Playing for something

In a couple riverview rivalries this week, Pennsville-Penns Grove and Schalick-Cumberland both have historic trophies for the winners to claim

THIS WEEK’S GAMES
Friday’s games
Schalick at Cumberland, 6 p.m.
Pennsville at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Haddonfield, 7 p.m.
Saturday’s game
West Deptford at Salem, noon

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

Mike Healy has never beaten Penns Grove in his tenure as Pennsville’s head football coach. In some circles that lack of success in a storied rivalry might get a coach a change of address. Strangely, even if he pulls it off this week he knows he’s going to get the Boot.

The same holds for Penns Grove coach John Emel. Even if his team wins the game under the temporary lights at home Friday night, he’ll get the Boot as well.

Relax. Nobody’s getting fired. The two schools, 8 miles apart, are just playing for The Boot – the trophy that has gone to the winner of this riverview rivalry for years. It’s such a prized possession, winning coaches have used it as the centerpiece next the turkey on their Thanksgiving table back when the game was played on that day.

“It’s a huge deal,” Healy said. “Our towns border each other. The kids all know each other, do social media and all that stuff, and play against each other. For me, you want to win the rival game, it’s big as a coach, but for the players it means more, the bragging rights and just the ability to pump your chest a little bit and have that for the year.

“It’s a feeling we haven’t had in a while, so it’s something that means a lot to the town. It was a Thanksgiving Day game. Thanksgiving Day games mean a lot in New Jersey. We don’t have them anymore, but still that rivalry is there.”

The trophy awaiting the winner is named in honor of Norm “Wildman” Willey, the three-time Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro defensive lineman of the ’50s who taught PE and drivers ed at Pennsville for 30 years. He still holds the NFL record for sacks in a game – 17 against the New York Giants – at a time before sacks were an officially recognized league stat. He passed away in 2011.

The reason it’s called The Boot is because one of Willey’s football cleats is part of the trophy.

“Nowadays it’s pretty cool for the kids to play for a trophy,” Emel said. “It’s a pretty cool trophy. Adds something to the game.

“To be honest, we don’t spend much time talking about it outside of the one week a year we play Pennsville, but … it’s something we’re excited to currently have and we’re going to play this week with the goal to keep it. I’ve been in this program long enough where we’ve watched the other side walk off with it (and) it’s not a fun feeling.”

**Pennsville raises The Boot after winning the game in 2013.**

Pennsville is trying to get The Boot back. The Eagles haven’t won it since 2016 and the games have been quite one-sided, too. Penns Grove leads the series 36-27-4 and is 10-4 since 2010.

Both teams are on a roll and have their sights on a playoff berth. Both have won three of their last four and are looking to win their third straight.

The Eagles (4-2) haven’t won three in a row since 2016. Their four wins already are the most in a season since 2017 (4-6) and getting the Boot would guarantee them their first winning regular season since 2016.

The Red Devils (3-4) have steadily eliminated their turnovers in recent weeks and are working on a string of six straight shutout quarters. They haven’t won three in row since 2020. They’ve already matched their win total from last year and keeping the Boot gives them a chance to guarantee a winning regular season when they play for the Diamond Division title against Woodstown next week.

“It’s hard not to be a little more excited for this game than other games,” Healy said. “There’s always the competitive side, but any time it’s a rival, especially when you haven’t been successful against them and just feeling we have a good shot this year, it’s hard not to be a little more juiced up for it.

“That being said we still have to make sure we’re doing what we’re doing. We can’t just rely on adrenaline out there. I felt like today we were more focused at practice. You really don’t have to do anything to get your kids excited when it comes to this week.”

This one’s personal

SCHALICK (7-0) at CUMBERLAND (3-4): Mike Wilson has played and coached in a lot of rivalry games in his day, but the one his undefeated Schalick Cougars play this week is about as intense as they come.

They don’t call this one “The Neighborhood Game” for nothing. The schools are 6 miles apart. The players know each other, they’ve played with and against each other for years. The coaches and administrators overlap. Current Schalick athletics director Doug Volovar’s last game as Cumberland’s head football coach was in this game in 2002, so he has seen it from both sides.

The Gloucester City game might be the Cougars’ longest-standing football rivalry, but this one is personal.

“It definitely has that kind of taste to it,” Wilson said. “I’ve been on staffs where the people in town only care about one game; this game has that same type of level. Whether both teams are 7-0, 0-7 or whatever it doesn’t matter.

“This one checks all the boxes. It used to be Schalick and Cumberland’s Super Bowl when Thanksgiving kind of ended your season. I still think it’s a mid-year Super Bowl. It’s a big deal. These kids are going to come out ready to play and you’re going to see the best effort on both sides.”

There is a trophy, the Hars-Lake Memorial Trophy, established last year and named in the memories of longtime Cumberland coach Tom Lake, who oversaw the most successful stretch in Colts history, and former Schalick history teacher Mike Hars, who served as an assistant coach at both schools. Each team names an MVP when it’s over.

For the record, Schalick holds a 14-8 lead in the series, which began in 1977 with the first varsity football games in both schools’ history and then broke until 2002 when the Colts joined the Tri-County Conference. Cumberland won last year’s game in Pittsgrove 21-16 in front of about 1,200 people, snapping Schalick’s six-game winning streak under the weight of more turnovers in one game than the Cougars had to that point all season.

Nobody has won back-to-back since the Cougars won in 2018 and 2019. The Colts’ last won back-to-back games in 2007 and 2008.

The Cougars should be especially amped to play. They’ll be back on the field for the first time since Sept. 22 after getting two forfeit victories that earned the top spot in the South Jersey Group I UPR ratings and a second straight Horizon Division crown. They stand to pick up a lot of ratings points if they can knock off a Group III team with three wins.

“Looking at the big picture our ultimate goal is to secure home field advantage in the playoffs,” Wilson said. “That adds an extra layer in this game for us.”

Cover photo: The Hars-Lake Memorial Trophy (right) and the Norm Willey Boot, the trophies awarded the winner in the Schalick-Cumberland and Pennsville-Penns Grove games.

