County, conference, sectional titles at stake
by Rudy Brandl, Sports Editor
February always brings excitement and championships to Hillsborough High’s athletic community. The Raiders are hoping to continue that tradition this month.
Division, county, conference, district, sectional and state team titles will be up for grabs in February. Hillsborough’s athletes are poised to compete for individual honors in wrestling, swimming and track and field as well.
There won’t be many open dates on the February calendar. It may be the year’s shortest month, but February is also one of the most exciting on the scholastic athletic calendar.
Here’s a team-by-team look at how Hillsborough High’s athletes and teams will try to make this another fabulous February:
Boys’ Basketball Ian Progin’s team has picked the perfect time to get hot. Winners of six straight, the Raiders (9-7) have a great chance to qualify for the state playoffs and they’re still alive in the Somerset County Tournament and Delaware East Division race.
The HHS boys entered the week needing to beat Franklin, Montgomery or North Plainfield to lock up a state tournament berth. If they win all three, they’ll get a decent seed in the states and advance to the Somerset County quarterfinals.
Feeling somewhat overlooked and disrespected as the No. 10 seed in the county, Hillsborough will get a chance to start a run of upsets on the road with seventh-ranked North Plainfield Saturday at 2 p.m. Second-seeded Ridge would be next in the bracket. Waiting on the other side, most likely, will be top-ranked Immaculata, a team the Raiders stunned last week.
County action will continue on consecutive Saturdays, with quarterfinals Feb. 14, semifinals Feb. 21 and championship games Feb. 28.
Girls’ Basketball Charlie Davis’ girls lost a real heartbreaker last Friday night at Watchung Hills and that one could ultimately keep them from making the state playoffs.
The Lady Raiders entered the week with a 7-8 record, needing to win two of three with division foes Franklin and Montgomery and county tournament opponent Bernards on the schedule. The more winnable games are at home, so the Lady Raiders certainly have a shot at reaching nine wins and surpassing last year’s total output. If they beat Bernards Saturday, the sixth-seeded HHS girls will play a county quarterfinal game at third-ranked Rutgers Prep.
Every time the Lady Raiders win this month, it will represent one more victory than they achieved last season. With a very young team, that is quite an achievement. But the team’s 6-2 start made it hungry for more, especially a trip to the states and a solid showing in the county tournament.
Wrestling Steve Molinaro’s grapplers are making history all over the place this winter.
It started with the 5-0 league record that produced the program’s first-ever division title. Eight days later, the Raiders swept a tri-meet to reach 19 wins, breaking the old school record of 18.
Next Monday, the Raiders will be shooting for more history in the Central Jersey Group 4 playoffs. HHS is 0-3 in its three appearances at the state team level, but hopes to advance for the first time. The fifth-ranked Raiders will meet the same Old Bridge team that eliminated them from the sectionals last year on the road at 7 p.m.
The focus will remain on the team for the first three weeks of the month, with the sectionals set for Feb. 9 (quarterfinals), Feb. 11 (semifinals and Feb. 13 (finals). There are a few more dual meets and then the next big team event, the District 18 Championships, a two-day affair set for Feb. 20-21 at Hillsborough. The Raiders will be looking to defend their team title.
After the districts, the focus shifts to individuals. Last year, the Raiders placed 11 wrestlers in the Region 5 Tournament. They should get another bunch to the region level this season.
Boys’ Swimming Todd Sudol’s boys will face the toughest competition ever in their quest to continue the five-year run of sectional team titles. Having set a school standard for any sport with five consecutive Central Public A titles, the Raiders are moving up to the North section with powerhouse teams like Westfield and Bridgewater-Raritan.
HHS will get another look at B-R in a championship meet in Thursday’s Skyland Conference event. The Raiders will be out for revenge after their heartbreaking one-point loss to the Panthers in the county meet.
The 200 medley relay team of Matt VanBiervliet, Sean Johnson, David Wilson and Rob Parker continues to get better. Having already posted eye-popping times worthy of All-America status, the Raider foursome will be gunning for a state title later this season. For now, though, these guys are most focused on helping their team win some hardware.
Girls’ Swimming Sudol’s ladies don’t figure to join their male schoolmates in the sectional team finals like they did last year, but they’re still hoping to make some headlines in the stretch run of the season. Seniors Kerri Hamersky and Stephanie Silleck will be in the hunt for places at Friday’s Skyland Conference meet.
Boys’ Track and Field Rich Refi’s team is in rebuilding mode, which makes it very difficult to expect much at the state level. February is loaded with long bus trips to Toms River, site of the Central Jersey Group 4 Championships (Feb. 8), State Group 4 Championships (Feb. 15) and Meet of Champions (Feb. 21).
The Raiders don’t have big-time state contenders but hope to get a few athletes to advance, at least to the Group 4 level. Senior distance ace Jordan Magath opened some eyes with Sunday’s championship victory in the 3,200 meters at the Skyland Conference meet. Magath will be in the mix if he can duplicate the 9:42.9 time he ran to win the Skyland title.
Girls’ Track and Field Refi’s girls have more star power with veterans like senior Ebony Young and junior Ashley Smolinka. Those two standouts have enjoyed success on the state level in previous athletic seasons and could make noise.
They’ll be headed to Toms River for the Central Jersey Group 4 Championships (Feb. 8), hoping to qualify for the State Group 4 Championships (Feb. 15) and Meet of Champions (Feb. 21). Young is more of an outdoor threat because of the jumping events, but she can hurdle and run the 400 indoors. Young won the 55 hurdles title at Sunday’s Skyland Conference Championships. Smolinka is back from injury ready to make an impact in the distance events. Also keep an eye on senior 800 runner Carlin Dunne and junior shot putter Danielle Deretchin.
Ice Hockey Rob Donovan’s young crew continues to show progress, even in defeat. The Raiders are keeping games closer against powerful foes and playing better hockey.
The team isn’t blessed with a major go-to player, but several guys are taking turns leading the way. Captains Danny DeSimone, Dan Curry and Chris Korenczuk have done a solid job. Goaltender David Palo has enjoyed some flashes of brilliance.
Hillsborough is looking forward to a rematch with St. Joseph’s of Metuchen sometime this month. The first game was heated and ended in a 2-2 tie, while last week’s rematch was postponed due to snow. The Raiders also hope to avenge some of their earlier losses against such teams as Montclair Kimberley (Feb. 6) and Paul VI (Feb. 13).
Later in the month, the Raiders will compete in their divisional playoffs.