June 14, 2017

After 21-Year Tenure Guiding PU Women’s Hockey, Kampersal Finds a New Home at Penn State

ENTERING THE LION’S DEN: Jeff Kampersal makes a point on the bench during his tenure as the head coach of the Princeton University women’s hockey team. After a highly successful 21-season run at the helm of the Tigers, Kampersal is headed to Penn State to take over as the head coach of the Nittany Lions. (Photo Courtesy of Princeton’s Office of Athletic Communications)

Coming to Princeton University from the Boston area in 1988, Jeff Kampersal quickly found a home in the Garden State.

Joining the men’s hockey team that winter, the 6’2, 200-pound Kampersal emerged as one of the top defensemen in program history, earning both All-ECAC and All-Ivy League honors as a four-year letterwinner and team captain. more

Following in Footsteps of Older Brother, Brennan Emerges as Throwing Star for PHS

ENJOYING THE MOMENT: Princeton High throwing star Paul Brennan grins during a meet this year. Sophomore Brennan culminated a big spring by taking seventh in the discus at the Meet of Champions last Saturday at Northern Burlington High. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Tim Brennan took up throwing events as a sixth grader at the Cranbury School and went on the enjoy a brilliant career for the Princeton High boys’ track team.

Brennan set a PHS record in the discus at 180’9 and competed at the next level, throwing for Dartmouth College over the last four years, recently getting named as a recipient of the program’s Herb Chase Track Award given to athletes who have made the greatest improvement in his or her event through hard work, self-discipline, and enthusiasm for the sport. more

Featuring a Youth Movement in Full Swing, Men’s Summer Hoops Tipping Off 29th Season

DRIVING FORCE: Eric Murdock, Jr., right, drives past a foe in action last year in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League. Star guard Murdock helped Majeski Foundation win the 2016 league title. Murdock and the Majeski squad, which is comprised of current members of The College of New Jersey men’s hoops team, will start their title defense when the league tips off its 29th season on June 19 with a triple-header at the Community Park courts starting at 7:15 p.m. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

For the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League, the 2016 season represented a changing of the guard.

With league stalwarts and perennial title contenders, Ivy Inn and Dr. Palmer, getting eliminated early in the playoffs, the Majeski Foundation, a squad comprised of current members of The College of New Jersey men’s hoops team, rolled to the title. more

June 13, 2017

Stuart Lacrosse Battled Through Adversity, Laying Groundwork for Promising Future

GRACE UNDER PRESSURE: Stuart Country Day School lacrosse player Grace Sheppard, right, heads upfield during a game this spring. Sophomore Sheppard’s production in the midfield helped Stuart post a 6-10 record this season. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Missy Bruvik felt good about her Stuart Country Day lacrosse team before it even started regular season play.

“I think the kids felt much more prepared this year going into the season, having had that opportunity to go to Florida,” said Stuart head coach Bruvik, referring to the squad’s preseason trip.

“They felt it was much more a team effort this year in terms of camaraderie and touches on the ball. When you play lacrosse that is a good thing. You want to get everyone involved, feeling that they see ball and they are ready when their time comes.”  more

June 7, 2017

PHS Baseball Posts 3 Wins in Final Week But Plagued by Inconsistency This Spring

SMOOTH TRANSFER: Princeton High baseball player Jaedyn Paria takes a swing in recent action. Junior transfer Paria emerged as a catalyst this spring for PHS, playing center field and providing production at the top of the batting order. The Little Tigers finished with a final record of 6-17-1. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

After winning three games in the first five weeks of the season, the Princeton High baseball team posted three victories in the last eight days of the season.

For PHS head coach Dave Roberts, the late surge was an encouraging sign.

“It was good to get those wins and build on it for next year,” said Roberts, whose team defeated WW/P-South 7-6 on May 10 and 12-2 on May 17 and also topped South Hunterdon 12-7 on May 11. more

Coming to PHS Track Team From Switzerland, Schenk Soaring to New Heights in Pole Vault

POLE POSITION: Princeton High boys’ track freshman star Simon Schenk, second from right, celebrates after setting a personal best and school record of 14’7 in winning the pole vault at the Central Jersey Group 4 sectional boys’ track meet in late May. Pictured with Schenk, from left, are personal coach Frank Harrison, a meet official, and PHS assistant coach Joe Gargione. Last Saturday, Schenk placed seventh in the state Group 4 meet with a vault of 13’0, later earning a wild card entry to the upcoming Meet of Champions.

