Here is the 2025 Salem County football schedule; check back for updates from the WJFL Patriot and Diamond Divisions
2025 SALEM COUNTY FOOTBALL
(x-scrimmage)
AUG. 18
x-Clearview, Mainland, West Deptford at Penns Grove, 9 a.m.
x-Schalick at Delsea
AUG. 22
x-Buena at Schalick
AUG. 19
x-Audubon at Woodstown
AUG. 28
Gloucester City at Pennsville, 6 p.m.
Pitman at Woodstown
AUG. 29
Somerville at Schalick
AUG. 30
Paulsboro at Penns Grove, noon
SEPT. 5
Pennsville at West Deptford
Schalick at Cumberland
Woodstown at Delsea
SEPT. 6
Penns Grove at Deptford, noon
Salem at Cinnaminson
SEPT. 12
Overbrook at Pennsville
Penns Grove at Glassboro, 6 p.m.
Woodstown at Schalick
SEPT. 13
Woodbury at Salem
SEPT. 20
Glassboro at Salem
Pennsville at Audubon, 11 a.m.
Schalick at Penns Grove, noon
Woodstown at Woodbury
SEPT. 25
Salem at Schalick
SEPT. 26
Camden Catholic at Pennsville, 7 p.m.
Penns Grove at Woodstown, 7 p.m.
OCT. 3
Paulsboro at Schalick
Pennsville at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Pleasantville
OCT. 4
Salem at Middle Twp.
OCT. 9
Paulsboro at Pennsville, 6 p.m.
OCT. 10
Gloucester at Schalick
Haddon Heights at Woodstown
Penns Grove at Delran
OCT. 11
West Deptford at Salem
OCT. 17
Lawrence at Pennsville, 6 p.m.
Salem at Woodstown
Schalick at Glassboro
OCT. 18
Woodbury at Penns Grove, noon
OCT. 24
Glassboro at Woodstown
Pennsville at Collingswood, 6 p.m.
OCT. 25
Penns Grove at Salem, noon
Schalick at Woodbury
Category: SCHALICK
The last leg
As the relay’s lone senior, Woodstown’s Lucas runs last race with his 4×800 buddies at the New Balance Nationals
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN – When Cole Lucas was looking for a sport to play in high school Reggie Teemer encouraged him to try track. It will change your life, the coach told the incoming freshman. It turned out to work both ways.
On the eve of the final race weekend of his high school career Lucas admitted the choice to run track in the spring did change his life. But his impact on the Woodstown track program, especially its decorated 4×800 relay team, has been equally profound.
Since getting put together prior to last year’s South Jersey sectionals specifically to challenge to one team, the quartet of Lucas, Karson Chew, Jacob Marino and Josh Crawford has won state championships and set records many times over with Lucas serving as the reliable setup man to Crawford’s clinching anchor.
But the end of their partnership is near. The last time the Fast Four runs together is Friday night in the New Balance Nationals in Philly’s Franklin Field. Three members of the group will return next year, but Lucas, as the lone senior, will be moving on to the next level.
“I’m going to be very emotional after I finish, but I’m still going to give it my all while I’m running it,” he said. “I don’t think it’s going to hit me until after that it’s going to be my last high school race with them.
“I’m definitely going to miss those three. We’re like brothers now. It’s crazy how close we’ve become in these couple of years. I’m going to miss them so much. It hasn’t hit me too much yet, but it will eventually. The memories I’ve made are going to be unforgettable. Teemer said it would change my life and it did.”
Woodstown’s 4×8 is among 11 Salem County athletes competing in six events at the national high school outdoor championships.
Salem’s Anthony Parker is in the boys long jump and Raniyah Parsons-Smith is in the freshman girls 100. Schalick’s boys 4×100 relay (Michael Eberl, Zaeshawn Mills, Reggie Allen, David Stewart), who’ve run the second fastest time in Group I history, is in the field and Navaeh Robinson is entered in the freshman girls javelin. And in addition to the 4×8, Crawford and Lucas will run in the deep individual 800.
There are 99 teams in the 4×8 that will be scored on time, meaning the Wolverines have one shot to shine. Their hope is to run 7:50 – or better. The meet record is 7:36.26.
One thing about this group, when they want something they go after it. They needed to meet the New Balance qualifying standard in the Meet of Champions – their final NJSIAA meet together – and did it in record time (7:54.84).
“I don’t think I’ll ever find another group of guys on the track team at the next level as close are we are,” said Lucas, who’s heading to Marist next year to run indoor and outdoor track.
The feeling is mutual.
“Everybody has their own job, everybody’s making sure our team is dominating and doing well, but Cole really has one of the most important jobs,” Chew said. “If me and Jacob don’t execute the way we want to, he’s there to (bring it back). He’s basically our Mr. Reliable. He’s the most reliable guy on the team and he makes sure we get back that spot that we need for Josh to finish with.”
Amazingly, the unit has only been together for two years. They were put together right before last year’s sectional championship to give Woodbury a run of its money, but it turned into so much more.
“We just wanted to beat Woodbury, we didn’t necessarily care about beating anybody else,” Lucas said. “When we got together that was our main goal, trying to beat Woodbury, and it turned out we beat the whole state.”
Multiple times.
But now it’s coming to an end. The whole group wants to run well for their legacy, but the underclassmen want to go, go, go to give their senior a memorable send off.
“Our plan is to go in there and dominate as much as we possibly can,” Chew said. “It’s the last race of our season and for us three it’s the last race of our career with Cole. We have to make this worth it. We’re going to run our … hearts out and do everything we can to give him a real big send off for the end of his high school career.”
Here are the Salem County athletes competing in the New Balance Outdoor National High School Championships at Franklin Field and the time their events are scheduled
NEW BALANCE NATIONALS
(SALEM COUNTY ENTRIES)
Josh Crawford, Woodstown, boys 800 – Sunday, 1:27 p.m.
Cole Lucas, Woodstown, boys 800 – Sunday, 1:27 p.m.
Anthony Parker, Salem, boys long jump – Sunday, 10 a.m.
Raniyah Parsons-Smith, Salem, freshman girls 100 – Thursday, 12:52 p.m. (prelims), 2:52 p.m. (finals)
Navaeh Robinson, Schalick, freshman girls javelin – Saturday, 10 a.m.
Woodstown 4×800 (Karson Chew, Jacob Marino, Cole Lucas, Josh Crawford) – Friday, 7:42 p.m.
