Time for hitting

County football teams start scrimmaging Monday; Salem hosts Pennsville, defending Group 4 state champs among those visiting Schalick

THIS WEEK’S SCRIMMAGE SCHEDULE
MONDAY
Mainland, Lower Cape May, West Deptford at Schalick, 10 a.m.
Pennsville at Salem, 11 a.m.
TUESDAY
Gloucester Catholic, Maple Shade at Penns Grove, 9 a.m.
Woodstown at St. Joe (Hamm.), 9 a.m.
FRIDAY
Schalick at Buena, 10 a.m.
Salem at Absegami, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Triton, 6 p.m.

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

Salem County’s five football-playing high school teams have been working all summer and, for the last week, gearing up for their fast-approaching season openers. Outside of the various 7-on-7s that offered a modest taste of competition but isn’t quite complete football, the exercises have been largely unpadded and in house.

That all ends Monday when the teams start scrimmaging and take things to the next level by hitting someone wearing a different colored uniform.

Three of the county’s five teams get after it Monday morning – two against each other – with the remaining two teams going Tuesday.

Pennsville works out at Salem at 11 a.m. Schalick, last year’s Central Jersey Group I finalist with great expectations for 2024, hosts defending Group 4 state champion Mainland, Lower Cape May and West Deptford at 10.

Woodstown and Penns Grove, both with new head coaches, go Tuesday. The Wolverines travel to St. Joe (Hammonton) and the Red Devils host Gloucester Catholic and Maple Shade.

The mindset across the board for these initial scrimmages is simply to compete, see how players who have been banging on each other react to outside influences, to see who is ready to answer the bell and what is or isn’t working. Things will be more game-like the next time they take the field.

“One hundred percent,” Pennsville coach Mike Healy said. “A lot of it is trying to see where we are, seeing what kids step up for their first time against another team after a whole summer working against each other. Just trying to start seeing how it all comes together. With this first scrimmage I accept the mistakes, but I also expect to do some things correctly.

“We have kids who have started to really have stepped up. I’m really happy with where we are as a team right now, but it’s hard to tell because we’ve only really had one full day in pads and this will be the first time we’ll see them against someone else and you really never know how your kids are going to react the first time they go against someone else.”

The Pennsville-Salem workout will feature 10-and-10, red zone situations, a couple periods focusing on younger players, two live series with moving chains and kicking with pressure.

It will give new Rams coach Kemp Carr, a Salem man charged with bringing the program back from its first losing season in 10 years, the chance to see all the pieces he’s put together after a busy 7-v-7 summer as he strives to “build lions” for the season ahead.

“Fortitude and the willingness to play hard on every play is very rare,” Carr said. “When you get 11 guys to do it, it’s an unstoppable machine. That’s what we’re trying to get to.”
The Schalick controlled scrimmage will follow script similar to Pennsville-Salem with each team getting 30 minutes with the other.

Cougars coach Mike Wilson returns virtually the entire lineup that started the 2023 season 11-0 and is approaching Monday’s exercise like an Eagles preseason game. Veteran players like quarterback Kenai Simmons and running back Reggie Allen will see limited time while the emphasis turns to developing depth.

“Normally I wouldn’t do it, but these kids have played so much football; I don’t need to know Reggie or Kenai can play,” Wilson said. “Our goal is to play as many kids as possible. We want to look at a couple battles, look at what we’ve got.

“I told the kids at practice everybody’s back from last year, you could roll out the same lineup, but I don’t want to do that. We’ve got a lot of talent, a lot of good kids. I want to play as many as possible. All I want (Monday) is the kids to compete. We’ve been practicing hard all summer. If we do that, I’ll feel pretty good.”

Woodstown’s scrimmage Tuesday is expected to feature two 10-and-10 sets with the starters and then one with JVs. After that, they’ll work on goal-line and a down-and-distance series.

Salem County fall schedule

Here is the 2024 master schedule for Salem County high school teams. (Football games are for WJFL divisions involving Salem County teams (Diamond and Patriot); all football games are 7 p.m. unless noted, all others 4 p.m. unless noted; x-scrimmage), report changes to al.muskewitz@gmail.com

AUG. 19
FOOTBALL
x-Mainland, Lower Cape May, West Deptford at Schalick, 10 a.m.
x-Pennsville at Salem, 11 a.m.

AUG. 20
FOOTBALL
x-Gloucester Catholic, Maple Shade at Penns Grove, 9 a.m.
x-Woodstown at St. Joe (Hamm.), 9 a.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
x-Pennsville at Delsea, 10 a.m.
x-Woodstown at Ocean City, 11 a.m.

AUG. 22
FOOTBALL
x-Salem at Absegami, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
x-GCIT at Woodstown, 9 a.m.
x-Pennsville at Vineland, 10 a.m.

AUG. 23
FOOTBALL
x-Gateway at Penns Grove, 10 a.m.
x-Schalick at Buena, 10 a.m.
x-Pennsville at Triton, 6 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
x-Gateway at Woodstown, 9 a.m.

AUG. 26
GIRLS TENNIS
x-GCIT at Pennsville, 9 a.m.
Mainland at Schalick
GIRLS SOCCER
x-Salem at Maple Shade, 9 a.m.

AUG. 27
FIELD HOCKEY
x-Schalick at Cumberland, 9 a.m.
BOYS SOCCER
x-Woodbury at Penns Grove, 9 a.m.
x-Schalick at Clearview, 9:30 a.m.
x-Lower Cape May at Salem, 10 a.m.
x-Salem Tech at Pennsauken Tech, 3:45 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
x-Penns Grove at Paulsboro, 9 a.m.
x-Salem at Cumberland, 10 a.m.
Clearview at Schalick
GIRLS TENNIS
x-Penns Grove at Deptford, 10 a.m.
x-Salem at Lower Cape May, 10 a.m.

AUG. 28
GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville at West Deptford, 10 a.m.
BOYS SOCCER
x-Cumberland at Woodstown, 10 a.m.
x-Pemberton at Salem Tech, 10:30 a.m.