CURRENT SJ-I UPR
(Updated Oct. 8)
(Top 16 qualify for playoffs)
1. Schalick (7-0) 2.6
2. Woodstown (5-1) 4.2
3. Glassboro (3-3) 4.4
4. South Hunterdon (6-1) 5.2
5. Florence (5-0) 5.8
6. Shore (4-2) 6.0
7. Middlesex (5-1) 8.4
8. Woodbury (3-3) 8.4
9. Audubon (3-2) 9.0
10. Penns Grove (3-4) 9.4
11. Keyport (6-1) 10.6
12. Riverside (5-1) 11.0
13. Burlington City (5-2) 12.8
14. Clayton (3-3) 12.8
15. Pennsville (4-2) 13.6
16. Dunellen (4-2) 16.6
17. Salem (1-6) 17.0
18. Manville (2-5) 19.0
19. Maple Shade (2-5) 20.8
20. Asbury Park (0-5) 21.4

Starting fast

Tuesday’s roundup: Woodstown field hockey parlays quick start into victory over Salem, Schalick tennis advances to SJ Group I semifinals, and more

TUESDAY’S SALEM COUNTY SCORES
FIELD HOCKEY
Schalick 3, Pennsville 0
Woodstown 2, Salem 0
GIRLS SOCCER
Pennsville 3, Overbrook 2
Woodstown 5, Penns Grove 0
GIRLS TENNIS
Salem 5, Gloucester Catholic 0
NJSIAA South Jersey Group I Tournament
Quarterfinals
Haddon Twp. 3, Pennsville 2
Gateway 3, Woodstown 2
Schalick 5, Audubon 0
VOLLEYBALL
Washington Twp. 2, Salem Tech 0 (25-4, 25-7)

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

SALEM – For the longest time this season the Woodstown field hockey team was pretty much a second-half team. The Wolverines were doing most of their scoring in the second half of games and while it was producing wins, it was becoming somewhat of a concern as the games became more intense and more important.

Now, the Wolverines are getting off to quicker starts and it couldn’t be coming at a better time.

They scored a little more than three minutes into Tuesday’s game with Salem and carried that momentum to a 2-0 victory. It was as if their victory over Delsea Friday, their first win over the Crusaders in 11 years, flipped a switch.

“Since our big win against Delsea we started just coming on from the get-go,” Woodstown coach Bryanna Roberts said. “Even this game they came out and scored right away, so it just showed me they’re out there to play and ready to go, which was a huge piece.

“It was super exciting just to get that (first goal) because coming into a game like this we’re all super anxious and you never know how the girls are going to come out. They came out ready to play. By scoring that first goal it just kind of showed they were ready to come out here and get another win under their belt.”

In their first seven games of the season the Wolverines (9-2) scored 20 of their 32 goals in the second half and went 6-1. They started leveling the ledger in a lop-sided win over Deptford, but over the last three games they have scored three of their four goals in the first half and two of them in the first quarter.

They scored both of their goals against Delsea in the first half and have now scored 21 goals in the first half and 24 in the second.

Their first goal against the Rams (8-3) started and ended with Kayla Brown, who always seems to be around when a goal gets scored. The senior forward got the play started with a corner. Megan Donelson blasted a shot from just inside the 16 that Salem keeper Dominique Lewis stopped, but Brown was right on Lewis’ pads and flicked the rebound home with 3:11 gone. It was her seventh goal of the season.

The Wolverines scored just as quickly to open the second half. Tulana Mingin punched in an insurance goal 3:15 into the third quarter.

“It just really sets the tone for the rest of the game for us,” Brown said of scoring quickly. “It was always a little discouraging when we would go through by the second half without a goal yet. We had to change that. We want to start off strong and end strong, and since that Delsea game it’s been going really well for us.”

The win, with its accompanying power points, vaulted the Wolverines into second place in the South Jersey Group I standings with a big match coming up against current No. 3 Schalick at home Friday.

SCHALICK 3, PENNSVILLE 0: Phoebe Alward scored her 12th goal of the season, Luciana Virga notched her seventh and Caylen Taylor her eighth. Lydia Gilligan posted her sixth shutout.

Girls soccer

WOODSTOWN 5, PENNS GROVE 0: Emma Perry scored her team-leading sixth goal, Alyssa Baber scored the first of her career and Taylor Sparks scored her first of the season after converting to center back for the good of the team. Blair Baldi and Calista Hunt scored the Wolverines’ other goals.

“Taylor stepped up in a big way for us to fill the role as a defender,” Woodstown coach Kieran Keyser said.

PENNSVILLE 3, OVERBROOK 2: Karsen Cooksey and Anikka Macalino scored second-half goals as the Eagles rallied from a 2-1 halftime deficit. Riley Bowman scored Pennsville’s first goal and assisted on Macalino’s game-winner. The Eagles (4-7-2) are 4-2-1 in their last seven games.

Girls tennis

GATEWAY 3, WOODSTOWN 2: The Gators won pro set tiebreakers at No. 1 and No. 3 to sweep singles and upset third-seeded Woodstown in the South Jersey Group I girls tennis tournament, handing the Wolverines (12-1) their first loss of the season.

Morgan McNally rallied from dropping the first set to win 6-0, 10-4 at No. 1, while Allison Eckstein bounced back from dropping the second set to win her pro set 10-5. The Wolverines swept the doubles matches.

In the other tournament matches involving Salem County teams, Schalick swept Audubon, 5-0; and Pennsville took top-seeded Haddon Twp. to the wire before falling 3-2.

Schalick’s Nos. 2 and 3 singles, Grace O’Neill and Allyson Green, won their matches without dropping a game. Lily Edwards and the No. 1 doubles team of Emma Cornette and Fanta Kone scored Pennsville’s points.

Schalick now hosts No. 6 Gateway in the sectional semifinals. The Cougars (16-2) have won seven in a row, six of them by 5-0 sweeps.

Clearing the air

Monday roundup: Salem field hockey team opens up after loss to Gloucester, Woodstown boys soccer bounces back with draw with Gateway, and more

MONDAY’S SCORES
FIELD HOCKEY
Gloucester City 4, Salem 1
Schalick 2, Our Lady of Mercy 1
BOYS SOCCER
Gateway 2, Woodstown 2
Paulsboro at Salem
Washington Twp. 7, Schalick 1
GIRLS SOCCER
Washington Twp. 3, Schalick 2
Woodstown at Audubon
GIRLS TENNIS
Schalick 5, Haddon Heights 0

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

SALEM – The Salem field hockey team has gotten off to a rousing start, but it’s heading into the home stretch of the regular season (and presumably the playoffs) and after a hiccup Monday afternoon it felt a meeting was necessary.

After the Rams fell to Gloucester City 4-1 in the Monday matinee, the team gathered behind the auxiliary bleachers behind the bench. It was discussion first-year coach Shanna Scott called “productive” lasting through the first 10 minutes of the junior varsity game to set in motion the wheels going forward.

“Things like this, I’ll use myself as an example, I like when I’m challenged and I face trials because how I respond to that reveals a lot what’s in my heart,” said Scott, who leans on her faith for direction in such things. “I like that we went through this and it was challenging, it was hard, and we kind of had a little bit of a breakdown as a team, but that exposed a lot of things within our team, so in order for those things to be exposed we have to go through it.

“It’s uncomfortable, but in order to grow in those things that’s what we need to do to push through it. I think it revealed a lot about us and a lot of things we need to work on “

Scott gave the players their space and everyone had a chance to have their say. She’s had similar meetings when called to convene them.

“They deserve to be heard, their opinions are valid, if something is happening and they’re hurt I want them to know about it,” she said. “You want to pick each other up because if you spiral, then you’re going to crumble, you’re going to fall.”