Schalick 4×100 (Michael Eberl, Zaeshawn Mills, Reggie Allen, David Stewart) – Saturday, 1:57 p.m. (prelims), Sunday, 11:57 a.m. (finals)
ALL-SOUTH JERSEY
(Selected by SJTCA)
Track Coaches All-South Jersey Boys
800 – Josh Crawford, Woodstown
LJ – Anthony Parker, Salem
Multi-Event – David Stewart, Schalick
4×800 – Woodstown
Long time coming
Schalick dumps top-seeded Audubon to win first South Jersey Group I baseball title in 33 years, grabbed early lead, turned back threat in seventh
GROUP I SECTIONAL FINALS
Thursday
South: Schalick 4, Audubon 3
Central: Middlesex 7, Point Pleasant Beach 1
North I: Midland Park 1, Wallkill Valley 0
North II: Brearley 8, Verona 0
STATE SEMIFINALS
Monday
Schalick (22-2) at Middlesex (21-5)
Brearley (15-9) at Midland Park (20-8-1)
STATE FINALS
Saturday
At Veterans Park, Hamilton, 1 p.m.
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
AUDUBON — “Somewhere” in the display cases that line the hallways at Schalick High School there’s a 33-year-old trophy gathering dust commemorating one of the greatest accomplishments in the school’s sports history.
But it’s been in there for so long the folks who regularly walk those halls aren’t really sure where it is.
Not to worry. There’s a new, shinier version about to go in the case and everyone will know where it will be.
The Cougars won their first South Jersey Group I baseball title since 1992 Thursday when they held off top-seeded Audubon 4-3 in a game that really was all it was cracked up to be. They now travel to Central champion Middlesex (21-5) in the state semifinals Monday.
“This is the main goal the whole entire year,” starting pitcher Luke Pokrovsky said. “This was the first thing (talked about) when we first walked in the first practice of the year. After beating Woodstown (in the semifinals) we knew we could do it.”
“We’ve worked hard for it and we definitely deserved it,” shortstop Eli Cummings added.
The underdog Cougars (22-2), now the winningest baseball team in school history, a distinction they wrestled from that 1992 team, took the lead early and held it the rest of the game, although they had to survive some seventh-inning Green Wave drama to make it happen.
Pokrovsky once again was brilliant. The senior left-hander gave up four hits and struck out 12, including his 100th of season, and seemed to thrive on the jibes coming from the other side, throwing harder as the game went on.
He wanted to go the distance, but had to come out in the seventh after 113 pitches and Audubon getting the first two batters on with the top of the order coming up. Cougars coach Sean O’Brien went with his most experienced option, bringing in Lucas D’Agostino from right field to close it out, and the senior right-hander didn’t flinch.
He induced dangerous leadoff man Tyler Wiltsey to hit a ball up the middle that that Cummings turned into a double play – and more importantly held the lead runner and tying run at third – and got Nick Kalogiros on a foul pop to first baseman Rico Hatz to end the game.
What made Wiltsey even more dangerous in that situation is he took Pokrovsky deep for a two-run homer in the third that cut Schalick’s lead to 4-3. “He got me pretty good,” Pokrovsky said.
“At first I was relieved because that guy showcased his power early in the game so I was relieved as soon as he hit it and it was on the ground,” D’Agostino said. “It’s been this way the whole year: I trust my defense completely. Once I saw that ball up the middle on the ground and I saw Eli was in perfect position I knew what we had going for us.”
“As soon as I knew that ball was hit to me I knew I was turning that double play,” Cummings said. “Coach OB prepares us for those kind of moments. I knew as soon as it was hit to me, I’ve gotta move. That kid going down the line is quick and he made a close play so I knew I had to come up throwing.”
Hatz called it “a beautiful ball” that Cummings delivered to first.
“I was over at first base praying for a double play so our prayers were answered,” Hatz said. “And to get that final out, it was a feeling of victory.”
The Cougars took a 3-1 lead with three runs off Kalogiros in the second from the bottom third of the lineup. Hatz had a game-tying RBI double, J.T. Fleming dropped the go-ahead RBI single into short left field and Cummings made it 3-1 with a sacrifice fly. They are the 7-8-9 hitters in the Schalick order.
“That’s been kind of like our M.O.,” O’Brien said. “It’s like if the top of the order isn’t doing anything, the bottom of the order does it. It’s been happening all year. We beat some good teams. We beat Cherry Hill West and Rancocas Valley and those guys carried us in those games. That’s why we’re so good because 1 through 9 we compete.”
The Cougars added what proved to be the winning run in the third on D’Agostino’s sacrifice fly after Jamari Whitley doubled Evan Sepers to third. Whitley and Sepers both had two hits in the game.
The coach of that 1992 sectional championship team, Chuck Tortella, was at the game and gave O’Brien some words of encouragement beforehand, words said to be similar to the colorful message Tortella gave his team before they beat Audubon in the ‘92 game.
O’Brien had been to this stage of the playoffs twice before with the Cougars (2019 and 2021) but came up empty both times. This time, they went home celebrating and carried a shiny new piece of hardware for the trophy case with them.
“It’s been a long time coming,” O’Brien said. “We kind of went into those (other two) games not wanting to lose; today, these guys showed up ready to win. They were going to take it.”
“I like the history of the game and especially in my own high school,” D’Agostino said. “I’m very glad we could put some more hardware back in the trophy case and when they look at that team they can say, hey, that’s pretty good.”
| Schalick (22-2) | 031 000 0- | 4 | 7 | 2 |
| Audubon (20-7) | 102 000 0- | 3 | 4 | 0 |
Beating the clock
Wednesday roundup: Woodstown’s 4×800 relay qualifies for nationals at Meet of Champions; Pennsville announces Hall of Fame Class, names Athletes of the Year
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
PENNSAUKEN – The Woodstown 4×800 relay team had one job in Wednesday’s NJSIAA Meet of Champions and they got it done.
Winning the race would have been a nice get, but the Wolverines were focused on posting a time that would get them in the New Balance Nationals at Franklin Field later this month.
They got it done, even with their anchor a little under the weather. The Group I champion quartet of Karson Chew, Jacob Marino, Cole Lucas and Josh Crawford finished fifth in the MOC, but their 7:54.84 set a new Group I record and got them into the nationals.
“One thing those guys won’t do is shy away from competition,” Wolverines coach Reggie Teemer said. “They feed off it.”
Salem County had athletes in 12 events at the all-group meet. Salem’s Anthony Parker had the best individual finish, placing fourth in the boys long jump with a best of 23-5. Crawford also finished seventh in the 800, Schalick’s David Stewart was eighth in the 400 hurdles and Cougars’ 4×100 relay team (Reggie Allen Jr., Michael Eberl, Zaeshawn Mills, David Stewart) finished sixth.
