HHS Fall Sports Awards

Raider athletes, teams soared to greatness again

By: Rudy Brandl
   Things just keep getting better in the world of Hillsborough High sports.
   Several HHS teams dominated this fall and many won titles while others came very close. Three Raider teams (gymnastics, boys’ cross country, girls’ tennis) gained recognition in the state’s top 20 poll. The football and two soccer teams deserved to be there but just missed that designation. The field hockey team won a division title and reached the sectional finals.
   Even the first-year volleyball program produced six victories.
   There were big games and major events all over the place. Never has the fall season kept me so busy. However, I’m proud to say I managed to juggle the birth of our second son, Ryan, and a move to a house without missing too many beats on the scholastic sports scene. It wasn’t always easy, but it sure was fun.
   When eight of nine varsity teams at the high school produce winning records and four win a championship of some sort, it creates plenty of competition for honors and awards in this seasonal column. The HHS teams certainly christened their new athletic turf stadium field in style and provided tons of thrills for the home fans.
   Now that we’ve hit early December, most of the action has shifted indoors. The swimmers already have a few meets under their belts and the hockey team is scheduled to play its first game ever this afternoon as a jayvee squad. With winter now about to get into full swing, it’s time for one last look at the best of the HHS fall scholastic campaign in my Hillsborough High Fall Awards:
   Best Team — Gymnastics. Deeper and more balanced than ever, the Raiders capped another stellar season with a seventh-place finish in their sixth consecutive trip to the NJSIAA Championships. Beth Murrin’s team repeated as Skyland Conference champs, both during the regular season and at the championship meet. The girls also won their second straight North Division title in the South Jersey Gymnastics League and just missed a perfect regular season with a 12-1 record. Juniors Lauren Watts and Robin Friedman, senior Krystina DeLuca, sophomores Leah Goldberg and Kristen Shaw and freshman Mary Kate Lynch all contributed big-time routines and scores for the team.
   Best Athlete — Brian Dennis, cross country. The HHS junior capped a fantastic season with a third-place finish at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions. Dennis won the Skyland Conference individual title and started an exciting Holmdel Park run with a pair of gold medal performances at the Central Jersey Group 4 and State Group 4 races. Dennis also led the Raider boys to team titles at the Somerset County and Skyland Conference meets and a second-place finish at the Central Jersey Group 4 Championships. In the process, Dennis shattered the old school record for Holmdel Park and established himself as the school’s premier male cross country runner of all time.
   Best Coach — Rick Mantz, football. Mantz found himself in an unusual situation entering the 2004 season. For the first time since taking over as head man a decade ago, he had to regroup after a losing season, but this time it was from a team he had coached. Mantz accomplished it with flying colors, but it didn’t all take place in the last three months. The comeback from a 2-8 season in 2004 began last December and ended in an incredible 9-2 campaign that nearly led all the way to a sectional title. The Raiders were outstanding in close games, winning two overtime contests and another one on the last play of the game. They finished second in the Delaware A Division and only lost against a pair of sectional finalists, CJ 4 champ East Brunswick and North 2, Group 4 runner-up Phillipsburg.
   Most Improved Athlete — Kelda Nelson, cross country. The HHS junior logged some serious mileage in the off-season and it paid off. Nelson emerged as the leader of the girls’ team, running far away from anyone else. She finished third at the prestigious Shore Coaches Invitational and fourth in the Somerset County Championships. Nelson was also the only HHS female to qualify for the State Group 4 meet.
   Hail to the Champions — A new category specifically designed so I don’t forget to mention any of the HHS teams to win something big this fall. The gymnastics team repeated as Skyland Conference and South Jersey League North Division champs, the field hockey team won a share of the Delaware East Division title for its first banner in 20 years, the boys’ cross country team captured the Somerset County and Skyland Conference crowns and the girls’ tennis team won the Delaware Division championship. Individually, cross country runner Brian Dennis (Skyland Conference, Central Jersey Group 4, State Group 4) and tennis player Chelsea Abraham (Somerset County third singles) were the big winners.
