RUDE AWAKENING
By: Rudy Brandl
Hillsborough High’s athletic teams have been enjoying some home sweet turf so far on the school’s new stadium field.
Entering this week, the four Raider varsity teams that have competed on the new turf have posted a cumulative 7-0 record. That perfection will be tested this week when Franklin and Montgomery come to town for boys’ soccer and field hockey action, but the Raiders certainly have benefited from the new home cooking so far.
Among those seven wins have been some thrillers. The football team christened the surface with a dramatic overtime victory over Hunterdon Central. HHS made it 2-0 at home with last Friday’s 28-7 win over Watchung Hills.
The boys’ soccer team, now 3-0 on the turf, posted a huge 1-0 win over rival Bridgewater-Raritan. The girls’ soccer team defeated Montgomery by the same score in the rain in its one appearance on the field. Even the HHS field hockey squad, once concerned about playing on turf, rolled to a 7-0 win over North Plainfield in its first game on the new stadium field.
Hillsborough’s teams have treated their fans to some exciting times, both on and off the turf, so far this fall. As the season shifts into the second half and home stretch, the Raiders can reflect on the first five weeks with great pride.
Any autumn is more exciting when the football team is winning. It sets the tone for the entire school. Those Friday nights are much more enjoyable when the Raiders are playing for something more than pride.
The team’s 4-0 start has fans pumped up for the second half. If the Raiders can get past Bridgewater-Raritan tomorrow night, they’ll be playing for the division title when Phillipsburg comes to town Oct. 29. Don’t miss that one.
Hillsborough’s soccer and field hockey teams are facing tough challenges Saturday when Somerset County play continues. All three are also still in the hunt for division titles. The field hockey team entered the week unbeaten in the Delaware East, while the soccer teams had one loss apiece in divisional play.
The field hockey tournament is one week ahead of the soccer tourneys, so the Raiders will be facing Ridge in the semifinals while the HHS soccer teams are playing quarterfinal round games. Although at home, the Lady Raiders will face a tough Montgomery team. The boys will be traveling to Bridgewater for what figures to be another classic.
While the football, soccer and field hockey teams have done some of their best work on the turf, the school’s other five teams obviously can’t compete in the stadium. This hasn’t stopped them from making headlines.
The girls’ tennis team produced a Somerset County champion when sophomore Chelsea Abraham won the third singles title. Singles player Emily Mannix and the doubles team of Christel Arribe and Reciel Arribe each won a match in the state individual tournament.
As a team, the Raiders have lost just two matches, but only once in the division. They’ll get a chance to avenge that when Watchung Hills comes to town Oct. 20. That match could decide the division title.
The cross country season shifts in championship meet mode that same day in the Somerset County meet at Pleasant Valley Park. The HHS boys, fresh off an undefeated regular season, are primed to make a run at the team title.
HHS junior Brian Dennis is shooting for second place in the boys’ race, with Gill St. Bernards superstar Bobby Papazian running the best times in the state likely to win it. Classmate Kelda Nelson is having a great season and should finish in the front of the girls’ pack.
The Raiders will then prepare for the Skyland Conference Championships Oct. 29 at Deer Path Park before the November series of meets at Holmdel Park.
Hillsborough continues to be a fixture in the state gymnastics polls. The team’s recent school record 109.2 score in a win over Bridgewater-Raritan had to open some eyes around the state.
This year’s team is deeper and more balanced than ever. The Raiders, who entered the week with a 7-0 record, are still looking to peak by late October or early November. HHS will be hosting the Skyland Conference Championships for the first time Oct. 30.
Last but not least, the HHS volleyballers have continued to progress in their first year on the scholastic circuit. It’s a bold move to push a program into varsity competition in the first year, but the Raiders have made opposing teams work for their points. Todd Sudol’s team has thrown in a few victories to boot.
Let’s hope the rest of the fall season produces as much excitement, and as many victories, as the very productive first half of the season.