Despite this year’s circumstances, the Boys’ Ice Hockey team is excited for the upcoming season. Led by Eric Bush (VI), Jared Kordonsky (VI), and Peter Korn (VI), the team has high expectations for their performance. One of their top priorities is to place highly in the Skyland Conference. “We gained a lot of momentum over the past few years, and we hope to keep it alive and live up to this year’s expectations,” Jacob Morin (VI) said.
Although the team has been presented with obstacles due to COVID-19, they are confident in their ability to overcome these difficulties. Morin commented, “We must adapt our lifestyles without changing our playstyle” and that they hope to potentially reach even greater heights than before. With their strong work ethic and positive outlook, the team looks forward to another promising season.
The boys’ swimming team is entering this season determined to make the most out of a shortened schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic. Mr. Steve Droste has been the head coach of the team for many years, but will not be able to participate this year; as a result, Coach Deirdre O’Mara and captains Jerry O’Mara (VI), Matt Fallon (VI), and Joseph Castagno (VI) will lead the team through this unique season.
The season will begin on February 1st and needless to say, “the practices will be very different,” according to Coach O’Mara. There will be “no more than four socially-distant swimmers per lane,” which will pose a challenge to provide all swimmers with enough practice time.
However, the team has come together in the face of such unfavorable conditions and agreed on their main goal this year: to have “three meets… against Ridge, Christian Brothers Academy, and Bridgewater.” Despite the absence of state competitions, the team hopes to foster a positive environment, stay safe, and have a strong season.
During quarantine, many used their time to learn a new skill, spend time with their families, binge watch Netflix shows, cook, play video games, take a class online, or catch up on reading. Across the country, millions of Americans also seized this opportunity to incorporate exercise into their daily routines. However, due to lockdown and social distancing guidelines, gyms were shut down for around six months. People had to improvise by building gyms at home. Dumbbells, kettlebells, weights, treadmills, Peloton bikes, gym machines, bars, and all sorts of fitness equipment were sold out across major retailers and back-ordered for months as Americans flocked to buy any gym equipment they could get their hands on. For those who did not have thousands of dollars to drop on crafting elaborate gyms, spending time outdoors was a free and refreshing alternative.
Families went on daily strolls down the block or on bike rides through the neighborhood. These short jogs and walks helped people incorporate some structure into their lives and avoid the monotony of quarantined life. On YouTube and Instagram, free, at-home, no-equipment workout challenges from fitness influencers such as Chloe Ting, Pamela Reif, and Blogilates promised transformations such as “losing inches off your waist”, or “gaining abs in two weeks”. Those who participated were encouraged to post their progress on TikTok and Instagram as inspiration for others to follow and join.
Even though COVID-19 has entirely altered daily lives, the resilience that Americans have shown in their determination to stay fit is admirable. No matter the method of exercise, they can proudly say that they lived and survived to tell the tale of being in a global pandemic.
The boys’ soccer team has started the season off strong, winning two of their first three matches this year. Ranked sixth in the state, Big Blue looks to have yet another impressive season. Their main goals are to finish the season undefeated and cement their position as a top-five ranked team. The team also seeks revenge against Gill St. Bernard’s this postseason after suffering a 2-1 loss to the Knights on October 7. Fueled by a fiery and determined mindset, their motto this year is “humble and hungry.”
The team currently has a 7-1 record and looks to build upon their early success. On Saturday, October 10, Pingry defeated fifth-ranked Hunterdon Central 3-2 with a last-minute overtime goal by Daniel Ittycheria (V). This win brought a moment of déjà vu, as last year, Pingry also defeated Hunterdon Central in overtime, but with a successful penalty kick instead.
“We all showed grit in overtime against Hunterdon and couldn’t be more excited to see what else this team shows,” Daniel Ittycheria said. “Devan Lalla (V) deserves more credit than me for the game-winning goal because he was able to beat the keeper and win the header for me to tap the ball in the goal easily.”
The boys look to continue their success this season at their next game against Watchung Hills on October 14.
Coming off of a season filled with unexpected obstacles last year, the Boys’ Cross Country Team has hit the ground running regardless. Led by captains Henry Wood (VI) and Sahdev Patel (VI), with the support of coaches Mr. Matt Horesta and Mr. Tim Lear ‘92, the team is looking for key victories at some of their toughest invitationals.
With five new freshmen entering the team this year, Wood is excited that the “new people show promise,” as the team is the “strongest we’ve had in a long time.” Mr. Horesta added that the freshmen “will hopefully fit nicely with the solid group we had last year, who are now sophomores.” When asked about the team’s season thus far, Mr. Horesta said the “season is off to a great start;” he is eager to see the team’s successes this year. Finally, he notes that after “looking at time trials and workouts, the team is ready to match some of the best Pingry teams we’ve ever had.”
