By Steve Sherman
Sports Editor
Moments after seeing their season end in a heartbreaking triple overtime loss to Ocean Township, the tears streamed down the faces of the members of Hopewell Valley’s field hockey team.
Who could blame them?
Despite being outshot two-to-one in regulation, the Bulldogs took it to the Spartans through back-to-back overtime periods, outshooting Ocean, 8-1, in that time span.
“Everybody elevated their level of play in overtime. That was led by the seniors with a sense of urgency,” stated HoVal head coach Pam Edwards. “We only had a certain amount of time left and we really needed to try to get the ball down there and score."
Despite all their efforts, Hopewell could not get a ball past Ocean goalkeeper Laura Cummings. And the Spartans failed to get one past Bulldogs keeper Natalie Winters through 50 minutes of regulation and those two extra sessions.
Ocean finally got the win when it made good on four of its five penalty strokes and Cummings made waffle saves on a pair of Hopewell’s attempts. Ocean’s bench erupted when freshman Sarah Abdelaziz put a shot into the left side corner of the cage sending the Spartans home winners in an NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III Tournament pairing Nov. 4 at Central High.
“It’s exciting, it’s disappointing, it’s frustrating--that’s how it went in this game,” stated HoVal co-captain Annie Rosenblatt, afterward. “I think it was a good game--an even match. We were in it the whole time but somebody has to win and somebody has to lose.
“Unfortunately it was us.”
At the end of regulation, the Bulldogs trailed in the shots category, 9-4. They had been out-cornered, 12-7. Only some nifty goalkeeping by Winters got them to overtime.
If Hopewell was outplayed in regulation, it certainly was not in the extra sessions. The Bulldogs were awarded three penalty corners and got off five shots in the first overtime. That’s one more shot for the black and gold than they tallied in regulation.
Though she was ridden off by a Spartan defender, sophomore Tess Brzezynski was the first Hopewell player sprung loose with the ball inside the circle. Rosenblatt was next but she couldn’t put the ball past Cummings, despite repeated whacks at the ball from the goalmouth. Senior Lauren Colasanti connected on a pair of bullets from the top right side of the circle but again, Cummings was equal to the task.
Rosenblatt next tried to lead senior Cassidy Straniero with a cross only to see her classmate ridden off by an Ocean defender. Annie’s next attempt at reaching the back of the cage saw her shot glance of Cummings’ glove side. From there, the ball danced tantalizingly in the goalmouth within reach of Straniero, who took a whack at it only to see it roll wide right of the cage.
“There were times when we were pounding away,” stated Edwards. “We just needed to get one last stick on the ball.”
The first overtime ended with sophomore Alicia Wagner’s end-to-end run. The second extra session began with the same play by junior Ellie Yusko, who fed Wagner standing a few feet from the goal line. Alas, Wagner’s shot missed.
Three more missiles launched by Straniero, Rosenblatt and freshman Colby Husong failed to connect. From the left side of the cage, Wagner then sent a cross over to Yusko on the right only to see Cummings make a successful diving attempt at poking the ball away.
Edwards, meanwhile, implored her team to get the shot off earlier.
“There were times when we were taking the ball in a little bit more and trying to shoot,” said the coach, “instead of getting to the top of the circle and just crack it.”
Again from the left side, Straniero sent a ball across the goalmouth. Had someone been standing on the right, HoVal would have advanced but again, no one was there.
“It’s obviously frustrating and we were really close. We controlled the possession through most of the overtimes,” stated Rosenblatt. “There’s not a lot to say except that we just really wanted to win then instead of having the game go to [penalty] strokes.”
And so ends another successful season for the Bulldogs. Last year’s Mercer County champions, HoVal got past Princeton this year 1-0 on a goal by Husong in the MCT quarters only to see its chance at a county repeat title evaporate with a 2-1 loss to Robbinsville.
The Bulldogs won their state opener 2-0 at home versus Lawrence on goals by Hussong and Wagner and finished the season at 16-4.
Though Hopewell will say goodbye to seven seniors on the team come spring, the Bulldogs return nine juniors to next year’s team including Winters, Yusko and defenseman Meredith Magafin.
***
NOTES: With the win, Ocean pushed its record to 13-4-1. The Spartans finished third place in the Shore Conference and made it to the quarterfinals of the SC Tournament where they lost to Wall.

