Setting the stage

Woodstown, Pennsville pick up wins over larger schools to set the stage for their big match Friday

WEDNESDAY’S SCORES
Clayton at Salem
Schalick/Cumberland 63, Penns Grove 18
Woodstown 64, Overbrook 15
Pennsville 35, at Timber Creek 27

By Riverview Sports News

Woodstown and Pennsville are big rivals on the wrestling mat and both picked up big wins Wednesday in the run up to their big match on Friday that carries South Jersey Group I playoff seeding implications.

PEREZ

The two teams went into the day Nos. 4 and 5 in the sectional power points standings, separated by only six-tenth of a point at the end of the night. Woodstown beat Group II Overbrook 64-15 and Pennsville beat Group III Timber Creek 35-27.

“The way we kind of see how things are unfolding it could put us in a couple different positions, for sure,” Pennsville coach John Starcevich said Friday’s match. “But it always ends up being a big match.”

The Eagles wrestled what Starcevich called “a complete match” against the Chargers, winning the first seven bouts they wrestled and eight of the first nine. 

“This was our best performance of the season across the board,” Starcevich said.

Chris Daniels and Ayden Perez got the ball rolling with two of the Eagles’ most noteworthy wins of the match. Daniels bumped up in weight and took a 6-1 decision at 126 and Perez stepped in at 132 and earned a dominating 10-0 major decision.

“That was very big,” Perez said of his fourth varsity win this season. “I haven’t been wrestling for very long, so going to the varsity level is difficult to me, but I’ve been trying to work as hard as I could. This was one of the best (matches) I’ve wrestled.”

Woodstown built a 28-15 lead through the middle of the match, then won the last six bouts – five by pin – to lock up their third straight win. Willem Groom (138), Angel Hernandez (144), Zayden Donahue (157), Zach Bevis (165) and Greyson Hyland (175) had the pins in the run.

“The kids are trying their best and improving,” Woodstown coach Adam Hyland said. “We’ve lost a lot of close matches, but they’ve stayed the course.”

PENNSVILLE 35, TIMBER CREEK 27
126: Christopher Daniels (P) dec. Naim Mosley, 6-1
132: Ayden Perez (P) maj. dec. over Dominick Wolfenden, 10-0
138: Travis Hagan (P) pinned Joey Walker, 3:46
144: Maddox Efelis (P) dec. Eric Rambaran, 6-1
150: Sky Eppes (P) won by forfeit
157: Gavin Bates (T) won by forfeit
165: Robbie McDade (P) dec. Zyeir Green, 5-4
175: Connor Ayars (P) maj. dec. over Elijah Green, 9-1
190: Elias Lussi (P) dec. Amir Reason-Dallas, 9-4
215: Josh Bartell (T) dec. Daniel Emmons, 5-0
285: Trevor Waddington (P) pinned Jayson Ross, 0:31
106: Lucas Thomas (P) dec. Dominic Speakman, 5-3
113: Matthew Steele (T) pinned Ciccantelli, 0:58
120: Devin Karge (T) won by forfeit
Records: Pennsville 13-4, Timber Creek 7-6

WOODSTOWN 64, OVERBROOK 15
190: Karsten Hantho (Wo) pinned Daniel Keyes, 2:47
215: Mateo Vinciguerra (Wo) pinned Augustus Guzman, 0:29
285: Tomas Sanchez (O) pinned Braiden Gould, 5:56
106: Chase Blandino (Wo) won by forfeit
113: Zoe Torraya (O) won by forfeit
120: Travis Balback (Wo) pinned Michael Walls, 5:07
126: Carson Bradway (Wo) maj. dec. over Francis McLaughlin, 8-0
132: Michael Rosano (O) dec. Alex Torres, 7-1
138: Willem Groom (Wo) pinned Domiano Redrow, 2:25
144: Angel Hernandez (Wo) pinned Tymere Christmas, 3:52
150: Brett Rowand (Wo) won by forfeit
157: Zayden Donahue (Wo) pinned Randall Ringstaff, 1:09
165: Zach Bevis (Wo) pinned Ben Matos, 1:52
175: Greyson Hyland (Wo) pinned Vance Elder, 1:08
Records: Woodstown 6-10, Overbrook 4-11