Woodstown’s 4×800 time was more than four seconds better than their winning time in last weekend’s Group I championship meet. They were just shy of a provisional qualifying time for the nationals, but wanted to run a race in their last chance to get in that would leave no doubt.
Chew led them out in 1:59.50. Marino kept them on pace with a 2:02.4. Lucas set them up with a 1:58.45. And Crawford, running with a “minor” cough and fever that “slightly impacted my running,” brought it home with two laps in the 50s and a 1:54.46. Christian Brothers Academy won the race with a collective 7:48.55.
“We came very mentally prepared to break our previous record in the 4×8 and qualify for the New Balance Nationals and I wasn’t going to let a sickness get in the way of that opportunity for my teammates,” Crawford said. “ I was proud of all my teammates for running this race as if it was our last and thankfully earning another opportunity because of the combined culmination of our efforts to give our senior, Cole, a sendoff for the record books.”
It was a busy day for the junior. He ran in three events. He ran 1:53.83 to get on the podium in the individual 800 and ran a leg on the 4×400 relay.
Here are the Salem County results from the Meet of Champions:
MEET OF CHAMPIONS
At Pennsauken HS
GIRLS
1600: 12. Jordan Hadfield, Schalick, 5:05.56
3200: 21. Jordan Hadfield, Schalick 10:58.85
Shot Put: T-20. Tatiyonna Crawford, Pennsville 34-6
Pole Vault: T-10. Megan Morris, Pennsville 10-6
BOYS
4×800: 5. Woodstown (Karson Chew, Jacob Marino, Cole Lucas, Josh Crawford) 7:54.84
400 Hurdles: 8. David Stewart, Schalick 54.53
4×100: 6. Schalick (Reggie Allen Jr., Michael Eberl, Zaeshawn Mills, David Stewart) 42.08
800: 7. Josh Crawford, Woodstown 1:53.83; 20. Cole Lucas, Woodstown 1:58.23
4×400: 21. Woodstown (Karson Chew, Kyle Reitz, Anthony Costello, Josh Crawford) 3:25.85
Javelin: 14. Connor Ayars, Pennsville 165-0
Long Jump: 4. Anthony Parker, Salem 23-5
Triple Jump: 26. Bryan Garlic, Penns Grove 41-4
Pennsville tabs Hall class
PENNSVILLE – Five decorated athletes spanning five sports and four decades, three successful head coaches and two state champion teams will comprise the 2025 class that will be inducted into the Pennsville Memorial High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
The class was announced at the school’s annual awards assembly Wednesday night. It will be formally inducted in ceremonies at the school Oct. 7.
The class includes athletes Tom Ridgway (Class of 1978), HJ Lopes (’79), Lisa Doran (’86), Dannielle Dolbow-Darby (’95) and Ashley Minch (’08); coaches Ryan Wood (football/baseball), Jack Hathaway (soccer) and Dan LaMont (tennis/wrestling); and the 2005 state champion girls tennis and baseball teams.
“The Hall of Fame Committee did a wonderful job spanning several decades in putting together this year’s class,” Eagles athletics director Jamy Thomas said. “We have a wide variety of sports recognized with our inductees from field hockey, baseball, softball, soccer and tennis. The athletes in this group may have had one sport in which they truly shined, but each of them were great all-around athletes.
“In regards to the coaches being honored this year I have had the opportunity to be taught by Coach Hathaway as a PMHS student and work alongside Coach Wood and Coach LaMont. They are a group of great coaches and even more importantly are great people who are wonderful role models for our student-athletes.”
At the same assembly, potential future Hall of Famers Megan Morris and Connor Ayars were recognized as the school’s PEPPA Scholar-Athletes of the Year. Morris is a multiple state champion pole vaulter and tennis player, while Ayars is football/track standout. Both competed at the Meet of Champions prior to attending the ceremonies.
TCC All-Stars
Here are the Tri-County Conference all-star teams for the Classic and Diamond divisions as selected by the coaches
Baseball
| POS | CLASSIC FIRST TEAM | CLASSIC SECOND TEAM |
| P | Luke Wood, Pennsville | Brian Cuniff, Wildwood |
| P | Aiden Stranahan, Pitman | Mark Manera, Clayton |
| C | Jake Sharrow, Pitman | Connor Starn, Pennsville |
| IF | Hudson Rue, Pitman | Logan Streitz, Pennsville |
| IF | Nick Watson, Pitman | Peyton O’Brien, Pennsville |
| IF | Cohen Petrutz, Pennsville | Chase Davis, Salem |
| IF | Trevor Troiano, Wildwood | Justin Delaney, Clayton |
| OF | Jackson Austin, Pitman | Dane Collum, Pitman |
| OF | Chase Burchfield, Pennsville | Mason O’Brien, Pennsville |
| OF | Jeff Wagner, Pennsville | Jameson Emerle, Clayton |
| POS | DIAMOND FIRST TEAM | DIAMOND SECOND TEAM |
| P | Tyler Wood, Overbrook | Aaron Foote, Woodstown |
| P | Lucas D’Agostino, Schalick | Jack Holladay, Woodstown |
| C | Gavin Dillard, Glassboro | Ricky Watt, Schalick |
| IF | Lou Hanna, Overbrook | Evan Glassy, Schalick |
| IF | Cooper Hines, Overbrook | Jude Dempster, Glassboro |
| IF | Jamari Whitley, Schalick | Joey Tongue, Glassboro |
| IF | Elijah Crespo, Penns Grove | Brennan Crosse, Glassboro |
| OF | Rocco String, Woodstown | Mike Romano, Overbrook |
| OF | Charlie Snyder, Overbrook | Caden Lawless, Overbrook |
| OF | Luke Pokrovsky, Schalick | Evan Sepers, Schalick |