AUG. 29
FOOTBALL
Collingswood at Clayton, TBA
West Deptford vs. Manchester Twp., 10 a.m. (at Ocean City)
Pennsville at Gloucester City, 6 p.m.
x-Pitman at Woodstown, 6 p.m.
FIELD HOCKEY
x-Woodstown at Collingswood, 10 a.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
x-Bridgeton at Penns Grove, 9 a.m.
x-Woodstown at Haddon Twp., 9 a.m.
x-Pennsville at Woodbury, 10 a.m.
Schalick at Cumberland
BOYS SOCCER
x-Penns Grove at Bridgeton, 9 a.m.
x-Woodbury at Pennsville, 10 a.m.
x-Highland at Salem, 3:30 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
x-Penns Grove at Bridgeton, 9 a.m.
Pennsville at Cumberland, 10 a.m.

AUG. 30
FOOTBALL
Schalick vs. Cedar Grove, 9:30 a.m. (at Egg Harbor Twp.)
FIELD HOCKEY
x-Schalick at Ocean City, 10 a.m.
BOYS SOCCER
x-Schalick at Moorestown Friends, 9 a.m.
x-Woodstown at Williamstown, 10 a.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
x-Lindenwold at Penns Grove, 9 a.m.

AUG. 31
FOOTBALL
Penns Grove at Paulsboro, 10 a.m.
Willingboro at Salem, noon

SEPT. 3
FIELD HOCKEY
x-GCIT at Woodstown
BOYS SOCCER
x-Clayton at Penns Grove
x-Woodstown at GCIT
GIRLS SOCCER
x-GCIT at Woodstown
x-Penns Grove at Clayton
GIRLS TENNIS
Gloucester Catholic at Salem
Pennsville at Penns Grove
Schalick at Overbrook
Woodstown at Glassboro

SEPT. 4
BOYS SOCCER
x-Pennsville at Cumberland
GIRLS SOCCER
x-Pitman at Penns Grove

SEPT. 5
BOYS SOCCER
Palmyra at Schalick
GIRLS TENNIS
Salem at Wildwood
Schalick at Gloucester Catholic
Woodstown at Pennsville
FIELD HOCKEY
Audubon at Pennsville

SEPT. 6
FOOTBALL
Overbrook at Collingswood, 6 p.m.
Penns Grove at Deptford, 6 p.m.
KIPP Cooper Norcross at Camden Catholic, TBA
Cumberland at Schalick
Delsea at Woodstown
West Deptford at Pennsville
GIRLS SOCCER
Deptford at Pennsville

SEPT. 7
FOOTBALL
Paulsboro at Audubon, TBA
Haddonfield at Woodbury, 10:30 a.m.
Glassboro at Haddon Heights, 11 a.m.
Cinnaminson at Salem, noon
GIRLS SOCCER
Schalick at Cherokee

SEPT. 9
FIELD HOCKEY
Paulsboro at Pennsville
GIRLS TENNIS
Woodstown at West Deptford
BOYS SOCCER
Penns Grove at Gloucester Co. Christian, 3:45 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Gloucester Co. Christian at Penns Grove

SEPT. 10
FIELD HOCKEY
Schalick at Triton
GIRLS TENNIS
Glassboro at Penns Grove
Gloucester Catholic at Woodstown
Salem at Schalick
Wildwood at Pennsville
BOYS SOCCER
Wildwood at Pennsville
Wildwood at Woodstown
GIRLS SOCCER
Woodstown at Wildwood

SEPT. 11
GIRLS TENNIS
Triton at Pennsville

SEPT. 12
FIELD HOCKEY
Deptford at Woodstown
Glassboro at Schalick
Salem at Pennsville
BOYS SOCCER
Clayton at Salem
Salem Tech at Pennsville
Schalick at Overbrook
Woodstown at Penns Grove
GIRLS SOCCER
Overbrook at Schalick
Pennsville at Glassboro
Pitman at Salem Tech
Salem at Clayton
Penns Grove at Woodstown
GIRLS TENNIS
Penns Grove at Woodstown
Pennsville at Schalick

SEPT. 13
FOOTBALL
Audubon at Bordentown, 6 p.m.
Collingswood at West Deptford
Schalick at Woodstown
GIRLS TENNIS
Penns Grove at Lindenwold
Vineland at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.

SEPT. 14
FOOTBALL
Camden Catholic at Paulsboro, TBA
Salem at Woodbury, 10:30 a.m.
Pennsville at Overbrook, 11 a.m.
Glassboro at Penns Grove, noon
FIELD HOCKEY
Woodstown at Washington Twp.

SEPT. 16
FIELD HOCKEY
Schalick at OLMA
BOYS SOCCER
Penns Grove at Glassboro
Salem at Pennsville
Wildwood at Salem Tech
Woodstown at Schalick
GIRLS SOCCER
Glassboro at Penns Grove
Pennsville at Overbrook
Pitman at Salem
Salem Tech at Wildwood
Schalick at Woodstown
GIRLS TENNIS
Glassboro at Salem
Schalick at Penns Grove
Woodstown at Overbrook

SEPT. 17
CROSS COUNTRY
Pennsville, Penns Grove, Schalick, Woodstown at Cumberland
FIELD HOCKEY
Deptford at Salem
Pennsville at Gloucester Catholic
Woodstown at Schalick

SEPT. 18
BOYS SOCCER
Clayton at Schalick
Gloucester Catholic at Woodstown
Pitman at Pennsville
Salem at Overbrook
Salem Tech at Glassboro
Wildwood at Penns Grove
GIRLS SOCCER
Glassboro at Salem Tech
Overbrook at Salem
Pennsville at Pitman
Penns Grove at Wildwood
Schalick at Clayton
Woodstown at Gloucester Catholic
GIRLS TENNIS
Overbrook at Pennsville
Penns Grove at Wildwood
Salem at Pitman
Woodstown at Schalick