Labels: field hockey, Hopewell Valley

Coming off the previous week’s 6-0 loss to the Cranford Cougars, the Inferno desperately needed to get back on track with two tough games last weekend--one, a make-up of a Sept. 27 rainout against West End Ewing United and the other, a regularly scheduled road game versus the New Providence Sparks.
Unfortunately, both Mother Nature and the doctor intervened, and the Inferno was left without being able to play either game. Saturday’s makeup game was a washout and Sunday’s game against the Sparks was a last-minute cancellation when the Sparks realized that too many of its players were ill and unable to play. The Inferno will take the extra rest and regroup against the Berkeley Heights Bucks this Sunday on the Bucks’ home field.
Hopewell’s record to date is 0 wins, 3 losses, and a tie. Most of the team was literally halfway to New Providence on Sunday before getting the call that the game was cancelled. No date for rescheduling the twice cancelled match from Saturday has been announced, although Saturday, Oct. 31 is a possibility.

Labels: Hopewell Valley

While it's an honor to witness scholastic stardom on area varsity playing fields, it's always nice to see one of your own taking that athletic prowess to the next level.
Recent Hopewell Valley Central graduate Tyler Cignarella is one such player who has taken his game to the collegiate level. Positioned in the defensive backfield, Tyler has appeared in the last eight games for the College of New Jersey men's soccer team.
At CNJ, Cignarella provides consistent defensive strength and agility that showcased his career at Hopewell Valley Central High School, where he was a senior captain.
At HVC, Tyler earned three varsity awards in all for the Bulldogs and was given a Colonial Valley Conference midfielder award as both a junior and senior.
In all, Cignarella earned six varsity letters at HoVal in soccer and baseball, a team that voted him the MVP his junior and senior years.
Earlier this year, he became the recipient of the Hopewell Valley Soccer Association scholarship, the Jeanne Erickson memorial scholarship and the Mercer County American Legion League (MCALL) Georgia Johnson memorial scholarship.
Next spring, Tyler plans to play baseball for CNJ head coach Dean Glus and the Lions baseball program.
Academically, Cignarella plans to pursue a Masters degree at TCNJ in business and accounting.