SCHALICK/CUMBERLAND 63, PENNS GROVE 18
106: Caleb Jenkins (SC) won by forfeit
113: DeAnthony Harden (SC) won by forfeit
120: Gabrielle Rodriguez (SC) pinned Sultan Harris, 1:29
126: Chase Wiliams (SC) pinned Devin Arce, 0:55
132: Ryan Miller (SC) pinned Raeed Clark, 3:10
138: Daniel Lloyd (SC) pinned Adam Gonzales, 0:38
144: Ayden Jenkins (SC) maj. dec. over Nasir Garris, 18-5
150: Anthony Brown (PG) pinned Riley Papiano, 0:45
157: Michael Carastro (SC) pinned Jayden Owens, 3:07
165: Jake Magonagle (SC) pinned Antonio Garris, 3:13
175: Hebron Hall-Jones (SC) over Clinton Bobo, DQ
190: Isaiah Upshur (PG) pinned Gabriel Rodriguez, 1:06
215: Isaiah Underwood (PG) pinned Evan Elliott, 5:54
285: Noval Jenkins (SC) pinned Antonio Cooper, 1:59
Note: SC 1.0 team deduction (157 unsportsmanlike conduct)
Records: Schalick/Cumberland 11-4, Penns Grove 3-6

South Jersey Power Points

GROUP IRECPTSGROUP IVRECPTS
Paulsboro10-230.3N. Burlington10-129.2
Audubon10-527.4Hammonton11-527.8
Gloucester8-627.4Cherry Hill-West9-627.2
Woodstown6-1027.2Shawnee8-427.1
Pennsville13-426.6Moorestown9-727.1
Palmyra12-626Schalick10-425.9
Haddon Twp.6-924.6Millville8-725.3
Pitman6-623.1Central Reg.8-1125.2
Buena3-721Pennsauken7-924.1
Maple Shade4-820.8Toms River East3-824.1
Penns Grove3-520.29Clearview5-723.6
Burlington City4-715.4Toms River South5-522.4
Riverside1-1215West Tech5-1121.8
Salem0-49.75Winslow4-1320.6
Through matches of Jan. 24. Eight teams qualify for sectional tournament.

This week’s schedule

An full all-county basketball date highlights this week’s Salem County high school schedule for the week of Jan. 1-6; send additions, deletions or alterations to al.muskewitz@gmail.com

Tuesday

BASKETBALL
Girls
Gloucester at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Boys
Schalick at Cape May Tech, 5:30 p.m.

INDOOR TRACK
Woodstown at Bennett Center, Toms River

Wednesday

BASKETBALL
Girls

Pennsville at Kingsway

WRESTLING
Sterling at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.

INDOOR TRACK
Pennsville, Penns Grove, Schalick at SJCTA Meet, Toms River

Thursday

BASKETBALL
Girls
Woodstown at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Salem, 5:30 p.m.
Schalick at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
Boys
Penns Grove at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
Pennsville at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Salem at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.

WRESTLING

Salem, Atlantic City at Oakcrest, 5 p.m.

SWIMMING
Woodstown vs. Timber Creek at GCIT, 7 p.m.
Schalick vs. Glassboro at GCIT, 8:30 p.m.

BOWLING
Lindenwold vs. Salem Tech, Wood Lanes, 4 p.m.

Friday

BASKETBALL
Boys
Delsea at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.

WRESTLING
Absegami at Pennsville
Penns Grove in Bohemia Manor (Md.) Tournament

Saturday

BASKETBALL
Girls
Salem at Gateway, 10 a.m.
Delsea at Pennsville, 11:30 a.m.
OLMA at Woodstown, 11:30 a.m.

Boys
Pennsauken Tech at Schalick, 11:30 a.m.

WRESTLING
Penns Grove in Bohemia Manor (Md.) Tournament, 9 a.m.
Schalick, Mainland, Overbrook at Haddon Heights, 9 a.m.
Pennsville at Hammonton Duals, 10 a.m.
Woodstown in Collingswood Tournament

INDOOR TRACK
Woodstown at Ocean Breeze Complex, Staten Island, N.Y.

Saturday wrestling

Devine Arce (120), Trey Brown (150) and Isaiah Upshur (190) all went 3-0 Saturday in the Schalick/Cumberland Duals Tournament and the Red Devils finished seventh out of eight teams.

Arce scored three pins, Brown and Upshur had a pair of pins and a forfeit win.

