Record repeat

Woodstown’s boys 4×800 relay goes back to Ott Center and smashes the record it set last week

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PHILADELPHIA – They did it again.

The Ott Center at Penn is quickly becoming the Woodstown boys 4×800 relay team’s favorite place to run.

The Wolverines set the house record in the event when they ran there for the first time last week and Saturday they took the mark down five more seconds, winning the race in 8:27.19. Williamstown was a distant second, more than eight and a half seconds in the Wolverines’ dust.

The team of Jacob Marino, Karson Chew, Cole Lucas and Josh Crawford also ran the distance medley and finished third (11:03.03) in a race each of the first four teams ran faster than the house record. They edged fourth-place Highland by 11-hundreths of a second.

“Today was great just like last week,” Chew said.

Lucas led them out in the DMR, running a 3:20 in the 1200. Crawford followed with a 49.4 split in the 400. Chew delivered a 2:06 in the 800 and Marino finished it off with a 4:46.

They switched up their usual order in the 4×8. Chew handed off to Marino in second place. Marino was still a little sore from an injury in the DMR, but fought through it to keep them in good position. Crawford ran the third leg in 1:59 and Lucas brought it home in 2:02.

“We all came to the meet feeling super confident and ready to race our race and everyone did their job and we came out with the victory again,” Chew said. “We’re definitely getting used to the Ott Center and its track and can’t wait to run at state relays.”

It was a big day for Salem’s Anthony Parker, too. He finished second in the 55 hurdles (7.81) and the long jump (20-10.75) – both to Mainland’s Josiah Williams. He also anchored the 4×200 relay team behind Kaden Robinson, Terrance Smith and Jelani Beverly that finished third in a school record 1:33.26.

“Ant’s progress has been amazing,” Salem coach David Hunt said. “He worked hard in the offseason and in the weight room and he’s seeing the benefits early in the season.”

Other noteworthy performances were turned in by Salem’s DaviYonn Jackson in the boys triple jump (seventh, 38-11.25. On the girls side, Salem’s MaKayla Smith was ninth in the long jump (15-01.50) and fifth in the triple jump (31-0); Salem’s Ava Rodgers was fifth in the shot (31-5); Woodstown’s Kami Casiano was ninth in the high jump (4-8) and Woodstown’s 4×800 relay finished ninth (11:19.69).

Salem County schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the remainder of this week and the first full week of the new year

JAN. 2
BOWLING
Salem vs. Lindenwold at 30 Strikes
Salem Tech vs. Gloucester City at Wood Lanes

JAN. 3
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Woodstown
Pennsville at Overbrook
Penns Grove at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Camden Academy Charter
Wildwood at Salem
BOYS BASKETBALL
Gloucester Catholic at Salem Tech
Overbrook at Pennsville
Salem at Wildwood
Schalick at Penns Grove
Woodstown at Glassboro
WRESTLING
Penns Grove in Bohemia Manor (Md.) Tournament
Schalick at Egg Harbor Twp.
SWIMMING
Woodstown vs. Timber Creek at GCIT, 7 p.m.
Schalick vs. Glassboro at GCIT, 8:30 p.m.

JAN. 4
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at Cumberland, 11:30 a.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Cumberland at Pennsville, 11:30 a.m.
Eastern at Penns Grove, 1 p.m.
WRESTLING
Pennsville at Hammonton Duals
Penns Grove, Paul VI, Willingboro at Audubon
Haddon Heights, Mainland, Overbrook at Schalick
Salem, Burlington City, St. Joe at Pitman
Woodstown in Collingswood Duals
INDOOR TRACK
Salem, Woodstown at Ott Center, Philadelphia

JAN. 5
WRESTLING
Schalick at Williamstown Tournament
Pennsville girls at Williamstown Tournament

JAN. 6
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at Haddon Twp., 7 p.m.
Pennsville at Woodstown, 7 p.m.
Schalick at Buena
BOYS BASKETBALL
Buena at Schalick
Camden Tech at Salem Tech
Pennsville at Woodstown
WRESTLING
Paul VI at Pennsville
SWIMMING
Schalick vs. West Deptford at River Winds
Woodstown vs. Lower Cape May

JAN. 7
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Clayton at Salem Tech
Overbrook at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Salem at Pitman
Schalick at Glassboro
BOYS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Schalick
Penns Grove at Overbrook
Pitman at Salem
Salem Tech at Clayton
BOWLING
Salem vs. Kingsway at Wood Lanes
Salem Tech vs. Lindenwold
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Camden County at Salem CC, 7 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Camden County at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

JAN. 8
WRESTLING
Gloucester Catholic at Schalick
Pennsville at Penns Grove
Salem at Cumberland
Woodstown at Deptford
SWIMMING
Salem at Lower Cape May
TRACK
Pennsville, Salem, Schalick at Bennett Center, Toms River

JAN. 9
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Salem
Penns Grove at Pitman, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Salem Tech
Triton at Pennsville
Wildwood at Woodstown
BOYS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at Gloucester Catholic
Pitman at Penns Grove
Salem at Glassboro
Salem Tech at Schalick
Woodstown at Wildwood
BOWLING
Salem Tech vs. Kingsway at Wood Lanes
SWIMMING
Schalick at Camden County Tech
Salem vs. Gloucester Catholic at GCIT, 8:30 p.m.
Woodstown vs. Highland at GCIT
TRACK
Penns Grove at Cherokee
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
RCSJ-Cumberland at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

JAN. 10
BOYS BASKETBALL
LEAP at Salem
Pennsville at Clayton
WRESTLING
Collingswood at Schalick

JAN. 11
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Delsea at Woodstown, 11:30 a.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Woodstown at Camden Catholic, 11:30 a.m.
St. Joseph at Penns Grove, 1 p.m.
Schalick at Collingswood
WRESTLING
Pennsville, Oakcrest, Overbrook at Millville
Penns Grove at Deptford
Salem at Cherokee
Schalick, Cumberland, Timber Creek at Buena
Woodstown in Cinnaminson Duals
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
RCSJ-Gloucester at Salem CC, noon
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Middlesex, noon

Making their mark

Woodstown’s boys indoor 4×800 relay sets Ott Center facility record in first trip around the track together

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PHILADELPHIA – When Woodstown’s celebrated boys 4×800 relay team walked into Penn’s brand-new Ott Center together as a team for the first time Saturday, all four runners had a feeling they were on the verge of something special.

They went in feeling great and came out feeling even better. They dashed around the track in a time of 8:32.30, setting a school, meet and facility record. They won the race by seven seconds.

The Wolverines had run in the facility once before, but the four mates on the 4×8 – Jacob Marino, Karson Chew, Cole Lucas and Josh Crawford – ran separate open events that first day and didn’t go as the collective.

“We went into today feeling great knowing that our first 4×800 of the season was finally here and all four of us were still together for it,” Chew said. “It was an exhilarating event for us and we’ve been waiting for the moment that we get to really show off again.”

And show out they did.

All four had run other events prior to the race and had to recover for the relay. Lucas and Chew both ran the mile and PR’d for the winter with Lucas setting the school record while finishing eighth (4:46.89). Crawford PR’d in the 55 and set the school record in the 200 while finishing Top 20 (23.30). And Marino set the school record in the 3200 while finishing 14th (10:35.15).

“We changed the order so Josh would lead off and I would run the third leg, and it proved well getting us far ahead of the competition right out of the gate,” Chew said. “Jacob kept Josh’s lead and I handed off to Cole for the anchor where he opened up our lead even more to make sure we would win.

“Around the anchor leg they said the standing meet record was 8:37 and change and we knew we were on pace to beat it. When they said Woodstown holds the new facility record for the Ott Center we were super happy. Coming into the race we had no clue about any records or what the other teams ran. We just walked onto the track knowing we had something to prove and we made it count.”

Woodstown’s girls 4×800 relay – Samantha Sterner, Anabel Schaal, Casey Gannon and Abby Marino – finished fifth in its race (11:21.41) and Kami Casiano placed sixth in the girls high jump (4-10).