SEPT. 19
BOYS SOCCER
Pennsville at Gateway
Woodstown at Audubon, 7 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Audubon at Woodstown
Gateway at Pennsville
FIELD HOCKEY
Gloucester Catholic at Schalick
Pennsville at Glassboro
Salem at Overbrook
Woodstown vs. Delsea (Total Turf)

SEPT. 20
FOOTBALL
Overbrook at Florence, 6 p.m.
Paulsboro at Collingswood, 6 p.m.
Salem at Glassboro, 6 p.m.
Audubon at Pennsville
Penns Grove at Schalick
West Deptford at Camden Catholic
Woodbury at Woodstown
BOYS SOCCER
Paulsboro at Salem Tech
Salem at Burlington Twp.
GIRLS SOCCER
Buena at Salem
Salem Tech at Paulsboro
Schalick at Williamstown
GIRLS TENNIS
Mainland at Woodstown

SEPT. 21
CROSS COUNTRY
Salem at Cumberland

SEPT. 23
BOYS SOCCER
Paulsboro at Pennsville (Foglein Bowl)
GIRLS SOCCER
Pennsville at Paulsboro
FIELD HOCKEY
Clayton at Salem
Pennsville at Woodstown
Schalick at Overbrook
GIRLS TENNIS
Clearview at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.

SEPT. 24
BOYS SOCCER
Glassboro at Schalick
Gloucester Catholic at Salem
Overbrook at Woodstown
Pennsville at Wildwood
Pitman at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m.
Salem Tech at Clayton, 7 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Penns Grove at Pennsville
Salem at Gloucester Catholic
Schalick at Glassboro
Woodstown at Overbrook
Salem Tech at Clayton, 5 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Glassboro at Pennsville
Penns Grove at Gloucester Catholic
Schalick at Pitman
Woodstown at Salem

SEPT. 25
FIELD HOCKEY
Deptford at Schalick
Gloucester Catholic at Salem
Overbrook at Woodstown

SEPT. 26
BOYS SOCCER
Clayton at Pennsville
Penns Grove at Overbrook
Salem Tech at Gloucester Catholic
Wildwood at Salem
Woodstown at Glassboro
GIRLS SOCCER
Glassboro at Woodstown
Gloucester Catholic at Salem Tech
Pennsville at Schalick
Salem at Wildwood
Overbrook at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Overbrook at Schalick
Penns Grove at Pennsville
Salem at Gloucester Catholic
Woodstown at Cedar Creek

SEPT. 27
FOOTBALL
Woodbury at Glassboro, 6 p.m.
Woodstown at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m.
Pennsville at Camden Catholic
FIELD HOCKEY
Salem at Hammongton
Schalick at Cumberland

SEPT. 28
FOOTBALL
Collingswood at Haddon Twp., 10:30 a.m.
Overbrook at Paulsboro, 11 a.m.
West Deptford at Audubon, 11 a.m.
Schalick at Salem, noon
BOYS SOCCER
Salem at Paulsboro, 11 a.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Salem at Paulsboro, 9 a.m.
Schalick at Cinnaminson

SEPT. 30
FIELD HOCKEY
Oakcrest at Schalick
Woodstown at Cumberland
BOYS SOCCER
Pennsville at Gloucester Catholic
Pitman at Woodstown
Salem at Salem Tech
GIRLS SOCCER
Salem Tech at Salem
Schalick at Penns Grove
Woodstown at Pennsville
GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville at Woodstown
Penns Grove at Overbrook
Schalick at Cedar Creek
Wildwood at Salem

OCT. 1
FIELD HOCKEY
Pennsville at Clayton
Salem at St. Joseph Academy
Schalick at Gloucester City
Woodstown at Glassboro
CROSS COUNTRY
Pennsville, Penns Grove, Salem, Woodstown at Salem Tech, 3:30 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Salem at Winslow Twp., 3:45 p.m.

OCT. 2
BOYS SOCCER
Glassboro at Salem
Penns Grove at Gloucester Catholic
Pitman at Salem Tech
Woodstown at Pennsville
GIRLS SOCCER
Gloucester Catholic at Penns Grove
Pitman at Woodstown
Salem at Glassboro
Salem Tech at Pennsville

OCT. 3
BOYS SOCCER
Collingswood at Pennsville
GIRLS SOCCER
Glassboro at Schalick
GIRLS TENNIS
NJSIAA Playoffs
FIELD HOCKEY
Schalick at Pennsville
Woodstown at Salem

OCT. 4
FOOTBALL
Haddon Heights at Camden Catholic, TBA
Deptford at Glassboro
Penns Grove at Pennsville
Pleasantville at Woodstown
Sterling at Collingswood
West Deptford at Haddonfield
Woodbury at Gateway
BOYS SOCCER
Penns Grove at Cumberland
GIRLS SOCCER
Penns Grove at Cumberland, 6:30 p.m.

OCT. 5
FOOTBALL
Schalick at Paulsboro, 10:30 a.m.
Clayton at Overbrook, 11 a.m.
Middle Twp. at Salem, noon
BOYS SOCCER
Northern Burlington at Woodstown, 10 a.m.

OCT. 7
FIELD HOCKEY
Pennsville at Salem
Schalick at Glassboro
Woodstown at Deptford
BOYS SOCCER
Pennsville at Gloucester City
Woodstown at Gateway
GIRLS SOCCER
Paulsboro at Penns Grove
Pennsville at Gloucester City, 7 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Haddon Heights at Penns Grove
Schalick at Mainland

OCT. 8
BOYS SOCCER
Penns Grove at Woodstown
Pennsville at Salem Tech
Salem at Clayton
GIRLS SOCCER
Clayton at Salem
Glassboro at Pennsville
Salem Tech at Pitman
Schalick at Overbrook
Woodstown at Penns Grove
GIRLS TENNIS
Woodstown at Wildwood
CROSS COUNTRY
Schalick TBA

OCT. 9
FIELD HOCKEY
Gloucester Catholic at Pennsville
Schalick at Woodstown
GIRLS TENNIS
Haddon Heights at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Woodstown at Millville, 3:45 p.m.
CROSS COUNTRY
Salem County Championship, Schalick, 3:30 p.m.

