Here is the sports schedule for Salem County teams for the week of April 1-6; all games 4 p.m. unless noted
MONDAY
BASEBALL Schalick at Woodstown SOFTBALL Schalick at Woodstown GOLF Delsea girls vs. Schalick, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m. BOYS LACROSSE Gloucester Catholic at Woodstown
TUESDAY
BASEBALL Pennsville at Clayton Penns Grove at Glassboro, 10 a.m. Salem vs. Pitman, Alcyon Park SOFTBALL Glassboro at Penns Grove, 10 a.m. Clearview at Woodstown OLMA at Schalick Pennsville at Clayton Pitman at Salem COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC at Mercer County CC, 3 p.m. COLLEGE SOFTBALL Salem CC at Mercer County CC (2), 3 p.m. GOLF Washington Twp. girls at Schalick, 3:30 p.m. Schalick boys vs. West Deptford, River Winds GC Gloucester Catholic vs. Salem Tech, Sakima CC BOYS TENNIS Cunberland at Woodstown
WEDNESDAY
BASEBALL Schalick at Millville SOFTBALL Ocean City at Woodstown Penns Grove at Cumberland Schalick at Clearview TRACK Pennsville at Glassboro Penns Grove at Overbrook GOLF Pennsville vs. Gloucester Catholic, Westwood GC, 3:30 p.m. BOYS LACROSSE Woodstown at Paul VI, 3:45 p.m. GIRLS LACROSSE Clearview at Woodstown BOYS TENNIS Middle Twp. at Pennsville
THURSDAY
BASEBALL Salem at Pennsville Penns Grove at Woodstown Pitman at Schalick SOFTBALL Pennsville at Salem Woodstown at Penns Grove COLLEGE SOFTBALL RCSJ-Cumberland at Salem CC (2), 3:30 p.m. GOLF Schalick boya vs. Overbrook, Kresson GC Clearview vs. Woodstown, Town & Country GL, 3:30 p.m. Pennsville vs. West Deptford, Riverwinds GC, 3:30 p.m. TRACK Schalick at Woodstown BOYS TENNIS Schalick at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m. Middle Twp. at Woodstown
FRIDAY
BASEBALL Pennsville at Penns Grove Schalick at Woodstown SOFTBALL Paulsboro at Salem Penns Grove at Pennsville Schalick at Woodstown COLLEGE BASEBALL RCSJ-Cumberland at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m. GOLF Pennsville vs. Penns Grove, Sakima GC, 3:30 p.m. BOYS TENNIS Delsea at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m. Woodstown at Kingsway, 3:45 p.m. Schalick at Haddon Heights GIRLS LACROSSE Woodstown at Paul VI TRACK Schalick at Woodstown
SATURDAY
BASEBALL Salem, Schalick, Clayton at Gloucester City, 10 a.m. Woodstown at Cedar Creek, 11 a.m. SOFTBALL Camden Catholic at Woodstown, 10 a.m. COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC at RCSJ-Cumberland (2), noon COLLEGE SOFTBALL Raritan Valley at Salem CC (2), noon TRACK Pennsville, Salem, Schalick at Deptford Relays, 9 a.m. BOYS LACROSSE Washington Twp. at Woodstown, 10 a.m.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second in a series of in depth interviews with athletes in Salem County. Coaches, if there is a player in your program with an interesting background or backstory the community would be interested in “Getting To Know …”, forward details in an email to Riverview Sports News at al.muskewitz@gmail.com
WOODSTOWN – If teams got to pick a player’s walk-up music as they came to the plate the undisputed choice for Woodstown shortstop Tulana Mingin would be the Black Eyed Peas’ “Let’s Get It Started.”
MINGIN
From her spot in the lineup, the senior gets the Wolverines going and is usually right in the middle of any rally they put together. When this season is over, she will have collected 100 career hits and leave as the program’s all-time hits leader.
