NJ GameOn

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.

Four compete for final two spots in quarterfinals

Brian Harshman and Nancy Cianfrocca have advanced to the quarterfinals of the Montgomery High’s Greatest Athlete contest. Harshman received 54 percent of the vote to defeat Tori Sensi. Cianfrocca received 54 percent of the more than 2,100 votes in her contest with Johnny Rooney.

In one of the final two second round matchups, Brett Slepokura will face Sean Hover. Slepokura played baseball, basketball and soccer as a Cougar, scoring the lone goal in their first state soccer championship. Hover helped the ice hockey and lacrosse teams to Somerset County titles and now plays lacrosse at Rutgers University.

In the other matchup, Gary Drake will face Christine Lubas. Drake played soccer, baseball and basketball at Montgomery and is generally considered the top baseball player the school has produced. Lubas earned 12 varsity letters competing in soccer, basketball and softball.

Voting in these two matchups will continue through the early afternoon on Friday.

South girls win state swim title

After two years of coming up short against Westfield, the West Windsor-Plainsboro High South girls’ swim team finally got the best of the Blue Devils.

The Pirates won nine of 11 events, including the decisive 400 free relay, to post a 90-80 win and capture the state A Division title in a meet held at The College of New Jersey.

WW-P South opened the meet by winning the 200 medley relay behind Cori Michibata, Rebecca Lewinson, Jocelyn Yuen and Julia Tomei. The Pirates extended their lead with a first and third in the 200 free. Meredith Ketchmark won the race in 1:54.85 and Amanda Grant had an impressive third place.

In the 200 individual medley, Lewison was first in 2:09.78. The Pirates went into the early break tied at 31-31 after  Brynja Winnan was second and Yuen third in the 50 free.

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