OCT. 10
FOOTBALL
Delran at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Glassboro at Penns Grove
Pennsville at Salem
Salem Tech at Wildwood
Schalick at Woodstown
GIRLS SOCCER
Penns Grove at Glassboro
Overbrook at Pennsville
Salem at Pitman
Wildwood at Salem Tech
Woodstown at Schalick
GIRLS TENNIS
Schalick at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Woodstown at Penns Grove
FIELD HOCKEY
Gateway at Pennsville
Salem at Maple Shade
Schalick at Mainland, 4:15 p.m.

OCT. 11
FOOTBALL
Audubon at Collingswood, 6 p.m.
Glassboro at Cinnaminson, 6 p.m.
Schalick at Gloucester City, 6 p.m.
Salem at West Deptford
FIELD HOCKEY
Cumberland at Salem
Woodstown at Ocean City
GIRLS SOCCER
Audubon at Schalick
Salem at Gateway
BOYS SOCCER
Salem at Haddon Heights

OCT. 12
FOOTBALL
Pennsville at Paulsboro, 10:30 a.m.
Willingboro at Woodbury, 10:30 a.m.
Camden Catholic at Overbrook, 11 a.m.
Woodstown at Haddon Heights, 11 a.m.
Delran at Penns Grove, noon

OCT. 14
BOYS SOCCER
Salem at Highland
Woodstown at Clayton
GIRLS SOCCER
Woodstown at Triton

OCT. 15
CROSS COUNTRY
Pennsville, Penns Grove, Salem, Woodstown at Kingsway, 3:30 p.m.
Schalick TBA
FIELD HOCKEY
Deptford at Pennsville
Glassboro at Salem
St. Joe’s at Schalick
Woodstown at Gloucester Catholic
GIRLS TENNIS
Gloucester Catholic at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Pitman at Woodstown
Salem at Penns Grove
Wildwood at Schalick, 4:15 p.m.

OCT. 16
BOYS SOCCER
Penns Grove at Pennsville
Pitman at Salem
Woodstown at Salem Tech
GIRLS SOCCER
Gloucester Catholic at Schalick
Salem at Pennsville
Salem Tech at Woodstown
GIRLS TENNIS
Haddon Heights at Schalick

OCT. 17
FIELD HOCKEY
Overbrook at Schalick
Salem at Clayton
Woodstown at Clearview
GIRLS TENNIS
Overbrook at Woodstown
Penns Grove at Schalick
Salem at Glassboro

OCT. 18
FOOTBALL
Pennsville at Lawrence, 6:30 p.m.
Collingswood at Camden Catholic
Glassboro at Schalick
Paulsboro at West Deptford
FIELD HOCKEY
Egg Harbor Twp. at Woodstown
BOYS SOCCER
Clayton at Salem Tech
Penns Grove at Pitman
Salem at Gloucester Catholic
Woodstown at Overbrook
GIRLS SOCCER
Clayton at Salem Tech
Gloucester Catholic at Salem
Penns Grove at Pennsville
Overbrook at Woodstown
GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville at Salem
Penns Grove at Pitman
Schalick at Glassboro

OCT. 19
FOOTBALL
Penns Grove at Woodbury, 10:30 a.m.
Audubon at Overbrook, 11 a.m.
Woodstown at Salem, noon
GIRLS SOCCER
Cherry Hill West at Schalick

OCT. 21
FIELD HOCKEY
Salem at Gloucester Catholic
Schalick at Deptford
Woodstown at Overbrook
GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville at Overbrook, 3:45 p.m.
Pitman at Salem
Schalick at Woodstown
BOYS SOCCER
Bridgeton at Penns Grove
Salem at Camden County Tech

OCT. 22
BOYS SOCCER
Glassboro at Woodstown
Gloucester Catholic at Salem Tech
Overbrook at Penns Grove
Pennsville at Clayton
Salem at Wildwood
GIRLS SOCCER
Penns Grove at Overbrook
Salem Tech at Gloucester Catholic
Schalick at Pennsville
Wildwood at Salem
Woodstown at Glassboro
GIRLS TENNIS
Woodstown at Haddon Heights

OCT. 23
FIELD HOCKEY
Pennsville at Overbrook
Salem at Schalick
GIRLS TENNIS
Glassboro at Woodstown
Pitman at Pennsville
Salem at Overbrook
Wildwood at Penns Grove
CROSS COUNTRY
Tri-County Showcase

OCT. 24
FIELD HOCKEY
Woodstown at Hammonton
BOYS SOCCER
Gloucester Catholic at Pennsville
Woodstown at Pitman
Salem Tech at Salem
Schalick at Penns Grove
GIRLS SOCCER
Penns Grove at Schalick
Salem at Salem Tech
Pennsville at Woodstown
CROSS COUNTRY
Pennsville, Woodstown at Cumberland

OCT. 25
FOOTBALL
Woodstown at Glassboro, 6 p.m.
Audubon at Camden Catholic, TBA
Paulsboro at Clayton, TBA
Collingswood at Pennsville
Overbrook at West Deptford
Woodbury at Schalick
BOYS SOCCER
Salem Tech at Wildwood Catholic

OCT. 26
FOOTBALL
Salem at Penns Grove, noon

OCT. 28
BOYS SOCCER
Pennsville at Overbrook
Salem at Penns Grove
Salem Tech at Schalick
GIRLS SOCCER
Penns Grove at Salem
Pennsville at Wildwood
Schalick at Salem Tech

OCT. 29
FIELD HOCKEY
Clayton at Pennsville
Glassboro at Woodstown

NOV. 1
GIRLS SOCCER
Woodstown at Clayton
CROSS COUNTRY
Sectionals

NOV. 9
CROSS COUNTRY
NJSIAA Group Championships

NOV. 27
FOOTBALL
Camden Catholic at Paul VI, TBA

NOV. 28
FOOTBALL
Haddon Twp. at Audubon, TBA

Hall of Fame induction

Salem County Sports Hall of Fame to enshrine seven remaining members of this year’s induction class Thursday at Salem CC; Salem NFL running back Jonathan Taylor was enshrined earlier this summer

From Salem Community College

CARNEYS POINT – The seven remaining members of this year’s Salem County Sports Hall of Fame induction class will go marching into the Hall Thursday night in ceremonies at Salem Community College’s Davidow Theatre.

