A year ago at this time, WWP-South girls cross country was busy winning its second consecutive Mercer county team championship, after completing an undefeated regular season.##M:[more]##
Melinda Neff was an assistant coach under Todd Smith. Now Snith has left to coach football, guiding South to a 7-0 season as it prepares for its game at Princeton this Saturday, November 5, at 2 p.m.
And Neff has taken over the girls cross country squad. The transition has been incredibly smooth as the Pirates cross country team completed an 11-0 regular season and won its third consecutive county title October 28 at Hamilton’s Veterans Park, besting rival and second place finisher Hopewell Valley by 9 points.
“Todd Smith is a great all-around guy and a great coach,” says Neff. “He handed everything over to me and gave me the right amount of support. The program’s been consistently strong over the last few years, and I’m reaping the benefits of what Todd built.”
Neff’s team sprang into action with the onset of practice on July 7, utilizing a training program that would build up the team’s “mileage.” Freshman Katie Kellner immediately made a positive impression. Neff calls Kellner “amazing.”
“She had been racing and we knew she was a really good runner,” says Neff. “She’s been our standout runner, our number one girl.” That was no more apparent than at last week’s county championship meet, when the ninth grader covered the 5K Veterans Park course in a personal best time of 18:15, also a team best this fall, en route to capturing second place overall, 3 seconds behind Hopewell Valley’s Megan Fitzpatrick.
Senior Gabi Feibel, South’s second-ranked runner, finished eighth overall, and sophomore, Kelsey O’Connor’s tenth place finish, sparked South to an insurmountable lead. But Neff says the key to a good cross country teams lies in its depth, and South has plenty of it in Koren Kwag, Ashley Erickson, Cindy Barclay, and Laura Wang, all underclassmen, save for the senior Wang.
“Cindy’s our number six runner. Her times have been steadily decreasing this season. She is a great example of how our team comes to practice everyday and works really hard,” says Neff. “They lean on each other a lot and that’s what makes them successful. There‘s no secret to our success, just hard work.”
South came into this season with lofty team goals of beating Hopewell Valley, going undefeated, winning the county championship and advancing to the Group 3 state championship meet (the top five teams in each Sectional meet advance). So far it’s been mission accomplished.
But Neff “wouldn’t define this team as a powerhouse.” Rather, she says, “we’ve done this through a lot of hard work and determination.”
However, time may very well define this team as a powerhouse. This season has been a stellar year in girls cross country where records are being broken all over New Jersey. Neff explained that “we’ve seen some incredible races as far as Invitationals are concerned this season.”
South traveled to the Ridgewood Invitational Meet on October 15th and finished second out of 16 teams, beating perennial power, Ridgewood, among others. The Pirates are currently ranked 14th in the state, rocketing up the rankings each week.
High School South sure has the looks of a powerhouse team; and with five underclassmen among the team’s top seven runners returning next fall, this three-time defending Mercer County champion, might be around for a while. Somewhere Todd Smith is smiling, and not just about football.
Bond’s Boys Could Be Best Ever
Mercer County boys cross country enthusiasts could be in the midst of witnessing history this fall. High School South boys cross county head coach Chris Bond, calls his 32-member 2005 squad, “one of the greatest cross country teams in the history of Mercer County.”
The Pirates have the wins, times, and statistics to prove it. Bond’s team breezed through a 12-0 regular season and heads into this weekend’s Central Jersey Group 3 state meet in Holmdel, having captured the program’s first Mercer County championship since 1999 in record-breaking fashion last week at Veteran’s Park in Hamilton.
Currently ranked sixth in the state, the Pirates ran away with four of the county’s top five times in the county meet, the first time that’s ever happened, and they’re only getting better.
“I knew they had the potential to be good,” says Bond. “What they’ve done is a credit to their hard work, dedication, and belief. And right now, we’re looking at definitely vying for sectional and state titles, and it would be an underachievement if we don’t make the Meet of Champions (MOC).”
High school South has never had a team that’s gone to the MOC. In order to advance, a team must place in the top four of its Group, in South’s case, the Group 3 state meet. “We’re definitely measuring up with the top programs (in the state),” says Bond.
Amazingly, South’s fourth runner, senior Josh Kezele, is almost as talented as the team’s number one, senior Joe Ennis, who Bond called “a real talent and a natural runner.”