Cover photo by Kayla Ayars

This week’s schedule

Here is the schedule for Salem County sports teams for the week of Dec. 16-21; games 4 p.m. unless noted; x-scrimmage

MONDAY, DEC. 16
GIRLS BASKETBALL
x-Pennsville at Palmyra
x-Woodstown at Kingsway
BOYS BASKETBALL
x-Clearview at Woodstown
x-Palmyra at Pennsville
Buena at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
SWIMMING
Woodstown vs. West Deptford at Riverwinds, 3:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, DEC. 17
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Schalick at Cape May Tech, 5:30 p.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Cape May Tech at Schalick
SWIMMING
Schalick vs. Camden Academy Charter at Vineland YMCA, 3:15 p.m.
INDOOR TRACK
Salem, Penns Grove at Bennett Center, Toms River, 5 p.m.
WRESTLING
Salem, Palmyra at Pennsville, 5 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem Tech vs. ACIT
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Mercer County CC at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Wildwood at Pennsville
Salem at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
Schalick at Clayton, 5:30 p.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Wildwood at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
Clayton at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Salem, 5:30 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem in Holiday Showcase at Laurel Lanes, Maple Shade, 3:30 p.m.
Salem Tech vs. Gloucester Catholic at Wood Lanes

THURSDAY, DEC. 19
SWIMMING
Schalick vs. Gloucester Catholic at GCIT, 4:45 p.m.
Woodstown vs. Deptford at GCIT, 7 p.m.
WRESTLING
Penns Grove at Schalick
Timber Creek at Woodstown, 6 p.m.
Pennsville girls at Beast of the East Tournament (U of Del.)
TRACK
Pennsville Polar Bear Meet, 3 p.m.
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
RCSJ-Cumberland at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

FRIDAY, DEC. 20
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Overbrook at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Pennsville at Glassboro, 5:30 p.m.
Salem at Salem Tech
Woodstown at Penns Grove
BOYS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Pennsville, 3 p.m.
Penns Grove at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
Salem Tech at Salem, 3 p.m.
Schalick at Overbrook, 5:30 p.m.
WRESTLING
Pennsville at William Penn (Del.) Invitational
Pennsville girls at Beast of the East Tournament (U of Del.)

SATURDAY, DEC. 21
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Salem Tech at Gloucester Catholic, 1:30 p.m.
Boardwalk Classic
Wildwood Convention Center
Penns Grove vs. Timber Creek, 2:15 p.m.
SJIBT Tournament
Highland at Woodstown, 11:30 a.m.
WRESTLING
Salem girls at Jackson Liberty Tournament, 9 a.m.
Pennsville at William Penn (Del.) Invitational, 10 a.m.
Woodstown in Beast of the East Tournament (U of Del.)
TRACK
Pennsville, Salem, Woodstown at Ott Center, Philadelphia

Salem winter sports

Here is the complete 2024-25 Salem County winter sports schedule; look for the weekly schedule on the website starting in December; x-scrimmage

NOV. 23
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Atlantic Cape CC at Salem CC, 2 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Essex County at Salem CC, noon

NOV. 26
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Camden County, 7 p.m.

DEC. 3
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Thaddeus Stevens, 7 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Union, 5 p.m.

DEC. 6
SWIMMING
Salem vs. Gloucester Catholic at GCIT, 7 p.m.
Schalick vs. Woodstown at GCIT, 8:30 p.m.

DEC. 7
BOYS BASKETBALL
x-Penns Grove at Egg Harbor Twp., noon
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Bergen CC at Salem CC, 2 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Raritan Valley CC at Salem CC, noon

DEC. 9
GIRLS BASKETBALL
x-Gloucester City at Salem Tech
x-Millville at Pennsville
x-Pleasantville at Penns Grove
x-Salem at Paulsboro
x-Schalick at Oakcrest
BOYS BASKETBALL
x-Atlantic Tech at Salem
x-Cedar Creek at Schalick
x-Penns Grove at Lindenwold

DEC. 10
GIRLS BASKETBALL
x-Penns Grove, Winslow at Highland
x-Woodstown at Moorestown Friends
BOYS BASKETBALL
x-Moorestown Friends at Woodstown
BOWLING
Salem Tech vs. ACIT
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Ocean County, 5 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at CC of Morris, 5 p.m.

DEC. 11
GIRLS BASKETBALL
x-Paulsboro at Schalick
x-Schalick at Bridgeton
BOYS BASKETBALL
x-Salem at Hammonton
x-Schalick at Winslow
x-West Deptford at Salem Tech
BOWLING
Salem vs. West Deptford at Bolero Lanes

DEC. 12
GIRLS BASKETBALL
x-Cumberland at Pennsville
x-Schalick at Salem
BOYS BASKETBALL
Mastery Charter at Salem Tech
x-Pennsville at Cumberland
x-Penns Grove at Egg Harbor Twp.
x-Lower Cape May at Schalick
x-Salem at Vineland
x-Woodstown at Gateway
SWIMMING
Schalick vs. Highland at GCIT, 4:45 p.m.
Salem vs. Pitman at GCIT, 5:45 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem vs. Gloucester City at Westbrook Lanes
Salem Tech vs. Clayton at Wood Lanes
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Williamson Trades, 7 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Bucks County CC at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

DEC. 13
GIRLS BASKETBALL
x-Hammonton at Woodstown

DEC. 14
BOYS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove Showcase
Glassboro vs. Lindenwold
Salem vs. Woodbury, 4:30 p.m.
Paulsboro at Penns Grove, 6 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove Showcase
Bridgeton at Penns Grove, 1 p.m.
Glassboro vs. Woodbury
WRESTLING
Schalick Holiday Tournament
Woodstown in Delaware Valley Tournament
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Brookdale CC at Salem CC, noon
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Lackawanna, noon

DEC. 16
GIRLS BASKETBALL
x-Pennsville at Palmyra
x-Woodstown at Kingsway
BOYS BASKETBALL
x-Clearview at Woodstown
x-Palmyra at Pennsville
Buena at Salem Tech
SWIMMING
Woodstown vs. West Deptford at Riverwinds

DEC. 17
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Schalick at Cape May Tech
BOYS BASKETBALL
Cape May Tech at Schalick
BOWLING
Salem vs. Salem Tech at Wood Lanes
INDOOR TRACK
Salem at Bennett Center, Toms River
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Mercer County CC at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

DEC. 18
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Wildwood at Pennsville
Salem at Woodstown
Salem Tech at Penns Grove
Schalick at Clayton
BOYS BASKETBALL
Wildwood at Pennsville
Clayton at Schalick
Penns Grove at Salem Tech
Woodstown at Salem
TRACK
Pennsville Polar Bear Meet
BOWLING
Salem in Holiday Showcase at Laurel Lanes, Maple Shade

DEC. 19
SWIMMING
Schalick vs. Gloucester Catholic at GCIT, 4:45 p.m.
Woodstown vs. Deptford at GCIT, 7 p.m.
Salem vs. Triton at GCIT, 8:15 p.m.
WRESTLING
Palmyra, Salem at Pennsville
Penns Grove at Schalick
Timber Creek at Woodstown
BOWLING
Salem vs. Clayton, Wood Lanes
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
RCSJ-Cumberland at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

DEC. 20
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Overbrook at Schalick
Pennsville at Glassboro
Salem at Salem Tech
Woodstown at Penns Grove
BOYS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Pennsville
Penns Grove at Woodstown
Salem Tech at Salem
Schalick at Overbrook
WRESTLING
Pennsville at William Penn (Del.) Invitational

DEC. 21
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Salem Tech at Gloucester Catholic, 1:30 p.m.
Boardwalk Classic
Wildwood Convention Center
Penns Grove vs. Timber Creek, 2:15 p.m.
SJIBT Tournament
Highland at Woodstown, 11:30 a.m.
WRESTLING
Pennsville at William Penn (Del.) Invitational
Woodstown in Beast of the East Tournament
TRACK
Pennsville, Salem, Woodstown at Ott Center, Philadelphia

DEC. 22
WRESTLING
Woodstown in Beast of the East Tournament

DEC. 23
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Boardwalk Classic
Wildwood Convention Center
Woodstown vs. Holy Spirit, 7:30 p.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Salem Tech at Pennsville, noon
WRESTLING
Pennsville at Mainland

DEC. 26
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at Washington Twp.

