Here is the schedule for Salem County sports teams for the week of Dec. 9-14; events start at 4 p.m. unless noted, x-scrimmage
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, 5:15 p.m. x-Pennsville at Cumberland x-Penns Grove at Egg Harbor Twp., 5:30 p.m. 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 Red Devil Classic, Penns Grove Glassboro vs. Lindenwold, 10:30 a.m. Salem vs. Woodbury, 4:30 p.m. Paulsboro at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m. GIRLS BASKETBALL Red Devil Classic, Penns Grove Bridgeton at Penns Grove, 12:30 p.m. Glassboro vs. Woodbury, 2:30 p.m. WRESTLING Schalick Holiday Tournament, 9 a.m. Woodstown in Delaware Valley Tournament MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL Brookdale CC at Salem CC, noon WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL Salem CC at Lackawanna, noon
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.
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.
Here is this week’s sports schedules for teams in Salem County for the week of Feb. 25-March 2
Sunday
WRESTLING NJSIAA Girls Regionals, Pennsauken
Tuesday
BASKETBALL South Jersey Group I Tournament Girls No. 8 Pennsville at No. 1 Woodbury, 4:30 p.m. No. 12 Penns Grove at No. 4 Woodstown, 5:30 p.m. No. 6 Audubon at No. 3 Maple Shade, 5:30 p.m. No. 7 Glassboro at No. 2 Wildwood, 4 p.m. Boys No. 9 Penns Grove at No. 1 KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy, 5:15 p.m. No. 5 Audubon at No. 4 Wildwood, 6 p.m. No. 6 Glassboro at No. 3 Salem, 5 p.m. No. 10 Paulsboro at No. 2 Pitman, 5:30 p.m.
Thursday
BASKETBALL South Jersey Group I Tournament Girls Pennsville-Woodbury vs. Penns Grove-Woodstown Audubon-Maple Shade vs. Glassboro-Wildwood Boys Penns Grove-KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy vs. Audubon-Wildwood Glassboro-Salem vs. Paulsboro-Pitman WRESTLING NJSIAA State Championship, Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City
Friday
COLLEGE BASEBALL Ocean CC at Salem CC (Carneys Point Rec), 3 p.m. WRESTLING NJSIAA State Championship, Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City
Saturday
BASKETBALL Girls South Jersey Group I championship Boys South Jersey Group I championship WRESTLING NJSIAA State Championship, Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC at Ocean CC (2), noon
Woodstown’s Vinciguerra wins Region 8 title at 215, Hyland also advances to state wrestling championship at 175
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
EGG HARBOR TWP. – His name literally means “win the war,’ and that’s exactly what Mateo Vinciguerra did Saturday in his most dominating tournament to date. There was nothing lost in translation.
The Woodstown sophomore pinned top-seeded Delsea junior Alex Grippo in 1:52 to win the 215-pound title in the NJSIAA Region 8 wrestling championships and punch his ticket to the state meet next week at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall.
It avenged a close loss to Grippo in last week’s District 31 finals and allowed him to follow in older brother John’s footsteps as last year’s 215 region champion.
“It means a lot,” Vinciguerra said. “I put a lot of work and effort into this. Getting the rematch I always wanted, it was great, because I really thought I could win.
“I was ready. I was coming for him. He’s a great wrestler, but my preparation, I knew I was ready for this. I had the same mindset I always do. Wrestle who’s in front of me, it doesn’t matter who it is.”
Vinciguerra, the No. 2 seed in the bracket, actually punched his ticket to state with a 10-0 major decision over Ed Vincent of St. Augustine in the semifinals. He also scored a pair of pins in his first two matches. He now has 22 pins this season.
“Mateo’s always been a good wrestler,” Wolverines coach Adam Hyland said. “He’s a lifer in wrestling, he loves it, he does it all the time. It’s his main and only sport, so he puts a ton of time into it, goes to all the big tournaments. He’s always been talented and always been a winner at wrestling.”
Both finalists went into their match off major decisions. Vinciguerra took Grippo down with a single leg to get the lead. He got hit with a stall point on top but didn’t let it bother him and went in for the pin.
Sophomore teammate Greyson Hyland, the coach’s son, also advanced to states as the fourth qualifier in 175 as an 8 seed. He secured his spot with an overtime decision in the wrestle-backs after losing a 3-2 decision in the semifinals, then lost to Ocean City senior Nick Layton 8-7 in the third-place match.
He is the lowest seeded 175 wrestler from all eight regions to advance to Atlantic City.