Mingin is all about softball, but when she’s not leading the Wolverines on the field you will usually find her taking a nice stroll in the park or dropping a hook in the water to wait on the next big fish to bite.
With the pressure of making a college choice behind her – she signed with East Stroudsburg in November – her mission for her senior season is simply to go out and have fun while doing all she can to ensure retiring coach Dave Wildermuth goes out with a bang.
RIVERVIEW SPORTS NEWS: When did you first fall in love with softball. I’m sure you played a bunch of sports growing up, but what was it about softball that did it for you?
TULANA MINGIN: I started to really like it when I started playing travel ball; the more I played it, the more I would enjoy it. I really started to love it a few years ago, like sophomore year, when I was playing travel because I saw just a complete different level of competition and seeing all the other good players it just made me want to be great.
RSN: What are some of the experiences softball has afforded you that you might not have had otherwise?
TM: Aside from making my best friends, I got to travel all across the East Coast. We even went to Colorado this past summer. I got to stay there for a week. It’s really cool to see the different parts of the U.S. I’ve never been that West before and I wouldn’t go there unless I was playing softball.
I got to see a lot of mountains in Colorado. In Massachusetts I got to see seals an stuff, so I know there’s probably a Great White (shark) somewhere in there.
RSN: You’re in line for a couple milestones this year. You need three hits for 100 – maybe Monday? – and will probably set the program’s career hits record. What do those things mean to you?
TM: It is important to me because I put a lot of time into this so it’s nice to see when it pays off. To see you’re the all-time leader for something is just crazy to think about for a whole program.
(Getting 100 hits) was something I thought about when I started playing high school softball, that was my first goal, to try to get 100 hits in my whole career. If I get it I’ll be really happy.
RSN: You’re known as a slap hitter. How does that style fit into the way the game is played?
TM: I think it’s important to have some slappers in the lineup because it creates chaos on the defense and there are multiple things you can do – you can play small ball, you can bunt, soft slap, hard slap. You’re just trying to direct the ball; you look at the field and see where everybody’s positioned and try to hit it where they’re not.
RSN: You’ve been a 2-hole hitter in the lineup, but Coach Wildermuth told me a while back he might put you at leadoff (she batted first in Saturday’s scrimmage with Sterling). If that does happen what does it do for your style of play; does it alter your approach at all? I guess, really, you’re only leadoff in the first inning.
TM: When I’m in the 2-hole, if someone’s on in front of me, it takes away a slap to the shortstop or second baseman because they can get the force at second. When I have nobody on base, it expands what I can do. I come in with a different approach depending on the situation, but I’m usually just reading the defense and seeing where I should place the ball.
I’ve been leadoff my whole life, not every single time but I’m used to it. When I was younger I would always bat leadoff, even before I was lefthanded, so I’m kind of used to being the first batter and just having that mindset and not being nervous about it.
RSN: Wait. What? Before you were left-handed?
TM: Yes, I was a right-handed batter until my freshman year. I switched over the winter of my freshman year right before the high school season. I was a good hitter before, but decided to switch because I wasn’t a power hitter and I knew my speed would be more beneficial for recruiting if I was a slapper. I just went completely lefty instead of being a switch hitter so I could just focus on getting good at that.
RSN: They tell me you eat it up defensively at short, too. What do you think about your defensive skills. Shortstop traditionally is like the best athlete on a team.
TM: I really like taking ground balls at practice. Just getting different ground balls at practice really helps me. Just getting reps in outside of team practice.
RSN: Tell me a little about your recruiting. I know you signed with East Stroudsburg in November. What separated them from whoever else you were considering and how did signing fulfill a lifelong dream from you?
TM: I loved it when I toured there. It felt like someplace I could live and be happy with. I really like the softball program. I really like the coach. And all the girls on the team were nice. Going to their camps and seeing how they run practices made me want to be a part of that.
I was kind of looking at a lot of D-I, D-II schools local because I don’t want to go too far. So I was looking at FDU (Teaneck), Wilmington, Georgian Court, West Chester, Bloomfield.
