Four of Salem County’s five high school football teams scrimmage for first time in training camp, results predictable
By Riverview Sports News
Four of Salem County’s five high school football team hit the field for their first scrimmages of training camp. It went about the way you’d expect. There was some good, there was some bad and there was a lot of think about. Here are the coaches’ impressions.
PENNS GROVE vs. Gateway
The Red Devils hosted a team that returns a lot of starters from a team that went 7-3 and held their own. Each team scored once and JaKai Ingram forced and recovered a fumble that would’ve set up the offense in the red zone.
“it was great for us,” Penns Grove coach Damian Ware said. “Honestly, it was really good. I was talking to their coach and he expects them to do well this year and we pretty much hung with them. They scored once, we scored once; it was pretty even all the way through the scrimmage. The key for us is playing solid and keeping everything in front of us.“
The Gators had two big runs, but one called back due to a holding penalty. The Red Devils scored their touchdown on a long run by freshman Jaivon Thomas.
“The main thing for us is figuring out who the quarterback is because that’s still an open competition right now,” Ware said. “Once we figure out the quarterback then that’s when we’re going to lock in. All three of them (Avery Batts, Damion Robinson, Brayden Lattig) played today and nobody stood out; they were all kind of the same. They have some promise and they’re going to be solid; they’ll be fine.
“The good thing is we don’t have a Week Zero game so that gives us time. We don’t have to rush into doing things. We can figure things out that next week and figure out what we’re going to do and how we’re going to move forward.
The Red Devils scrimmage again at 10 a.m. Thursday at home against Wildwood.
PENNSVILLE vs. Triton
Pennsville coach Mike Healy called it an overall good day. Jake Kimani and C.J. Johnson both had a touchdown catch. Tristan Horner didn’t score a touchdown, but had several tough, physical runs.
“I take away a lot of positives from first scrimmage,” Healy said. “We’ve got a lot of new faces out there. Not that it’s a rebuild for us, but there are going to be some growing pains, but I saw a lot of positives. We’ve got to clean some things up, but overall it was a good day.
“We moved the ball, had some nice stops, hurt ourselves with some penalties and mistakes we have to clean up, but I think overall it was a real positive day, a step forward for us.”
The Eagles scrimmage again Friday 4 p.m. at home against Poly Tech (Del.).
WOODSTOWN vs. Clearview
The Wolverines are looking to put a tough 2025 season behind them and Monday’s scrimmage was a good first step. Cole Ware and Ty West scored rushing touchdowns and Andrew White caught a touchdown pass from Mason Middlemiss.
“It was a good first scrimmage for us,” coach Frank Trautz said. “It was structured more like a practice than it was a game. Overall, the object for today was just let’s go out, let’s compete, let’s play with effort. First time against a different opponent here, so I was happy with all that.
“Of course, we did some good things, we did some bad things, lots of stuff to work on, but overall happy with the kids’ effort and what they were able to do today. It was a good start. I was happy. Overall, happy with the direction we’re going.”
The Wolverines scrimmage again 6 p.m. Thursday at home against Audubon.
SALEM vs. Absegami, Pt. Pleasant Boro, Rahway
The Rams played these three teams in this order because what they do was supposed to give the Rams a look at what they’re expected to see in their opener at Ironton (Ohio).
“We took care of business,” Rams coach Kemp Carr said. “We went down there looking for work. We got good work.”
Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Aug. 17-21; x-scrimmage
MONDAY, AUG. 17 FOOTBALL x-Clearview at Woodstown, 9 a.m. x-Haddon Twp. at Penns Grove, 9 a.m. x-Salem, Rahway, Pt. Pleasant Boro at Absegami, 10 a.m. x-Triton at Pennsville, 10 a.m.
TUESDAY, AUG. 18 FOOTBALL x-Delsea at Schalick, 10 a.m. GIRLS TENNIS x-Pennsville at Middle Twp., 10 a.m.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 19 GIRLS TENNIS x-Clearview at Schalick, 10 a.m. Woodstown at Sterling, 10 a.m.
THURSDAY, AUG. 20 FOOTBALL x-Wildwood at Penns Grove, 10 a.m. x-Audubon at Woodstown, 6 p.m.
FRIDAY, AUG. 21 FOOTBALL x-Salem at Camden, 10 a.m. x-Schalick at Buena, 9 a.m. x-Poly Tech (Del.) at Pennsville, 4 p.m. GIRLS TENNIS x-Schalick at Cumberland, 9:30 a.m. x-Millville at Pennsville, 10 a.m. COLLEGE FOOTBALL x-Salem CC at Montclair, 5 p.m.
