Salem CC wants its fans to have an enjoyable college football experience, but will not be promoting tailgating as they’ll be playing on high school campuses
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
With the countdown clock reading 28 days before camp opens and 54 days before the inaugural game, Salem Community College officials are fine-tuning the details for the first season of football.
Everyone involved with the start-up want all who come to their four home games this inaugural season to have an enjoyable college football experience, but due in part to the nature of their scheduling the Mighty Oaks will not be promoting one of the more spirited elements of its traditions.
Because all their home games will be played on various high school campuses around the county that are alcohol- and tobacco-free, the college will not be promoting tailgating.
“We can’t do tailgating,” said SCC assistant athletics director Angel Rodriguez, who duties include overseeing game-day operations. “It’s a high school field and it’s a high school complex, ‘tailgating,’ that word, because it’s not an actually college venue, we can’t advertise for tailgating. We’re working through the fan experience so we do have ideas … about what’s going to actually be able to happen, but as far as the word ‘tailgating,’ we’re not promoting tailgating.
“We’re not advertising anything along those lines right now, just because it’s not our full-staff function. If it were an on-campus location, we could be flexible with a lot of that. Because it’s off-site and we’re utilizing a lot of the game-day staff already for each venue, it’s not something that we’re promoting. Plus, we’re on school grounds, so school grounds prohibit drinking and alcohol and all those … things.”
That’s not to say fans can’t create team spirit in spirit-less ways. Pennsville athletics director Jamy Thomas, whose school hosts the August 29 opener with Hudson Valley CC and the Oct. 17 game against Sussex CC, said he encourages grilling and other tailgating activities in the parking lots before the game, but alcohol is out. Police will have a presence in the lots to enforce compliance.
“We going to do things a little differently than we would do at a high school game,” Thomas said. “Obviously, we are alcohol- and tobacco-free, that’ll be something the police will be looking at, but in terms of the environment and cooking out, bringing a grill, we support all those things and we want people to come to Pennsville, come to our campus, have a good time, but do it in a safe way that follows the rules of a high school venue.
“We’re not going to control what happens off campus. Obviously, we don’t want people coming in super intoxicated, things like that, at games, but we realize it’s a little different environment than high school, but we still have to maintain the laws and the requirements we have when you do host an event on our campus.”
SCC athletics department officials are scheduled to meet Tuesday to solidify their game-day details. Thomas is schedule to meet with them Wednesday.
Ticket prices and packages also are among the items to be finalized. They are expected to fall in the $5-$10 range on a per game basis and purchasable through an electronic ticketing system.
In the games at Pennsville, the Mighty Oaks will use the Eagles’ stadium locker room, while the visiting team will use the middle school for pre- and in-game operations and then have access to the high school locker room and showers post-game.
The Mighty Oaks’ other two first-year home games will be played at Schalick Sept 12 and Penns Grove Sept. 19. Those schools’ game-day operations were not immediately known.
The games at Schalick and Penns Grove are scheduled for noon kickoffs. Game times for the two Pennsville games are not set, but are believed to be 1 p.m. (to accommodate Hudson Valley’s travel) and noon, respectively.
Since the school’s announced its plan to start football last fall, the program has received overwhelming support from within the region. Head coach Jay Accorsi and his evolving staff are expected to welcome more than 80 players when camp opens Aug. 3. Thomas, for one, is “very excited” to have the Mighty Oaks football program on his campus.
“I think this is an awesome opportunity for Salem County,” he said. “It’s an awesome opportunity for Pennsville and our community to really show off our great facility that we have here. There are a lot of our student-athletes who will benefit from this program even in this coming year.
“(Lineman) Jacob Hand is one who has already signed on to play, so we’re excited to be able to see Jacob at the next level on his home field again. I think there are going to be a lot of other kids who come through our program that this opportunity is a great opportunity that then provides further opportunities after the community college setting to move on to a D-I, D-II, D-III school and still have eligibility.”
Category: SCHALICK
Track nationals
Schalick’s Simonini makes adidas Nationals jav finals, finishes ninth; Longo fourth in pole vault flight
By Riverview Sports News
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Gary Simonini has had better throws, but he certainly won’t sneeze at a top 10 finish at the nationals.