Boardwalk Classic
Wildwood Convention Center
Salem vs Millville, 1 p.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Schalick at West Deptford Tournament

DEC. 27
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at Buena
Penns Grove at Audubon Tournament
Woodstown in Haddon Twp. Tournament

Boardwalk Classic
Wildwood Convention Center
Salem vs. Bridgeton, 11:30 a.m.

BOYS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at Delsea, 9:30 a.m.
Pennsville at Buena
Salem vs. Westampton Tech at Deslea, 5 p.m.
Salem Tech in ACIT Holiday Tournament
Schalick at West Deptford Tournament
Woodstown at New Egypt Tournament
WRESTLING
Pennsville at Overbrook Tournament
Penns Grove, Schalick at Clayton Tournament

DEC. 28
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at Audubon Tournament
BOYS BASKETBALL
Salem Tech in ACIT Holiday Tournament
Woodstown at New Egypt Tournament
TRACK
Woodstown at Ott Center, Philadelphia
WRESTLING
Audubon, Long Branch, Northern Burlington at Woodstown
Penns Grove at Cumberland Duals
Schalick at Clayton Tournament

DEC. 30
BOYS BASKETBALL
Schalick at Gloucester City, 11:30 a.m.

Boardwalk Classic
Wildwood Convention Center
Salem vs. Oakcrest, 2:45 p.m.
Penns Grove vs. St. Augustine, 7:30 p.m.

DEC. 31
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Woodstown in Haddon Twp. Tournament
BOYS BASKETBALL
Boardwalk Classic
Wildwood Convention Center
Salem vs. Millville, 10 a.m.

JAN. 2
BOWLING
Salem vs. Lindenwold at 30 Strikes
Salem Tech vs. Gloucester City at Wood Lanes

JAN. 3
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Woodstown
Pennsville at Overbrook
Penns Grove at Schalick
Salem Tech at Camden Academy Charter
Wildwood at Salem
BOYS BASKETBALL
Gloucester Catholic at Salem Tech
Overbrook at Pennsville
Salem at Wildwood
Schalick at Penns Grove
Woodstown at Glassboro
WRESTLING
Penns Grove in Bohemia Manor (Md.) Tournament
Schalick at Egg Harbor Twp.
SWIMMING
Woodstown vs. Triton at GCIT, 7 p.m.
Schalick vs. Glassboro at GCIT, 8:30 p.m.

JAN. 4
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at Cumberland, 11:30 a.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Cumberland at Pennsville, 11:30 a.m.
Eastern at Penns Grove, 1 p.m.
WRESTLING
Pennsville at Hammonton Duals
Haddon Heights, Mainland, Overbrook at Schalick
Woodstown in Collingswood Duals
INDOOR TRACK
Salem, Woodstown at Ott Center, Philadelphia

JAN. 6
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at Haddon Twp., 7 p.m.
Schalick at Buena
BOYS BASKETBALL
Buena at Schalick
Camden Tech at Salem Tech
WRESTLING
Paul VI at Pennsville
Salem at Cumberland
SWIMMING
Schalick vs. West Deptford at River Winds
Woodstown vs. Lower Cape May

JAN. 7
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Clayton at Salem Tech
Overbrook at Penns Grove
Salem at Pitman
Schalick at Glassboro
Woodstown at Pennsville
BOYS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Schalick
Pennsville at Woodstown
Penns Grove at Overbrook
Pitman at Salem
Salem Tech at Clayton
BOWLING:
Salem Tech vs. Lindenwold
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Camden County at Salem CC, 7 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Camden County at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

JAN. 8
WRESTLING
Gloucester Catholic at Schalick
Pennsville at Penns Grove
Woodstown at Deptford
TRACK
Pennsville, Salem at Bennett Center, Toms River

JAN. 9
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Salem
Penns Grove at Pitman
Schalick at Salem Tech
Triton at Pennsville
Wildwood at Woodstown
BOYS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at Gloucester Catholic
Pitman at Penns Grove
Salem at Glassboro
Salem Tech at Schalick
Woodstown at Wildwood
BOWLING
Salem Tech vs. Kingsway at Wood Lanes
SWIMMING
Schalick at Camden County Tech
Woodstown vs. Highland at GCIT
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
RCSJ-Cumberland at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

JAN. 10
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Salem at LEAP
BOYS BASKETBALL
LEAP at Salem
Pennsville at Clayton
WRESTLING
Collingswood at Schalick

JAN. 11
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Delsea at Woodstown, 11:30 a.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Woodstown at Camden Catholic, 11:30 a.m.
St. Joseph at Penns Grove, 1 p.m.
Schalick at Collingswood
WRESTLING
Pennsville, Oakcrest, Overbrook at Millville
Penns Grove at Deptford
Schalick, Cumberland, Timber Creek at Buena
Woodstown in Cinnaminson Duals
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
RCSJ-Gloucester at Salem CC, noon
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Middlesex, noon

JAN. 13
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Clayton at Salem
Overbrook at Woodstown
Pennsville at Schalick
Penns Grove at Glassboro
Salem Tech at Wildwood
BOYS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Penns Grove
Salem at Clayton
Schalick at Pennsville
Wildwood at Salem Tech
Woodstown at Overbrook
SWIMMING
Woodstown vs. Schalick at Vineland YMCA
TRACK
Pennsville at Ocean Breeze, Staten Island

JAN. 14
WRESTLING
Cumberland, Salem at Penns Grove
Pennsville at Pitman
Schalick at St. Joe (Hamm.)
BOWLING
Salem vs. Gloucester City at Wood Lanes
Salem Tech vs. Clayton
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at RCSJ-Cumberland, 5 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Harcum at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

JAN. 15
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at Penns Grove
Pitman at Salem Tech
Salem at Gloucester Catholic
Schalick at Woodstown
BOYS BASKETBALL
Gloucester Catholic at Salem
Penns Grove at Pennsville
Salem Tech at Pitman
Woodstown at Schalick
SWIMMING
Woodstown vs. Haddon Heights at Camden County Tech
WRESTLING
Woodstown at Middle Twp.

JAN. 16
WRESTLING
Clayton at Penns Grove
Pennsville at Schalick
SWIMMING
Woodstown vs. Gloucester Catholic at GCIT, 5:45 p.m.
Schalick vs. Pitman at GCIT, 7:15 p.m.
Salem vs. Deptford at GCIT, 8:15 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem vs. Salem Tech at Wood Lanes
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Atlantic Cape, 6 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Anne Arundel CC, 5 p.m.

JAN. 17
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Camden County Tech at Salem Tech
Salem at Gloucester City
BOYS BASKETBALL
Camden County Tech at Woodstown
Haddon Twp. at Pennsville
TRACK
Pennsville, Salem, Woodstown in NSIAA Relays, Bennett Center, Toms River

JAN. 18
BOYS BASKETBALL
Salem at Lenape, 1 p.m.
WRESTLING
Pennsville vs. Collingswood, Sterling, Vineland
Penns Grove, Salem, Overbrook at Pitman
Deptford, Haddon Twp., Pemberton at Schalick, 9 a.m.
Buena, Haddon Heights, Pennsauken at Woodstown
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Passaic County CC at Salem CC, 2 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Essex County, noon

JAN. 20
BOYS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove vs. Burlington City at Woodbury, 12:30 p.m.

JAN. 21
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Pennsville
Penns Grove at Woodstown
Salem Tech at Salem
Schalick at Overbrook
BOYS BASKETBALL
Overbrook at Schalick
Pennsville at Glassboro
Salem at Salem Tech
Woodstown at Penns Grove
BOWLING
Salem vs. ACIT at Wood Lanes
Salem Tech vs. Collingswood at Wood Lanes
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Union College, 7 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Delaware Tech, 6 p.m.