The Salem County SHOF Board has selected these individuals for induction in the latest ceremony. Former Salem High School current NFL running back Jonathan Taylor was inducted in a separate ceremony earlier in the summer.

Lex Bleckley (professional baseball)
Jaymes Dennison (track)
James Dickerson (track)
Nick Elmer (football)
Steve Merritt (coach)
Donna O’Leary (coach)
Latika Ross (basketball)

In addition, the Hall board will recognize Vince Gioia and Steve Lopes for their decades of service to Salem County sports as well as the following high school state champions:

Penns Grove’s three-time NJSIAA Group I state champion Boys Track Team (2013-15);

Penns Grove’s two-time NJSIAA Group I state champion Girls Track Team (2013-14);

Pennsville’s Megan Morris (2024 Pole Vault); Salem’s DaviYonn Jackson (2023-24 Triple Jump); Salem’s 2024 girls 4×100 Relay (Sairis Jimenez, Karima Davenport-White, Morgan Van Dover, Rhi’Onna Timmons); Salem’s 2024 girls shot put relay (Dominique Lewis and Ryann Mulhorn); Schalick’s Jordan Hadfield (2023 cross country 2024 1600); and Woodstown 2024 boys 4×800 Relay (Karson Chew, Joshua Crawford, Jacob Martino, Cole Lucas).

Admission is free and no tickets are required. The ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m.

Here is a thumbnail look at the Hall of Fame inductees

LEX BLECKLEY was a product of the Pennsville sports system, playing football and baseball. He is most proud of the baseball championships from an early age through his decorated career at Pennsville Memorial High School. The championships include district titles in Little League, State and Mid-Atlantic Champions in Babe Ruth and a state championship his senior year with a 25-0 record and the No. 1 ranked team in the state. The undefeated season has not been duplicated.

His personal accomplishments include three-time All-Salem County, two-time Tri-County, two-time South Jersey Group II, two-time All-South Jersey, Group II All State, All-State First Team and Today’s Sunbeam Player of the Year. He finished his career at Pennsville with a .503 batting average and a team win-loss record of 66-6. He was taken in the major league draft twice.

The Kansas City Royals drafted Bleckley after his high school career, but he elected to attend the University of Delaware, where he was a three-year starter at shortstop. During his UD career, the Blue Hens were East Coast Conference champions twice and missed making it to the College World Series by one game, losing in the finals. Lex came in second for the Division I batting title with a .455 average his junior year and was named ECC Player of the Year. He was drafted and signed by the Montreal Expos. After his playing career ended, he was head coach at Salem Community College for two years. Currently, he resides in Florida with his wife and son.

JAYMES DENNISON excelled in track at Penns Grove High School. A member of the Class of 2013, Jaymes was a two-time state champion. He won the 800 in his junior year and the 400 in his senior year. He helped lead the team to a Group 1 team state championship in 2013, and holds school records in the 800.

He was a three-time South Jersey champion in the 800 meters. As a senior, he finished seventh in the Meet of Champions in one of the most competitive 800-meter races in its history.

His post-high school accomplishments may be more impressive. In two years at Iowa State, he was a two-time NCAA All-American in 2018, Second Team All-American in the 4×400 meter relay and Honorable Mention All-American in the 800 meters. He was the Big 12 indoor champion in the 600 meters. Before enrolling at Iowa State, he was a two-time junior college indoor national champion in the 600 meters.

JAMES (JIMMY) DICKERSON graduated from Salem High School in 1964. Following high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force for eight years and traveled extensively throughout Europe. While serving in the military, Jimmy was a medic.

In addition to his medic responsibilities, he played in the European Conference, on the track and field team, where he placed first in high jump at 6-10 and excelled in the triple jump. He also made the All-Europe Football Team as a running back and kick returner. After his tour of duty, Jimmy was an OSHA inspector at BF Goodrich in Pedricktown until his retirement.

In 1976, Jimmy was invited to attend Philadelphia Eagles head coach Dick Vermeil’s tryout camp. Although not selected, he considered meeting fellow tryout attendee Vince Papale, who went on to make the Eagles’ roster, an experience of a lifetime.

At 34, Jimmy enrolled at Gloucester County College and competed in the track and field high/triple jump. He never lost a match during his two seasons. Community focused, Jimmy is involved in coaching youth basketball and mentoring. In addition, he is an active member of his church and sings in the senior choir.

NICK ELMER was a multi-sport athlete (football, wrestling, track and field) at Penns Grove High School.

In football, he set school records for passing yards (4,580) and passing touchdowns (61). He also helped lead PGHS to a record-breaking 2012 season and a South Jersey Group 1 championship in which he rushed for a record 308 yards in the title game. The 2012 team still holds the record for most points scored in a season in South Jersey history. He earned All-State First Team honors in 2012 and was the Philadelphia Inquirer South Jersey Player of the Year.

As a wrestler, Nick amassed a school-record 137 victories and qualified for the state tournament on twice, ultimately earning a seventh-place finish in 2013. He continued his academic and athletic career in wrestling at Drexel University, where he was a varsity starter for two years, accumulating 31 wins and a spot on the podium in the 2016 Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) Conference Tournament and earned an EIWA Academic Achievement Award in the same year.

He went on to medical school at Thomas Jefferson University, where he graduated cum laude and as a member of the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha national medical honors society. He is currently a plastic surgery resident at NYU Langone Hospital in New York City.

DONNA O’LEARY graduated from Paulsboro High School and was a two-sport varsity athlete (field hockey and tennis) there. She also swam competitively year-round at the Woodbury YMCA.