It really was a good weekend for him. He handed Layton his first loss of the season in the second round. He got up on the top seed early in the bout and literally held on to an ankle with all his might through the final seconds after Layton made his final move. In the rematch he fell behind 5-0 and fought back to make it close.
”I’ve been working hard in the season, grinding, we had a real tough practice this week, so pushing through that and seeing the results pay off was really exciting, a lot of fun,” Hyland said. “Today was a lot of fun. The semifinal match was tough, but I just stayed focused. I thought even though I lost that I could still make it to states, so I had a good mindset going into the consolation semis.
“The expectation from everyone else was this dude (him) is probably going to go 0-2, maybe 1-2, just get killed by the 1 seed, but my expectations were really high. I trained hard every day in the practice room, so to get an opportunity like that we don’t waste them.”
Now that they’re in the states, Vinciguerra has his eye on a spot on the podium. For Hyland, “we’re just going to let it fly in Atlantic City and have some fun.”
Speaking of fun, Vinciguerra’s birthday is Championship Saturday.
NJSIAA REGION 8 WRESTLING TEAM SCORES: Delsea 193.5, Camden Catholic 184.5, Washington Twp. 116, Kingsway 112, St. Augustine 100, Lower Cape May 78, Ocean City 74, Highland/Triton 60.5, Williamstown 52, Woodstown 49, Absegami 48, Timber Creek 45, Hammonton 44, Gateway/Woodbury 42, Middle Twp. 24, Clayton/Glassboro 23, Eastern 22, Egg Harbor 16, Vineland 15, Buena 10, Clearview 10, Pennsville 7, Holy Spirit 6, Pennsauken 6, Pitman 6, Deptford 4, Cedar Creek 3, Schalick/Cumberland 2, Winslow 2.
THE ROAD TO STATE (2) MATEO VINCIGUERRA, 215, Woodstown R1: Pinned (15) Ryland Angel (Kingsway), 2:36 QF: Pinned (7) Xavier Velez (Highland), 1:08 SF: Major dec. over (3) Ed Vincent (St. Augustine), 10-0 Finals: Pinned (1) Alex Grippi (Delsea), 1:52
(8) GREYSON HYLAND, 175, Woodstown R1: Bye QF: Dec. (1) Nick Layton (Ocean City), 7-5 SF: Lost to (5) Brayden Wright (Absegami), 3-2 Consy SF: Dec. (11) Joseph Leone (Kingsway), SV 3-1 3P: Lost to (1) Nick Layton (Ocean City), 8-7 Brian Tortella contributed to this report. His reports on South Jersey sports can be found on X at @tortreports
Here is the sports schedule for teams in Salem County for the week of Feb. 19-24
Monday
COLLEGE BASKETBALL Men Camden County College at Salem CC, 6 p.m.
Tuesday
BASKETBALL Boys Wildwood at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m. Girls LEAP Academy at Salem, 5:30 p.m.
BOWLING SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I TOURNAMENT Boys Quarterfinals Maple Shade at Gloucester, 3:45 p.m. Salem at Camden Catholic, Westbrook Lanes4 p.m. Doane Academy at Clayton, 4 p.m.
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP II TOURNAMENT Boys Quarterfinals Cinnaminson at Manchester Twp., 3 p.m. Pennsauken Tech at Salem Tech, 4 p.m. Medford Tech at Overbrook, 4 p.m. Girls Quarterfinals Salem Tech at Manchester Tech, 3 p.m. Pemberton at Barnegat, 3 p.m.
Wednesday
BOWLING SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I TOURNAMENT Boys semifinals Maple Shade-Gloucester winner at Donovan Catholic, 3 p.m. Girls semifinals Salem at New Egypt, Thunderbowl Lanes, 3:30 p.m.
Thursday
BASKETBALL Girls SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I TOURNAMENT No. 16 Salem at No. 1 Woodbury, 5:30 p.m. No. 9 Gateway at No. 8 Pennsville, 5:30 p.m. No. 12 Penns Grove at No. 5 Palmyra, 4 p.m. No. 13 Cape May Tech at No. 4 Woodstown, 5:30 p.m. No. 14 Pitman at No. 3 Maple Shade, 5:30 p.m. No. 11 Clayton at No. 6 Audubon, 4 p.m. No. 10 Burlington City at No. 7 Glassboro, 3:30 p.m. No. 15 Paulsboro at No. 2 Wildwood, 4 p.m. Boys SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I TOURNAMENT No. 16 Burlington City at No. 1 KIPP Cooper Academy, 6 p.m. No. 9 Penns Grove at No. 8 Woodbury, 4 p.m. No. 12 LEAP Academy at No. 5 Audubon, 5:30 p.m. No. 13 Woodstown at No. 4 Wildwood, 6 p.m. No. 14 New Egypt at No. 3 Salem, 5 p.m. No. 11 Riverside at No. 6 Glassboro, 5:15 p.m. No. 10 Paulsboro at No. 7 Palmyra, 5 p.m. No. 15 Pennsville at No. 2 Pitman, 5:30 p.m.