With a big squad, quality across the board and an open road ahead, Rams looking for big things in Carr’s third season as head coach
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
SALEM – Kemp Carr says he hasn’t heard the expectations. He may be the only one. His players sure have and they’re jumping on them like a loose ball in the end zone.
With all the team movement and reshuffling that has taken place in South Jersey Group I and the talent the Rams have assembled, there is strong talk about this team that just two years ago was winless winning a South Jersey Group 1 championship and even a state crown.
The head coach may not have heard all that, but the Rams aren’t backing away from any of it.
SALEM RAMS
Aug. 29 – at Ironton (Ohio), 1 p.m.
Sept. 5 – Paulsboro, noon
Sept. 12 – Audubon, noon
Sept. 18 – at Schalick, 6 p.m.
Sept. 26 – Overbrook, noon
Oct. 3 – Woodstown, noon
Oct. 9 – at Clayton, 6 p.m.
Oct. 10 – at Burlington City, 6 p.m.
Oct. 23 – at Pennsville, 6 p.m.
“Do I believe in it?” Carr said. “My goal ultimately has always been (that). I’ve been doing this for a very long time. If anybody comes in here thinking you’re going to be 0-10, I give up, then I should be in a different business. If anybody thought we were going to be 6-5, I should be in a different business.
“Every year we come in here with a plan, and that’s at the end of the day to be playing in December. That’s always the plan. It ain’t about this year, it ain’t about next year and it ain’t about last year. It’s about 2026-2027 football season. Being in front of us, we have one common goal, and that’s to be 14-0. I don’t believe in expectations. I believe in results and reality. We’re just trying to win one game at a time and we’re trying to layer it.
“I don’t deal with expectations. I’m a reality guy, and the only way you can get there is you’ve got to stack the wins and you’ve got to be playing better than everybody else when it comes to the end of the season. That’s always going to my motto. We have a motto here – our standard is our standard, we don’t deviate from our standard. Our standard is were going to outwork everybody and hopefully the ball bounces our way.”
The reality is the Rams were a lot better in Carr’s second season last year than his winless first one and they’re looking for even more this year – a lot more.
“We’re not ducking any of the expectations,” junior defensive end Tony Merendino said. “I think the expectations when we came over here were very high. We have a bunch of guys who are all ready, we’re hungry for that win, hungry for that state championship. The main mission, that’s what were in for.”
“That’s the goal, nothing else; we want to to go to Rutgers,” running back Isiah Santiago said. “We know there’s a lot on the table right now, so we just have to really put all in.”
The Rams’ confidence is rooted in part in the players’ commitment during the off-season, so much so they were sending Carr videos of their workouts on his summertime trip overseas to confirm they were doing the work.
They have the depth and experience to be the dominant team in the revamped WJFL Diamond Division, and when it comes to Group 1 overall, they don’t have Glassboro to contend with this year. Their battles, at least in the division, are expected to be with Schalick and Paulsboro. The key is staying healthy, staying together and reducing senseless penalties that stifled them at times
“We’re excited for this year,” RB-DB Cashmir Parsley said. “Coming off of last season with a second-round loss (to Glassboro), I feel we should go farther into the playoffs and go to the championship and win and do way better than last year. The work ethic is way different from last year. We work harder this year, everybody’s positive, practice is just different than last year.
“We’re gonna go all the way.,” he added confidently.
Kemp Carr enters this third season as the Rams’ head coach.
Carr welcomed 37 returning players among the 48 he has in camp, the largest group in his three seasons at the helm, and depth across the board.
They have 10 down linemen, six linebackers, four safeties and five corners on a “Blue Storm” defense that held three of its last four opponents last season to a touchdown or less. There are eight linemen, 10 receivers (six slot, four outside), three running backs and two quarterbacks in an offense even faster than the one that put up 30 points or more in four of their six wins. There are 18 juniors and 11 seniors.
The coach called it “on paper, the most quality team I’ve had.”
Ev-ver.
“It’s the deepest we’ve been and they’ve matched some of the other teams’ mindset, leadership,” he said. “It ain’t about the (captain’s) C on your chest, It’s about the quality of work you put in for people who are willing to follow it. I’ve had good teams ending great because they outworked people and I had great teams only be good because they thought they were great.”
“We should be amazing, actually,” Santiago said.