Softball
| POS | CLASSIC FIRST TEAM | CLASSIC SECOND TEAM |
| P | Jessica Bretz, Pitman | Madelyn McGinn, Gloucester Cath. |
| P | Savannah Brewer-Palverento, Pennsville | Emma Contreras, Wildwood |
| C | Kylie Harris, Pennsville | Alexus Paden, Clayton |
| IF | Makenzie Widener, Pennsville | Ayanna Davis, Clayton |
| IF | Maya Hutchinson, Gloucester Cath. | Avery Watson, Pennsville |
| IF | Rosalina Pereira, Clayton | Maura Quinn, Pitman |
| IF | Graillyn Weber, Pennsville | Julia Ennis, Wildwood |
| OF | Lily Edwards, Pennsville | Sawyer Simmons, Pennsville |
| OF | Julianna Aguilar, Clayton | Madison Peek, Pitman |
| OF | Kaitlyn Capalbo, Gloucester Cath. | Samantha Scutt, Pitman |
| POS | DIAMOND FIRST TEAM | DIAMOND SECOND TEAM |
| P | Addi Shimp, Schalick | Taylor Adcock, Glassboro |
| P | Leah Clark, Woodstown | Layla Perez, Overbrook |
| C | Scarlett Saicic, Glassboro | Lila Bowling, Woodstown |
| OF | Sienna Kudless, Glassboro | Marissa Rode, Glassboro |
| OF | Gianna Simon, Overbrook | Cecelia Mitchell, Overbrook |
| OF | Ellie Wygand, Woodstown | Shyann Higinbotham, Woodstown |
| IF | Olivia VanAcker, Schalick | Ava Landolt, Overbrook |
| IF | Cloe Elliott, Schalick | Danica Maggi, Overbrook |
| IF | Aubrie Rennie, Woodstown | Emma Schoch, Glassboro |
| IF | Alaina Dufresne, Overbrook | Marissa Pasquarello, Glassboro |
Tennis
| POS | CLASSIC FIRST TEAM | CLASSIC SECOND TEAM |
| S | Gabe Schneider, Pennsville | Maddox Efelis, Pennsville |
| S | George Gould, Schalick | Brody Wiggins, Pennsville |
| S | Chase Fronczkiewicz, Clayton | Rocky Monticolo, Schalick |
| D | Kaden Barnes, Schalick | Carter Willis, Pennsville |
| D | Cayden Brzozowski, Schalick | Ian Peacock, Pennsville |
| D | Lucas Cooksey, Pennsville | David Santana, Schalick |
| D | Sawyer Humpreys, Pennsville | Anthony McGrath, Schalick |
| POS | DIAMOND FIRST TEAM | DIAMOND FIRST TEAM |
| S | Zeph Kell, Delsea | Mohammad Sheyam, Highland |
| S | Lucius Davis, Deptford | Bradyn Gee, Deptford |
| S | Drew Stengel, Woodstown | Eli Croce, Delsea |
| D | Luke Shaw, Woodstown | Alan Marcos, Overbrook |
| D | Mason Shimp, Woodstown | Gabe Martinez, Overbrook |
| D | Jacob Bramble, Delsea | Ben Stengel, Woodstown |
| D | Jude Thompson, Delsea | Nicholas DiTeodoro, Woodstown |
Boys Golf
| CLASSIC FIRST TEAM | CLASSIC SECOND TEAM |
| Mikey Joyce, Gloucester Cath. | A.J. Beach, Gloucester Cath. |
| Joey Zubert, Pitman | Robbie Ricardi, Gloucester Cath. |
| Owen Boulton, Pitman | Luke Driscoll, Pitman |
| Jake Bowen-Ashwin, Pitman | Jackson Venuto, Clayton |
| Max Pappalardo, Pitman | Burke Fotzsimmons, Wildwood |
| Gavin Burns, Wildwood | Chase Ayars, Salem Tech |
| DIAMOND FIRST TEAM | DIAMOND SECOND TEAM |
| Jaxon Weber, Schalick | Riley Bowman, Pennsville |
| Seth Fisher, Schalick | Trevor Hann, Pennsville |
| Erich Lipovsky, Woodstown | Jeffrey Boyd, Overbrook |
| Anthony Sepers, Schalick | Chase Pepper, Cumberland |
| Grant Prater, Woodstown | Michael Nelson, Schalick |
| Joey Olbrich, Woodstown | Jack Bucksar, Woodstown |
Boys Track
| EVT | CLASSIC FIRST TEAM | CLASSIC SECOND TEAM |
| 100 | Jason Stewart, Clayton | Josiel Figueroa Marrero, Clayton |
| 200 | Willie Weathers, Clayton | Jamel Lemon-Ward, Gloucester Cath. |
| 400 | Alexander Osayemi, Clayton | Xavier McGriff, Salem |
| 800 | Wyatt Evans, Clayton | Liam Edelman, Pitman |
| 1600 | Jake Bowen-Ashwin, Pitman | Samuel Cooke, Salem |
| 3200 | Rhys Blackman, Pitman | Maximus Weng, Pitman |
| 100H | Anthony Parker, Salem | Timothy Gregory, Salem |
| 400H | Jerry Seals, Salem | Lucas Razze, Pitman |
| HJ | Dayvon Williams, Wildwood | Giani Jackson, Wildwood |
| LJ | Omarion Pierce, Salem | Justice Santiago, Wildwood |
| TJ | Donovan Weathers, Salem | Mission Barnes, Salem |
| PV | Gradin Buzby, Salem | Duncan Freeman, Clayton |
| SP | Pedro Ibarra, Clayton | Torryn Ransome, Salem |
| DIS | Nate Newcomb, Pitman | Giovani Talavera Rosas, Salem |
| JAV | Wyatt Irvine, Salem | Jovani Rios, Salem |
| 4×400 | Clayton | Salem |
| EVT | DIAMOND FIRST TEAM | DIAMOND SECOND TEAM |
| 100 | Xavier Sabb, Glassboro | Colin McGlinn, Pennsville |
| 200 | Zaeshawn Mills, Schalick | Axcel Bailey, Overbrook |
| 400 | John Froehlich, Overbrook | Kyle Reitz, Woodstown |
| 800 | Josh Crawford, Woodstown | Steve Chomo, Schalick |
| 1600 | Ty Blackman, Glassboro | Cole Lucas, Woodstown |
| 3200 | Joey Saicic, Glassboro | Jacob Marino, Woodstown |
| 100H | Dayshaun Day, Glassboro | Knowledge Young, Penns Grove |
| 400H | Mekhi Parker, Glassboro | Bryan Garlic, Penns Grove |
| HJ | Amari Sabb, Glassboro | Reggie Allen, Schalick |
| LJ | Alex Adeleye, Glassboro | Jaiden Mitchell, Overbrook |
| TJ | David Stewart, Schalick | Moses Robles, Glassboro |
| PV | Daniel Adams, Glassboro | Salvatore Longo, Schalick |
| SP | Kyle Williams, Glassboro | Sheldon Goldsborogh, Schalick |
| DIS | Ethan McLean, Schalick | Aiden Tulane, Woodstown |
| JAV | Connor Ayars, Pennsville | Nyzier Wonder, Schalick |
| 4×400 | Woodstown | Penns Grove |
Girls Track
| EVT | CLASSIC FIRST TEAM | CLASSIC SECOND TEAM |
| 100 | Miyana Johnson, Clayton | Jaiyoni Yates, Clayton |
| 200 | Raniyah Parsons-Smith, Salem | Gabrielle Pernell-Lipsey, Clayton |
