POWER HITTER: Princeton High girls’ tennis player Lada Labas warms up before a match last fall. Junior Labas is back at second singles for PHS this season. The Tigers, who improved to 2-0 with a 5-0 win over Hightstown last Monday, play at Hamilton West on September 13 and at WW/P-North on September 15 before starting play in the Mercer County Tournament on September 18 at Mercer County Park Tennis Complex. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Working five new players into its lineup last fall, the Princeton High girls’ tennis team appeared to be heading into a transition season.

Exceeding expectations, PHS caught fire down the stretch, winning the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Central Jersey Group 3 sectional title and advancing to the Group 3 state championship match on the way to a 15-3 season.

Heading into the 2023 campaign, the Tigers are again dealing with some roster turnover as it has lost a singles star and two doubles standouts from last fall but PHS head coach Sarah Hibbert is confident that the program will maintain its winning tradition.  more

MIDDLE OF THE ACTION: Princeton Day School field hockey player Kelly Christie, middle, goes after the ball last Saturday against Hopewell Valley in its season opener. PDS tied HoVal 0-0 in a game that ended in the third quarter due to the thunderstorms that rumbled through the area. The Panthers were scheduled to play at WW/P-North on September 12 before hosting Stuart Country Day on September 15 and Robbinsville High on September 18. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Although the Princeton Day School field hockey team played to a 0-0 stalemate against Hopewell Valley last Saturday in a season opener that ended in the third quarter due to the thunderstorms that rumbled through the area, Heather Farlow liked what she saw from her club.

“We controlled possession most of the game, we were in our offensive end quite a bit,” said PDS head coach Farlow. “When it stopped we were in our offensive 25 and we had the ball. We had momentum.”

Bringing momentum from a late surge that saw the Panthers advance to the final in both the Mercer County Tournament and Prep B state tourney last fall, PDS is upbeat heading into 2023. more

By Bill Alden

Losing a trio of key seniors from last year’s squad to graduation, the Princeton Day School girls’ tennis team will be featuring some new faces in new places.

In addition to a revamped lineup, PDS will also be facing a new slate of foes as it’s playing a full Colonial Valley Conference schedule for the first time.

“As an independent school, the regular season matches you always want to win but they are more about maneuvering to get ready and seeded for tournaments,” said PDS head coach Michael Augsberger, whose program said goodbye to single stars Neha Khandkar and Amy Zhou along with doubles standout Josephine Baranski from a squad that went 9-6 in 2022 and advanced to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public state final last year. more

FANCY FOOTWORK: Princeton Day School girls’ soccer player Adriana Salzano controls the ball in game last season. Senior star Salzano, a Monmouth University commit, figures to be an offensive catalyst for the Panthers this fall. PDS, which defeated Lawrenceville 3-0 last Friday in its season opener as Ella McLaren, Makena Graham, and Salzano each scored goals, plays at Nottingham on September 13, hosts WW/P-North on September 14, and plays at Hightstown on September 18. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Heading into his third season at the helm of the Princeton Day School girls’ soccer team, Chris Pettit believes the program is poised for a major breakthrough.

“We did OK the first year, last year we were much more successful and the aim this year is to be even more successful than last year,” said Pettit. “I have high hopes for this season, we have a lot of returning players. We have grown the program a little bit to go from 17 in my first year to 27 now. It is getting a little bit of a consistency there which I hope will improve because the way we play, the possession style, is not your typical high school style. It takes a little time to get some of those concepts across.”

The Panthers will need that strength in numbers as they are playing a full Colonial Valley Conference schedule for the first time. more

GOING PLACES: Hun School boys’ soccer goalie Diego Pena clears the ball in a game last season. Junior Pena emerged as a star last fall for Hun. The Raiders were slated to start their 2023 season by playing at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (Pa.) on September 12, host Delran High on September 15, and then face the Pingry School on September 17 in the Mainline Jamboree in Downingtown, Pa. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Over the last two years, the Hun School boys’ soccer has been on an upward trajectory, going 10-7 in 2021 and improving to 12-4-2 last fall.

