by Rudy Brandl, Sports Editor
Hillsborough High’s spring scholastic athletic season kicked off April 1 with the baseball, softball, boys’ volleyball, boys’ golf and both lacrosse teams in action. The boys’ tennis and girls’ golf teams open Thursday and both track and field teams begin their seasons Saturday.
Here’s a team-by-team capsule preview of Hillsborough’s 10 varsity teams:
BASEBALL
Head Coach: Norm Hewitt.
Years/Record: 19 years in two stints at Hillsborough, 540-270 career overall.
Last Season: 14-11, 2nd in division, 2nd in county.
Key Returning Players: Ryan Lukach (Jr., LHP, 8-2 record, .432 BA last year), Matt Mosko (Sr., RHP/C), Mike Hansford (Sr., OF/LHP), Anthony Toresco (Jr., C), Bobby Peck (Jr., CF, leadoff hitter with great speed), Gary Lavoie (So., 3B/RHP), Brandon Young (So., SS), Ron Guido (Sr., LHP), Chris Reilly (Jr., RHP).
Key Losses to Graduation: Sean MacDonald, Rick Schwalje.
Top Newcomers: Dan Sheldon (So., RHP/1B), Chris DelMaestro (Sr., 2B), Justin Kessler (Sr., OF), Rick Devlin (Jr., IF), Kevin Toro (OF), David Fullam (Jr., C), Justin Worden (Sr., 3B), Corey Katzelnick (Jr., 3B).
Strengths: Cohesiveness, team unity, unselfishness, students of the game.
Weakness: Infield play in pre-season has been disappointing.
Goals: Be competitive every day, encourage good sportsmanship, qualify for state tournament, get a game at the big Somerset Patriots stadium, build strong character within players, move as many to collegiate ranks as possible.
Coach’s Comment: “This is unquestionably the most talented individuals we’ve had throughout our program. What we do with our talent will depend on each player’s ability to adjust to higher level of play. We are blessed in many ways. Our coaching staff is knowledgeable and caring. Our parents and our community have taken our baseball program to another level. The support has been phenomenal.”
SOFTBALL
Head Coach: Cheryl Iaione.
Years/Record: 14th year, 198-161 career record.
Last Season: 19-6, won Delaware East Division title, Central Jersey Group 4 semifinalists, Somerset County Tournament semifinalists.
Key Returning Players: Melissa Weinstein (Sr., C), Margaret Gilroy (Jr., C, first-team All-Conference), Kristi Ann Ivone (So., P/OF, first-team All-Conference), Kelly Bloom (Jr., OF), Christina LoBrutto (Sr., OF), Brittany Ksiezopolski (So., P/3B).
Key Losses to Graduation: Megan McInaw, Katelyn Derewecki, Caitlyn Katzelnick, Tara VanDoren, Monique Verastegui, Megan Alexander, Jessica Vos.
Top Newcomers: Alex Wells (So., C/3B), Ashley Lamont (Fr., 1B/P), Melissa McEnroe (So., 2B), Ashley Pellicane (Fr., SS).
Strengths: Three strong starting pitchers (Ivone, Ksiezopolski, Lamont) will all see action; lots of team speed.
Weakness: Youth, inexperience on varsity level.
Goals: Compete for conference and county titles, qualify and go deep in state tournament.
Coach’s Comment: “Although we lack experience, we are talented. It will take time for things to come together and for the team to form an identity. I look forward to the challenge of each girl improving and becoming better players as the season progresses. With only two seniors, the future is bright.”
BOYS’ TRACK & FIELD
Head Coach: Dave deWolfe.
Years/Record: Third year, 11-0-1.
Last Season: 5-0-1, won Skyland Conference Relays and Somerset County Relays team titles, won Somerset County championship and Delaware East Division crown.
Key Returning Athletes: Jordan Magath (Sr., distance), Frankie Jawidzik (Sr., throws), Chris Tillotson (Sr., javelin), Jason Jenkins (Sr., discus), Anthony D’Ovidio (Jr., sprints, hurdles, pole vault), Mike Lynch (Sr., jumps/hurdles).
Key Losses: The 4×800 team of Alex Brown, Rob Marley, Alex Szela and state 800-meter champion Jason Walton, throwers Rocco Mazzagatti and Matt Carnes, pole vaulters Mark Ksiezopolski and Mike Lunemann.
Top Newcomers: Kyle Magliaro (sprints), Dave Robinson (sprints), Matt Millemann (hurdles), George Cheng (sprints, hurdles), Dylan Sellar (sprints).
