2002 was memorable year for area teams

A summary of local teams’ glories

By:Sean Moylan
   2002 was a great year for local sports. The Northern Burlington County Regional High School girls’ varsity softball team won the first state title in the school’s history, thanks in large part to Kerr Lee’s pitching, Kristi Stefanni’s fielding and hitting, Dusty Archer’s energy and Danielle Walder’s speed and versatility.
   Meanwhile, NBC’s boys’ basketball team had one of its greatest seasons ever while Northern’s girls’ basketball squad completed its third successful campaign in a row.
   NBC’s football team, led by new head coach Jon Reising, made the playoffs and NBC’s girls’ soccer team, led by head coach Terry Jennings had its best season ever.
   Head coach Steve Alustiza revitalized NBC’s cross country program and NBC’s boys’ and girls’ bowling teams both took home divisional titles in 2002.
   In girls’ tennis, the Crawbuck twins rewrote the Northern Burlington record books and last spring NBC’s boys’ tennis also did well. Moreover, Northern Burlington’s golf team had its best year ever.
   At Bordentown Regional High School, both Scotties’ soccer squads made the playoffs, once again. And the Bordentown boys’ track and field team, coached by Charlie Miller won another championship.
   Bordentown’s boys’ bowling team won a Freedom Division title, while Mark Drew led his Bordentown boys’ varsity basketball team to its 7th playoff appearance in a row. And the Scotties girls’ basketball squad had its best season in several years under head coach Sharon Conover. Michele Millet coached Bordentown’s field hockey team to its second straight playoff appearance. And Bordentown’s softball team had a good year too.
   The Florence Township Memorial High School football team made it all the way to the south Jersey Group I final. Meanwhile, Flynn led the Florence boys’ soccer team to the best year in the school’s history. Of course, Art Bobik’s boys’ basketball team made another great playoff run. George Chwastyk’s girls’ softball team made the playoffs again. John Gray’s baseball team also made the playoffs, and Sam Steinmetz’ boys’ tennis team featured some of the best "female" players in the area.
   Art Steffen won Penn-Jersey titles in boys’ soccer and baseball at Life Center Academy and Darryl Gladden coached LCA’s great basketball team to another Penn-Jersey title. LCA’s girls’ soccer, basketball and softball teams all made the playoffs.
   Yes, 2002 was a championship year for our area. Yet with NBC’s wrestling and boys’ basketball teams on the rise, and Bordentown’s basketball teams playing better than they have in years, 2003 should be a huge year as well.