JAN. 22
WRESTLING
Clayton at Schalick
Gloucester Catholic at Salem
Timber Creek at Pennsville
Woodstown at Overbrook
TRACK
Pennsville, Woodstown at Bennett Center, Toms River

JAN. 23
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Clayton at Penns Grove
Pitman at Schalick
Salem at Pennsville
Salem Tech at Overbrook
BOYS BASKETBALL
Gloucester Catholic at Woodstown
Overbrook at Salem Tech
Pennsville at Salem
Penns Grove at Clayton
Schalick at Pitman
SWIMMING
Woodstown vs. Pitman at GCIT, 5:45 p.m.
Salem vs. Schalick at GCIT, 7:15 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem vs. Lindenwold at Wood Lanes
Salem Tech vs. Gloucester City at Westbrook Lanes
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Williamson Trades at Salem CC, 4 p.m.

JAN. 24
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Buena at Salem
Pennsville at Delsea, 7 p.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Salem Tech at Buena
WRESTLING
Woodstown at Pennsville

JAN. 25
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at OLMA, 11 a.m.
Schalick at Camden County Tech
BOYS BASKETBALL
Camden County Tech at Schalick, 11:30 a.m.
Pennsville at Clearview, 11:30 a.m.
West Deptford at Woodstown, 11:30 a.m.
WRESTLING
Salem, Timber Creek, Lower Cape May at Haddon Heights
Schalick, Holy Spirit, Toms River North at Vineland
Woodstown, Hillsborough, West Essex at Watchung Hills
SWIMMING
Salem at Invitational, GCIT
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Northampton CC at Salem CC, 2 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Middlesex at Salem CC, noon

JAN. 27
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Gloucester City at Schalick
Palmyra at Salem
Salem Tech at Gateway
Woodstown at Cinnaminson
BOYS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at Gloucester City
SWIMMING
Salem vs. Woodstown at GCIT, 7 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem vs. Clayton at Wood Lanes

JAN. 28
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Gloucester Catholic at Salem Tech
Overbrook at Pennsville
Salem at Wildwood
Schalick at Penns Grove
Woodstown at Glassboro
BOYS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Woodstown
Pennsville at Overbrook
Penns Grove at Schalick
Salem Tech at Gloucester Catholic
Wildwood at Salem
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at CC of Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Union at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

JAN. 29
WRESTLING
Clayton at Salem
Cumberland at Woodstown
Pennsville at Gloucester Catholic
Pitman at Schalick
BOWLING
Salem Tech vs. Lindenwold at Wood Lanes

JAN. 30
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Schalick at Paulsboro
Wildwood at Penns Grove
Winslow at Salem
Woodstown at Clayton
BOYS BASKETBALL
Clayton at Woodstown
Penns Grove at Wildwood
Salem at Camden County Tech
Salem Tech at Camden County Tech
TRACK
Salem in TCC Showcase, Bennett Center

JAN. 31
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Salem Tech at Camden County Tech
BOYS BASKETBALL
Gateway at Salem Tech
WRESTLING
Clayton at Pennsville
Penns Grove at Gloucester Catholic
TRACK
Pennsville, Woodstown at Bennett Center, Toms River

FEB. 1
BOYS BASKETBALL
Woodstown at Bridgeton, 11:30 a.m.
WRESTLING
Pennsville, Clearview, Hammonton at Central Regional
Penns Grove vs. Bordentown, Vineland, Winslow
Salem, Schalick, Palmyra at Lindenwold
TRACK
Woodstown in SJTCA at Bennett Center
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Luzerne County CC at Salem CC, noon
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Raritan Valley CC, noon

FEB. 3
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at West Deptford
Salem at Audubon
BOYS BASKETBALL
Buena at Pennsville
Riverside at Penns Grove
TRACK
Pennsville, Salem at Ocean Breeze Complex, Staten Island
BOWLING
Salem vs. Hammonton at DiDonato Bowling Center

FEB. 4
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Schalick
Pennsville at Woodstown
Penns Grove at Overbrook
Pitman at Salem
Salem Tech at Clayton
BOYS BASKETBALL
Clayton at Salem Tech
Overbrook at Penns Grove
Salem at Pitman
Schalick at Glassboro
Woodstown at Pennsville
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Montgomery County (Pa.) CC, 7 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
CC or Morris at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

FEB. 5
WRESTLING
Pennsville at Gateway
Penns Grove at Clearview
BOWLING
Salem, Salem Tech in TCC Showcase at 30 Strikes

FEB. 6
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Penns Grove
Salem at Clayton
Schalick at Pennsville
Wildwood at Salem Tech
Woodstown at Overbrook
BOYS BASKETBALL
Clayton at Salem
Overbrook at Woodstown
Pennsville at Schalick
Penns Grove at Glassboro
Salem Tech at Wildwood
WRESTLING
Woodstown, Williamstown at Hammonton
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
RCSJ-Gloucester at Salem CC, 7 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
RCSJ-Gloucester at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

FEB. 7
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at Millville
WRESTLING
Salem at Winslow
BOWLING
NJSIAA Playoffs

FEB. 8
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Cumberland at Schalick, 11:30 a.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at West Deptford, 11:30 a.m.
Absegami at Salem, noon
WRESTLING
Burlington City, Egg Harbor Twp., St. Joe (Hamm.) at Pennsville
Woodstown, Williamstown at Hammonton
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Harrisburg Area CC, noon

FEB. 10
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at Pennsville
Schalick at Winslow
BOYS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at Triton
Salem at Winslow
Schalick at Maple Shade
TRACK
Pennsville, Salem at Ocean Breeze, Staten Island
WRESTLING
Playoffs Rounds 1 & 2

FEB. 11
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Gloucester Catholic at Salem
Pennsville vs. Clayton at Wells Fargo Center
Salem Tech at Pitman
Woodstown at Schalick
BOYS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at Penns Grove
Pitman at Salem Tech
Salem at Gloucester Catholic
Schalick at Woodstown
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Mercer County CC at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

FEB. 12
WRESTLING
Haddon Heights at Pennsville

FEB. 13
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at Pitman
Penns Grove at Salem
LEAP Academy at Schalick
Woodstown at Salem Tech
BOYS BASKETBALL
Pitman at Pennsville
Salem at Penns Grove
Salem Tech at Woodstown
Schalick at Pennsauken Tech

FEB. 14
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Triton at Schalick
BOYS BASKETBALL
Salem Tech at Camden Academy Charter
WRESTLING
Schalick, Burlington Twp., Maple Shade at Cherry Hill West
Sectional Finals

FEB. 15
WRESTLING
Central Regional, Delran, Haddon Heights at Woodstown
Pennsville at Hightstown
Penns Grove, Gloucester Catholic at Lindenwold
TRACK
Pennsville, Salem at Bennett Center, Staten Island
Woodstown in NJSIAA Sectionals at Bennett Center
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Sussex County CC, 2 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Lackawanna at Salem CC, 1 p.m.

FEB. 18
GIRLS BASKETBALL
TCC Showcase
BOYS BASKETBALL
Deptford at Penns Grove
TCC Showcase
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Montgomery County (Pa.) CC at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

FEB. 20
GIRLS BASKETBALL
TCC Showcase
BOYS BASKETBALL
TCC Showcase

FEB. 22
GIRLS BASKETBALL
TCC Showcase
BOYS BASKETBALL
TCC Showcase

FEB. 23
TRACK
Pennsville, Salem at Bennett Center, Staten Island

MAR. 2
TRACK
Meet of Champions, Ocean Breeze, Staten Island

Classy HOF class

Salem County Sports Hall of Fame welcomes seven new members, brings all-time roster of inductees to 143

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – Everyone on the Davidow Theater stage was decked out in their Sunday best befitting a Hall of Fame induction, but still it was easy to pick out the baseball player in the bunch. He was one wearing the Pennsville baseball jersey that looked just as sharp as a three-piece suit.