Strength: Team depth for relay meets.
Weakness: Individuals with big-meet experience.
Goals: Go undefeated in dual meets, win conference and county relays to defend team titles.
Coach’s Comment: “This will be a coming-of-age season for many athletes. The team’s goals are understood by everyone and it’s time for these young men to become the athletes the coaches and I know they can be.”
GIRLS’ TRACK & FIELD
Head Coach: Rich Refi.
Years/Record: 13th year, 87-3 career outdoors.
Last Season: 6-0, won 10th straight division title, extended dual meet win streak to 75 straight victories, captured Skyland Conference Relays and Somerset County Relays team championships.
Key Returning Athletes: Ebony Young (Sr., TJ, LJ, hurdles, sprints), Ashley Smolinka (Jr., distance), Carlin Dunne (Sr., 400, 800), Danielle Deretchin (Jr., throws), Maureen Lynch (Jr., 800, low hurdles), Meredith Mayes (Sr., distance), Allison Moran (Sr., jumps, hurdles, sprints), Christina Mehrtens (Jr., high jump), Julianna Miller (So., distance), Brittany Bennett (Sr., throws), Melissa Huereca (Sr., pole vault), Rizza Tolentino (Sr., javelin), Nkolika Obi (Jr., throws), Erica Reiss (Jr., hurdles), Nicole Rittman (Sr., distance), Jenna Scillitani (Jr., distance), Katelyn Sheridan (Jr., hurdles, sprints), Kelly Weber (Jr., high jump, pole vault), Julie Figard (So., hurdles, sprints), Amber Gorman (So., distance), Stephanie Nunes (So., distance), Sarah Skrabal (So., distance).
Key Losses to Graduation: Nicole Rocha, Anna Spaniol, Angela Davia, Stephanie Ogrodnik.
Top Newcomers: Eiloghosa Ewere (So., jumps), Miranda Reinson (So., pole vault), Sade Stanley (So., sprints, jumps), Mallory Abramovitz (Fr., jumps), Alexandra Cady (Fr., distance), Sydney Ciejka (Fr., throws).
Strengths: Balance, depth.
Weakness: Nothing major.
Goals: Peak in late May and June.
Coach’s Comment: “I consider us strong in both (relay and individual meets). Our balance and depth will help us in relay meets. When you have high point-scorers like Ebony and Ashley, you can do well in both types of meets. My philosophy is to work hard and play hard. Winning is the result of hard work.”
BOYS’ LACROSSE
Head Coach: Mark Wilson.
Years/Record: Third year, 20-18.
Last Season: 10-9, reached second round of county and state tourneys, ranked seventh in Group 4, ranked 39th in New Jersey.
Key Returning Players: Captains Kyle Panaccione (Sr., attack), Ryan Buerkle (Sr., middie), Matt Coheleach (Sr., defense) and Scott Lewis (Sr., defense); Pat Morin (Jr., attack), Ben Lafoon (So., middie), Garret Vandoren (So., goalkeeper).
Key Losses to Graduation: Luke Dawson, Nick Giraldi, Bryan Huff.
Top Newcomers: Joe Higgins (Sr., middie), Cody Lefevre (So., defense).
Strength: Senior starters or backups at every position on the team (13 seniors).
Weakness: Freshman or sophomore starters or backups at every position on the team (10 freshmen and sophomores).
Goals: Win Somerset County title, reach/win a Group 4 final.
Coach’s Comment: “We’re young and fun this year.”
GIRLS’ LACROSSE
Head Coach: Beth Murrin.
Years/Record: Seventh year, 89-28.
Last Season: 18-5, tied Bridgewater-Raritan for Skyland Conference title, finished second in Somerset County and North Jersey sectional (lost to B-R in both finals).
Key Returning Players: Dorian Gilmartin-Dzitko (Sr., attack, 46 goals, 35 assists last year), Kelsey Palmer (Sr., midfield, 44 goals last year), Tina Marino (Sr., midfield), Katie DeLuca (Sr., midfield), Sam Schwalje (Sr., midfield/attack), Marina Grappone (Jr., defender), Alexa Jarvis (Sr., defender), Chelsea Williamson (Jr., goalkeeper).
Key Losses to Graduation: Lindsey Watts (All-American, 85 goals), Sara DiClemente (48 goals, 61 draw controls).
Top Newcomers: Arielle Urban (Sr., attack), Veronica Zuccarello (So., defender), Lauren Miska (So., midfield).
Strength: Chemistry of seven seniors.