She earned a degree from Glassboro State College as a health/physical education major. Playing field hockey and swimming in college were important milestones in her path to becoming a coach. After graduation, she became the head women’s swim coach at Glassboro State. During those six years, she produced six All-Americans.

In 1988, Salem City hired her as a full-time health/physical education teacher in the elementary school and as the field hockey head coach at Salem High School. After taking the reins from Liz Pappas, she put her heart into making the field hockey program successful and she accumulated 315 wins and seven Tri-County championships. She was a two-time Coach of the Year.

LATIKA ROSS, a 2001 Salem High School graduate, excelled in both basketball and track and field. In track, she broke the 800-meter record as a sophomore. In basketball, she became the third Lady Ram to join SHS’s 1000-point club and pulled down over 1,000 rebounds as a four-year varsity player. Latika earned numerous accolades, including All-Tournament Team and First Team for All South Jersey Group 1 and Tri-County Conference Classic Divisions for two consecutive years. Today’s Sunbeam named her Player of the Year in 2001.

Moving on to Salem Community College, Latika amassed 1,130 points and 1,028 rebounds over two years, earning National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Second Team honors. She holds the NJCAA Division II Women’s Basketball regular-season record for rebound average (23.2 per game in 2002-03).

After attending Drexel University for one year on a full athletic scholarship, Latika transferred to Saint Augustine’s University (SAU), where she made the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association All-Tournament Team and averaged a double-double her senior year (10 points, 10 rebounds per game). Graduating from SAU with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and 3.9 grade point average, Latika embarked on a successful 15-year career in accounting.

Today, she channels her talents into entertainment as an actress, producer and stand-up comedian, performing under the name Latika Sye (a family surname).

STEVE MERRITT was never the last to be picked for any of the seasonal schoolyard games, until he turned 12 and lost a game of “chicken” with the front end of a Buick or Pontiac. It’s not clear to this day. A significant injury cost him any speed he might have had or would have. Nonetheless, it is difficult to temper a Type A personality and there was always some kind of competition at home with three brothers.

A single junior varsity season of baseball and senior year “cup of coffee” as a wrestler sums up his high school athletic career. Intramural softball and volleyball were competitive outlets at Glassboro State College.

After college, long-distance running became his outlet for competition. His omnipresent opponent became the stopwatch. No longer did he have to finish first to win. He ran the New York City Marathon twice, the Marine Corps Marathon twice and the Boston Marathon in 1992.

A combined 50 varsity seasons (tennis, soccer, basketball and softball) as a head coach at Salem High School yielded over 500 victories, four South Jersey Championships, three Tri-County Classic titles and helped to satisfy his yen for competition. Earlier this summer he was named the girls basketball coach at Pennsville High School.

Community Service

VINCENT GIOLA JR. graduated from Penns Grove High School in 1968 and began working for DuPont Chambers Works in 1969, retiring in 2010. To say his life revolved around sports would be an understatement.

Vince first coached in 1969 and over the next 50 years spent countless hours coaching, managing and maintaining the fields at the Carneys Point Recreation Complex for the Carneys Point-Penns Grove-Pedricktown Little League and Penns Grove Soccer Club.

Vince played and coached in both the Salem County Men’s Baseball League (1969-1976) and the PG-CP Men’s Softball League (1975-2015) while also serving as a league officer and a liaison with Salem County. He coached for the PG mini-wrestling organization (1979-1986), managed for the PG-CP Women’s Softball (1978-1982), and for the PG Babe Ruth (1985-1987). Vince also coached PG Twins 130 lb. football team (1985-1991) and was head coach of the SCC’s softball team (1991-1995, 2011-2013).

Vince has been a member of the South Jersey Officials Association (football) since 1999 and Unified Umpire Association of Southern New Jersey since 2007. He served on the Carneys Point Recreation Commission (1999-2023) and was chairman (2004-2023). Vince managed the CP Recreation Complex (2004-2023) and was president of the Servicemen’s Memorial Home (2015-2023). Today, Vince can be found on a field or in a gym in South Jersey officiating, umpiring or just watching his grandchildrens’ games or any game, for that matter.

STEVE LOPES graduated from Penns Grove High School in 1964, after playing three years of varsity basketball with coach Rudy Baric.

For 45 years, Steve has officiated over 800 high school football games. He had the honor of officiating over 50 state playoff games, including several state championship games at Rutgers, Giants and MetLife Stadiums. Steve has served as the president of New Jersey Football Officials Association – South, the organization representing football officials in South Jersey. Additionally, he is an official for the NFL’s Girls Flag Football program and officiated the Big 33 tournament sponsored by several NFL teams. In addition, Steve has umpired high school, college and semi-pro baseball for 17 years.

For 16 years, Steve managed in the Penns Grove-Carneys Point-Pedricktown Little League and Babe Ruth League, where his teams won several league and district titles. He has played and managed a senior (ages 50, 60, 70) baseball team in Carneys Point. For over 20 years, Steve has played in men’s senior baseball national tournaments in Florida and Arizona.

Welcome to the Hall

All-Sports Museum of Southern New Jersey inducts Philadelphia media personality Al Morganti into its Hall of Fame

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

BRIDGETON — Al Morganti received a prestigious hockey writer’s award two years ago that got his name in the NHL Hall of Fame, but it wasn’t until Saturday that he became a full-fledged Hall of Famer for the first time.

The Philadelphia media personality most readily associated with his coverage of the Flyers both in print and broadcasting, traversed the backroads of South Jersey to be enshrined in the All-Sports Museum of Southern New Jersey’s Hall of Fame.

Morganti, 71, grew up playing hockey in his native New England and ultimately found his niche in sports journalism by seizing the opportunity to cover an often disregarded sport (relative to the Big Three) of which he had intimate knowledge in a market (Atlanta) that basically was learning the game on the fly (a nice lesson for aspiring journalists).

