Category: PENNSVILLE

First of many

Woodstown’s Straughn gets her first win as head coach as Wolverines race past Schalick; Pennsville, Penns Grove also score division wins

TUESDAY’S GIRLS SCORES
Gloucester Catholic 65, Salem Tech 14
Penns Grove 66, Glassboro 41
Pennsville 65, Overbrook 35
Woodstown 60, Schalick 18

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – Kara Straughn and her dad, longtime Woodstown coach Dave Wildermuth, have spent a lot of time over the years just talking ball. Most of the time it’s been father to daughter, coach to player, head coach to assistant, but now they’ve got some common ground.

Wildermuth has won a mountain of games in various sports as a head coach and an assistant, but now when they talk about coaching legacies his daughter can speak with a similar frame of reference having experienced victory as a head coach.

Straughn won her first game as a head coach Tuesday night when she guided the Woodstown girls basketball team to an easy 60-18 victory over Schalick. 

“It’s over, I did it,” she said while gathering her things by the bench well after the gym had cleared. “I like that I did it at home. I grew up on this court, I played on this court, so it was nice to get my first win as a head coach on this court.”

And she did it with her former basketball coach, current Woodstown AD Joe Ursino, and about a dozen former players and teammates in the stands and her dad at her side.

Wildermuth has coached a number of sports in a variety of capacities at Woodstown for 21 years. Just as a head coach alone he won 50 games in four seasons as the boys basketball coach (2018-2022) and he’s working on 35 wins as the Wolverines head softball coach the last two years (42, if you count his year at Salem). 

There’s no telling how many games he’s won in various sports as the JV and freshmen coach. And Straughn has been around for most if not all of them.

“I grew up watching him coach, so it’s always been the goal to coach and then become half the coach that he was,” Straughn said. “He’s like, well, you’re gonna beat my record … and it’s only going to take you half as much time. That’s been like the joke: When you get to how many games that I won then we can talk.”.

Well, she’s only 49 away now and she’s gunning for it.

“I can do that,” she said. “I can chip away at that goal.”

The players were glad to have delivered the first one.

“I’m just very happy that she’s the coach and she truly wanted to be and I’m really happy to get a win under her,” junior Megan Donelson said. “I know she’s happy about it.”

First-year Woodstown girls basketball coach Kara Straughn makes in-game adjustments in the huddle as he dad and assistant coach Dave Wildermuth looks on from the side.

The Wolverines missed the first chance to give Straughn her first win Friday when they lost their season opener at Gloucester Catholic. They took the drama out of this one early. 

They scored on their first three possessions – two on  offensive rebounds – and opened a 16-0 lead in the first four minutes of the game. They scored the game’s first 22 points before Carley Vicente’s 3-pointer with 1:51 left in the quarter put Schalick on the board. It was 27-3 at the end of the quarter after Donelson hit a 3 at the buzzer.

Donelson had 11 points in the quarter and finished with 14 points, four assists and eight steals. Talia Battavio was their leading scorer with 15 points, three steals and four blocked shots. 

“Our main goal is to come out strong,” Battavio said. “Like what Wildo likes to say, the first four minutes is the most important part of the game, so I think we try to bring all we’ve got and get off to a good start.”

“I was proud of the fact we executed on offense,” Straughn said. “Friday night we couldn’t piece together enough, but tonight I said we really have to focus our offense and running the plays and moving the ball effectively and utilizing all five of us getting the ball in the post, not just relying on jump shots. They executed all the little things, I was really proud of them for that.”

There were a lot of other firsts in the game. It was Straughn’s first win over a Salem County opponent and extended the Wolverines’ winning streak against county opponents to 23 games. Sophomore Jala Thomas, who’d only scored one basket all last season, scored her first points of the year and raised her hands over her head as she raced back to her defensive position and sophomore Lizzy Daly and freshman Kendall Young both scored the first points of their varsity careers.

WOODSTOWN 60, SCHALICK 18
SCHALICK (0-2) – Abigail Willoughby 0 0-0 0, Cali Fisler 3 0-1 6, Ava Scurry 2 1-4 5, Cianna Gaines 0 0-0 0, Victoria Basich 0 0-0 0, Carley Vicente 2 0-0 5, Katie Little 1 0-0 2, Madison Brown 0 0-0 0, Danae Woodsacam 0 0-0 0. Totals 8 1-5 18.
WOODSTOWN (1-1) – Talia Battavio 7 0-0 15, Megan Donelson 6 0-0 15, Alyssa Baber 2 0-0 5, Gianna Mairoini 2 0-0 4, Shannon Pierman 3 0-2 6, Lauren Hengel 3 0-0 6, Emma Perry 2 0-0 4, Jala Thomas 1 0-0 2, Lizzy Daly 1 0-0 2, Brae DiGregorio 0 0-0 0, Kendall Young 1 0-0 2, Talia Guardascione 0 0-0 0. Totals 28 0-2 60.

Schalick3456 –18
Woodstown2791212 –60
3-point goals: Schalick 1 (Vicente); Woodstown 4 (Battavio, Donelson 2, Baber). Total fouls: Schalick 3, Woodstown 8.

PENNSVILLE 65, OVERBROOK 35: The Eagles bounced back from a rough season-opening loss on the road to play one of their best games of the season. They looked sharp in all areas and hit shots from long range.

Salem transfer Nora Ausland hit seven 3-pointers and scored 25 points. Marley Wood had three 3s and finished with 22.

“The girls shot the lights out tonight,” Pennsville coach Sam Trapp said. “The offense looked good, running plays a lot more smoothly and creating an offensive threat in the half court just by identifying open space, finding good cuts and lots of pick-and-roll.

“Defensively we had a lot of good stops and grabbed several rebounds, minimizing two or three possessions in one trip down the court. Without a doubt there’s still plenty of room for growth, but the girls really bounced back and played very well tonight.”

Wood tied her career-high with the fifth 20-point game of her career. She had 22 last year against Salem. The Eagles are 7-2 when Wood scorers 18 points or more.

Ausland’s seven 3s were a career high, topping the five she had in a game against Clayton as a freshman. The 25 points were the second-best of her career.

“After I made the first 3 and then the second I knew I was going to be on tonight,” said Ausland, who hit 61 3s in the two years she spent at Salem. “When I’m hitting my 3s, my coach and my team do a great job of getting me the ball and keeping me hot.”

PENNS GROVE 66: GLASSBORO 41: The Red Devils got off to a quick start and never let the visitors get back in the battle of early-season unbeatens.

Meely Horace and RaNiyah Wilson combined for 21 points in the first quarter as Penns Grove sprinted to a 26-9 lead. Horace finished with a team-high 24 points, giving her 771 for her career, and Wilson scored a career-high 23. Wilson’s previous best was 21 last December against Hammonton when she was playing at Kingsway.

Glassboro’s Tamia Smith led all scorers with 29 points.

PENNS GROVE 66, GLASSBORO 41
GLASSBORO (3-1) – Sanaa Thomas 1 5-8 7, Tamia Smith 12 5-14 29, Kimora Miles 1 0-2 2, Anye Davis 0 0-0 0, Sianna Wedderburn 1 0-0 2, Grace Moore 0 0-0 0, Jayde Darling 0 0-0 0, Samyra Lane 0 1-2 1, Naveah Cox-Clement 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 11-26 41.
PENNS GROVE (3-0) – RaNiyah Wilson 11 1-3 23, Meely Horace 10 1-2 24, Brianna Robbins 5 2-6 12, Amani Taylor 1 0-0 3, Rolande Delva 0 0-0 0, Syanna Robbins 0 0-0 0, Arianna Dowe 0 0-0 0, Zoey Caesar 1 0-0 2, Semijah Hines 0 0-0 0, Jamira Lewis 0 0-0 0, JaNiyah Cunnings 1 0-0 2. Totals 29 4-11 66.
Glassboro99716 – 41
Penns Grove26111019 –66
3-point goals: Glassboro 0; Penns Grove 4 (Horace 3, Taylor). Technical foul: Penns Grove coach. Total fouls: Glassboro 3, Penns Grove 13.

GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 65, SALEM TECH 14: The Rams took control early, opening a 35-2 halftime lead, and had three scorers with as many or more points than Salem Tech scored in the game.

Julianna DiFebbo scored a game-high 15 points, while Jahzara Green and Talia Schumate had 14 apiece. Morgan VanDover was the Chargers’ leading scorer with six points on a pair of 3-pointers.

GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 65, SALEM TECH 14
GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC (2-0) – Jahzara Green 6 2-2 14, Julianna DiFebbo 7 0-0 15, Talia Schumate 6 2-3 14, Katherine Lange 3 0-0 6, Jalyn Moore 2 0-0 4, Yazaniah Schumate 2 0-0 5, Maya Hutchinson 2 0-0 4, Ashlynn Eggers 1 0-0 2. Totals 29 4-5 64.
SALEM TECH (0-3) – Allyson Scioli 1 0-0 2, Demajae White 2 0-0 2, Morgan VanDover 2 0-0 6, Lavae Scott 1 0-0 2. Totals 6 0-0 14.

Gloucester Cath.16191614 –65
Salem Tech2066 –14
3-point goals: Gloucester Catholic 2 (DiFebbo, Schumate); Salem Tech 2 (VanDover 2). NOTE: Five make a team, but only players who scored are listed in available box score.




Tough Tuesday

Boys roundup: Woodstown opens its season with a win at Schalick, Pennsville, Penns Grove and Salem Tech all lose

TUESDAY’S BOYS SCORES
Glassboro 71, Penns Grove 32
Gloucester Catholic 85, Salem Tech 53
Overbrook 67, Pennsville 35
Woodstown 61, Schalick 27

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – When you’re playing a team expected to be one of the best in Group II – even without its full complement of players that will make it even better later in the season – it takes a complete game to have a shot.

Pennsville played what coach Joe Mecholsky considered pretty good defense against Overbrook in its Diamond Division opener Tuesday night, but the Eagles were cold from the field for the second game in a row and fell 67-35.

“We played really good defense, we just couldn’t convert,” Mecholsky said. “Every time we did a (defensive) stand we’d go down and miss a basket. We made probably three D stands and then they’d make the fourth.

“It was 14-8 at the end of first quarter and we missed 10 shots, but we played great 2-3 (defense), we ran them off the 3-point line. They hit a 3 at the (halftime) buzzer or we hold them to 24 points in the first half; that’s something to hang your hat on. We did what we wanted to do, we were happy … we just couldn’t put the ball in the daggone basket.”

The Eagles (1-2) were just 13-for-55 from the field, 3-of-21 from 3-point range. They scored only four points in the second quarter. The Rams (3-0) eventually hit 11 3s and placed four scorers in double figures.

In its last two losses, Pennsville has shot 31-of-120 from the field, 7-of-46 from behind the arc. They hit five 3s in their season-opening victory over Clayton.

“A lot of balls were on the rim, in the rim, out of the rim; we’re just gonna say it was one of those nights,” Macholsky said. “I don’t count Saturday as part of our slump because it was off a back-to-back after running up and down with Clayton (the night before). Tonight, in our own gym, the ball just wouldn’t go in.”

Luke Wood led the Eagles with 11 points. Daniel Saulin had 10 points and 11 rebounds. Peyton O’Brien grabbed 10 boards. Overbrook’s Amare Kee led all scorers with 17 points.

OVERBROOK 67, PENNSVILLE 35
OVERBROOK (3-0) – Shaun Mills 4 1-1 10, Zair Green 5 1-3 12, Amare Kee 6 0-0 17, Lamar Little 5 0-0 14, Kevin Satchell 1 0-0 2, Xavier Wright 3 0-0 6, Elvin Santiago 1 0-0 2, Tory Scott 2 0-0 4. Totals 27 2-4 67.
PENNSVILLE (1-2) – Luke Wood  4 2-2 11, Peyton O’Brien 1 2-3 5, Daniel Saulin 4 2-6 10, Jayden Thomas 1 0-0 2, Malik Rehmer 1 0-0 2, Cohen Petrutz 2 0-0 5. Totals 13 6-11 35.

Overbrook14131723 –67
Pennsville84149 –35
3-point goals: Overbrook 11 (Mills, Green, Kee 5, Little 4); Pennsville 3 (Wood, O’Brien, Petrutz).
Total fouls: Overbrook 14, Pennsville 11.
Woodstown’s Max Webb brings the ball up the floor against Schalick’s Jordan Johnson (2) and Daniel Lis (23). (Photo by Ellen Sickler)

WOODSTOWN 61, SCHALICK 27: The Wolverines were the last team in Salem County to open their basketball season and they looked like a team that couldn’t wait to get on the court for real.

Rocco String had 13 points and 11 rebounds, the Wolverines (1-0) placed four scorers in double figures and held the Cougars (1-1) scoreless in the second quarter while opening a 25-7 halftime lead. Blake Bialecki, M.J. Hall and Max Webb each added 11 points to the effort and had all four of the Wolverines’ 3-pointers.

Woodstown’s defense collected 19 steals, with String and Garrett Leyman getting four apiece.

WOODSTOWN 61, SCHALICK 27
WOODSTOWN (1-0) – Blake Bialecki 3 3-5 11, Alejandro Vazquez 1 1-2 3, M.J. Hall 5 0-1 11, Garrett Leyman 3 2-3 8, Max Webb 4 2-4 11, Rocco String 6 1-1 13, Elijah Caesar 2 0-0 4. Totals 24 9-16 61. SCHALICK (1-1) – Reggie Allen 2 0-0 5, Daniel Lis 2 6-8 11, Nylan Sutton 0 1-2 1, Nasir Sutton 1 0-0 2, Jordan Johnson 2 0-0 4, Jase Volovar 1 0-0 3, Sherrod Jones 0 1-2 1. Totals 8 8-12 27.

Woodstown14111818 –61
Schalick701010 –27
3-point goals: Woodstown 4 (Bialecki 2, Hall, Webb); Schalick 3 (Allen, Lis, Volovar). Fouled out: Ny. Sutton. Total fouls: Woodstown 14, Schalick 20.

GLASSBORO 71, PENNS GROVE 32: Charles Graves (26) and Clinton Suggs (24) combined to outscore the Red Devils by themselves.

Graves and Suggs combined for 30 points in the first half. Michael Dougherty joined the fun with all four of his 3-pointers in the second quarter. It added up to a 44-16 Glassboro lead at the break.

GLASSBORO 71, PENNS GROVE 32
PENNS GROVE (1-2) – Roman Gipson 3 0-0 6, Camren Thompson 1 1-2 3, Giomar Conrad 3 1-4 8, Mehki Ballard 0 1-2 1, Khiry Higgs 2-0-0 4, Willie Slocum 2 0-0 4,  Karon Ceaser 1 0-2 4, Luis Colon 0 0-0 0, Mr Peterson 1 0-0 2, Brandon Robbins 0 0-0 0, Neziah Spence 0 0-0 0, Jaden Sorrell 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 3-10 32.
GLASSBORO (1-1) – Xavier Sabb 1 0-2 2, Charles Graves 10 5-5 26, Clinton Suggs 9 5-6 24, Michael Dougherty 4 0-0 12, Josh Buff 1 0-0 3, William Boggans 1 0-0 2, Ziaire Tate 1 0-0-2, Marley Crowl 0 0-0 0, Demier Towle 0 0-0 0. Totals 27 10-13 71.