Labels: Hopewell Valley

By Steve Sherman
Sports Editor
Taking over for the departed longtime skipper Alma Quinlan, first-year varsity head coach Dave Burchell has the Hopewell Valley girls tennis program humming along.
“We all miss Coach Quinlan but we like Coach ‘B,’” stated senior Shelby Santin. “I had him for JV; he’s a good coach.”
The Lady Bulldogs pushed their record to 4-0 in the CVC Patriot Division Oct. 14 at Ewing High School, posting a 4-1 victory over the Blue Devils.
After going 14-4 last season, Hopewell had to settle for second place behind perennial powerhouse Princeton, which took the top prize. With Lawrence switching places with Princeton in the Patriot Conference, this year could see a division trophy won by the Bulldogs.
“Our goal was to have a winning season and qualify for states; we did both of those,” stated Burchell. “We also want to win our division--that’s looking pretty good for us right now.”
Making that objective a little tougher however, Hopewell has had to win without No. 1 singles player Sarah Walsh, who has been left out of the lineup for the last two weeks, recovering from a concussion she suffered recently at states.
To their credit, the Bulldogs have gone 2-2 without Walsh including a recent 4-1 triumph over Robbinsville. Hopewell won all three of its singles matches. In doubles play, senior Chelsea Marchetti and sophomore Sydney Kobal emerged with a 6-0, 7-5 victory.
Hopewell also kept it close in a heated battle with Hun, falling 3-2 in that one.
“We’re doing pretty well so far,” stated HoVal freshman Natalie Kawalec, who has stepped into Walsh’s tennis shoes in her absence. “We haven’t had extremely tough matches while [Sarah] has been out so we’ve been doing pretty good.”
The girls were all smiles after Wednesday’s match with Kawalec leading the way as she outpaced her opponent Chinemenma Amonu, 6-1, 6-0.
Senior Shelby Santin kept it going with a 7-5, 6-0 victory over Marly Paul.
Sophomores Willa Sweeny and Audrey West were winners in doubles play, posting a 6-0, 6-0 win over Tahana Snead and Marcella Morales.
Seniors Cate Lauricella and Abby Mills won their doubles match, 6-0, 6-1, over Fernanda Snead and Rose Marie Griffin.
Pressed into service with the injury to Walsh, junior Alice Kroutikova dropped her match 6-2, 6-3 to Ewing’s Gabby Snead.
With the win, Hopewell pushed its record to 10-8, overall. Entering the current campaign, the Bulldogs took the court needing replacements for Kelsy Johnson and Kylie Smith. Respectively, the two, who have since graduated, were Hopewell’s No. 1 and No. 2 singles players last season.
With commencement, the Bulldogs also lost Katie Richards, who played at second doubles last year along with Santin. The first doubles team of Avanti Sharesh and Eva Truen have also moved on.
Though the Bulldogs had to fill five positions vacated by the graduates, Hopewell has been fortunate thus far--lucky they were able to attract Kawalec, a player who plays on the USTA Middle States tennis circuit.
While Kawalec knew she’d make varsity her first year out, she said she was not expecting to play singles.
“Since I played tennis a lot outside of school, I was expecting to make varsity,” said Kawalec, who has just two or three losses thus far. “But I wasn’t expecting to play singles; I thought I’d be playing doubles.
“It’s going pretty good. I’m used to match play because I play a lot of tournaments. So it’s not that big of a change for me.”
Though she lost a few weeks of the early part of the season with a knee injury, among the highlights thus far for Kawalec is a three-set win she posted against Peddie.
“It was a really tough match,” stated Kawalec. “The team lost but I won and that was one of my biggest accomplishments of the season.
Santin, meanwhile, is enjoying the switch to singles competition.
“I liked playing with my partner Katie last year but I like singles better,” stated Santin, a second-year varsity player. “It’s a lot more running around and stuff.”
While Hopewell hasn’t been able to knock off any of the big boys such as Princeton, Hun, West Windsor South or Montgomery, they’re at least keeping pace with an unbeaten record thus far in CVC Patriot Division play. Hopewell won a pair of matches by 3-2 scores pitted against non-league Stuart Country Day School and CVC Patriot rival Hightstown. Marchetti was a winner at third singles against Stuart.
“Our season is going pretty good,” stated Santin. “It’s been tough because we have matches pretty much everyday and we’re playing a lot of new teams that we didn’t play last year.
“There’s been some tough matches with Princeton and Hun but overall, I think we’re doing pretty good.
Personally she said, “I’m happy with my season so far.”
While the Bulldogs made it to the second round of states last year, this season Hopewell was eliminated early in the first round of states after losing to Middletown. At MCTs, two doubles teams made it into the second round. All the singles players were eliminated in the initial pairings.
“We had a tough draw but it gave us some more experience,” stated Burchell. ‘The girls are improving constantly.
“We’re a better team than we were when we started the season.”
***
NOTES: Burchell was the JV tennis coach for both the boys and the girls before taking the head coaching position vacated by Quinlan. Burchell coached at Burlington City for 25 years before coming to Hopewell three years ago.

Labels: Hopewell Valley

University of Massachusetts senior Karen Upperco of Titusville, N.J. was recently named the Atlantic 10's Most Outstanding Diver after posting first place finishes in two diving events at the A-10 Championships.
She and freshmen Jason Cook of Amherst, were in Buffalo, representing UMass at this year's NCAA Zone A Diving Regional. Both divers competed in the one-meter and the three-meter and both have been selected as two of the 58 total competitors for this season's Zones.
This marked the fourth consecutive trip for Upperco to the NCAA Zone Regional and the senior has improved every year she competes. In her freshman season, Upperco finished 22nd in the one-meter event, and 29th in the three-meter.
As a sophomore, she dramatically improved on her premier performance, finishing seventh in the one-meter and fifth in the three-meter. Last season, the 2005 graduate of Hopewell Valley Central High School notched a fourth-place finish in each diving event.
This year, Upperco ended her final collegiate season on a high note as she notched a new Atlantic 10 record in the three-meter dive (588.25) and was named A-10 Champion in the one-meter (520.30), an event in which she already holds the conference record with a score of 520.60. The senior also notched a new Joseph Rogers Pool record after scoring 279.45 in the three-meter dive on Senior Day against Colgate and now sits atop the UMass record books in the three-meter dive and ranks third in school history in the one-meter.
At this year's A-10 Championships, the Minutewomen also dominated as they notched a fourth-place finish for the second year in a row at the Championships and broke six school records. The team was led by two of its senior captains - Upperco and Christa Narus of Stony Brook, N.Y.
Upperco was the team's leader on the diving board as she finished first in both diving events, something she hasn't done since her freshman year at A-10s. Narus added a third-place finish in the 200 fly (2:04.88) on day four to her record-breaking third-place finish in the 100 fly and fifth-place finish in the 200 free that she notched on the third day of competition.
***
UMASS PROFILE