Ennis earned his second consecutive county championship last week at Veterans Park (5K) when he ran to a first place time of 15:51, three seconds off his winning time last year. Kezele ran 16:10.
Bond, a 10-year coach at South, explained that, “a great cross country team is defined by its fourth and fifth guys.” That’s where South measures up with any of the top programs in New Jersey. Senior Mike Meers gives Bond valuable points as the team’s fifth runner (his county performance of 16:45 was his best of the season), and Kiron Roy and Neelan Manuelpillai round out the Pirates six and seven spots.
Pushing Ennis near the top of the Pirates’ depth chart are Brian Leung and Chris Reale. Leung, a sophomore who‘s just tapping into his limitless potential, according to Bond, earned a third place medal at the county meet after running 16:04, despite being held out of practice for two weeks with a right knee injury, swimming laps in a pool instead.
The junior, Reale, finished just behind Leung at 16:06. “We’re a real family,” says Bond. “The 32nd guy is just as important as the number one guy.”
South’s success has plenty to do with time spent with one another. The team’s been practicing together since July 4 weekend and Bond has really been pushing “the team and family concept” to his kids. It also helps having a strong coaching staff with a wealth of running experience.
Bond, a 1991 graduate of Rider University, was a decathlete in college. Unpaid volunteer coach Kurt Wayton is in his first year with the program. Employed in the special services department at South, Wayton ran track at Indiana State and holds one of the fastest 10K times in the history of the race. Bond says that “Kurt gives the kids amazing perspective.”
The downside is that WWP-South cross country is in one of the toughest sectional brackets in the state, a group which includes powers like the state’s fourth ranked team, Hillsborough, along with Jackson and East Brunswick.
Bond thinks his team is ready for the upcoming end-of-the-season challenges they will face. “We have the talent. Plus we have the drive that revolves around that talent with guys rising up and exceeding expectations. And I’m glad to be a part of that.”
South Boys Notch Shootout Win
The Pirates boys’ soccer team won in the opening round of the state tournament in dramatic fashion on November 1, defeating South Brunswick in a 5-4 shootout win.
Fourth-seeded HS South and South Brunswick, the 13th seed, were tied 1-1 after 60 minutes of regulation and two 20-minute overtime periods.
In the shootout that followed, Eric Voigtsberger, the final shooter in the round of five penalty kicks, scored the winning goal. His shot came just seconds after South goalkeeper Max Stember-Young stopped South Brunswick’s final shot of the penalty-kick round. (Stember-Young’s save and the victory celebration are pictured at left and below).
The save came with the both teams tied at four penalty kicks each, and opened the door for Voightsberger’s game winner. Also scoring goals in the shootout were Chris Wesson, Wes Tuck, Brian Soltau; and Zac Howes. Keisuke Murata scored South’s lone goal in regulation.
With the win, South advanced to host another Central Jersey IV game today (Friday, November 4) at 2 p.m. against Hillsborough, the fifth seed.
Football
High School North, (1-6). A loss to High School South, 47-0, on October 21. Passing: Zach Weale, 2-9 for 17 yards, 1 interception; Chris Petrone, 2-4, 2 interceptions. Rushing: Raymon Sanchez, 3-4; Michael DeGoria, 4-7; Darren Paret, 3-35. Receiving: Conor Hayes, 1-7; Alex Rugierro, 1-17.
A win against Allentown, 14-6, in the Homecomign game on October 29. Jerome Leslie scored on a 41-yard pass from Conor Hayes, and Darren Paret scored on a six-yard run.
High School South, (7-0). A win over High School North, 47-0 on October 21. Passing: Colin Dampier, 8-15 for 136 yards, 2 interceptions. Rushing: Brian Morris, 3-13, 1 TD; Earl Burgess, 11-61, 1 TD; Ryan Lupo, 8-127, 3 TD; Stuart Adams, 2-11, 1 TD; Dan Fryer, 4-20, 1 TD; Tim Gaughan, 2-13; Preston Tucker, 1-15. Receiving: Burgess, 2-18; JB Fitzgerald, 2-17; Lupo, 1-13; Brandon Manley, 1-46.