Penns Grove8811 5 –32
Glassboro21231413 –71
3-point goals: Penns Grove 1 (Conrad); Glassboro 7 (Graves, Suggs, Dougherty 4, Buff). Total fouls: Penns Grove 14, Glassboro 14.

GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 85, SALEM TECH 53: The Chargers hit 10 3-pointers in the game to keep up with Jack Mustaro’s game-high 30 points, but the Rams had too many other weapons.

Six players hit at last one 3 for the Chargers (0-3), with Josh Muntz hitting 3 on his way to a team-high 15 points.

The Chargers trailed by only two after the first quarter, then Mustaro really got going and erupted for 22 points over the next two quarters to help the Rams pull away. The junior guard is averaging 23 points a game this season.

GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 85, SALEM TECH 53
SALEM TECH (0-3) – Josh Muntz 5 2-3 15, Chase Wills 3 0-0 7, Tyler Zampino 3 0-1 7, Haneef Frisby 3 0-0 8, Antoine Robinson 3 3-4 11, Chase Ayars 1 0-0 3, Daviontae Russell 1 0-0 2, Brown 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 5-8 53.
GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC (3-0) – Carlos Mendez 3 2-2 8, Jack Mustaro 12 3-6 30, Trey Battle 5 3-3 15, Billy Ginipro 3 0-0 6, Kyle Guldin 1 0-0 2, Ehthan Dugue 2 0-0 6, Nick Calzonetti 0 2-2 2, Brody Gates 1 2-2 4, Jack Punt 3 0-0 7, Pancoast 0 0-0 0, Kybron Ricks 1 2-2 4. Totals 31 14-17 85.

Salem Tech1813814 –53
Gloucester Cath.20212321 –85
3-point goals: Salem Tech 10 (Muntz 3, Wills, Zampino, Frisby 2, Robinson 2, Ayers); Gloucester Catholic 9 (Mustaro 5, Battle, Dugue 2, Pund). Fouled out: Frisby. Total fouls: Salem Tech 14, Gloucester Catholic 17. 

Cover photo: Woodstown’s Blake Bialecki fires up a shot from the top of the key in the Wolverines’ season opener against Schalick. (Photo by Ellen Sickler)



This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County high school sports calendar for the week of Dec. 18-23

MONDAY
BASKETBALL
Girls
Penns Grove at Paulsboro, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Kingsway, 5:30 p.m.
Pitman at Salem, 5:30 p.m.
Salem Tech at GCIT, 5:30 p.m.
Boys
GCIT at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
Salem at Wildwood Catholic, 6 p.m.

WRESTLING
Millville at Schalick, 5 p.m.

INDOOR TRACK
Salem, Schalick in SJCTA Meet, Toms River

SWIMMING
Woodstown vs. West Deptford at Riverwinds, 3:30 p.m.

BOWLING
Salem vs. Lindenwold, Wood Lanes, 4 p.m.

TUESDAY
BASKETBALL
Girls
Glassboro at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Gloucester Cath. at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
Pennsville at Overbrook, 5:30 p.m.
Schalick at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
Boys
Overbrook at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
Penns Grove at Glassboro, 5:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Salem Tech at Gloucester Cath., 5:30 p.m.

BOWLING
Salem Tech at Gloucester City, 4 p.m.

WEDNESDAY
BASKETBALL
Pitman at Salem, 7 p.m.

WRESTLING
Schalick, Salem, Egg Harbor Twp. at Pennsville, 5 p.m.
Penns Grove at Clayton, 6 p.m.

WINTER TRACK
Penns Grove, Salem in Polar Bear Meet, Pennsville, 3:30 p.m.

BOWLING
Salem in Holiday Tournament, Laurel Lanes, 3:30 p.m.

THURSDAY
BASKETBALL
Girls
Schalick at LEAP, 4 p.m.
Clearview at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
Pennsville at Gloucester Tech, 5:30 p.m.
Salem Tech at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Boys
Gloucester Tech at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
LEAP at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Penns Grove at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Cumberland, 5:30 p.m.

SWIMMING
Schalick vs. Gloucester Cath. at GCIT, 4:45 p.m.
Salem vs. Triton Regional at GCIT, 7:15 p.m.

SATURDAY
BASKETBALL
Boys
Cherokee at Penns Grove, 1 p.m.

WRESTLING
Pennsville, Penns Grove, Schalick in Cumberland Duals
Woodstown, Seneca, St. Joseph at Mainland, 9 a.m.

INDOOR TRACK
Salem vs. TCC, Toms River, 9 a.m.

Tough turnaround

After a strong opener, Pennsville goes out on the road less than 18 hours later and struggles

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

DEPTFORD – Now you know why major-league managers rest their everyday catchers the day off during an afternoon game that follows a night game. It’s all about getting the proper rest.

On the high school basketball floor Pennsville coach Joe Mecholsky calls it the “Clayton Effect,” a phenomenon tracked at some length and named by Clippers coach Frank Rago on what happens to teams who play early Saturday after a late night against the Clippers the night before.

It didn’t turn out too well for the Eagles Saturday. They were as cold as a mid-winter morning shooting the ball and lost to Deptford 76-50 after getting their season off to a big start the night before.

While the Eagles succeeded in cutting their turnovers in half from the night before, the rest of their game wasn’t as sharp. 

They shot 18-for-65 for the game – 14-for-40 from the field, 4-for-25 from 3-point range – and 10-for-22 from the free throw line. And they got in foul trouble early and 6-7 post Daniel Saulin, who gave them 17 points and 14 rebounds the night before, fouled out with seven minutes to go.

“We were in a very physical game today and we did not respond to it,” Mecholsky said. “They wore us down and grinded us out. It’s tough to play back-to-back with a noon start on Saturday.”

The Eagles trailed by eight at the half and went into the dressing room to talk about how they were going turn it around. It didn’t happen and Deptford steadily stretched its lead.

It didn’t help they lost one of their key pieces early in the second quarter. Chase Burchfield suffered a shoulder injury lunging for a loose ball and Mecholsky admitted it “took the air out of the balloon.”  The Eagles likely will be without their 3-point threat for at least the next two weeks.

DEPTFORD 76, PENNSVILLE 50
PENNSVILLE (1-1) – Luke Wood 3 4-4 12, Malik Rehmer 2 1-2 5, Jayden Thomas 5 2-7 13, Peyton O’Brien 5 0-0 11, Daniel Saulin 2 0-0 4, Chase Burchfield 0 0-0 0, Coen Petrutz 0 0-0 0, Mason O’Brien 1 2-2 4, Logan Hitt 0 1-2 1, Cole Johnston 0 0-2 0, Carlos Marandino 0 0-2 0. Totals 18 10-21 50
DEPTFORD  (2-0) – Bryce Dunn 3 0-0 6, Carter Cooper 5 1-4 11, Deiyon Rowland 4 0-0 11, Ayden Copestick 5 0-0 14, Brian Ono 5 2-4 15, Luke Vilary 0 0-0 0, Jordan Williams 1 0-0 2, Jayden Minter 0 0-0 0, Alonzo Hernandez 3 0-0 7, Grahem Karley 1 1-1 3, Joe Crawley 1 1-2 3, Sean Castello 0 0-0 0, Anais Usher 0 0-0 0, Kenny Cockerill 1 0-0 2. Totals 29 5-11 76.