General: Holds the Atlantic 10 Championship records in the one-meter and the three-meter ... Holds the UMass school record in the three-meter dive (310.50) and ranks third all-time in the one-meter (278.85) ... Was named A-10 Most Outstanding Diver for the third time in her career.
***
2008-09 (Senior): Was named A-10 Most Outstanding Diver, A-10 Student-Athlete of the Year, and UMass Dinn Bros. Winter Scholar-Athlete as a senior ... Set two new A-10 Championship records after placing first in the one-meter (270.70) and three-meter (292.15) at this year's Championships (2/18-21) ... Placed first in both the one-meter and three-meter diving events in the final dual meet of the season at Fordham (1/31) ... Set a new Pool Record in the three-meter dive with a score of 297.45 while adding another first-place finish in the one-meter (261.23) against Colgate (1/25) ... Finished first in the three-meter (259.35) and third in the one-meter (211.35) at home against Boston College (1/24) ... Finished first in both the one-meter (259.20) and the three-meter (259.35) at the Rhode Island Invitational (1/16-17) ... Notched a first-place finish in the one-meter (304.60) and a second-place finish in the three-meter (281.20) at the Galbraith Diving Invitational (12/6) ... Notched two first-place finishes: three-meter (279.75) and one-meter (251.32) at Binghamton (11/8) ... Finished first in the three-meter (277.80) and second in the one-meter (248.16) at home against Army (10/25) ... Notched two second-place finishes in the first meet of the season at Boston University (10/18).
***
2007-08 (Junior): Atlantic 10 Most Outstanding Diver ... UMass Winter Female Scholar Athlete ... Competed at the NCAA Regionals (3/14-16) and finished fourth of 22 divers on both boards, notched a score of 532.65 on the one-meter dive and 563.65 on the three-meter dive ... Finished second in the three-meter dive with a score of 563.95 and first in the one-meter dive (520.60) at the A-10 Championships (2/20-23) ... Placed first in the one-meter dive with a score of 249.45, and second in the three-meter dive (261.30) at the Rhode Island Invitational (1/11-12).
***
2006-07 (Sophomore): Second-Team All-Atlantic 10 member ... Named to the A-10 Commissioner's Spring Honor Roll ... Earned UMass/Dinn Bros. Athlete of the Week (2/5) ... At the A-10 Championships (2/21-24) took second in the three-meter dive (523.50) and third in the one-meter dive (476.85) ... At Fordham (2/3) won the one-meter dive (264.38) and the three-meter dive (279.90) ... Had her top three-meter dive of 280.70 at Colgate/Binghamton ... Posted eight wins on the season (six on the three-meter board).
***
2005-06 (Freshman): First-team all-conference diver after winning the one-meter and three-meter dives at the A-10 Championships (2/18) ... Named A-10 Women's Most Outstanding Diver ... Named team MVP ... Earned A-10 Rookie of the Week honors (11/14) and UMass/Dinn Bros. Athlete of the Week honors (12/5, 2/20) ... Had 16 first-place finishes for the season between the one-meter and three-meter boards ... Finished the season 22nd on the one-meter board and 29th on the three-meter board at the NCAA Zone A Regional meet.
***
Before UMass: A 2005 graduate of Hopewell Valley Central High School where she was a three-time All-American diver ... Was a 10 time National Diving Qualifier with her highest finish being seventh on the three-meter board ... Took sixth place on the three-meter board at the 2005 AAU Nationals ... Finished third at the 2005 New Jersey State Diving Championships ... Also swam the freestyle and butterfly events ... Led the Bulldogs to the New Jersey State Sectional title in 2002-03 and to a Colonial Division Championship in 2004-05 ... A two-time Mercer County Diving Champion and a member of the All-CVC Team as a senior.