The Schalick junior made it to the finals of the boys javelin in the Adidas Track Nationals at North Carolina A&T Saturday and finished ninth in the standings, just missing out on All-America honors. He earned the last spot in the finals with a throw of 160 feet on his last throw of qualifying – one inch from eighth – and it stood as his high mark.
“It was very interesting throwing on a rubber track for the first time in a while and it was my first time throwing the new steel-tip jav,” Simonini said. “But, honestly, I had a great time. I made it to the final, met a lot of cool people – I’ve been talking to kids from all states, everyone was just so nice, so friendly. They made it a great overall experience.
“I was extremely frustrated with my mark. Top eight gets All-American, I got ninth. That kind of bummed me out, but it just leaves a lot to work towards.”
The way the day started he didn’t think he was even going to advance. He opened the competition with his lowest mark of the year (133-10), but found his rhythm and threw 150-10 and 160-0 to make the top nine. His best mark in the finals was 159-1.
“I couldn’t get over the hump; I was just stuck at 48 (meters),” he said. “At first I was very upset about it, then I really came to terms with it. Last year I’d be over the world to be in the 140s and now I’m angry about being in the 160s. In the grand scheme of things, there’s really nothing to be mad about.”
Schalick senior Sal Longo wrapped up a tough senior season by finishing fourth in his flight of the National Elite Boys Pole Vault. A hamstring injury he suffered at the indoor Meet of Champions kept him off the track until the sectionals, which he promptly won upon his return.
He jumped 12 feet, 9.5 inches Saturday, hitting the mark on his third attempt. None of the seven vaulters who advanced from the height cleared 13-3.5.
“I’m pretty happy with it with how my season went,” he said. “Getting to nationals was the main goal, but placing as high as I did in my flight was something I’m grateful for.”
A third Schalick athlete, Ethan McLean, finished 64th in the National Elite Boys Shot Put (44-2.75), one spot and less than an inch ahead of Penns Grove sophomore Ja’Kai Ingram (44-2).
Woodstown high jumper Kami Casiano competed in the New Balance Nationals at Franklin Field Saturday. She missed three attempts at her entry height of 5-3. Woodstown senior Josh Crawford runs in the Boys 800 Sunday.
Top photo: Schalick had three athletes compete Saturday in adidas Track Nationals. (From left) Gary Simonini (javelin), Sal Longo (pole vault) and Ethan McLean (shot put).
Diamond Division Golf
Here are the first and second team selections for the Tri-County Conference Diamond Division boys all-star team
| FIRST TEAM | SCHOOL | SECOND TEAM | SCHOOL |
| Seth Fisher | Schalick | Nate Valente | Woodstown |
| Jaxson Weber | Schalick | Jack Bucksar | Woodstown |
| Anthony Sepers | Schalick | Alejandro Vazquez | Woodstown |
| Michael Nelson | Schalick | Braxton Gillis | Overbrook |
| Logan Jones | Woodstown | Trevor Hann | Pennsville |
| Joey Nolan | Cumberland | Manntram Patel | Cumberland |
Softball century club
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
Softball
| 100 HITS | TOTAL | GRAD |
| Courtney Hankins, Pennsville | 180 | 2015 |
| Kylie Harris, Pennsville | 168 | 2026 |
| Morgan Zane, Schalick | 152 | 2018 |
| Gracie Meyer, Schalick | 142 | 2017 |
| Taylor Brown, Pennsville | 139 | 2016 |
| Tulana Mingin, Woodstown | 137 | 2024 |
| Gracee Roberts, Woodstown | 131 | 2018 |
| Brooke Coleman, Pennsville | 127 | 2014 |
| Sarah Morgan, Woodstown | 122 | 2018 |
| Megan McCurdy, Woodstown | 121 | 2014 |
| Casey Kisielewski, Pennsville | 121 | 2014 |
| Miranda Rodriguez, Schalick | 133 | 2018 |