It was only the second loss of the season for the Rams (8-2), but they gave up almost as many goals in the match as they had all season. They outscored their previous nine opponents 48-5 and their only other loss was a 1-0 overtime affair with Schalick.

They entered the game seventh in South Jersey Group I power points, one point behind Gloucester. They remained seventh after it ended, while the Lions rose into a tie for third with Woodstown. The Rams play Woodstown Tuesday and if they beat Gloucester Catholic next Monday they’ll clinch the Classic Division title and sweep their division for the first time since 2016.

In Monday’s game they had opportunities, but couldn’t capitalize on them. Through three quarters they had 11 penalty corners to Cumberland’s 3, but trailed 3-1.

The Rams tied the game on leading scorer Morgan VanDover’s 10th goal of the season from just inside the top of the arc with 9:31 left in the third quarter, then gave up three straight goals. Lauren Parry’s second goal of the game 67 seconds after VanDover’s score put the Lions (9-1) ahead for good. Kaelyn Zearfoss and Ryleigh Hunter banged home insurance goals.

“We’ve been struggling a little bit playing as a team so today was definitely big for us,” Lions head coach Alyssa McFerran said. “To come together and put four goals in the cage is awesome.”

Zearfoss has scored at least one goal in every Cumberland game this season; McFerran, also a first-year head coach, called her a “feisty” player who works hard.

Parry’s goals were her first since Sept. 15. Her first goal came 71 seconds after Rams keeper Dominique Lewis began serving a two-minute penalty for being improperly equipped (missing mouthguard).

“She’s a starter for us and sometimes she does struggle on the left post, which is a hard position to play,” McFerran said. “Two goals today was good for her. She definitely needed it.”

“I hadn’t scored in a while, so it felt pretty good to put it in and get out of that funk a little bit,” Parry said. “I hadn’t been able to receive the ball as much as usual, I’ve been having issues with that, so it was good to have those goals right off the pass.”

SCHALICK 2, OLMA 1: Ava Scurry and Sophia Longo each scored a first-half goal for the Cougars (8-4).

Cover photo: Salem’s Morgan VanDover winds up for the shot that produced the Rams’ game-tying goal in the third quarter against Gloucester City Monday.

Gloucester 4, Salem 1

Gloucester (9-1)	1	0	2	1 –	4
Salem (8-2)	0	0	1	0 –	1

Goals – G: Lauren Parry (4), 8: 39 1Q; S: Morgan VanDover (10), 9:31 3Q; G: Lauren Parry (5), 2:05 3Q; G: Kaelyn Zearfoss (16), 2:05 3Q; G: Ryleigh Hunter (4), 5:17 4Q. Penalty corners: Gloucester 7, Salem 12. Shots on goal: Gloucester 13, Salem 7. Goalie saves: Gloucester 6, Salem 9.

Boys soccer

WOODSTOWN 2, GATEWAY 2: The Wolverines were looking to bounce back from a loss to rival Schalick on an emotional Saturday. They were down several starters and didn’t get a win, but coach Darren Huck was encouraged by the things he saw.

Jacob Garrett scored the game-tying goal on a penalty kick 12 minutes into the second half and the two seven-win teams battled even the rest of the chilly morning matinee.

For the second straight game the Wolverines (7-2-1) held leads of 1-0 and 2-1, but couldn’t close the deal although they had several strong chances to break the tie, including a sharp header by Jack Morris is overtime Gators keeper Alex Horwitz just got over to clear.

“Today I would say I got resiliency, I think that’s the word,” Huck said. “These guys were resilient, they came back. I’ve been around the game for quite a long time now and I’ve seen other schools, other teams, where they’ll come off a big win or a really tough loss and they’re still not the same the next game. I was happy to see what we had today.”

Blake Bialecki opened the scoring three minutes into the match, but Gateway’s Colin Hojnowski got the equalizer a minute later. Adrian Ibarra gave the Wolverines a 2-1 lead with an assist from Bialecki four minutes before halftime.

The penalty kick came on a somewhat soft foul in the back of the box, but Garrett, one of South Jersey’s most prolific scorers, was true on his kick for his 13th goal of the season. Before the half ended, though, Ibarra and Bialecki both had good chances to score.

“That (penalty kick) didn’t stop them from continuing the fight and work hard and play hard,” Huck said. “Yeah, we were down three or four starters today and we showed a lot.

“That was important for me to see as a coach because you can say what you want and they may be hearing you but are they really listening and today they were listening and they responded well.”

Woodstown 2, Gateway 2

Gateway (7-5-1)	1	1	0 –	2
Woodstown (7-2-1)	2	0	0 –	2

Goals – W: Blake Bialecki (3), 3′; G: Colin Hojnowski (3), 4′; W: Adrian Ibarra (16), 36′; G: Jacob Garrett (13), 52′. Shots on goal: Gateway 12, Woodstown 14. Goalie saves: Gateway 10, Woodstown 10.

Girls tennis

SCHALICK 5, HADDON HEIGHTS 0: The Cougars (15-2) won all five matches in straight sets to score their sixth win in a row. They’ve lost only two individual matches during the winning streak and 16 all season.

This week’s schedule

Here is the high school sports schedule for Salem County teams for the week of Oct. 9-14; to submit corrections or alterations email al.muskewitz@gmail.com

Oct. 9
FIELD HOCKEY
Gloucester City at Salem, noon
Our Lady of Mercy at Schalick, 4 p.m.

BOYS SOCCER
Gateway at Woodstown, 10 a.m.
Paulsboro at Salem, 4 p.m.
Washington Twp. at Schalick, 4 p.m.

GIRLS SOCCER
Schalick at Washington Twp., 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Audubon, 7 p.m.

GIRLS TENNIS
Schalick at Haddon Heights, 4 p.m.

Oct. 10
FIELD HOCKEY
Schalick at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Salem, 4 p.m.

GIRLS SOCCER
Pennsville at Overbrook, 4 p.m.

GIRLS TENNIS
Gloucester Catholic at Salem, 4 p.m.

NJSIAA South Jersey Group I Tournament
Quarterfinals
Pennsville at Haddon Twp.
Pitman at Middle Twp.
Gateway at Woodstown
Audubon at Schalick

VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Washington Twp., 4 p.m.

Oct. 11
FIELD HOCKEY
Pennsville at Highland Regional, 6 p.m.

BOYS SOCCER
Clayton at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Salem at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Wildwood at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m.
Pennsville at Pitman, 7 p.m.

GIRLS SOCCER
Overbrook at Salem, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Pitman, 5 p.m.
Schalick at Clayton, 4 p.m.

GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at West Deptford, 4 p.m.

CROSS COUNTY
Salem County Championship at Schalick, 3:30 p.m.

Oct. 12
FIELD HOCKEY
Schalick at Glassboro, 4 p.m.

GIRLS SOCCER
Paulsboro at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m.

