Woodstown’s decorated runners win 4×800 indoor Group I Relays title, place top 3 in two other events; Salem’s boys also have big night
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
TOMS RIVER – Add another gold medal to the collection of the Woodstown’s 4X800 relay team.
The decorated group had a big night at the NJSIAA Indoor Relays at the Bennett Center Bubble Friday, winning the Group I 4×800 race and finishing in the top three in two others.
Cole Lucas, Karson Chew, Jacob Marino and Josh Crawford won their signature event, the 4×800, in 8:23.30, beating runner-up McNair Academic by 10 seconds. They dominated their section race, winning by nearly 45 seconds.
They ran 11:00.51 in the distance medley and finished second to Glassboro’s 10:56.39. They ran 3:33.74 and were third, just nosed out by Camden for silver. Woodbury won the race.
“Tonight was a big night for all four of us guys as it was an accomplishment we achieved as a team,” Crawford said. “I wouldn’t want to be considered state champs with any other guys as they have heart, drive and discipline.
“Each one of us faced challenges tonight, such as doubt or nervousness. However, we found the courage to support one another and left everything we had on the track.”
The Wolverines finished tied for fourth as a team.
The Salem boys also had a big night at the meet.
The Rams were tied for ninth as a team. Their 4×200 relay (Kaden Robinson, Anthony Parker, Jelani Beverly, Timothy Gregory) set a school record in finishing third at 1:35.85. Their shuttle hurdle team (Parker, Gradin Buzby, Beverly, Gregory) finished fourth in 33.17.
“They exceeded expectations,” Salem coach David Hunt said. “I’m always proud when you see the kids’ efforts pay off in meets. They work extremely hard in practice.
“The thing I like about track is you’re able to set your expectations and can find wins when you exceed them. It’s important that you have small wins like we did today by setting school records and competing the best we can and improve on that.”
Here are the Salem County athletes who finished in the top six of their respective events at the NJSIAA Indoor Relays Meet.
BOYS GROUP I: Glassboro 39, Hasbrouck Heights 29, Camden 28, Metuchen 24, WOODSTOWN 24, Hanover Park 18, Woodbury 18, Glen Rock 17, SALEM 11, Audubon 11, McNair Academic 10, Haddon Twp. 10, Shore 10, Mountain Lakes 6, Raritan 5, SCHALICK 5, New Providence 4, Ramsey 4, New Milford 3, Clayton 2, Verona 1. Distance Medley: 2. Woodstown (Jacob Marino, Anthony Costello, Lucas Cole, Karson Chew), 11:00.51 Shuttle Hurdle: 4. Salem (Anthony Parker, Gradin Buzby, Jelani Beverly, Timothy Gregory), 33.17 4×200: 3. Salem (Kaden Robinson, Anthony Parker, Jelani Beverly, Timothy Gregory), 1:35.85 4×800: 1. Woodstown (Karson Chew, Jacob Marino, Josh Crawford, Lucas Cole), 8:23.30 Sprint Medley: 6. Schalick (David Stewart, Roneem Thomas, Michael Eberl, Steve Chomo), 3:51.88 4×400: 3. Woodstown (Lucas Cole, Karson Chew, Jacob Marino, Josh Crawford), 3:33.74 Pole Vault: 4. Salvatore Longo, Schalick, 11-6; 6. Gradin Buzby, Salem, 10-6.01
Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Jan. 13-18
JAN. 13 GIRLS BASKETBALL Clayton at Salem Overbrook at Woodstown Pennsville at Schalick Penns Grove at Glassboro, 4 p.m. Salem Tech at Wildwood BOYS BASKETBALL Penns Grove at Glassboro Salem at Clayton Schalick at Pennsville Wildwood at Salem Tech Woodstown at Overbrook SWIMMING Woodstown vs. Schalick at Vineland YMCA, 3:15 p.m. TRACK Pennsville, Woodstown at Ocean Breeze, Staten Island
JAN. 14 WRESTLING Cumberland at Penns Grove Pennsville at Pitman, 6:30 p.m. Salem at Cedar Creek 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, 4 p.m. Pitman at Salem Tech, 4 p.m. Salem at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m. Schalick at Woodstown BOYS BASKETBALL Gloucester Catholic at Salem, 7 p.m. Penns Grove at Pennsville Pitman at Salem Tech Woodstown at Schalick BOWLING Salem vs. West Deptford, Bolero Deptford Lanes Salem Tech vs. Gloucester City at Westbrook Lanes SWIMMING Woodstown vs. Haddon Heights at Camden County Tech WRESTLING Woodstown at Middle Twp. JAN. 16 WRESTLING Clayton at Penns Grove Pennsville at Schalick, 6 p.m. Timber Creek at Woodstown, 6 p.m. SWIMMING Woodstown vs. Gloucester Catholic at GCIT, 5:45 p.m. Schalick vs. Pitman at GCIT, 7:15 p.m. Salem vs. Deptford at GCIT, 8:15 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 Pennsville at Woodstown, 7 p.m. Salem at Gloucester City BOYS BASKETBALL Pennisville at Woodstown Haddon Twp. at Schalick Salem Tech at GCIT TRACK NJSIAA Relays, Bennett Center, Toms River
JAN. 18 BOYS BASKETBALL Salem at Lenape, 1 p.m. WRESTLING Pennsville Collingswood, Sterling at 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
Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the rest of this week
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
Cinnaminson Duals Round 1, 9:30 a.m. M1: Seneca vs. Haddon Twp. M2: Paulsboro vs. Cinnaminson M3: Lower Cape May vs. Haddonfield M4: Wall vs. Woodstown Round 2, 11 a.m. M5: Seneca-Haddon Twp winner vs. Wall-Woodstown winner M6: Paulsboro-Cinnaminson winner vs. LCM-Haddonfield winner M7:Seneca-Haddon Twp loser vs. Wall-Woodstown loser M8: Paulsboro-Cinnaminson loser vs. LCM-Haddonfield loser Round 3, 12:30 p.m. M9: Match 5 winner vs. Match 6 winner M10: Match 5 loser vs. Match 6 loser M11: Match 7 winner vs. Match 8 winner M12: Match 7 loser vs. Match 8 loser MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL Salem CC at RCSJ-Gloucester, noon WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL Salem CC at Middlesex, noon
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).
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
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).
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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, 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.
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 she accumulated 315 wins and seven Tri-County championships. She was a two-time Coach of the Year.
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 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).
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).
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
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.
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 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, Steve has played in men’s senior baseball national tournaments in Florida and Arizona.
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