| 400 | Leila Ortiz, Clayton | Molly Wiśniewski, Pitman |
| 800 | Amanda Bradley, Pitman | Antonia Yucis, Gloucester Cath. |
| 1600 | Macie McCracken, Wildwood | Samantha Dale, Salem |
| 3200 | Lauren Streck, Pitman | Mackenzie Whilden, Pitman |
| 100H | Anna Gallo, Clayton | Tahirah Davenport-White, Salem |
| 400H | Audrey Boggs, Salem | Carly Razze, Pitman |
| HJ | Unique Nance, Salem | Zyonnah Forman, Salem |
| LJ | MaKayla Smith, Salem | Lily Atkinson, Wildwood |
| TJ | Alaina Williams, Pitman | Hanna Keefe, Pitman |
| PV | Kashira Patterson, Salem | Tatiana Miller, Salem |
| SP | Ava Rodgers, Salem | MarJziah Bundy, Salem |
| DIS | Destinee Williams, Clayton | Jocelyn O’Brien, Pitman |
| JAV | Rainelle Blocker, Clayton | Megan Wehlen, Pitman |
| 4×400 | Clayton | Salem |
| EVT | DIAMOND FIRST TEAM | DIAMOND SECOND TEAM |
| 100 | Tamia Smith, Glassboro | Kezia Brackett, Glassboro |
| 200 | Gia Martellacci, Schalick | Missouri Pratt, Overbrook |
| 400 | Rylee Clark, Overbrook | Samantha Sterner, Woodstown |
| 800 | Lillian Norman, Woodstown | Kelis Coston, Glassboro |
| 1600 | Jordan Hadfield, Schalick | Helen Lillia, Schalick |
| 3200 | Abby Marino, Woodstown | Anabel Schaal, Woodstown |
| 100H | Lia Covely, Woodstown | Gabriella Simonini, Schalick |
| 400H | London Banks, Overbrook | Sarah Seiden, Woodstown |
| HJ | Ashley Armstrong, Glassboro | Kami Casiano, Woodstown |
| LJ | Phoebe Alward, Schalick | Emma Perry, Woodstown |
| TJ | Jaelynn Jarmon, Schalick | Onye Peoples, Overbrook |
| PV | Megan Morris, Pennsville | Elizabeth Mann, Glassboro |
| SP | Heaven Franklin, Glassboro | Zoey Ceasar, Penns Grove |
| DIS | Sunny Moore, Glassboro | Virginia Tarasevich, Glassboro |
| JAV | Allyson Green, Schalick | Nevaeh Robinson, Schalick |
| 4×400 | Schalick | Overbrook |
Girls Lacrosse
| POS | SJILL AMERICAN FIRST TEAM | SJILL AMERICAN SECOND TEAM |
| G | Shelby Foote, Woodstown | Mackenzie Keleher, Haddonfield |
| M | Riley Austin, Haddonfield | Callie Warner, Clearview |
| M | Delaney Walker, Woodstown | Haley Brown, Kingsway |
| M | Maddie Eastlack, W. Deptford | Riley Walsh, W. Deptford |
| M | Brooke Schultz, Haddonfield | Jaime Deal, Woodstown |
| D | Mia Borodin, Clearview | Marley Nate, Clearview |
| D | Fiona Keenan, Haddonfield | Emily Coyle, Clearview |
| D | Sienna Struzynski, W. Deptford | Elizabeth Daly, Woodstown |
| O | Grace Farrell, Haddonfield | Sofia Conrey, Haddonfield (D) |
| O | Lauren Hamblin, Haddonfield | Reese Remaly, Clearview |
| O | Phoebe O’Rourke, Kingsway | Riley MacHenry, Clearview |
| O | Rhea Remaly, Clearview | CeCe Batson, Haddonfield |
| O | Emma Morgan, Woodstown | Marlina Kadar, Haddonfield |
Boys Lacrosse
| POS | SJILL AMERICAN FIRST TEAM | SJILL AMERICAN SECOND TEAM |
| A | Keegan Borkowski, Kingsway | R.J. Sciarrotta, Clearview |
| A | Owen Dougherty, Kingsway | Jake Borkowski, Washington Twp. |
| A | Myles Malone, Washington Twp. | Aidan Batterman, Williamstown |
| A | Robert Donahue, Woodstown | Michael Kugler, Clearview |
| D | J.D. Seidel, Clearview | Dane Jespersen, Kingsway |
| D | Cole DeNick, Kingsway | Ethan Wechter, Washington Twp. |
| D | Dominic Hibbs, Kingsway | Cole Aquino, Washington Twp. |
| D | Joseph Kopaczewski, Williamstown | Walter Carter, Woodstown |
| G | John Mentee, Kingsway | Joseph Hatefi, Williamstown (FOGO) |
| LSM | Ryan Glenn Kingsway | Jake Devereaux, Washington Twp. (G) |
| M | T.J. Mills, Clearview | Garrett Leyman, Woodstown (M/L/D) |
| M | Patrick Civitarese, Kingsway | Mason Bryan, Kingsway |
| M | Robbie Finnegan, Washington Twp. | Nicholas Maccariella, Williamstown |
| M/F | Thomas Dipietro, Kingsway | Parker Reese, Washington Twp. |
Step-Up Soph
Schalick blanks Woodstown again, this time behind Whitley’s six strong innings, to reach SJ Group I finals
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I BASEBALL
Semifinals
Audubon 4, Maple Shade 1
Schalick 8, Woodstown 0
Finals
Thursday
No. 2 Schalick (21-2) at No. 1 Audubon (20-7), 4 p.m.
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
PITTSGROVE — Schalick coach Sean O’Brien had a lot of options Tuesday if the idea was to save ace Luke Pokrovsky for Audubon in the South Jersey Group I championship game.
Everybody else was relatively fresh, but O’Brien went with the youngest option in a big game – sophomore over senior – and Jamari Whitley came through like a seasoned veteran.
The hard-throwing right-hander, making his first career playoff mound start and second appearance of this postseason, calmly gave the Cougars six strong innings, setting them up for an 8-0 win over Woodstown for a spot in the SJ Group I finals.
The second-seeded Cougars (21-2) now travel to top-seeded Audubon (20-7) Thursday for the sectional final everyone expected to see.
“Lucas (D’Agostino) is a guy who attacks hitters, gets ahead of guys and throws strikes consistently, but Jamari has really tough stuff to hit,” O’Brien explained. “When he’s on, he is really, really good. We put him up against Cherry Hill West (in mid-April) and the way he stepped up in that game that kind of just showed me he was ready for whatever moment we needed him to throw in.