To guide them through, Carr has assembled a “great” staff of 11 assistants, including the program’s first paid female assistant, Operations Coordinator Destiny LeFlore.
Desmund Thomas, a strong-armed quarterback who transferred from Georgia last year, brings his cannon back to the offense in 2026. The Michael Vick play-alike threw for 1,226 yards and 13 touchdowns last year, while rushing for 329 yards and four scores. He’s surrounded by a corps of speedy receivers and protected by a line anchored by first-team Diamond Division returnees Wyatt Irvine and Abdur Jenkins and a trimmed-up 330-pounder Jeremiah Robinson.
The defense will be bolstered by the addition of Merendino. He is nearly back to full form after tearing an ACL while playing for Woodstown last season. He should give the Rams the dynamic outside presence Temple signee Antoine Rogers provided last year while setting the single-season school record for sacks.
“I’m feeling great, feel my play style coming back,” Merendino said. “Ever since I tore my ACL on October 14 of my sophomore year (at Woodbury) I felt like I wouldn’t be coming back the same, but now that I was blessed with a new opportunity to come here, I believe ever since I started my recovery I can become this newer, stronger version of myself.”
The Rams expect to be strong up front with 10 defensive lineman and eight on offense.
Salem coach Kemp Carr directs his team during a drill Wednesday; Rams open their season in 16 days in Ohio
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
SALEM – Kemp Carr gets excited about every season opener, but this year the Salem football coach is “super-duper pumped” for it.
Carr is taking his team on a little adventure to open his third season with the team that’s full of promise. The Rams play in Ironton, Ohio, Aug. 29, an ambitious trip that has more layers than just a game.
“Can’t wait,” Carr said after practice Wednesday night. “Excited. Super excited.
“For one, these kids have an opportunity to travel to play football. They get to open their eyes and see something else.”
Of course, it’s more than a game to lift the curtain on what many expect to be a deep run in the Group 1 playoffs. On the way over, the team will make a stop to experience West Virginia University and on the way back they plan to visit Marshall University.
“So it’s a business trip, it’s not just a football trip,” Carr said. “It’s a business trip with a vacation tag to it, an educational tag to it, an exposure tag to it, and an opportunity to bond tag to it. There’s a lot going on here with this trip, so I’m super excited … and if it goes well hopefully we’ll be able to do it in the future again.”
Carr isn’t the only one stoked about the trip. Junior RB-DB Isiah Santiago has been excited about it ever since Riverview Sports News reported the school board approving it this past spring. Carr said “a lot of people” from the community also are expected to make the eight-hour trip to the Ohio-Kentucky border.
“That’s going to be a great experience,” said Santiago, who had two rushing touchdowns and a pick-six in the Rams’ opening-round playoff win at KIPP last season. “Go out of state, (play) a new team we’ve never seen, just go out there and do us. It’s new competition, so you don’t know who it is, you just have to give it all. I was just excited to go on the trip to show everybody what we can do.”
“To go down to Ohio, that’s a major blessing,” defensive end Tony Merendino said. “I’ve never been out of state playing football before, so that’s something different for me. It’s definitely exciting.”
It will be the first time the Rams have played an out-of-state opponent since 2023, when they lost to Executive Education Charter in Lafayette’s Fisher Field. Carr’s last game against an out-of-state opponent was 2009 when his Penns Grove team that eventually reached the South Jersey semifinals lost to a Red Lion (Pa.) team loaded with D-I prospects.
The Rams have already started preparing for the Fighting Tigers and their Boston College-committed three-star quarterback Kayden Edwards. They’ll get a feel for what they’ll see in a Monday quad scrimmage against host Absegami, Rahway and Pt. Pleasant Boro. All three teams are said to have a similar look to their faraway foe.
“I’m excited to go put Salem on the map,” running back Cashmir Parsley said. “I’m just ready to go play.”
N.J. Little League Tournament: All 3 Salem County entries playing in same division; if they dominate the division one will be odd-man out
NJ LITTLE LEAGUE DISTRICT 3
AMERICAN DIV.
W-L
RF-RA
NATIONAL DIV.
W-L
RF-RA
East Vineland
0-0
0-0
Buena
0-0
0-0
Elmer
0-0
0-0
N. Vineland
0-0
0-0
Franklin Twp.
0-0
0-0
S. Cumberland
0-0
0-0
Pennsville
0-0
0-0
S. Vineland
0-0
0-0
Woodstown
0-0
0-0
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
All three Salem County teams in this year’s District 3 Little League Tournament – the one that ultimately sends teams to Williamsport – are assigned to the same division, which could create some interesting dynamics come the end of next week.