Labels: Girls Swimming, Hopewell Valley

By George O'Gorman
For BucksLocalSports

SOUTH PLAINFIELD--Emily Kianka picked the biggest stage of all to have the best day of her high jump career.
The Hopewell Valley junior won the gold medal she was denied a year ago June 4 at the Meet of Champions, and did it with an all-time Mercer County record when she cleared 5 feet, 9.25 inches to earn the only gold for the Colonial Valley Conference at the season’s final track and field meet.
Kianka’s jump, the second time this year she has bettered the existing county record, was one of three all-time Mercer bests established last week with a crowd of over 5,500 watching at Frank Jost Field.
West Windsor South’s Kate Kellner set another all-time county mark when she ran second in the 3200 in 10:34.04 in the final race of her NJSIAA career.
She was one of two CVC girls who took second place medals, with Nottingham’s Stephanie Hicks earning the other with a 14.65 clocking in the 100 meter hurdles.
Ewing’s Tayona Brown collected a third place medal with a 17-8 long jump after she had taken seventh behind Kianka in the high jump, while her Ewing teammate Brigit Roemer also high jumped 5-4 for sixth.
The third county girls record erased was the one Hopewell Valley’s Clare Buck broke in the 1600 meters with a 4:54.0 that bettered the 1600 mark of 4:54.89 former Hopewell Valley star Emily Sherrard held.
Overall, it was one of the best nights Mercer County girls have ever had at the Meet of Champions — topped by Kianka’s jump.
Earlier this season, she bettered the old county high jump mark by a quarter inch with a 5-8.25 leap. She had been looking to improve that mark ever since, but last night saw it all come together.
Tied for second a year ago with Roemer and Brown, this time Kianka took charge of the competition early clearing 5-2 and 5-4 on her first attempts before missing 5-8 on her first try at that height.
She became the only girl to clear 5-8 on her next jump, then went straight to the 5-9.25 height to break her own Mercer mark.
After clearing that height, she tried to set the meet mark of 5-10 but didn’t get over, although she had three excellent attempts at that height.
“I definitely felt confident today,” she said. “Clearing 5-9 was my goal tonight. After making 5-8 on my second jump, I knew I could do it.
“I think with more experience of jumping in big meets, I can get that 5-10,” said Kianka, whose next jumps may come at the Nike Nationals in Greensboro, N.C. in two weeks, where she came in third a year ago.
Long after Kianka became only the second HoVal girl to win Meet of Champions gold--Julie Alexander won the 400 hurdles last year--Hicks and Kellner were turning in their best runs of the spring.
Hicks came through the preliminary round of the 100 hurdles in second place to Ugonna Ndu of Union, who she would duel in the final 40 meters a few minutes later in the hurdles final. Ndu ended first in 14.17 with Hicks next at 14.68.
Amber Scott of Robbinsville, the Group I champ, was fourth at 14.76.
“I feel like I could have won,” said Hicks. “I got out of the blocks with her (Ndu) and we were together for seven hurdles, then I had a little trouble on the next hurdle and she took off.
“I went over the hurdle funny and when I recovered I couldn’t catch her,” said Hicks, the county champ the last two years.
Kellner’s runner-up run was very impressive as well as she did her best to stay ahead of the second group of runners after Chelsea Ley of Kingsway ran a blistering first two laps and went on to win in 10:19.31.
Kellner’s sister Caroline, a freshman, came in ninth in 10:43.61, with Julie Jablonski of HoVal tenth at 10:47.23.
“I’m really happy. I don’t think I could have run much faster,” said Kellner, who was third in the Meet of Champions cross country race last fall. “My goal was to stay with Chelsea as long as I could, but she went out so fast. I can’t run a 400 as fast she she did on that first lap.”

