Nov 22, 2018 | Athletics
By Josie Jahng ’19
Starting off the season with a winning record, the varsity girls’ soccer team is off to a strong start. Led by Captains Abby Beckmen (VI), Ava Dziadzio (VI), and Caroline Friend (VI), the team has held their own in the Skyland Conference. Dziadzio noted that “our team has clearly proven that we are up there with some of the big-name programs.” Recent highlights include crucial wins against Ridge High School and Hunterdon Central High School, as well as a hard-fought 2-3 loss against Bridgewater-Raritan High School. The team has been working hard on the field and in the weight room, which has translated to strong performances in games.
“This season should be particularly successful, especially with the return of several skilled players from the Academy program and an overall deep, talented roster,” said Dziadzio. As for now, the girls are putting in lots of effort to prepare for their upcoming games as well as for the county and state tournaments that start later this month.
Nov 22, 2018 | Athletics
By Walker Johnson ’21
The girls’ varsity tennis team is off to a remarkable start this year, winning the Somerset County Tournament on Saturday, September 22. In addition to their tournament win, the team holds a winning record. Their goals, according to Coach Marion Weber, “are to finish in the top 3 of the conference, win the county tournament, win sectionals, and make it to the group finals.”
The team has changed considerably since last year, with key seniors graduating and three talented freshmen joining the team. Captains Nicole Kloss (VI) and Allie Matthias (VI) are focused on working with the new team to achieve the goals set by their coach. However, in light of their early achievements, it seems that the team has a good chance of not only achieving their goals but exceeding them.
With much of the season still to be played, the team looks to carry its earlier success into sectionals and the group finals. Above all, Coach Weber is most excited about having “a fun and competitive season.”
Nov 22, 2018 | Athletics
By Justin Li ’21
In a few ways, varsity co-ed water polo has been reborn.
Weeks before preseason started, previous Head Coach Misha Klochkov unexpectedly departed to coach water polo at the Lawrenceville School. With a number of strong seniors and underclassmen leaving as well, much of the team’s firepower and leadership seemingly vanished. However, under new Head Coach Aleksander Brezikar and captains Kevin Ma (VI), Grace O’Mara (VI), and Ben Ingrassia (VI), the team is ready is bounce back and rebuild its ranks.
They opened the season with convincing wins against St. Peter’s Prep and Choate Rosemary Hall, performances that have allowed Kevin Ma to state with confidence, “Despite the setbacks we have faced, we may be capable of much more than first expected.” When it came time to face their former coach and his more experienced Lawrenceville team, Pingry held down a tied score into the third quarter. Although they ultimately did not emerge from the competitive game with a win, the team will train for their home rematch later this season.
To onlookers, water polo may seem to be only a shell of last year’s team, but the resilience the young team has exhibited so far proves there is more than meets the eye.
Nov 22, 2018 | Athletics
By Lauren Taylor ’20
Led by captains Cathleen Parker (VI) and Nicole Vanasse (V), the varsity girls’ cross country team is looking forward to another fantastic season. “Expectations are high for this team,” Head Coach Tim Grant remarked, with the girls coming into preseason ranked ninth in the state. Unfortunately, the team has faced some challenges along the way, with Ryan Davi (IV) and Elina Irvine (IV), two of the team’s strongest runners, both currently injured.
Still, Coach Grant and the team captains have ambitious goals for the season. Coach Grant declared, “Our main goal this year is to qualify for the Meet of Champions and to try to advance to Non-Public A State Championships.” To do this, the team will have to have strong performances at the Shore Coaches Invitational in early October, the Prep State Championship at the end of October, and then the Groups Meet in November. The team placed at all of these meets last season and they hope to defend their title at the Prep State Championships.
Captain Nikki Vanasse, along with the rest of the team, is “really excited for the upcoming meets. . . The team has been training hard and we’re excited to see it pay off!”
Nov 22, 2018 | Athletics
By Jeffrey Xiao ’19
Despite losing two varsity runners, the boys’ cross country team, led by captains Tom Drzik (VI) and Jeffrey Xiao (VI), is looking forward to another successful season.
Even after last year’s record-breaking season, the team still fields one of its strongest teams in recent memory, thanks to its chemistry and depth. According to Drzik, “the team currently has a tight pack consisting of 8 or 9 runners. During all practices, everyone works to stay as close to each other as possible.”
The team has already shown strong potential when it opened the season on September 11th with a home meet win against Bernards, Somerville, Immaculata, and Gill St. Bernards. Since then, Coaches Matt Horesta and Tim Lear have helped the team gear up for October’s championship meets through a variety of road runs and workouts.
“As for the rest of the season,” Xiao said, “the team hopes to win the Prep ‘A’ championship for the third consecutive year and break the top three at Non-Public ‘A’ Championships, among others.”
Jun 10, 2018 | Athletics
Outplay, Outwork, Outlast! Pingry boys’ lacrosse is certainly on their way to do all three of these things this season, which began in early March. The team has participated in eleven games so far, and has won the majority of their meets, with a record of 11-7. “We are up and down in terms of wins and losses, but the boys have steady growth in terms of skills,” says Head Coach Michael Webster. Their best game was against Hunterdon Central, in which Pingry won 8-5.