The Red Devils beat Clayton 51-24, tied with third-place West Windsor-Plainsboro North 42-42 but lost the match in criteria (fewer forfeits) and lost to Schalick/Cumberland 60-24. SC Wrestling finished fifth.

Woodstown also competed Saturday in a quad meet at Mainland.

PENNS GROVE 51, CLAYTON 24
120: Devine Arce (PG) pinned Ryan Bivens, 0:39
126: William Camp (C) pinned Daymin Garnett, 0:36
132: Conrad Raynor (C) won by forfeit
138: Antonio Mendez (C) won by forfeit
144: Nasir Garris (PG) dec. Jason Scalia, 13-7
150: Anthony Brown (PG) won by forfeit
157: Jayden Owens (PG) pinned Jacob Turpin, 0:26
165: Antonio Garris (PG) won by forfeit
175: Clinton Bobo (PG) won by forfeit
190: Isaiah Upshur (PG) won by forfeit
215: Antonio Cooper (PG) pinned Lucas Freeman, 0:30
285: Kasalon Carr (C) pinned Sumir Brown, 1:34
106: Double forfeit
113: Sultan Harris (PG) won by forfeit

SCHALICK 60, PENNS GROVE 24
113: DeAnthony Harden (S) pinned Sultan Harris, 1:20
120: Devin Arce (PG) pinned Jeff Marguglio, 0:27
126: Colin Bittle (S) pinned Daymin Garnett, 2:47
132: Luke Silva (S) won by forfeit
138: Chase Williams (S) won by forfeit
144: Daniel Lloyd (S) pinned Nasir Garris, 3:07
150: Anthony Brown (PG) pinned Ayden Jenkins, 5:07
157: Ricky Watt (S) pinned Jayden Owens, 3:44
165: Koen Martin (S) pinned Antonio Garris, 0:58
175: Jake Magonagle (S) pinned Clinton Bobo, 5:37
190: Isaiah Upshur (PG) pinned Gabriel Rodriguez, 1:47
215: Isaiah Underwood (PG) pinned Dean Jost, 1:47
285: Aiden Torres (S) pinned Antonio Cooper, 0:50
106: Victor Fenske (S) won by forfeit

WW-PLAINSBORO NORTH 42, PENNS GROVE 42
(WW-PN wins on criteria)
106: Aarit Ray (W) won by forfeit
113: Dylan Gurram (W) pinned Sultan Harris, 1:49
120: Devin Arce (PG) pinned Josyah Deforest, 0:45
126: Zachary Owens (W) pinned Daymin Garnett, 1:42
132: Austin Coyle (W) won by forfeit
138: Brayden Woodward (W) won by forfeit
144: Nasir Garris (PG) pinned Arnav Katiyar, 4:55
150: Anthony Brown (PG) pinned Ashutosh Tripathi, 0:29
157: Evan deJong (W) pinned Jayden Owens, 1:18
165: Antonio Garris (PG) pinned Theo Johnson, 1:03
175: Clinton Bobo (PG) pinned Julian Sanchez, 2:20
190: Darren deJong (W) pinned Isaiah Underwood, 2:58
215: Isaiah Upshur (PG) pinned Krish Saini, 5:32
285: Antonio Cooper (PG) pinned Aditya Tripathi, 0:49


Eagles sweep

Pennsville swamps Salem, rallies twice to trim Egg Harbor Twp. in Wednesday wrestling

PENNSVILLE – Trevor Waddington’s pin over Marco Florian at 285 clinched Pennsville’s 39-36 victory over Egg Harbor Twp. Wednesday and set up the Eagles’ sweep of the night. They also swamped Salem 64-0.

The Eagles rallied from 15-0 and 24-21 deficits against EHT. Robbie McDade’s 18-second pin at 157 gave them the lead the first time, then after falling behind again they clinched the match with a forfeit victory (190) and pins by Elias Lussi (215) and Waddington (285).

Waddington also scored a pin in the Salem match.

