ON POINT: Princeton High boys’ basketball player Sam Serxner looks to pass the ball last Friday night as PHS opened the season against visiting WW/P-S. Senior point guard Serxner scored a team-high 17 points to help PHS prevail 57-41 in the debut for new head coach Pat Noone. The Little Tigers host Nottingham on December 22. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

With new coach Pat Noone taking the helm of the Princeton High boys’ hoops program, the intensity level has been racheted up. more

GETTING AFTER IT: Princeton High girls’ hockey player Alexa Zammit heads up the ice in a game last season. Junior defenseman and assistant captain Zammit has tallied a goal and an assist so far this season as PHS has gotten off to a 0-2 start, falling 7-4 to Pingry in its opener on December 13 and then losing 9-3 to Princeton Day School a day later. The Little Tigers play at Mater Dei on December 22 before going on holiday break. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Although his Princeton High girls’ hockey team lost its first two games this winter, Christian Herzog has seen some encouraging signs. more

STRONG COFFEY: Princeton Day School boys’ hockey player Tyler Coffey heads up ice in game last season. Over the weekend, junior forward Coffey starred as PDS won the championship at its 47th annual Harry Rulon-Miller ’51 Invitational. On Friday, Coffey scored three goals to help PDS defeat Rye Country Day (N.Y.) 8-1 in an opening round contest. A day later, Coffey chipped in two assists as the Panthers topped Chatham High 4-0 in the championship game. PDS, which improved to 6-3-1 with the win over Chatham, was slated to play at Don Bosco on December 20 before taking a holiday hiatus. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Having missed some games earlier this season with a leg injury, Tyler Coffey made up for lost time last weekend as the Princeton Day School boys’ hockey team hosted its 47th annual Harry Rulon-Miller ’51 Invitational. more

IN CONTROL: Princeton Day School girls’ hockey player Kristi Serafin controls the puck in recent action. Last weekend, senior captain and star defenseman Serafin starred as PDS won its Harry Rulon-Miller ’51 Invitational. On Friday, Serafin tallied a goal and two assists to help PDS defeat Summit 13-4 in an opening round game. A day later, Serafin chipped in two assists as the Panthers topped Rye Country Day (N.Y.) 6-1 in the championship game. PDS, now 5-1, is next in action when it hosts Wyoming Seminary (Pa.) on January 4. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Kristi Serafin and her teammates on the Princeton Day School girls’ hockey team were determined to give a little more at both ends of the ice as they hosted Rye Country Day (N.Y.) in the championship game of the Harry Rulon-Miller ’51 Invitational. more

KEEPING UP WITH JONES: Hun School girls’ basketball player Jada Jones puts up a shot in a game earlier this season. The addition of sophomore transfer Jones has helped the Raiders get off to a 2-4 start, already doubling last year’s win total when they went 1-22. Hun is next in action when it plays at Princeton Day School on January 5. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

For many basketball teams, getting off to a 2-4 start would be a cause for concern. more

LEADING THE WAY: Stuart Country Day School basketball player Maddie Michaels drives to the hoop in recent action. Last Thursday against Princeton Day School, junior forward and team captain Michaels scored eight points to help Stuart prevail 62-32. The Tartans, who improved to 7-0 with a 52-33 win over Manville last Monday, are next in action when they host their Stuart Invitational on December 27, 28, and 30. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Hosting its Great Road rival Princeton Day School last Thursday, the Stuart Country Day basketball team had plenty of reason to be fired up. more

ROCK AND ROLL: Princeton High boy’ hockey player Rocco Salvato heads up the ice last Monday as PHS played Hopewell Valley. Freshman Salvato contributed an assist to help the Little Tigers prevail 4-0 and improve to 5-0-1. PHS will look to keep on the winning track when it plays at Pennington on December 14 and at Monroe on December 16 before hosting Wall on December 22. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Rocco Salvato is only a freshman but he has been thrust into a key role for the Princeton High boys’ hockey team this winter. more

