RAIDER ROUNDUP
by Rudy Brandl, Sports Editor
Hillsborough High’s swim teams gave many athletes a chance to jump in the pool in last week’s regular season victories over New Providence and Bernards. The HHS boys and girls evened their season records with a pair of comfortable wins, which served as a nice reprieve between the county and conference championship events and the state team playoffs.
The HHS girls had the two closer meets, beating New Providence (89-80) and Bernards (89-81) by almost identical scores. Kelsey Hurley returned to action and provided a spark in both victories.
Hurley won the 50 free (26.61) against Bernards and 100 breast (1:12.12) at New Providence. She also participated on the winning 200 medley relay team with Ashley Smolinka and Stephanie Silleck in both meets. Carolyn Mehrtens joined them vs. Bernards (1:59.57), while Jessica Parker was the fourth swimmer at New Providence (2:00.78).
Other HHS victories against Bernards came from Silleck in the 200 free (2:13.41), Meredith Trabilsy in the 100 fly (1:10.09), Heather Good in the 100 breast (1:15.20) and the 200 free relay team of Mehrtens, Silleck, Parker and Hurley, who hit the wall in 1:47.59.
New Providence picked up most of the first places but the Raiders won it with depth. Good contributed a victory in the 100 back (1:10.52).
The HHS boys won both meets by more comfortable margins, taking out New Providence (125-45) and Bernards (96-74).
Six different boys won individual events at New Providence Rob Parker in the 200 free (2:02.08), Dave Wilson in the 200 individual medley (2:13.83), Adam Goldberg in the 100 free (56.28), Sean Johnson in the 500 free (5:23.09), Tanner Horst in the 100 back (1:01.76) and Greg Johnson in the 100 breast (1:08.90).
All three Raider relays also prevailed. The 200 medley team of Horst, Sean Johnson, Kevin Mullaly and Chris Wander won in 1:51.76. The 200 free unit of Wander, Kevin Thorp, Steve Shappert and Wilson finished in 1:40.19. The 400 free foursome of Max Paghon, Goldberg, Brian Giacopelli and Joe Allen hit the wall in 3:50.35.
The Raiders also dominated Thursday’s meet vs. Bernards, led by Sean Johnson’s double in the 200 IM (2:10.10) and 100 back (58.26). Other individual victories came from Kyle Smith in the 200 free (1:53.78), Parker in the 100 fly (57.12) and Greg Johnson in the 100 breast (1:08.45).
Hillsborough took first in two of the three relays. Matt VanBiervliet, Sean Johnson, Wilson and Wander combined in the 200 medley (1:47.20), while Wilson, Vinnie Amendolare, Giacopelli and Parker teamed in the 200 free (1:36.93).
Wrestlers roll with
seven straight bouts
The HHS wrestling team overcame a loss in the opening bout, stormed back with five straight wins and later finished with seven consecutive victories to cap a 60-9 thumping of East Brunswick in Middlesex County.
Hillsborough won its fourth straight match and hit the 60-point mark for the second time in the streak. The Raiders took 12 of the 14 bouts to stay hot on the road.
Max Borisenko started the first flurry with a pin at 1:24 in his 215-pound bout. Heavyweight Chris Rossi kept it going with a 9-3 decision.
Freshmen Joe DiCarlo (103) and T.J. Guidice (112) continued to build the lead with a pin and technical fall, respectively. Kyle Yurcisin (119) notched a fall with 19 seconds left to give the Raiders a 26-3 lead.
EB won by fall at 125 but the Raiders took the final seven bouts. Isaac Muck captured a big 3-2 overtime decision to start the surge. Teammates Jesse DiBlaso (135), Nick Detsis (140), Will Goddiess (145), Luke Dawson (152), George Goddiess (160) and Jared Leon (171) followed with victories. DiBlasio, Detsis and George Goddiess registered falls to give the Raiders six pins on the night.
Girls start slowly
in divisional loss
The Lady Raider basketball team continued its early offensive struggles in last week’s 56-37 loss at Montgomery.
Hillsborough scored four points in the first quarter of a 50-32 loss at Franklin and managed only five points in its Somerset County Tournament elimination setback at Gill St. Bernards. Montgomery held the HHS girls to four points in the first quarter and rolled to a 27-12 lead at the half.
Eight HHS girls scored, but none reached double figures. Junior Janice Jeschke led the team with nine points, while senior Kaitlin Capriccio and sophomore Brittanie Vangeli added eight and seven, respectively.
The HHS girls (5-15) were scheduled to play four more games at Voorhees Tuesday and home vs. Marlboro Thursday, Fair Lawn (Feb. 19) and North Plainfield (Feb. 21). Capriccio and fellow seniors Sara DiClemente and Caitlyn Katzelnick will be honored prior to the Fair Lawn game.