Pennsville15141110 – 50
Deptford22151722 –76
3-point goals: Pennsville 4 (Wood 2, Thomas, P. O’Brien); Deptford 11 (Rowland 3, Copestick 4, Ono 3, Hernandez). Fouled out: Saulin. Total fouls: Pennsville 12, Deptford 20.




Back big time

Schalick’s Magonagle wins in SC Holiday Classic in first tournament back from a season-ending injury, Penns Grove’s Arce wins his first title in same event; Pennsville, Woodstown also in action

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PITTSGROVE – The flex Schalick junior Jake Magonagle did after winning his weight division in the SC Holiday Classic Saturday might be all the evidence one needed to prove it just might be the most satisfying title claim of the early wrestling season.

Magonagle won the 175-pound division with a 5-3 decision over Chase Hoag of Mainland. It was his first tournament back after having last season cut short by an injury. He was seeded second, drew a first-round bye, then won a pair of decisions.

“I think he needed that,” Schalick coach Joe Frassenei said. “He was definitely one of the more happy kids.

“He’s very confident to begin with, but I think the win was a nice start for him. He was super happy after the match and I was very proud of him.”

The Schalick-Cumberland co-op team finished fourth in the team race with five individual medalists (top three finishers) and eight placers (top four). DeAnthony Hardin was runner-up at 113, while Daniel Lloyd (144), Ayden Jenkins (150) and Keon Martin (165) all placed third.

Point Pleasant Beach won it handily with three individual champions and seven wrestlers in the finals.

Magonagle wasn’t the only wrestler from Salem County to bring home a title from the tournament.

Penns Grove’s Devine Arce holds his medal and his bracket after winning the SC Holiday Classic title at 120.

Penns Grove’s Devine Arce won his first tournament title when he pinned Mainland’s Garrett Chew to win at 120. His road to the title featured an opening-round bye and two pins in two minutes of elapsed time..

“I was amazed at myself like how I did it,” Arce said. “My freshman record was 8-13. Last year I went twenty-something and four or five, and this year I’m starting off 3-0.”

With two pins.

“He’s probably our most dedicated wrestler, especially the early part of this season,” Red Devils coach John Emel said. “To be at a weight that a little higher than he’s going to wrestle later in the year and have success that’s bodes well for him going forward.”

Arce was one of four Penns Grove wrestlers place in the top three. Isaiah Upshur was runner-up at 190, while Jayden Owens (157) and Antonio Cooper (215) both won consolation finals for third. For Cooper it was the best tournament finish of his career.

“I was actually pretty excited with the way we wrestled,” Emel said. “We have a lot of kids who have never won a match in districts.

“This type of tournament experience is what we’ve tried to get them early in the season. We haven’t done an opening weekend tournament in a few years, probably pre-COVID, and we’re going to get four tournament-type atmospheres early in the season. I just hope it prepares them for districts later on. Getting in these type tournaments early in the season I think it gives our guys good experience going forward.”

SC HOLIDAY CLASSIC
TEAM SCORES: Point Pleasant Beach 186.5, Haddon Heights 119, WW-Plainsboro North 117, Schalick-Cumberland 96, Mainland 83, WW-Plainsboro South 81, Penns Grove 74, Oakcrest 50.

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES
106: Cole Denning (HH) tech fall over Brandon Stizza (PPB), 15-0
113: Bruce Bellace (O) def. DeAnthony Hardin (SC), med. forf.
120: Devine Arce (PG) pinned Garrett Chew (M), 1:00
126: Zachary Owens (WWPN) pinned Luke DeBenedett (PPB), 1:00
132: P.J. Niethe (PPB) dec. Ryan Brown (WWPN), 11-4
138: Jude Bowers (PPB) tech fall over Joaquin Poventud, (O) 15-0
144: Jordan Blaise (WWPS) dec. Antonio Acevedo (PPB), 10-3
150: Josh Delgozzo (HH) dec. Christian Tardieu (WWPS), 1-0
157: Evan DeJong (WWPN) pinned Liam Wikberg (HH), 1:00
165: Gary Williams (M) dec. Sam Yedman (PPB), 6-3
175: Jake Magonagle (SC) dec. Chase Hoag (M), 5-3
190: Darren DeJong (WWPN) pinned Isaiah Upshur (PG), 0:55
215: Marcos Kaiafas (PPB) dec. Jason George (WWPS), 6-0
285: Jayden Trace (HH) pinned Youssef Abouelela (WWPS), 1:10

Wendy Pandy-Leh Invitational

FRENCHTOWN – Woodstown’s Zach Bevin and Mateo Vinciguerra wrestled for championships in their weight classes at the Wendy Pandy-Leh Invitational at Delaware Valley High School and just came up short.

Bevis was pinned in the 165-pound final by Logan Wiecoreck of Voorhees and Vinciguerra lost a decision in the 285 final to Cameron Baumann, also of Vorhees.

The Wolverines had four wrestlers win consolation finals – Travis Balback (120), Carson Bradway  (126), Greyson Hyland (175) and Paul Banff (190) – and two others finish fourth.

The Wolverines finished fourth in the 10-team field.

WENDY PANDY-LEH INVITATIONAL
TEAM SCORES: Delaware Valley 257.5, Ocean Twp. 168, Vorhees 160, Woodstown 125, Westfield 99, Princeton 85.5, Pascack Hills 78, Wall 66.5, Williamstown 66.5, Cherokee 64.0

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES
106: Justin Penta (OT) pinned Michael Apicelli (OT), 1:42
113: Johnny D’Andrewa (V) maj. dec. over Justin Farina (OT), 10-1
120: Jake Taylor (DV) maj. dec. over Christian Bollette (V), 13-5
126: Jaden Perez (DV) maj. dec. over Cole Rose (P), 9-0
132: Matt Roche (DV) pinned Luke Sluberski (We), 0:32
138: Blasé Mele (P) pinned Dominic Volek (OT), 1:01
144: Jackson Bush (DV) dec. Michael Volek (OT), 11-9
150: Jake Wacha (PH) pinned Ben Levy (DV), 4:33
157: James Farina (OT) maj. dec. over Jeremy Marsella (Wa), 13-1
165: Logan Wiecoreck (V) pinned Zach Bevis (Wo), 0:35
175: Kevin Roman (DV) dec. Travis Cryan (V), 10-8
190: Anderson Olcott (DV) pinned Jake Zemsky (We), 4:52
215: Trevor Zabroski (V) pinned Cody Lagun (DV), 4:50
285: Cameron Baumann (V) dec. Mateo Vinciguerra (Wo), 5-3

Howdy Duncan Classic

NEW CASTLE, Del. – Three of the four Pennsville wrestlers who reached the quarterfinals of the Howdy Duncan Classic at William Penn High School placed in the top six of their respective weight divisions Saturday.

Christopher Daniels (120) was their highest finisher, placing fourth. Kameron Drummond (126) and Elias Lussi (190) both finished sixth in their weight classes. Daniels was seeded eighth in his weight class and Drummond was seeded tenth. 

The Eagles finished 13th in the 32-team field.

“It was a tough tournament, very competitive, and we got a lot of mat time,” Eagles coach John Starcevich said. “A couple guys got seven matches this weekend.”

Among those who didn’t place Sky Eppes lost in overtime in the pre-quarterfinals and just missed getting a spot and freshman Luke Thomas showed a lot of potential in going 2-2 at 106.