| Janna Gaburo, Schalick | 119 | 2014 |
| Danica Pratta, Penns Grove | 115 | 2015 |
| Jessica Nines, Penns Grove | 112 | 2015 |
| Courtney Miller, Schalick | 110 | 2014 |
| April Laury, Schalick | 110 | 2021 |
| Ellie Wygand, Woodstown | 109 | 2026 |
| Victoria Nugent, Pennsville | 108 | 2016 |
| Danielle Werts, Pennsville | 108 | 2019 |
| Paige Wilson, Pennsville | 108 | 2022 |
| Lily Edwards, Pennsville | 107 | 2026 |
| Jessica Thompson, Penns Grove | 104 | 2015 |
| Taylor Sparks, Schalick | 103 | 2024 |
| Kylee Barton, Schalick | 101 | 2014 |
| 100 STRIKEOUTS | TOTAL | GRAD |
| Janna Gaburo, Schalick | 401 | 2014 |
| Toni Almond, Salem | 383 | 2020 |
| Gracie Meyer, Schalick | 342 | 2017 |
| Jessica Thompson, Penns Grove | 335 | 2015 |
| Olivia Mattioli, Penns Grove | 263 | 2022 |
| Leah Clark, Woodstown | 253 | 2026 |
| Paige Wilson, Pennsville | 239 | 2022 |
| Haley Broomell, Woodstown | 234 | 2013 |
| Paige Coleman, Schalick | 233 | 2021 |
| Meghan Wiggins, Pennsville | 219 | 2016 |
| Angela Lakatos, Pennsville | 207 | 2015 |
| Brooke Coleman, Pennsville | 204 | 2014 |
| Allison Cabo, Woodstown | 197 | 2013 |
| Savannah Palverento, Pennsville | 190 | 2025 |
| x-Addi Shimp, Schalick | 186 | |
| Grace White, Woodstown | 179 | 2024 |
| Raegan Wilson, Salem | 176 | 2024 |
| Katie Melchiorre, Schalick | 166 | 2023 |
| April Hartman, Pennsville | 160 | 2019 |
| Nina Verdecchio, Penns Grove | 152 | 2019 |
| Olivia Boultinghouse, Woodstown | 143 | 2024 |
| Rebecca Harris, Woodstown | 140 | 2022 |
| x-Graillyn Weber, Pennsville | 122 | |
| x-Avah Brown, Salem | 102 |
Century Club
Here is the list of Salem County baseball players with 100 career hits, 100 career strikeouts (since 2011); note: stats source does not include seasons prior to 2011 in totals. Softball coming soon.
Baseball
| 100 HITS | TOTAL | GRAD |
| Matt Dineen, Pennsville | 162 | 2018 |
| Luke Pokrovsky, Schalick | 139 | 2025 |
| Chase Burchfield, Pennsville | 119 | 2025 |
| Jarrett Pokrovsky, Schalick | 118 | 2022 |
| Brent Williams, Woodstown | 112 | 2024 |
| Luke Wood, Pennsville | 109 | 2025 |
| Andrew Pedrick, Woodstown | 105 | 2024 |
| Staus Pokrovsky, Schalick | 105 | 2019 |
| Josh Shimp, Pennsville | 105 | 2014 |
| Evan Sepers, Schalick | 105 | 2026 |
| Peyton Sorrells, Pennsville | 104 | 2015 |
| Harry Padden, Schalick | 102 | 2019 |
| x-Ricky Watt, Schalick | 102 |
100 RBIs
141: Matt Dineen, Pennsville
115: Luke Pokrovsky, Schalick
114: Chase Burchfield, Pennsville
101: Brent Williams, Woodstown
100: Staus Pokrovsky, Schalick
| 100 STRIKEOUTS | TOTAL | GRAD |
| Luke Pokrovsky, Schalick | 362 | 2025 |
| Luke Wood, Pennsville | 232 | 2025 |
| Evan Biddle, Salem | 194 | 2023 |
| Cohen Petrutz, Pennsville | 165 | 2025 |
| x-Jamari Whitley, Schalick | 150 | |
| Jarrett Pokrovsky, Schalick | 139 | 2022 |
| Lucas D’Agostino, Schalick | 132 | 2025 |
| Justin Fox, Woodstown | 127 | 2015 |
| Daulton Montagna, Pennsville | 122 | 2018 |
| Cody Durham, Pennsville | 120 | 2019 |
| Anthony Verdecchio, Penns Grove | 108 | 2016 |
| Peyton O’Brien, Pennsville | 104 | 2025 |
| x-Mason O’Brien, Pennsville | 104 | |
| Chase Davis, Salem | 101 | 2025 |
| Sam Long, Schalick | 101 | 2021 |
MOC results
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
Bulldog Battavio bears down
Woodstown sophomore delivers big hit, earns three-inning save to lead Wolverines past Pennsville in SJ Group I playoffs; Maple Shade upsets top-seed Schalick
SJ GROUP I SEMIFINALS
Woodstown 6, Pennsville 3
Maple Shade 6, Schalick 4
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN — Marc DeCastro and all his Woodstown teammates know the kind of hard-core competitor Walker Battavio is, but what the sophomore showed Wednesday took it to another level.