Welcoming back a battle-tested crew of seniors, Hun head coach Pat Quirk believes his squad can continue that trend.

“The senior class has been part of the program for the last two, three years when we did really well in the MAPL league (Mid-Atlantic Prep League) and have been able to have some big wins off some good programs,” said Quirk, whose team tied for the MAPL title last fall with a 4-0-1 league record. “It has definitely given them a lot of confidence.”

Quirk has confidence that his forward unit of junior Luciano Verduci, senior Zachary Stark, junior Toba Olaleye, sophomore Donovan Hayes, sophomore Christian Wolfe, and sophomore Noah Silvestri can produce around the goal. more

CATCHING ON: Princeton High senior receiver Remmick Granozio heads upfield in recent action. Last Saturday, Granozio made three receptions for 41 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown catch, in a losing cause as PHS lost 14-7 to Riverside to move to 1-1. The Tigers will look to get back on the winning track when they host Haddon Township on September 9. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Remmick Granozio dabbled in flag football as a middle schooler, playing in the Princeton Junior Football League.

Once Granozio got to Princeton High in 2020, however, he poured his athletic efforts into basketball, developing into a threat from the perimeter as a sharp-shooting guard.

Heading into his senior year at PHS, Granozio decided to give tackle football a try at the urging of his friends who convinced him to join the Tiger squad.

“Running back Tyler Goldberg reached out and got me to come out here,” said Granozio. “I had focused on basketball; this is my senior year and I wanted to come out here. These guys work super hard every day.”

Impressing the PHS football coaching staff with his work ethic, Granozio has emerged as a key option at wide receiver.

In the Tigers’ season-opening 20-0 win at Lawrence High on August 25, Granozio sparkled in his gridiron debut, making three receptions for 18 yards. more

KNOW HOW: Princeton High girls’ soccer player Holly Howes, left, kicks the ball in a game last year. Senior forward Howes figures to be a go-to finisher for PHS this season. The Tigers open their 2023 season by playing at Allentown on September 7. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

With a number of freshmen and sophomores being pressed into service last fall, the Princeton High girls’ soccer team went through an up-and-down campaign.

PHS got off to an 8-2-2 start but faded down the stretch to end the season with an 8-8-2 record.

Looking ahead to the 2023 season, Tiger head coach Dave Kosa believes that taking those lumps will pay dividends this fall.

“The year of growth hopefully will help us because we had four or five freshmen that started last year for us,” said Kosa whose team kicks off the fall by playing at Allentown on September 7. “We are just hoping that experience will pay off for us this year. We have a lot of talent on the roster but we are still young. It is just a matter of everyone meshing together and understanding their roles.”

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RISING TO THE CHALLENGE: Princeton High boys’ soccer player Nick Matese leaps over a foe to get the ball in 2022 action. Sense defender Matese will be spearheading the PHS back line this fall. The Tigers, who will be guided by new head coach Ryan Walsh after Wayne Sutcliffe stepped down after a legendary 26-year tenure, start their 2023 season by hosting Allentown on September 7. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

With Wayne Sutcliffe having stepped down from coaching Princeton High boys’ soccer team this spring to end a 26-year tenure that featured two state titles, it will be the start of a new era for the program this fall.

But as longtime assistant coach Ryan Walsh succeeds his boss, he vows that things will be pretty much the same around the team. more

HEADS UP: Princeton Day School boys’ soccer player Todd Devin heads the ball in a game last fall. Junior Devin’s skill set will be a big asset this fall for PDS. The Panthers open their 2023 season by playing at Lawrenceville School on September 8. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

With 12 seniors having departed from last season’s squad due to graduation, the Princeton Day School boys’ soccer team will have a radically different look this fall.

While PDS head coach Brian Thomsen will miss the program’s Class of 2023, he is looking forward to seeing the new faces seize opportunity. more

OPENING STATEMENT: Princeton High quarterback Travis Petrone fires a pass last Friday night as PHS played at Lawrence High in the season opener for both teams. Junior Petrone connected on 4 of 8 passes for 59 yards and a touchdown in the contest to help the Tigers prevail 20-0. PHS will look to keep on the winning track when it hosts Riverside on September 2. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

With the Princeton High football team knotted in a scoreless tie at Lawrence High midway through the second quarter last Friday night in the season opener, PHS quarterback Travis Petrone lofted a pass that wobbled towards the end zone.