Labels: Hopewell Valley, track and field

By Jim Shay
For BucksLocalSports

Manager Joe Fuhrman may have owned the game ball after Hopewell Post 339’s comeback win last Wednesday, June 3, but it was his shortstop who provided the late-game heroics.
With the skies growing darker entering the bottom of the seventh inning, and talk of a suspended game growing louder, James Lauer broke a 3-3 tie with a two-out laser just past the outstretched glove of Ewing Post 314 centerfielder Joe Sgroi to seal a 4-3 win.
The win marked the first of Fuhrman’s managerial career.
“I was struggling the first few at bats with that lefty, and this kid was throwing a little bit harder,” Lauer said. “It was kind of hard to see, to be honest, but I just kept my weight back and tried to go the other way.”
What began as a slugfest quickly turned into a tightly-contested pitcher’s duel, as both Ewing southpaw Matt Ianni and Hopewell’s James McGraw settled down after a shaky first few outs.
Facing a 2-1 deficit entering the top of the third inning, Ewing emerged with the lead thanks to a two-run double from first baseman Asa Rodriguez.
Ianni held Hopewell hitless over the next three innings before issuing a pair of walks and a passed ball in the sixth.
Post 339 designated hitter Doug Sensi took full advantage and delivered the game-tying single.
From that point on, confusion ran rampant on the basepaths for Hopewell.
Ewing’s Steve Arnold delivered his first pitches in relief of Ianni before Sensi broke for second only to find himself well behind catcher Mark Metcalfe’s throw, killing the sixth-inning rally.
Eric Palin failed to advance to third in the bottom of the seventh after his one-out sintoward sent teammate Jeff Mulford flying toward home plate and into a run down.
But after Arnold followed by issuing a walk, Lauer stepped to the plate and took advantage of a Ewing shift that left a gaping hole in right centerfield.
“We had a great, great outing from James McGraw, he stepped up big, showed a lot of heart out there,” Fuhrman said. “As a team, we could have folded. We could have folded when they made that big out in the seventh in that rundown, but we came out and got a big hit.”
Despite watching the lead slowly slip away from his team, Ewing manager Jon Conant remained positive following the loss.
“It was a tough game to lose,” Jon Conant said. “We’ve got to hold our heads up, though, we played a good game, not to take any credit away from Hopewell. They did what they had to do to win.”
Upcoming Post 339 games
Home Field: Hopewell Valley Central High School (HVCHS)
June 6 @ 11 a.m. West Windsor Plainsboro WWP-South HS
June 8 @ 5:45 p.m. North Trenton Post 458 Nottingham HS
June 9 @ 5:45 p.m. Lawrence Post 414 HVCHS
June 10 @ 5:45 p.m. Trenton/Mitchell Davis Post 93/182 HVCHS
June 12 @ 5:45 p.m. Robbinsville Post 530 Robbinsville HS
June 13 @ 11 a.m. Hightstown Post 148 HVCHS

Labels: Hopewell Valley, Hopewell Valley baseball

Hopewell Valley Central senior Nick Maida, the No. 1 singles tennis player for the Bulldogs, was recently named Scholar-Athlete for the currrent school year. As the HoVal recipient, Nick was invited to attend the 16th Annual Scholar-Athlete Luncheon May 17 at Pine Manor in Edison. One senior from each high school in New Jersey was honored at the banquet.
This year is the 90th Anniversary Year of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA). Welcoming remarks were made by NJSIAA executive director, Steven Timko, who served as supervisor of health, physical education and athletics of the Hopewell Valley Regional School District for 25 years before his tenure at NJSIAA. Timko served as the assistant director of the organization for five years before being named executive director in January 2006.
***
Pictured at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association banquet are NJSIAA Executive Director Steven Timko (left) and Hopewell Valley Central senior Nick Maida, this year's NJSIAA Scholar Athlete at HVCHS.

Labels: boys tennis, Hopewell Valley

Hopewell Valley Central High School alum Paul Wagner, of Titusville, became an NCAA All-American Memorial Day weekend after placing sixth in a field of the best hammer throwers in the nation.

Competing for East Stroudsburg University, Paul was a part of the largest contingent ESU ever sent to the National Championships, held this year in San Angelo Texas. His throw of 196-8 is a new Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Record, and school record.

Paul adds this honor to his PSAC Championship in the Hammer this spring and the 35-pound weight in the winter.

Wagner is a 2006 graduate of Central High, where he was Mercer County shot and discus champion as well as state sectional champion and top five in the state.

