Category: SALEM

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Dec. 15-21

MONDAY, DEC. 15
BOYS BASKETBALL
x-Pennsville at Palmyra, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Cape May Tech, 5:30 p.m.
Penns Grove at St. Joseph, 7 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
x-Palmyra at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Cape May Tech, 4 p.m.
SWIMMING
Woodstown vs. West Deptford, RiverWinds, 3:30 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem vs. Salem Tech at Wood Lanes, 4 p.m.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at CCBC-Catonsville, 5 p.m.

TUESDAY, DEC. 16
BOYS BASKETBALL
Schalick at Clayton, 5:30 p.m.
Salem at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
Wildwood at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at Wildwood, 5:30 p.m.
Clayton at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Salem, 5:30 p.m.
TRACK
Salem at Bennett Center

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 17
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Buena at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
WRESTLING
Pennsville, Gloucester Catholic at Salem, 5 p.m.
Schalick at Penns Grove, 5 p.m.
SWIMMING
Schalick vs. Gloucester Catholic at GCIT, 4:45 p.m.
Salem vs. Glassboro at GCIT, 7:15 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem vs. Clayton at Bolero Lanes, 4 p.m.

THURSDAY, DEC. 18
BOYS BASKETBALL
Overbrook at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Pennsville at Glassboro, 5:30 p.m.
Salem at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Penns Grove, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
Penns Grove at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
Salem Tech at Salem, 5:30 p.m.
Schalick at Overbrook, 5:30 p.m.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Ocean, 5 p.m.

FRIDAY, DEC. 19
BOYS BASKETBALL
Maple Shade at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Pennsville at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
GCIT at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
West Deptford at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
Salem Tech at Salem, 5:30 p.m.
SWIMMING
Schalick vs. Glassboro at GCIT, 8:30 p.m.
WRESTLING
Pennsville at William Penn (Del.) Tournament, 4:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, DEC. 20
BOYS BASKETBALL
Salem vs. Pleasantville in Ocean City, 3:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at Winslow, 11 a.m.
Salem Tech at Highland, 11:30 a.m.
WRESTLING
Penns Grove at Clearview Tournament, 9 a.m.
Pennsville at William Penn (Del.) Tournament, 9:30 a.m.
Burlington Twp., Camden at Salem, 10 a.m.
Pennsville girls at Jackson Memorial, 2 p.m.
Woodstown at University of Delaware
INDOOR TRACK
Penns Grove, Woodstown at Ott Center, Philadelphia
BOWLING
Salem girls vs. Burlington Twp., Bowlero Bristol, 12:30 p.m.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Sussex, noon
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Cecil, 11 a.m.

SUNDAY, DEC. 21
WRESTLING
Woodstown at University of Delaware

High school Saturday

Penns Grove basketball showcase, wrestling, indoor track highlight the docket

BOYS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove Showcase
Cumberland 61, West Deptford 42
Deptford 58, Winslow 47
Woodbury 53, Woodstown 52
Penns Grove 52, Lindenwold 27

PENNS GROVE 52, LINDENWOLD 27: The Red Devils pulled away with a 22-point second quarter and then held their visitors scoreless in the third quarter. Penns Grove’s Roman Gipson led all scorers with 18 points, half coming on three 3-pointers.

LINDENWOLD (0-2): Cole Hanford 1-0-2, Mehsi Dillard 6-0-13, Sharif Hammond 1-0-2, Raj Jones 2-0-4, Others 2-2-6. Totals 12-2-27.
PENNS GROVE (1-0):Zane Thomas 2-0-4, William Roy III 3-0-6, Jameel Horace 2-0-4, Roman Gipson 7-1-18, Haneef Frisby 2-0-4, Jeremy Costacamps 1-0-2, Geonni Conrad 2-0-6, Luis Colon 2-1-5, Eli Pearsall 1-0-3. Totals 22-2-52.

Lindenwold105012-27
Penns Grove122299-52
3-point goals: Lindenwold 1 (Dillard); Penns Grove 6 (Gipson 3, Conrad 2, Pearsall)

WOODBURY 53, WOODSTOWN 52: The Wolverines put four scorers in double figures, but couldn’t get off a shot in the final three seconds. had the final possession with three seconds left, but couldn’t get a shot off.

Woodstown’s Elijah Caesar led all scorers with 18 points. Blake Bialecki had 12, giving him 733 on his march to 1,000. Alejandro Vazquez and Josh King had 10 apiece.

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove Showcase
Woodbury at Penns Grove

WRESTLING
SCHALICK CLASSIC
At Schalick High School
Team Scores: Schalick 208.5, Haddon Heights 173, Pennsauken 155, Mainland 154,5, Cedar Creek 110, Oakcrest 102.5, Willingboro 65.5, Holy Spirit 62.5, Penns Grove 33.5
Championship matches
107: Victor Fenske (Schalick) pinned Jose Santiago (Penns Grove), 5:18
114: Sincere Wilcox (Cedar Creek) dec. Aniello Napolitano (Haddon Heights), 11-8
121: Cole Denning (Haddon Heights) maj. dec. Fahad Irshad (Willingboro), 17-3
127: Zachary Slimm (Pennsauken) dec. Caleb Jenkins (Schalick), 11-4
133: Joseph Sanchez (Oakcrest) dec. Justin Mazur (Mainland), 3-1
139: Collin Biddle (Schalick) pinned Heriberto Curtidor (Oakcrest), 5:09
145: Daniel MacKinnon (Mainland) pinned Michael Basich (Schalick), 4:30
151: Gavin Mensch (Holy Spirit) pinned Ryan Bailey (Haddon Heights), 2:57
158: Aiden Jenkins (Schalick) tech fall over Michael Borini (Mainland), 17-1 (3:36)
166: Trevor Dill (Mainland) def. Eric Sulik (Schalick), 13-10 (OT)
176: Vincent Hoag (Mainland) dec. Ricky Watt, Schalick, 4-1
191: Kameron Hoskins (Pennsauken) pinned Carlos Villarrubia (Cedar Creek), 5:06
216: Evan Elliott (Schalick) pinned Matthew Kusamotu (Haddon Heights), 1:00
286: Nathan Lelionis (Haddon Heights) tech fall over Gerardo Felipe (Schalick), 15-0 (4:00)