**Lex Bleckley addresses the crowd during his Salem County Sports Hall of Fame induction.**

Pennsville baseball great Lex Bleckley was among the seven newest inductees into the Salem County Sports Hall of Fame. They were inducted in ceremonies on the Salem Community College campus Thursday night.

Bleckley was joined in the class by Jaymes Dennison (track), James Dickerson (track) , Nick Elmer (football), Steve Merritt (coach), Donna O’Leary (coach) and Latika Ross (basketball). In addition, the Hall board will recognize Vince Gioia and Steve Lopes for their decades of service to Salem County sports as well as eight current and previous high school state champions.

The high school honorees were headlined by Penns Grove’s three-time boys (2013-15) and two-time girls (2013-14) Group I state champions.

Record-breaking Salem running back Jonathan Taylor, currently in training camp with the Indianapolis Colts, was enshrined in a separate ceremony last month.

The story of the Pennsville jersey finding its way on stage is a story of family love. Johnny Swiderski, one of the heroes of this year’s Pennsville Little League District 3 championship team, ran into Eagles baseball coach Matt Karr at a midget football game last week and asked if the coach had a couple of extra jerseys he could spare so the family could support their uncle at the ceremonies.

Karr came through. Young Johnny wore a blue Pennsville jersey the team wore a couple years ago and a vintage Montreal Expos cap representing the MLB team that drafted his uncle out of the University of Delaware. Bleckley had this year’s Eagles jersey, number 15. (He wore 5 when he helped the Eagles to an undefeated season).

“I was thinking about putting a piece of tape over that 1 and leave the 5,” he joked. “Close enough.”

Bleckley, who celebrated his 61st birthday Wednesday with family and friends, was a product of the Pennsville sports system, playing football and baseball. He is most proud of the baseball championships from an early age through his decorated career with the Eagles. The championships include district titles in Little League, State and Mid-Atlantic Champions in Babe Ruth Baseball and a state championship his senior year with a 25-0 record and the No. 1 ranked team in the state. The undefeated season has not been duplicated.

“We went 25-0, but there were only so many guys who could play and there were so many guys on that team that would have been starters for anybody else – and they were busting their butts every day,” he said. “I always wished they got more recognition. I’m up there because of them.”

His personal accomplishments include three-time All-Salem County, two-time Tri-County, two-time South Jersey Group II, two-time All-South Jersey, Group II All State, All-State First Team and Today’s Sunbeam Player of the Year. He finished his career at Pennsville with a .503 batting average and a team win-loss record of 66-6. He was taken in the major league draft twice.

“When I was growing up in town, Lex Bleckley was one of the names that you heard about in baseball,” said Karr, who didn’t attend the ceremony but was on top of the happenings. “I saw that Coach (Ed) Reiger was there tonight. I had him for study hall when I was a junior and senior and he used to share with us all his stories about teams from the past and some of those legendary teams and Lex Bleckley was definitely a big part of all that type of baseball history.”

The Kansas City Royals drafted Bleckley after his high school career, but he went to Delaware, where he was a three-year starter at shortstop. During his UD career, the Blue Hens were East Coast Conference champions twice and missed making it to the College World Series by one game. Lex came in second for the Division I batting title with a .455 average his junior year and was named ECC Player of the Year. He was drafted and signed by the Expos and spent a brief time in the minors before being derailed by a shoulder injury. After his playing career ended, he was head coach at Salem CC for two years.

He now runs a wholesale seafood business in Florida, but keeps up with the sports happenings from home on the internet. He’s going through some health challenges, but otherwise was in good form Thursday and genuinely proud to be on the stage with the other inductees.

“This has always been home,” he said.

JAYMES DENNISON excelled in track at Penns Grove High School. A member of the Class of 2013, Jaymes was a two-time state champion. He won the 800 in his junior year and the 400 in his senior year. He helped lead the team to a Group 1 team state championship in 2013, and holds school records in the 800.

He was a three-time South Jersey champion in the 800 meters. As a senior, he finished seventh in the Meet of Champions in one of the most competitive 800-meter races in its history. “If you ran 1:54-flat you did not finish in the top 10,” Hall board member and 2011 inductee Tom Mason said in introducing Dennison.

His post-high school accomplishments may be more impressive. In two years at Iowa State, he was a two-time NCAA All-American in 2018, Second Team All-American in the 4×400 meter relay and Honorable Mention All-American in the 800 meters. He was the Big 12 indoor champion in the 600 meters. Before enrolling at Iowa State, he was a two-time junior college indoor national champion in the 600 meters.

JAMES (JIMMY) DICKERSON graduated from Salem High School in 1964. Following high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force for eight years and traveled extensively throughout Europe. While serving in the military, Jimmy was a medic.

In addition to his medic responsibilities, he played in the European Conference, on the track and field team, where he placed first in high jump at 6-10 and excelled in the triple jump. He also made the All-Europe Football Team as a running back and kick returner. After his tour of duty, Jimmy was an OSHA inspector at BF Goodrich in Pedricktown until his retirement.

In 1976, Jimmy was invited to attend Philadelphia Eagles head coach Dick Vermeil’s tryout camp. Although not selected, he considered meeting fellow tryout attendee Vince Papale, who went on to make the Eagles’ roster from that tryout, an experience of a lifetime.

At 34, Jimmy enrolled at Gloucester County College and competed in the track and field high/triple jump. He never lost a match during his two seasons. Community focused, Jimmy is involved in coaching youth basketball and mentoring. In addition, he is an active member of his church and sings in the senior choir.

NICK ELMER was a multi-sport athlete (football, wrestling, track and field) at Penns Grove High School.

In football, he set school records for passing yards (4,580) and passing touchdowns (61). He also helped lead PGHS to a record-breaking 2012 season and a South Jersey Group 1 championship in which he rushed for a record 308 yards in the title game. The 2012 team still holds the record for most points scored in a season in South Jersey history. He earned All-State First Team honors in 2012 and was the Philadelphia Inquirer South Jersey Player of the Year.

As a wrestler, Nick amassed a school-record 137 victories and qualified for the state tournament on twice, ultimately earning a seventh-place finish in 2013. He continued his academic and athletic career in wrestling at Drexel University, where he was a varsity starter for two years, accumulating 31 wins and a spot on the podium in the 2016 Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) Conference Tournament and earned an EIWA Academic Achievement Award in the same year.

He went on to medical school at Thomas Jefferson University, where he graduated cum laude and as a member of the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha national medical honors society. He is currently a plastic surgery resident at NYU Langone Hospital in New York City.

His commitments in New York prevented him from attending the ceremony. John Emel, the current West Deptford football coach and former Penns Grove coach, spoke on his behalf.

**Former Salem field hockey coach Donna O’Leary (L) estimated she influenced nearly 1,000 girls during her Hall of Fame coaching career.**

DONNA O’LEARY graduated from Paulsboro High School and was a two-sport varsity athlete (field hockey and tennis) there. She also swam competitively year-round at the Woodbury YMCA.

She earned a degree from Glassboro State College as a health/physical education major. Playing field hockey and swimming in college were important milestones in her path to becoming a coach. After graduation, she became the head women’s swim coach at Glassboro State. During those six years, she produced six All-Americans.

In 1988, Salem City hired her as a full-time health/physical education teacher in the elementary school and as the field hockey head coach at Salem High School. After taking the reins from Liz Pappas, she put her heart into making the field hockey program successful and without a feeder system afforded other communities she accumulated 315 wins and seven Tri-County championships. She was a two-time Coach of the Year.

“First of all, I never expected to be 34 years in one spot,” she said. “I figured when my kids went to high school I would leave. I loved it so much.

“Field hockey and Salem is n-o-o-o-o-t (usually in the same sentence) … We quietly made an impact and that’s what I think I’ll remember most.”

In 34 years of coaching she estimates she’s had an influence on more than 1,000 athletes – a remembers almost of them.

LATIKA ROSS, a 2001 Salem High School graduate, excelled in both basketball and track and field. In track, she broke the 800-meter record as a sophomore. In basketball, she became the third Lady Ram to join SHS’s 1000-point club and pulled down over 1,000 rebounds as a four-year varsity player. Latika earned numerous accolades, including All-Tournament Team and First Team for All South Jersey Group 1 and Tri-County Conference Classic Divisions for two consecutive years. Today’s Sunbeam named her Player of the Year in 2001.