As the duck fluttered down, Tiger receiver Wyatt Arshan swooped in, snatched the ball out of the air and raced in for a 41-yard touchdown to give PHS a 6-0 lead. more

GOLD RUSH: Princeton High football star Tyler Goldberg looks to elude some tacklers in a game last fall. Senior running back and team captain Goldberg figures to be a key cog in the PHS offense this fall. The Tigers open their 2023 campaign by playing at Lawrence High on August 25. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Undergoing a youth movement by necessity last fall, the Princeton High football team took its lumps as it went 1-9.

Reaping the benefits of getting a slew of freshmen, sophomores, and juniors on the field, PHS enters the 2023 campaign as a battle-tested squad.

“I am seeing somewhat of an experienced team, I do see a big jump,” said Tiger head coach Charlie Gallagher, noting that 67 players showed up for preseason practice this summer, the largest turnout in his tenure guiding the program. “I feel like there are a lot of veterans out there. It is a good thing to have.” more

NICK OF TIME: Nick Taylor makes a point during his tenure as the head coach of the Haverford College men’s lacrosse team. Taylor left Haverford this spring to take the helm of the Princeton Day School boys’ lacrosse program. (Photo by David Sinclair Photography)

By Bill Alden

Upon wrapping up a superb college lacrosse career at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham in 2008, Nick Taylor was planning to leave the game.

“After FDU, I went to American University and earned a master’s degree there,” said Taylor. “I was really intent on taking a stab at the public relations side. I have a degree in public communications.”

But while studying for his master’s degree, Taylor was pulled back into lacrosse, doing some volunteer coaching for the Catholic University men’s program. Realizing that he could make a career out of the game he loves, Taylor ultimately became an assistant coach at Catholic from 2009-12. more

IN FORM: Stephen Baytin of the Nassau Swim Club Lemmings displays his freestyle form in a race this summer. In late July, Baytin came up big at the Princeton Area Swimming and Diving Association (PASDA) championship meet, taking first in the 12U boys’ 50-yard freestyle, first in 50 breaststroke, and first in 100 individual medley. Baytin’s heroics helped the Lemmings take seventh overall at the meet and second among Division 2 teams. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

While the Princeton Area Swimming and Diving Association (PASDA) has shrunk in recent years with such powerhouse teams as the Cranbury Catfish and West Windsor Whalers having folded, the plucky band of the Nassau Swim Club Lemmings has stayed afloat despite limited numbers.

With a squad of around 50 swimmers, the Lemmings went 4-2 in PASDA Division 2 dual meet action this summer and ended up taking seventh overall and second among Division 2 teams at the PASDA championship meet in late July. more

ALEXIS THE GREAT: Community Park Bluefish swim star Alexis Julian displays her breaststroke form in a race this summer. Julian helped the Bluefish place first in the Princeton Area Swimming and Diving Association (PASDA) championship meet in late July. Julian finished first in the girls’ 10U 25-yard freestyle and 100 individual medley and earned the Most Valuable Player award in the age group along with teammate Oceana Hsieh, the first place finisher in the 25 breaststroke and the 25 butterfly. CP rolled to its eighth straight title in the competition, piling up 3,588 points in taking first, more than doubling runner-up Country Pool Club Swim Team (1,485 points). (Photo provided by Mike Uchrin)

By Bill Alden

Things were a little choppy at the beginning of this summer for the Community Park Bluefish swim team.

“We had to overcome some adversity,” said CP Bluefish co-head coach Mike Uchrin. “It was cold at first, and then the sun came out and it was hazy. Then after that we had thunderstorms every day. We had a lot of challenging mental things to overcome at first.” more

GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY: Referee Keith Glock giving instructions during the pregame lineup before the gold medal game at the World Lacrosse Men’s Championship on July 1 as the U.S. faced Canada. Glock, a resident of Lawrenceville and a guidance counselor at Montgomery High, served as the lead official in the contest that was won 10-7 by the U.S.  (Photo provided by Keith Glock)

By Bill Alden

On the afternoon of July 1, Keith Glock was standing on the field at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, Calif., but felt like he was on the top of the world.