WENDY PANDY-LEH INVITATIONAL
At Delaware Valley Regional
Team scores: Delaware Valley 179.5, Ocean Twp. 178.5, Wall 153.5, Cherokee 111, Woodstown 102.5, Pascack Hills 98, Voorhees (GG) 90, Lawrence 84, Williamstown 78, Westfield 54.5, Princeton 15.5.
Championship matches
106: Michael Apicelli (Ocean) dec. Daniel Berardi (Westfield), 11-10
113: Omar Carrillo-Solano (Wall) pinned Cole Dahl (Voorhees), 1:01
120: Hassan Shawkat (Pascack Hills) maj. dec. Carson Bradway (Woodstown), 13-1
126: Justin Penta (Ocean) over Johnny D’Andrea (Voorhees), MFor
132: Trenton Landell (Cherokee) pinned Jack Corelli (Cherokee), 1:02
138: Steven Ham (Lawrence) dec. Ty Falkenstein (DelVal), 15-9
144: Dominic Volek (Ocean) dec. Michael Hasson (DelVal), 7-5
150: Sebastian Dobak (DelVal) dec. Jake Volek (Ocean), 7-2
157: Parker Quinn (Wall) pinned Justin Farina (Ocean), 0:22
165: Dillon Cahill (Pascack Hills) dec. Jeremy Marsella (Wall), 12-9
175: Olivier Paul (DelVal) dec. Greyson Hyland (Woodstown), 10-7
190: Dane Shiroff (Cherokee) pinned Nicholas Allen (Ocean), 5:12
215: Dimos Maroulis (Voorhees) pinned Bradley Snitcher (Woodstown), 1:32
285: Mateo Vinciguerra (Woodstown) pinned Zane Spencer (Lawrence), 0:38

INDOOR TRACK
Five individuals and one relay team brought home top 10 finishes at the second SJTCA meet of the season Saturday at the Ott Center in Philadelphia.

Penns Grove’s Arianna Dowe scored two, finishing eighth in the girls long jump (14-1.25) and seventh in the triple jump (30-5.75). Teammate Zoey Caesar was fifth in the shot put (32-1.5), one spot ahead of Salem’s Ava Rodgers (30-2.25).

On the boys side, Salem’s Ahmad Tucker was eighth in the long jump (19-3.5), Gradin Buzby was tenth in the pole vault (10-6) and the 4×400 relay team was tenth (3:45.47).

Winter schedule

Here is the schedule for the 2025-26 Salem County winter sports season; x-scrimmage

DEC. 11
BOYS BASKETBALL
x-Cinnaminson at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
x-St. Joseph at Schalick, 4 p.m.
x-Salem Tech at Pennsauken Tech
GIRLS BASKETBALL
x-Cumberland at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
x-Schalick at Bridgeton, 4 p.m.
x-Woodstown at Lower Cape May, 4:45 p.m.
SWIMMING
Salem vs. Pitman at GCIT, 6 p.m.
Woodstown at Camden Academy Charter
BOWLING
Salem vs. Gloucester Catholic at Wood Lanes, 4 p.m.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at RCSJ-Cumberland, 5 p.m.

DEC. 12
WRESTLING
Pennsville girls in TCC Jamboree, 5 p.m.

DEC. 13
BOYS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove Showcase
Cumberland vs. West Deptford, 10:30 a.m.
Winslow vs. Deptford, 12:30 p.m.
Woodstown vs. Woodbury, 4:30 p.m.
Penns Grove vs. Lindenwold, 6:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove Showcase
Woodbury at Penns Grove, 2:30 p.m.
WRESTLING
Schalick Holiday Tournament, 9 a.m.
Salem at Vineland Tournament
Woodstown at Delaware Valley Tournament
INDOOR TRACK
Salem at Ott Center, Philadelphia
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Brookdale at Salem CC, 2 p.m.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Lackawanna at Salem CC, noon

DEC. 15
BOYS BASKETBALL
x-Pennsville at Palmyra, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Cape May Tech, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
x-Palmyra at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Cape May Tech, 4 p.m.
SWIMMING
Woodstown vs. West Deptford, RiverWinds
BOWLING
Salem vs. Salem Tech at Wood Lanes, 4 p.m.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at CCBC-Catonsville, 5 p.m.

DEC. 16
BOYS BASKETBALL
Clayton at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Salem at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
Wildwood at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
Penns Grove at St. Joe (Hamm.), 7 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at Wildwood, 5:30 p.m.
Schalick at Clayton, 5:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Salem, 5:30 p.m.

DEC. 17
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Buena at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
WRESTLING
Pennsville, Gloucester Catholic at Salem, 5 p.m.
Schalick at Penns Grove, 5 p.m.
SWIMMING
Schalick vs. Gloucester Catholic at GCIT, 4:45 p.m.
Salem vs. Triton at GCIT, 7:15 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem vs. Clayton at Bolero Lanes, 4 p.m.

DEC. 18
BOYS BASKETBALL
Overbrook at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Pennsville at Glassboro, 5:30 p.m.
Salem at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Penns Grove, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
Penns Grove at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Ocean, 5 p.m.

DEC. 19
BOYS BASKETBALL
Maple Shade at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Pennsville at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
GCIT at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
West Deptford at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
Salem Tech at Salem, 5:30 p.m.
SWIMMING
Woodstown vs. Timber Creek at GCIT, 7 p.m.
Schalick vs. Glassboro at GCIT, 8:30 p.m.

DEC. 20
BOYS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at Winslow, 1 p.m.
Salem vs. Pleasantville in Ocean City, 5:15 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at Winslow, 11 a.m.
Salem Tech at Highland, 11:30 a.m.
WRESTLING
Burlington Twp., Camden at Salem, 10 a.m.
Pennsville girls at Jackson Memorial, 2 p.m.
Woodstown at University of Delaware
INDOOR TRACK
Woodstown at Ott Center, Philadelphia
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Sussex, noon
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Cecil, 11 a.m.

DEC. 21
WRESTLING
Woodstown at University of Delaware

DEC. 22
BOYS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Overbrook, 5:30 p.m.
Penns Grove at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Wildwood at Salem, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Woodstown at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Overbrook at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
Salem at Wildwood, 5:30 p.m.
Schalick at Penns Grove, 5:30 p.m.
INDOOR TRACK
Pennsville at Ocean Breeze, 4:30 p.m.
Salem at Bennett Center, 4:30 p.m.

DEC. 23
BOYS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at Bridgeton, 4:30 p.m.

DEC. 26
WRESTLING
Salem girls at Clayton Tournament

DEC. 27
BOYS BASKETBALL
Boardwalk Classic, Wildwood
Penns Grove vs. Millville, 2:30 p.m.
Woodstown Holiday Tournament
Camden Tech vs. Haddon Heights, 10 a.m.
Camden Prep vs. Woodstown, 11:30 a.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at Audubon Tournament
Woodstown vs. Holy Spirit, Haddonfield, 10 a.m.
Haddon Twp. at Pennsville, 11:30 a.m.
WRESTLING
Schalick at Clayton Classic, 8 a.m.
INDOOR TRACK
Woodstown at Ott Center, Philadelphia

DEC. 28
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at Audubon Tournament
WRESTLING
Salem at Middleton South

DEC. 29
BOYS BASKETBALL
Woodstown Holiday Tournament
Consolation game, 10 a.m.
Championship game, 11:30 a.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Woodstown vs. Moorestown Friends, Haddonfield, 10 a.m.
Salem vs. New Egypt (tournament), 1 p.m.