Friday
BASKETBALL Girls Overbrook at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
BOWLING SOUTH JERSEY GROUP II TOURNAMENT Boys semifinals Manchester Twp. at Seneca Salem Tech at Overbrook
WRESTLING Region tournaments
Saturday
BOWLING SOUTH JERSEY GROUP II TOURNAMENT Boys championship at Laurel Lanes
Woodstown district champion Hyland among 15 Salem County wrestlers advancing to region tournaments
By Riverview Sports News
Woodstown sophomore Greyson Hyland won a district championship Saturday to lead a group of 15 Salem County wrestlers from two districts advancing to region wrestling championships.
Hyland scored a 6-1 decision over Gateway/Woodbury’s Brandon Bourdon to win the 175 division in District 31. Hyland won his first two matches by major decision and decision. Bourdon pinned his first two opponents.
Woodstown advanced seven wrestlers to the regionals. Travis Balback (120), Alex Torres (132), Zach Bevis (165) and Mateo Vinciguerra (215) were district runnerups.
Schalick/Cumberland advanced five wrestlers. Daniel Lloyd (138) and Ayden Jenkins (144) were district runnerups.
Pennsville advanced two wrestlers with Sky Eppes (150) finishing second at 150.
Penns Grove’s Clinton Bobo advanced out of District 29 as runnerup in 175.
DISTRICT 31 TEAM SCORES: Delsea 287, Gateway/Woodbury 153, Schalick/Cumberland 125, Woodstown 121.5, Vineland 89, Pennsville 62, Millville 50, Buena 27, Cedar Creek 26, Gloucester Catholic 18.
REGION QUALIFIERS 106: Greyson Pettit, Delsea; Josh Kinchen, Vineland; Caleb Jenkins, Schalick/Cumberland. 113: Amari Vann, Delsea; Christian Snyder, Gateway/Woodbury; DeAnthony Harden, Schalick/Cumberland 120: Gage Summers, Delsea; Travis Balback, Woodstown; Aidan Barbato, Gateway/Cumberland. 126: Blaise Verdino, Delsea; Dante Gismondi, Gateway/Woodbury; Patrick Tull, Millville. 132: Zavier Stokes, Delsea; Alex Torres, Woodstown; Jayden Cinkowski, Vineland. 138: Chase Rossi, Gateway/Woodbury; Daniel Lloyd, Schalick/Cumberland; Matt Montalto-Summers, Delsea. 144: Michael Stokes, Delsea; Ayden Jenkins, Schalick/Cumberland; Brett Rowand, Woodstown. 150: Jamar Dixon, Delsea; Sky Eppes, Pennsville; Noah Ubil, Gateway. 157: Andres Cortes, Gateway/Woodbury; Charlie Muzzarelli, Buena; Lionel Powell, Vineland. 165: Riley Boos, Delsea; Zach Bevis, Woodstown; Donte Nocito, Gateway/Woodbury. 175: Greyson Hyland, Woodstown; Brandon Bourdon, Gateway/Woodbury; Noah Cruz, Vineland. 190: Salvatore Marchese, Delsea; Aamir Dunbar, Cedar Creek; Elias Lussi, Pennsville. 215: Alex Grippo, Delsea; Mateo Vinciguerra, Woodstown; Jayden Jones, Millville. 285: Jose Berrios, Delsea; Marcus Offer, Millville; Frank Leon-Keenan, Gloucester Catholic.
DISTRICT 29 TEAM SCORES: Washington Twp. 246, Kingsway 216, Clearview 144.5, Pennsauken 114.5, Deptford 64, Pitman 58, Clayton/Glassboro 48.5, Penns Grove 40, Lindenwold 10.