The teams representing the Pennsville, Woodstown and Elmer LLs are all together in the five-team American Division, along with East Vineland and Franklin Twp.
In a best-case scenario the Salem County entries dominate the division, but leaves someone in the group the odd-man out for the double-loss district finals. Or, with East Vineland a heavy favorite, they could be three teams battling it out for one spot. The top two teams in each division after pool play advance.
“I think it’s kind of cool, but then it’s like, ugh, who’s the odd-man out,” Elmer manager Ray Harding said.
“It’d be great if we can get two representatives from Salem County,” Woodstown’s Dave Murnane agreed.
The tournament gets underway Friday with three 5:45 p.m. games: Elmer at East Vineland, Woodstown at Franklin Twp. and North Vineland at South Vineland. The full schedule is listed below.
Two of the three county teams are combo clubs with other leagues, which makes for some interesting dynamics as those managers try to blend the talent of the incoming players with the players they’re more familiar. Elmer has joined forces with West Cumberland, and Woodstown has incorporated players from Alloway and Salem into its roster.
Of the players on his roster Harding knows best, Jameson Hughes gives Elmer consistent production at the top of the lineup and speed on the bases, Roman Allen has a grand slam, Brody Emigholz provides speed on the bases and Connor Harding and Cash Williams look for extra bases out of the box. Connor Harding “won us a lot of games” during the regular season and will be among their top pitchers.
“It’s been interesting,” the elder Harding said. “It’s kind of like we’re going to have to see when we get there. We’ll get the kinks worked out with Vineland and then win or lose we’ll shoot for Monday (at Woodstown) and go from there.”
Woodstown manager Dave Murnane is a little uncertain of what lies ahead as well, but it’s more related to the competition than his roster.
Among the pitchers, Mason Fackler works quickly and has been “very efficient hitting the strike zone” for Murnane’s Woodstown league team. Ryan Garton has been a top pitcher in Alloway with a good mix of pitches and Ashton Wadman has been an ace in Salem.
“With four games in six days, you’ve got to be very strategic with your pitch counts and everything like that,” Murnane said. “I’m very interested to see what the pitchers do.”
Wadman, Breslin Murnane and Alloway’s Logan Roback are among the team’s top hitters and Woodstown 10-year-olds Nolan West and Pax Arnold are said to be sharp with the glove.
“I’m excited,” said Murnane, the Woodstown league president. “It’s like I said to my coaches: We could get killed or we could win every game. I have no idea what to expect. I have a pretty good idea what to expect from us, but I have no idea what to expect from the other teams, so it’s going to be fun to see how we do.”
Unlike their county counterparts, Pennsville has the luxury of a roster that has played 12 regular-season league games against each other and gone through the whole school year together. But it also has the most demanding schedule of the three, playing four games in five days, which with pitch counts and all could challenge their pitching strategy, especially if they start ace Dante DiMarco in Saturday’s tournament opener.
“You could see it early on,” Pennsville coach Aaron Stafford said of the natural bond between teammates. “The kids are all in school together, they know each other, they playfully pick on each other, so some of that team camaraderie was already there we didn’t have to do.
“They’re familiar with each other, with how they play, how they hit. They already had that stuff where they’re able to cheer each other on and know how to talk to each other. They’re really comfortable and familiar with themselves. I think it makes for a great team dynamic that way.”
In addition to DiMarco, Pennsville will be looking to get some good innings from Ryan Lucas, an 11-year-old with multiple pitches in his arsenal.
DiMarco also brings some punch to a deep lineup built on speed and hard contact. Their top hitters are expected to be leadoff man Tyler Colomy, Michael Genna, Connor McGovern and Mason Seaver.
“We have some potential,” Stafford said. “We are looking at this where we are expected to move on. That’s what we want to have in our heads and our message to the boys that we’re hoping to win every game that we play.
“We don’t know the other teams, we know some of the names (from other competitions). The biggest thing in the back of the coaches’ minds is that four games in five days. It’s going to be interesting. I definitely think we have the team – hitters, fielders and pitchers. If we had it spread out a little more – if we had it spread out a little bit more I’d feel a lot better (but) we’re expecting good things out of them.”