DEC. 30
BOYS BASKETBALL
Woodstown vs. Collingswood at Overbrook Classic, 10 a.m.
Salem vs. Rancocas Valley at Delsea, 11 a.m.
Pennsville at Gateway, 11:30 a.m.
West Deptford at Schalick, noon
Penns Grove vs. Westhampton Tech at Delsea, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Maple Shade at Schalick, 10 a.m.
Salem at New Egypt Tournament
WRESTLING
Audubon, Long Branch, Northern Burlington at Woodstown, 10 a.m.

JAN. 3
BOYS BASKETBALL
Cherokee at Woodstown, 11:30 a.m.
Maple Shade at Pennsville, 11:30 a.m.
Salem Tech at West Deptford, 11:30 a.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Cinnaminson at Woodstown, 1 p.m.
WRESTLING
Northern Burlington, Willingboro at Salem, 10 a.m.
Pennsville at Hammonton Duals, 10 a.m.
Schalick, Haddon Heights, Mainland at Overbrook, 10 a.m.
Woodstown at Collingswood
INDOOR TRACK
Woodstown at Ott Center, Philadelphia

JAN. 5
BOYS BASKETBALL
Clayton at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
Wildwood at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Hammonton at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
Pennsville at Clayton, 5:30 p.m.
SWIMMING
Schalick vs. West Deptford at River Winds, 3:45 p.m.

JAN. 6
BOYS BASKETBALL
Clayton at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
Glassboro at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Overbrook at Penns Grove, 5:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
Salem at Pitman, 7 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Glassboro at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Pennsville at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
Pitman at Salem, 5:30 p.m.
Salem Tech at Clayton, 5:30 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem Tech vs. Gloucester Catholic at Westbrook Lanes, 3:45 p.m.
Salem vs. Lindenwold at Wood Lanes, 4 p.m.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Union at Salem CC, 6 p.m.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Monroe-Bronx at Salem CC, 7 p.m.

JAN. 7
WRESTLING
Deptford at Woodstown, 5 p.m.
Schalick at Gloucester Catholic, 5 p.m.
Penns Grove at Pennsville, 6 p.m.

JAN. 8
BOYS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Salem, 5:30 p.m.
Penns Grove at Pitman, 5:30 p.m.
Schalick at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Wildwood, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Pitman at Penns Grove
Salem at Glassboro, 5:30 p.m.
Salem Tech at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Wildwood at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
WRESTLING
Pennsville at Paulsboro, 7 p.m.
SWIMMING
Schalick vs. Triton at GCIT, 6 p.m.
Woodstown vs. Highland at GCIT, 7 p.m.
INDOOR TRACK
Pennsville at Bennett Complex, 5 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem Tech vs. Lindenwold, 3:45 p.m.

JAN. 9
BOYS BASKETBALL
Buena at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Salem at LEAP, 5:30 p.m.
Triton at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at Kingsway, 4 p.m.
LEAP at Salem, 5:30 p.m.
Schalick at Buena, 5:30 p.m.
WRESTLING
Pennsville, Salem girls at Kingsway, 5 p.m.

JAN. 10
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Delsea at Pennsville, 11:30 a.m.
Woodstown at Haddonfield, 1 p.m.
WRESTLING
Deptford at Penns Grove, 9 a.m.
Buena, Cumberland, Timber Creek at Schalick, 10 a.m.
Pennsville, Millville, Oakcrest at Overbrook, 10 a.m.
Woodstown at Cinnaminson
INDOOR TRACK
Woodstown at Bennett Center, Toms River
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at RCSJ-Gloucester, 7 p.m.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at RCSJ-Gloucester, 5 p.m.

JAN. 12
BOYS BASKETBALL
Clayton at Salem, 5:30 p.m.
Overbrook at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
Pennsville at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Penns Grove at Glassboro, 5:30 p.m.
Salem Tech at Wildwood, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Salem at Clayton, 5:30 p.m.
Schalick at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
Wildwood at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Overbrook, 5:30 p.m.
INDOOR TRACK
Salem at Ocean Breeze, Staten Island, 4:30 p.m.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Hagerstown, 5:30 p.m.

JAN. 13
WRESTLING
Woodstown at Schalick, 5 p.m.
Penns Grove at Cumberland, 6 p.m.
Pitman at Pennsville, 6 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem vs. GCIT at Bolero Lanes, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech vs. Kingsway at Westbrook Lanes
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
RCSJ-Cumberland at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

JAN. 14
BOYS BASKETBALL
DuPont at Salem, 5:30 p.m.
Pennsville at Penns Grove, 5:30 p.m.
Pitman at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
Schalick at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
Salem Tech at Pitman, 5:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.

JAN. 15
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Medford Tech at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Camden Catholic, 5:30 p.m.
WRESTLING
Salem at Palmyra, 5:30 p.m.
Penns Grove at Clayton, 6 p.m.
Schalick at Pennsville, 6 p.m.
SWIMMING
Woodstown vs. Gloucester Catholic at GCIT, 5:45 p.m.
Schalick vs. Pitman at GCIT, 7:15 p.m.
Salem vs. Deptford at GCIT, 8:30 p.m.
INDOOR TRACK
Pennsville, Salem, Woodstown at Bennett Center, 4:30 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem Tech vs. Clayton, Wood Lanes, 3:45 p.m.
Salem vs. Gloucester Catholic, Westbrook Lanes, 4 p.m.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Northampton, 7 p.m.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Harcum at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

JAN. 16
BOYS BASKETBALL
Buena at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
Gloucester Catholic at Penns Grove, 5:30 p.m.
Salem at Cumberland, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Lindenwold at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.

JAN. 17
BOYS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at Eastern, 10 a.m.
Schalick at Haddon Twp., 10 a.m.
Woodstown at Cedar Creek, 11:30 a.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Woodstown at Delsea, 11:30 a.m.
WRESTLING
Woodstown at Buena Quad
Penns Grove, Overbrook, Pitman at Salem, 9 a.m.
Pennsville, Collingswood, Vineland at Sterling, 10 a.m.
Schalick, Haddon Twp., Pemberton at Deptford, 10 a.m.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Passaic at Salem CC, 2 p.m.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Middlesex at Salem CC, noon

JAN. 19
BOYS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove vs. Burlington City at Woodbury
Salem at Atlantic City, 7 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Paulsboro at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
WRESTLING
Deptford at Penns Grove, 6 p.m.

JAN. 20
BOYS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
Penns Grove at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
Schalick at Overbrook, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Woodstown at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Overbrook at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Pennsville at Glassboro, 5:30 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem Tech vs. Salem at Wood Lanes, 4 p.m.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Mercer at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

JAN. 21
WRESTLING
Woodstown at Overbrook
Clayton at Schalick, 5 p.m.
Winslow at Salem, 5 p.m.
Pennsville at Timber Creek, 6 p.m.
INDOOR TRACK
Pennsville, Salem, Woodstown at Ott Center, Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem vs. Deptford at Brunswick Zone, 4 p.m.