Amid the confusion and uncertainty that has consumed high school sports, the Pingry girls’ tennis team is unfazed. With a perfect record of 10-0-0, the team is cruising through its matches, looking to cling on for an undefeated season.
Leading the team is captain Caeley Feeney (VI), who is staying positive despite the compromises the team has had to make. Naturally, news of the team’s limited 12-match season disappointed the team, particularly with the cancellation of many larger tournaments including Counties or Preps. “I feel like our team is so strong this year and we could have gone really far,” Feeney said. Nonetheless, she and the team are grateful for their chance to play at all and are making the best of their remaining practices.
If anything, “quarantine and remote learning has made me appreciate the season so much more. I will not take any matches for granted,” Feeney promised. As the team approaches the latter half of its matches, Pingry girls’ tennis is looking ahead to a promising second half of their season.
The boys’ varsity football team has started the season off very strong despite the challenges they have faced due to COVID-19 and a significantly shortened preseason. This year’s Big Blue Football team has an incredibly talented and physical lineup with a lot of size up front.
Captain Thomas Robertozzi (VI) hopes to keep the momentum going. He is determined to pick up from where he left off last year after returning from an offseason injury.
“As a captain of the football team, my biggest role is to make sure we all stay together and support each other … Since freshman year, I have always wanted to have a winning football season, but injuries have gotten in our way throughout these last two years. This year though, I feel the season is going to be a lot different than the others and that we are going to leave Pingry Football on a high note.”
Robertozzi is also quite fond of Coach Christopher Shilts and wants to have a “tremendous year for him because he has always been one of my biggest supporters and by my side.” Already turning his word into action, he was nominated for his performance against Newark Academy where he rushed for 147 yards and three touchdowns.
The team has already shown many strides and looks to finish the season with a winning record for the first time in recent years. They are in search of their third consecutive win against MKA this Saturday, October 17.
Note: This article was written before the transition to remote school, and the subsequent cancellation of spring athletics around the country. We have decided to publish this article because it is still worth recognizing the talent of our student athletes.
As spring begins, sports teams are gearing up for the new season. Coming off a successful campaign in 2019 and led by a talented senior class, Big Blue is likely to continue its excellence on the playing fields this spring.
Boys’ lacrosse is coming off a 9-8 overall record, having gone 3-1 in Skyland Conference play. Last year the team was in transition, as they were accustomed to competing for the Non-Public State Championship, but this spring will be no transition season. The team is led by senior captains Kalman Kraham, Ben Peacock, and Matt Korth. Kraham, a Lafayette Lacrosse recruit and all-state player, has tallied 103 goals and 33 assists in the last three years. “This year I am excited for the opportunity to get back on top, all the guys around me have been working really hard and as a captain I just want to make everyone better around me,” Kraham said.
Girls’ lacrosse is headed into the spring coming off an extremely successful campaign in 2019. The team won its second straight Central Jersey, Group 1 Sectional title. This spring, Girls’ Lacrosse Coach and Director of Athletics, Carter Abbott, is at the helm of what looks like another very capable roster. The team is led by a pair of four year starters: University of Pennsylvania commit Alyson Feeley (VI) and Stanford commit Emma Capanna (VI). “I am really looking forward to getting back with the girls for my last season, we want to get the three-peat in the State Sectional,” Capanna said. Last year, the girls fell just short of the Somerset County title. “We’ve been in the county finals the last few years but this time around I want to show up and win counties. We are ready,” Capanna remarked.
The baseball team is entering its second season with Coach Ross in the lead. Last year, the team played one of the toughest schedules in the state and finished 7-10. However, the team is still optimistic for this season, led by four-year starting short-stop and Tufts recruit Matt Lee (VI). “Of course the goal is winning a county championship, but in my last season I want to leave a winning legacy for the teams to come. I’m less focussed on stats this year, I want to help the younger guys and set a good example for them,” Lee said. While Matt Lee leads the team in experience, he is not alone. Fellow seniors Anthony Rubino, Tyler McLaughlin, and Shane Shannon will be key contributors to the team’s success. McLaughlin has added some speed to his pitch, clocking in at 83 mph, while Thomas Santana (IV) is headed into his sophomore season having already thrown over 200 pitches at the varsity level. Between McLaughlin and Santana, Big Blue is in safe hands on the mound. Offensive talent is scattered throughout the roster, but we will likely see Matt Lee, Anthony Rubino, and Ryan Smith (VI) taking the lead. The trio has struck for 90 runs in the past three seasons and looks to wrap things up in style in their final spring with Big Blue.
