Gymmasts bounce back from first loss

RAIDER ROUNDUP

By: Rudy Brandl
   
   The Hillsborough High gymnasts dropped their first regular season meet of the season last week vs. Hunterdon Central, but the team won’t have to wait long to avenge that defeat.
   While last week’s 110.125-109.9 loss probably ruined Hillsborough’s chances of winning the South Jersey League title, the Raiders can still capture the Skyland Conference regular season crown if they defeat Central Oct. 24. They’ll meet Central again at the conference and sectional championship meets and most likely the NJSIAA finals.
   Central won the first battle despite some great performances by the Raiders. Chrissy Weber returned to all-around competition for the first time since early in the season and finished second (36.475). Christina Rhoades placed third all-around (36.425).
   Weber was outstanding on vault (9.325), bars (9.1) and beam (9.0) and finished with an 8.8 on floor. Rhoades (9.325) and Mary-Kate Lynch (9.225) added fine scores on vault to power the Raiders to a season-high team score (27.9) in the event.
   Rhoades also scored well on floor (9.4) and bars (9.025) but slipped on beam, which turned out to be the team’s downfall in this meet. Jess Leinbach made key contributions on beam (9.025) and floor (9.025) and Lynch ended her day with a season-high 9.675 on floor.
   The Raiders roared right back to the win column the very next day with a 110.4-105.9 triumph over North Hunterdon. Rhoades came through with a huge performance, hitting 37.4 for a new career best in the all-around. She scored 9.1 on vault, 9.2 on bars, a career-best 9.6 on beam and 9.5 on floor.
   Several career and season highs were set in this meet. Leah Goldberg hit a career best on bars (9.45), Lynch tied the school record with a personal best 9.675 on beam and Nicole Cicero tied her career high on floor (8.95).
   All five competitors hit season or career highs on bars, including Melissa Arango (8.125), Cicero (8.425) and Leinbach (9.0). Arango also hit a season high (8.825) on floor. Laura Lysyj competed for the first time this season on vault (8.65) and floor (8.475).
   The Raiders were set to host Washington Township and Lenape this week.
Volleyballers clinch
first state berth
   
The HHS volleyball team ran its record to 10-8 with a 25-13, 25-15 sweep of Mount St. Mary last Friday. The victory stopped a two-game skid for the Raiders, who are only in their third season of varsity competition.
   Outside hitter Patty Manhart finished her big week by leading the team past the Mount. Manhart registered six kills and five aces and teammate Lindsey Watts added five kills and one block. Setter Christina Galera did her job with a game-high 13 assists.
   The Raiders dropped their other two matches of the week to Hunterdon Central (15-2) and West Windsor Plainsboro North (7-9). Samantha Jackson (3 kills, 1 block) and Manhart (3 kills, 1 ace) led the way vs. Central, while Manhart had five kills in the loss to WWPN.
   Hillsborough was scheduled to host North Hunterdon, play at West Windsor Plainsboro South before returning home for a Friday match vs. Hackettstown.
Cusick goal keeps
girls atop standings
   
Lauren Cusick scored with 6:54 remaining in the second overtime to propel the HHS girls’ soccer team to a big 1-0 victory at Watchung Hills.
   Hillsborough improved to 7-1 in Delaware East Division play with two games remaining in the league – home vs. Franklin this week and at Montgomery Oct. 26. The road match at Montgomery, set for 6 p.m. at Cougar Stadium, could decide the division champion.
   Cusick’s goal ended a long, physical match in which senior forward Mary Bednar was hurt. Bednar played through it and assisted on the winning goal.
   Senior goalkeeper Taryn O’Connor made four saves to complete another shutout. O’Connor picked up her eighth shutout of the year two days later in the county quarterfinals vs. Somerville.
   Sophomore midfielder Tina Marino scored her first two goals of the year in the team’s 3-0 home victory over Immaculata. Bednar added the other score. Older sister Katie Marino, a senior, assisted on one of Tina’s goals. Megan Cull also picked up an assist in the victory.
Boys survive
two close games
   
The HHS boys needed some late heroics to pull out two regular season soccer matches last week.
   Joey Caratozzolo and Chase Barbieri scored in the final eight minutes to lead the Raiders to a 2-0 home victory over Watchung Hills. Caratozzolo put his head on a bouncing ball in the box and Barbieri added a penalty kick a minute later. Casey Koplik made five saves for the shutout.
   Earlier in the week, Achille Confuorto nailed a header off a Kyle Downey feed with 10 minutes to play to make the difference in a 3-2 victory at Immaculata. Barbieri scored the first two goals for HHS, one on a free kick and another after a long throw setup from Downey.
   The Raiders were set to play at Franklin and host Montgomery this week before Saturday’s huge county semifinal vs. Bridgewater-Raritan.