JAN. 22
BOYS BASKETBALL
Clayton at Penns Grove, 5:30 p.m.
Gloucester Catholic at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
Pitman at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Salem at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at Clayton, 4 p.m.
Overbrook at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
Pennsville at Salem, 5:30 p.m.
Schalick at Pitman, 5:30 p.m.
SWIMMING
Woodstown vs. Pitman at GCIT, 5:45 p.m.
Schalick vs. Salem at GCIT, 7:15 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem Tech in NJTAC, Lucky Strike North Brunswick, 1 p.m.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Atlantic Cape at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

JAN. 23
BOYS BASKETBALL
Collingswood at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
Gateway at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Salem at Buena, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Haddon Heights, 5:30 p.m.
Schalick at Paulsboro, 5:30 p.m.
WRESTLING
Schalick at Pitman, 5 p.m.
Pennsville at Woodstown, 6 p.m.

JAN. 24
BOYS BASKETBALL
Kingsway at Woodstown, 10 a.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Kingsway at Woodstown, 11:30 a.m.
WRESTLING
Salem, Haddon Heights, Middle Twp. at Timber Creek, 9 a.m.
Woodstown, Haddonfield, Millville at Penns Grove, 9 a.m.
Holy Spirit, Toms River North, Vineland at Schalick, 10 a.m.
INDOOR TRACK
Pennsville, Woodstown at Bennett Complex, 9 a.m.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Lackawanna, 1 p.m.

JAN. 26
BOYS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at Mastery Camden
Gateway at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Moorestown Friends at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
Salem Tech at Salem, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Schalick at Gateway, 5:30 p.m.
SWIMMING
Woodstown vs. Salem at GCIT, 8:15 p.m.
WRESTLING
Pennsville at Audubon, 6 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem Tech vs. Gloucester Catholic, Wood Lanes, 3:45 p.m.
Salem vs. Lindenwold, 30 Strikes, 4 p.m.

JAN. 27
BOYS BASKETBALL
Camden County Tech at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
Overbrook at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
Salem at Wildwood, 5:30 p.m.
Schalick at Penns Grove, 5:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Glassboro, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
Pennsville at Overbrook, 5:30 p.m.
Penns Grove at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Wildwood at Salem, 5:30 p.m.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Philadelphia at Salem CC, 7 p.m.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Delaware Tech at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

JAN. 28
WRESTLING
Woodstown at Cumberland
Salem at Clayton, 5 p.m.
Pennsville, Salem girls at Clayton Jamboree, 5 p.m.
SWIMMING
TCC Showcase, GCIT, 3 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem vs. Clayton, Wood Lanes, 4 p.m.

JAN. 29
BOYS BASKETBALL
Clayton at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
Salem Tech at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
Wildwood at Penns Grove, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
Schalick at Salem, 5:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Clayton, 5:30 p.m.
SWIMMING
Schalick at Camden Academy Charter, 3:45 p.m.
INDOOR TRACK
Pennsville at Bennett Center, 5 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem Tech vs. Lindenwold, 30 Strikes, 3:45 p.m.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Brookdale, 7 p.m.

JAN. 30
BOYS BASKETBALL
Salem vs. Burlington Twp. at Holy Cross
Woodstown at Washington Twp., noon
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Cumberland at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
Salem at Collingswood, 5:30 p.m.
WRESTLING
Collingswood at Schalick, 5 p.m.
Pennsville at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
INDOOR TRACK
TCC Showcase at Bennett Complex, 5 p.m.

JAN. 31
BOYS BASKETBALL
Woodstown at Washington Twp., noon
WRESTLING
Penns Grove at Highland Quad, 9 a.m.
Burlington Twp., Lacey Twp., Pennsauken at Woodstown, 10 a.m.
Schalick, Lindenwold at Palmyra, 10 a.m.
Salem at Arthur Johnson, 10 a.m.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Luzerne, noon
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Raritan Valley at Salem CC, noon

FEB. 2
BOYS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at West Deptford, 5:30 p.m.
Salem Tech at Gateway, 5:30 p.m.
Schalick at Cape May Tech, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at Paulsboro, 4 p.m.
Cape May Tech at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Millville, 5:30 p.m.
INDOOR TRACK
Salem at Ott Center, Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

FEB. 3
BOYS BASKETBALL
Woodstown at Cherry Hill West, 4 p.m.
Glassboro at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Penns Grove at Overbrook, 5:30 p.m.
Salem Tech at Clayton, 5:30 p.m.
Pitman at Salem, 7 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Overbrook at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Clayton at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
Salem at Pitman, 5:30 p.m.
Schalick at Glassboro, 5:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem Tech vs. ACIT, Wood Lanes, 3:45 p.m.
Salem vs. Washington Twp., Wood Lanes, 4 p.m.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Montgomery at Salem CC, 5 p.m.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Union at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

FEB. 4
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Salem Tech at Wildwood, 5:30 p.m.
WRESTLING
Salem at Schalick, 5 p.m.
Gloucester Catholic at Penns Grove, 5:30 p.m.
Pennsville at Clayton, 6:30 p.m.

FEB. 5
BOYS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Penns Grove, 5:30 p.m.
Salem at Clayton, 5:30 p.m.
Schalick at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Overbrook, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Clayton at Salem, 5:30 p.m.
Overbrook at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
Pennsville at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Harrisburg Area at Salem CC, 5 p.m.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at RCSJ-Cumberland, 5 p.m.

FEB. 6
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Millville at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
Salem at Bridgeton, 5:30 p.m.

FEB. 7
BOYS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at Deptford, 11:30 a.m.
Salem Tech at Buena, 11:30 a.m.
Pennsville at Woodstown, noon
Battle by the Bay, Atlantic City
Salem vs. Cherry Hill East, 4 p.m.
WRESTLING
Salem, Sterling, Timber Creek at Oakcrest
Woodstown, Lacey at Williamstown
Vineland, Winslow at Penns Grove, 9 a.m.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Middlesex, noon

FEB. 9
BOYS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
Salem Tech at Pitman, 5:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
Schalick at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
INDOOR TRACK
Pennsville, Salem at Ocean Breeze, 4:30 p.m.

FEB. 10
BOYS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at Salem, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Salem at Penns Grove, 5:30 p.m.
WRESTLING
Woodstown at Timber Creek
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Union at Salem CC, 5 p.m.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Morris, 5 p.m.

FEB. 11
BOYS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at Pitman, 5:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Deptford at Salem, 5:30 p.m.
Pitman at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
Salem Tech at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
WRESTLING
Pennsville, Salem girls at Overbrook Jamboree, 5 p.m.
Haddon Heights at Pennsville, 6 p.m.

FEB. 12
BOYS BASKETBALL
Salem at Rutgers Prep, 6 p.m.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Camden at Salem CC, 6 p.m.

