DAZZLING DEBUT: Princeton Day School boys’ tennis player Heyang Li smacks a forehand last week at the Mercer County Tournament. Sophomore star Li made a memorable debut at the MCT, upsetting defending county and state champion Jonathan Gu of Princeton High in the final to win the title at first singles. Li’s heroics helped PDS finish third in the team standings at the event. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Heyang Li opted not to play for the Princeton Day School boys’ tennis team last spring as a freshman so he could focus on USTA tournaments.

Coming into 2023, Li took some advice to heart and decided to join the PDS squad.

“One of my private coaches, Glenn Michibata, helped convince me to play high school tennis because he thought it was really fun,” said Li. “It is really fun playing with all of these guys.”

Last week, Li had a lot of fun as he won the first singles title at the Mercer County Tournament, upsetting defending county and state champion Jonathan Gu of Princeton High 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in the final. more

KAT QUICK: Hun School softball player Kat Xiong makes contact in recent action. Senior center fielder Xiong has been starring with her bat and glove as Hun has gotten off to a 12-0 start. In upcoming action, the Raiders play at Robbinsville High on May 4 and at the Blair Academy on May 6 before hosting the Peddie School on May 9. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Kat Xiong got off to a rough start as the Hun School softball team hosted South Hunterdon last Thursday.

Senior star center fielder Xiong uncharacteristically struck out looking as she batted second in the bottom of the first inning.

Displaying her poise, Xiong didn’t let that disappointing at-bat get her down.

“I just cleared my head and forgot about it,” said Xiong. “It was just a fluke, it was next one.” more

ALL IN: Stuart County Day School lacrosse player Allison Lee heads upfield in a 2022 game. Sophomore star midfielder Lee has sparked the Stuart attack this spring, tallying 61 goals through 11 games to rank in the top 10 in goals in New Jersey. The Tartans, who lost 16-13 to Pennington last Monday in moving to 2-9, host Steinert on May 6 and then start play in the Mercer County Tournament on May 8. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Allison Lee is piling up some impressive stats this spring for the Stuart County Day School lacrosse team.

Talented sophomore midfielder Lee tallied 51 goals through Stuart’s first nine games, the seventh most goals in the state.

But Lee will tell you that her prolific scoring is the product of a group effort rather than any individual brilliance on her part.

“I could not have done it without this team, they have always been supporting me and have been with me every step of the way,” said Lee, after scoring four goals in an 11-8 loss to Steinert last Wednesday evening under the lights at Hamilton Veterans Park.  more

HAPPY RETURN: Princeton High girls’ lacrosse player Sarah Henderson celebrates after a goal in recent action. Junior attacker Henderson, who has returned to action this spring after being sidelined by a knee injury last season, has emerged as a key offensive weapon for the Tigers. Last Wednesday, Henderson tallied two goals and three assists to help PHS defeat Hopewell Valley 18-14. The Tigers, who lost 13-4 to Notre Dame last Thursday to move to 4-2, hosts Lawrence High on April 26, play at Lawrenceville School on April 28, and then host WW/P-North on May 1. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

For Sarah Henderson, getting on the field this year for the Princeton High girls’ lacrosse team required some grit and persistence.

Injuring her right knee in August, 2021, Henderson was sidelined last spring as she underwent a grueling and painstaking rehab process.

Returning to action for the 2023 campaign, junior attacker Henderson has quickly established herself as a key offensive weapon for the Tigers. more

FINISHING KICK: Princeton High boys’ distance running star Andrew Kenny, right, edges Shaurya Srivastava of WW/P-South at the Mercer County cross country championship meet in 2021. Last Saturday, senior star Kenny helped the PHS distance medley relay quartet place first at the Mercer County Relays. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Justin Feil

Andrew Kenny helped the Princeton High boys’ distance medley relay win at the Mercer Count Relays last Saturday, thrilled to finally be contributing again to the Tiger squad.

It’s something that the PHS senior has been missing the most while sidelined for the cross country and indoor track and field seasons due to a hip injury. more

ON THE BALL: Princeton Day School baseball shortstop Ryan Vandal scoops up a grounder in recent action. Senior star Vandal has been a bright spot for PDS this spring. The Panthers, who fell 18-0 to Princeton High last Monday to move to 0-11, host the Blair Academy on April 26 before playing at the Pennington School on April 27. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Ryan Vandal got things started on the right note for the Princeton Day School baseball team as it hosted South Hunterdon last Thursday.