REGION QUALIFIERS 106: Jason Meola, Kingsway; Dylan Hetzel, Washington Twp.; Carter Greco, Clearview. 113: Colton Hagerty, Washington Twp.; Ryan Preziosi, Kingsway; Eoin Curran, Deptford. 120: Christian Hoopes, Washington Twp.; Lucas Silvestre, Pennsauken; Brady McCollough, Clearview. 126: Ramon Alfonso Arroyo, Kingsway; Adriano Platt, Pitman; Anthony Morales, Clearview. 132: Conrad Raynor, Clayton/Glassboro; Aiden Hardy, Washington Twp.; Andrew Jamieson, Pennsauken. 138: Michael Horn, Washington Twp.; Elijah Beatty, Clearview; Jaylen Huertas, Deptford. 144: Tommy DiPietro, Kingsway; Stephen Borrelli, Clearview; Chaz Melton, Washington Twp. 150: Chase Helder, Kingsway; Jackson Hoopes, Washington Twp.; Kole Reiss, Clearview. 157: Benjamin Dryden, Kingsway; Raymond McFall, Washington Twp.; Tyler Trovato, Clearview. 165: Cole DeNick, Kingsway; Chase Rollins, Pitman; Adrian Alqutawna, Clearview. 175: Piotr Bochenski, Washington Twp.; Clinton Bobo, Penns Grove; Joseph Leone, Kingsway. 190: Luke Van Schenk Brill, Kingsway; Christopher Lamonthe, Pennsauken; Aaron Veytsman, Clearview. 215: Andrew Osborn, Washington Twp.; Kameron Hoskins, Pennsauken; Ryland Angel, Kingsway. 285: Luciana Mazzeo, Clayton/Glassboro; Mitchell Lando, Washington Twp.; Shane Davilla, Pennsauken.
Woodstown goes down to the wire, but falls in South Jersey Group I semifinals; Pennsville falls in sectional quarters
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I TOURNAMENT At Woodstown Audubon 44, Palmyra 25 Woodstown 52, Haddon Twp. 18 Audubon 37, Woodstown 32 At Paulsboro Paulsboro 70, Pitman 4 Gloucester 60, Pennsville 16 Paulsboro 48, Gloucester 28 Championship match Wednesday Audubon at Paulsboro
OTHER MATCHES Penns Grove 42, Camden 22 Penns Grove 54, Lindenwold 18 Penns Grove 36, Riverside 21
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN — In any match, no matter the time of the season ,it’s the little things that can make all the difference between in moving on to the next round of a tournament or going home disappointed. Woodstown didn’t do enough of the little things Monday night.
The Wolverines got to the semifinals of the South Jersey Group I team tournament, but failing to pick up a point here and there in key matches meant the difference in Audubon taking a 37-32 victory to derail their second-half express.
The Wolverines were 2-9 at one point in the season, but rallied in the second half of the year to become the second seed in the sectional team tournament. Five of those early matches came down to the final bout (1-4). Once they turned it around, they had won 10 of their previous 11 entering the tournament.
The Wolverines grabbed a 26-6 lead at the midpoint in the match, winning six of their first seven bouts, but even then they left points on the table. Their fortunes changed when they turned to the lighter weights, opening with back-to-back forfeits and winning only one of the last seven bouts.
The match was decided in the final bout when Audubon junior Tyler Perrozi scored a 10-2 major decision over Laitton Roberts at 144.
“We needed to pin in some areas, where at ’65 and ’75 we had them flat, close to flat, they were almost pinned, we didn’t get it,” Wolverines coach Adam Hyland said. “We get those two pins, we win by one, and we lost by five.
“Those little things are the big differences. We just didn’t come through on those pins tonight. It’s probably happened to us 10 times this year where it came down to the last match. It’s just the way it is. Sometimes you get the bull, sometimes you get the horns.”
The back-to-back forfeits were intended to keep Audubon from building any momentum, but it led the Green Wave to change its strategy and just go best-on-best the rest of the way to chase the points it missed on earlier in the match. The free points became the front end of four straight wins that gave Audubon its first lead of the match, 27-26.
Alex Torres put the Wolverines back on top when pinned Brayden Ervin in the second period at 132.
Torres got in a pickle early in his match, but he quickly turned his fortunes with the help of a headlock he’d been practicing since middle school and got his opponent on his back. It wasn’t long thereafter the Wolverines were back on top 32-27 with two matches remaining.
“When I was about to run out on the mat I was like, ‘This is going to be an important match,’ and it was,” Torres said. “So I ran out there, just giving it my best. It’s about the team at this point and I’ve got to do whatever it takes to help us.
“I had a little trouble when the kid put me to my back but all I was thinking about was I’m not going to give up and that’s when I turned the kid.”
The Green Wave retook the lead with Rocco Noce’s pin at 138, setting up the winner-take-all match at 144.
Angel Hernandez wrestled the 144 match for Woodstown in the quarterfinals, but the Wolverines have been alternating there all season and Hyland sent out Roberts against Audubon because “he does a little bit better job of not getting in danger.” Perrozi was wrestling up from his usual 138, but he was aggressive from the start and scored a dominating 10-2 decision to clinch it.