FEB. 13
BOYS BASKETBALL
TCC Tournament
GIRLS BASKETBALL
TCC Tournament
WRESTLING
Burlington Twp., Cherry Hill West, Maple Shade at Schalick, 4 p.m.

FEB. 14
WRESTLING
Salem at Notre Dame
Highland, Mainland at Pennsville, 10 a.m.
Woodstown, Allentown, Haddon Heights at Delran, 10 a.m.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Sussex at Salem CC, 2 p.m.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Essex at Salem CC, noon

FEB. 15
INDOOR TRACK
NJSIAA Sectionals at Bennett Complex, 9 a.m.

FEB. 16
WRESTLING
NJSIAA Team Tournament

FEB. 17
BOYS BASKETBALL
TCC Tournament
GIRLS BASKETBALL
TCC Tournament
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Harcum, 5 p.m.

FEB. 18
WRESTLING
Team Sectional Finals

FEB. 19
BOYS BASKETBALL
TCC Tournament
GIRLS BASKETBALL
TCC Tournament

FEB. 20
WRESTLING
State Team Semifinals

FEB. 22
WRESTLING
State Team Championship
INDOOR TRACK
Pennsville at Bennett Complex, 9 a.m.

FEB. 26
BOYS BASKETBALL
South Jersey Group I Tournament
GIRLS BASKETBALL
South Jersey Group I Tournament

FEB. 28
BOYS BASKETBALL
South Jersey Group I Tournament
GIRLS BASKETBALL
South Jersey Group I Tournament
WRESTLING
District Tournament

MAR. 3
BOYS BASKETBALL
South Jersey Group I Tournament
GIRLS BASKETBALL
South Jersey Group I Tournament

MAR. 6
BOYS BASKETBALL
South Jersey Group I Championship
GIRLS BASKETBALL
South Jersey Group I Championship
WRESTLING
Region Tournament

MARCH 7
WRESTLING
Region Tournament

MAR. 8
INDOOR TRACK
Meet of Championship, Ocean Breeze, Staten Island, 10 a.m.

MAR. 11
BOYS BASKETBALL
NJSIAA Group I Semifinals
GIRLS BASKETBALL
NJSIAA Group I Semifinals

MAR. 12
WRESTLING
NJSIAA Individual Championships, Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City

MAR. 12
WRESTLING
NJSIAA Individual Championships, Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City

MAR. 14
WRESTLING
NJSIAA Individual Championships, Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City

MAR. 15
BOYS BASKETBALL
NJSIAA Group I Championship, Rutgers
GIRLS BASKETBALL
NJSIAA Group I Championship, Rutgers

Shuffle the deck

Salem County teams split into two divisions in the new West Jersey Football League alignment; Woodstown, Penns Grove out of Diamond for first time in league history

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

The Diamond Division of the West Jersey Football League may look a lot different than it has in the past, but it appears just as strong as it’s ever been.

The ”SEC West” of Group I football is still no country for old men.

Two-time reigning state champion Glassboro may be gone in the latest two-year shakeup of WJFL division alignments, but there is still a lineup of heavy hitters residing there.

Glassboro, Woodbury, Woodstown and Penns Grove may be out, but Pennsville, Paulsboro, Gloucester and Overbrook are in. All six teams in the new iteration of the division were playoff teams this past season.

Schalick was 5-7, but played in the sectional title game for the third year in a row. Pennsville (5-5, Patriot) was a South Jersey Group I quarterfinalist and Salem (6-5) and Paulsboro (9-2) played in the semifinals. Incoming Gloucester (5-5, Continental) and Overbrook (6-4, Patriot) were playoff teams in Group II.

“We feel like our division will be challenging, but we must challenge ourselves to get better,” Pennsville athletics director Jamy Thomas said. “We are familiar with the teams in our division and we are getting back a few Salem County rivals.”

To accommodate the shuffle, Salem County’s other two football-playing teams, Woodstown (3-7) and Penns Grove (0-9), were moved into the Independence Division with Buena (3-5), Clayton (5-5), Pitman (4-6) and Woodbury (3-7). Only Woodbury in this group made the playoffs this year, and it was involved in the fight with Paulsboro late in the game.

Glassboro jumps into the Colonial Division with Cedar Creek, Delsea, Holy Spirit, Ocean City and Pleasantville. Reigning Patriot Division champion West Deptford jumps into the Constitution Division with Burlington City, Delran, Haddonfield, Seneca and Willingboro.

Teams had the right to appeal their spots. Deadline for the appeals was Dec. 3; sources said there were more than 20. Five have been granted of the 11 heard, and while there will be changes in the alignment league officials declined to identify them.

“The modifications based on appeals granted have not been completed yet,” WJFL president and Moorestown athletics director Joe McColgan said Wednesday.

The group meets again Monday. “I’m hoping we’ll have some resolution” at that time, McColgan said.

Woodstown and Penns Grove have been part of the Diamond Division since the inception of the WJFL in 2010, but it has been rare that all five Salem County teams played in the same division.

The Eagles play an annual trophy game with Penns Grove. The last time they played all four of the other Salem County teams in the same season was 2019.

“(It) would be nice if the scheduling committee added Woodstown as one of our cross-overs so we would once again play all of the Salem County schools during the regular season,” Thomas said.

WEST JERSEY FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIAMOND: Gloucester, Overbrook, Paulsboro, Pennsville, Salem, Schalick.
INDEPENDENCE: Buena, Clayton, Penns Grove, Pitman, Woodbury, Woodstown.

Salem County WJFL History

YEARSCHALICKPENNS GROVEPENNSVILLESALEMWOODSTOWN
2025DiamondDiamondPatriotDiamondDiamond
2024DiamondDiamondPatriotDiamondDiamond
2023HorizonDiamondRoyalDiamondDiamond
2022HorizonDiamondRoyalDiamondDiamond
2021UnitedDiamondUnitedDiamondDiamond
2020UnitedDiamondUnitedDiamondDiamond
2019DiamondDiamondDiamondDiamondDiamond
2018DiamondDiamondDiamondDiamondDiamond
2017ClassicDiamondDiamondDiamondDiamond
2016ClassicDiamondDiamondDiamondDiamond
2015DiamondDiamondClassicClassicDiamond
2014DiamondDiamondClassicClassicDiamond
2013DiamondDiamondClassicClassicDiamond
2012DiamondDiamondClassicClassicDiamond
2011DiamondDiamondClassicClassicDiamond
2010DiamondDiamondClassicClassicDiamond

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Dec. 8-13; x-scrimmage

MONDAY, DEC. 8
BOYS BASKETBALL
x-Triton at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
x-Triton at Salem, 3:30 p.m.
x-Pennsville at Millville, 4 p.m.