Leadoff hitter Vandal drew a walk in the bottom of the first inning, stole a base and came around to score as PDS as jumped out to a 1-0 lead.

“We have been starting to play some better baseball,” said senior shortstop Vandal. “We had a lead against Peddie, that was a shootout (an 18-15 loss on April 14), it was a football score. We are getting some leads. We are starting to play a lot better than at the start of the year.” more

COMING THROUGH: Princeton High boys’ lacrosse player Brendan Beatty heads to goal in a game earlier this season. Sophomore midfielder Beatty tallied five goals, including the game-winner, as PHS edged Notre Dame 13-12 last week. The Tigers, who fell 12-9 to Red Bank Regional last Saturday to move to 3-2, host Hightstown on April 20 and play at WW/P-South on April 25. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Brendan Beatty took matters into his hands for the Princeton High boys’ lacrosse team as it hosted Notre Dame last week in a Colonial Valley Conference showdown.

With the rivals knotted in an 11-11 deadlock midway through the fourth quarter of the April 11 contest, PHS sophomore midfielder Beatty tallied two goals down the stretch to help the Tigers pull out a dramatic 13-12 win.

“I didn’t get nervous, I knew we were going to come out gritty to get the goals to win in the fourth quarter,” said Beatty. “I knew our defense was going to step up, I knew we were going to get the ground balls and the face-offs. That is what happened and that is how we won.”

Beatty notched the go-ahead goal with 3:39 left in the fourth quarter. more

By Bill Alden

Having lost 14 seniors to graduation in 2022, the Princeton High baseball team was bound to take its lumps this spring.

Last Wednesday, PHS ran into a buzz saw as it fell 16-0 to an undefeated, battle-tested Cinnaminson squad.

Tiger head coach Dom Capuano acknowledged that the contest turned into a bit of a mismatch for his young team.

“I feel like this was the first game that we truly lost and just got beat,” said Capuano. “It is a lot easier to accept, they are a good team. They are an old team with 10 seniors. We threw strikes, they just hit the ball. It is what it is. We didn’t beat ourselves, so we take that away from this.”

While disappointed, Capuano believes that PHS can get into a groove.

“It is still early,” said Capuano, who got hits from Nick Akey, Jack Durbin, and Jon Tao in the loss to Cinnaminson. more

FIRST IN HIS CLASS: Princeton High boys’ tennis player Jonathan Gu prepares to hit a backhand in a match last spring. Senior first singles star Gu, who won the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) boys’ singles title last year, is primed for a big final campaign for PHS. The Tigers, who improved to 4-0 with a 5-0 win over Lawrence High last Thursday, host WW/P-North on April 20 before competing in the Mercer County Tournament on April 24 and 26 at Mercer County Park. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

There is plenty of optimism around the Princeton High boys’ tennis team as it has started its 2023 season.

“I think they realize that we have the potential to have a fantastic year — there are a lot of strengths in our singles lineup and the talent in the doubles as well,” said PHS head coach Sarah Hibbert, whose team improved to 4-0 with a 5-0 win over Lawrence High last Thursday and hosts WW/P-North on April 20 before competing in the Mercer County Tournament on April 24 and 26 at Mercer County Park.

“The challenge as always is putting together the doubles teams to support the singles players. We expect those players to hold their own quite a lot of the season; we want to have the doubles teams there to back them up.” more

TOUGH TO STOP: Princeton Day School boys’ lacrosse player Sebastian Rzeczycki, left, controls the ball in a 2022 game. Last Friday, junior star Rzeczycki tallied two goals and six assists as PDS defeated George School (Pa.) 14-1. The Panthers, who moved to 4-1 with a 7-6 loss to Lenape last Monday, host Morristown Beard on April 19 in the opening round of the Prep B state tournament and Delaware Valley on April 20 before playing at St. Peter’s Prep on April 24. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Sebastian Rzeczycki and his teammates on the Princeton Day School boys’ lacrosse team were ready to shine as they hosted George School (Pa.) in a Friday night lights clash.