Having grown up in the shadow of the Swiss Alps, Simon Schenk is soaring to new heights for the Princeton High boys’ track team.

Schenk, a freshman who moved to Princeton from the Zurich, Switzerland area last summer, has emerged as rising star in the pole vault for PHS. more

Hun Alumna Weeks Ends College Career on a High, Helping BC Women’s Lacrosse Make NCAA Final

EAGLE EYE: Kate Weeks prepares to unload the ball in recent action for the Boston College women’s lacrosse team Weeks, a former Hun School standout, enjoyed a big senior campaign this spring for the Eagles, scoring 76 goals to help BC reach the NCAA championship game. (Photo by John Quackenbos/BC Athletics)

When Kate Weeks committed to attend Boston College and join its women’s lacrosse team, she was hoping to get in on the ground floor of something big.

“In my gut, I thought that this team wanted to win more than they wanted to do anything else in their life,” said Weeks, a former Hun School standout who started her BC career in the fall of 2013.

“It was an unbelievable passion that other maybe more established programs didn’t have. I wanted to be part of growth instead of going to an already established program.” more

Water Polo’s Johnson, Men’s Hoops Star Weisz Win Princeton’s Top Senior Athlete Awards

GRADUATING WITH HONORS: Princeton University women’s water polo goalie Ashleigh Johnson clears the ball in a game this season. Last Thursday, Johnson was named as the 2017 winner of the C. Otto von Kienbusch Award as Princeton’s top senior female athlete. Princeton men’s hoops star Spencer Weisz received the 2017 William Winston Roper Trophy as the school’s outstanding senior male athlete. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

It didn’t take long for Ashleigh Johnson and Spencer Weisz to make an impact in their Princeton University athletic careers.

Women’s water polo goalie Johnson made a program record 19 saves in her debut on February 8, 2013 as Princeton fell 7-5 to No. 4 Cal.

Men’s basketball player Weisz had five points, six rebounds, and four assists in 31 minutes in his first appearance during a season opening 67-50 win over Florida Atlantic on November 10, 2013. He was in the starting lineup that day, making him the first Princeton freshman to start a season opener since Douglas Davis ’12 and Patrick Saunders ’12 in 2008-09. more

With Captain Mead Leading by Example, PU Men’s Heavyweights Battled at IRAs

 

NICK OF TIME: Princeton University men’s heavyweight rower Nick Mead, center, pulls hard in recent action for the varsity 8. Last Sunday, senior captain Mead ended his Princeton career by helping the varsity 8 place fourth in the grand final at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) national championship regatta in Sacramento, Calif. Photo Courtesy of Princeton’s Office of Athletic Communications

Nick Mead gave up lacrosse to start rowing as a freshman at the Episcopal Academy in Newtown Square, Pa.

Initially, Mead wasn’t sure if he had made the right decision. “I didn’t like it the first couple of months but I think that is pretty typical of rowing when you are first starting” said Mead.

“It is not very much fun. You are learning all the new things, you are getting blisters on your hands, and you are not going very fast.”

But with his father having rowed at Princeton and his mother and brother having rowed at Penn, Mead was destined to excel as an oarsman. He became a star at Episcopal, helping its 4+ win the 2013 Scholastic Rowing Association of America title. Mead also competed with the men’s US 8+ at the 2013 Junior World Championships in Trakai, Lithuania. more

May 31, 2017

Howe Comes a Long Way in Her PU Crew Career, Helping Tiger Open 1V Boat Place 9th at NCAAs

DIGGING DEEP: The Princeton University women’s open varsity 8 gives its all as it took third place in the B final at the NCAA Championships last Sunday on Mercer Lake. The boat, which went undefeated in regular season action and won the Ivy League regatta, thereby finished ninth overall nationally. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Georgie Howe came a long way to join the Princeton University women’s open rowing program. more

Looking to Build on Big Day at Eastern Sprints, Princeton Men’s Heavyweights Primed for IRAs

Battling through some nasty weather conditions, the Princeton University men’s heavyweight rowing program  enjoyed a big day at the Eastern Sprints earlier this month.

Undeterred by the wind and rain whipping through the course at Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Mass. during the May 14 regatta, Princeton made the medal stand in four races, winning the second varsity 8 and taking third in the first varsity 8, third varsity 8, and the fourth varsity 8.