That day, Glock was serving as the lead official of the gold medal game at the World Lacrosse Men’s Championship as the U.S. faced Canada. more

SUPPLY AND DEMAND: Troy Jones of Princeton Supply puts up a shot in recent action in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League. Last Wednesday, Jones tallied 20 points with six rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one blocked shot to help Princeton Supply edge LoyalTees 57-54 in game two of the league’s best-of-three championship series to sweep the finals and win the title. Jones, a former Notre Dame High and East Stroudsburg University standout, was named as the Foreal Wooten Playoff MVP. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Although Princeton Supply pulled away to a 66-54 win over a short-handed LoyalTees squad in the opener of the best-of-three championship series in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League, Troy Jones knew that earning a title was still going to be a struggle.

“We just knew that we had to play our game,” said Princeton Supply star guard Jones in assessing the team’s mindset as it came into Game 2 last Wednesday night at the Community Park courts. “We knew it was going to be a way different game than the last game. It was a much tougher game.” more

OUT OF AFRICA: Princeton High alum Paul Mbusa meets up with PHS classmate Emma Rosen in late June at the 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship in San Diego, Calif. Mbusa, a member of the Tiger boys’ lax program for all four years of high school, went on to play club lacrosse at Vanderbilt University. He played for the Uganda squad in the world tournament, producing a career highlight when he scored a goal in a 13-5 loss to France in Pool B play.

By Bill Alden

After getting injured skateboarding as a middle schooler, Paul Mbusa decided it was time to direct his energy elsewhere.

“I said I don’t want to do this anymore,” said Mbusa. “I am going to pick up lacrosse. I picked it up in the eighth grade. I really enjoyed it and I stuck with it.”

Mbusa went on to play for the PHS boys’ lacrosse program from 2009-13 and then competed for the Vanderbilt University men’s club lax team. Taking a hiatus from the sport after college as he got into yoga in recovering from an injury, Mbusa picked up his stick again to play in a men’s league in New York City. more

RAISING KANE: Michael Kane of Princeton Supply looks to unload the ball in recent action in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League. Last Monday night, Kane tallied 16 points to help third-seeded Princeton Supply defeat top-seeded LoyalTees 66-54 in game one of the league’s best-of-three championship series. Game two is slated for Wednesday at 8 p.m. at the Community Park courts with game three, if necessary, to be played Friday evening at CP. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Michael Kane had a bloody nose with gauze stuffed up his right nostril but was all smiles last Monday night after helping third-seeded Princeton Supply defeat top-seeded LoyalTees 66-54 in game one of the league’s best-of-three championship series at the Community Park courts.

With Princeton Supply coming off a 65-30 rout of second-seeded YSU (Young Sports Unlimited) in the league semis last Friday, Kane and his teammates were looking to build on that performance as they faced LoyalTees. more

PROVIDING RELIEF: Tommy Delany fires a pitch this spring in his sophomore season for the University of Pennsylvania baseball team. Former Princeton High standout Delany emerged as a key relief pitcher this spring for the Quakers as they went 34-16, rolling to the Ivy League title and upsets of Auburn and Samford in the NCAA regional before falling twice to Southern Mississippi to get knocked out of the double-elimination competition. Delany went 1-1 with two saves in 18 appearances, striking out 35 in 30 innings with 14 walks and a 5.10 ERA. He is currently pitching for the Pittsfield (Mass.) Suns in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL) of New England. (Photo by Mike Nance, provided courtesy of Penn Athletics)

By Bill Alden

Mastering his change-up pitch helped Tommy Delany change his fortunes this spring in his sophomore season for the University of Pennsylvania baseball team.

After not getting into one game as a freshman, Delany, a former Princeton High standout, emerged as a key performer out of the bullpen for the Quakers. They went 34-16, rolling to the Ivy League title and upsets of Auburn and Samford in the NCAA regional before falling twice to Southern Mississippi to get knocked out of the double-elimination competition.