RSN: Here’s the fun stuff. What do you like to do away from the field; how do you decompress?
TM: I like to be outside, so I like to go on walks. Watch movies. I like to fish when it’s nice out, so after softball I’ll go fishing with my friends. I catch a lot of fish; I get pretty lucky with that. It’s fun. It’s really relaxing. It’s a time for me to think about stuff.
The biggest fish I caught? I don’t know how many pounds, but I’ve got a picture of it. It’s like this big (holding her hands about 12 inches apart). I threw it back. I’ll get a bigger one.
RSN: Have you ever considered being a Phillies ball girl down the foul line at Citizens Bank Park?
TM: I’ve thought about that before. That sounds really fun and to continue working with sports would be really fun. One of the girls who graduated from ESU softball does that (MacKenzie Lewis was a Phillies ball girl in 2023). I haven’t thought about it that much, but it would be something fun to do. I don’t know what I want to do when I grow up yet.
RSN: Back to the serious stuff to finish up. The last two years you had some hard-luck losses to Audubon that knocked you out of the playoffs. How much has that stuck with you and drive you this year?
TM: This year I want it more than anything, especially with two losses by one run in such close games. Audubon’s a really good team so I know it’s not going to be easy, so that just pushes me to want it more. Everybody wants to beat Audubon after the past two years because we know we can do it.
RSN: And lastly, Coach Wildermuth is retiring at the end of the school year. What was that like when he told the girls of his plan, what’s he meant to you and your career and what will that dynamic mean for the season that starts Monday at home against Schalick?
TM: Obviously we’re going to want to have a really good season for him for his last year. Our all seniors, he’s leaving with us, so it’s our last season, too, and it means a lot.
Everybody was sad when he said that. They knew it was coming because he’s, like, retired before. I’m sure there will be crying whenever the last game is. No tears were shed yet, but it’s definitely something sad when you think about it, but we still have a whole season ahead of us; we’re not thinking about that yet. We want him to have the best last season.
Here is this week’s Salem County sports schedule for the week of March 24-30; all games 4 p.m. unless noted, x-scrimmage
Sunday
COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC at Brookdale, 1 p.m. COLLEGE SOFTBALL Northampton at Salem CC (2), noon
Monday
BASEBALL x-Cumberland at Woodstown x-GCIT at Pennsville x-LEAP at Penns Grove x-Millville at Schalick SOFTBALL x-Pennsauken Tech at Penns Grove x-Pennsville at GCIT x-Salem at Winslow GOLF Woodstown vs. Burlington City, Burlington CC BOYS TENNIS x-Pennsville at Gateway, 3:45 p.m. x-St. Augustine at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m. GIRLS LACROSSE x-Woodstown at OLMA BOYS LACROSSE x-Millville at Woodstown
Tuesday
BASEBALL x-West Deptford at Pennsville SOFTBALL x-Salem at Lindenwold BOYS TENNIS Schalick at Gateway x-Woodstown at Millville TRACK x-Camden Co. Tech at Pennsville COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC at Lehigh Carbon CC, 3 p.m. COLLEGE SOFTBALL Middlesex at Salem CC (2), 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday
BASEBALL x-Cumberland at Schalick x-Deptford at Woodstown x-LEAP at Salem x-Penns Grove at Bridgeton SOFTBALL x-Cumberland at Schalick x-Deptford at Woodstown x-Paulsboro at Pennsville GOLF Pennsville vs. Gloucester Catholic, Westwood GC, 3:30 p.m. BOYS TENNIS x-Pennsville at Delsea, 3:45 p.m. x-Woodstown at Millville COLLEGE BASEBALL Lehigh Carbon CC at Salem CC (2), noon
Thursday
BASEBALL x-Clayton at Penns Grove x-Gloucester at Salem SOFTBALL x-LEAP at Salem x-Millville at Pennsville x-Penns Grove at Clayton x-Sterling at Woodstown GOLF Schalick vs. Woodstown, Town & Country GL TRACK x-Penns Grove, Bridgeton at Salem
Friday
BASEBALL x-Paulsboro at Schalick, 11 a.m. SOFTBALL Millville at Pennsville COLLEGE SOFTBALL Salem CC at Sussex (2), 1 p.m. GOLF Woodstown at Delran, Golden Pheasant GC
Saturday
GIRLS LACROSSE x-Washington Twp. at Woodstown, 10 a.m. BOYS LACROSSE x-Woodstown at Absegami, 10 a.m. COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC at Keystone College JV, noon
Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of March 17-23; all games 4 p.m. unless noted, x-scrimmage
Sunday
COLLEGE SOFTBALL RCSJ-Cumberland at Salem CC (2), noon
Monday
BOYS TENNIS x-Mainland at Woodstown
Tuesday
BOYS TENNIS x-Schalick at Cumberland x-Pennsville at St. Augustine COLLEGE SOFTBALL Salem CC at Lehigh Carbon CC (2), 3 p.m.
