NJ GameOn

R.I.P. Finn Caspersen

It was with shock and sadness that we learned of the untimely passing of Finn Caspersen, who was found dead at his Rhode Island home Monday. He was 67.

While the circumstances of his death are still under investigation, one thing is clear. This area has lost one who has made enormous contributions to the rowing community. His contributions will never be forgotten.

He was a founding member and chairman emeritus of the Princeton National Rowing Association. The PNRA operates the national training center, the Finn M.W. Caspersen Rowing Center, at Mercer Lake. PNRA also runs the Mercer Junior Rowing Club, one of the top youth rowing clubs in the country. The rowing center houses the teams from The Hun School, Lawrenceville School and Peddie School in addition to the USRowing national team.

“PNRA and the rowing community are deeply indebted to Mr. Caspersen,” said PNRA executive director Kristopher Grudt in a statement Thursday. “His vision, financial support, political prowess and drive have put the Mercer Lake rowing venue on the world stage. His foresight provided a home base for the United States’ medal winning Olympic and National teams. Generations of area youth will benefit from the opportunity to experience the sport of rowing next to our Olympic athletes.”

Caspersen was a Peddie graduate and a former rower. Caspersen helped to bring the 2001 FISA World Cup Regatta and the 2006 FISA World Masters Regatta to Mercer Lake.

Caspersen was also a member of the US Equestrian team who competed at three world championships. His legacy in this area, however, remains on the water.

So many youth in our area have a place to row because of Caspersen’s contributions, and not just any place. They row next to the best rowers in the country, men and women who will row for gold on the world’s biggest stage. They, too, are indebted to Caspersen. He saw a need in the area, and he has helped grow the foremost rowing center in the country.

His contributions will live on, but he will be missed.

Fantasy insider

Labor Day weekend is the last big hurrah for the summer, and how am I spending it?

Cramming for the draft for the fourth year of the Princeton Packet Fantasy Football League. It’s just around the corner and the start of the season is only a week away. Unfortunately, I’ve got precious little to go on.

Winning the fantasy league isn’t easy. Think the Ivy League has parity? The Packet fantasy league has had three different winners in three years. After winning the inaugural season, I’ve plummented in each successive year. Last year, I was a distant third to a distant second-place as the Curious George’s pulled out the championship.

Anyone with some insight into the teams in our coverage area, I’m willing to take some advice on who the breakout players are and who’s a can’t miss, particularly those pesky kickers that can slip below the radar. Hopefully it helps on draft night.

What a weekend (and a day or two)

The schools in the Princeton Packet coverage area had quite a weekend when it came to county tournament championsips.

It all started on Thursday night, when West Windsor-Plainsboro High South won its first Mercer County Softball Tournament title by beating Allentown, 6-1.

On Saturday night the Montgomery High softball team captured the Somerset County title with a dramatic extra-inning win over Hillsborough.

The next night the Montgomery High boys lacrosse team made it three straight Somerset County titles with a 5-4 win over Bridgewater.

On Monday, West Windsor-Plainsboro North captured the championship of the first Mercer County Boys Lacrosse Tournament with a 10-6 win over WW-P South. 

To add to the excitement, WW-P North also captured the Central Jersey Group III tennis title by beating Hopewell Valley. And Montgomery won the CJ IV title by topping Hillsbrough.

College athlete updates

Many athletes who excelled in the area while in high school have moved on to college, where they are making a mark for themselves as well. If you know of an athlete you would like to see includes, leave a message in the comment section or email bnuse@centraljersey.com.

We’ll use this space to post links to athletes in college so you can see just how well they are doing.

Two members of last year’s Hun School baseball team are now members of the program at North Carolina State. Mike Russo, a former Princeton Packet Player of the Year, and John Gianis are both playing for the Wolfpack this year.

Princeton High graduate Rebecca Schild has started every game this season for the Drew University women’s lacrosse team. The sophomore plays attack for the Rangers.

Hun School graduate Caiti Druker is a sophomore on the Muhlenberg College women’s tennis team.

Montgomery High graduate Kevin Weingart is a senior on the Delaware Valley College baseball team. He started the first 18 games of the season and is third on the team in hitting. His younger brother, Cory, is a freshman on the team.

Montgomery graduate Matt Pizzolato is a member of the Wesley College baseball team, where he plays the outfield.

West Windsor-Plainsboro South graduate Anthony Aloi is a member of the Furman University golf team, where is has cracked the top five as a freshman.

Princeton High graduate Chris Hoeland is enjoying another successful season as a member of the Washington University at St. Louis men’s tennis team. Hoeland recently set a new school record with his 91st career win at doubles. His team is ranked No. 2 in the nation in Division III.

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We’ll call it a tie

At least we spartsrked some nice debate (mostly positive) and memories about Montgomery High sports. But at this point, with something pretty crazy going on with the voting, it’s time to bring it to an end.

When we get to where even those in the competition feel uneasy about the number of votes piling up, it’s time to stop.

So we’ll end with a final four of Kristina Adams, Ellen Coates, Brian Harshman and Brett Skepokura - four athletes I had the honor of getting to see compete. Three of them I saw while working at the Packet. Brian Harshman I only saw from behind while he was crushing me and just about everybody else in Somerset County during our cross country days.