Weakness: Team must find way to replace 50 percent of scoring lost to graduation.
Goals: Win county and sectional titles.
Coach’s Comment: “I am excited to see how this season unfolds. We have a unique mix of seasoned talent and experience from our returning players that is beginning to combine nicely with a couple of younger players who are hungry to make an impact at the varsity level. The sky’s the limit if ths group continues to work hard and improve every day the way they have over the first two weeks of the preseason.”
BOYS’ TENNIS
Head Coach: Larry Johnson.
Years/Record: 12th year with boys.
Last Season: 12-7.
Key Returning Players: Steven Wu (Jr., returning at first singles), Mike Zhang (So., singles after 2/3 singles and first doubles last year).
Key Losses to Graduation: Singles players Sam Klein and Stefan Apostolos.
Top Newcomers: Will Henderson (Fr., singles/doubles), Ryan Kearns (So., singles/doubles), Evan Clayton (Jr., doubles), Pawel Mankowski (Jr., doubles), Kyle Gottschalk (Jr., doubles), Matt Lancelloti (Sr., doubles), Aaron Kaplansky (So., doubles).
Strengths: Wu starting season healthy, two singles players with varsity experience.
Weakness: Lack of varsity experience elsewhere.
Goals: Compete for conference and county titles, qualify for state playoffs and make a run.
Coach’s Comment: “Although the lineup will contain several jayvee players from last year, all are year-round tennis/tournament players that have greatly improved and look to be productive on varsity. All are very good doubles players and should help us put two very competitive doubles teams on the court even though there is not much varsity experience.”
BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL
Head Coach: Todd Sudol.
Years/Record: Fifth year, 46-39 with boys’ volleyball program.
Last Season: 17-5, Skyland Conference champions.
Key Returning Players: Jared Himelfarb (Sr., setter, 462 assists last year), Justin Tien (Jr., outside hitter, 81 kills), Krystian Pescinski (Jr., middle hitter, 62 kills, 32 blocks), Tim Gendimenico (Sr., opposite), Greg Stoto (Sr., outside hitter).
Key Losses to Graduation: Chris Fedroff, Joe Caratozzolo, Andrew Ortega, Kyle Downey.
Top Newcomers: Ed Jedziniak (middle hitter), Steve Schappert (opposite), Pat Kaulius (outside hitter), Tommy DiClemente (opposite), Aaron Seitz (defense).
Strengths: Belief in and respect for coaches, program and system; Himelfarb is a third-year varsity setter; power and force of hitters Tien, Pescinski and Jedziniak; players committed to off-season play and training.
Weakness: Several new players will be stepping in for graduated starters.
Goals: Defend Skyland Conference title, make deep run in state tournament, earn a ranking in state’s top 20.
Coach’s Comment: “I am very fortunate to have very talented student-athletes, most of whom are standout competitors in other sports. My players are held to a very high standard and they all see themselves as contributors. I am a lucky coach because my players will run through a brick wall for me and their teammates.”
BOYS’ GOLF
Head Coach: Paul Parker.
Years/Record: 10th year, 112-53 career with golf team.
Last Season: 11-9.
Key Returning Players: Ryan Hengerer, Matt Molinari, Mike Voitovich, Zach Schiffman.
Key Losses to Graduation: None.
Top Newcomers: John Limyansky, Doug Beach.
Strength: First four players should be consistently strong.
Weakness: Fifth and sixth players must pick it up from last year for team to score better and be more successful than last year.
Goals: Win Somerset County and Skyland Conference team titles, qualify for state tournament, win sectional title.
Coach’s Comment: “This team has the potential of being as good as the team of a few years ago (that won a sectional title). There is experience and talent. If we can eliminate the mistakes of last year and have our A game, we should be very competitive and successful. It’s a matter of being smart with course management and not collapsing on one or two holes. Consistent play will be vital this year.”
GIRLS’ GOLF
Head Coach: Brian West.
Years/Record: 2nd year, 10-7.
Last Season: 10-7.
Key Returning Players: Kristina Wagner, Sara Mirabella, Tiffany Pierce, Ryan Feeney, Melissa DiLeone.
Key Losses to Graduation: None.
Top Newcomers: Freshman Danielle Gemignani.
Strength: Wagner is one of the state’s top players. She finished fifth in the state last year and consistently carded her team’s lowest scores.
Weakness: Inexperience.
Goals: Continue to build this program, which enters its second full season.
Coach’s Comment: “It’s a second-year program and 24 girls tried out for the team.”