Wednesday
BOYS TENNIS x-West Deptford at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m. x-Millville at Schalick COLLEGE SOFTBALL SUNY-Orange at Salem CC (2), 3:30 p.m.
Thursday
BASEBALL x-Gateway at Salem x-Pennsville at Williamstown x-Schalick at Highland x-Woodstown at Clearview SOFTBALL x-Cedar Creek at Schalick x-Woodstown at Gloucester City GOLF Woodstown vs. Triton, Valley Brook CC BOYS TENNIS x-Woodstown at Palmyra
Friday
BASEBALL x-Pennsauken Tech at Penns Grove SOFTBALL x-Kingsway at Woodstown x-Pennsville at Delran x-Salem at Bridgeton BOYS TENNIS x-Millville at Pennsville COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC at Brookdale CC, 3:30 p.m.
Saturday
SOFTBALL x-Pennsville, Cedar Creek, Williamstown at Buena, 10 a.m. COLLEGE BASEBALL Brookdale CC at Salem CC (2), noon COLLEGE SOFTBALL Delaware Tech at Salem CC (2), noon
Woodstown board approves quarterbacks coach’s promotion to head football coach
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN — It’s funny the way things work out sometimes.
A year ago Frank Trautz took a middle school social studies teaching job in Woodstown not for anything as ambitious as being a head coach in waiting but just to get more coaching experience under a successful veteran like John Adams. Twelve months later, he is the Wolverines’ new head football coach.
Trautz was approved by the Woodstown-Pilesgrove district board Thursday night to succeed Adams, who announced at the end of January he was stepping away from coaching after 14 seasons to devote more time to his family.
Trautz, 32 and just five years older than Adams was when he got the job, was the Wolverines’ quarterbacks coach under his predecessor. In his new position he will continue to coach quarterbacks and now call the plays.
This will be Trautz’ first head coaching job. He will meet with the team Friday and then begin the transition to his program. It shouldn’t be a difficult transition for player or coach, as they all know each other and his offensive philosophy very much aligns with Adams’.
“It’s funny sometimes how life works out,” Trautz said. “To wind up in just a great spot teaching and coaching I feel incredibly lucky and incredibly fortunate that life has led me to this point.
“I was really excited when I came to Woodstown last year and getting to work with John on his staff; it’s a real special place. I’m very honored and humbled to be picked as the next guy to take over this program. It’s certainly really, really big shoes to fill. Coach Adams has done just a tremendous job building up this program to where it is and I’m just very excited to step in and get rolling.”
He said he had no idea Adams was going to step aside this winter when he came aboard. His “anticipation” was to be an assistant coach “for quite a few years” under the Wolverines’ coach.