MAKING A GRAB: Princeton High girls’ basketball player Jamaica Ponder grabs a rebound in action last season. PHS will be looking for senior guard Ponder to provide scrappy play again this winter. The Little Tigers tip-off the 2016-17 season by playing at WW/P-S in their first game under new head coach Steve Hennessy. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Steve Hennessy has proven to be a man for all seasons when it comes to coaching. more

MIGHTY MAC: Princeton Day School boys’ basketball star John MacArthur makes a pass in a game last season. Senior forward MacArthur’s emergence as a go-to scorer has helped PDS get off to a 5-0 start this winter. The Panthers are next in action when they compete in the Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (Pa.) Tournament from December 16-18. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

John McArthur was having a relatively quiet game through three quarters as the Princeton Day School boys’ basketball team hosted Abington Friends last Thursday in its home opener. more

After falling 62-61 to Lawrenceville School in the semifinals of the Peddie School Invitational Tournament (PSIT) on Saturday, the Hun School boys’ basketball team found itself in another nailbiter a day later as it faced Gilman School (Md.) in the third-place game of the tournament.

Having lost three games by a total of five points already this season, Hun picked up the intensity at both ends of the court to pull out a 67-66 win over the Greyhounds in a game that was tied at 50-50 entering the fourth quarter. more

COMING THROUGH: Princeton Day School girls’ basketball player Brooke Smukler drives through two defenders in recent action. Last Saturday, sophomore guard Smukler scored nine points to help PDS defeat the George School (Pa.) 42-26 and improve to 2-2. The Panthers play at Stuart Country Day on December 15. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Although the Princeton Day School girls’ basketball team doesn’t have a player taller than 5’9 on its roster this season, Kamau Bailey believes the squad can still do big things. more

CHAMPIONSHIP RUN: Princeton High boys’ cross country runner Alex Roth heads to the finish line in a 2015 race. This fall, senior star Roth set the pace as PHS produced a season for the ages, winning the Mercer County Championship, the Central Jersey Group 4 sectional meet, the state Group 4 meet, and the Meet of Champions (MOC). It was the first-ever MOC team title for the Little Tigers and just the second ever for a Mercer County school (WW/P-N boys in 2008). Roth, for his part, placed first individually at the county meet, fourth at the Sectionals, second at the Group meet, and third at the MOC. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Coming into this fall, Alex Roth wasn’t satisfied with his career for the Princeton High boys’ cross country team. more

As the Princeton High boys’ swimming team entered the 400-yard freestyle relay against visiting Notre Dame last Thursday, it had no chance to win the meet.

“I looked at them and said I don’t care what the score is, they may have already won by now but the meet is not over and so we finish that relay and go out there and win,” said PHS head coach Carly Misiewicz.

The quartet of senior Alex Petruso, freshman Jeshurun Reyen, senior Will Kinney, and junior Oliver Hunsbedt followed their coach’s instructions to a tee, coming from behind in thrilling fashion to win the race with the crowd at the John Witherspoon pool roaring in appreciation. more

MAKING WAVES: Princeton High girls’ swimmer Melinda Tang shows her form in a freestyle race last season. Last Thursday, senior star Tang won the 200-yard and 500 freestyle races as PHS fell 97-72 to Notre Dame to move to 0-2. In upcoming action, the Little Tigers host Nottingham on December 8 and then swim at WW/P-N on December 13. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Months before the season even started, the Princeton High girls’ swimming team suffered a major loss as superstar and state individual champion Abbey Berloco opted to transfer to Notre Dame for the last two years of her high school career. more