Moving on to Salem CC, Latika amassed 1,130 points and 1,028 rebounds over two years, earning National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Second Team honors. She holds the NJCAA Division II Women’s Basketball regular-season record for rebound average (23.2 per game in 2002-03).

After attending Drexel University for one year on a full athletic scholarship, Latika transferred to Saint Augustine’s University (SAU), where she made the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association All-Tournament Team and averaged a double-double her senior year (10 points, 10 rebounds per game). Graduating from SAU with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and 3.9 grade point average, Latika embarked on a successful 15-year career in accounting.

Today, she channels her talents into entertainment as an actress, producer and stand-up comedian, performing under the name Latika Sye (a family surname).

During the ceremony it was announced Latika is the first member of a Salem CC sports team to be inducted into the County Sports Hall of Fame.

STEVE MERRITT was never the last to be picked for any of the seasonal schoolyard games, until he turned 12 and lost a game of “chicken” with the front end of a Buick or Pontiac. It’s not clear to this day. A significant injury cost him any speed he might have had or would have. Nonetheless, it is difficult to temper a Type A personality and there was always some kind of competition at home with three brothers.

A single junior varsity season of baseball and senior year “cup of coffee” as a wrestler sums up his high school athletic career. Intramural softball and volleyball were competitive outlets at Glassboro State College.

After college, long-distance running became his outlet for competition. His omnipresent opponent became the stopwatch. No longer did he have to finish first to win. He ran the New York City Marathon twice, the Marine Corps Marathon twice and the Boston Marathon in 1992.

A combined 50 varsity seasons (tennis, soccer, basketball and softball) as a head coach at Salem High School yielded over 500 victories, four South Jersey Championships, three Tri-County Classic titles and helped to satisfy his yen for competition. Earlier this summer he was named the girls basketball coach at Pennsville High School.

COMMUNITY SERVICE HONOREES

VINCENT GIOLA JR. graduated from Penns Grove High School in 1968 and began working for DuPont Chambers Works in 1969, retiring in 2010. To say his life revolved around sports would be an understatement.

Vince first coached in 1969 and over the next 50 years spent countless hours coaching, managing and maintaining the fields at the Carneys Point Recreation Complex for the Carneys Point-Penns Grove-Pedricktown Little League and Penns Grove Soccer Club.

He played and coached in both the Salem County Men’s Baseball League (1969-1976) and the PG-CP Men’s Softball League (1975-2015) while also serving as a league officer and a liaison with Salem County. He coached for the PG mini-wrestling organization (1979-1986), managed for the PG-CP Women’s Softball (1978-1982), and for the PG Babe Ruth (1985-1987). Vince also coached PG Twins 130 lb. football team (1985-1991) and was head coach of the SCC’s softball team (1991-1995, 2011-2013).

Vince has been a member of the South Jersey Officials Association (football) since 1999 and Unified Umpire Association of Southern New Jersey since 2007. He served on the Carneys Point Recreation Commission (1999-2023) and was chairman (2004-2023). He managed the CP Recreation Complex (2004-2023) and was president of the Servicemen’s Memorial Home (2015-2023).

Today, Vince can be found on a field or in a gym in South Jersey officiating, umpiring or just watching his grandchildrens’ games or any game, for that matter.

STEVE LOPES graduated from Penns Grove High School in 1964, after playing three years of varsity basketball with coach Rudy Baric.

For 45 years, Steve has officiated over 800 high school football games. He had the honor of officiating over 50 state playoff games, including several state championship games at Rutgers, Giants and MetLife Stadiums. Steve has served as the president of New Jersey Football Officials Association – South, the organization representing football officials in South Jersey. Additionally, he is an official for the NFL’s Girls Flag Football program and officiated the Big 33 tournament sponsored by several NFL teams. In addition, Steve has umpired high school, college and semi-pro baseball for 17 years.

For 16 years, Steve managed in the Penns Grove-Carneys Point-Pedricktown Little League and Babe Ruth League, where his teams won several league and district titles. He has played and managed a senior (ages 50, 60, 70) baseball team in Carneys Point. For over 20 years, he has played in men’s senior baseball national tournaments in Florida and Arizona.

Hall of Fame induction

Salem County Sports Hall of Fame to enshrine seven remaining members of this year’s induction class Thursday at Salem CC; Salem NFL running back Jonathan Taylor was enshrined earlier this summer

From Salem Community College

CARNEYS POINT – The seven remaining members of this year’s Salem County Sports Hall of Fame induction class will go marching into the Hall Thursday night in ceremonies at Salem Community College’s Davidow Theatre.

The Salem County SHOF Board has selected these individuals for induction in the latest ceremony. Former Salem High School current NFL running back Jonathan Taylor was inducted in a separate ceremony earlier in the summer.

Lex Bleckley (professional baseball)
Jaymes Dennison (track)
James Dickerson (track)
Nick Elmer (football)
Steve Merritt (coach)
Donna O’Leary (coach)
Latika Ross (basketball)

In addition, the Hall board will recognize Vince Gioia and Steve Lopes for their decades of service to Salem County sports as well as the following high school state champions:

Penns Grove’s three-time NJSIAA Group I state champion Boys Track Team (2013-15);

Penns Grove’s two-time NJSIAA Group I state champion Girls Track Team (2013-14);

Pennsville’s Megan Morris (2024 Pole Vault); Salem’s DaviYonn Jackson (2023-24 Triple Jump); Salem’s 2024 girls 4×100 Relay (Sairis Jimenez, Karima Davenport-White, Morgan Van Dover, Rhi’Onna Timmons); Salem’s 2024 girls shot put relay (Dominique Lewis and Ryann Mulhorn); Schalick’s Jordan Hadfield (2023 cross country 2024 1600); and Woodstown 2024 boys 4×800 Relay (Karson Chew, Joshua Crawford, Jacob Martino, Cole Lucas).

Admission is free and no tickets are required. The ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m.

Here is a thumbnail look at the Hall of Fame inductees

LEX BLECKLEY was a product of the Pennsville sports system, playing football and baseball. He is most proud of the baseball championships from an early age through his decorated career at Pennsville Memorial High School. The championships include district titles in Little League, State and Mid-Atlantic Champions in Babe Ruth and a state championship his senior year with a 25-0 record and the No. 1 ranked team in the state. The undefeated season has not been duplicated.

His personal accomplishments include three-time All-Salem County, two-time Tri-County, two-time South Jersey Group II, two-time All-South Jersey, Group II All State, All-State First Team and Today’s Sunbeam Player of the Year. He finished his career at Pennsville with a .503 batting average and a team win-loss record of 66-6. He was taken in the major league draft twice.

The Kansas City Royals drafted Bleckley after his high school career, but he elected to attend the University of Delaware, where he was a three-year starter at shortstop. During his UD career, the Blue Hens were East Coast Conference champions twice and missed making it to the College World Series by one game, losing in the finals. Lex came in second for the Division I batting title with a .455 average his junior year and was named ECC Player of the Year. He was drafted and signed by the Montreal Expos. After his playing career ended, he was head coach at Salem Community College for two years. Currently, he resides in Florida with his wife and son.

He was a three-time South Jersey champion in the 800 meters. As a senior, he finished seventh in the Meet of Champions in one of the most competitive 800-meter races in its history.

NICK ELMER was a multi-sport athlete (football, wrestling, track and field) at Penns Grove High School.

DONNA O’LEARY graduated from Paulsboro High School and was a two-sport varsity athlete (field hockey and tennis) there. She also swam competitively year-round at the Woodbury YMCA.

Moving on to Salem Community College, Latika amassed 1,130 points and 1,028 rebounds over two years, earning National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Second Team honors. She holds the NJCAA Division II Women’s Basketball regular-season record for rebound average (23.2 per game in 2002-03).