“When I got the teaching job at Woodstown I had the opportunity to join John’s staff and I felt incredibly fortunate coming from a great program at Haddonfield to join another really, really great program here at Woodstown and to coach under another tremendous coach,” he said. “You can always be learning more. I don’t think there’s ever what you’d say is the perfect time and that’s kind of how I looked at it.
“I had the opportunity to keep learning from a really, really good coach in Coach Adams and I would have taken all the learning I could get from him … It’s something I wasn’t necessarily seeking out at this exact time, but I I feel that I’m ready and excited to accept this new chapter and challenge in my life.”
Woodstown officials interviewed two finalists, principal Richard Senor said. Being in-house was important, but wasn’t the underlying factor in Trautz rising to the top. He’d been around the game all his life – his father was a long-time successful high school coach and coached him – and he cut his teeth in 10 years as an assistant at Lindenwold and Haddonfield.
“We’re very glad and very fortunate to have someone in house,” Senor said. “I think that’s so important to the strength of the program, just the accountability for the students to know the coach is in the building and easily accessible if need be, but at the end of the day we want to hire the best person for the job, whether they’re an in-house candidate or not..
“To me, having the in-house person is just an added benefit, but I wouldn’t say it was the main criteria that we’re looking for. (Trautz) knows what it takes to have a successful program and maintain a successful program.”
The board also accepted the resignation of boys basketball coach Phil Campbell and the retirement of softball coach Dave Wildermuth (effective at the end of the school year). Senor said while an in-house candidate is desirable if one is available, the search for their replacements will focus on finding the best candidate for the job.
Trautz had been Campbell’s assistant and JV coach, but said his energy and focus is on the football program.
Trautz’ approval fills the final opening in one of the more tumultuous Salem County football off-seasons in recent memory. Three of the county’s five football-playing schools have had to replace their head coaches since the end of the 2024 season, the most turnover in the county in more than 15 years.
Wolverines expected to elevate quarterbacks coach to head coach at Thursday, school board to hear of Campbell’s resignation and Wildermuth’s retirement
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN – There will be a lot of athletics related activity at the Woodstown-Pilesgrove school district board meeting Thursday.
From the comings dept., in-house candidate Frank Trautz will be put forward for approval as the Wolverines’ new football coach, succeeding John Adams, who stepped down at the end of the season to focus on his family.
From the goings dept., the board will hear the resignation of boys basketball coach Phil Campbell and retirement at the end of the school year of softball coach Dave Wildermuth.
Attempts to reach Woodstown athletics director Joe Ursino Tuesday were unsuccessful.
Trautz, a Haddon Twp. grad who played football and baseball at Moravian, has been a longtime assistant in football, basketball and baseball at Haddonfield, Lindenwold and Willingboro.
“All I can say is I’m excited about the potential opportunity,” Trautz said.
A teacher in the Woodstown Middle School, Trautz was the Wolverines’ quarterbacks coach this past season, helping guide Max Webb through his senior year and develop Webb’s cousin, Jack Holladay, for the future. He also was Campbell’s basketball assistant and the junior varsity boys basketball coach.
Campbell stepped away from the basketball program for personal reasons and preferred not to comment further. His teams were 21-26, 11-13 this past season after starting the year 4-0.
Campbell took the program after Wildermuth stepped away to focus on his softball team. The last two years, the softball team went a combined 35-12 and lost one-run games to Audubon in the South Jersey Group I semifinals each year. This year’s team is expected to be one of the best in South Jersey.
With Trautz’ expected approval, all three Salem County head football coaching vacancies will be filled this week. Matt Maccarone was approved as the new Penns Grove coach Monday and former Penns Grove and Winslow coach Kemp Carr, a Salem native, is expected to be approved as the new Salem coach Wednesday.
Schalick’s Hadfield, Woodstown’s 4X400 relay team compete in the NJSIAA Indoor Track Meet of Champions
By Riverview Sports News
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Schalick’s Jordan Hadfield finished 19th in both the girls 1600 and 3200 meter races Sunday at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions at the Ocean Breeze Track and Field Facility.
