County, conference, sectional titles up for grabs
by Rudy Brandl, Sports Editor
Hillsborough High’s winter athletic teams are primed for another fabulous February.
While the regular season division title chases are over for the HHS basketball, wrestling, swimming and hockey teams, the Raiders still have plenty to pursue in those arenas and on the track and field circuit in the next few weeks. Hillsborough will not crown a division champion in the winter season, but there are many more titles up for grabs this month.
Here’s a team-by-team look at what lies ahead for Hillsborough High in the busiest athletic month of the winter season:
Boys’ Basketball Ian Progin’s team has endured an up and down battle in its quest to reach the state playoffs. The Raiders will need another frantic finish to qualify this year.
Losses to Bridgewater-Raritan, Immaculata and Notre Dame last week left the HHS boys (7-9) needing to win three in a row this week against tough local opponents. If the Raiders found a way to beat Watchung Hills on the road Tuesday, they’ll still need to defeat Franklin Thursday and Rutgers Prep Saturday.
If it comes down to Saturday’s game, the Raiders have a great shot. They defeated Watchung Hills in a similar situation last February in the Somerset County Tournament with a state berth on the line. Hillsborough also won five in a row before the NJSIAA cutoff two years ago to make the states.
Girls’ Basketball Jim Reese’s ladies have one primary objective the Somerset County Tournament. A recent 10-game losing streak knocked the HHS girls (4-12) out of contention for the state playoffs or a repeat title in the Delaware East Division.
Despite a No. 12 county seed, the Lady Raiders can make some noise in the SCT. They’ve already knocked out Ridge in the preliminary round. Their next two games aren’t impossible, although Reese insists his girls are focusing on one game at a time. If HHS can handle No. 5 Gill St. Bernards and find a way to beat No. 4 Franklin, it will return to the county semifinals for the 13th straight year.
If the Lady Raiders don’t continue their county run, they’ll start getting ready for next year with a very young team. It will be strange not to see this team competing in late February and early March.
Wrestling Steve Molinaro’s grapplers may be the biggest surprise in the school this year.
How many teams lose their two best wrestlers to graduation and double their previous year’s win total by the middle of the season? The Raiders (10-6) have accomplished that with a solid, balanced group led by undefeated senior 152-pounder Luke Dawson. Senior 189-pounder Kevin Campanale has been the spiritual leader and freshman 112-pounder T.J. Guidice has been impressive in his rookie campaign.
The Raiders have some big matches coming up, starting with last night’s brawl vs. rival Hunterdon Central in Hillsborough. If they can win a few more matches before the NJSIAA deadline, the Raiders could make the Central Jersey Group 4 playoff field. Although they’d be a long shot in the bracket, making the playoffs would be quite an accomplishment for the Raiders.
Later in the month, the individuals take center stage beginning with the District 18 Championships at Hillsborough on Feb. 22-23. The Region 5 Tournament in Flemington starts Feb. 26.
Boys’ Swimming Don’t be fooled by the record Todd Sudol’s crew is still one of the state’s top 20 teams.
It won’t be easy for the Raiders to make it five straight sectional titles, mostly because they have moved to the killer North Jersey section that includes Bridgewater-Raritan, Westfield and Montgomery. All three teams have defeated Hillsborough in dual meets this year but the HHS boys edged Montgomery for third place in Saturday’s Somerset County Tournament.
The Hillsborough boys have another shot at many of the same foes in this week’s Skyland Conference Championships. Next, they’ll prepare for the steep challenge of the sectional team playoffs.
Rob Parker is having a huge, record-breaking season and will be fun to watch in the post-season. Sean Johnson has emerged as one of the area’s top freshman talents. All three HHS relay teams already have qualified for the Meet of Champions.
Girls’ Swimming Sudol’s girls also stack up much better than their record. The HHS girls have faced the same brutal competition as their male school mates and it won’t get any easier in February.
Bridgewater-Raritan, Mount St. Mary and Westfield will be standing in Hillsborough’s way again. While the HHS girls may not beat these teams, the intense competition will bring out the best in Hillsborough’s elite swimmers.
Kelsey Hurley (100 fly), Kerri Hamersky (500 free) and Ashley Smolinka (100 breast) placed in the top six at the county meet. When healthy, Hurley is one of the top all-around swimmers in the area.
Ice Hockey The Raiders have skated their way back into the playoff picture, but their hopes took a minor hit with last Friday’s 3-2 loss to Bridgewater-Raritan. A win and a tie vs. St. Joe’s in January boosted the team’s confidence and chances of qualifying for the playoffs, where they advanced all the way to the quarterfinal round last winter.
Senior goaltender Eric Visnovsky has been a wall in front of the net, stopping as many as 49 shots in a game this season. Visnovsky has saved the team in several games. Corey DeFranco has scored most of the big goals, but guys like Trevor Bierwirth, Joe Kubrak and Chris MacPhee have also come up big.
Hillsborough (7-8-1) was scheduled to play four games before the state cutoff at West Essex Wednesday, home vs. Montclair Kimberly Friday, at Watchung Hills Feb. 6 and home vs. Montgomery Feb. 8.
Boys’ Track and Field Rich Refi’s team is poised to load up on the championships in February. There are many to be had, including one from a meet that was suspended in early January.
The HHS boys trail Trenton Central by eight points in the State Group 4 Relays, which were suspended Jan. 12 when the cross bar broke on the pole vault apparatus. The Raiders have a fine tandem of vaulters in seniors Mark Ksiezopolski and Mike Lunemann, who are capable of producing a height that could propel the team to its first state championship.
If the Raiders finish first and gain 10 points, they’ll win the title outright. If they take second and score eight points, they’ll split the crown with Trenton, which did not enter a team in the pole vault relay. The meet will continue and conclude Feb. 16 at the Bennett Center in Toms River.
Before that, the HHS boys will go after the Skyland Conference title Sunday at Lehigh University. They’ll also compete in the NJSIAA Sectional meet Feb. 10 and Group 4 Championships Feb. 16, both in Toms River. The Meet of Champions is set for Feb. 23 back at the Bennett Center.
Girls’ Track and Field The HHS girls follow the same schedule as the boys, with the exception of the continuation of the Group 4 Relays.
Junior Ebony Young anchors most of the team’s top relays, including the shuttle hurdles and 4×400. Ali Moran, Carlin Dunne and Anna Spaniol have made nice contributions. Several newcomers also have come on strong for Refi’s girls, including hurdler/sprinter Kelly Bloom.
The girls will be underdogs to Ridge at Sunday’s conference meet, but this event is always one of the biggest on the team’s season calendar. Expect the Raiders to come out blazing to set the tone for a big month of action.