Battavio delivering a three-run double to give the Wolverines the upper hand in their 6-3 win over Pennsville in the South Jersey Group 1 baseball semifinals was impressive enough. What he did in the late innings — and what he had to endure to do it — approached legendary status.
He came in from centerfield with a three-run lead and earned a three-inning save. What made it even more courageous was he pitched the last two innings with cramps in his right leg that made every pitch painful.
But he endured and because he was bulldog-tough the Wolverines (20-8) are playing for the SJ Group 1 title for the fourth time in the last six years. They host Maple Shade Friday. The fourth-seeded Wildcats spoiled the anticipated 1-2 Salem County championship showdown when they upset top-seeded Schalick 6-4.
Battavio helped the Wolverines uphold their end in a big way in his longest outing since April 18.
“He has one of the biggest hearts in the game; he’s a dog,” said sophomore first baseman Blake Rodriguez, who gave his classmate a four-run cushion with his first career home run leading off the sixth inning. “He always puts his team first. He’s not a selfish guy. Unselfish person. He’ll do anything for the team. Puts his heart on the line.”
Battavio had been prone to cramping and Wednesday’s hot conditions didn’t make it any easier. The cramp really hit in the fifth inning when he ran the bases after putting the Eagles down in order in his first inning on the mound in the top of the inning. He came in there because starter Drew Sutton had thrown 27 pitches the previous inning and was started to go through the Pennsville lineup a third time.
He could feel the knot forming in his leg as he was stealing second base but continued on to the bag and when he got there safely was on the ground in pain. He received attention from the training staff and remained in the game, eventually scoring on Ty Coblentz’ RBI single that got Pennsville starter Gavin Spears out of the game. He spent the rest of the game drinking his hydration water and enduring the pain.
“Nothing’s bringing me out of the game,” Battavio said. “My mindset is playing no matter what.”
And DeCastro didn’t want to take him out, which meant he had to help push his pitcher through the pain.
“I worry about him cramping up every time I have to bring him in late because he gives every ounce of himself to everything he does; he exerts so much energy that at the end of games he has to fight through exhaustion,” the head coach said. “There’s no way he threw one pitch that didn’t hurt and he tried to fight as hard as he possibly could and he got through it, so he did everything he needed to do.”
Battavio admitted cramping every time he threw a pitch – and he threw 52 of them — but he just tried to forget about it and focus on getting the next hitter.
“It was pretty hard, but I’ve got that dog, so I’ve gotta fight through it,” he said. “I felt it every pitch, but I dug deep and knew I had to get it done for our team so I just did it. Gotta do it. I knew I could do it and I just persevered through everything.”
The last two innings were sort of messy for Battavio, but he wound up allowing four hits, two runs and striking out one. The inning after he cramped on the basepaths, the Eagles reached him for three hits to score a run and loaded the bases with two outs, but he prevented it from becoming a big inning by getting the final out on pop to second.
The Eagles (16-10) also got a run off Sutton in the fourth inning and left the bases loaded there, too. They scored their third run in the seventh inning, but ran themselves out of another potential bases-loaded situation on the play that netted their run.
I feel like we beat ourselves today, I really do,” Pennsville coach Matt Karr said. “We had the bases loaded early, we’re right where we want to be, (and) back-to-back hits there it’s probably a tie game. … Haddon Twp. we dug ourselves a hole (but rallied to win). It’s hard to keep climbing out of these game. Today we spot them a 4-0 lead and were trying to climb out of this hole the entire game. It’s hard to play that way.”