A win against Steinert, 41-27, on October 29. Passing: Dampier, 6-10 for 134 yards. Rushing: Burgess, 17-105, 2 TD; Lupo, 13-60, 2 TD; Morris, 7-38; Adams, 3-25, 1 TD. Receiving: Odachowski, 3-79, 1 TD; Manley, 1-37; Fitzgerald, 1-10; Morris, 1-8.
Boys’ Soccer
High School North, (5-12). A win against Steinert, 1-0, on October 20. Goal: Haksoo Kim. Saves: Matt Jacques, 4.
A loss to Hightstown, 5-0, in the Mercer County Tournament (MCT) on October 22. Saves: Jacques, 10.
A win against Trenton, 5-1, in a county tornament consolation game on October 26. Goals: Scott Kelly, 3; Kaksoo Kim; Mike Christie. Saves: Jacques, 3.
A loss to Nottingham, 4-2, in a county tournament consolation game on October 27. Goals: Christie, Kim. Saves: Jacques, 15.
High School South, (13-3-2). A win against Trenton, 6-0, in on October 20. Goal: Josh Richards, 2; Chris Wesson, 2; Jon Scheer; Eric Sorkin. Saves: Max Stember-Young, 4.
A loss to Steinert, 1-0, in double overtime in the quarterfinal rounbd of the Mercer County Tournament on October 26. Saves: Stember-Young, 6.
A win against Hamilton, 5-2, in a county tournament consolation game on October 27. Goals: Wesson, 2; Keisuke Murata; Richards; Wes Tuck. Saves: Stember-Young, 6; Dan Janikowski, 2.
A win against South Brunswick, 5-4, in a shootout (5-4) in the opening round of the state tournament on November 1. Goal: K. Murata. Shootut Goals: Wesson; Tuck; Brian Soltau; Zac Howes; Eric Voigtsberger. Saves: Stember-Young, 8.
Girls’ Soccer
High School North, (11-5-1). A loss to Steinert, 5-1, on October 20. Goal: Jessica Carnevale. Saves: Lilly Pepper, 3.
A win against Lawrence, 5-0, in the Mercer County Tournament on October 24. Goals: Emily Grato, 2; Suzanne Haggerty; Nicole Kagan; Carnevale. Saves: Pepper, 4.
A loss to Steinert, 4-0, in the quarterfinals at the county tournament on October 26. Saves: Pepper, 16.
A win against Notre Dame, 1-0, in a county tournament consolation game on October 28. Goals Carnevale. Saves: Pepper, 17.
A win, 4-1, against Middletown South in the opening round of the state tournament (Group III Central) on October 31. Goals: Haggerty, 2; Rachel Trink; Lauren Lentine. Saves: Pepper, 6.
High School South, (12-3-1). A win against Trenton, 7-1, on October 20. Goals: Maura McLaughlin; Kelly McLaughlin; Alexa Suarez, Chris Schemming, 3; Rose Dzugan. Saves: Lauren Fucetola, 2, Shikha Sharma, 1.
A win against Hamitlon, 4-1, in the Mercer County Tournament on Ocotober 24. Goals: Shemming; Lauren Ruta; Suarez; M. McLaughlin. Saves: Fucetola, 3.
A win against Nottingham, 2-1, in a shootout in the county tournament quarterfinals on October 26. Goal: Shemming. South won the shootout, 3-1. Shootout Goals: Suarez, Shemming, Kate Wyman.
A loss to Pennington, 4-3, in overtime in the semifinal round of the county tournament on October 28. Goals: M. McLaughlin, 2; Shemming. Saves: Fucetola, 9.
A win against Edison, 4-0, in the state tournament (Group IV Central) on October 31. Goals: M. McLaughlin; Shemming, 2; Ruta. Saves: Fucetola, 7.
Girls’ Tennis
High School North, (11-4). A win over Lawrence, 3 1/2-1 1/2, on October 24. Singles: Jackie Wong, 6-0, 6-0; Jackie Tseng, 6-1, 6-1; Alma Chang, 4-6, 4-6. Doubles: Sinthu Ranjan & Natasha Sastri, tie; Betsy Bourassa & Caroline Chang, 6-1, 6-0.