PENNSVILLE 39, EGG HARBOR TWP. 36
120: Tyler Thomas (E) won by forfeit
126: Peter Steed (E) pinned Christopher Daniels, 4:40
132: Dugan Matthew (E) dec. Randy Hall, 7-5
138: Travis Hagan (P) won by forfeit
144: Joseph Maurer (P) pinned Tyler Schumacker, 1:29
150: Sky Eppes (P) dec. Clarence Mays, 5-3
157: Robbie McDade (P) pinned Logan Benson, 0:18
165: Calvin Johnson (E) dec. Cole Campbell, 5-0
175: Reed Orbach (E) won by forfeit
190: Connor Ayars (P) won by forfeit
215: Elias Lussi (_ pinned Kaiden Vakera, 0:40
285: Trevor Waddington (P) pinned Marco Florian, 3:20
106: Jayson Garcia (E) pinned Lucas Thomas, 3:18
113: Aidan Schlemo (E) won by forfeit

PENNSVILLE 64, SALEM 0
113: Gina Shinn (P) pinned Jasmine Johnson, 3:10
144: Cameron Palmer (P) pinned Oliver Mitchell, 2:42
150: Esther Baptiste (P) maj. dec. over Gabrielle Johnson, 11-1
165: Cole Campbell (P) pinned Jajuan Anderson, 1:08
215: Cristian Blyler (P) def. Jahquan Gooden, DQ
285: Trevor Waddington (P) pinned Emanuel McFarlande, 1:49
NOTE: Other weights decided by forfeit.

New County HOF Class

Salem County Sports Hall of Fame inducts 6 new members, honors 3 community service contributors

The Salem County Sports Hall of Fame welcomed nine county luminaries into its ranks Friday night in ceremonies at Salem Community College.

The class included six inductees and recognized three individuals for advancing Salem County athletics.

The 2023 inductees were:

Dylan Cummings – Played baseball and football at Pennsville Memorial High School (PMHS) and continued his record-breaking football career at Methodist University.  

Tyler Cummings – Competed in cross country and track and field at PMHS and continued his award-winning track career at Coastal Carolina University.  

Amy Coker McDade – Played soccer, basketball and softball at PMHS and continued her celebrated softball career at Caldwell College (now Caldwell University).  

Victoria (Tori) Nugent – Competed in tennis and softball at PMHS and continued her distinguished tennis career at Monmouth University and Rowan College Gloucester County.  

Katie Jackson Scull – Played soccer, basketball and softball at PMHS and continued her illustrious softball career at Caldwell College (now Caldwell University).  

Ta’riq D. Thomas – Competed in football, basketball and track and field at Woodstown High School, and continued his renowned track and field career at Delaware Valley University.  

The three community service contributors were:

Louise Foley — the retired YMCA program director who taught swimming to generations of Salem County residents, 

Mike Hartman — a longtime high school and youth sports coach, and   

Lou Priest – a record-breaking baseball player at St. James High School who later played semi-pro baseball.    

Next year’s Hall of Fame ceremonies are scheduled for Aug. 22. Nominations for the Hall of Fame Class of 2024 are now being accepted. For details, email SCC Foundation Executive Director Ceil Smith at csmith@salemcc.edu.  

A larger story on the induction class can be found in the archives of Riverview Sports News.

Cover photo: The honorees for the Salem County Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2023 included: First row (from left): Louise Foley (community service honoree), Tyler Cummings, Amy Coker McDade, Katie Jackson Scull and Victoria (Tori) Nugent. Second row (from left): Dylan Cummings, Ta’riq D. Thomas, Mike Hartman (community service honoree) and Lou Priest (community service honoree). (Photo by Chuck Erhardt/SCC).

Story credit: Salem County CC

A Big Future ahead

Penns Grove junior wins $40,000 Big Future scholarship from College Board, her future involves helping her community

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNS GROVE – Serenity Woodards thought she was just going to a school-wide assembly to hear about an academic program she already had completed when she walked into the Penns Grove High School auditorium Wednesday morning. And then they made her sit through it by herself.

Penns Grove junior Serenity Woodards addresses the school assembly after being awarded a $40,000 scholarship by the College Board. On the cover, her family attended the announcement.

So, you can imagine her surprise when the moderator called her up to the stage from the back of the room. Now, multiply that surprise by a thousand when, in front of the entire student body, they handed her a big check to use at whatever college she chooses to attend after graduating in 2025.

Woodards was the recipient of the Big Future Scholarship, a $40,000 grant awarded by the College Board to help students find their way on the path towards a successful life.

It was tightly guarded secret all the way up to the moment of truth.

“I knew we had an hour assembly today,” Serenity said. “I was sitting with my friends in School Base at the Youth Center and then my teacher made me sit by myself and I’m like I have to sit by myself for an hour. I was very upset, and then they kept calling my name and I’m thinking I’m going to go home, my mom’s here.