NJLL DISTRICT 3 (10-12) TOURNAMENT POOL PLAY SCHEDULE (All games 5:45 p.m. unless noted) Friday’s Games Elmer at East Vineland Woodstown at Franklin Twp. North Vineland at South Vineland Saturday’s Games Pennsville at Franklin Twp., 7 p.m. East Vineland at Woodstown, 5 p.m. Buena at South Cumberland, 7 p.m. June 29 East Vineland at Pennsville Elmer at Woodstown South Cumberland at North Vineland June 30 East Vineland at Franklin Twp. Elmer at Pennsville South Vineland at South Cumberland North Vineland at Buena July 1 Franklin Twp. at Elmer Woodstown at Pennsville South Cumberland at Buena
DISTRICT FINALS July 6 at Buena LL Game 1: American 1 vs. National 2 Game 2: National 1 vs. American 2, 8 p.m. July 7 at North Vineland LL Game 3: Winner G1 vs. Winner G2 Game 4: Loser G1 vs. Loser G2, 8 p.m. July 9 at Pennsville LL Game 5: Loser G3 vs. Winner G4, 7 p.m. July 10 at South Vineland LL Game 6: Winner G3 vs. Winner G5, 7 p.m. July 11 at South Vineland LL If necessary, 7 p.m. Winner advances to Section IV Tournament at Hammonton, July 17
SALEM COUNTY ENTRIES PENNSVILLE Manager: Vinnie Cascaden Gamechanger: 12u Pennsville Allstars Roster: (0) Michael Genna, (3) Dante DiMarco, (6) Drew LaPalomento, (7) Mason Seaver, (8) Tyler Colomy, (13) Ryan Lucas, (15) Kolton Karr, (17) Luca Codamo, (24) Gauge Hill, (23) Maddox Stafford, (88) Connor McGovern, (97) Lachlan Tighe.
WOODSTOWN (Combined with Alloway, Salem) Manager: Dave Murnane Gamechanger: 2026 Woodstown Majors AllStars Roster: Breslin Murnane, Grant West, Jacob Buggy, Mason Fackler, Nolan West, Pax Arnold, Logan Roback, Robert Phelon, Ryan Garton, Ashton Wadman, Daulton Hawks, Xander Shimp.
ELMER (Combined with West Cumberland) Manager: Ray Harding Gamechanger: 12U All Stars 2026 Elmer And West Cumberland Roster: (1) Austin Waller, (27) Brody Emigholz, (16) Cash Williams, (41) Connor Harding, (44) Damon Houchins, (24) Jameson Hughes, (9) Kip Trembley, (13) Lane Hymer, (2) Levi Rugenus, (7) Mirocco Pierce-Stephenson, (3) Roman Allen, (86) Sam Tighe.
Here is the list of Salem County softball players with 100 career hits, 100 career strikeouts (since 2011); note: stats source does not include seasons prior to 2011 in player totals, so some qualified may be omitted
Here is the list of Salem County baseball players with 100 career hits, 100 career strikeouts (since2011); note: stats source does not include seasons prior to 2011 in totals. Softball coming soon.
Salem County athletes score 4 Top Ten finishes at Meet of Champions; Woodstown’s 4×800 finishes second, Schalick’s Robinson sixth
By Riverview Sports News
PENNSAUKEN – Josh Crawford, one of the most decorated runners in Salem County track history, ran the final three NJSIAA races of his high school career Wednesday, finishing with two personal bests and a big finish to bring Woodstown’s 4×800 relay team a second-place finish at the Meet of Champions.
The 13-time state champion qualified in four events for the MOC, but ran the 800 and the two relays. He ran a PR 1:52.56 in the 800 out of the second-fastest heat to finish eighth and turned a blistering 1:51.70 anchor leg in the 4×800 to complete a team 7:49.09 that was second to Shabazz’ winning 7:46.06. The 4×400 team finished 15th.
“I’m really happy with how the day went,” Crawford said. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t in the fastest heat (in the 800) because I think I could’ve definitely put up a better time, but I can’t complain with how my season wrapped up at all.”
The Sacred Heart signee ran splits of 52.59 and 59.11 in the 4×8 to bring the Wolverines from seventh when he took the baton to second in the relay. They were ninth in the standings at one point in the race. The rest of team included Karson Chew, Jacob Marino and David Farrell.
Crawford and the 4×8 weren’t the only Top 10 performances turned in by Salem County athletes at the MOC.
Schalick’s Naveah Robinson finished sixth in the girls javelin. Her top throw of 120 feet, 9 inches was just one inch off her second-place throw in the sectional meet.
Woodstown’s Kami Casiano was tenth in the girls high jump at 5-4.