Labels: Hopewell Valley, track and field

By Joe O'Gorman
For BucksLocalSports

From the first day of practice in March right up to the final whistle of the season, there is a player or two on each team who is always hustling, leading by example and totally committed to the team and the game.
Many times that player doesn’t get the recognition her efforts deserve, so The Trentonian took the time to point out their accomplishments. Two of the 17 girls named by the Journaal Register Company publication are from the valley. One lives right here in town and recently reached 100 career goals notched for the Pennington School.
Danica Roskos (Hopewell Valley) — Besides being very accomplished around the diving board, the Bulldogs senior is very comfortable on the lacrosse field. It’s the opposition she makes uncomfortable.
A strong midfielder, Roskos (pictured, above) possesses blazing speed and has been a key to the Hopewell transition game. She is very talented with the stick and came score and just as quickly retreat to the defense to make a play at that end.
Maddie Scherer (Pennington) — The talented Red Raider attack player recently notched her 100th career goal, but there is much more than scoring to Scherer’s game. A strong player, Scherer has been instrumental in the development of the Red Raiders.
She has been the heart and soul of the Red Raiders and a very hard worker who is determined to make the team and herself better in the process.

Labels: girls lacrosse, Hopewell Valley, Pennington

By George O'Gorman
For BucksLocalSports

Hightstown's Pat Gray is one of four defending county champs returning for this weekend's Mercer County track meet. Trentonian File Photo
If Mother Nature cooperates and the rain that’s drenched the Delaware Valley since Friday lets up, Mercer County will host two of its biggest track and field meets of the season Saturday.

While all the Colonial Valley Conference boys and girls teams head to Steinert for the annual Mercer County Meet that starts at 9 a.m., the Peddie, Hun and Lawrenceville teams will be in action at Ken Keuffel Field on the L’ville campus for the Middle Atlantic Prep League championships starting at 1 p.m.

The focus at Steinert will be on the Hopewell Valley girls and Trenton boys as they try to defend the team championships they won in convincing fashion last May. Aaron Oldfield’s Hopewell Valley girls are bidding for a sixth consecutive team title, while Al Jennings’ Trenton boys hope to hold off West Windsor North and claim a third straight team title and fifth in seven years.

The host Lawrenceville School teams are the favorites to keep their MAPL titles.

With the Hayes brothers back to try and defend the individual titles they won last year — Leonard the 200 and 400 sprints and Lamar the long jump — John Shilts’ L’ville boys are a heavy favorite to be almost as dominating as they were a year ago when they scored 209 points and won by 83 over host Hill.

Bill Schroeder’s Lawrenceville girls, who won by a 65-point margin with 195 points, also are an experienced squad hoping to have Rebecca Wojciechowicz repeat as pole vault winner and Madeline Smit duplicate her 2008 success in the 400 hurdles.

All but two of the girls who claimed county titles last year are back to defend their titles — HoVal’s Nikki Ferrara (100/200), Clare Buck (1600/3200), Julie Alexander (400/400 hurdles) and Katelyn Pagano (pole vault), Ewing’s Brigita Roemer (high jump/triple jump), Nottingham’s Stephanie Hicks (100 hurdles), Notre Dame’s Jameica Pierce (discus) and Caitlyn Wismer (800) and West Windsor North’s Chelsea Walters (long jump).

On the boys side only four defending champs return —West Windsor North’s Ryan Sleeper (1600), Hightstown’s Pat Gray (pole vault), Notre Dame’s Jaime Gibilisco (800) and Trenton’s Rolston Braithwaite (triple jump).

All four stand an excellent chance of retaining their titles, although for Gray it will be need a strong recovery from the pulled hamstring he suffered as he warmed up for his biggest meet ever — the Penn Relays — two weeks ago.

Labels: Hopewell Valley, track and field

The Hopewell Inferno's difficult Spring season continued with a 3-1 defeat to local rivals West End that took place in sweltering conditions Sunday, April 26 at Ewing.

After recent setbacks, the Inferno coaches asked their players to return to simple basics, which payed off early when some good interchanges lead to an early goal--their first of the season--with Paul Shatynski finishing a multiple man move from close range.

However the Inferno found it hard to maintain their momentum in the heat, and Ewing gradually fought their way back into the game.

Despite holding a 1-0 lead at halftime, and some outstanding and brave goalkeeping by Owen Clarke, West End netted twice shortly after the interval.

A brave attempt at an Inferno retaliation was cut short by a harsh penalty decision, leading to a third West End goal from the spot.