“I know he was nervous going into it, but once things get going, he’s a competitor. He’s been consistent in all aspects of it — hitting, pitching, fielding — and I have all the confidence in the world in him. You can trust him out there. That’s why we put him in this situation today.”
Whitley had plenty of time to prepare for the start. O’Brien likes to give his pitchers ample warning and told him Saturday he was getting the ball. He didn’t believe it at first, but the coach said he wasn’t kidding and he trusted him. He was the Cougars’ first playoff starting pitcher not named Pokrovsky since June 2022.
He threw 102 pitches, allowed just one hit and struck out a career-high 11. He gave up a leadoff single and walk to the first two Woodstown hitters of the game, then retired 15 of the next 16 he faced, including 10 in a row at one point. The Wolverines loaded the bases on him in the sixth, but he got out of it with a fly to shallow left that froze the runners and his final strikeout of the game.
He even drove in the Cougars’ first run with a first-inning double. He also walked and scored in their three-run third.
“I woke up this morning and felt really good,” he said. “During school I had a little nerves, it was one of the biggest (starts) of my career, but after the first inning I shook it off and kept going. It was just trusting my pitches and everything I had.”
“He’s done outstanding this year,” Pokrovsky said. “His head is always up. He worked off of last year and now he’s unbeatable.”
Pokrovsky came in behind him and threw 12 pitches in the seventh, using the outing as his typical tune-up right before his next start.
“We’ve done it all year, he’s done it all his career,” O’Brien said. “I knew he was going to ask me, but I talked to him like ‘Do you want to throw the last inning?’ and he said, ‘Aw, please, yes.’ He’s a guy who needs to throw to be ready for his next start. That’s how he is … so that’s why we did it that way.”
In three games this season (19 innings) the Cougars’ pitching staff has held Woodstown to just two hits and no runs. They’ve given up just two runs in the whole playoffs. Pokrovsky threw a five-inning perfect game at them in his first start of the year.
The Cougars have gotten strong pitching all year long. They haven’t even given up 100 hits this year. After Tuesday’s shutout – their sixth of the season – their team ERA dropped to 1.35. Woodstown, meanwhile, batted just .255 as a team.
“Our pitching has been phenomenal,” O’Brien said. “I was comparing our stats from last year and a lot of our offensive stats aren’t as good as they were last year but our pitching stats are not even close. What they’ve done with whoever’s throwing they give us a chance to compete and especially they’ve stepped up against Woodstown.”
Wolverines coach Marc DeCastro said his team was prepared to face any of the three –Pokrovsky, Whitley or D’Agostino, who they hadn’t seen this year – but they just couldn’t find any offense. Caiden Spinelli had their only hit, a single leading off the game. They had just six baserunners.
“It surprised me just in the fact if they weren’t going to throw Luke that he hadn’t started in a while, but either way they have three pitchers who are all good so we were ready for whichever one happened to throw,” DeCastro said. “He didn’t walk us and he did a good job after the first two batters of settling in; in that situation that could’ve gone a lot of different ways and the game could’ve been a little bit different.
“When you don’t get hits and they’re up 4-, 5-nothing, it’s a lot different than if we would’ve kept it 1 and 2. That was our thing all year. In the two (previous playoff) games alone we scored three runs. Our thing was going to have to be we were going to have to play really clean games and pitch really well and we didn’t play a clean game today.”
| Woodstown (16-11) | 000 000 0- | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Schalick (21-2) | 103 121 x- | 8 | 7 | 2 |
GROUP I SECTIONAL FINALS
Thursday’s Games
North I: Wallkill Valley (17-6) at Midland Park (19-8-1)
North II: Brearily (14-9) at Verona (19-6)
Central: Point Pleasant Beach (20-7) at Middlesex (20-5)
South: Schalick (21-2) at Audubon (20-7)
STATE SEMIFINALS
June 9
North I at North II
South at Central
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
June 14
Veterans Park, Hamilton, 1 p.m.
Stepping aside
Schalick’s John Romano stepping down as Cougars’ girls tennis coach to enjoy the experiences of being a dad
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
PITTSGROVE – John Romano learned a long time ago to be good at something you have to pour everything you have into it. He knows no other way.
Romano admitted he didn’t know a lot about tennis when former athletic director Mike Clark asked him to take over the Schalick girls tennis program and everything he did, at the beginning at least, he learned from books and videos.
He was a soccer guy, he told them, but Clark said he’d seen him coach, knew how he was with people and he’d pick it up.
So the new tennis coach immersed himself in the subject and after feeling his way the first couple years turned the Cougars into a program that could be counted on to be in the hunt every year.
But the time has come to step away, to go to full bore with family as his children, ages 4 and 8, are starting to discover organized sports before the window for those experiences closes. So, after 17 years the soccer guy is putting that original racquet he bought at Dick’s to learn the game aside and pausing the high coaching side of his career.
Starting next fall the Cougars will have a new girls tennis coach, assistant coach Brandi Petrunis. It had been a decision Romano had been contemplated for a while. He told his team Friday.
“It’s been a lot of fun, I’ve really enjoyed it, I love the kids,” he said. “When I told them on Friday you get teary-eyed and that’s one of the things I’m going to miss.
“I’ve never looked it at as wins and losses. I think where you have your most success when a kid comes back and says you ‘I remember a time …’ and you see the effect you had on them. You realize you have a lot of those moments every year. That’s the stuff I’ll take with me.”
In 17 seasons at the Cougars helm, the 41-year-old health/PE teacher compiled a 219-93 record with seven Tri-County Diamond Division titles (all since 2014) and two sectional crowns, most recently in 2023 when they lost to New Providence in the state semifinals. They were 23-3 that year. This year’s team went 10-8 and lost in the South Jersey Group I quarterfinals, its earliest exit since 2015.
“Had a pretty crummy season (the first year), only won a few games, and I said to myself if I’m going to do this I’ve got to dive in, and I did,” he said. “I started right then and there, came up with a whole slew of rules and expectations for the girls and just what the expectation was.
“I distinctly recall in the next season we had a match at Salem and I gave the girls a heck of a speech. I said this is the point where you guys decide where (you’re going to go). At the time we were competitive with Salem and I said we’re going to need this match in order to get there. I remember one of the kids looking over like I would run through a wall right now for you. We’re not going back.
“It was fun learning with the girls along the way and then it became a thing. We just had a trivia contest and one of the winter pep rallies. They asked a question like what is the winningest program in Schalick history and the kid buzzed in and said ‘girls tennis.’ I graduated from Schalick in 2002 and I know it’s either girls track or boys soccer, but for these kids the past 14 seasons that has been the norm, girls tennis is going to be one of the best programs in Group I year in and year out. That’s what we built up.”