BOUNCING BACK: Hun School girls’ basketball player Leah Sutphen heads to the basket in a game last season. Sophomore forward Sutphen figures to be a key weapon in the front court for the Raiders this winter as they look to bounce back from going 1-22 last year. Last Friday, Sutphen scored six points in a losing cause as Hun fell 54-46 to Friends Central (Pa.) The Raiders, who moved to 1-1 with the defeat, host Agnes Irwin School (Pa.) on December 8 and the Baldwin School (Pa.) on December 10. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Having suffered through a rough winter last year with a depleted squad, an influx of new faces has lifted the mood around the Hun School girls’ basketball team. more

IN PLAY: Princeton High boys’ hockey player Justin Joyce heads up the ice last winter. On Monday, junior forward Joyce contributed a goal as PHS rolled to a 10-2 win over Nottingham in its season opener. The Little Tigers will look to keep on the winning track when they face Lawrence High on December 5 at Mercer County Park. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Terence Miller has added reason to hope that this winter will be memorable for the Princeton High boys’ hockey team. more

MAKING A JUMP: Princeton Day School boys’ basketball star Chase Lewis puts up a jumper in the state Prep B title game last season. PDS topped Morristown-Beard in the championship contest to earn its first state title since winning the Prep A crown in 1999. Senior guard Lewis and the Panthers will begin their quest for another title campaign when they open their 2016-17 season by playing at the Solebury School (Pa.) tournament on December 2-3. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Winning a state Prep B title last winter has the Princeton Day School boys’ basketball team hungry for more as it heads into the 2016-17 campaign. more

READY TO ROLL: Princeton Day School boys’ hockey player Nic Petruolo controls the puck in a game last season. PDS is expecting junior defenseman Petruolo to be a key performer this winter. The Panthers were slated to get their 2016-17 season underway by hosting Bishop Eustace on November 29 and playing at Seton Hall on November 30. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Last winter, the Princeton Day School boys’ hockey team produced one of the best turnaround stories of the season, going 15-6-3 after winning just three games the year before. more

ON BOARD: Princeton Day School girls’ hockey player Julie David goes after the puck along the boards in action last season. Senior forward David figures to add depth and experience to the Panther offense this winter. PDS opens its 2016-17 season by hosting Pingry on December 1. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

There is a buzz surrounding the Princeton Day School athletics program these days in the wake of a successful fall that saw the PDS boys’ soccer, girls’ soccer, and field hockey teams all win state Prep B titles. more

LOCKED IN: Princeton University women’s hockey player Carly Bullock, right, battles for the puck in recent action. Last Friday, freshman forward Bullock scored the first goal as Princeton rolled to a 7-2 win over No. 5 and previously undefeated Colgate. A day later, she tallied a goal in a losing cause as the Tigers fell 2-1 to Cornell. Princeton, now 5-4-1 overall and 3-4-1 ECAC Hockey, plays a two-game set at Boston University on November 25 and 26. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Carly Bullock established herself as a prolific scorer in the highly competitive world of Minnesota high school girls’ hockey, tallying 278 points on 186 goals and 92 assists in her career for the Blake School in Minneapolis. more

NET GAIN: Members of the Princeton High girls’ volleyball team were all smiles as they posed for a team shot earlier this fall. PHS made big strides this season, posting a 17-5 record after going 4-12 in 2015. The Little Tigers won the Spiketoberfest WJIVL (West Jersey Interscholastic Volleyball League) tourney and made its first ever experience in the public state tournament along the way. Pictured in the front row, kneeling from left to right, are Kim Cheng, Nicole Barrales, Annie Sullivan-Crowley, Rachel Cheng. In the middle row, from left, are Siyang Liu, Natalia Drobnjak, Amanda Rubin, and Alexandra Garthe. In the back row, from left, are head coach Patty Manhart, Lucia Firbas, Alexandra Colón, Nancy Gray, Anna Cao, Noa Levy, Gill Hauschild, Sara Vigiano, and assistant coach Erin Gannon.

Patty Manhart was satisfied to see her Princeton High girls’ volleyball team make incremental progress in its first two seasons as a varsity program. more