Today, she channels her talents into entertainment as an actress, producer and stand-up comedian, performing under the name Latika Sye (a family surname).

Community Service

Vince first coached in 1969 and over the next 50 years spent countless hours coaching, managing and maintaining the fields at the Carneys Point Recreation Complex for the Carneys Point-Penns Grove-Pedricktown Little League and Penns Grove Soccer Club.

Vince played and coached in both the Salem County Men’s Baseball League (1969-1976) and the PG-CP Men’s Softball League (1975-2015) while also serving as a league officer and a liaison with Salem County. He coached for the PG mini-wrestling organization (1979-1986), managed for the PG-CP Women’s Softball (1978-1982), and for the PG Babe Ruth (1985-1987). Vince also coached PG Twins 130 lb. football team (1985-1991) and was head coach of the SCC’s softball team (1991-1995, 2011-2013).

Vince has been a member of the South Jersey Officials Association (football) since 1999 and Unified Umpire Association of Southern New Jersey since 2007. He served on the Carneys Point Recreation Commission (1999-2023) and was chairman (2004-2023). Vince managed the CP Recreation Complex (2004-2023) and was president of the Servicemen’s Memorial Home (2015-2023). Today, Vince can be found on a field or in a gym in South Jersey officiating, umpiring or just watching his grandchildrens’ games or any game, for that matter.

STEVE LOPES graduated from Penns Grove High School in 1964, after playing three years of varsity basketball with coach Rudy Baric.

For 16 years, Steve managed in the Penns Grove-Carneys Point-Pedricktown Little League and Babe Ruth League, where his teams won several league and district titles. He has played and managed a senior (ages 50, 60, 70) baseball team in Carneys Point. For over 20 years, Steve has played in men’s senior baseball national tournaments in Florida and Arizona.

A hidden gem

Growing Bridgeton museum overflows with memorabilia linked to South Jersey’s rich sporting past; Morganti to enter HOF Saturday

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

BRIDGETON — If you’re not quite sure where you’re going you just might miss it, just like Todd Frazier did – twice – with humorous results when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame, but once you get there you’ll be amazed at what’s inside.

From the outside, Building 7 that houses the All Sports Museum (and Hall of Fame) of Southern New Jersey appears to be just another unassuming building in the city’s athletic complex, but within its walls contains a veritable treasure trove of memorabilia commemorating the region’s rich sporting past.

The quaint five-room, 1,500-square foot white bungalow that serves a variety of purposes for the city houses more than 15,000 artifacts, photos and films from across the sporting spectrum with some connection to the state’s eight southern-most counties – only about half of which is currently on display.

“A hidden gem, you said the exact words,” museum and Hall chairman Dom Valella said during a recent tour for a first-time visitor. “When we have an athlete down here who’s not familiar with this area and they see it, they say this is a hidden gem you have here.

“We’re very proud of that. We’re all volunteers; we’re all guys who just love the sport, love doing this. We just enjoy having the athletes come down (and) meeting them on a personal level.”

It certainly gave pause to Frazier, the former Shore-area baseball great who gained early fame as the hero of Toms River East’s 1998 Little League World Series title team and went on to become a two-time major-league All-Star and Home Run Derby champion over 11 big-league seasons. Once he found the museum, he was, of course, blown away by its offerings.

The story goes that Frazier was driving around town looking for the building and twice was stopped by local police as a suspicious vehicle. Once it was determined who they had detained and what his purpose was for being in the area, they gave him a full police escort to the facility.

It is easy to see how one could get waylaid. The official address is 8 Richie Kates Way, a street just off the main drag renamed in honor of the local boxer and Hall of Fame inductee who twice fought for the light-heavyweight championship and had WBA champ Victor Galindez beat in their 15-rounder in South Africa. (There’s a life-sized cutout of a ring-ready Kates right outside the case displaying his memorabilia as well as homages to Joe Frazier (who trained for a time in Vineland and sparred with Kates in Philadelphia) and Jersey Joe Wolcott).

But to have the GPS get you there you have to punch in 8 Burt Street.

It’s two turns off Hwy. 49 as you get into town, just past the high school football stadium and right across the street from Alden Field, home of the annual Bridgeton Invitational semi-pro baseball tournament that introduced MLB to the concept of pitch clocks and designated hitters long before those innovations became fashionable. They still talk about the night two of tournament teams brought in a couple ringers named Dickie Noles and Tug McGraw to pitch against each other.

The museum has items from every sport imaginable. There’s an early vaulting pole, a French foil from the 70s, the original four-pound green sneakers of the Phillie Phanatic (a popular item with the kids), local trophies that date back to 1904, photos that go back to 1896, several game-used equipment and jerseys and more than 200 autographed baseballs. There’s a bat from Jackie Robinson and even the partial uniform of baseball’s first professional female umpire, Bernice Gera, which landed in their cases after swapping the complete uniform they had with Cooperstown.

“People are surprised at how big it is,” said Ed Forman, in his 19th year as the fourth-ever curator of the museum that was founded by Ed Alden as a Bridgeton-centric repository. “Looking at it from the outside it looks like we just have one room or something like that, so when they come in and find out we have this room and this room and this room … (they’re amazed).

“I love the fact they’re amazed. Mostly everything here was donated. The only things that weren’t donated were the two (Little League World Series) trophies in the first room. It is impressive. I’m impressed with some of the things.”

Dom Valella, chairman of the All-Sports Museum of Southern New Jersey, points to the plaque of Flayers great Rick MacLeish, one of the nearly 150 inductees into the museum’s Hall of Fame. The next Hall induction ceremony is Saturday.

There’s a heavy presence of Phillies, Eagles and Flyers – many of whom lived in the South Jersey suburbs – but there is just as much emphasis on the accomplishments of athletes with natural roots in the area.

Coming through the door you’re welcomed by a display cases honoring locally high school and Little League championship teams. There are rooms dedicated to baseball, football, basketball and hockey. There are dedicated displays for Baseball Hall of Famer Goose Goslin; football’s George Jamison, Lydell Mitchell and Dave Robinson; track’s John Borican and auto racing pioneer Bunky Higbee. The exhibit for Millville native son Mike Trout takes up an entire wall.

There’s even a “writers wing,” a section dedicated to prominent local media, whose ranks will increase by one with Saturday’s Hall of Fame induction of Al Morganti, a Massachusetts kid who earned his chops as a Philadelphia hockey writer and network analyst. His induction brings to 135 the coaches, athletes, contributors, pioneers and teams enshrined in the Hall with many more luminaries holding a place in the museum.

There’s a distinction between the Hall of Fame and the museum – not all museum benefactors are inducted into the Hall, but inductees are asked if they’d like to donate an item to the Hall – but If there’s a connection to South Jersey, no matter how small, it’s in there.

‘Our mission statement is to preserve, protect and display all sports memorabilia connected from Philly on down, South Jersey and Philly,” Valella said. “It is surprising (the number of accomplished sportsmen hail from the area). We should be proud of it.”

Everyone who comes through the museum, which is open with free admission from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Saturday or by appointment, has a favorite piece, but the star of the show is the 1960 National League Gold Glove of Willie Mays, whose connection to South Jersey runs from his days as a minor leaguer in Trenton to his somewhat controversial (at the time) connection to promoting the casinos in Atlantic City.

Mays, who passed away earlier this summer, came to Bridgeton as a guest of the Invitational. Between games tournament officials were known to give away baskets of local peaches and plums as door prizes. A son of the south, Mays wasn’t interested in peaches, but did want to know what it’d take to get some of those plums.

Tournament organizers said if he made a donation to the museum they’d provide him as many plums as he could stand. Mays told them to come see him at Resorts and he’d have something for them. When they arrived, he presented them the Gold Glove (he won 12 of them) with the caveat not to sell it, trade it or give it away. The award is displayed on the first shelf of a case in the middle of the back wall in the main room.

“That’s the No. 1 item that’s here,” Valella said. “I think the Gold Glove is one of the nicest things we’ve got here – and the story.”