Softball comes off a 17-7 overall record. Loaded with upperclassman talent, the team is looking to improve from last year’s run and has its eyes on the Skyland Conference title. A wave of junior talent will supply a steady supporting cast for four-year starter and all-county selection Nicolette Brigante (VI). “I’m really excited about this season, we have a lot of returners. Personally, I want to get to my 100th hit. That would symbolize all the hard work I have put in the past four years. All the extra work after practice and all the hours I have poured in, I’m chasing that 100,” Brigante said.
Boys’ tennis enters the spring after an exciting state tournament run in 2019. They finished as Non-Public “B” state finalists, ending the season with a 12-6 record overall. With four freshmen on the nine-player varsity squad, there will be plenty of opportunity for underclassmen to thrive. Junior captain Hugh Zhang will lead a group of talented players this season as they look to make it over the hurdle in this year’s state championship.
Golf enters the season after a clean sweep of the county tournament in 2019. The boys finished 15-4 while the girls wrapped up at 11-5. The reigning county champions have returning seniors Burke Pagano, Alec Bliemel, and Ian Larson on the boys’ side. “We have a really talented team coming off a county title last year, so hopefully we can get some more trophies on the shelf,” Pagano said. Senior Ashley Lu and junior Zara Jacob will headline the girls’ team. Lu and Jacob hope to pass their experience down to the underclassmen, with four talented sophomores returning from last season.
Track and field is returning strong yet again. The girls’ team is led by top pole vaulter Caroline Dannebaum (VI) and skilled long distance runners, Nikki Vanasse (VI) and Ryan Davi (V). “This year we are looking to win our conference meet. We have a strong group of seniors who have been really successful and we want to instill a competitive environment among the younger grades,” Dannenbaum said.
There has been widespread excitement amongst the community this year regarding athletics, and attendance at games have been much higher than in prior years. Our teams have been thriving off this school support.“It definitely helped our team during the fall, having good crowds and the support of our classmates and teachers at games this fall. We try to give that back by going out to as many games we can to support all the other teams,” noted girls’ soccer captain and Gettysburg recruit Leah Mangold. The spring season is shaping up to be incredibly strong, and our teams will continue to push boundaries!
Following successful seasons across the board last winter, Pingry boys’ athletics have raised the bar even higher this year. Outstanding accomplishments from all teams continue to demonstrate Big Blue’s athletic excellence, and Pingry is poised to finish strong this season. Here is a look at some of the most memorable highlights so far.
Coming into the season, Matt Fallon boasted several records on his résumé. Only a junior, Matt is already one of the best swimmers in the country, and this winter he added a few more achievements to his list. Against North Hunterdon, Fallon broke the national independent short course records for the 200 meter IM and 100 meter breaststroke. He also claimed the meet record for the 100 yard breaststroke at Lawrenceville. Regarding these successes, Fallon commented, “The hard work during practice definitely paid off, and I couldn’t have done it without the team.”
Armed with one of Pingry’s best lineups in recent memory, the powerhouse boys’ swimming team, led by seniors Reid McBoyle (VI) and Will Stearns (VI), swept both the Skyland Conference and Prep Championships, and won its 13th consecutive state title, breaking the state record for the most state titles won back to back in a 98-72 win over Bishop Eustace. Upon winning the state title, captain Reid McBoyle remarked “After seeing the other captains in years past win the state title, it’s been an important ritual for us to come here, do well and win. And this year if feels really good because we finally broke that record. It’s awesome that we got to go through the program and become the first team to beat that record.”
The boys’ winter track team is also having a terrific season; as Captain Henry Wood (V) remarks, “we are consistently dropping PRs each race.” The team put up impressive results at the Prep Championships, with James Draper (VI) coming in fifth for shotput and Wood winning the 1600 meter run. Wood also broke the 1000 meter school record at the New Balance games and placed second in the 800 meter at the Skyland Conference Championships.
Pingry has dominated the ice as well, with the boys’ ice hockey team heading into the state tournament as number one seed. Juniors Eric Bush and Jared Kordonsky both hit the 100 point mark this season, and the team has secured multiple victories, including a recent win against The Hun School. Overall, it has undeniably been a “solid season,” according to hockey captain James Cummings (VI).
After their excellent season last year, the girls’ varsity squash team has high hopes for the upcoming season. Led by Captains Renée Chan (VI) and Jessica Hutt (VI), they hope to further improve on their record from the previous year. Coach Francis Odeh, who is new to Pingry, hopes to “bring excitement, hard work, and improvement to the team” as their preseason begins, and is already amazed by the determination and enthusiasm of his players.
Despite the graduation of their number two player, Alisa Chokshi ‘19, the captains are optimistic about their team’s lineup. “Our main goal is to beat our toughest competitors, which are Hackley, Poly Prep, and Lawrenceville,” said Chan. In addition to hard work, the captains prioritize the importance of team bonding since many new freshmen are joining the team. “We want to build on our team culture and cultivate positivity,” said Hutt, who hopes to have a successful season.
