RAIDER ROUNDUP
By: Rudy Brandl
If every indoor track and field meet is as eventful as Friday’s opening Liberty Relays in Jersey City, then it will be quite an exciting season for Hillsborough High’s athletes and teams.
Senior shot put star Taryn O’Connor unleashed a school-record throw of 45 feet, 1 inch that ranks ninth on the state’s all-time performance list. O’Connor shattered her former indoor standard (41-7) and outdoor record (42-7) by a huge margin. She and teammate Angela Davia (33-1) also combined to set a new shot put relay mark (78-2) to take first place in the meet.
The HHS boys also made some noise in Jersey City. The shuttle hurdles relay team of Dan Reiss, Dan Millemann, Brandon Lane and Tyler Szwarc (7.2 split) set a school record (31.2), took first place and qualified for nationals. Raider head coach Rich Refi called this the team’s most impressive performance of the day.
Hillsborough added victories in the 4×400 and high jump relays. Warner Jones (53.9), Alex Szela, Jason Walton and Mike Bitten won the 4×400 in a time of 3:37.9, while Lane (6-0) and Miles Petrock (5-8) combined to win the high jump.
Three HHS boys’ relays finished second the 4×800 team of Rob Marley, Bitten, Alex Brown and Walton (2:03.3) hit the wire in 8:26.7, the sprint medley team of Jones, Reiss, Szwarc and Walton crossed in 3:51.7 and shot putters Rocco Mazzagatti (45-3) and Matt Carnes (43-3) combined for 88-6.
Hillsborough added six more medals on the girls’ side. The shuttle hurdles team (34.5) of Ali Leifer, Brittany Payne, Ebony Young (8.3) and Melissa Arango (8.2) finished second and qualified for nationals. The distance medley unit of Emily Bales, Payne, Meredith Mayes and Nicole Rocha also took second (14:21).
Others earning medals included third-place relays in the 4×800 (10:20.8) with Anna Spaniol, Rocha, Samantha Schwalje and Carlin Dunne and in the 4×200 (1:53.5) with Leifer, Arango, Ali Moran and Young and the high jump team (8-8) of Leifer and Payne.
The Raiders were scheduled to compete in the Spiked Shoe Festival at the New York City Armory Wednesday.
Wrestlers split
opening tri-meet
The HHS wrestling team split two very close matches in Saturday’s season opening home tri-meet. The Raiders (1-1) defeated Conwell Egan of Pennsylvania (43-36) but fell short in their attempt for the sweep vs. Notre Dame (39-32).
Hillsborough scored all its points between 135 and 215 pounds in both matches. The Raiders were blanked in the first five weight classes but rallied to win the first one.
Six HHS wrestlers won twice to start their seasons at 2-0. As expected, senior standouts Frank McLaughlin (152) and John Mangini (160) pinned both foes in the first period. Junior Luke Dawson, who switched with Mangini between 160 and 171 in the two matches, recorded technical falls in both to compile 10 points for the team.
Other Raiders who went 2-0 Saturday included senior 140-pounder Chris Ambrose, sophomore 145-pounder George Goddiess and sophomore 215-pounder Max Borisenko. Ambrose notched a major and a decision, Goddiess had a forfeit and a pin and Borisenko pinned twice in the first period.
Hillsborough also received victories from sophomore 135-pounder Will Goddiess and freshman 189-pounder Jared Leon in the Conwell Egan match. Those victories helped the Raiders rally from a huge deficit.
The Raiders will travel to Somerville Thursday night in their final tune-up for next week’s Somerset County Tournament. The annual holiday event, set for Dec. 27 at 9 a.m., will be held again at Hillsborough High.