HOWDY DUNCAN CLASSIC
TEAM SCORES: Exeter Twp. 246, Lower Dauphin 243.5, Red Lion Christian 193, New Oxford 168, St. Frances Acad. 165, Palisades 158, Central Bucks West 157.5, Milford Senior 126, William Penn 125, Unionville 100, Tower Hill 94, Middleton 85.5, Pennsville 78.5, Appoquinimink 76.5, Charter-Wilmington 74, Episcopal 68, First State MA 68, Wilmington Friends 67.5, Dickinson 57.5, Odessa 57, Christian 56, Delcastle 54.5, Conrad Science 42, Tatnall 42, Hodgson VoTech 40, Howard Tech 37, McKean 32, Archmere 30, AI Dupont 23, John Carroll 23, West Nottingham 19, Mt. Pleasant 7.

PENNSVILLE FINALS
Third Place Match 120: Sam Johnson (Exeter) pinned Christopher Daniels, 4:59
Fifth Place Match 126: Kamren Griffin (St. Frances) maj. dec. over Kameron Drummond, 11-3
Fifth Place Match 190: Jacob Julier (Unionville) maj. dec. over Elias Lussi, 10-1

Eagles in the mix

4 Pennsville wrestlers reach quarterfinals in Delaware tournament; Woodstown falls in its first match of the season

By Riverview Sports News

NEW CASTLE, Del. – Pennsville has four wrestlers still alive in the championship bracket of the Howdy Duncan Invitational after Friday’s first day of competition at William Penn High School.

Christopher Daniels (120), Randy Hall (132), Robbie McDade (157) and Elias Lussi (190) are all in the quarterfinals when the tournament resumes Saturday morning.

Lussi, the No. 5 seed in his weight class, advanced with a pair of pins. McDade, the 3-seed in his division, won a first-round decision and advanced in a DQ. Hall, a 6-seed, and Daniels, an 8-seed, both received first-round byes and won a second-round decision.

The Eagles have 43,5 points and are tied for 14th with Delcastle and Middletown in the team standings. Lower Dauphin (81.5) is currently in first place, 5.5 points ahead of New Oxford.

W. Deptford whacks Woodstown

WEST DEPTFORD – The Woodstown wrestling team opened its season with a 52-15 loss at West Deptford. Brett Rowand (144) and Mateo Vinciguerra (285) scored pins for the Wolverines, while Travis Balback recorded a decision at 120.

WEST DEPTFORD 52, WOODSTOWN 15
144: Brett Rowand (W) pinned Nate Benner, 3:01
150: James Lorman (WD) maj. dec. over Laitton Roberts, 14-3
157: Nick Graziano (WD) maj. dec. over Zayden Donahue, 19-7
165: Caleb Jackson (WD) dec. Zach Bevis, 9-3
175: Chris Andujar (WD) dec. Greyson Hyland, 12-10
190: Marcus Carter (WD) won by forfeit
215: Andrew Tighe (WD) pinned Josiah Mejias, 2:49
285: Mateo Vinciguerra (W) pinned Van Galbraith, 0:44
106: Ryan McConaghy (WD) pinned Chase Blandino, 1:36
113: Talen Terinoni (WD) won by forfeit
120: Travis Balback (W) dec. Brayden Curcio, 12-6
126: Anthony Conway-Popeskic (WD) dec. Carson Bradway, 8-2
132: Owen Entrekin (WD) pinned Ryan Polk, 0:25
138: Trevor Lundfelt (WD) tech fall over Willem Groom, 18-1 4:40

Cover photo: Pennsville wrestling coaches plot out their lineup before a recent match.

Man with a plan

Pennsville’s boys follow a plan to combat Clayton, Schalick wins first season opener since 2015, Penns Grove challenged by strong competition

FRIDAY BOYS SCORES
Pennsville 80, Clayton 66
Pitman 69, Penns Grove 41
Schalick 65, Salem Tech 43

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – Clayton came into David Salberg Gym Friday night having scored 96 points the night before and the reputation for firing 3-pointers at will. That made the Clippers a dangerous opening-night opponent for anyone.

But Pennsville coach Joe Mecholsky had a plan – guard the 3, rebound and play tight man defense.

It proved to be the winning formula as the Eagles clipped their visitors 80-66, missing by just one point the score the coach had predicted before the game.

“We knew coming in that their game is to shoot the 3 and give us the 2,” Mecholsky said. “We tried to be very diligent guarding the 3-point shot. At one point to start the fourth quarter I told the boys let them drive, give up the 2. They want to shoot the 3 to get back in this game.

“That’s just their system. When it’s working that’s a much tighter game. When the system doesn’t work we ended up with a favorable outcome. They’ve got a South Jersey title with that system, his kids love playing that system, but I think tonight it just came down to we were the better team.”

Clayton came out firing – and missing. The Clippers missed their first 11 shots from the field – most of them 3s – and Pennsville ran out to a 12-2 lead despite not being very sharp themselves. The Clippers, 9-of-30 from behind the arc in their opener at Pennsauken Tech, were 1-for-10 from behind the arc in the first quarter against the Eagles, 4-for-18 in the half and 10-for-38 for the game..

Instead of going into the locker room at halftime to discuss strategy, the Clippers spent the entire halftime on the floor putting up shots. They shot a better percentage in the second half, but never got closer than eight points and that was early in the third quarter.

The more they missed, the more the Eagles rebounded. Danny Saulin, a 6-foot-7 senior starting in his final season opener, pulled down 14 rebounds to go with 17 points, many off putbacks. 

“We have a saying – long shot, long rebound,” Saulin said. “When you’re jacking it up from 3 you just have to know you have to back up and get ready to box out and jump up for the ball. For them not playing so much in the paint it made it easier for us to score 2-pointers, made it easier for the whole team to score.”

Saulin wasn’t the only one clearing the boards. Peyton O’Brien, who spelled Saulin off the bench, grabbed 13 rebounds. The Eagles had 49 rebounds in the game. 

“He was so noticeable out there,” Mecholsky said. “When Danny comes out and Peyton can control the boards like that, that’s a big relief as a coach. Not only can he grab the boards, he starts the transition. He can turn and go.”

“I just try to contribute the best I can,” O’Brien said. “It feels good just to know I contributed some way to the win.”

The Clippers hit their only 3 of the first quarter with 2:13 left and it touched off a flurry that got them to 12-11 with a chance to tie. They missed the free throw on a potential three-point play, Saulin made a bucket on the other end and that started a 14-0 Pennsville run across two quarters that put the Eagles safely back in front for good.

“It’s an old cliché,” Mecholsky said, “the better team should win the game and tonight we were the better team.”

In most areas they were. One that left Mecholsky wiping his brow was the 24 turnovers charged to his team.

“We were incredibly lucky tonight that they didn’t shoot well; let’s be honest,” he said. “I didn’t see what Clayton shot from the field but we had 20-plus turnovers. How many games do you win when you turn the ball over 20 times? To have 24 turnovers you just start shaking your head and say all right we got one tonight.”