“It was a great environment,” said PDS junior Rzeczycki of the night game last Friday which culminated Spring weekend festivities. “Even when we walking out, I saw so many people around the field. It was amazing.”

Rzeczycki gave those people plenty to cheer about right from the start, tallying a goal and assisting on a second score as the Panthers jumped out to a 2-0 lead. more

By Bill Alden

Having faced a gauntlet of tough foes over the first two weeks of the spring, the Princeton Day School boys’ tennis team has proven that it is ready for the challenges ahead.

“I love having a tough schedule so there aren’t any surprises when you get to the tournaments,” said PDS head coach Michael Augsberger, whose team has started 6-1 with wins over such formidable squads as Haddonfield, Germantown Academy (Pa.), Rutgers Prep, Hun, and Peddie. “The tournaments are what matter; we have time to fine-tune things. We are really proud of what the guys have accomplished, particularly with the Germantown match.”

Augsberger believes that sophomore Heyang Li can accomplish a lot this spring at first singles. more

PUTTING IT TOGETHER: Princeton Day School girls’ lacrosse player Tessa Caputo, left, looks to unload the ball in recent action. Last Friday, junior star Caputo rallied five goals and two assists to help PDS edge Hun 16-14. The Panthers, who topped Somerville 12-8 last Saturday in improving to 3-2, host Allentown on April 20. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Tessa Caputo had a large ice pack wrapped around her right leg last Friday evening, but she was smiling through the pain after helping the Princeton Day School girls’ lacrosse team edge Hun 16-14.

Having been unable to play when the local rivals met last year due to illness and Hun prevailed 10-6, PDS junior midfielder Caputo was thrilled to come up big as the Panthers avenged that defeat.

“Losing that game last year and watching that happen was devastating and I think that really fueled us today,” said Caputo, who tallied seven points on five goals and two assists in the win. “We were so excited for this game, we really wanted it. In the end, it came down to who wanted it more and I think we really wanted it.” more

IN CONTACT: Hun School baseball player Tyler Tucker hits the ball in a 2022 game. Last Thursday, Tucker went 1 for 3 with one RBI in a losing cause as Hun fell 23-7 to Bergen Catholic. The Raiders, who moved to 5-4 with the setback, play at the Hill School (Pa.) on April 21, host the Blair Academy on April 22, and Allentown on April 24 and then play at the Lawrenceville School on April 25. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

In 2022, the Hun School baseball team ended April with a 12-1 record on the way to going 20-4 and winning the program’s first-ever Mercer County Tournament title.

With a stellar group of seniors having departed after driving that success, Hun figured to experience some growing pains this spring as it went with several new faces.

Last Thursday, the Raiders experienced a painful defeat as they fell 23-7 to Bergen Catholic. Hun trailed 8-0 after the first inning and found itself down 18-0 in the third inning before scoring four runs in the bottom of the third and three in the fourth.

“The message is we still have the whole season ahead of us — we have three things, we have a Mercer County Tournament, we have a Prep A tournament, and we have our MAPL (Mid-Atlantic Prep League) schedule, so everything is ahead of us,” said Hun head coach Tom Monfiletto, whose squad moved to 5-4 with the defeat. more

MAC ATTACK: Princeton University women’s lacrosse player Jami MacDonald, left, fires a shot in recent action. Last Saturday, freshmen attacker MacDonald tallied a game-high four goals with one assist to help Princeton defeat Columbia 19-4. The No. 22 Tigers, now 5-5 overall and 2-1 Ivy League, host No. 11 Loyola on April 12 and Brown on April 15. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

For Jami MacDonald, seeing her older brother, Mikey, play for the Princeton University men’s lacrosse team in 2012 changed the course of her life.

“I have wanted to play here since his first game,” said MacDonald of her brother, a 2015 Princeton alum who scored 208 points in his Tiger career on 132 goals and 76 assists and was the Ivy League Co-Player of the year as a senior. “I was here when I was about 7 years old, it was great. After watching my brother play, this has been a dream of mine.”

That dream is coming true for MacDonald this spring as she has come to Princeton and joined its women’s lax team, emerging as a go-to scorer in her debut campaign for the Tigers.