The Wolverines got those first four runs in the second inning. Rodriguez drove the first run home when Spears’ threw high to the plate on his squeeze bunt. That left two on with one out. Noah Williams drew a walk to load the bases then Walker hit an opposite-field double just out of the reach of left-fielder Steve Fatcher to clear the bases.
As the leadoff man in the Wolverines’ lineup, it was only the second time in his last 10 games he drove in a run. The last time he had an RBI, he drove in four against Penns Grove.
“I saw the opportunity,” Battavio said. “They were playing up on me. They didn’t think I could hit it that far, so I had to show them what I can do, and I did it.”
“The reason that got over his head is because he’s a leadoff guy and he hit it the other way and they were playing him a little bit shallower to get anything in front of them,” DeCastro said. “He’s a strong kid. Hasn’t always known how to use his strength. He’s always been a little guy. A lot of times a little guy (is encouraged to) put a ball in play and run, so he got used to that. Now he’s becoming a man he’s strong and he’s learning not just to put a ball in play but drive balls in gaps.”
| Pennsville | 000 | 101 | 1- | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| Woodstown | 040 | 011 | x- | 6 | 7 | 0 |
Mistakes costly to Schalick
PITTSGROVE – Schalick had been a pretty good defensive team this season and even when it wasn’t the Cougars had the offensive firepower to overcome it. That wasn’t the case Wednesday and they the post-season price.
The top-seeded Cougars were charged with five errors and every time it seemed their opponent made them pay. It added up to a 6-4 Maple Shade win that ended Schalick’s season and sent the Wildcats to face Woodstown for the South Jersey Group 1 title Friday.
“We didn’t play very well,” Schalick coach Sean O’Brien said. “The funny thing is we turned three double plays, but then other routine things we just made mistakes. And when we made mistakes they blooped in a hit or they got a single here or there. They just made us pay for our mistakes.”
Early on it looked like the Cougars were headed for the 1-2 Salem County showdown for the sectional title with Woodstown everyone anticipated. They broke a 1-1 tie with three in the third inning on Evan Glaspey’s two-run double and Travis Snodgrass’ sacrifice fly.
Then things started going south. The Cougars were late deciding where to go with a ball back to the box and all runners were safe. A grounder to the right side of the infield moved the runners up and Edward Leahy delivered a two-run single to center to cut Schalick’s lead to 4-3. The Wildcats took the lead on back-to-back RBI singles by Lucas Voiro and Anthony Schafer. They added another run on Aaron Wells’ RBI single in the seventh. Schafer had three hits and three RBIs and Leahy went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
Maple Shade’s first five runs were all unearned.
The Cougars, meanwhile, managed only two hits and a walk after opening their 4-1 lead. The two hits were back-to-back singles by Bo Schalick and Glaspey with two outs in the fifth. They had the top of the order up in the seventh, but Wildcats reliever Braydon Morgano got through it with a two-out walk and three flyouts.
“They’re a tough team; they made us pay for our mistakes,” O’Brien said. “Their pitchers, all they did was pitch to contact and we had a lot of fly outs.
“We struck out twice the entire game. All (Morgano) did was he just pitched to contact. A lot of balls we hit in the gap just kind of stayed up in the air and they were able to run underneath them. He didn’t do anything spectacular, he just did his job. He did a good job of forcing us to make outs.”
The loss ended an otherwise big year for the Cougars. They finished 19-8, won 10 of their last 13, won the TCC Diamond Division for the second year in a row, and were the No. 1 seed in the sectional. Seniors Evan Sepers (105) and Ricky Watt (102) both collected their 100th career hits.
“We had a great season, there’s really nothing to be disappointed about,” O’Brien said. “When you don’t reach your goals at the end it’s a letdown because we know we potentially could have done it. Unfortunately in the playoffs if you don’t have your best game and don’t do what you need to do as you get deeper in the playoffs good teams will just make you pay.”
| Maple Shade | 010 | 202 | 1- | 6 | 8 | 0 |
| Schalick | 103 | 000 | 0- | 4 | 7 | 5 |
GROUP I SECTIONAL FINALS
Friday’s games
(Records, power points in parenthesis)
SOUTH: Maple Shade (16-9, 21.490) at Woodstown (20-8, 23.697)
CENTRAL: Shore (21-8, 27.805) at Pt. Pleasant Beach (17-6, 28.914)
NORTH I: Waldwick (16-13, 23.307) at Pompton Lakes (20-7, 25.319)
NORTH II: Hanover Park (18-8, 24.783) at Cedar Grove (19-9, 25.754)
Power points to determine home team in state semifinals
MOC qualifiers
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
Wolverines double up
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
Whitley sharp
Schalick ace takes no-hitter into fifth inning, strikes out 13 in 6 1/3 innings against Audubon
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
PITTSGROVE – The way Jamari Whitley rolled out of bed Friday morning he could tell it was going to be a good day.