“And then they’re like, ‘You won 40 thousand dollars.’ I’m like, ‘I won 40 thousand dollars?’ It was very exciting and a very humbling experience. I never thought I would actually win. I was just signing up. It was a possibility, but I never thought I would actually be lucky enough and grateful to win $40,000 to go to college.” 

Woodards is the first Penns Grove student to receive the award and just the second from New Jersey in the last two years to receive the big prize. College Board regularly awards $500 scholarships and randomly selects two students nationwide each month to receive the big prize from those who have fulfilled the six-step Big Future requirements.

“Serenity has made history with this,” Penns Grove principal Lory O’Brien said.

Woodards is a junior with a varsity of interests. Outside of the classroom she cheers, participates in the Marching Band’s Color Guard and serves as a manager on the girls basketball team.

Academically, she’s a high achiever interested in pursuing psychology and social work in college and has several schools in mind. She is particularly interested in attending an HBCU (Historically Black College and University) and has schools like Spellman, North Carolina A&T and Delaware State on her list, as well as Rowan and the University of Pennsylvania. Her mother, Keysha Adams, went to an HBCU, Grambling.

“I love everything that an HBCU stands for as a safe space for black and brown people and how it was built up,” Serenity said. “I’ve also always grown up in a space where I see people who look like me, so I think that’ll be like my home away from home.

“I’ve always been interested in psychology and I like being able to explain to people why they think the way they do or why they act the way they do. And to be able to help people with their mental health especially coming from the community I do you see lots of people go with a mental illness untreated and I want to be able to help that.”

Woodards was surrounded by her family at the time of the presentation. Mother Keysha, father Al, brother Al and godmother Justine Hughes all attended the assembly, hidden behind a curtain on the stage until the time came for the big reveal.

They all were just as excited as their daughter.

“I’m speechless,” Adams said before summoning the words to express her pride. “I always knew Serenity would do great things. To know this young lady for 16 years, she can do whatever she wants. She’s amazing. She came out with personality. She’s been writing her own ticket her whole life.”

“I’m just proud of my princess,” papa Al said. 

The program and scholarship was presented by Dianna Frank, the College Board’s Senior Director of State and District Partnerships. She explained the program and the process to the assembled students and encouraged them to get involved; many already are, by a show of hands.

“I’m just really excited she’s taking the steps earlier in high school than waiting until senior year; really important that she started early,” Frank said of Woodards. “I think the exciting part was she had already done all of these important steps and we were able to reward it and show her classmates that it does mean something to her and could mean something to them.”

Woodards is certainly a believer.

“It really is only a few clicks and it could change your entire path for the rest of your life,” she said. “I now have less to worry about how I’m going to college or how I’m going to pay for it. You never know when it can be you, so you should just believe in yourself and try.”

Dianna Frank of the College Board explains to Penns Grove High School students Wednesday the merits of the Big Future scholarship program.



This week’s schedule

Here is the high school sports schedule for Salem County teams for the week of Oct. 30-Nov. 4

FOOTBALL
Thursday
Regional Consolation Tournament
South Jersey Group I

Keansburg at Pennsville, 5 p.m.

Friday
South Jersey Group I Playoffs
Penns Grove at Woodstown, 7 p.m.

Central Jersey Group I Playoffs
Shore at Schalick, 7 p.m.
Glassboro at South Hunterdon

Saturday
South Jersey Group I Playoffs
Burlington City at Woodbury

CROSS COUNTRY
Saturday
NJSIAA Championships, Holmdel Park

BOYS SOCCER
South Jersey Group I Playoffs
Wednesday
Haddon Twp. at Schalick, 2 p.m.
Woodstown at Palmyra, 4 p.m.

GIRLS SOCCER
South Jersey Group I Playoffs
Monday

Haddon Twp. at Schalick, 2 p.m.

FIELD HOCKEY
South Jersey Group I Playoffs
Tuesday
Schalick at Middle Twp., 2 p.m.

Wednesday
Woodstown at Collingswood, 2 p.m.

Tuesday roundup

Here are scores and highlights from Tuesday’s high school sports action involving Salem County teams; will be updated

By Riverview Sports News

SEABROOK — Schalick junior Jordan Hadfield continued her amazing first-year run in cross country Tuesday winning the girls race in the Tri-County Conference Showcase.