Last Saturday, freshman attacker MacDonald tallied a game-high four goals along with one assist to help Princeton cruise to a 19-4 win over Columbia before 816 at Class of 1952 Stadium as it improved to 5-5 overall and 2-1 Ivy. more

By Bill Alden

For the Princeton University men’s heavyweight rowing team, its approach to the spring season comes down to a basic principle.

“Straight up, the one word that describes it is consistency,” said Princeton head coach Greg Hughes. “It is consistency as an individual, it is consistency as a whole team.”

So far, Princeton has displayed that consistency, as its varsity 8 opened the season on March 29 by topping Drexel, Temple, and Georgetown. The Tiger top boat covered the 2,000-meter course on Lake Carnegie in a time of 5:48.6 with Drexel taking second in 6:00.2, Temple coming in third at 6:01.0, and Georgetown fourth in 6:05.1.

A week later, the Princeton varsity 8 produced a dominant performance in topping Navy to earn the Navy-Princeton Cup. Princeton’s top boat finished the 2,000-meter course at 5:34.1 with Navy coming in at 5:56.4. more

IN GOOD HANDS: Princeton High softball catcher Clare Johnson scoops up a pitch in a game earlier this season. Senior star Johnson has been leading PHS with her glove and bat in her final campaign for the program. The Tigers, who fell 12-1 to WW/P-North last Thursday to move to 0-3, play at Lawrence High on April 14 and at Notre Dame on April 17. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

As a three-year starting catcher for the Princeton High softball team, Clare Johnson is looking to impart some wisdom to the squad’s younger players.

“I am a captain this year, I am really excited to just step up and help these girls,” said senior Johnson, whose freshman season in 2020 was canceled due to the global pandemic. “It is my last year in the program.”

Johnson is determined to make an impact in the field and at the bat in her final campaign for the Tigers.

“I have worked on becoming more confident, definitely commanding the field and knowing what to call,” said Johnson, who is heading to the College of William and Mary and will not be playing softball at the college level. “It helps all of the rest of the girls when we are talking a lot. At bat, I am focused on finding those pitches to hit, being very patient in the box, knowing what I like.” more

BRINGING IT ON: Princeton Day School boys’ lacrosse player Harry Bernardi brings the ball up the field in a game last year. Senior attacker Bernardi chipped in an assist as PDS defeated Blair 13-5 in its season opener on April 4. PDS, who topped Pennington 12-5 last Thursday to improve to 2-0, hosts George School (Pa.) on April 14 before playing at Lenape High on April 17. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Coming into this spring, the Princeton Day School boys’ lacrosse team was hungry to get back on the winning track after a disappointing 2022 campaign that saw it go 6-11.

“We are all playing and coaching with a chip on our shoulder,” said PDS head coach Joe Moore, who in his last year at the helm of program, having decided to step back to devote more time to his job at Centercourt and his young family. “We had a salty taste in our mouth at the end of last year and we are taking that with us this year.”

In Moore’s view, the squad’s experience gives it the foundation to have a big year in 2023.  more

SHOOTING STAR: Hun School boys’ lacrosse player Brendan Marino heads to goal in a 2022 game. Last Thursday, junior attackman Marino tallied four goals to help Hun defeat Hillsborough High 15-6. The Raiders, who improved to 1-1 with the win, will be playing at Haddonfield on April 13, at the Peddie School on April 15, and at Notre Dame on April 17. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

For Brendan Marino, a native of Peterborough, Ontario, his athletic versatility is a product of his Canadian upbringing.

This winter, junior Marino starred on the ice for the Hun School hockey team, tallying 19 points on 11 goals and eight assists. Taking his athleticism to the lacrosse field in the spring, Marino had developed into the key attackman for the Raiders.

“My whole life I have played both, hockey is really big in Canada and then it is lacrosse in the summer,” said Marino. “I go from one sport to the next. I like it because you get to focus on hockey and then play lacrosse. It is a bit of balance.”

Last Thursday as Hun hosted Hillsborough, Marino played very well, tallying four goals to help Hun post a 15-6 win and bounce back from a 24-6 loss to the Lawrenceville School a day earlier in its season opener. more