TUESDAY, DEC. 9
BOYS BASKETBALL
x-Pennsville at Clayton, 4 p.m.
x-Penns Grove at Vineland, 4 p.m.
x-Salem at Bridgeton, 4 p.m.
x-Schalick at Cumberland, 4 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
x-Bridgeton at Salem, 3:30 p.m.
x-Cumberland at Schalick, 4 p.m.
x-Highland at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem Tech vs. Gloucester at Wood Lanes, 3:45 p.m.
Salem vs. Overbrook at Wood Lanes, 4 p.m.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
RCSJ-Gloucester at Salem CC, 7 p.m.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Morris at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 10
BOYS BASKETBALL
x-Woodstown at Paulsboro, 4 p.m.
SWIMMING
Schalick at Camden County Tech, 4 p.m.
TRACK
Pennsville Polar Bear Meet, 3 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem Tech vs. Clayton at Bowlero, 3:45 p.m.

THURSDAY, DEC. 11
BOYS BASKETBALL
x-Cinnaminson at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
x-St. Joseph at Schalick, 4 p.m.
x-Salem Tech at Pennsauken Tech
GIRLS BASKETBALL
x-Cumberland at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
x-Schalick at Bridgeton, 4 p.m.
x-Woodstown at Lower Cape May, 4:45 p.m.
SWIMMING
Woodstown at Camden Academy Charter, 3:30 p.m.
Salem vs. Pitman at GCIT, 6 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem vs. Gloucester Catholic at Wood Lanes, 4 p.m.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at RCSJ-Cumberland, 5 p.m.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
RCSJ-Cumberland at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

FRIDAY, DEC. 12
WRESTLING
Pennsville girls in TCC Jamboree, 5 p.m.

SATURDAY, DEC. 13
BOYS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove Showcase
Cumberland vs. West Deptford, 10:30 a.m.
Winslow vs. Deptford, 12:30 p.m.
Woodstown vs. Woodbury, 4:30 p.m.
Penns Grove vs. Lindenwold, 6:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove Showcase
Woodbury at Penns Grove, 2:30 p.m.
WRESTLING
Schalick Holiday Tournament, 9 a.m.
Salem at Vineland Tournament
Woodstown at Delaware Valley Tournament
INDOOR TRACK
Salem at Ott Center, Philadelphia
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Brookdale at Salem CC, 2 p.m.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Lackawanna at Salem CC, noon

Rogers an Owl

Salem’s Rogers makes it official, signs into Temple football’s largest class ever; will report in January to take part in spring practice

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

SALEM – Kemp Carr has had a lot of hard-working players in his long tenure as a high school football coach, but the list is short of those who have worked as hard as Antwuan Rogers has to get to where the Salem senior found himself Wednesday.

When he was coming up Rogers played like a kid. He’d give what he thought was winning effort on a play, but didn’t always see it all the way through. There also was a measure of maturing away from the field that needed to take place.

Then, the winter after his freshman season he sat in the front row and watched his senior teammates signed to play college football and decided that was something he’d like to do. It was right there he knew there was work to be done.

Fast forward to Wednesday. One by one coaches, teachers, family and teammates rose to speak about the Salem senior after he signed to play college football at Temple and to a person the prevailing comment – with pride – was “he’s come a long way” to achieve his longtime dream.

It has been a long road – “real, real long,” Rogers said – a lot longer than the stretch of country road Carr has the Rams run in the summer for heart and conditioning, although Rogers will tell you that hill is a lot harder. It was on that road, where Rogers threw up in the oppressive heat and went back for more, Carr knew his senior sackmaster had was going to do whatever it took to get to the next level.

“Everybody faces struggles, battles,” Rogers said, “but it’s all about perseverance. The best football players face the most adversity.

“I think about that every day. Just looking back at my freshman year, I get amazed. If you look at my film (now) you see I run to the ball every play; eighth grade, freshman year, I didn’t play like that. I’d quit before the whistle blew. I’ve grown so much as a player.”

In signing with the Owls, Rogers becomes the Rams’ first major Division I football signee since record-breaking and future NFL All-Pro Jonathan Taylor signed with Wisconsin in 2017 and the first Salem athlete to graduate early to pursue their sport. The 6-foot-5, 245-pounder, one of four edge rushers in Owls coach K.C. Keeler’s first high school signing class, will enroll in January – one of 21 early enrollees — and be on campus to participate in spring practice.

In Rogers, the Owls are getting a fierce pass rusher who recorded 23 sacks this past season, setting the single-season school record with a beastly single-game record eight against KIPP in the opening round of the South Jersey Group I playoffs. He had 98 total tackles.

He led a defense that held six opponents to a touchdown or less. Behind that defense, the Rams went from 0-9 in Carr’s first season to 6-5 and won their first playoff game since 2022.

“He has the mindset that he tries to win everything, every rep, every wind sprint, everything, and that’s what pulls over to what you see in the game,” Carr said. “You notice he never came off the field. He was on every special team, offense, defense, that’s because he had a stamina to do so.

“How do you get that stamina, how do you build that? You build it in practice. You build it in the offseason. The kid is just relentless. His motor never stops. They ran toss on the opposite side of him and he was chasing down the ball. Some things are not teachable. Effort is one of them. He’s always given that gallant effort.”

Carr called the difference between Rogers from when he first saw him on film to what he has become “night and day.”

And it’s been an inspiration to his teammates who were on hand to help celebrate the occasion.

“His freshman year he came in and didn’t really play, he was undersized and not that strong,” recalled senior Willie Chatum, who’s known his linemate since second grade. “He took the off-season of his freshman year serious, got bigger, got stronger, got faster, then his sophomore year, junior year he went all out and worked hard every single day.

“It made me want to work really harder. When we were working out together he was working so hard it made me want to work even harder. He was making me want to go do it, gave me motivation. I felt like I was doing something to get better.”

Senior receiver William Dunn has known Rogers since they were cutting up as 3-year-olds and has been with newest Owl “every step of the way.” He, too was “motivated” watching his carpool partner sign on the dotted line.

“It makes me not want to give up on my football dreams,” Dunn said. “I want to take it to the next level, whether it’s JUCO, Division III, somewhere else. I still want to make it D-One. I’ve got hope. He gave me hope. He gave me a little spark.”

Carr hopes that’s what every one of his players took away from Wednesday’s program and he left them with a simple two-word message.

“Who’s next?”

Ready to sign

Salem sack master Rogers ready to embrace life-changing experience as he prepares to sign with Temple

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

SALEM – The phone buzzed in Antwuan Rogers’ pocket during Tuesday’s mid-morning rush. On the other end of the line was his Temple recruiting contact Malachi Timberlake, just checking in again with the Salem senior, but this time to make sure everything was still on track for Wednesday’s red-letter day.

“‘Are you ready,’” Rogers said, recalling the conversation. “’Your life changes tomorrow.’”

ROGERS

Indeed. First thing Wednesday morning Rogers will sign with Temple to play Division I football. He’ll enroll in January and participate in spring practice to get a jump on his freshman college season. And he plans to come back to walk with his graduating class in May.