A week after winning the Salem County girls title, Hadfield ran the Cumberland Regional course in 18:50.24, 30 seconds ahead of runner-up Alyssa Boucher of Williamstown. Boys county champion Charles Fuerneisen, also of Schalick, finished 12th in his race (17:08.49).

County girls runner-up Sarah Seiden of Salem Tech was 13th in her race (21:18.62), beating her personal best by 29 seconds and becoming the first Charger to medal at the TCC Showcase.

Schalick’s girls finished sixth in their team standings and Salem Tech, just over 24 hours removed from the State TAC Championship, was seventh. Schalick’s boys were sixth in their standings. Salem Tech was ninth, while Woodstown, Salem and Pennsville came in 12-13-14.

Tri-County Conference Showcase
(at Cumberland Reg.)

BOYS SCORES: Washington Twp. 67, Clearview 81, Kingsway 96, Williamstown 99, Delsea 105, Schalick 172, Glassboro 221, Cumberland Reg. 237, Salem Tech 264, Timber Creek 268, Deptford 298, Woodstown 299, Salem 334, Pennsville 346, Pitman 350, Clayton 424.
GIRLS SCORES: Williamstown 44, Clearview 54, Washington Twp. 87, Delsea 97, Kingsway 118, Schalick 122, Salem Tech 182, Cumberland Reg. 227.

BOYS TOP 15GIRLS TOP 15
Elijah Whitaker, Glas15:47.78Jordan Hadfield, Sch18:50.24
Ryan Duffy, King16:00.57Alyssa Boucher, Will19:20.44
Dylan Saber, Will16:05.84Sophia Aldridge, Will19:20.85
Matthew Littlehales, Del16:23.62Macie McCracken, Wildwd19:46.19
Dominic Burgio, Will16:31.25Allison Roes, Clear20:11.06
Ethan Worst, Clear16:34.75Rachael Wilson, Wash20:13.97
David Kershner, Will16:41.05Margaret Wiśniewski, Clear20:24.61
Aaron Kolosowsky, Wash16:43.55Kaylee Russen, Wash20:29.44
Hunter Bostwick, Wash16:53.55Juliana Sieminski, Del20:39.86
Akshar Patel, Clear16:59.45Lyana Gutierrez, High20:50.65
Ty Blackman, Glas17:02.90Lilla Porter, Clear21:02.16
Charles Fuerneisen, Sch17:08.48Delaney Harbison, Will21:17.72
Patrick Lant, Wash17:10.72Sarah Seiden, SalemT21:18.62
Lincoln McCaffery, Del17:16.24Rachel Wiley, King21:22.08
Michael Driscoll, King17:17.29Julia Burgio, Will21:24.95

TUESDAY’S SCORES
BOYS SOCCER
Glassboro 7, Pennsville 3:
Emirhan Kir scored four for Glassboro and Jake Isaac scored twice for Pennsville.
Gloucester Catholic 9, Salem 3: Four GC Rams scored two goals apiece.
Schalick 5, Penns Grove 0: Louis Sepers scored two goals in the first half and completed the natural hat trick in the second as the Cougars clinched a share of their fourth division title in the last five years.
Wildwood 5, Salem Tech 1
Woodstown 1, Overbook 0: Adrian Ibarra’s 19th goal of the season was the only goal of the game.

GIRLS SOCCER
Glassboro 3, Pennsville 1

Gloucester Catholic 8, Salem 0
Salem Tech at Wildwood
Schalick 7, Penns Grove 0: Emily Miller scored four goals, giving her 37 for the season, and Carly Hayman came out of the goal on Senior Night to score a hat trick.
Woodstown 3, Overbrook 0: Talia Battavio scored twice and Emma Perry scored once.

GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville 5, Haddon Heights 0

Pitman 5, Salem 0
Woodstown 5, Overbrook 0

VOLLEYBALL
Gloucester Catholic at Salem Tech

Friday roundup

Here are scores from Friday’s non-football high school action involving Salem County schools

FRIDAY’S SCORES
FIELD HOCKEY
Gloucester Tech 5, Salem 1: Rams suffer third straight loss
Schalick at Woodstown

BOYS SOCCER
Audubon 4, Woodstown 0
Schalick 3, Glassboro 1: Luke Price, Michael Nelson and Bradford Foster scored Cougars goals.
Wildwood 7, Salem 0

GIRLS SOCCER

Salem 1, Wildwood 0
Schalick 3, Glassboro 1: Emily Miller scored a hat trick

A big game anytime

Woodstown, Salem resume rivalry with Homecoming game; Penns Grove, Pennsville look to enhance playoff positions, unbeaten Schalick open after forfeit win 

SALEM COUNTY FOOTBALL
Friday’s games
Pennsville at Cumberland, 6 p.m.
Salem at Woodstown, 7 p.m.
Schalick 1, Lindenwold 0, forfeit
Saturday’s game
Paulsboro at Penns Grove, noon

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN –
They might not play the game on Thanksgiving anymore because it’s too valuable in the current playoff formula, but it still carries the same amount of pageantry and stakes.

Woodstown and Salem meet for the 114th time Friday night in a game that holds a lot of meaning for both teams.

The Wolverines (3-1) are looking to get back on track after last week’s overtime loss to Glassboro that knocked them out of the top spot in the South Jersey Group I UPR power ratings that determine playoff seedings. 

The Rams (0-5) are looking for their first win. It’s their slowest start since 2012 when they went 0-10. They’re used to a season starting in the other direction, but they did give Group III Cedar Creek all it could handle in the rain at Rutgers last week and their offense showed signs of coming around with the emergence of now lead back Pop Jackson.

Quarterback Ramaji Bundy didn’t make the trip for undisclosed disciplinary reasons, paving the way for Jackson’s breakout game (30 carries, 154 yards). And while Rams coach Danny Mendoza said the evaluation was “to be continued” into this week, the player’s status for Mendoza’s first Woodstown-Salem experience remained unclear even as he and the Rams practiced Thursday.

“Any time you play Salem it’s a huge game because of the rivalry,” Woodstown coach John Adams said. “I know their record doesn’t reflect how well they’ve played. They’ve had a tough schedule and they have some good players and they started getting things clicking there the last game and had a shot to win that. We can’t have any missed opportunities like we had last week and we can’t lose the turnover battle and the penalty battle.”

It was a big deal when the teams always played on Thanksgiving, such a big deal, in fact, that when the date change came about officials from both schools met with their constituencies to explain the situation. It had to move it off the traditional date when the current scheduling model and playoff system went into effect but, in a nod to pageantry and tradition, for these last two years at least the schools decided to make it their respective Homecoming games.

“We knew there was tradition, but we had to talk about the players now and what was in their best interest,” Adams said. 

It is such a big deal they’ve gotten in writing that if at any time they find themselves in different WJFL divisions they’ll still be guaranteed to be regular opponents.

Adams said the date change and the impact the game has on the post-season formula has ”definitely added” to the meaningfulness of the game.

“When you became the coach here it was like, ‘You’ve got to beat Salem,’” Adams said. “That’s what everybody in town focused on because back in the day they didn’t have playoffs, that was the last game of the year, that was like the final game, so it always came down to Woodstown-Salem at the end of the year.

“Even when we did keep it on Thanksgiving and both programs got to the point where we were going far in the playoffs, it was like bragging rights. A couple years we played them back-to-back. In 2019 they beat us in the playoffs and then we played them the next week and beat them on Thanksgiving. I think it was redemption.”

This might be just his first run through the rivalry, but Mendoza knows what it means to play in a traditional game and is well-versed in the history of this one.

“It’s a little bit different this year with us being a little bit down and them being a little bit up, the buzz around it may not be as big ,” he said, “but I’m sure tomorrow night it’ll be a sight to see.”

Salem leads the series 64-39-10. Woodstown has won three of the last four, but all four have been decided by six points or less (14 points total). Last year’s game was 7-6 and, Adams said, “just as crowded as Thanksgiving would have been.”

The Salem Rams practice for Friday night’s rivalry game with Woodstown against the backdrop of its new stadium construction. The project is in a race against the clock to be ready for an anticipated Oct. 7 opening. Otherwise games will return to the Walnut Street Field.

PENNSVILLE (2-2) at CUMBERLAND (2-3): The Eagles play one of the most pivotal games of their turnaround season.

They currently sit at No. 17 in the South Jersey Group I UPR ratings – one spot out of the 16 playoff qualifiers – less than a half-point off the cut and two points ahead of No. 18. They’ve already won more games than they did a year ago, but they’ll likely need to double that total coming out of the Royal Division.