GIRLS TENNIS
Gloucester Catholic at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Salem at Overbrook, 4 p.m.

VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Highland Regional, 4 p.m.

Oct. 13
FOOTBALL
Pennsville at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m.
Schalick at Cumberland, 7 p.m.
Woodstown at Haddonfield, 7 p.m.

FIELD HOCKEY
Salem at Gloucester Co. Tech, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Woodstown, 4 p.m.

BOYS SOCCER
Audubon at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Clayton at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Glassboro at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Salem at Wildwood, 4 p.m.

GIRLS SOCCER
Salem Tech at Clayton, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Glassboro, 4 p.m.

VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Camden Academy, 4 p.m.

Oct. 14
FOOTBALL
West Deptford at Salem, noon

FIELD HOCKEY
Gloucester City at Woodstown, 1 p.m.

Cover photo of Woodstown’s Anthony Ford Dale looking for running room against Woodbury by Ellen Sickler.

Hats off to Sepers

Schalick sophomore posts hat trick to lift Cougars over Woodstown, all four of his goals this season have come against the Wolverines

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – Anthony Sepers didn’t know much about Schalick’s soccer rivalry with Woodstown when he transferred into the school this summer. As the new kid he just wanted to do something to make new friends.

That was after he scored the game-winning goal when the teams played in their season opener.

They may give him a parade now.

The sophomore right wing scored a natural hat trick that spanned each half to lead the Cougars past their rivals 6-2 Saturday and spoil the Wolverines’ Alumni Night under the lights in the football stadium.

“It was just wanting it. Everyone’s here. It was a big game,” Sepers said. “This is my first year at the school so I didn’t really know the rivalry was that big. The first day of school we played them and everyone was talking about it so I just thought I had to come out here and do something, score a goal, and thought I’d make these people like me.”

Sepers has scored only four goals since joining the Cougars and all four have come against the Wolverines. He had the game-winning goal in both games as his first goal – with 2:37 left in the first half – gave them a 3-2 lead.

His first goal came after Woodstown’s Adrian Ibarra and Cole Lucas swapped goals with Michael Nelson and Luke Price. He took a cross from Nolan O’Toole near the left post, hit the post with his initial shot and then banged home the rebound.

His first goal in the second half came after he played a long throw-in off his chest and tucked it inside the left post. He completed the hat trick three minutes later in a similar manner.

“We had a guy here tonight, an alumnus, who always seemed to score in these games against Woodstown,” Cougars coach Joe Mannella said. “Some guys do that. Some teams they just find a way to do good things against and if that’s something, (Sepers will) do it, but I think he’ll score a lot of goals before it’s said and done.”

The player he referenced was Rowan College of South Jersey-Cumberland freshman Jesse McFarland. Ironically, McFarland also scored a hat trick earlier in the day in his team’s win over County College of Morris.

The win was one of the gutsiest for the young Cougars (8-3). They already were down two starters and fell behind 1-0 and 2-1, but they didn’t get discouraged and rose up to win the fifth time in their last six games. The loss snapped Woodstown’s seven-game winning streak since that Opening Day loss to the Cougars.

“It certainly wasn’t easy,” Mannella said. “It was (all about) how our guys are gonna respond when it gets like that, because it’s an intense atmosphere and now you’re behind twice. They showed me a lot tonight.

“The occasion wasn’t too big for them. When you’re trying to build a championship team games like this kind of show you what you’re made of a little bit, especially in that mental character portion of it. Can you still play your game when it’s under pressure. That was a pressure-filled first half and to come out of that first half (up) 3-2 was huge.”

The win also moved the Cougars a half-game ahead of Glassboro for first place in the Diamond Division, tied in the loss column. The teams play at Schalick Friday.

“You control your own destiny at that point,” Mannella said. “Hopefully, they get a little taste of what this could be and run with it.”

NOTES: Schalick and Glassboro are both 5-1 in the division, Woodstown is 4-1 … O’Toole scored Schalick’s final goal … You’ll have to go back past 2010 to find the last time a team scored six or more goals in the rivalry … Woodstown recognized its Tri-County Conference championship teams of 1984, 1989, 1999 and 2009 at halftime. Current Wolverines head coach Darren Huck played on the 1989 team.

Schalick 6, Woodstown 2

Schalick (8-3)	3	3 –	6
Woodstown (7-2)	2	0 –	2

Goals:
W – Adrian Ibarra, 15 (Kaleb Gerace), 3:21
S – Michael Nelson, 3 (Lucas Sepers), 6:04
W – Cole Lucas, 2 (Blake Bialecki), 27:17
S – Luke Price, 7 (unassisted), 32:28
S – Anthony Sepers, 2 (Michael Nelson), 27:23
S – Anthony Sepers, 3 (unassisted), 60:08
S – Anthony Sepers, 4 (Michael Nelson), 63:35
S – Nolan O’Toole, 2 (Oscar Hernandez-Guzman), 74:18
Cards: Elijah Cummings, Schalick (Y), 34:16; Grant Prater, Woodstown (Y), 54:53

Salem scores big win

Rams beat Paulsboro to get first win of the season in final game on historic Walnut Street Field, debut on-campus stadium next week

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

SALEM — The Salem Rams ignored all the negativity that had been building as the losses mounted during the season and scored a win that was historic on so many fronts.

The Rams closed out historic Walnut Street Field in style on an otherwise dreary Saturday afternoon, beating Paulsboro 28-8 for their first win of the season in the final high school game at Walnut Street where they have played for generations.

It also was the first win for coach Danny Mendoza as their head coach.

“What a way to end it here,” Mendoza said. “We needed a win bad, they needed a win bad; we came out victorious. We made a couple adjustments in the week. What they had to understand is if we limit the negativity, if we limit the distractions and play as a team, the sky is the limit.

“It’s been like that all year. We’ve been so close, we were there, we just haven’t put four quarters together. We finally put four quarters together of team football and a lot of young guys got to show what they could do today. The future of Salem football is so bright.”

Next week they move to their bright new on-campus stadium. School officials had hoped the team could be in it this week but recent rainy weather created construction delays so they put it off to next week’s Homecoming. There also was an issue with not being able to get electricity to crucial areas in the facility until Wednesday of next week.

“We know what Walnut Street has been; they’ve been playing football here forever,” Mendoza said. “All the great guys who have played here, just to honor them with the last game here is just a special and magical thing. We’re happy we’re able to honor this field and honor the community and put ourselves in the win column.”

The Rams went into the season expecting their days at Walnut Street were done and scheduled all their games before October for the road or neutral sites, but there were two other “last games at Walnut” before the end actually came.

They were forced to find a new venue for their Camden game when a conflict arose with the game in Wilmington and city officials worked diligently during the week to get the facility ready for them. It worked so well they moved their originally scheduled rivalry game with Penns Grove back to there even with fan restrictions. Now there is no tomorrow for the field as far as the Rams are concerned.