There’s no telling how much all the memorabilia housed in the museum is worth, but rest assured it’s all insured. Former Phillies reliever, current studio host and future Hall inductee Ricky Bottalico toured the museum during broadcast partner Michael Barkann’s induction and asked what they thought the Mays Gold Glove was worth. Museum officials estimated conservatively $150,000. Bottalico said they should double it, in a tone that that suggested even his assessment was low.

After all, you can’t put a price on memories.

**Curator Ed Forman (L) and chairman Dom Valella flank the most prized possession of the All-Sports Museum of Southern New Jersey — Willie Mays’ 1960 National League Gold Glove.**

Meet of Champions

Salem’s Jackson, Schalick’s O’Neill bring top 10 finishes back to Salem County

By Riverview Sports News

PENNSAUKEN – Salem’s DaviYonn Jackson and Schalick’s Grace O’Neill both posted top 10 finishes – the highest finishes among Salem County athletes – at Wednesday’s NJSIAA Meet of Champions at Pennsauken High School.

Jackson, the Group I champion, finished fifth with a jump of 46 feet, 6.5 inches. O’Neill finished eighth in the girls discus with a throw of 134 feet, 3 inches that broke a 12-year-old school record. Her throw was two feet better than her third-place throw in the Group I meet.

Here is how the Salem County athletes fared at the TOC Meet.

BOYS
Triple jump: 5. DaviYonn Jackson, Salem, 46-6.5); 14. Khalim Smith, Penns Grove, 43-7.25.
4×800: 18. Woodstown (Karson Chew, Joshua Crasford, Jacob Marino, Cole Lucas), 8:15.98).

GIRLS
4×100: 11. Salem (Sairis Jiminez, Karima Davenport-White, Morgan VanDover, Rhionna Timmons), 49.3.
400: 13. Anna Buzby, Salem, 59.11.
3200: 13. Jordan Hadfield, Schalick, 11:05.33.
Discus: 8. Grace O’Neill, Schalick, 134-3.
Pole vault: 21. Megan Morris, Pennsville, 10-0.
Long jump: 26. Karima Davenport-White, 16-0.

Striking gold

Three Salem County individuals and one relay win events on Day One of the NJSIAA Group I track championships; Salem’s girls current third in team standings

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

SOMERSET – Three individual athletes and one relay team brought back gold to Salem County Friday in the first day of the NJSIAA Group I state track meet at Franklin High School.

Salem’s DaviYonn Jackson won the boys triple jump, Pennsville’s Megan Morris won the girls pole vault, Schalick’s Jordan Hadfield won the girls 3200 and Salem’s girls won the 4×100 relay to highlight the locals’ first day of competition.

Salem’s girls are currently third in the team standings with 27 points, three behind second-place Audubon. Hasbrouck Heights leads with 42 points.

“Today was a great day all around,” Salem senior Karima Davenport-White said.

The Rams’ relay team won with a school-record time of 49.63 and hit the tape five-hundredths of a second ahead of runner-up Woodbury after Rhionna Timmons ran what coach Spencer Jarrett called “the best anchor of her life.”

The other members of the relay were Sairis Jimenez, Davenport-White and Morgan VanDover.

“For me, it’s a huge deal since I’ve been on the 4×1 relay since my freshman year,” Davenport-White said. “So this is everything finally paying off, all the hard work and sacrifice.”

Davenport-White also finished third in the long jump, breaking Timmons’ school record with a jump of 17-2; Timmons finished fifth. Teammate Anna Buzby finished third in the girls 800 and sixth in the 400 hurdles and pole vault, and Dominique Lewis was sixth in the shot.

“Today was a great day,” Jarrett said.

Jackson gave the Rams their second state champion of the day when he repeated in the boys triple jump with a career-best jump of 46-feet, 4-inches. The man they call “Pop” led after the first round of jumps, hit his eventual winning jump on his second attempt and nearly matched it on his third jump.

He won by eight inches, but had to sweat it out as Cresskill runner-up Joshua Yoon (45-8) and Cartrell Moore of Glassboro (45-7) came after him hard.

“I knew out of the box it was going to be a dogfight, I tried to put my head down and just fight,” Jackson said. “I kept telling myself at the back of the runway I’m there, I’m knocking on the door, they’ve got to let me in.”

Morris won the girls pole vault with a personal-best 10-0. She hit all three of her progressive heights on the first attempt and made her winning jump on the second try at the height. She made an effort at 10-3 after securing the victory but fatigue got the best of her.

“I’ve been working really hard throughout the whole season,” Morris said. “I was really excited when I got it. Once I got 9-6 I knew I had 10 in me and that’s what made me win.

“The whole entire time the main thing I was excited for is to get my name on the banner for state championships so I could make my mark in Pennsville. I was definitely excited, but I think the person who was more excited than me was my dad with the video. He was screaming and going crazy.”

Hadfield won the girls 3200 in a time of 11:03.29.

It was a three-person race the whole way with Hadfield, Wallkill Valley’s Delana Einreinhofer and Audubon’s Riley Fayer running up front and Hadfield and Einreinhofer swapping leads every lap. Finally, with about 50 meters to go, Hadfield decided she was going to win the race, went for it and hit the tape first with more than a second to spare.

“Last week (at sectionals) wasn’t her best performance and she was kind of upset about that, so she wanted to make sure she went out strong and ran better this weekend and did really well,” Cougars coach Missy Pine said.

All the event winners and runner-ups automatically qualify for the Meet of Champions. The rest await word of wildcard berths to the next 16 best times in each event regardless of classification.

Schalick’s Grace O’Neill scored with a third-place finish in the 400 hurdles and the Cougars’ 4×1 relay placed sixth. On the boys’ side, Khalim Smith of Penns Grove was fourth in the triple jump.

The meet wraps up Saturday.

NJSIAA GROUP I CHAMPIONSHIPS
SOMERSET – Here are the results of Salem County’s qualifiers to the Group I state meet Friday at Franklin HS. The top 2 finishers in each event qualify for Meet of Champions (plus next 16 best regardless of class); top six finishers in each event score points for their team

BOYS TEAM SCORES (Top 10): Glassboro 37, Woodbury 30, Manville 22, Riverside 18, Hasbrouck Heights 17, Gloucester 15, Salem 10, Audubon 10, Burlington City 10, Florence 10.
4×100: 7. Schalick (Reggie Allen, Michael Eberl, David Stewart, Levi Feeney-Childers) 43.95
800: 8. Joshua Crawford, Woodstown, 1:59.49; 15. Cole Lucas, Woodstown, 2:07.24
3200: 15. Jacob Marino, Woodstown, 10:40.68
Discus: 13. Ethan McLean, Schalick, 130-0
Triple jump: 1. DaviYonn Jackson, Salem, 46-4, 4. Khalim Smith, Penns Grove, 44-3.5; 7. David Stewart, Schalick, 43-0.5.

GIRLS TEAM SCORES (Top 10): Hasbrouck Heights 42, Audubon 30, Salem 27, Clayton 18, Schalick 17, Woodbury 16, Dayton 14, Verona 13, Pennsville 10, Haddon Twp. 10, Ridgefield 10, Kinnelon 10, Mountain Lakes 10.
4×100: 1. Salem (Sairis Jiminez, Karima Davenport-White, Morgan VanDover, Rhionna Timmons) 49.63; 6. Schalick (Zoe Jenkins, Gia Martellacci, Caileigh Schalick, Brooke Watt) 51.44
800: 3. Anna Buzby, Salem, 2:21.26
400 hurdles: 3. Grace O’Neill, Schalick, 1:07.03; 6. Anna Buzby, Salem, 1:08.57
3200: 1. Jordan Hadfield, Schalick, 11:03.29
Shot put: 6. Dominique Lewis, Salem, 34-3; 9. Ava Rodgers, Salem, 32-9
Javelin: 7. Allyson Green, Schalick, 101-1
Long jump: 3. Karima Davenport-White, Salem, 17-2; 5. Rhionna Timmons, Salem, 16-7
Pole vault: 1. Megan Morris, Pennsville, 10-0; 6. Anna Buzby, Salem, 8-6