It’s a day he’s dreamed about since he was a ninth-grader sitting in the auditorium watching his senior teammates do exactly what he will be celebrating Wednesday afternoon in front of friends, family and teammates. He was too young to understand the enormity of the day when Salem’s record-setting future NFL All-Pro Jonathan Taylor signed with Wisconsin in 2017, but the implications of what he’s about to do really hit home that day as a freshman.

“When I saw that I was like I can’t wait to do that,” he said. “They all knew where they were going to college, just about everything they worked for was happening for them and I just felt happy to see it. It made me realize I had to work harder to get there.”

And that’s what he did.

He said the summer between his sophomore and junior year was “the hardest I ever worked in my life.” Early-morning workouts, nap, practice, work out again. Whatever it took.

It paid off in what he called a “good” junior season for a winless Salem team and it got him invited to the All-American Game in Texas that winter – just a few months after K.C. Keeler was named the Temple head coach — an experience he said “opened me up as a person.”

He’d never been outside the Delaware Valley area before and the flight to Texas was his first ever, but the moment he stepped on the plane it hit him that “this is what football can do, it can change my life like this.”

And then he impressed in the workouts and the game.

“At first even though I was nervous around all these people who were tops in the country and have all these offers and you go in with the butterflies like any other game, but I held my own,” he remembered. “I did my thing with the top guys. I was like I could be considered a top guy.”

In Rogers, the Owls are getting a fierce 6-foot-5 pass rusher who made his bones terrorizing opposing quarterbacks this season. He recorded 23 sacks, breaking the single-season school record that had been his goal with a beastly single-game record eight against KIPP in the opening round of the South Jersey Group I playoffs. He finished the year with 98 tackles and 28 career sacks

Although he had interest from two other major programs, the Owls were always high on his list. He went to “a lot” of Temple games growing up, knew a lot of their players and when he finally went there on a visit it all felt so familial.

Timberlake was calling Tuesday morning just to make sure it still felt that way. He’s ready.

“It’s the day that’s everything I worked for,” Rogers said. “Sometimes you get unmotivated, you see a lot of guys getting offers around you and you don’t have any, (but) you just keep your head down and keep working.”

Back in the game

Former Salem High lineman Brooks excited about having the chance to play football again; he’s the type student-athlete who fits the Mighty Oaks’ mold

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – When the Salem High School football team took the final snap of the 2023 season, Darius Brooks resigned himself to the fact his playing career was over. It was great fun while it lasted, but with no immediate opportunities to play at the next level in front of him it was time to get on with the rest of his life.

BROOKS

There was a year in trade school and then enrolling at Salem Community College to start pursuing his degree. Then, the college began to explore adding a football program to its sports offerings, and when its board of trustees approved the initiative Thursday all of a sudden Brooks had a place back in the game.

“I thought it was over with, I kind of accepted that, but I always wanted to get back to it somehow, someway,” Brooks said. “I’m excited, for sure. Definitely ready to lace them back up at least one more year.”

It’s players like the former Rams lineman that interim head coach Jay Accorsi was thinking about when he pitched the idea of starting football to Salem president Mike Gorman. Accorsi, the former Rowan head coach, knew there were hundreds of players in the region who still had the ability and desire to play the game, but were shut out of places to continue after high school.

There was only one two-year college in New Jersey playing NJCAA-sanctioned football and it was way up in North Jersey. Before the Salem board green-lighted the initiative, there was no JUCO football between Central New York and Louisburg, N.C.

“Believe it or not in this (consultant’s) role I’ve had several conversations with coaches and different people specifically about several of those type of players and several of those type of players have already reached out to me,” Accorsi said. “There’s already that population that even at the beginning of this process of doing this is already reaching out.

“I already have several names on a bulletin board for that. And that just validates why I wanted to get involved in this and why I wanted to do this and why I feel so strongly about it.”

While the talk of the Mighty Oaks adding football circulated, Brooks told the many friends who asked that he’d be interested in playing if it became a reality and started “getting ready.” He hadn’t spoken to anyone in the athletic department about it, but you can bet he’ll be among the first in line when the door opens.

“I was definitely excited,” Brooks said. “Believe it or not somebody asked me if I would be interested in coaching, but I’m not old enough for that yet. If I’m doing anything I’ve got to play. I’m definitely looking forward to it.”

Top photo: Lineman Darius Brooks (52) is joined by some Salem High School teammates at a preseason media event before the 2023 football season.

Almost a shocker

Salem wanted another bite at the apple after losing to Glassboro in the regular season, gave top-seeded Bulldogs a battle for three quarters

SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I PLAYOFFS
Semifinals
Glassboro 35, Salem 0
Schalick at Paulsboro, Saturday, noon

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

GLASSBORO — Abdullah Jenkins carried the sentiment of every Salem player on the field on the plate of his back pad.

“Shock the world” he had written in bold black letters. It was a message the senior lineman had been carrying all season but it was particularly poignant Friday night.

The Rams came into their South Jersey Group I semifinal heavy underdogs to top-seeded Glassboro, but they believed more than ever they could win.

They almost pulled it off, too, holding their hosts to two touchdowns through the first three quarters before the Bulldogs did what they invariably do to everyone. They scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to turn a tight game into a 35-0 victory.

“We had our shots,” Salem coach Kemp Carr said. “We had our shots early, didn’t take advantage of it. When you’ve got your shots against a good team you have to cash in and we didn’t cash the check.

“We turned them over early. We had ‘em. We put a lot of fear in that team, I guarantee that.”

Abdullah Jenkins’ back plate says it all. (Photo by Kaitlyn Khairzada)

The Rams (6-5) were all over their hosts in the first half. They held the Bulldogs to less than 100 yards of offense in the half and a lot of that came on a 38-yard touchdown pass to Mekhi Parker on the last play of the first quarter.

It was the only offensive touchdown Glassboro scored until the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs’ other touchdown came on a 50-yard interception return by Parker. Beyond that, they got nothing in the half. 

The Rams say they didn’t do anything different schematically than they did in their 42-0 loss in September that was over at halftime. They just got better as the season progressed.

“Earlier in the season we didn’t know what heart we had,” senior edge rusher Antwuan Rogers said. “But throughout the season we worked … and we gave it all out there today. We played harder.

“We had them. They were worried. We couldn’t get it done.”

The Rams kept them out of the end zone in the third quarter, too, despite the Bulldogs having the ball for all but six plays in the quarter. Still, they started to wear the Rams down before finally erupting in the fourth quarter. Glassboro rushed for 221 yards in the second half after being held to 12 in the first. 

The game followed a recent pattern for the Bulldogs. Each of their previous three games were tight at halftime and into the third quarter before the Bulldogs turned it into a rout in the fourth.

Bulldogs coach Timmy Breaker said it wasn’t the way Salem was stifling his team that was frustrating, but rather all the penalties that kept it from moving forward. The Bulldogs were flagged for 155 yards in penalties, 90 in the third quarter alone. There were 30 accepted penalties for 263 yards in mark-offs between the two teams.