Princeton head coach Greg Hughes credited his rowers with showing character and skill in achieving that medal haul. more

Saving Its Best for Last at NCAA Regatta, Princeton Open V4 Makes Grand Final

GRAND ACHIEVEMENT: The Princeton University open varsity 4 powers its way to a sixth place finish in the grand final at the NCAA Championships last Sunday on Mercer Lake. The boat was only the sixth V4 in open program history to reach the NCAA grand final. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Emily Erdos and the Princeton University women’s open varsity 4 didn’t have a smooth ride in their road to the NCAA championships. more

Senior White Goes Out With Final Salvo As PHS Boys’ Lax Edged in State Tourney

WHITE KNIGHT: Princeton High boys’ lacrosse player Jake White races upfield in recent action. Last Wednesday, senior attackman White scored a fourth quarter goal to give sixth-seeded PHS a 5-4 lead at second-seeded Roxbury in the semifinals of the North Jersey Group 3 tournament. Roxbury, though, responded with two unanswered goals, the last coming with four seconds left in regulation, to pull out a 6-5 win. The defeat left the Little Tigers with a final record of 10-9. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

With Princeton High boys’ lacrosse team knotted in a 4-4 nail-biter at Roxbury High in the North Jersey Group 3 sectional semifinals last Wednesday, Jake White got the chance to be a hero. more

Featuring Some Breakthrough Performances, PHS Boys’ Track Finishes 3rd in Sectionals

While Franklin Township High dominated the Central Jersey Group 4 sectional boys’ track meet last weekend, as expected, the Princeton High squad produced some landmark performances.

In taking third with 54 points behind champion Franklin (124) and runner up Old Bridge (68), the Little Tigers showed strength across the board, garnering a number of top six finishes needed to qualify for the state Group 4 meet taking place on June 2-3 at Egg Harbor.

In the field events, freshman Simon Schenk won the pole vault while sophomore Paul Brennan prevailed in the discus and placed fifth in the shot put, junior Varun Narayan took sixth in both the long jump and triple jump, and sophomore Nils Wildberg was fifth in the long jump.  more

Lopez-Ona Displays Shooting Skill in Defeat As PHS Girls’ Lax Falls in Sectional Semis

CARRYING THE LOAD: Princeton High girls’ lacrosse player Mariana Lopez-Ona carries the ball up the field in recent action. Last week, sophomore star Lopez-Ona tallied a team-high four goals and an assist in a losing cause as second-seeded PHS fell 13-10 to third-seeded Rancocas Valley in the semifinals of the Central Jersey Group 4 Tournament. The defeat in the May 23 contest left the Little Tigers with a final record of 14-8. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Before Mariana Lopez-Ona joined the Princeton High girls’ lacrosse team in the spring of 2016, she received some home schooling on the fine points of the game.  more

Prep B Title Streak Ends for PDS Boys’ Tennis As It Places Close 2nd to Montclair Kimberley

BREAKING POINT: Princeton Day School boys’ tennis player Lex Decker blasts a serve in a match this spring. Last Wednesday, junior star Decker lost 6-3, 6-0 to Lucas Flotta of Pennington in the first singles final at the state Prep B tournament. The Panthers, who had won four straight Prep B team titles, saw that streak broken as they finished second to Montclair Kimberley. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Heading into the championship round of the state Prep B tournament, the Princeton Day School boys’ tennis team was on track to win its fifth straight team title at the competition. more

Sparked by Sensational Effort From Kwafo, Stuart Track Takes 3rd at Prep B State Meet

FLYING HIGH: Stuart Country Day School track star Michelle Kwafo flies over the hurdles at the state Prep B championship meet last week. Junior Kwafo enjoyed a big day at the meet, winning the 100 meter dash, the 100 hurdles, and taking third in the long jump. She also helped the 4×100 relay to victory. Kwafo’s heroics helped Stuart finish third in the team standings at the meet. (Photo Courtesy of Stuart Country Day School)

Michelle Kwafo was a busy girl as the Stuart Country Day School track team competed in the Prep B state championship meet last week. more

May 24, 2017

PU Women’s Lax Edged in NCAA Quarters, Fighting Penn State to the End in 14-12 Loss