Hadfield ran the 1600 in 5:13.56 and the 3200 in 11:41.17. She was eighth in both heats of her two races.
Woodstown’s girls 4X400 relay team of Jaime Deal, Kayla Ayars, Sarah Seiden and Arie Still also competed at the meet, which drew the top three finishers in each event across all classifications at the state championship. They finished 24th overall at 4:16.96, which was still six seconds faster than their time in the state meet. They were third in their heat.
Wildwood freshman hits a 3-pointer in the final seconds to break Woodstown’s heart in South Jersey Group I girls title game
NJSIAA GROUP I GIRLS ELITE 8 South: Wildwood 54, Woodstown 53 Central: Shore 44, Middlesex 36 North I: Park Ridge 43, Mountain Lakes 28 North II: University 86, Glen Ridge 52
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
WILDWOOD — The last time these two teams played here, the home team was throwing in 3-pointers from everywhere in the gym. Wildwood didn’t hit nearly as many 3s this time, but it made the one that counted most.
Freshman Rebecca Benichou buried a 3 from the left corner right before the buzzer to give the Warriors a 54-53 win Saturday and rip away the South Jersey Group I girls basketball title that five minutes earlier looked all of Woodstown’s to win.
Wildwood hit 21 of 41 3s when it beat the Wolverines here in January and was 15-of-32 against Paulsboro in the first round of the tournament, but was only five of 35 Saturday as the Wolverines defended them man all game to negate the deep threat. Macie McCracken and Angela Wilber, who each hit seven 3s in the first meeting, were a combined 2-for-20 Saturday and McCracken, who was playing ill, was oh-fer for just the fifth time in the last two seasons.
“All week long I’ve been telling the girls (to) get that game out of your head because it’s not going to happen again,” Wildwood coach Teresa Cunniff said. “The last few days we haven’t been shooting well and today I told them (if) your shot’s not falling you’ve got to do other things.
“It will come. If you have your legs under you and you take the shot it’s gonna fall – eventually. And they believed it. Rebecca taking that shot in that crunch time, that’s amazing. I’m her biggest fan right now.”
None of the 3s were bigger than Benichou’s, who called it “the shot of my life.” She had six in the first meeting with Woodstown, but the dagger at the end Saturday was her only one of the game and one of just two baskets she made. She scored eight points.
“I was so happy,” she said. “It was a dream moment.”
Replays show Benichou actually launched the shot from her go-to spot over a leaping Gianni Maiorini with 4.6 seconds left and it went through the hoop at 3.1. When the shot went through, the Wildwood players and their fans storming the floor in celebration while Woodstown coach Kara Straughn was frantically waving from her bench to clear the court because there was time remaining.
There were no injuries to either players or spectators as a result of the storming, which many in the Woodstown camp considered “unacceptable” at best and something found in a South Jersey farmer’s field at worse. There were no technical fouls or warnings issued.
“We tell our kids every single game you’ve gotta stay, you’ve gotta stay, you’ve gotta stay until we tell you to go,” Straughn said. “I guess that’s not a thing. The bench came on the floor, too, and that in my opinion is a T, but …”
The officials conferred and once the floor was cleared and order restored, they put 2.1 seconds on the clock. The Wolverines did get a timeout and put in a plan to get a potential winning shot in the hands of one of their 1,000-point scorers, Megan Donelson or Talia Battavio.
They got it in Donelson, who raced up the floor, got some separation from Benichou on the right side and put up a rushed 3 with some contact. Donelson hit the floor gesturing for a foul. The shot missed, there was no whistle and the Warriors (23-7) could finally enjoy their victory.
“I was just focused on getting down the court and trying to score,” Donelson said. “There was a lot (of contact). There should’ve been a foul.”
“I told the girls you can only control what you can control,” Straughn said. “We controlled everything we possibly could. It sucks (to lose), but we did everything we could. They played their butts off and they wanted it so bad and I’m proud of them. It just didn’t fall the way we wanted it to fall.”