The Philadelphia Inquirer got wind of this tough newsman in the south at a time it was looking for a little tougher coverage of the Flyers and brought Morganti to the Delaware Valley in 1979. He later branched out into TV and radio, joining ESPN’s lineup of NHL analysts for 13 years, co-hosting a popular WIP morning drive-time radio show that became a Sunday show when co-host Angelo Cataldi retired, and, of course, he remains the pre- and post-game studio analyst on the local Flyers telecasts.

“I loved that sport,” he said. “If you really like what you do, it’s so much better. I don’t think I’ve learned to work. My work? I go to practice and talk to players … I think it’s been a great life. I’ve had no issues with it at all.”

Museum officials took their newest inductee on a first-time tour before the induction ceremony, guiding him past the displays of local and regional greats. Like everyone who visits for the first time, Morganti was amazed by the offerings.

The museum houses more than 15,000 artifacts reflecting all aspects of South Jersey’s rich sporting past. All of the items have been donated, many from but not exclusive to the 135 Hall of Fame inductees. Morganti gifted the museum several WIP-themed items and a trinket from the NHL Hall of Fame.

Morganti is famous among his co-workers for giving everyone and everything he comes across a Chris Berman-style nickname as his way to remember them. “The Little Gem” is how he’ll remember this museum.

“This is a real gem, man,” he said. “This is amazing. I would get big security here if I were you. There’s so much stuff. Are you kidding me? It’s incredible what they’ve got here. You could spend a day, the stories that go into it. I guess that’s what connects generations. Wow.”

**Hall of Fame inductee Al Morganti checks out the museum’s display of the Flyers, the franchise to which he has been closely associated since 1979.**

One of the exhibits that was particularly poignant was the Flyers’ display in the main room. Virtually every player in the display had a direct line to Morganti.

“I know those guys; it’s great,” he said. “The Flyers might have connected with South Jersey more than any team because they lived here. Clarkie (Bobby Clarke) had the big pool with the Flyers logo. They all go down the shore. They played softball here all the time. They all know how to get over the Walt Whitman Bridge, I’ll say that for them.”

During his induction address he said he was particularly impressed with the growth of his game in the area since he first arrived. Hockey was once a predominantly Canadian game, but the NHL has become increasingly more international and more American, and a lot of that talent is grown right here.

“I’m from New England and played hockey all my life,” Morganti said. “When I see the talent coming out of South Jersey, it’s unbelievable. There’s like five kids in the NHL right now; there’s more kids in the NHL from South Jersey than the NBA, so I’ve watched the kids develop here and the players that come out of here. It’s insane the level of competition I’ve been able to see from everywhere in South Jersey.”

At least one of those South Jersey NHLers is already in the local Hall – Salem’s Johnny Gaudreau.

Away from the ice, one thing people might not know is Morganti was a creative force behind the WIP “Wing Bowl.” It started out as a two-man competitive eating gimmick the Friday before the Super Bowl to give Eagles fans another excuse to party when their team wasn’t in the game and morphed into an international sensation off the chain and actually pre-empted his decision to accept consideration for the NHL award he eventually received two years ago. The Wing Bowl was retired after the Eagles won the Super Bowl in 2018.

“It was fun, but times change,” he said. “It just got unruly, but it was fun.

“I think that’s what makes Philly special, too: It was the people who got involved in that fun. To me, you couldn’t have a Wing Bowl in but two cities, maybe three – New Orleans, Philly, maybe Sam Francisco (and) I’m not even sure about that. Wouldn’t have flown. You get people up at 5 in the morning to go watch people eat wings. It was crazy. It turned into a carnival. It was fun.”

The Hall of Fame holds induction ceremonies at various times throughout the year depending on the availability of its honorees. The next installation is Sept. 21 when longtime South Jersey sports journalist Mike Cudemo and Bridgeton-born sports agent Andre Buck will be enshrined.

The museum is open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free.

Al Morganti (L) signs a variety of items for the All-Sports Museum of Southern New Jersey under the watchful eye of committee member Anthony D’Agostino after being inducted into its Hall of Fame Saturday.

A hidden gem

Growing Bridgeton museum overflows with memorabilia linked to South Jersey’s rich sporting past; Morganti to enter HOF Saturday

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

BRIDGETON — If you’re not quite sure where you’re going you just might miss it, just like Todd Frazier did – twice – with humorous results when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame, but once you get there you’ll be amazed at what’s inside.

From the outside, Building 7 that houses the All Sports Museum (and Hall of Fame) of Southern New Jersey appears to be just another unassuming building in the city’s athletic complex, but within its walls contains a veritable treasure trove of memorabilia commemorating the region’s rich sporting past.

The quaint five-room, 1,500-square foot white bungalow that serves a variety of purposes for the city houses more than 15,000 artifacts, photos and films from across the sporting spectrum with some connection to the state’s eight southern-most counties – only about half of which is currently on display.

“A hidden gem, you said the exact words,” museum and Hall chairman Dom Valella said during a recent tour for a first-time visitor. “When we have an athlete down here who’s not familiar with this area and they see it, they say this is a hidden gem you have here.

“We’re very proud of that. We’re all volunteers; we’re all guys who just love the sport, love doing this. We just enjoy having the athletes come down (and) meeting them on a personal level.”

It certainly gave pause to Frazier, the former Shore-area baseball great who gained early fame as the hero of Toms River East’s 1998 Little League World Series title team and went on to become a two-time major-league All-Star and Home Run Derby champion over 11 big-league seasons. Once he found the museum, he was, of course, blown away by its offerings.

The story goes that Frazier was driving around town looking for the building and twice was stopped by local police as a suspicious vehicle. Once it was determined who they had detained and what his purpose was for being in the area, they gave him a full police escort to the facility.

It is easy to see how one could get waylaid. The official address is 8 Richie Kates Way, a street just off the main drag renamed in honor of the local boxer and Hall of Fame inductee who twice fought for the light-heavyweight championship and had WBA champ Victor Galindez beat in their 15-rounder in South Africa. (There’s a life-sized cutout of a ring-ready Kates right outside the case displaying his memorabilia as well as homages to Joe Frazier (who trained for a time in Vineland and sparred with Kates in Philadelphia) and Jersey Joe Wolcott).