LION HEARTED: Princeton University women’s lacrosse player Ellie McNulty heads to goal in recent action. Last Sunday, junior midfielder McNulty contributed two goals in a losing cause as fifth-seeded Princeton fell 14-12 at fourth-seeded Penn State in the NCAA tournament quarterfinals. The defeat to the Nittany Lions left the Tigers with a final record of 15-4. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

When the Princeton University women’s lacrosse team hosted Penn State in late March, it found itself trailing 5-0 with 26:45 left in the first half. more

Princeton Softball Eliminated in NCAA Regional, Competing Hard but Not Satisfied With Performance

STANDING TALL: Princeton University softball player Keeley Walsh throws the ball in recent action. Last Saturday, Walsh delivered a two-run single in a losing cause as Princeton fell 10-2 to Jacksonville State in an elimination game at the Tallahassee, Fla. regional of the NCAA tournament. The defeat left the Tigers with a final record of 25-20. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

As it competed in the Tallahassee, Fla. regional of the NCAA tournament last weekend, the Princeton University softball team was looking to make a statement. more

Making the Most of the Talent on Hand, PHS Boys’ Tennis Produces 14-5 Record

ON THE BALL: Princeton High boys’ tennis player Kevin Yang slams a backhand in recent action. Junior Yang’s superb play at first singles helped PHS go 14-5 this season and advance to the North 2 Group 3 sectional quarterfinals. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

The spring ended on a down note last week for the Princeton High boys’ tennis team as it fell to Summit in the North 2 Group 3 sectional quarterfinals and to Hopewell Valley in its regular season finale.  more

With Amaral Growing Into Defensive Leader, PDS Boys Lax Wins 2nd Straight Prep B Crown

Over the course of of his career with the Princeton Day School boys’ lacrosse team, Jack Amaral has grown into a leader of its defensive unit.

“I started as a shortstick freshman year and then I made a move to longstick at the beginning of junior year,” said Amaral. more

Senior Standout Mills Goes Out With a Bang As PDS Girls’ Lax Wins 3rd Prep B Crown

TRIPLE CROWN: Princeton Day School girls’ lacrosse star Morgan Mills unloads the ball in the state Prep B title game last week. Senior star and Princeton University-bound Mills tallied eight goals and two assists to help second-seeded PDS top fourth-seeded Montclair Kimberley Academy 19-13 in the May 16 title contest. It was the third straight Prep B title for the Panthers, who posted a final record of 10-4. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Before Morgan Mills even came to Princeton Day School, she sensed that there was something special about its girls’ lacrosse program. more

Hun Softball Wins 1st Prep A Crown Since 2004 As Junior Star Pearson Excels with Her Arm, Bat

BRINGING HER A-GAME: Hun School softball pitcher Alanna Pearson fires the ball in the state Prep A title game against the Blair Academy last Thursday. Junior star Pearson hurled a four-hit shutout with nine strikeouts as Hun prevailed 7-0, earning its first Prep A crown since 2004. She also went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs at the plate to help herself out. The Raiders ended the spring with a 14-2 record. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Alanna Pearson was looking to come out firing as the Hun School softball team hosted Blair Academy in the state Prep A title game last Thursday. more

Riding Pitching of Hernandez-Burt, Hot Hitting, Hun Baseball Wins 2nd Straight Prep A Crown

COMING UP BIG: Hun School baseball player Joaquin Hernandez-Burt delivers a pitch in the final round of the state Prep A tournament last Sunday. Post-graduate pitcher Hernandez-Burt, a former Princeton High standout, starred as Hun defeated Lawrenceville 15-3 last Sunday to clinch the title, striking out four and giving up six hits and two runs over six innings to get the win. It was the second straight Prep A title for Hun, who ended the season at 13-10. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

For Joaquin Hernandez-Burt and Mike Pedota, sticking to basics was the overriding theme as the Hun School baseball team pursued a second consecutive state Prep A title. more

PHS Boys’ Track Narrowly Misses County Crown, But Displays Talent, Character Across the Board

TAKING HIS SHOT: Princeton High boys’ track star thrower Paul Brennan competes at the shot put in a meet earlier this spring. Last Saturday at the Mercer County Championships, sophomore star Brennan won the discus and took second in the shot put to help PHS take second in the team standings. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Ben Samara knew that the Princeton High boys’ track team was in for a dogfight as it went after the title at the Mercer County Championships last Saturday. more