“I love it,” Perrozi said. “It’s so nervous, but it’s always the best having the last match, just coming down to it. I love the thrill of it and everything. As soon as I got the first takedown it relieved me so much.”
Audubon’s Tyler Perrozi has control over Woodstown’s Laitton Roberts in the match that decided their South Jersey Group I wrestling semifinal.
The Green Wave dedicated the victory to heavyweight Jacob Dutill, who spent Monday in the hospital after taking ill Sunday night. His teammates face-timed with him after the match to deliver the news of their victory.
“I was talking to our guys and just said our bullets have to make a bigger bang because we’re shorthanded and we went for it,” Audubon coach John Walsh said.
The Green Wave now faces top-seeded Paulsboro for the South Jersey Group I championship Wednesday.
Woodstown reached the semifinals with a dominating 52-18 win over Haddon Twp. The Wolverines established control with seven straight wins after losing the opening bout and Travis Balback clinched the victory with a decision at 120.
SJ GROUP I QUARTERFINALS WOODSTOWN 52, HADDON TWP. 18 144: Damian Shepherd (H) pinned Angel Hernandez, 5:22 150: Jayden Donahue (Wo) pinned Jaden Chanthavanh, 5:07 157: Brett Roland (Wo) pinned Antonio Reyes, 0:53 165: Zach Bevis (Wo) maj. dec. over Richard Poblano Benito, 14-5 175: Greyson Hyland (Wo) pinned Joseph Sum, 0:59 190: Bradley Snitcher (Wo) pinned Elijah Borowicz, 1:36 215: Mateo Vinciguerra (Wo) won by forfeit 285: Andre Sinou (Wo) dec. Sean Weikel, 4-3 106: Andrew Marshall (H) pinned Chase Blandino, 1:35 113: Owen Ziegler (H) won by forfeit 120: Travis Balback (Wo) dec. Thomas Andrews, 5-3 126: Carson Bradway (Wo) dec. Blake Thoder, 9-2 132: Alex Torres (Wo) pinned Brady Monoid, 2:00 138: Willem Groom (Wo) dec. Jake Andrews, 4-2
GLOUCESTER 60, PENNSVILLE 16 285: Jeremy Smith (G) pinned Trevor Waddington, 2:54 106: Kloi Tighe (G) pinned Gina Shinn, 0:47 113: Josh Quinones (G) pinned Lucas Thomas, 1:08 120: Christopher Daniels (P) pinned Edgar Morales, 2:44 126: Mason Johnson (G) pinned Kameron Drummond, 5:09 132: John Pfeffer (G) dec. Ayden Perez, 6-1 138: Travis Hagan (P) pinned Greg Harris, 2:21 144: Harry Ulmer (G) pinned Joseph Maurer, 3:20 150: Ashton Wall (G) dec. Sky Eppes, 1-0 157: Robbie McDade (P) maj. dec. over Collin Morrell, 9-1 165: Jacob Zearfoss (G) pinned Cole Campbell, 1:50 175: Jason Chiodi (G) pinned Connor Ayers, 2:48 190: Kaleb Wright (G) pinned Elias Lussi, 2:55 215: Jaden Thompson (G) pinned Daniel Emmons, 4:33
SJ GROUP I SEMIFINALS AUDUBON 37, WOODSTOWN 32 150: Jayden Donahue (Wo) dec. Giovanni Patti, 7-4 157: Brett Rowand (Wo) won by forfeit 165: Zach Bevis (Wo) maj. dec. over David Borodziuk, 13-1 175: Greyson Hyland (Wo) maj. dec. over Gabriel McCracken, 9-1 190: Christian Burton (A) pinned Bradley Snitcher, 0:32 215: Andre Sinou (Wo) pinned Syncere Faulk, 0:59 285: Mateo Vinciguerra (Wo) dec. Sam Myers, 6-1 106: Rocco Monteferrante (A) won by forfeit 113: Nicholas Sassany (A) won by forfeit 120: Lucas Stinger (A) dec. Travis Balback, 11-5 126: Blaise LaFrance (A) pinned Carson Bradway, 2:40 132: Alex Torres (Wo) pinned Brayden Ervin, 2:54 138: Rocco Noce (A) pinned Willem Groom, 1:53 144: Tyler Perrozi (A) maj. dec. over Laitton Roberts, 10-2
Woodstown 120 Travis Balback gets Haddon Twp.’s Thomas Andrews on his head in the bout that clinched the Wolverines’ victory in the South Jersey Group I wrestling quarterfinals.
Riverview Sports News 