Among the top 20 finishers, Pennsville’s Danny Knight was 13th in the long jump with Penns Grove’s Group 1 champion Will Roy 19th; Schalick’s Gary Simonini was 18th in the javelin and Salem’s Ramiyah Jones was 20th in the girls triple jump with a 36-2.25 that was better than her jump at the sectionals.
NJSIAA MEET OF CHAMPIONS Wednesday, Pennsauken H.S. Salem County results BOYS 800: 8. Josh Crawford, Woodstown 1:52.56 110 Hurdles: 23. Bryan Garlic, Penns Grove 15.39 4×800: 2. Woodstown (Karson Chew, Jacob Marino, David Farrell, Josh Crawford) 7:49.09 4×400: 15. Woodstown (Karson Chew, Anthony Costello, Michael Turner, Josh Crawford) 3:23.34 Javelin: 18. Gary Simonini, Schalick 165-6 Discus: 27. Ethan McLean, Schalick 141-10 Long Jump: 13. Danny Knight, Pennsville 21-11.75; 19. Will Roy, Penns Grove 21-6.75
GIRLS Long Jump: 21. Ramiyah Jones, Salem 16-9.5 Javelin: 6. Naveah Robinson, Schalick 120-9 Triple Jump: 20. Ramiyah Jones, Salem 36-2.25 High Jump: 10. Kami Casiano, Woodstown 5-4
Here are the Salem County qualifiers for Wednesday’s Meet of Champions and the result they posted in Saturday’s Group I state meet
NJSIAA MEET OF CHAMPIONS QUALIFIERS Wednesday, Pennsauken H.S. BOYS 400: Josh Crawford, Woodstown 50.24; 3. Kylee Goodson, Penns Grove 50.25 800: Josh Crawford, Woodstown 1:55.64 110 Hurdles: Bryan Garlic, Penns Grove 14.90 4×800: Woodstown (Karson Chew, Jacob Marino, David Farrell, Josh Crawford) 8:05.23 4×400: Woodstown (Anthony Costello, Karson Chew, Michael Turner, Josh Crawford) 3:23.10; Penns Grove (Bryan Garlic, Tommy White, Luis Colon, Kylee Goodson) 3:27.28 Javelin: Gary Simonini, Schalick 168-11 High Jump: Tommy White, Penns Grove 6-2 Discus: Ethan McLean, Schalick 144-8 Long Jump: Will Roy, Penns Grove 22-10.75; Danny Knight, Pennsville 22-2.25
GIRLS Long Jump: Ramiyah Jones, Salem 17-8 Javelin: Naveah Robinson, Schalick 120-10 Triple Jump: Ramiyah Jones, Salem 35-11 High Jump: Kami Casiano, Woodstown 5-2
Woodstown 4×800, 4×400 relay teams win Group 1 titles on final day of state meet, Crawford becomes one of Salem County’s winningest state champions, Penns Grove’s Garlic wins 110 hurdles; Wolverines second in team standings, Penns Grove T-4
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
SOMERSET – Woodstown’s “Four Horseman” boys 4×800 relay team that was making headlines and smashing records from the first day somebody got the bright idea three years ago to put them on the track together ran their final Group 1 race as a unit Saturday and went out on their terms – leaving the pack in their dust.
The celebrated quartet of Karson Chew, Jacob Marino, David Farrell and Josh Crawford won their third straight Group 1 4×8 title in 8:05.23. Not as fast as last year’s winning time, but a lot faster than when they won it for the first time in 2024. They led wire-to-wire, increased their lead after every leg and won by a whopping seven seconds.
But that wasn’t the end of it. The 4×800 lead and anchor – Chew and Crawford – helped bring the Wolverines a second state title on the second day of the Group 1 meet at Franklin High School, winning the 4×400 relay in the final event of the meet. They were joined on that relay by Anthony Costello and Michael Turner and turned in a 3:23.10, more than a full second ahead of runner-up Camden, the foursome they were second to here last year. Penns Grove was third.
“Everything went well this year,” Chew said. “The first day wasn’t too eventful for us, but we woke up on the second day with fire in our blood for a win. And that’s exactly what we did.
“Everyone did their job in both races to get us two championship titles. A big shout out to our juniors on the relay who really held it down. David (Farrell) and Michael (Turner) were absolutely key parts in each relay’s win. And all of us seniors went out there and made our last state championships as memorable as we could.”
“I’m very emotional about it for those guys because of the great careers that they’ve had,” Wolverines coach Tom Mason said. “I’m very proud of them. They’re going to be hard to replace, they really are.”