PENNSVILLE 80, CLAYTON 66
CLAYTON (1-1) – Dillon Jones 3 1-2 8, Princeton Sackor 5 1-1 14, Nazir Davis  1 0-0 2, John Carter 1 0-0 3, Khamari Farley 7 0-0 17, Demetris Williams 4 0-0 8, Jon Cox 0 0-2 0, Cristan Scott 0 0-2 0, A’Shaud Hine-Pope  3 0-1 6, Nasir Carter 3 0-0 8, Jayden Prince 0 0-0 0. Totals 27 2-8 66.
PENNSVILLE (1-0) – Mason O’Brien 1 0-0 3, Luke Wood 10 2-4 24, Cohen Petrutz 5 0-0 11, Chase Burchfield 7 0-1 14, Peyton O’Brien 2 0-0 4, Jayden Thomas 3 0-2 7, Malik Rehmer 0 0-0 0, Daniel Saulin 8 1-1 17. Totals 36 3-8 80.

Clayton 11181522 –66
Pennsville19192220 –80
3-point goals: Clayton 10 (Jones, Sackor 3, J. Carter, Farley 3, N. Carter 2); Pennsville 5 (Wood 2, M. O’Brien, Petrutz, Thomas). Total fouls: Clayton 10, Pennsville 16.

SCHALICK 65, SALEM TECH 43: The Cougars won only three games a year ago, but got their new season off to a rousing start – 25-4 in the first quarter and 39-11 at halftime – and won their season opener for the first time since 2015.

Reggie Allen led the way with 17 points. Daniel Lis had 12 and Ryan Johnson had 10. Junior Nylan Sutton added five points for the Cougars, and had one of the night’s biggest highlights when he threw down the first dunk of his career in the fourth quarter. 

“I think it is meaningful for our program overall,” Schalick coach James Turner said. “It’s nice to finally open up the season with a win and for these guys to carry that same winning mentality from one season to the next, which was what our goal was, and they did a good job today.”

The Cougars got off to what Turner called “a great start.” Their press forced several turnovers that led to some transition baskets and they held the Chargers without a field goal in the first quarter.

“The game plan going in was to put pressure on them and try to get up early,” Turner said. “We tried our best to keep them from getting set in their offense.”

The Cougars didn’t secure their first win last season until after the first of the year. It’s the earlier they’ve gotten a win since beating Collingswood at home on Dec. 15, 2018 – Turner’s second game as their coach. 

The last time they opened a season with a win, they beat Clearview 57-42 in 2015 and went on to go 22-8. They’ve won 22 games the previous five seasons combined.

“I think it was just a little bit of a relief, to say OK we got that first win out of the way, we got that first game out of the way,” Turner said. “I’d just say it was a feeling of relief because of what we’ve gone through the last few years.”

Salem Tech’s Antoine Robinson led all scorers with 19 points.

SCHALICK 65, SALEM TECH 43
SALEM TECH (0-1) – Antoine Robinson 5 8-11 19, Chase Wills 3 2-4 9, Josh Muntz 1 0-0 3, Tyler Zampino 1 0-0 3, Haneef Frisby 3 0-0 6, Joseph Hayes 0 1-4 1, Gio Holmes 0 0-0 0, Daviontae Russell 1 0-0 2, Chase Ayers 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 11-19 43.
SCHALICK (1-0) – Reggie Allen 6 2-6 17, Daniel Lis 5 1-3 12, Sherrod Jones 1 0-0 2, Justin Iacona 0 0-0 0, Nylan Sutton 2 1-4 5, Nasir Sutton 3 2-9 8, Ryan Johnson 4 2-2 10, Jordan Johnson 2 1-2 5, Jake Siedlecki 2 0-0 4, Jase Volovar 1 0-1 2. Totals 26 9-27 65.

Salem Tech472012 –43
Schalick2514818 –65
3-point goals: Salem Tech 4 (Robinson, Wills, Muntz, Zampino); Schalick 4 (Alllen 3, Lis).
Fouled out: Frisby, J. Johnson, Siedlecki. Total fouls: Salem Tech 21, Schalick 21.

PITMAN 69, PENNS GROVE 41: Some days you play well and some days you learn well. Red Devils coach Damian Ware hopes his team is learning to see what takes to play at a high level because they’ve seen those teams that do twice since practice began.

The Red Devils got their second dose of it Friday and the Panthers put their skill and experience together to show them how the other half lives.

“For our guys the difference in the game was the intensity of the game,” Ware said. “It was actually a good learning lesson and that’s why I told the guys. I said now you see what it looks like to be a contender. If you want to be a contender this is the level you have to play to.”

They got a taste of it last week when they played Egg Harbor Twp., but that was a scrimmage so when they came up short in that one it was no harm, no foul. Friday night’s game counted in the standings.

Penns Grove was in it early and only trailed 15-12 after the first quarter, but then Pitman’s Elijah Crispin and Michael Fisicaro started hearing up and the Panthers started pulling away. Crispin hit three 3s from NBA range and the lead started to grow. It was 16 at halftime, 25 after three quarters.

Crispin led all scorers with 17 points. Fisicaro had 15. Crispin hit three 3s, Fisicaro hit four. Meanwhile, Penns Grove was 0-for-16 from behind the arc.

Roman Gipson led the Red Devils with 13 points off the bench and he may have earned himself a promotion.

“He’s the first sub off the bench, he’s our sixth man, which actually might change,” Ware said. “I might put him in the starting lineup, we’ll see.

“In two of the three scrimmages he came off the bench and did some work there. I’m trying to give guys a little bit of rope to see what they do, but when these young guys come up ,you can’t deny them. You’ve got to let them play.”

The first chance for that possibility is Saturday when they play Lindenwold in the nightcap of their own Red Devil Classic. Pitman opens the event against Burlington City at 11 a.m., followed by Salem and Woodbury. Both Penns Grove teams play in the evening session.

PITMAN 69, PENNS GROVE 41
PITMAN (1-0) – Porter Kostiuk 5-3-13, Stephen Devanney 4-1-10, Hudson Rue 4-0-8, Elijah Crispin 6-2-17, Chris Wyllie 2-0-4, Michael Fisicaro 6-1-15, Greg Petersen 1-0-2, Jake Epting 0-0-0, Trey Tinges 0-0-0. Totals 27-7-69. 
PENNS GROVE (0-1) – Roman Gipson 5-3-13, Camren Thompson 0-1-0, Giomar Conrad 2-8-12, Mehki Ballard 1-0-2, Willie Slocum 1-2-4, Brandin Robbins 2-0-4, KaRon Ceaser 2-0-4, Luis Colon 0-1-1. Totals 13-15-41.

Pitman15182113 –69
Penns Grove1251212 –41
3-point goals: Pitman 8 (Devanney, Crispin 3, Fisicaro 4); Penns Grove 0.


Tough way to start

Gloucester Catholic goes out fast against Woodstown to spoil Straughn’s coaching debut; Penns Grove pulls away from Clayton for county girls’ only win of the night

FRIDAY’S GIRLS SCORES
Glassboro 44, Salem 29
Gloucester Catholic 69, Woodstown 41
Penns Grove 47, Clayton 38
Pitman 52, Schalick 14
Wildwood 64, Pennsville 30
Overbrook at Salem Tech

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

GLOUCESTER CITY – The moment she saw it on the schedule Kara Straughn knew her first game as the Woodstown girls basketball coach was going to be a tough one.

Straughn made her head coaching debut Friday night and it didn’t go well as the Rams handed her and the Wolverines a 69-41 loss.

“I knew it was going to be a tough game even if it wasn’t my first game,” Straughn said. “I was still going to have the same amount of nerves just because of who they are. They’re a team, a program, a coach … you cannot not honor and respect them as a whole.

“I knew it was going to be a difficult game because of who they are and going up there adds a whole ‘nother level of anxiety. I knew off the bat it was going to be a difficult game and we just didn’t match up.”