“It’s the last time I’m ever going to play on this field as a high school player and we went out with a W,” Pop Jackson said. “We’ve had a lot of last times, but this is actually the last time. I might get emotional.”

“I’ve been playing here all my life, ever since I was 5,” Ramaji Bundy said. “To actually play the last game on Walnut and then come out with a win, it feels good.”

Paulsboro remains winless and is 0-6 for the first time since 1970.

The stars came out for the Rams (1-6). Jackson burst on the scene as an offensive threat when the Rams played at Rutgers, rushing for 249 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries and he had the same kind of impact Saturday. He rushed for 190 yards on 30 carries and a touchdown and threw a touchdown pass to Bundy 15 seconds before halftime to put the Rams up for good.

“We kind of got back to the original plan of what we were going to do,” Mendoza said. “Pop Jackson is probably one of the most special backs to ever come out of here. If he keeps this up, you can start mentioning him with the great backs who have come out of here. His size, his speed, his balance, his grit, you can’t ask for a better running back than that. They don’t make them like that anymore.”

It took a couple weeks to Jackson to emerge, he said, because he was trying to develop across the board.

“It was getting my coach to trust me with the ball and proving everyone wrong with them saying we’re gonna lose every week,” Jackson said. “I just used that as motivation to do good in a game.”

Jared Pew gave them 41 hard yards and two touchdowns. He scored the touchdown that got the Rams started and the one that sealed the deal.

“The first win of the season obviously means a lot to me, but I’ve been playing here since I started football, so it means a lot,” Pew said. “Especially ending it off on a win and sending it where it needs to be. It was good to set off on a win and bigger and better things.”

Junior Mando Johnson had his coming out party in New Jersey. The 6-4, 230-pound junior transferred in from Florida a month ago to get out of a tough situation and, in just his third game eligible with the Rams, showed why he is one of the top 100 rush ends in the country and has 18 Division I offers.

He was simply a terror on defense Saturday with several tackles for loss, at least two sacks, a near fumble recovery and also produced some had-to-have gains and a pair of hard-running conversions when they gave him a chance to run the ball.

“He is one of the most talented players I’ve ever been able to coach these past few years,” said Mendoza, who had Johnson at Wellington, Fla. “The sky’s the limit for him. You’ll probably see that kid playing on Sunday one day.”

For now, Johnson is just trying to fit in and do what he can.

“I’m trying to win with the family,” he said. “I’m at a new program now. I’m just trying build a connection, get to the playoffs, do good in the playoffs and try to see if we can get that third ‘ship.”

Salem 28, Paulsboro 8

PAULS (8)		SALEM (28)
7	1st Downs	11
21-30	Rushing	55-204
5-17-1	Passes	5-7-0
42	Passing	72
2-1	Fum-lost	1-1
4-29.0	Punts-avg	1-20.5
4-31	Penalties	8-62

Paulsboro (0-6)	0	8	0	0 –	8
Salem (1-6)	6	6	0	16 –	28

Scoring plays:
S – Jared Pew 2 run (run failed), 10:21 1Q
P – Eithand Clark 35 pass from Roman Onorato (Sharif Green run), 6:49 2Q
S – Ramaji Bundy 3 pass from Pop Jackson (run failed), 0:15 2Q
S – Pop Jackson 38 run (Mando Johnson run), 11:51 4Q
S – Jared Pew (Mando Johnson run), 4:21 4Q

**Salem coach Danny Mendoza talks with team after it beat Paulsboro Saturday for its first win of the season. On the cover, sophomore Antwone Rogers comes off the field celebrating the victory.**

Pennsville payback ‘a great feeling’

Eagles beat a third team that got them a year ago, now have four wins in a season for the first time since 2017, looking for a playoff spot

WJFL ROYAL DIVISION SCORES
Cumberland 26, Gateway 20
Lower Cape May 46, Pitman 22
Pennsville 42, Overbrook 18

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE — Mike Healy won’t call it a revenge tour, but his Pennsville football team has had a good amount of success this year getting back at the teams that got them last year.

The Eagles got payback for the third time this season Friday night, swamping Overbrook 42-18 in a manner similar to what the Rams did to them a year ago. They got payback on Gateway and Cumberland earlier this year.

PENNSVILLE 42,
OVERBROOK 18
NEXT: at Penns Grove,
Friday, 7 p.m.
Battle for the Boot

“It gives the kids so much more confidence throughout the season as they’re seeing we’re not the same team and they’re playing more confidently,” Healy said. “They believe more in what we’re doing as coaches because obviously they want to see results of what we’re teaching them. We got embarrassed by some of these teams last year and coming back and beating them is a great feeling.”

When you go 1-8, there are a lot of chances for revenge. The latest payback victory gives them four wins on the season, which hasn’t happened since 2017 when they went 4-6. They didn’t win their fourth game that year until the eighth game. They haven’t won back-to-back games since the start of the 2020 season.

“A big thing we preach to the kids is get respect back,” Healy continued. “We want people to respect Pennsville football when they see a Pennsville football shirt or when they hear about Pennsville football. We want them to know we’re a tough team to play and we’re not pushovers. We’re going to give you four quarters and we’re going to play hard all four quarters. We might not come out on top all the time, but we’re a team that people need to be ready for.”

The Eagles got Overbrook’s attention. They jumped out to a 21-0 lead and after the Rams brought it back midway through the third quarter they pulled back out with the help of a series of takeaways.

“We had a bit of a lull there and we need to get that fixed, but we were able to come back on top,” Healy said.

Quarterback Robbie McDade, running back Sky Eppes and Malik Rehmer all scored a pair of touchdowns for the Eagles. One of Rehmer’s scores was a 16-yard pick-six.

McDade completed 10 of 16 passes for 132 yards and one touchdown and rushed for 76 yards and two scores. Rehmer caught six balls for 107 yards. Sky Eppes rushed for 110 yards and two scores.

This win should go a long way towards getting the Eagles into playoff consideration. They came into the week two-tenths of a point out of the top 16 playoff qualifiers and stand to pick up a lot of points by beating a middle of the pack Group II team with three wins.

“I do think this should get us in, “ Healy said. “This was a huge win for us. I’d be shocked that we’re still stuck at 17.”

Every team the Eagles play the rest of the year will give them a chance for more payback. Next Friday they’re at rival Penns Grove under the portable lights in the Battle for the Boot. Healy will be looking to get the boot for the first time in his career.

“It’s something we really want,” he said. “When we broke it down after the game tonight it was ‘Win the Boot.’ It’s a big thing that matters.”