Battavio’s scoring and Donelson’s headstrong approach coming out of the break helped Woodstown (21-7) take command in the second half. The Wolverines built an eight-point lead after three quarters. They led by 10 early in the fourth, by nine when top Wildwood defender Kaliah Sumlin fouled out with 7:20 to play and 50-41 with 5:26 left before the Warriors mounted their comeback.
Battavio had 10 points in the third quarter and finished with 18. Donelson had 11.
Shannon Pierman was dominant in her final high school game. The senior post had another double-double in the first quarter and despite early foul trouble finished with 24 points and 28 rebounds.
In spite of the big game, the senior post lamented missing a few short ones in the paint in traffic late in the game that could have made a difference.
“It’s a little upsetting, we had a good lead, but in the end, God’s will be done,” Pierman said. “We were right there. We almost had it, but it is what it is.”
Woodstown’s Megan Donelson puts up the potential game-winning shot at the buzzer under the pressure on Wildwood’s Rebecca Benichou. On the cover, Benichou launches the go-ahead 3-pointer that brought Wildwood its 54-53 win. (Cover photo by Brian Tortella)
Both Woodstown wrestlers at State Championships go 1-1 on the first day
By Riverview Sports News
ATLANTIC CITY – Both of Woodstown’s qualifiers to the State Wrestling Championships went 1-1 on the first day of the competition at Boardwalk Hall.
Greyson Hyland (175) lost to 8-seed Temuulen Mendbileg of St. Benedict’s 25-11 in the first round and then pinned Brayden Wright of Absegami in 1:26 in his first consolation match.
Region 8 champion Mateo Vinciguerra (215) was pinned by 7-seed Collin French of Southern Regional in 3:12 in his first round match and then took a 7-0 decision from Rocco Salerno of Seton Hall Prep in his first consolation match.
Former Glassboro HC, Penns Grove DC Maccarone said to be Red Devils’ choice for next head football coach
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
Mark Maccarone never ruled out being a head coach again when he stepped away in 2017 and now that window appears to be open for him.
Penns Grove is working toward bringing former Glassboro head coach on as its next head football coach, Riverview Sports News has learned.
Any hire, of course, is pending board approval. Maccarone declined to comment on the matter and Penns Grove athletics director Anwar Golden said an announcement on the next coach will be made March 11, which just happens to be the date of the next scheduled board meeting.
The match is gaining traction in South Jersey high school football circles.
Maccarone certainly checks all the boxes. He has been a head coach. He has been in big games. He has won championships and coached players who’ve gone on to the NFL. He knows the Penns Grove players and the expectations the administration and community have for their football team.
He made five straight playoff appearances with Glassboro, winning two South Jersey Group I titles and reaching the semifinals two other times.
After Maccarone stepped down from the Bulldogs after seven years of commuting between Bridgeton and the school, former Penns Grove coach John Emel scarfed him up to be the Red Devils’ defensive coordinator during their 2018-19 championship run and he has helped with the program in a less formal capacity post-COVID.
“I think Mark is a heck of a football coach,” Emel, now the head coach at West Deptford, said in a general context about Maccarone’s experience. “I’ve competed against him as an assistant coach, competed against him as a head coach and coached with him for the best two-year stretch in school history.
“After 2017 when we lost I wanted to find an assistant coach with big-game experience. One of the things he hangs his hat on is never losing a sectional championship game as a coach (6-0). He’s always had a great relationship with players. I care about the kids and I’d want somebody who’d put them in positions to win. He knows how to get a team ready to win.”
With the Penns Grove search wrapping, it leaves two head football coaching openings in Salem County.
The searches at Woodstown and Salem are progressing. Woodstown has started conducting interviews. Salem has interviewed one candidate and is awaiting more.
“We won’t let it go too long before we try to ramp it up,” Rams athletics director Darryl Roberts said.