When the hard-throwing junior right-hander hit the alarm at 5:45 a.m. to start his day, his arm felt good, he knee felt good; he basically felt good all over. And when he is feeling good and he’s pitching that day, that’s a bad sign for the opposition.
Whitley was as sharp as ever Friday in the top-seeded Cougars’ surprisingly tight 5-1 win over eighth-seeded Audubon in the South Jersey Group I quarterfinals. Last year this game was for a South Jersey championship, this year it was just another game to survive and advance.
And because Whitley was at the top of his game, the Cougars (19-7) did both to host Maple Shade in Wednesday’s semifinals.
“I woke up this morning feeling really good,” he said. “I knew it was a big game, the South Jersey final rematch, so I had to come out and perform today and help my team win. Body wise this morning I had no soreness. This morning, feeling nothing in my knee I knew I was going to be able to pitch to my standard. My arm has been feeling good all season so it was just a matter of executing,.”
Whitley was uber-efficient. He took a no-hitter into the fifth inning; Matt Piechowski spoiled the gem with a two-out single up the middle. He ended up allowing three hits and striking out a career-high 13. He fanned eight of the first 10 batters he faced and had 10 Ks through four innings.
“We were fortunate to have Jamari on the mound today,” outfielder Cooper Willoughby said. “He threw one of the best games I’ve ever seen on this field. He kept us in this game the whole time.”
“Today was a different type day,” the pitcher said.
“We saw glimpses of it last year,” Cougars coach Sean O’Brien said. “I remember him throwing against Woodstown in the playoffs and he threw against Middlesex, he threw excellent. We knew what he’s capable of. He just kind of had to work out some stuff and kind of get ahead of guys and he did a great job of that. Kind of put us on his back until we could actually get things going late.”
Because the pitcher was getting ahead of hitters and throwing strikes, O’Brien gave him every chance to go the distance, but when the Green Wave put two on with one out in the seventh O’Brien lifted him. Cole Hartley finished it off with a ground out and game-ending strikeout.
Whitley’s counterpart in the other green uniform was surprisingly sharp as well. Audubon’s Connor Chester had thrown only four varsity innings in two years before Friday, but he gave the Green Wave five solid innings before tiring in the decisive sixth inning. He held a Cougars team that had been averaging 10 runs a game to a run and four hits over the first five innings. He got the first out of the sixth inning, too, before the Cougars finally reached him.
“We pitched him in a couple games and when we won with our No. 1 yesterday we decided let’s run him out there, see what he can do,” Audubon coach Rich Horan said. “He’s only a junior so we found another 1A and 1B. He pitched really well, he just ran out of gas.”
The Green Wave needed three pitchers to get through the sixth. Chester was pulled after the Cougars loaded the bases on a pair of walks and an outfield error. First reliever Drew Piechowski last two batters. He did have Willoughby down two strikes, but the outfielder choked up on the bat, protected the plate and poked an RBI single through the hole to break the 1-1 tie, then Wyatt Cushane drew a bases-loaded walk and Piechowski was gone. J.T. Fleming greeted second reliever Joe Waller with a two-run single to center to make it 5-1.
Half of the Cougars’ hits, two of their runs and all of their RBIs came from the bottom third of the lineup.
“We were just looking for a break,” O’Brien said. “We’ve been talking to those guys about the back end of the lineup has to find a way to get on so the top end can get us in. That’s what good teams do, that’s what we did last year. It kind of worked out well where the back of the lineup kind of got us going, which is a pretty cool thing. We’ll be a tough team to beat if we can do that consistently.”
| Audubon | 000 | 001 | 0- | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Schalick | 000 | 014 | x- | 5 | 6 | 3 |
Riverview Sports News 