Woodstown’s relay teams weren’t the only Salem County state champions crowned Saturday.
Penns Grove’s Bryan Garlic was declared the winner of the boys 110 hurdles final after race winner Jaleel Dickerson-Dempsey of Camden was disqualified for going out of his lane and impeding another runner. Garlic ran a “relaxed and smooth” PR 14.90 to Dickerson-Dempsey’s 14.32.
The Penns Grove senior was going to Wednesday’s Meet of Champions anyway, but now he’s going, along with long jumper teammate Will Roy, as a state champion.
“At first I was confused because they said he was DQ’d but I didn’t really know if he was DQ’d or not because he was still on the list,” Garlic said. “At the end they said he was DQ’d, I took the first-place medal, I was happy. It didn’t feel right because he got DQ’d, but I’m still grateful to be in the position I am now.”
Garlic didn’t really see what happened in the race until he watched it on video. As the fifth seed in the final he was running in Lane 2 and the incident occurred in the middle of the track. Dickerson-Dempsey was in Lane 4 as the top seed, hit a hurdle and it moved into the adjacent lane and interfered with New Milford’s Luke Johnson in Lane 5.
The ruling wasn’t immediate. Race officials conducted an inquiry, talked with Dickerson-Dempsey about what happened and handed down a decision after several minutes had elapsed. Garlic said he spent his time trying to find an official to get a better understanding of the situation. Johnson got to re-race against the clock and ran a 15.26 in the do-over to finish second behind Garlic.
Woodstown’s relay wins were a bit more clear cut.
Chew led the 4×800 out with a 2:00.84 leg, good for a one-second lead. Marino stretched to three seconds when he passed baton and Farrell, who replaced graduated Cole Lucas this season, extended it to six seconds with splits of 57.14 and 1:04.02. Crawford brought it home against a brutally gusting headwind, posting splits of 56.58 and 1:02.13.
“To be honest with you, after Farrell’s (leg), in my head they’re going to be state champions because no one is going to catch ‘The Machine,’” Mason said, referring to Crawford. “I don’t care what town they’re front, they’re not catching The Machine with a 25-meter lead, and they didn’t. They powered through, man. It was great.”
The Wolverines were equally impressive in pulling off the 4×400, a race they really wanted after Camden took them down last year.
Anthony Costello started it off with 51.46 that had them third behind Camden and Penns Grove, but Chew got them back in front with a 49.32. They were running second when Turner passed the baton to Crawford after a PR lap. The Wolverines’ anchor was a back-and-forth battle with Camden’s Jaiden Steele down the stretch. Once he got the lead he steadily pulled away and won by more than a second to give Mason his first-ever 4×400 state title in 127 seasons of coaching track.
“The last race was something I had to prove to myself but also to other people,” Crawford said. “Not doing what I wanted to in the previous races I needed a confidence booster and prove to myself that I’m still a part of that team. I ran a 48 against Camden who we’ve gone back and forth with two years now and last year them stealing the state title by a long shot shows that our entire team had a goal in mind, we practiced consistently and we made it happen.”
With his two wins, Crawford became one of the all-time winningest state championship in Salem County history. He has now 13 indoor and outdoor state titles in his career.
“It definitely surprised me,” he said. “It’s kind of bad to say but they kind of blur together. I never thought I would even get one. I thought I would be a one event person, like the 4-x800 was my event and I didn’t see myself being a multi-event athlete winning state titles in not just the 4×8 multiple years but other events for multiple years as well.
“I think it shows that anyone can do it. I was once a 2:20 800 meter runner and barely got under 60 seconds my first time running the 400, but when you’re surrounded by the right coaches, the right teammates, any of that can come through if you have discipline and the mindset to make it happen.”
The Sacred Heart signee also qualified for the MOC with a second-place finish in the 400, but isn’t expected to run it. Saturday third-place finishers Kylee Goodson (Penns Grove 400, 0.01 behind Crawford), Gary Simonini (Schalick boys javelin) and Ramiyah Jones (Salem girls long jump) among others are expected to receive MOC wildcard spots.
The Wolverines’ Saturday showing helped them bounce back from a tough opening day to finish second in the team standings to Glassboro. They started the day in fifth place, with 14 points, 12 behind Glassboro.
“They battled after yesterday,” Mason said. “We scored 24 points within 40 minutes today. That brought us back into it.”
Garlic’s bump to the hurdles win gave Penns Grove enough points to finish tied for fourth. Metuchen claimed the girls title, winning a do-or-die 4×400 to edge Glassboro by two points.