The Rams took advantage of their size and placed four scorers in double figures. Jazhara Green led the way with 17 points. Talia Schumate had 15, Jalyn Moore 13 and Julianna DiFebbo 12.

Talia Battavio led Woodstown with five 3-pointers and 17 points, but their next two scorers – Megan Donelson and Shannon Pierman – had 12 apiece.

The Rams jumped out to a 21-11 lead in the first quarter and Woodstown just couldn’t put enough together to overcome the deficit. 

“Matchup-wise it wasn’t there tonight,” Straughn said. “My girls played their hearts out, but we just couldn’t piece things together. We would get a couple stops and then we would throw the ball away sometimes. We just couldn’t put it all together.”

GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 69, WOODSTOWN 41
WOODSTOWN (0-1) – Talia Battavio 5 2-2 17, Megan Donelson 4 3-4 12, Alyssa Baber 0 0-0 0, Gianna Maiorini 0 0-0 0, Shannon Pierman 5 2-2 12, Lauren Hengel 0 0-0 0, Jala Thomas 0 0-0 0, Lizzy Daly 0 0-0 0, Brae DiGregorio 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 7-8 41.
GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC (1-0) – Jahzara Green 7 3-3 17, Julianna DiFebbo 5 0-0 12, Talia Schumate 6 3-5 15, Katherine Lange 4 0-0 9, Jalyn Moore 5 2-2 13, Alyssa Elliott 1 0-0 3, Yazaniah Schumate 0 0-0 0, Maya Hutchinson 0 0-0 0. Totals 28 8-10 69.

Woodstown1114124 –41
Gloucester Cath.21171912 –69
3-point goals: Woodstown 6 (Battavio 5, Donelson); Gloucester Catholic 5 (DiFebbo 2, Lange, Moore, Elliott). Total points: Woodstown 8, Gloucester Catholic 10.

PENNS GROVE 47, CLAYTON 38: A veteran and a newcomer took over a close game in the fourth quarter and led the Red Devils to their opening-night victory

Jameelyonna Horace and transfer RaNiyah Wilson combined for 15 of their team’s 17 points in the fourth quarter as Penns Grove pulled away.

Horace knocked down two of her three 3-pointers and scored eight of her game-high 16 points in the fourth quarter. Wilson went 3-for-4 from the free throw line and scored seven of her 11 in the quarter.

The Red Devils held a 19-14 halftime lead, but the Clippers closed the margin to 30-29 entering the fourth quarter behind eight of Rainelle Blocker’s 13 points.

PENNS GROVE 47, CLAYTON 38
PENNS GROVE (1-0) – Jameelyonna Horace 6 1-2 16, Syanna Robbins 0 0-0 0, Brianna Robbins 5 0-0 10, Amani Taylor 0 0-7 0, Rolande Delva 0 0-0 0, RaNiyah Wilson 4 3-4 11, Arianna Dowe 1 0-0 3, Zoey Caesar 1 1-2 3, Semijah Hines 0 0-2 0, Jamira Lewis 0 0-0 0, JaNiyah Cummings 2 0-0 4. Totals 19 5-17 47.
CLAYTON (1-1) – Jordyn Jones 1 0-2 2, Rainelle Blocker 4 5-6 13, Rosalina Pereira 2 0-2 4, Janice Blair 0 0-0 0, Napria Loatman 0 0-0 0, Sophia Petsch 0 0-0 0, Deondria Simon 1 0-0 2, Ava Delaney 5 0-0 14, India Williams 0 0-0 0, LaNiya Carr-Archie 1 1-4 3. Totals 14 6-14 38.

Penns Grove8111117 – 47
Clayton113159 – 38
3-point goals: Penns Grove 4 (Horace 3, Dowe); Clayton 4 (Delaney 4). Total fouls: Penns Grove 3, Clayton 7.

WILDWOOD 64, PENNSVILLE 30: After enduring a 90-minute bus ride to the game, the Eagles had trouble getting on track and fell behind 46-14 at halftime.

The Warriors took advantage of the friendly confines to hit eight 3-pointers in the first half to open up their big lead. Leading scorer Macie McCracken (22) and Rebecca Benichou (13) both hit three 3s in the half.

Nora Ausland led Pennsville with nine points. She had the Eagles’ five points in the first quarter.

“They played in the South Jersey Group I championship last year (against Woodstown) for a reason; (coach Teresa Cunniff) has always had a solid program,” Pennsville coach Sam Trapp said. “They are a very good shooting team and executed man defense well, which we struggled against. We had several open looks, but could not finish at the basket.

“We are still figuring out who we are and what our strengths are as a team. Hoping to have a better showing and boost our confidence next week.”

WILDWOOD 64, PENNSVILLE 30
PENNSVILLE (0-1) – Calli Ausland 0 0-0 0, Nora Ausland 3 1-2 9, Taylor Bass 3 1-1 7, Sofia Belitsas 0 0-0 0, Kylie Harris 0 0-0 0, Anikka Macalino 1 0-0 2, Malani McGee 0 0-0 0, Isabelle Saulin 1 2-4 4, Avery Watson 0 0-0 0, Marley Wood 2 4-6 8. Totals 10 8-14 30.
WILDWOOD (1-0) – Sophia Wilber 2 4-6 8, Angela Wilber 4 0-0 11, Macie McCracken 9 1-1 22, Kaliah Sumlin 3 1-1 7, Rebecca Benichou 5 0-0 13, Cydnee Silian 0 0-0 0, Ashley Nagle 1 0-0 3, Janet Gonzalez 0 0-0 0. Totals 24 6-8 64.

Pennsville59124 – 30
Wildwood202617 1 – 64
3-point goals: Pennsville 2 (N. Ausland 2); Wildwood 10 (A. Wilber 3, McCracken 3, Benichou 3, Nagle).Total fouls: Pennsville 7, Wildwood 11.

GLASSBORO 44, SALEM 29: Tamia Smith (17) and Kezia Brackett (15) combined to outscore the Rams (0-1) themselves. Ava Rodgerss led Salem with 11 points.




Eagles moving

Pennsville appeal to WJFL approved, moving into what should be a more competitive division for a team on the rise that went 6-4 last season

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

Pennsville enjoyed its best football season in eight years this fall and were rewarded for it by being moved into a weak division with more travel when the initial West Jersey Football League division reshuffle was announced last month.

The Eagles knew they were going to appeal .

They had that appeal heard and approved 6-0 Friday and now they will play in a division more closely aligned with their upward trend and program goals.

“When you look at what we’re trying to do as a program, the West Jersey Football League was set up to help teams that were at all areas and all levels, whether you were trying to rebuild your program, whether you were trying to maintain your program or whether you were trying to be a competitive program,” Pennsville athletic director Jamy Thomas explained. “We want to be a competitive program. That division we were in was not going to allow us to continue to do that for the next two years.”

Basically, the Eagles changed places with WJFL newcomer Mastery Charter and – pending the outcome of other appeals – are now set to play in a division that includes Audubon (5-5), Camden Catholic (3-7), Collingswood (4-6), Overbrook (6-4), Paulsboro (1-7) and West Deptford (3-8). The other teams in that alignment are a mix of Group I and Group II programs that had a combined record of 22-37 last season.

They initially were assigned a division with Buena (0-8), Clayton (5-5), Gateway (2-8), Gloucester Catholic (2-7), Lindenwold (1-9) and Pitman (6-4). The other teams in that alignment had a combined 16-41 record.

Mastery Charter was 2-5 as an independent this past season, 4-8-1 over the last two years. In terms of the WJFL geographic footprint, Pennsville would only add one-tenth of a mile to its prospective travel had it played all its games in the new division on the road. Mastery Charter, which does not have its own field, would have traveled a total of 58 miles in its initial placement; it now travels 112 miles.