“I found out that my changeup was my best pitch; this year I probably threw it 75 percent of the time,” said the 6’0, 160-pound Delany, who went 1-1 with two saves in 18 appearances, striking out 35 in 30 innings with 14 walks and a 5.10 ERA. “It was crazy — my coach liked it too, obviously. Basically I worked on my changeup as much as I could. This year, the game plan was just get ahead with the changeup and then throw fastballs and sliders whenever I needed to.”

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CLUB CHAMPIONS: Members of the Princeton High Triathlon Club show off the hardware they earned after winning the high school state championship at the New Jersey State Triathlon earlier this month at Mercer County Park. PHS placed first out 18 teams in the high school competition, compiling a team score of 36 with South Brunswick High coming in second at 63 and Columbia High placing third with 66. (Photo provided courtesy of Shawn Ellwood)

By Bill Alden

It started with a conversation last summer at Mercer County Park and it resulted in a state title earlier this month.

Running into each other at the New Jersey State Triathlon last July at Mercer County Park, Shawn Elwood, who was then entering his freshmen year at Princeton High, and Patrick Remboski, a Princeton Middle School PE/health teacher and assistant PHS soccer and swimming coach, hatched a plan. more

DUNK YOU VERY MUCH: Pat Higgins of YSU (Young Sports Unlimited) dunks the ball in recent action in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League. Last Monday, Higgins tallied 13 points to help second-seeded YSU defeat seventh-seeded SpeedPro 78-52 in a quarterfinal contest. YSU will face third-seeded Princeton Supply, who topped PATH Academy 53-41 in the other quarterfinal on Monday, in the league semis. The other quarterfinals are slated for Wednesday night and pit top-seeded LoyalTees against eighth-seeded Jefferson Plumbing and fourth-seeded and defending champion Majeski Foundation against fifth-seeded AEI. The semifinals are slated for July 28 at the Community Park Courts with the best-of-three championship series starting on July 31 at CP. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Pat Higgins and his teammates on the YSU (Young Sports Unlimited) squad brought a business-like attitude as they faced SpeedPro last Monday night in the quarterfinals of the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League.

“We have got a really unselfish group, we have jelled really well all season,” said Higgins. “There wasn’t really any change — just treat it like we have been playing all year, like any other game.”

Second-seeded YSU got a good game from seventh-seeded SpeedPro in the early stages of the contest as it led by 24-18. But wearing down a shorthanded SpeedPro team which had only six players on hand, YSU built a 37-24 halftime lead and then pulled away to a 78-52 victory.

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MAKING IRISH HISTORY: Chris Fake brings the ball upfield in a game this spring for the Notre Dame men’s lacrosse team. Fake, a former Hun School standout, joined Notre Dame as a grad student this year and made the most out of his final college season, solidifying the back line and helping the Fighting Irish win their first-ever national title. In 2018, he helped the Yale University men’s lacrosse team win its first NCAA title in his freshman campaign. Moving up to the professional ranks, Fake is currently playing for the Waterdogs in the Premier Lacrosse League. (Photo provided courtesy of Notre Dame Athletics)

By Bill Alden

In 2018, Chris Fake produced a stellar debut campaign for the Yale University men’s lacrosse team, emerging as All-American defender for the Bulldogs who went on to win the program’s first NCAA title.

This past spring, Fake, a former Hun School standout, joined the Notre Dame men’s lax program as a grad student and made the most out of his final college season, solidifying the back line and helping the Fighting Irish win their first-ever national title.

For Fake, helping a second program win its first national title was a great way to culminate his college career. more

LION-HEARTED: Ali Surace marks a foe this spring in her debut season for the Columbia University women’s lacrosse team. Surace, a former Princeton Day School soccer and lax standout, emerged as a key defender for Columbia. Playing in all 15 games for the Lions, starting nine, Surace picked up seven ground balls and had six caused turnovers. (Photo provided courtesy of Columbia Athletics)

By Bill Alden

Ali Surace knows Princeton University like the back of her hand, but when it came time to choose a college last year, she knew it was time to go elsewhere. more