And the experience has changed the soccer guy, too.
“I’m a tennis guy now,” he said.
Photo: Schalick girls tennis coach John Romano celebrates winning the 2023 South Jersey Group I title with his family.
Tri-Cape Cup team
Pennsville’s Burchfield, Schalick’s Pokrovsky return to the Tri-Cape Carpenter Cup team for some unfinished business
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
Pennsville’s Chase Burchfield talked earlier this season about how playing in Citizens Bank Park in last year’s Carpenter Cup finals gave him a good idea of what to expect when the Eagles played in Frawley Stadium last month. He may get a chance to rely on that experience again if all goes well.
Burchfield and Schalick’s Luke Pokrovsky are back on the Tri-Cape roster for this year’s Carpenter Cup that starts Monday in Philly’s FDR Park. The four finalists play in Citizens Bank Park June 16 with the championship game June 17.
Burchfield, a LaSalle signee, and Pokrovsky, a Penn signee whose Cougars are still alive in the Group I playoffs, are part of another strong Tri-Cape roster.
Burchfield hit .a career-high 486 with 34 RBIs this past season and collected 119 hits and 114 RBIs in his career. Pokrovsky continues to rewrite the Schalick record book with every game he plays. He’s batting .493 with 10 homers, 31 RBIs and has 90 strikeouts and a 0.78 ERA going into today’s SJ semifinal against Woodstown . For his career he has 137 hits, 101 runs, 115 RBIs, 22 homers at a hitter and 347 strikeouts as a pitcher.
Tri-Cape opens the tournament Tuesday against Shore.
Pokrovksy, Burchfield and Pennsville’s Peyton O’Brien were on the team last year that lost to Inter Ac/Independents in the championship game, 3-2. It was Tri-Cape’s fourth straight year in the finals. Evan Taylor (Ocean City), Jake Cagna (Egg Harbor Twp.) and Jack Mustaro (Gloucester Catholic) are also returnees from last year.
Pennsville’s Beth Jackson and Schalick’s Rick Higinbotham again will help coach the Tri-Cape softball all-stars. Their tournament bracket starts June 17 and includes Philadelphia Catholic, Burlington County and SOL/BAL.
Tri-Cape Baseball Roster
| POS | PLAYER | YR | SCHOOL |
| IF | Ethan Dubois | Soph | Delsea |
| IF | Sawyer Wood | Soph | Clearview |
| IF | Brayden Thorp | Jr | Kingsway |
| IF/P | Evan Taylor | Sr | Ocean City |
| IF | Joe Erace | Sr | St. Augustine |
| P/OF | Jake Lodgek | Sr | Mainland |
| IF/P | Alex Weingartner | Jr | St. Augustine |
| P/IF | Mario Toro | Jr | Vineland |
| P/IF | Finnegan Haines | Sr | Mainland |
| P/OF | Adel Villegas | Jr | Atlantic City |
| P/1B | Andrew Valey | Jr | GCIT |
| OF | Chase Burchfield | Sr | Pennsville |
| OF | Ty Costabile | Jr | Holy Spirit |
| OF/C | Cole Judge | Sr | Deptford |
| OF/P | Luke Pokrovsky | Sr | Schalick |
| IF | Jack Mustaro | Sr | Gloucester Cath. |
| C | Braeden Lipoff | Jr | Gloucester Cath. |
| P | Jackson Smallets | Sr | Gloucester Cath. |
| OF | Richie Gonzales | Jr | Cedar Creek |
| IF/P | Jake Cagna | Sr | Egg Harbor Twp. |
| UT | Jacob Budd | Jr | Cedar Creek |
CARPENTER CUP BASEBALL SCHEDULE
June 9, FDR Park
Game 1: Philadelphia Public vs. Inter Ac/Independents, 9 a.m. (DA)
Game 2: Mercer County vs. Chester County, 10:30 a.m. (RA)
Game 3: Delaware County vs. Berks County, noon (DA)
Game 4: Delaware South vs. Delaware North, 1:30 p.m. (RA)
June 10, FDR Park
Game 5: Olympic-Colonial vs. Lehigh Valley, 9 a.m. (DA)
Game 6: Bux-Mont vs. Burlington County, 10:30 a.m. (RA)
Game 7: Tri-Cape vs. Jersey Shore, noon (DA)
Game 8: SEPA vs. Philadelphia Catholic, 1:30 p.m. (RA)
June 12, FDR Park
Game 9: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 9 a.m. (DA)
Game 10: Game 4 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 10:30 a.m. (RA)
Game 11: Game 6 winner vs. Game 5 winner, noon (DA)
Game 12: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 1:30 p.m. (RA)
June 16, Citizens Bank Park
Game 13: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 9 a.m.
Game 14: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner, noon
June 17, Citizens Bank Park
Championship Game, 9:30 a.m.
DA: Dick Allen Field. RA: Richie Ashburn Field
One last ride
Schalick senior Jordan Hadfield closes a decorated high school track career at the Meet of Champions looking to reach another goal
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
Jordan Hadfield had just settled into her seat on the bus, another state championship gold medal and her well-worn but reliable pair of track shoes safely tucked away with her belongings, when the realization of the day finally struck her.
The Schalick senior had just run the last state championship race of her storied high school career – winning the Group I girls 1600 for the second year in a row – and with one more race (maybe two) the time for wearing the Cougars’ green was going to come to an end.
It’ll be an emotional time for one of the most decorated runners in Salem County history and she’ll understandably be sad when it’s over. But while she’s on the track Wednesday she’s determined to make an effort that just might extend her experience a little longer.
“I’m so upset about it, because I’m going to miss it so much,” she said. “My teammates and my coaches, I can’t even think about not having them anymore and starting with a new team. After Wednesday I don’t get to ask them what’s training or what are we doing. It’s just like not them anymore. It’s just, like, crazy.
“After we got on the bus I was like that was my last 4×4, my last states. It just didn’t seem real. I’m sure I’m going to be very upset on Wednesday.”
Jordan will lace up the shoes in an NJSIAA for the final time Wednesday in the Meet of Champions. She’s going in as the 12 seed in the 1600, which should get her in the fast heat, and 20th with a wildcard spot in the 3200, an event that’s still under debate.
There are a lot of titles and a lot of miles in those shoes. They’ve been with her since she first started running as a sophomore. They’ve been taped together more times than she can count – “they’re pretty bad,” she laughed – but she’d never leave home without them.
In fact, she’s probably putting them with her gear when she runs track and cross country at Rhode Island for old time’s sake.