Those are just four of the many great athletes who have come through Montgomery. Not just the 32 in this contest, but countless others. Hopefully the contest did a little to help the current Montgomery folks appreciate the accomplishments of those who came before them.

 It’s amazing the large number of former athletes who are still local. There are so many who played for the Cougars and now have or had their children play at Montgomery.

It’s a much different school - and town - now than it was 15-20 years ago. But one thing is still the same - Montgomery fans are passionate about the Cougars.Â

Semifinals begin in MHS Greatest

Brian Harshman and Brett Slepokura have advanced to the semifinals of the Montgomery High’s Greatesr Athlete contest. Harshman received 62 percent of the vote to defeat Nancy Cianfrocca. Slepokura received 59 percent of the vote to defeat Gary Drake.

In the first semifinal matchup, Kristina Adams will face Ellen Coates (Ruhlman). Adams was a three-sport star competing in soccer, basketball and softball. Coates, a two-time female athlete of the year at MHS, received varsity letters in soccer, tennis, basketball and softball.

Voting in this matchup will take place through Tuesday morning.

Adams, Coates advance to MHS semifinals

Kristina Adams and Ellen Coates (Ruhlman) have advanced to the semifinals of the Montgomery High’s Greatest Athlete contest. The final two quarterfinal matchups are now being voted on.

Adams received 57 percent of the vote to defeat Andy Ryba, while Coates received 54 percent of the vote to defeat Derek Spencer.

In one of the two remaining quarterfinals, Nancy Cianfrocca will face Brian Harshman. Cianfrocca was a standout three-sport athlete, competing in soccer, basketball and softball. Harshman was a cross country and track performer who was along the elite in the state.

In the other quarterfinal, Brett Slepokura will face Gary Drake in a battle of three-sport stars. Slepokura’s top sport was soccer, where he scored the winning goal in the Cougars first state championship. Drake excelled in baseball, where he is considered the best to play for the Cougars.

Voting in these two matchups will continue through Tuesday morning.

Quarterfinals begin in MHS Greatest contest

Brett Slepokura and Gary Drake have advanced to the quarterfinals of the Montgomery High’s Greatest Athlete contest with wins in the final two second round matchups. Slepokura received 54 percent of the vote to edge Sean Hover. Drake received 51 percent of the vote to narrowly defeat Christine Lubas.

The first two matchups in the quarterfinals are now being voted on.

In one matchup, Kristina Adams will face Andy Ryba. Adams was a standout in soccer, basketball and softball while at Montgomery. Ryba was champion hurdler who was also a standout in soccer and basketball.

In the other matchup, Derek Spencer will take on Ellen Coates (Ruhlman). Spencer was a three-sport standout at Montgomery, playing soccer, basketball and baseball. Coates earned varsity letters in four sports while at Montgomery - soccer, basketball, softball and tennis. She was a two-time female athlete of the year.

Voting in these matchups will continue through Thursday morning.

Pirates do it again

For the second time in three nights, the West Windsor-Plainsboro High South boys basketball team pulled ut an improbable win.

And now, the Pirates are just one win away from a Central Jersey Group IV championship.

Trailing 46-43 with four seconds left, the Pirates’ Austin Witter rebounded a missed foul shot and outlet a pass to Chris Johnson. The senior point guard took a couple of dribbled past half court and made a 30-foot shot as time expired to tie the game and force overtime. (The photo at left by Dick Druckman, www.goldmedalimpressions.com, tells the story). Two nights earlier, Dan Balevski scored as time expired to force overtime against Hillsborough.

As the Pirates did against Hillsborough, they went on to win in overtime, 49-48. Top-seeded WW-P South will now face seventh-seeded Freehold Township in the CJ IV final on Monday at 6 p.m. at Trenton High. Freehold Township reached the final with an 81-73 win over third-seeded Monroe.

Johnson’s shot simply made him the latest hero in a series of heroes for the Pirates.

“I was just so excited” Johnson said. “My coach said to collect my emotions after the shot to get ready for overtime. I’m lost for words. I’m just happy it went in when I shot it. I thought I was going to dish it somebody but they didn’t step up so I shot it.” �

Buy Mennen…tix

The ice hockey teams from Montgomery High and West Windsor-Plainsboro North High have advanced to the NJSIAA public A quarterfinals scheduled for Sunday at Mennen Arena. Hopewell Valley Central High, also in the Packet Group coverage area, lost, 3-0, to Mendham in the public B second round Thursday to end its season.

The second-seeded Cougars dominated 18th-seeded Ridgewood, 10-1, Thursday. MHS improved to 20-5-2. They will play No. 7 Montclair 1 p.m. Sunday. 

Eighth-seeded WW-P North had a tougher time of it, but dispatched of No. 9 Clifton, 3-2, Thursday. Mark Raziano broke a 2-2 tie in the second period and the Knights defense, with goalie James Komianos stopping 23 shots, did the rest. Scott Litwak had two assists, while Andrew Washuta and Dylan Strober provided the Knights first goals of the game.

The Knights improved to 19-5-1, and take on top-seeded Ridge 7 p.m. Sunday.