“It was more the mistakes on our side,” Breaker said. “Penalty after penalty. We’re starting first-and-twentysomething, so the playbook condenses at that point. We had some decisions in there that could’ve been made that would change the first half, but even when we made a big play, run after run, we’re back another 15.

“The third quarter would have been an explosive quarter (if not for the penalties). That changes the entire landscape of how you call it. We were getting what we wanted to get, but we couldn’t sustain the drive penalty-wise. It was something we had to clean up.”

They did in the fourth quarter. Amari Sabb rushed for 120 yards and two touchdowns in just the quarter for the Bulldogs. He finished with 130 yards on 12 carries. 

One has to wonder how things might have turned out had the Rams scored on their opening possession. A fumble recovery created by another Rogers sack set them up at the Glassboro 40. They got all the way down to the 12 when two sacks and two penalties derailed the drive and they had to punt from just about where they started.

“For two years we haven’t scored on Glassboro, so I felt like if we would’ve scored then their momentum would have gone down seeing that we were a different team,” Jenkins said. “We just couldn’t replicate practice to the field.”

“If we put up any points, their whole momentum goes, we win,” said Rogers.

The Bulldogs (11-0) will now host the winner of Saturday’s Schalick-Paulsboro game in next week’s sectional final. Schalick is expected to be a heavy favorite in its semifinal with Paulsboro having suspended 16 players, including at least six starters (and in Group 1 that’s typically 12 positions), for their part in a fourth-quarter brawl last week with Woodbury.

In a sense, the Rams did shock the world this season. They turned an 0-9 first year under Carr into a winning second campaign that included their first playoff win since 2022. And they anticipate even better things going forward.

“From going 0-9 last year to 5-4 and the second round of the playoffs, it’s definitely a jump,” Jenkins said. “I feel next year the championship is ours. We’re going to shock the world again.”

Glassboro 35, Salem 0

SALEMGLASS
71st Downs15
25-33Rushing29-233
3-16-1Passing7-15-0
47Passing yds82
2-1Fumbles-lost3-1
7-25.9Punts-avg2-19.5
12-108Penalties18-155
Salem0000-0
Glassboro77021-35

SCORING SUMMARY
G-Mekhi Parker 38 pass from Jack O’Connell (Sal Esgro kick), 0:07 1Q
G-Mekhi Parker 50 interception return (Sal Esgro kick), 3:36 2Q
G-Amari Sabb 5 run (Amari Sabb run), 6:52 4Q
G-Amari Sabb 10 run (run failed), 4:10 4Q
G-Davon Barr 6 run (Sal Esgro kick), 2:50 4Q

GROUP I PLAYOFFS
NORTH I
Butler 49, New Milford 13
Kinnelon 37, Kittatinny 7
NORTH II
Cedar Grove 22, Mountain Lakes 15
New Providence 28, Hasbrouck Heights 21
SOUTH
Glassboro 35, Salem 0
Schalick at Paulsboro, Saturday
CENTRAL
Burlington City 52, Manville 14
Shore 30, Pt. Pleasant Beach 6

WJFL All-Stars

Here are the all-star teams for the West Jersey Football League Patriot and Diamond Divisions

Patriot Division

POSFIRST TEAM OFFENSE
OLSalvatore Fife, W. Deptford
OLChris Neff, Paulsboro
OLJoseph Calderon, Overbrook
OLJacob Hand, Pennsville
OLLars Stenger, Camden Cath.
QBMalakhai McKenzie, Paulsboro
RBAxcel Bailey, Overbrook
RBNymir Daily, Camden Cath.
WRJeremiah Carr, Paulsboro
WRMichael Joseph, W. Deptford
WRMike Aversa, Audubon
ATHColę Paskiewicz, W. Deptford
ATHTeriq Moore, Overbrook
KBrady Cobb, W. Deptford
POSFIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DLAl Dayrell, W. Deptford
DLJonah Jordan, Audubon
DLCharles Schriver, W. Deptford
DLJayden Gurnovich, Pennsville
LBKam Simpkins, W. Deptford
LBA.J. Powell, Overbrook
LBCaden Luby, Collingswood
LBColton Sabo, W. Deptford
DBZamir Davis, W. Deptford
DBKyaire Harvey, Paulsboro
DBRylan Hardy, Pennsville
DBDaniel Leahy, Camden Cath.
ATHRobbie McDade, Pennsville
PLino Bataloni, Collingwood

HONORABLE MENTION
OFFENSE: Dylan Huff, OL Audubon; Terrance Gaffney, RB Collingswood; Jayden Devan, OL Overbrook; Madden Rosario, OL Camden Catholic; Marques Eli, WR Paulsboro; Perry Meranti, TE Pennsville; Shane Cruz, OL West Deptford.
DEFENSE: Cole Trotz, LB Camden Catholic; Aaron Pilla, DB Audubon; Tacere Redd, LB Collingswood; Rayon Pressler, DL Overbrook; Jamaal Robinson, DB Paulsboro; Trevor Waddington, DL Pennsville; Curtis Pearson, DB West Deptford.

Diamond Division

POSFIRST TEAM OFFENSE
OLJayce Grays, Glassboro
OLAmon Wright, Glassboro
OLAbdur Jenkins, Salem
OLWyatt Irvine, Salem
OLJaKai Ingrim, Penns Grove
QBJack O’Connell, Glassboro
RBJoJo DeLecce, Glassboro
RBTroy Carey, Salem
WRXavier Sabb, Glassboro
WRMekhi Parker, Glassboro
WRKaden Robinson, Salem
ATHAmari Sabb, Glassboro
ATHDesmund Thomas, Salem
KHunter Dragotta, Schalick
POSFIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DLRay Brown, Penns Grove
DLAntwuan Rogers, Salem
DLBrandon Simmons, Glassboro
DLAiden Torres, Schalick
DBNiko Jimenez, Woodbury
DBKyvion Parsons, Salem
DBWilliam Dunn, Salem
DBDavid Stewart, Schalick
LBTasheem Butler, Glassboro
LBDezYon Purnell, Schalick
LBElijah Young, Woodbury
LBDavon Barr, Glassboro
ATHJunior Serrano, Glassboro
PShawn Kelly, Schalick

HONORABLE MENTION
OFFENSE: Ryan Dispensa, OL Glassboro; Willie Chattam, OL Salem; Dale Thomas, RB Woodbury; Aiden Taulane, OL Woodstown; Sherrod Jones, WR Schalick; Antonio Cooper, OL Penns Grove.
DEFENSE: Dorian Kelsey, DL Glassboro; Quimere Bergen, DB Salem; Kahree Brown, LB Woodbury; Dylan Sheehan, DB Schalick; Bryceton Rooney, LB Woodstown; Luis Colon, LB Penns Grove.