   Most Exciting Moments — In no particular order, but since this is the longest list I’ve ever made, let’s go team-by-team: Football — Ryan Schofield returned a blocked field goal attempt for a touchdown on the final play of the game to beat Sayreville in the season opener; Dominic Mazzagatti scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime of the first home game on the new turf to defeat Hunterdon Central; and Matt Donahue raced 60 yards to the end zone after a blocked field goal attempt to give the Raiders an early lead before a jam-packed house against Phillipsburg … Boys’ soccer — Chad Barbieri ripped a 25-yard lefty shot into the corner for the only goal of a 1-0 win over Bridgewater-Raritan early in the season; the HHS boys didn’t win their fourth consecutive Delaware Division title but managed to deal division winner Montgomery its first defeat in the regular season finale; and Barbieri and Matt Pfriender combined on what turned into a strange goal that propelled the team to a 1-0 victory at North Brunswick in the Central Jersey Group 4 quarterfinals … Girls’ soccer — Stacey Dzvileski scored the two biggest goals of her life on consecutive weekends to lift the Lady Raiders into the Somerset County finals, netting a sudden victory tally in overtime vs. Montgomery in the quarters and firing one home late in regulation to help the team end Ridge’s 36-game win streak in the semifinals … Field hockey — A three-goal outburst within a span of six minutes allowed the Raiders to beat Bridgewater-Raritan in the first meeting, which guaranteed at least a share of the Delaware East Division title; Liz Tafaro scored in overtime to propel the team to a first round victory over East Brunswick in the state playoffs; and Kerry Stanton converted at the right post for the only goal of a 1-0 upset win over top-ranked Sayreville, which sent the HHS field hockey team to the sectional finals for the first time since 1984 … Boys’ cross country — Joe Bernardo broke the tie as the sixth runner to lift the team past Bridgewater-Raritan for the Somerset County title; the boys made school history by winning the Skyland Conference title; and Brian Dennis won the conference, sectional and State Group 4 races before finishing third at the Meet of Champions … Girls’ cross country — Kelda Nelson set a course record at Montgomery Park, came close to the school record at Holmdel Park (19:47) and finished third in the Shore Coaches Invitiational … Gymnastics — Lauren Watts overcame a tough start to finish 14th in the all-around at the NJSIAA Championships; the Raiders hosted their first Skyland Conference Championships and defended their title and home gym advantage with another team title; and the HHS gymnasts set a new school record and surpassed 109 points three times this season, including once in a big revenge victory over Washington Township to raise the bar for a 110-point explosion next year … Girls’ tennis — The Raiders avenged an early loss to Watchung Hills with a 4-1 home victory in late October that clinched the Delaware Division title; third singles player Chelsea Abraham showed her toughness again in the Somerset County finals, when she overcame a first set deficit to win the title; and first singles player Emily Mannix won a bunch of matches, none more satisfying than her victory over Kendal Rufner in the team’s tough 3-2 sectional semifinal loss to Marlboro … Volleyball — This first-year program, immediately thrown into the competitive varsity world, posted its first victory over South Plainfield on Sept. 14; the HHS girls were happy to sweep South Plainfield and Morris Catholic but their exciting victories over Warren Hills and Hackettstown were more rewarding because they avenged prior defeats and showed the quick and tremendous progress the team made in a short time.
   Toughest Defeats — It seemed that almost every team had one of these, but I guess that comes with the territory when you reach such a high level of competition. I’ll never forget the boys’ soccer state playoff game at Rancocas Valley, where creative timekeeping at the scorer’s table gave the home team enough time to produce the tying and winning goals after the Raiders had taken a 2-0 lead — no matter what the rules are, I still don’t understand why the officials weren’t keeping time in a soccer match … other HHS heart-breakers from the fall season include the field hockey team losing the sectional final at Hunterdon Central on a stroke, the football team’s gut-wrenching overtime loss to eventual CJ 4 champ East Brunswick in the semifinals and the girls’ soccer team’s season-ending overtime loss to West Windsor Plainsboro South less than 24 hours after the Lady Raiders played their hearts out in the county finals vs. Pingry.
   Freshman Phenoms — Football nose tackle Rocco Mazzagatti and gymnast Mary Kate Lynch made quite a splash as varsity rookies.
   Sophomore Sensations — This promising list includes defensive back Warner Jones, gymnasts Kristen Shaw and Leah Goldberg, soccer players Chase Barbieri, Noelle Neall, Katie Marino, Nikki Smartt and Mary Bednar, tennis singles players Emily Mannix and Chelsea Abraham and doubles player Reciel Arribe, field hockey goalkeeper Ellyn Griggs and volleyball player Patty Manhart.
   Junior Jewels — Cross country runners Brian Dennis and Kelda Nelson led their packs, while classmates Paul Bernardo, Adam Walzer, Fredy Irizarry, Eric Rind, Melanie Gingras and Allison Marcisin also contributed … other 11th graders who shined include quarterback Troy Cyburt, monster linebacker Paul Mychalczuk, running back Chris Jordan, two-way standout Anthony Visicaro, linebacker Matt Hawzen, defensive backs Dave Ellis and Ryan Schofield, linemen Mark Hoffer and Mike Kelderman, gymnasts Lauren Watts and Robin Friedman, soccer players Lauren Ebert and Pablo Lopez, field hockey players Liz Tafaro, Gillian Cardinale, Sam Schroeder, Michelle Cilenti and Kristen Derewecki, volleyballers Chrissy DiClemente, Zakiya Mason and Alexa Monahan and tennis doubles players Christel Arribe, Kelly Wagner and Rachel Tom.
   Senior Stars — Soccer playmaker Chad Barbieri, standout defenders Charles Miller, Billy Mozet and Rob Griffett, goalkeeper Cameron Koplik and midfielders Kevin Lynch, Matt Pfriender and George Strangos made the boys fun to watch; tri-captains Shari Kleiman, Renee Kelly, Stacey Dzvileski and defender Caitlyn Glowacki and goalkeeper Ashley Coheleach led the girls … gymnast Krystina DeLuca enjoyed four productive years of competition … volleyball players Kristen Watts, Maggie Henry and Amy Burgner were leaders in their first and only season playing the sport on a high school team … cross country runners Andrew Rath and Eileen Cafferty scored on a consistent basis … field hockey center back Megan Kubek was tough as nails and the link line of Blaire Wagner, Lauren Van Cleef and Kerry Stanton played extremely well, along with left inner Katie Bucci … second singles player Erin Aiello capped her scholastic career with some big wins … and Dominic Mazzagatti, Matt Donahue, Derek Douglas, Ryan Mehltretter, Chris Rick, Chris Szczesniak, John Vitale, Ryan Fitzgerald and Nick Passe helped guide the football team back to prominence.