With the heat building, injuries to key players made the task seem even harder, and the remaining 11 Inferno players saw out the game without conceding any further goals.

Labels: boys soccer, Hopewell Valley

University of North Carolina-Wilmington junior Meredith Rutledge made her way back to the region last week when she competed in the Penn Relays on Thursday, April 23. Meredith is a javelin thrower for the Seahawks.

If you recall, Rutledge, a 2006 graduate of Hopewell Valley Central, was a standout in both basketball and soccer. But she blew her right knee out on the basketball court as a HoVal junior and could no longer step back onto the hardwood.

HoVal girls track & field coach Aaron Oldfield introduced Rutledge to the javelin and she's been throwing ever since.

Rutledge went on to compete in the Relays first as a Hopewell Valley junior. She's went back to Franklin Field last Thursday and posted a mark of 122 feet, 6 inches, placing her 11th overall in the event. Alexandra Kelly, of Rutgers, won the event with a toss of 152-1.

In previous NCAA competition, Rutledge finished fourth in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Championships in 2008 while posting a fifth-place finish at the 2007 CAA Championships. Her personal best in the javelin is 131 feet, 5 inches.

* Event: Javelin
* PR: 131-5
* Finished fourth at CAA Championships in 2008.
* Posted fifth-place finish at 2007 CAA Championships.

Labels: Hopewell Valley, track and field

University of North Carolina junior Meredith Rutledge is getting ready to compete in the Penn Relays on Thursday. Meredith is a javelin thrower for the Seahawks.
If you recall, Rutledge, a 2006 graduate of Hopewell Valley Central, was a standout in both basketball and soccer. But she blew her right knee out on the basketball court as a HoVal junior and could no longer step back onto the hardwood.
HoVal girls track&field coach Aaron Olfield introduced Rutledge to the javelin and she's been throwing ever since.
Rutledge went on to compete in the Relays first as a Hopewell Valley junior. She's coming back to Franklin Field on Thursday and will compete in the javelin some time between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
In previous NCAA competition, Rutledge finished fourth in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Championships in 2008 while posting a fifth-place finish at the 2007 CAA Championships. Her personal best in the javelin is 131 feet, 5 inches.
* Event: Javelin
* PR: 131-5
* Finished fourth at CAA Championships in 2008.
* Posted fifth-place finish at 2007 CAA Championships.

Labels: Hopewell Valley, track and field

Nancy Faherty (left) of Roma Bank presented the Delaware Valley’s top $5,000 “Jack Stephan” scholar-leader-athlete award and trophy to Anthony Russ (center) of Lawrence High School at the Hyatt Regency-Princeton on Sunday, March 15.

The honor bestowed upon Russ followed the presentation of 36 additional scholarships by Eric Hamilton (right), head football coach for The College of New Jersey and president of the Delaware Valley Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame (NFFCHOF).

After setting five school records at quarterback and earning continuous academic distinction, Russ will bring his gridiron talents to Harvard University this fall.

Other top award winners recognized that evening included Kelly Myers, who was bestowed with the Robert F. Casciola Distinguished American Award, Tom Murray, (Contribution to Amateur Football Award) Ray Stupienski (Jack Millard Memorial Football Official Award) and Brian Schoenauer (Pop Warner Little Scholar Award).

Hopewell Valley Central High School head football coach David Caldwell, was bestowed with the Hank Johns Coach of the Year Award. Caldwell led his Bulldogs to an unbeaten finish in the CVC Patriot Division and also set a school record for wins in a season.

Labels: Football, Hopewell Valley

Hopewell Valley Central recently wrapped up another fabulous season going 17-8-1 overall and 11-2-1 in the in the CVC Colonial Division.

In the midseason Devils Cup Tournament, the Bulldogs made it all the way to the championship but unfortunately fell to Notre Dame 7-3 in the finale.

The Irish also captured the top prize in the Mercer County Tournament where Hopewell dropped a second round matchup to Hun falling, 4-2.

Eventually, the Bulldogs made it to states, beating Montville in the first round, 5-0, before falling to Mendham in the Round of 16 by a score of 3-1.

- Sports Editor Steve Sherman

Labels: Hopewell Valley, ice hockey

Labels: FC Bucks, girls soccer, Hopewell Valley