The outcome of other appeals was not immediately known. WJFL member schools now have until Dec. 20 to vote to approve the changes.

“I’m very excited about it,” Pennsville coach Mike Healy said of the change. “I think it’s going to give us more opportunities to get in the playoffs, the big reason we wanted to move up.

“We bring back most of our team and we really want to kind of help our competition level because we believe we’re ready to start handling that.”

Given the relative strength of the division, the initial alignment would have made it difficult to bank power points necessary for playoff consideration. Essentially, the Eagles could have won their new division and not made the playoffs, which teams in stronger divisions could have a lesser record and not even won a division game and made the postseason field.

Pennsville finished tied for second in the Royal Division and was the first team out of this year’s South/Central Jersey Group I playoffs, but won the regional consolation tournament.

“That was the concern we had,” Healy said. “Just looking at how the playoffs have shaken out the last couple years, the number of wins, whether right or wrong, is not the most important thing. It’s who you’re playing, the group of schools you’re playing and their competitiveness.”

The Eagles graduate only four seniors, but they could not use their projection of experience as an argument towards their appeal. There is no guarantee they will have immediate success in their new division, but the alignment will better allow them to pursue those goals.

“I see the trajectory of our team moving up; we need to challenge ourselves,” Thomas said. “We want to be a playoff team and a South Jersey contender and a state contender and we have to do that from a division that provides us those challenges throughout the regular season to get better.”

Cover photo by Lorraine Jenkins

Soaring start

Pennsville opens its wrestling season with a 58-24 win over Palmyra; Lussi, newcomer Shinn score two of Eagles’ six pins

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – When Elias Lussi walked into the Pennsville wrestling room for the first time three seasons ago he knew absolutely nothing about the sport other than what he might have caught on TV growing up in a tough but loving neighborhood in Miami Gardens.

He was 260 pounds, didn’t know the difference between a take down and back points and the only reason he was there at all was because he tagged along with his only friend in a new school, Ayden Perez.

In the time that has transpired, Lussi dropped 70 pounds, became the leader in the wrestling room and finally stopped throwing up before practices, which had been an everyday occurrence when he first got involved.

Now he has designs on qualifying for the state tournament. He got that goal off to a good start Thursday with a third-period pin in the Eagles’ 58-24 season-opening victory over Palmyra.

“I had no clue, I came into it completely blinded,” Lussi recalled. “I just got lucky with the community and got two amazing coaches who continued following me and were always by my side.”

His first year on the mat was a rough one. He was the backup varsity heavyweight who spent most of his mat time with the JVs and more often than not ended up on his back. But there was this one exhibition match against Overbrook in which he put a cross face on his opponent and turned him and that got his coaches’ attention.

The next year he slimmed down to 190, because the Eagles already had two guys at 215.  He went 17-22 with the varsity and qualified next to last for the regionals and lost his opening match. But he was steadily making progress.

“To this day I still can’t believe it,” Lussi said. “I virtually think about this every day and every day I remind myself that I still can’t believe it because it’s an incredible journey. I would never imagine myself to lose 80 pounds and being able to discipline myself any time I want.

“There’s not just one word that can describe it, it’s a whole bunch of words. Getting beat up by my teammates, my life in general, so many things happening. Wrestling is the toughest sport and everybody says if you can get through wrestling you can get through life. It completely shows it now.”

On Thursday he weighed in at 189.2 pounds and had his way with opponent Joe Garrison. He scored the pin with 1:03 left in the third period and was leading 10-0 at the time of the pin.

“From a coaching perspective, there’s no better feeling than to take a kid who knows nothing and turn him into a region qualifier in his first year wrestling varsity,” Pennsville coach John Starcevich said. “He just made this transition as a person. Now he’s our senior captain, he’s the leader in the room, he’s the voice of our room.

“Rewind two years ago he was the most quiet person in the room. So, for him to learn the sport, love the spot and project his knowledge and his love of wrestling onto others right now, there’s no better feeling. That just lets us know we can take kids as freshmen and develop them by the times they’re sophomore, juniors – the earlier the better – to be able to compete.”

Another one of those success stories was looming at the other end of the lineup. Sophomore Gina Shinn was making her varsity debut as a new-to-the-sport wrestler. She won her match at 113 with a second-period pin to give the Eagles their first on-the-mat win of the season.

It was 50-50 whether she was going to get on the mat Thursday. She was listed as an either/or with Lucas Thomas at 106 and 113. When Pennsville sent out Thomas at 106 and Palmyra forfeited, the Panthers moved Gabriella Alves de Sousa to 113 for the matchup with Shinn.

It was a tight match throughout. Shinn fell behind 6-4 in the second period, then “my anxiety kicked in” and she quickly turned the tables on the match. The pin came with 32 seconds left in the period.

“It was really tough, like really tough,” Shinn said. “She definitely put up a really good fight. It was a good match and that win felt like I was in a whole ‘nother world. It was amazing. It’s a once in a lifetime experience. You never forget the first match, the first pin.”

Shinn was never one to shy away from contact. She played football in middle school and was always up for a challenge. Her Pennsville Little League World Series softball teammate Kloi Tighe, who wrestles for Gloucester City, influenced her to give that sport a try.

With the first win under her belt she could retire tomorrow undefeated as a varsity wrestler. But she believes she’ll stick with it.

“The coaches told me I should wait for my first match and depending on the outcome I can choose if I want to quit or I want to stay,” she said. “I never had doubts of quitting, but they told the whole team wait for your first match, so that’s what I did. I waited until my first match.

“Knowing I can do something like that, it definitely gives me the ability to keep going and have more confidence in myself. No quitting. They said they knew they were going to lose people, but I said I’m not a quitter.”

The Eagles won 10 bouts in the match – six by pin, three by forfeit and one major decision. They’re back on the mat this weekend in the two-day Howdy Duncan Classic at William Penn in New Castle.

“That’s a great start.” Starcevich said. “There were a lot of positives, there were some negatives as well, but it’s the first match of the season.

We had a great practice yesterday, we had a great preseason, back it up even further, this was the most active offseason we’ve had … and that’s showing. Guys who might have struggled at the varsity level last year or even wrestle with the varsity, those guys are now our team leaders, the guys we depend on. The offseason for our team right now has made all the difference … tonight.”

PENNSVILLE 58, PALMYRA 24
106: Lucas Thomas (Pv) won by forfeit
113: Gina Shinn (Pv) pinned Gabriella Alves de Sousa, 3:28
120: Chris Daniels (Pv) pinned Chase Moritz, 1:29
126: Kameron Drummond (Pv) maj. dec. over Toaha Sajim, 10-0
132: Trevor Young (Pal) pinned Randy Hall, 1:24
138: Aiden Hines (Pal) pinned Joey Maurer, 2:40
144: Travis Hagan (Pv) pinned Ben Still, 1:46
150: Sky Eppes (Pv) pinned Elliott Jackson, 1:12
157: Robbie McDade (Pv) won by forfeit
165: Cole Campbell (Pv) won by forfeit
175: Pat Daly (Pal) won by forfeit
190: Elias Lussi (Pv) pinned Joe Garrison, 4:57
215: Deakon Haines (Pal) won by forfeit
285: Trevor Waddington (Pv) pinned Stephen Hankey, 1:36

Pennsville’s Gina Shinn has control over Palmyra’s Gabriella Alves deSousa on the way to a pin in her first varsity match Thursday.