“I’m definitely keeping my spikes,” she said. “I’ve had them since sophomore year. They were the first pair I got and kept them all the way through. I’m pretty sure we have to wear our team-sponsored spikes, but they (the Schalick shoes) might stay in my dorm.”
They’ve certainly been a faithful to her. They’ve taken her to 20 outdoor track wins in Salem County, Tri-County, Sectional and State Championships. Add her indoor and cross country success and her career win total in the majors is through the Grand Slam rises to 30.
“So much of it is the off-season training and everything you put in to build up for those state moments,” she said. “Winning Salem County, winning Tri-County and all that gives you motivation and confidence and the feeling of having to race hard for those meet before it becomes championship season.
“And they’re all titles you want to get and they all build on each other and you get in so much better shape as you get into May. Once you’re there, you just perform.”
The latest win – Saturday’s 1600 state title – looked close on the clock, but she had it well in hand, winning by 2.45 seconds. Although she trailed briefly right before the bell lap, she ended up regaining the lead and continued a side-by-side battle with Wallkill Valley’s Delana Einreinhofer until the Delaware commitment who edged her for second in the 3200 died off with about 100 meters left.
Hadfield threw it into another gear and left the rest of the field to race hard for the second automatic berth in the Meet of Champions, which went to Riley Fayer of Audubon.
“Ella (Anderson of Metuchen) was on me the whole time; I could actually feel her like hitting my spikes,” Hadfield said. “I was pretty nervous, especially when they passed me, because I knew I had to go around them going to the bell lap. There were like five of us and I felt like anybody could have had it. Going into the meet I was the only one who was sub-five (minutes) so I was trying to get that again.
“it meant so much because it was my last opportunity to get another state title. I lost the 32 (Friday) night and won the mile last year so I wanted the back-to-back titles. Going in with first seed I was like I’m seeded to win so I have to now. I felt like there was a big target on my back. I know they were all going for me, so I knew I had to go out and run my race and not get caught running behind people and trying to pass the whole time because that just never works out.”
So it’s once more into the breach Wednesday. Even though it will be the last NJSIAA race of her high school career, don’t think it will be some nostalgic run. She’s hoping the heightened competition in the 1600 will push her to a 4:58 or better to earn a spot in the New Balance Nationals later this month.
Regardless how the last one turns out, there’s no disputing it’s been a heck of a ride, er, run.
The Hadfield File
Jordan Hadfield’s major career wins
SOPHOMORE
Outdoor: Salem County 1600, 3200; Tri-County 1600, South Jersey Group I 3200
JUNIOR
Outdoor: Salem County 800, 1600, 3200, 4×400; Tri-County 800, 3200; State 1600, 3200
Indoor: South Jersey Group I 1600, 3200
Cross country: Salem County, Tri-County, South Jersey Group I, State Group I
SENIOR
Outdoor: Salem County 800, 1600, 3200, 4×400; Tri-County 1600; South Jersey Group I 1600, 3200; State Group I 1600
Indoor: South Jersey Group I 1600, 3200
Cross country: Salem County, Tri-County
MEET OF CHAMPIONS
(Wednesday, Pennsauken HS)
SALEM COUNTY ATHLETES
GIRLS
1600: 12. Jordan Hadfield, Schalick (5:01.16)
3200: 20. Jordan Hadfield, Schalick (10:59.56)
Shot Put: 23. Tatiyonna Crawford, Pennsville (36-9)
Pole Vault: 10. Megan Morris, Pennsville (10-6)
BOYS
4×800: 5. Woodstown (7:59.15)
400 Hurdles: 16. David Stewart, Schalick (55.04)
4×100: 26. Schalick (42.82)
800: 3. Josh Crawford, Woodstown (1:53.44); 16. Cole Lucas, Woodstown (1:55.01)
4×400: 18. Woodstown (3:23.93)
Javelin: 13. Connor Ayars, Pennsville (172-10)
Long Jump: 10. Anthony Parker, Salem (22-5)
Triple Jump: 24. Bryan Garlic, Penns Grove (44-0)
Wild cards and such
Salem County has athletes in 12 events at Wednesday’s Meet of Champions
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
Schalick’s boys 4×100 relay team cut it close, but it’s getting another chance to qualify for nationals.
The Cougars’ relay made the field for the Meet of Champions as the cut off team in their event, giving Salem County athletes in 12 events at Wednesday’s NJSIAA season-finale at Pennsauken High School.
The quartet of Reggie Allen, Michael Eberl, Zaeshawn Mills and David Stewart ran 42.82 to finish third in the Group I Championship Friday and it was good enough to earn one of seven wild card spots Salem County athletes received.
“I’m glad they got in,” Schalick coach James Turner said. “Our goal is to qualify for the New Balance Nationals.
“We already know that we’re capable of running faster than we did at states. One of our runners was sick and another is dealing with an injury. After reviewing the film, I noticed our handoffs did not go as smooth as they did at the sectional meet. We’re going to work on that Monday. The kids are motivated and excited to have another chance.”
The county’s five Group I state champions – Schalick’s Jordan Hadfield (1600), Pennsville’s Megan Morris (pole vault), Woodstown’s Josh Crawford (800), Salem’s Anthony Parker (long jump) and Woodstown’s 4×800 relay team – as well as Woodstown’s runner-up 4×400 relay team received automatic bids. The best of the rest rest were eligible for wild cards.
Of course, even though they’re qualified, the athletes in multiple events may not compete in all of them Wednesday night. Woodstown’s Crawford isn’t likely to run in the individual 800 to focus on the two relays, Schalick’s David Stewart likely won’t run the 400 hurdles that he’s only recently added to his repertoire in order to be sharp for the 4×100, and Schalick’s Hadfield is still contemplating the 3200.
MEET OF CHAMPIONS
SALEM COUNTY QUALIFIERS
GIRLS
1600: 12. Jordan Hadfield, Schalick (5:01.16)
3200: 20. Jordan Hadfield, Schalick (10:59.56)
Shot Put: 23. Tatiyonna Crawford, Pennsville (36-9)
Pole Vault: 12. Megan Morris, Pennsville (10-6)
BOYS
4×800: 5. Woodstown (7:59.15)
400 Hurdles: 16. David Stewart, Schalick (55.04)
4×100: 27. Schalick (42.82)
800: 3. Josh Crawford, Woodstown (1:53.44); 15. Cole Lucas, Woodstown (1:55.01)
4×400: 18. Woodstown (3:23.93)
Javelin: 12. Connor Ayars, Pennsville (172-10)
Long Jump: 10. Anthony Parker, Salem (22-5)
Triple Jump: 24. Bryan Garlic, Penns Grove (44-0)
Riverview Sports News 