Pennsville 42, Overbrook 18

Overbrook (3-3)	0	6	6	6 –	18
Pennsville (4-2)	7	14	7	14 –	42

Scoring plays:
P – Robbie McDade 8 run (Jackson Leino kick), 7:01 1Q
P – Malik Rehmer 48 pass from Robbie McDade (Jackson Leino kick), 11:47 2Q
P – Sky Eppes 3 run (Jackson Leino kick), 7:53 2Q
O – DeAngello Conquest 4 run (pass failed), 3:39 2Q
O – DeAngello Conquest 1 run (pass failed), 6:19 3Q
P – Malik Rehmer 16 interception return (Jackson Leino kick), 0:31 3Q
P – Robbie McDade 10 run (Jackson Leino kick), 9:31 4Q
O – Jalen Aiken 88 pass from DeAngello Conquest (pass failed), 8:03 4Q
P – Sky Eppes 2 run (Jackson Leino kick), 2:42 4Q

**Quarterback Robbie McDade had another big night for Pennsville, accounting for more than 200 yards and three touchdowns in the Eagles’ Homecoming victory. (Photos by Lorraine Jenkins)**

Big road win

Penns Grove plays ‘good, complementary football,’ goes on the road to shut out current SJ No. 1 Glassboro

WJFL DIAMOND DIVISION SCORES
Penns Grove 6, Glassboro 0
Woodstown 27, Woodbury 21 (OT)
Paulsboro at Salem, Saturday

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

GLASSBORO — Given the circumstances, Penns Grove coach John Emel called it his program’s biggest win in four years.

The Red Devils went on the road as an underdog against the current No. 1 team in the South Jersey Group I playoff picture and played perhaps its best game of the year in shutting out Glassboro 6-0.

PENNS GROVE 6, GLASSBORO 0
NEXT: vs. Pennsville,
Friday, 6:30 p.m.

Bryce Wright scored the game’s only touchdown on a 1-yard run on fourth down early in the second quarter and Knowledge Young sealed the victory with an interception late in the fourth quarter. The offense had no turnovers for the first time this season and the defense yielded little extending its string of shutout football to six straight quarters.

“We played really well as a team; good, complementary football,” Emel said. “It’s the biggest win we’ve had in four years. Big win for our program.”

The Red Devils (3-4) now have as many wins as they had all of last season. They have now won back-to-back games for the first time since 2021, when they beat West Deptford and Asbury Park (in the quarterfinals of the South Jersey playoffs).

They entered the weekend No. 13 in the SJ Group I UPR ratings.

With Woodstown knocking off Woodbury in overtime, the Red Devils are now in a position to play for the WJFL Diamond Division title in two weeks. But first they have to get past rival Pennsville next week in the “Battle for the Boot.” They haven’t lost in the series since 2016.

“Our focus has to be on Pennsville; we’re not looking past anybody,” Emel said. “Our kids go one week at a time. We’re getting on the bus and they’re asking who we’ve got next week.”

Penns Grove 6, Glassboro 0

Penns Grove (3-4)	0	6	0	0 –	6
Glassboro (3-3)	0	0	0	0 –	0

Scoring plays:
PG – Bryce Wright 1 run (PAT failed)

Winning in OT

Belinfanti’s walk-off touchdown in overtime gives Woodstown some payback on nemesis Woodbury, overtaking sole possession of first place in the Diamond Division

SALEM COUNTY FOOTBALL
Friday’s Games
Pennsville 42, Overbrook 18
Penns Grove 6, Glassboro 0
Schalick 1, Bishop Eustace 0 (forfeit)
Woodstown 27, Woodbury 21 (OT)
Saturday’s Game
Paulsboro at Salem, noon (Walnut Street)

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN — When Woodbury broke Woodstown’s heart in the 2021 South Jersey Group I title game, nobody took it harder than Wolverines quarterback Max Webb.

The pain of that loss has been churning in his gut ever since and he’s spent the rest of his career trying to set things right. He finally got his revenge Friday night.

WOODSTOWN 27, WOODBURY 21 (OT)
NEXT: at Haddonfield,
Friday, 7 p.m.

The Wolverines ended two and a half years of frustration under the hoofs of the Thundering Herd when Bryce Belinfanti fulfilled a life-long dream by scoring a walk-off touchdown in overtime for a 27-21 win and sole possession of first place in the WJFL Diamond Division.

“This is awesome,” Webb said. “We’ve been circling this on our schedule every year since we lost to them in the championship game. There’s no better feeling than beating them finally.”

“It’s amazing,” added Belinfanti. “We came out gunnin’. We knew we had to win at home. We couldn’t get beat three years in a row, once at home, so we knew what we had to do and we did it.”

Belinfanti got the game-winning score on a leg-driving 5-yard run with the hammer of overtime. It put the finishing touch on a 203-yard rushing effort, 159 of which came in the second half and overtime. He and Webb both scored two touchdowns in the game.

“He’s a beast, man,” Webb said. “I don’t know what I’d do without him. He’s been amazing since James (Hill) has gone down. I couldn’t have asked even more from him.”

The Wolverines (5-1) had a chance to win in regulation, but missed a 26-yard field goal (low kick) on the final play of regulation after eating up the final 5:16 after the Herd tied the game.

Woodbury got the ball first in overtime, but failed to score with Gerrett Leyman squashing their last hope with an interception on fourth down. Earlier in the drive, it had a touchdown called back for an ineligible man downfield one play after they reset the chains on a pass interference on a pass to the end zone Stretch Armstrong couldn’t catch.

It took the Wolverines six plays to get the game winner. Webb kept the drive alive with a 4-yard pickup on third down that didn’t quite move the chains, but they got a boost from a facemask penalty.

Woodstown coach John Adams admitted on the game-winning play he was about to call time because he didn’t like the look, but he let it go and Belinfanti did his thing. The running back was stopped on the play at first contact, but kept churning his legs to keep the pile moving until he finally saw the goal line beneath him.

“A huge game like that against a team like this is definitely special,” Belinfanti said. “A walk-off touchdown in an overtime win is something I’ve dreamed of. I’ve always wanted to be in these situations and I made it happen.”

**Woodstown’s Bryce Belinfanti looks to get outside after taking a handoff from quarterback Max Webb Friday night. (Photo by Ellen Sickler)**

The Wolverines had an eerily quiet demeanor about them in pregame warmups, prompting Hill to comment to Adams it was like the calm before storm to which Adams replied he hoped they would be the lightning.

It took a little while for the storm to roll in. The Wolverines didn’t have a lot of opportunities to make something happen in the first half and trailed 13-7 at the break. They had only three possessions and one was with 30 seconds left after Woodbury retook the lead. The Herd only had it three times in the half themselves, but scored on two of the possessions.

Woodstown turned it around after halftime. Adams implored his team to put together some long drives in the second half and they answered the call. They had 206 yards in the second half and overtime – all on the ground to chew up the clock. They had the ball four times, scored on three and missed the potential game-winning field goal on the final play of regulation on the other.

With Woodstown controlling the clock, Woodbury had the ball for only three of the first 13 and a half minutes of the second half – all of six plays. The Herd had only 95 yards of net offense in the second half and overtime, and 52 of that came on a run by Wilson Torres on their game-tying drive.