There’s a lot of football left to play in what Eagles coach Mike Healy calls “an interesting year” and lot of shuffling that’ll go on before the playoff field is ultimately determined, but beating a Group III division rival certainly would score them a lot of points.

“We’re halfway through the season so it’s getting to the time where every game is going to be (pivotal),” Healy said. “We’re one spot out of the playoffs right now and we really want to get a shot to get in there and see what we can do.

“Beating a team that has a couple wins, get some extra power points, things like that, is definitely big for us because you’re going to start running out of chances eventually, so we really have to focus now and get this. I think the kids realize it’s getting late in the season, we’ve got to make sure we’re not having more letdowns. We can control our own future if we want. If we take care of business we don’t have to worry about anything else.”

The Eagles are coming off a 38-20 loss to Schalick in a game they were in through the middle of the third quarter. They did a lot of good things in the game, they just needed to be more consistent.

After drawing to within 17-14, they gave up a long touchdown pass and then failed to move the chains in their next two offensive series as the Cougars pulled away.

“It’s time for us to take the next step now,” Healy said. “Get rid of these mental mistakes. We need to be more disciplined as a team and that’s what’s going to get us to that next level of the teams we want to be playing with and beating. 

“We mentioned where we are in the playoffs (picture), but it’s more every game we’ve got to get better and keep getting better every game and doing what we should. It’s not so much it’s make or break (this week), but there is a part of that where we need this game to do what we want to do.”

LINDENWOLD (0-5) vs. SCHALICK (5-0):
The undefeated Cougars found themselves with an unscheduled open week after accepting Lindenwold’s forfeit due to a lack of numbers in the Lions’ program. Riverview Sports News first reported the forfeit last week.

When advised of the Lions’ plight, the Cougars sought an alternate opponent, but after deeper consideration decided to accept the forfeit “in the best interest of the team,” becoming the state’s first 6-0 team this season in the process. They’re one of 36 undefeated teams in the NJSIAA this week.

Without a game to play, the Cougars had a reduced practice week, but as they say, there may be off days but there are no days off, so they did have some football activities.

“I told the kids flat out everything you haven’t been able to do the last 6-8 weeks, go get it done, because that’s what I’m doing,” Cougars coach Mike Wilson said. “Not playing allows us to rest up a bit mentally and physically to get ready for the second-half push. With the new schedule and not playing on Thanksgiving teams have lost their bye weeks. This was unexpected, but we will take it and get better.”

Earlier in the week the Cougars moved into the No. 1 spot in the South Jersey Group I UPR rankings that determine playoff seedings for the first time in Wilson’s tenure. The top four teams in SJ-I this week are Schalick, Florence, Glassboro and Woodbury. Last week’s No. 1, Woodstown, fell to No. 6 after its overtime loss to Glassboro.

“Is it nice to see our players hard work has paid off to this point; yes,” Wilson said. “But we’re only halfway through the season, we’re turning to the October, which is the second-half push.

“One thing I did tell the kids about all this – and it was before the rankings came out – we control our own destiny. Last year we kind of had to cross our fingers that last week. If we go 1-0 every week everything will take care of itself. The best thing about where we’re at right now is we control our own destiny, we don’t need anybody else’s help.”

Saturday’s game

PAULSBORO (0-4) AT PENNS GROVE (1-4): The Red Devils have been struggling to find consistency this season, but they can greatly enhance their playoff position with a win Saturday. They got in last year without winning a game in the WJFL’s black-and-blue Diamond Division – all five division teams got in – but they’re already ahead of the game with one this year and could effectively punch their ticket by winning Saturday.

Paulsboro may be winless, but its not punchless and Red Devils coach John Emel is wary. The Red Raiders have a storied program that this year has fallen victim to a brutal schedule (highest OSI outside of the SJ-I top 16). They played their closest game of the year last week, losing 14-13 at West Deptford. Last year they started 0-3 and wound up playing Salem for the Central Jersey Group I title.

“I think they’re a Group I playoff team in terms of caliber of talent,” Emel said. “They played some really good teams. Haddonfield, Woodstown and Woodbury are the top of Groups I and II. A lot of people might be 0-4 playing that type of schedule.

“I don’t pay attention to the records. We’ve only got one more win than them, so we don’t have any room to be resting on laurels.”