Howell’s Cristen Rillo and Freehold Township’s Brian Brach are running cross country for The College of New Jersey, Ewing, this fall.
Rillo, a sophomore, was a letter-winner for the Lions last fall when the women finished 10th at the NCAA Division III championships. The women won the New Jersey Athletic Conference title for a fifth straight year as well as the NCAA Division III Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship.
Brach, a freshman, is considered one of the top newcomers on the men’s team. The Lions’ harriers won their sixth straight New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship in 1999 and were fourth at the NCAA Division III Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships.
Manalapan’s Linda Talarico, a senior defender, will serve as the captain of the 2000 women’s soccer team at The College of New Jersey, Ewing. Talarico has been a steady performer in the backfield for the Lions over her career and was part of a team that allowed just four goals last year, a new, all-time low for CNJ.
Freehold Borough’s Denise Buckley, now a junior, is one of the important Lions returning up front. Buckley led the Lions with 11 goals last year, including five game winners. She was second overall in scoring with 11 goals and one assist.
CNJ was 21-1-2 in 1999, winning the NJAC title and reaching the semifinals at the NCAA Division championships. The Lions have 20 letter-winners returning, along with 10 starters.
The 2000 Junior Golf Competition Circuit of New Jersey concluded with the championship finale held at Forsgate Country Club, Monroe. Golfers had to participate in at least four tournaments during the summer to be eligible for the championships.
Jonathan Kaczmarek had the best round of the day, winning the 14- to 17-year-old division following a 41. Craig Glasgow won a match of cards with Brandan Paolo to take second after both shot 43s.
Ryan Shallcross defeated Michael Sprung in a one-hole playoff to win the 11-13 division. Both golfers carded a 43. Third place went to Jonathan Abramson.
Max Bichsel won the 9- to 10-year-old competition after a 53. Jimmy Burke (55) and Michael Desero (57) were second and third.
Bret Markowitz was best among the 8-year-olds carding a 53. Keith Markowitz (58) and Matthew Molinari (59) were second and third.
Thomas Ferretti (9-10) was the Player of the Year winner. Other awards for the inaugural Junior Golf Competition season went to J.R. Skoia (14-17), Most Improved Player; Joseph Conlin (11-13), Sportsman of the Year; and Michael DeSero (9-10), Most Improved Player.
Howell Pop Warner’s Fourth Annual Golf Outing will be held Friday at Gamblers Ridge Golf Course, Cream Ridge. Cost is $80 per golfer. Hole sponsorships are $1,000 and buffet sponsorships are $500. The golf outing will begin at 8 a.m. with a shotgun start to the best ball competition.