But to have the GPS get you there you have to punch in 8 Burt Street.

It’s two turns off Hwy. 49 as you get into town, just past the high school football stadium and right across the street from Alden Field, home of the annual Bridgeton Invitational semi-pro baseball tournament that introduced MLB to the concept of pitch clocks and designated hitters long before those innovations became fashionable. They still talk about the night two of tournament teams brought in a couple ringers named Dickie Noles and Tug McGraw to pitch against each other.

The museum has items from every sport imaginable. There’s an early vaulting pole, a French foil from the 70s, the original four-pound green sneakers of the Phillie Phanatic (a popular item with the kids), local trophies that date back to 1904, photos that go back to 1896, several game-used equipment and jerseys and more than 200 autographed baseballs. There’s a bat from Jackie Robinson and even the partial uniform of baseball’s first professional female umpire, Bernice Gera, which landed in their cases after swapping the complete uniform they had with Cooperstown.

“People are surprised at how big it is,” said Ed Forman, in his 19th year as the fourth-ever curator of the museum that was founded by Ed Alden as a Bridgeton-centric repository. “Looking at it from the outside it looks like we just have one room or something like that, so when they come in and find out we have this room and this room and this room … (they’re amazed).

“I love the fact they’re amazed. Mostly everything here was donated. The only things that weren’t donated were the two (Little League World Series) trophies in the first room. It is impressive. I’m impressed with some of the things.”

Dom Valella, chairman of the All-Sports Museum of Southern New Jersey, points to the plaque of Flayers great Rick MacLeish, one of the nearly 150 inductees into the museum’s Hall of Fame. The next Hall induction ceremony is Saturday.

There’s a heavy presence of Phillies, Eagles and Flyers – many of whom lived in the South Jersey suburbs – but there is just as much emphasis on the accomplishments of athletes with natural roots in the area.

Coming through the door you’re welcomed by a display cases honoring locally high school and Little League championship teams. There are rooms dedicated to baseball, football, basketball and hockey. There are dedicated displays for Baseball Hall of Famer Goose Goslin; football’s George Jamison, Lydell Mitchell and Dave Robinson; track’s John Borican and auto racing pioneer Bunky Higbee. The exhibit for Millville native son Mike Trout takes up an entire wall.

There’s even a “writers wing,” a section dedicated to prominent local media, whose ranks will increase by one with Saturday’s Hall of Fame induction of Al Morganti, a Massachusetts kid who earned his chops as a Philadelphia hockey writer and network analyst. His induction brings to 135 the coaches, athletes, contributors, pioneers and teams enshrined in the Hall with many more luminaries holding a place in the museum.

There’s a distinction between the Hall of Fame and the museum – not all museum benefactors are inducted into the Hall, but inductees are asked if they’d like to donate an item to the Hall – but If there’s a connection to South Jersey, no matter how small, it’s in there.

‘Our mission statement is to preserve, protect and display all sports memorabilia connected from Philly on down, South Jersey and Philly,” Valella said. “It is surprising (the number of accomplished sportsmen hail from the area). We should be proud of it.”

Everyone who comes through the museum, which is open with free admission from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Saturday or by appointment, has a favorite piece, but the star of the show is the 1960 National League Gold Glove of Willie Mays, whose connection to South Jersey runs from his days as a minor leaguer in Trenton to his somewhat controversial (at the time) connection to promoting the casinos in Atlantic City.

Mays, who passed away earlier this summer, came to Bridgeton as a guest of the Invitational. Between games tournament officials were known to give away baskets of local peaches and plums as door prizes. A son of the south, Mays wasn’t interested in peaches, but did want to know what it’d take to get some of those plums.

Tournament organizers said if he made a donation to the museum they’d provide him as many plums as he could stand. Mays told them to come see him at Resorts and he’d have something for them. When they arrived, he presented them the Gold Glove (he won 12 of them) with the caveat not to sell it, trade it or give it away. The award is displayed on the first shelf of a case in the middle of the back wall in the main room.

“That’s the No. 1 item that’s here,” Valella said. “I think the Gold Glove is one of the nicest things we’ve got here – and the story.”

There’s no telling how much all the memorabilia housed in the museum is worth, but rest assured it’s all insured. Former Phillies reliever, current studio host and future Hall inductee Ricky Bottalico toured the museum during broadcast partner Michael Barkann’s induction and asked what they thought the Mays Gold Glove was worth. Museum officials estimated conservatively $150,000. Bottalico said they should double it, in a tone that that suggested even his assessment was low.

After all, you can’t put a price on memories.

**Curator Ed Forman (L) and chairman Dom Valella flank the most prized possession of the All-Sports Museum of Southern New Jersey — Willie Mays’ 1960 National League Gold Glove.**

All together now

All five football-playing Salem County high schools will be competing in Group 1 for the next two seasons

By Riverview Sports News

All five football playing schools in Salem County will remain in Group I for the next two seasons based on a draft seen by Riverview Sports News. Penns Grove (482) comes in as the largest of the county’s five Group I schools, the largest Group I in South Jersey and the fifth-largest public Group I in the state.

The other four schools fall in line as follows: Woodstown (411), Pennsville (364), Schalick (360) and Salem (298). Jonathan Dayton is the largest Group I school at 496.

The enrollment counts grades 9-11.

Here’s what it looks like within their West Jersey Football League divisions

DIAMOND DIVISION	GROUP	ENROLL
Penns Grove	I	494
Woodstown	I	411
Glassboro	I	402
Schalick	I	360
Woodbury	I	348
Salem	I	298

PATRIOT DIVISION	GROUP	ENROLL
Overbrook	II	656
Collingswood	II	594
West Deptford	II	568
Camden Catholic	NP-B	449
Audubon	I	398
Pennsville	I	364
Paulsboro	I	329