11/30/2010 - NJAC Field Hockey Honors
It was another banner year for the field hockey teams in the Mugs Media area and their success was reflected in the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference All-Division selections.
In the American Division, which houses High Point (14-0), Jefferson (11-3), Vernon (8-5-1), Montville (7-5-2), Pope John (4-9-1), Mt. Olive (4-9), Morris Hills (3-9-1) and Sparta (0-12-1), seven players were named to the division first team from the area.
High Point, which had a magical season and ran away with the division crown, led the way with four first-team selections. Darby Smith, Nikki Hull, Bea Cannavale and Sarah Clark all were honored.
Vernon had two players honored in Lauren Poppe and Caitlin Molloy as the Vikings posted their first winning season since the early 2000s and advanced to the North 1, Group 4 final under first-year coach Hollyce Schoepp.
Jefferson had another fine season under coach Danielle Ryan and Lauren Ferguson made the first team for the Falcons, who advanced to the North 1, Group 2 semifinals before falling to Newton.
The rest of the first team was comprised of Hilary Neuschwander, Gina Massoni and goalie Kelsey Morales of Mt. Olive; Rachel Sihlancik and Nirali Patel of Morris Hills and Serena Casazza of Montville.
Receiving second-team honors were: Brittany Papa and Sashel Hagan of High Point; Sam Abromavage, Sammi Hatler and Molly Goldstein of Jefferson; Steph Peterson and Rhonda Richardson of Vernon; Amanda Capitummino and Meghan Chrobak of Pope John; Sam Casey and Lauren Krulikowski of Sparta; Ali Koch of Montville and Annie Sappio of Morris Hills.
Named to the Honorable Mention squad were: Rebecca Van Horn and Maureen Gill of High Point; Danielle Bartke and Kati Loughlin of Jefferson; Sarah Novak and Brooke Marks of Montville; Chelsea Weidanz and Rachel Sonnenberg of Morris Hills; Kristen Greco and Chrissy Nied of Mt. Olive; Eliza Hinkes and Caroline McKinley of Pope John; Meg Dumchowski of Sparta and Alli Minotti and Kate Moran of Vernon.
In the Freedom Division, it was all Newton as the Braves won the division crown for the second straight season with a perfect 7-0 mark.
The Braves, who fell to state-power West Essex in the North 1, Group 2 final, only played seven division games as their second game with Hackettstown was not made up due to the fact that the Braves had wrapped up the crown.
The Freedom Division lost Hopatcong right before the season as the school dropped field hockey due to budget cuts. Losing the Chiefs dropped the league slate from 10 to eight games.
Wallkill Valley (5-3), Hackettstown (4-2-1), Kittatinny (1-5-2) and Lenape Valley (0-7-1) rounded out the loop this season.
Newton had four players named to the first team: Paige Mosner, Ashley Mosner, Harley McMahon and Emily Burd.
Wallkill Valley also had four players honored in goalie Emily Stukenborg, Andreanna Nordland, Taylor Clayton and Brittany Harlos.
Hackettstown was represented by Taylor Thorp and Brittany Drake, while Charlotte Case of Kittatinny rounded out the squad.
The second team was: Melanie Rudio and Olivia Lister of Newton; goalie Deanna Utter, Val Collins and Suzanne Grochowski of Lenape Valley; Savannah Quinn and Michaela Virga of Kittatinny; Meg Tillou, Kaitlin Perch and Rebecca Connelly of Hackettstown and Kristina Garrera of Wallkill Valley.
Honorable Mention were: Marissa Keller and Tanya Volkert of Hackettstown; Alicia Lyczenga and Dylan Bradley of Kittatinny; Jenna Tambasco and Jenna Wilson of Lenape Valley; Sam Hoffmann and Amanda Norman of Newton and Meg Lermond and Lindsey Graham of Wallkill Valley.
HEADS UP—Now that the winter season is upon us, just wanted to let everyone know that the boys and girls basketball teams will follow the same format as soccer as far as divisions go.
The American is made up of High Point, Vernon, Sparta, Pope John, Jefferson, Morris Hills, Montville and Mt. Olive which provides for a 14-game league schedule with everyone playing each other twice.
Last year, Jefferson was in the Freedom and the Falcons shared the division crown in boys hoops with Hopatcong and with Wallkill Valley in girls basketball.
Under last year’s format, the teams in the American and National played a combined schedule with everyone playing each other once. The format was confusing to most but the ADs in the NJAC rectified the situation and this winter it will be much easier to keep track whom is doing what in each division.
The Freedom Division will only play a 10-game division slate with Jefferson leaving. Hopatcong, Hackettstown, Kittatinny, Lenape Valley, Newton and Wallkill Valley make up the Freedom.
Despite published accounts, North Warren will not be joining the Freedom Division next year, according to North Warren AD John Simonetti. Simonetti told me the Pats are interested in joining the NJAC but will not be able to until 2012 at the earliest.
As for wrestling, the divisions are the same with everyone wrestling each other once. And to the best of my knowledge there were no major changes in swimming, except for the obvious one of Sussex Tech shutting down its pool, but I will check on that.
That’s it for now, see you on the sidelines.
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