“That’s classic Woodstown football right there,” Webb said. “Ground and pound, making sure they don’t get the ball as much as we do and taking all the time off the clock.”

Woodbury (3-3) has now lost three in a row with injured quarterback Donte Viccharelli out of the lineup, and that hasn’t happened since 2020. Viccharelli is expected to be out another two weeks.

Jayden Johnson stepped up and moved the Herd’s offense, running for one touchdowns, throwing 79 yards for another and connecting on the game-tying two-point conversion. He was 7-of-8 for 127 yards passing in the first half, but the Wolverines clamped down in the second half and harassed him into one completion and two interceptions.

The Wolverines may have exorcized some demons with Friday’s win, but there’s a little more carrot left before they can be completely satisfied in this series.

“It’s not completely gone yet,” Webb said. “This is only the regular season, a big game in the regular season, but it’s only regular season. So if we see them in the playoffs again that’s the one I’m circling.”

Woodstown 27, Woodbury 21 (OT)

WBURY (21)		WTOWN (27)
14	1st Downs	21
25-156	Rushing	47-286
9-16-2	Passes	5-8-1
153	Passing	56
2-0	Fumb-lost	0-0
0-0	Punts-avg	0-0
3-20	Penalties	5-42

Woodbury (3-3)	7	6	0	8	0 –	21
Woodstown (5-1)	0	7	7	7	6 –	27

Scoring plays:
WB – Anthony Reagan Jr. 11 run (Jayden Johnson kick), 5:15 1Q
WD – Bryce Belinfanti 7 run (Jake Ware kick), 0:57 2Q
WB – Marquis Taylor 79 pass from Jayden Johnson (kick failed), 0:26 2Q
WD – Max Webb 3 run (Jake Ware kick), 8:14 3Q
WD – Max Webb 4 run (Jake Ware kick), 10:28 4Q
WB – Jayden Johnson 8 run (Ibn Muhammad pass from Jayden Johnson), 5:19 4Q
WD – Bryce Belinfanti 5 run (no attempt), OT

Jack Knorr and the Woodstown offensive line gave quarterback Max Webb and running back Bryce Belinfanti plenty of protection against Woodbury Friday. Top photo: Max Webb celebrates a touchdown. (Photos by Ellen Sickler)

Legends of the Hall

Pennsville inducts eight luminaries with strong ties to the community into the high school’s Athletic Hall of Fame

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – Dawn Curry never was the kind of player who’d get all excited about personal records. She was more into winning the championships and the winning experiences with her teammates than any numbers that went on the scoreboard.

Even now, 15 years after finishing a brilliant high school playing career with one of the most unique statistical lines you’ll find in sports, she’s unfazed by it all.

But the record is clear. The former Pennsville High School multi-sport star, Class of 2008, is a card-carrying member of the exclusive 100-1000-100 Club.

That would be more than 100 career goals in soccer, 1,000 points in basketball and 100 hits in softball. She was only three soccer assists shy of adding that jewel to the crown.

“When I playing in high school you took it game-by-game,” Curry said Thursday night prior to being inducted into the PMHS Athletic Hall of Fame. “Coming in my freshman year I didn’t expect that, that wasn’t my goal at all. And even when I got close to the milestones I would tell people just don’t tell me because it’s just more pressure.

“I’m a very modest person. I don’t really like talking about it too much. People would talk to me about it and I used to joke with them saying, ‘that’s my twin sister, Fawn, not me.’ I just didn’t like all the spotlight even though a lot of people do say stuff to me about that.

“I’m not saying I take these milestones for granted or anything, but it’s just my work ethic in high school and even prior to that is kind of reflected in my accomplishments.”

Curry had the spotlight shown on her one more time Thursday night as one of five former Pennsville players, two former coaches and a team for the ages in the fifth class of Hall inductees.

She was joined on stage by Lou Berge Jr. (Class of ’82), Judy Cafaro Bradford (’74), John Doran Jr. (’88), Mike Wariwanchik (’95), former coaches Horace Carl and John Maniglia, and the undefeated 1993 softball team. The unique aspect of this year’s induction class is all of the honorees still have active connections to the community.

“It’s just an honor and privilege to be sitting on stage with this group of people here,” said coach Herb Bacon, who accepted the induction on behalf of “Team of the Century” softball team and an inaugural member of the Hall. “And I have kind relationships with everybody seated here. Great memories.”

For the record, Curry scored 113 goals in her soccer career, 1,288 points in her basketball career and 117 hits in his softball career. Bacon called her “the Cal Ripken of Pennsville softball,” because she never missed a day of work in the four years she played.

She remembers getting her 100th goal at Salem, her 1,000th career point on a free throw at Salem in a Christmas tournament (and was confused why they stopped the game to recognize it) and believes her 100th hit came against Clayton. .

When she allows herself to think about it, the milestone that gives her the most pride is the one in soccer because that was “my baby” in high school and the hardest one to achieve. She went on to play college soccer at Holy Family in Northeast Philly.

“You see people score 1,000 points in basketball, 100 hits in softball (of which her team had four), which is great as well, but I just don’t think you see (100 goals) as much and I definitely put more work into the soccer than I did any other sport,” she said. “But it wasn’t just about what I did or how I performed during my games. It was a joint effort. I was surrounded by greatness.

“It takes a village in sports, like it takes a village in life, and even though I would trade in my individual accolades for more state championships, I hope that my hard work along my journey inspires some little girl like those before me inspired me when I was just a little girl.”

Here are the 2023 inductees

Lou Berge Jr.

Whether it was on the football field, as a manager for the boys basketball team or on the baseball field, Berge gave his all to his teammates and coaches. During the course of his four years in high school he earned nine varsity letters.

He was an all-county, all-conference and all-South Jersey Group II offensive tackle as a junior on an 8-1 football team. His senior year the football team was undefeated, conference champs and SJ Group II champs and he was all-county, all-SJ and all-state. He also was named the Brooks-Irvine Club’s SJ Offensive Lineman of the Year and at that time his No. 72 jersey was retired at PMHS.

If not for an eagle-eyed assistant coach, his legacy as a standout lineman might never have been materialized.

“The first day of practice my sophomore year (the coaches) said I want all the backs there, all the receivers over here and all the linemen over there by the blocking sleds,” Berge said. “I started my job over to the ends and receivers, I get about halfway there and I hear coach say “Berge, where the hell you going? Get over here, you’re a lineman.

“I was an offensive tackle for three years and played linebacker. I spent a lot of time blocking and tackling that seven-man sled instead of catching passes.”

His 1980 baseball team went 20-3 and was conference champs and he was named to the All-Delaware Valley Team by the Philadelphia Inquirer after batting .419 as the team’s catcher. The next year the team went 25-0 and swept all the titles.

Baseball went 20-3 again in 1982. Louie batted .614 and he made all the “all” teams. He also was named the Salem County Player of the Year.

Judy Cafaro Bradford

While many would consider her to be a “natural-born athlete” Judy used her time in school to develop many skills. She played tennis as well as lettering in three sports.

