Rich, VanHorn repeat as NJTAC cross country champions; Passaic Tech boys, Morris County girls win team titles; also, Monday’s Salem County results
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN — Julian Rich of Camden County Tech and Morris Tech’s Maya VanHorn repeated as individual champions at the NJTAC Cross Country Championships Monday and did it in the same fashion they won here at Salem Tech a year ago.
Rich won the boys race with a sprint to the finish, hitting the tape in a PR of 16:40.79 – six-tenths of a second ahead of Victor Mielnik of Passaic Tech. Rich won last year’s race by an even closer margin – 0.32.
VanHorn won her third straight tech school state title, going wire-to-wire and finishing in 18:46.20, 11 seconds faster than last year’s winning time and more than 90 second better than runner-up Micah Dilello of Sussex Tech. She beat Dilello by more than two minutes last year.
Rich, Mielnik and GCIT’s Connor Auge broke out of the pack early and stayed out front the whole race. Rich had given some thought to ripping it off the start and hoping the other contenders wouldn’t follow, but when they stayed together through the first half mile he decided to hang back and let the race play out.
It came down to Rich and Mielnik down the stretch. Mielnik pulled slightly ahead just as they got to the final rise and Rich picked it up to stay with him. Well aware of Mielnik’s strong finishing kick, Rich sprinted down in the finishing chute to pull it out at the end, putting him in a good place for Thursday’s Olympic Conference meet at Dream Park
“I was coming into this race for a confidence booster,” Rich said. “I’ve been a little down on the last races, but after today I feel so much better. My confidence in high again.
“I’ve had quite a few races like that, more in track than cross country because I’m a better 3200 runner than a 5K runner. I’ve done that quite a lot of times. I’ve been doing that since like fourth grade. It’s definitely fun doing that. It puts on a show for everyone. I love doing what I do. I’ve figured out how to run these finishes.”
There was no such drama in the girls race. VanHorn quickly moved to the front of the pack at the start and steadily stretched the lead. It was her seventh win in eight races this year.
The high heat and low humidity made the run a little more difficult but she tried to build momentum in the shady portion of the Salem Tech course. With the Morris County Championships the next day, she was trying her best to run hard and smart.
“It feels awesome to win it for a third time,” she said. “I wanted a three-peat. I wanted my three trophies. I already have two in my room. Three is my lucky number.”
She was especially happy about the win because it got her team off to a good start. The Devils won the girls teams title, placing three runners in the top five and four in the top 10. Passaic Tech won the boys title, putting three runners in the top 10.
Salem Tech’s Sarah Seiden was the top finisher among local runners. The senior maneuvered around a pack early in her race and finished fifth (22:27.53), three spots better than her finish here last year. She runs again Wednesday in the Tri-County Conference Showcase at Cumberland.
“I won’t ever take it easy; you should go all out no matter what,” she said. “Tomorrow is for rest and then I’ve got to bring it again Wednesday. Today’s time was definitely not my best – I like to be in the teens – but, again, I race on Wednesday and that one is very important to me.”
Salem Tech finished seventh in the boys standings; Dominic Militti was their top finisher (19:17.41, 29th). The Chargers girls didn’t have enough runners to post a team score.
Cover photo: Camden Tech’s Julian Rich (L) sprints past Passaic’s Victor Mielnik down the stretch to win the NJTAC boys race.
NJTAC Championship
BOYS TEAM SCORES: Passaic Tech 47, GCIT 56, Morris Tech 70, Camden Tech 114, Sussex Tech 124, Medford Tech 148, Salem Tech 185, West Tech 234, Cape May Tech 266, West Caldwell 268, Warren Tech 288, ACIT 296, Newark Tech 357, East Brunswick Magnet 389.