High School South, (14-4). A win against Notre Dame, 4-1, on October 10. Singles: Joelle Nitzberg, 7-6 (8-6), 6-2; Annie Scharfstein, 3-6, 0-6; Nisha Javeri, 1-6, 6-4, 6-3. Doubles: Carrie Wills & Jenna Stanton, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5); Cynthia Hu & Julie Afinogenova, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4.
A win against Lawrence, 5-0, on October 26. Singles: Joelle Nitzberg, 6-1, 6-0; Annie Scharfstein, 6-1, 6-2; Nisha Javeri, 6-1, 6-4. Doubles: Carrie Wills & Jenna Stanton, 6-1, 7-5; Cynthia Hu & Julie Afinogenova, 6-2, 6-0.
A win against Hamilton, 5-0, on October 27. Singles: Nitzberg, 6-0, 6-0; Scharfstein, 6-1, 6-2; Javeri, 6-1, 6-1. Doubles: Wills & Stanton, 6-0, 6-1; Hu & Afinogenova, 6-0, 6-0.
A win against Steinert, 4-1, on October 31. Singles: Nitzberg, 6-1, 6-1; Scharfstein, 6-1, 6-1; Javeri, 6-0, 6-0. Doubles: Wills & Stanton, 5-7, 6-2, 5-7 (tiebreak); Hu & Afinogenova, 6-0, 6-0.
Boys’ Cross Country
High School North. (7-4) A fourth-place finish, with a score of 109, in the Mercer County Tournament on October 28 at Veterans Park. Top finishes: Will Munoz, 9th, 16:16; Sean McNulty, 11th, 16:23.
High School South. (12-0) A first-place finish, with 30 points, in the Mercer County Tournament on October 28 at Veterans Park. Top finishes: Joe Ennis, 1st, 15:51; Brian Leung, 3rd, 16:04; Chris Reale, 4th, 16:06; Josh Kezele, 5th, 16:10.
Girls’ Cross Country
High School North. (10-0) An eighth-place finish, with a score of 209, in the Mercer County Tournament on October 28 at Veterans Park.
High School South. (3-6) First place, with a score of 43, in the Mercer County Championshipon on October 28 at Veterans Park. Top finishes: Katie Kellner, 2nd, 18:15; Gabi Feibel, 8th, 19:17; Kelsie O’Connor, 10th, 19:25; Koren Kwag, 12th, 19:28.
Field Hockey
High School North, (13-3). A win against Hamilton, 3-0, on October 20. Goals: Megan Pisani, 2; Kristen Roman. Saves: Amy Farkas, 4.
A win against Nottingham, 4-0, in the Mercer County Tournament on October 24. Goals: Christine Franz; Pisani, 3. Saves: Farkas, 3.
A win against Ewing, 1-0, in the quarterfinals at the county tournament on October 26. Goal: Meghan Hunter. Saves: Farkas, 3.
A loss to Stuart, 3-0, in the seminfinals at the county tournament on October 27. Saves: Farkas, 7.
High School South, (7-10). A win against Hightstown, 2-1, in double overtime on October 20. Goals: Dana Bongiovanni, Mallory Swanson. Saves: Ali Trevorrow, 17.
A loss to Lawrence, 2-1, in overtime in the Mercer County Tournament on October 24. Goal: Swanson. Saves; Trevorrow, 16.
A loss to Notre Dame, 3-1, in a consolation game at the county tournament on October 26. Goal: Theresa Burek. Saves: Trevorrow, 2.
A win against Nottingham, 3-0, on October 27. Goals: Hillary Freed; Burek; Bongiovanni. Saves: Trevorrow, 2.
A loss to Hamilton, 2-1, on November 1. Goal: Kelsey Borup. Saves: Trevorrow, 14.
U14 Girls’ Soccer
The West Windsor Plainsboro Fusion beat the first place Berkeley Heights Bullets 2-1 in a tightly contested game. The Fusion broke out to a 2-0 lead on the strength of first half goals by Becky Korodan, on a penalty kick, and Amanda Colonna, after a nice give and go pass play with Alex Thumm.
Julie Rekant played a scoreless first half in goal and Chelsea Corell made a number of diving saves in the second half to insure the victory.
The Fusion received strong defensive play from Jenna Zhang, Brooke Townsend, Sammy Simon, Cristina Richardson and Ali Sisco.
Lexi Forsell and Allie Pungello controlled the midfield and Stacey Coyle and Cara Milione played well up front.