She played three years of varsity field hockey. She was a co-captain for two years, team MVP for two years and three times all-conference first team. As a basketball senior she was team MVP, second team all-conference, second team all-county and honorable mention all-state. Then, she was the MVP of the school’s first varsity softball team.

At the 1974 Win or Lose Dinner, she was awarded the Girls PTA Sportsmanship Award in addition to three MVP honors.

She went on to make an immediate impact at Cumberland County College, earning MVP honors in field hockey and basketball and was a starter on the softball team.

In her professional life she devoted more than 40 years before her passing in February 2022 to the Pennsville Recreation Department, making sure the department served many children and families in many ways. She also helped take care of Riverview Beach Park to make sure it remained the “Jewel of the Township.”

“First of all, I’d like to say thank you, they recognized her character and her heart,” husband Skip Bradford said. “It always stood out to other people as well as her humility. Even now I smile just thinking of how she would respond to achieve such an award today.

“She never wanted to be in the spotlight no matter how much she deserved it and I know she would be so humbled but honored to be acknowledged for her achievements today.”

Dawn Curry

Curry was an outstanding athlete in a career that spanned four years in three varsity sports. Among her most impressive feats is joining the unique 100-1000-100 Club.

Inspired by the players who came before her, she scored 113 goals in soccer and assisted on 97 others (almost a 100-100). She scored 1,288 points in basketball. She completed the unique trifecta with 117 hits in softball.

Her 2007 soccer team was declared South Jersey Group I champs. To cap off her senior year she was named Salem County Female Athlete of the Year and was a Wendy’s High School Heisman State Finalist.

John Doran Jr.

A wrestler through and through, John used his first year in high school to start making his name. He was undefeated as a freshman on the sub-varsity and that was the springboard to another undefeated year and state title in 1986. In 1988, wrestling at 119, he was runner-up in the district and region tournament and finished sixth at the state. His high school record was 89-6.

He went on to post a 32-3 record at Gloucester County College.

Doran cites his successes with the Pennsville Youth Program and Seagull Wrestling Club as highlights of his career and adds that winning the state title in 1986 was his most memorable moment. He went on to coach at the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Wrestling Academy for three years.

He was inducted into the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2022.

Mike Wariwanchik

A bear of a man, Wariwanchik starred in football and wrestled for the Eagles and threw the discus and shot in track until his senior year.

On the football field he was an all-conference offensive tackle in 1993 and an all-conference offensive and defensive tackle and the all-South Jersey defensive tackle in 1994.

He was just as dominating on the mat as a wrestler. As a heavyweight you wouldn’t think this would be an issue, but he often found himself having to shed pounds to go from 300-pound lineman to make the weight limit.

No problem. As a junior he was the district runner-up and third-place finisher at regionals. He was a state champion as a senior, going 28-0 (with 21 pins) to move his career record to 68-18, and was South Jersey Wrestler of the Year. He will inducted into the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame next month.

Coach Horace Carl

Carl came to Pennsville in 1962 from Spring City, Pa. Three years after his arrival he was offered a position as assistant football coach under Lou D’Angelo. At the same time he was an NJSIAA registered high school basketball official and on the IABBO board until 1980.

He was the Eagles’ head football coach from 1979 through 1984. His 1981 team won the South Jersey Group II championship. He was named Coach of the Year by the Philadelphia Inquirer and South Jersey Football Club. Carl retired from teaching in 1992 and now lives near Baltimore.

Coach John Maniglia

Maniglia was a “Penns Grove guy” who came to Pennsville in 1979 and influenced a lot of students and athletes in his 35 years teaching and coaching in the district.

He was the head track coach from 1980-2014, then transitioned to assistant coach through 2021. He also coached basketball, cross country and winter track. He helped coach the cross country team when it won the 2006 Group I state title.

The spring track program won a combined three Salem County Championships and five conference crowns. During that time, the program produced 98 individual county champions, 69 conference champions, 33 South Jersey champions and eight state titleists. The school named its track in his honor in 2022.

“I know there are a lot of people out there who probably should be in before I got in, but I think it’s quite an honor to be inducted in 2023 with all these other people,” Maniglia said. “When I first started teaching here I’d always come over from the middle school and hang out in the high school faculty room with … all the Mount Rushmore people here at the school and I learned a lot just by sitting there and listening. It was quite an experience.

”When you start coaching, you don’t think about getting these kinds of awards. You think about the love of the sport, you think about trying to teach the kids about the love that you have you want to work hard out there every day. That’s what we tried to do out here for 40-some years, trying to instill the love of track in these kids out there. Our program was successful because of the student-athletes that we had, a bunch of great kids, that’s for sure. You couldn’t be successful without them.”

1993 Softball Team

The team is being inducted on the 30th anniversary of one of the greatest seasons in state history. The record says it went 26-0, but it was revealed Thursday night it actually was 27-0 after Woodstown wanted to make up a rain-out after the state tournament and it swept through their division, conference, sectional, the prestigious Hammonton Tournament, and, ultimately, the Final Four. Bridgett McCaffery O’Brien was the state Pitcher of the Year.

“I think I can speak for everyone up here, we expected to win every game that year,” O’Brien, a 2021 PMHS Hall of Famer, said. “That season was truly special. We so wanted to make Pennsville proud that year.”

The team was a consensus No. 1 by the state softball media and later was voted “Team of the Century” by the Courier Post. Ten players from that team were at the induction ceremony and they presented Bacon with two pieces of coach-themed wall art each player signed before heading into the auditorium.

“Everybody asks me, ‘Who was your greatest team?’ and I say I’m not answering that,” Bacon said. “(Emcee) Liz Pappas just read comment I tell people: If they’re voted the ‘Team of the Century,’ I guess they’re pretty good.”

PMHS Athletic Hall of Fame

2018: Lou D’Angelo, Ed Rieger, Herb Bacon, David Salberg, Betsey Salberg, 1982 Field Hockey team.
2019: Olaf “Butch” Drozdov, Carrie Foster McIntosh, Irvine Eugene “Gene” Foster, Robert “Bob” Gallagher, Leigh Garrison, Kimberly Griffin Hudson, John “Jack” Harford, John “Jack” Meyers Sr., Howard Wilbraham Sparks, Sophia Stavru, Gregzie L. White, Michael Jon Widger.
2021: Patricia Chance, David Hall, Bill Hyatt, Chris Widger, Bridgett McCaffery-O’Brien, Jeff Litherland (special recognition), Coach Greg Greenzwieg, 1960 Football team.
2022: Donna Martin Duber, Mark Freed, Ron “Boo” Bennet, Mark T. Jones, Kelli Griffith, Katie Kline.
2023: Lou Berge Jr., Judy Cafaro Bradford, Dawn Curry, John Doran Jr., Mike Wariwanchik, Horace Carl , John Maniglia, 1993 softball team.