By: Rich Fisher
John Petrucelli and Micaela Alvarez traveled different paths to the Peddie School, but once they arrived they have done the township of Cranbury proud on the soccer field and off it.
Petrucelli was raised in Cranbury and got a late start in soccer compared to most high school players. He began playing at age 11 in the East Windsor PAL, moved to Robbinsville to play travel soccer for two years, then returned to the PAL program.
After attending the Cranbury School, Petrucelli enrolled at Peddie, played for the freshman and junior varsity his first two years, and has been a valuable varsity performer the past two seasons.
Alvarez grew up in Franklin Township, and estimated that she began playing soccer "at around age 2 or 3." She had big-time soccer roots, including a grandfather who played for Barcelona in the Olympics.
Unlike Petrucelli, whose club soccer didn’t stray far from Route 130, Alvarez needed Triple A to map out her travel ball, which took her to North Hunterdon, Montclair, Yardley, Pa. and, currently, Parsippany.
She attended Stuart Country Day in Princeton for five years, but transferred after ninth grade since Stuart did not have a soccer team. It was at that point the family moved to Cranbury, so nearby Peddie was the perfect fit.
Within two years, Alvarez became friends with Petrucelli, as the two bonded on a Youth Leadership Institute Program trip to Costa Rica. The goal of the visit was to learn about cultural immersion and global pluralism outside of America, and to teach leadership skills through the entire process.
Each member of the traveling party had individual home stays. Petrucelli lived with a farming family in one of the country’s poorer sections and had to help repair the duct that provided water to that home and several others.
"It was a great experience, you got to meet people you would never get the chance to meet," Petrucelli said. "It definitely opens your eyes to some things. You really don’t see that, especially living in New Jersey. It makes you so much more grateful for what you have. It really gets you thinking what you can do to help."
Alvarez stayed on a diversified farm "that had every kind of crop you could think of." It also had something a bit mind blowing and apparatus that turns cow manure into methane gas.
"They pump the gas into a stove, and people can use it for electricity and running water and heat," Alvarez said. "Instead of chopping down tons of forest and using all this wood for heat, they’ve discovered this way of returning the manure of a cow to produce enough methane to heat a house for years.
"The whole trip was amazing. It was the coolest thing I ever did. Camping in the rain forest was great."
The fact both seniors made the trip and enjoyed it says something about their character. Their soccer status at Peddie (and, hopefully, beyond) says something about their talent.
Last year, Petrucelli played center-midfield and stopper. This year, as a Falcons captain, he is playing predominantly midfield.
"I’m running the entire team, offense, defense, playing both touch lines," said Petrucelli, who has four assists this season. "It’s important, because this is a rebuilding year. We want the younger guys to get the experience of playing with the seniors so the Peddie program can continue with a winning record."
As for the future, Petrucelli has applied early to the University of Virginia, where he hopes to lay the groundwork for a law career. If accepted, he will also look into playing club or intramural soccer.
Alvarez will also continue on the pitch in an even higher capacity, as she has received a partial scholarship to play at Notre Dame.
Last year, Alvarez helped Peddie to a 16-2 record, the Mid-Atlantic Prep League championship and the NJISAA Group A finals. This year the Falcons are 6-1-1 with Alvarez serving as one of the leaders.
She is unsure, but thinks she was the leading scorer for the Falcons last year (stats were not available) while playing forward and midfield. This season, she is playing predominantly in the midfield and creating more opportunities for teammates.
"I have a lot of assists," she said. "I’m glad I’m at midfield, that’s what I play with my club team and it’s what I hope to play in college."
Alvarez is unsure what she wants to major in yet, but does have a love of math and science.
"History is my least favorite subject," she said.
But Peddie history will show that Alvarez and Petrucelli will leave a positive impact on the Hightstown campus before they leave.
Petrucelli, who also plays varsity baseball, has founded an Ambassador’s Club at the school. The club promotes inter-school activities with nearby prep schools Hun, Lawrenceville and Pennington.
"We’re planning on doing some dances, community service stuff in the area, hopefully get a couple of other things going so the club continues when I leave," said Petrucelli, whose brother Dave plays on the Falcons freshman team.
Alvarez is also in the Spanish Club, and the Arts and Leisure Editor for the school newspaper.
"I have some fun with that," she said. "I don’t consider myself very artistic or very good at acting, but I just love to go see the plays and write reviews."
Last but not least, both are prefects for the dorms, even though they commute.
"As a prefect, it’s your job to get close to the students in the dorm, make sure they get adjusted and things like that," Alvarez said. "You’re supposed to be a role model for other students."
When it comes to Alvarez and Petrucelli, it would be tougher to find two better students equipped for the job.
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