“My favorite part of the season was the Hunterdon Central game, because the team came together and rose to the occasion to beat a strong team,” says Jason Weiss (VI), one of the captains. Most of the boys’ lacrosse team members have high hopes about the rest of the season. “I am extremely optimistic about the rest of our season. We are heading into the county tournament and are trying to achieve our team mission of winning the state title after it. All eight seniors have stepped up this year trying to lead a much younger team than there has been in years passed, and the team is excited to try and win its fourth state championship in a row,” says Weiss (Fifteen freshmen have joined the team this year, with five on varsity and ten on JV). “They have been extremely helpful, with two entering into the starting lineup and others helping out as role players.”
Coach Webster also expressed high hopes for the season. “I am optimistic that we can defend our state championship from last year in the Non-Public Group ‘B’ tournament,” he says. Good luck, Pingry lacrosse.
Jun 10, 2018 | Athletics
“Lacrosse: Turning violent personalities to world class athletes.” If this statement is true, then most of the twenty members of Pingry girls’ varsity lacrosse team must be in dire need of anger management. Their final regular season record stands at a whopping 14-6. According to Varsity Coach Carter Abbott, the team’s best game was against Hunterdon Central. “The Pingry team hadn’t been leading the game until the last four seconds. Then they really went for it, bringing the final score to 15-14.” Abbot continued, “Also, one of our players scored nine goals in this game, which was amazing.” Currently, the team is ranked fourteenth in the state on nj.com, and is currently seeded third in the Somerset County Tournament.
“This is the best we’ve done in a while, and the best rank we’ve had in about five years. It’s really exciting,” says Abbott. She attributes much of the success of the season to the leadership of the seven seniors, Mairead Higgins (VI), Shea Smith (VI), Sana Sheikh (VI), Josie Cummings (VI), Elle Braveman (VI), Tea Simon (VI), and Jenny Coyne (VI), and the other coaches, Assistant Coach Meredith Finkelstein and Goalie Coach Courtney Tierney. Abbott also says that the team’s “versatile attack” and “experienced defense” are their best weapons. “In each meet, we have four of five different people scoring, which makes us difficult to stop. Having a lot of weapons makes it difficult to stop them all.” she says. Additionally, Abbott states that the twenty-three new freshman, one of whom is on varsity, have contributed much to the team.
Jun 10, 2018 | Athletics
Led by Head Coach Jake Ross and Captains Max Scherzer (VI) and Nate Hefner (V), the boys’ baseball team has enjoyed relative success so far this year. The team currently holds a record of 5-4 in regular games and a record of 4-2 in conference play.
When asked about the team’s transition since last year, Hefner said,“although we lost a lot of players from last year, we have a lot of young talent, specifically in the sophomore class, that has helped us tremendously throughout the season.” He continued,“We are doing really well as a team so far and I am looking forward to the rest of the season, when we can hopefully win our conference this year.”
Regarding the team’s goals for the season, Coach Ross said the team is“still very much alive for the conference title. If we can win the remaining conference games, we have a very good chance at winning the Mountain Division of the Skyland Conference.”
The team is participating in the Skyland Conference as well as the NJSIAA group tournament as the regular season wraps up.
Jun 10, 2018 | Athletics
The boys’ track and field team has started the season off with a strong 1-3 record.
The team, led by Coach Mark Sepkowski and Captain Obi Nnaeto (VI), has many outstanding athletes this year. Coach Sepkowski noted that,“Zach Aanstoots (VI) is a school record holder in the high jump and the long jump. Austin Parsons (VI) was 5th last year in the State Finals and 6th this year in the Penn Relays javelin. Ben Vasquez (VI) is a top contender in the 800 M run. Obi Nnaeto (VI) is the team’s fastest sprinter and a great long jumper.” Unfortunately, this means the team will be losing many valuable senior members next year.
Although these fantastic athletes will be leaving, Coach Sepkowski and Captain Nnaeto are optimistic for the future of the team. Nnaeto said, “The team as a whole is moving in the right direction … The future is bright as sophomore Amir Arnold (IV) is making strides in the long jump and freshman Henry Wood (III) is blowing the field away in the 1600m.”
According to Obi Nnaeto, the whole team worked “to improve on their times and try a variety of events” throughout the whole season.
Jun 10, 2018 | Athletics, Brynn Weisholtz
The girls’ softball team has finished its regular season with a record of 10-13. Coach Chip Carver said that, in their last three games, “we played our best softball of the year.”
Captains Kassidy Peterson (VI) and Maddie Parrish (VI) stayed optimistic throughout the season. Maddie noted that “the most important goal I have for our team is for us to stay in the game until the end.”
Coach Carver commented on several players who have been performing well this year. Peterson has had 11 RBIs, and Parrish improved tremendously in her first year as the catcher, a highly demanding position. Angelina Meyers (V) leads the team with a batting average of 512, Jillian Bahr (V) is tied for the most runs at 12 runs so far, and Brynn Weisholtz (IV) had 6 hits in the last 2 games.
At the NJSIAA Group Finals, Coach Carver and the rest of the team worked to “finish the season strong!”
