. Our record isn’t great but they’re competing. They’re getting better and starting to push other teams.”
As for the winter sports, a familiar name takes over the boys basketball program as former TCA star Khalid Lewis is the new coach. Lewis runs the lower school athletic program for Christina Seix Academy in Trenton.
“I knew a little about him from who he is and being around,” Snyder said. “We’ve dealt with each other for a few things. Just getting to know him and talking to him more, he’s just what you’re looking for in that transition.
“Our boys team should be pretty good this year. As far as looking at where they are and trying to transition those guys into college, along with developing the future of the program, I feel he checks both of those boxes. Going from Non-Public to Group I Central, it could be a heck of a season for them.”
The girls team will be coached by Darnell Alford, a former Nottingham standout who went on to play at Lackawanna Community College and then overseas. Alford was Sherika Salmon’s assistant last year. Salmon is now assisting Bob Fusik at Mercer and is Thrive’s board president.
“Darnell’s experience over time, and having been a part of the program and what he can do can really help this next group of girls,” Snyder said. “We had four very good seniors last year, and quite a bit of talent coming behind them that needs to be developed and cultivated. He was the most suited to do this job from the people we spoke to.”
Still on the hiring docket are both track coaches along with baseball and softball.
The entire operation is combining some of the old with some of the new as Snyder takes over for previous A.D. Marty Flynn.
“I guess the best way to describe it is that it’s a clean slate, but at least we have a structure to start from,” Snyder said. “We’ve started to tweak a few things. Some things will be dramatic changes. Other things, we stood pat. Marty set up a pretty good thing here, we have no reason to change some things he set up for TCPA. Other things had to change just because we are now operating as a charter school.
“With each of the programs so far, there’s still a connection with the school’s history. I love the fact there are people here who know about the past here. My hope is to keep that going, with people who have some connection or affiliation with us.”
As for scheduling, Snyder hopes to get some nonconference games with Colonial Valley Conference foes, particularly Trenton High and the Hamilton schools.
“That’s kind of a natural rivalry thing we’d like to have,” he said.
Thrive Charter Academy athletic director Pat Snyder.,