GIRLS TEAM SCORES: Morris Tech 37, GCIT 58, Passaic Tech 109, ACIT 123, Camden Tech 131, Sussex Tech 142, Warren Tech 147, Cape May Tech 168.
| BOYS TOP 10 | TIME | GIRLS TOP 10 | TIME |
| Julian Rich, Camden | 16:40.79 | Maya VanHorn, Morris | 18:46.20 |
| Victor Mielnik, Passaic | 16:41.39 | Micah Dilello, Sussex | 20:25.86 |
| Connor Auge, GCIT | 16:53:27 | Aditi Mukundhan, Morris | 21:05.19 |
| David Cunha, Sussex | 17:32.96 | Jordan Moczydlowski, GCIT | 21:43.41 |
| Tejas Panwar, Morris | 17:35.08 | Sarah Seiden, Salem | 22:27.53 |
| Michael DeCarlo, Passaic | 17:37.28 | Grace Corcoran, Morris | 22:30.23 |
| Owen DeLuca, GCIT | 17:39.15 | Grace Napoli, Passaic | 22:45.66 |
| Vansh Patel, Morris | 17:40.96 | Natalie Pandolfo, GCIT | 22:52.75 |
| John Swaney, Passaic | 17:44.76 | Janelle Sanabria, West | 22:56.63 |
| Kevin Feaster, W. Caldwell | 17:55.87 | Olivia Davis, Warren | 23:08.14 |
Monday’s sports report
Here are the scores and highlights from Monday’s high school action involving Salem County teams
FIELD HOCKEY
Woodstown 6, Overbrook 0: Brae DiGregorio scored two goals and assisted on three others as the Cougars’ offense came back to life, snapping a four-game winless and goal-less slump.
Schalick 10, Deptford 0: Ava Scurry and Phoebe Alward both scored hat tricks as the Cougars (15-0-1) hit double digits for the second time this season and clinched the Tri-County Diamond Division title. Scurry’s hat trick gave her a single-season school record 34 goals. Addi Shimp, Carlen Taylor, Luci Virga and Alexa Shimp also scored goals.
Salem 3, Gloucester Catholic 0: Kashira Patterson scored two goals and freshman Samiyah Moore scored the first goal of her career to lead the Rams (7-4-1). Ava Rogers faced just one shot in posting her sixth shutout.
GIRLS TENNIS
WOODSTOWN 4, SCHALICK 1
Ally Green (S) def. Gabby Kurds, 6-0, 6-4
Camille Osborn (Wo) def. Miya Watkins, 6-3, 7-5
Aubrie Rennie (Wo) def. Macy Clow, 6-1, 6-0
Julianna Lindenmuth-Alyssa Berry (Wo) def. Julia Langley-Helana Tyers, 7-5, 6-1
Noelle Neron-Nathalie Neron (Wo) def. Kayleigh Veach-Annie Podehl, 6-1, 6-1
Records: Woodstown 13-5, Schalick 9-7
PENNSVILLE 5, OVERBROOK 0
Megan Morris (P) def. Keira Riess, 6-2, 6-3
Regan Witt (P) def. Nesrine Fosso, 6-2, 6-2
Lily Edwards (P) def. Sophia Burgos, 6-2, 6-0
Emma Cornette-Morgan Holt (P) def. Jennifer Giovanni-Gianna Hardy, 6-2, 6-0
Naomi Hess-Izzy Schrenker (P) def. Madison Rikard-Gianna Hardy, 6-1, 6-0
Records: Pennsville 19-1, Overbrook 5-14
PITMAN 5, SALEM 0
Anna Fisicaro (P) def. Cassidy Werkheiser, 6-0, 6-0
Colette Rollins (P) def. Tytiana Miller, 6-0, 6-0
Ava Mollehhauer (P) def. Angelina Fothergill, 6-0, 6-1
Kendall Bennett-Amanda Bradley (P) def. Tahirah Davenport White-Heaven Jones McCullough, 6-1, 6-0
Megan Mazzola-Ella Ralph (P) def. Destiny Carr-Bianca Gibson, 6-2, 6-2
Records: Pitman 20-4, Salem 2-10
BOYS SOCCER
Penns Grove 2, Bridgeton 0: The Red Devils scored a goal in each half and junior keeper Dwayne Guzman made 12 saves to preserve the shutout in what coach Mano Massari called “our biggest win of the season.” The Red Devils (7-7) moved into ninth place in the South Jersey Group I power points standings with the victory over the Group 4 Bulldogs. (See related story)
VOLLEYBALL
Cape May Tech 2, Salem Tech 0 (25-21, 25-20)
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