NJSIAA GROUP I TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS Saturday’s Results BOYS TEAM SCORES: Glassboro 63, WOODSTOWN 52, Camden 45, PENNS GROVE 40, New Milford 40, New Providence 26, Manville 26, Wallington 20, Woodbury 19, Boonton 17, Bound Brook 16, Dayton 16, SCHALICK 15, Newark Tech-Essex 13, Shore 12, Wallkill Valley 12, Haddon Twp. 11, Kinnelon 10, Waldwick 10, Hasbrouck Heights 10, Whippany Park 9.5, PENNSVILLE 9, Florence 8, Buena 8, Midland Park 7, Indian Hills 6, Mountain Lakes 4.5, Burlington City 4, Audubon 4, McNair 4, Butler 4, Pequannock 4, Thrive Charter 3, Metuchen 2, Botoga 2, SALEM 1, Gateway 1, Highland Park 1, Empowerment 1, Verona 1, Eagle Academy 1, Saddle Brook 1. INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (Winners, Salem County point scorers (top 6)) (Top 2 finishers guaranteed spots in Meet of Champions, x-projected MOC wildcard) 400: 1. Noah Seveland, Waldwick 49.87; 2. Josh Crawford, Woodstown 50.24; 3. x-Kylee Goodson, Penns Grove 50.25; 4. Karson Chew, Woodstown 50.89 110 Hurdles: 1. Jaleel Dickerson-Dempsey, Camden 14.32; 2. Bryan Garlic, Penns Grove 14.90 4×800: 1. Woodstown (Karson Chew, Jacob Marino, David Farrell, Josh Crawford) 8:05.23 200: 1. Ivan Bempah, New Milford 21.79 1600: 1. Jayran Rodriguez, Manville 4:22.61 4×400: 1. Woodstown (Karson Chew, Anthony Costello, Michael Turner, Josh Crawford) 3:23.10; 3. Penns Grove (Bryan Garlic, Tommy White, Luis Colon, Kylee Goodson) 3:27.28 Shot Put: 1. Patrick Szabo, Wallington 50-6.5; 3. Aidan Taulane, Woodstown 49-0; 4. JaKai Ingram, Penns Grove 48-6; 6. Connor Wariwanchik, Pennsville 48-2.5 Javelin: 1. Brady Shine, Hasbrouck Heights 192-4; 3. x-Gary Simonini, Schalick 168-11 Triple Jump: 1. Moses Robles, Glassboro 47-8.5 High Jump: 1. Moses Robles, Glassboro 6-4; 4. x-Tommy White, Penns Grove 6-2
GIRLS TEAM SCORES: Metuchen 56, Glassboro 54, Audubon 47, Shore 39, Verona 33, Haddon Twp. 31, Delaware Valley 25, Whippany Park 22, Hasbrouck Heights 20, Roselle Park 20, Maple Shade 16, Hawthorne 15, SALEM 12, Burlington City 12, Mountain Lakes 11, University 10, Henry Hudson 10, Cresskill 10, SCHALICK 9, Manville 9, Woodbury 8, David Brearley 8, Academy Charter 8, Midland Park 8, Waldwick 8, Indian Hills 9, Kinnelon 7, Buena 6, Wallkill Valley 6, Butler 5, WOODSTOWN 5, Paulsboro 4, Clayton 4, Pequannock 3, Bound Brook 2, New Providence 2, Florence 2, Dayton 1, Highland Park 1, Saddle Brook 1 INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (Winners, Salem County point scorers (top 6)) (Top 2 finishers guaranteed spots in Meet of Champions) 400: 1. Gwendolyn Neale, Verona 58.28 100 Hurdles: 1. Casey Birdwell, Haddon Twp. 15.05 4×800: 1. Haddon Twp. 9:41.69 200: 1. Makenna Bruns, Metuchen 25.35 1600: 1. Alexandra Klein, Shore 4:53.96 4×400: 1. Metuchen 4:03.64 Discus: 1. Sunny Moore, Glassboro 156-0 Long Jump: 1. Erika Townsend, Glassboro 17-9, 3. x-Ramiyah Jones, Salem 17-8 Pole Vault: 1. Cassara Yannarelli, Henry Hudson 10-6
Long jumper Will Roy (L) and hurdler Bryan Garlic brought state championships back to Penns Grove from the state Group I meet this week. Top photo: Woodstown’s three-time 4×800 state champion relay team.
