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REGISTER-NEWS: Top Five SPORTS stories of 2012

By Anthony Williams, Special Writer
  As 2012 draws to an end, the Register-News celebrates the top athletic achievements of Bordentown Regional, Northern Burlington County and Florence Memorial high school students.
Number 5
   Bordentown’s Brandon Hudik & Alexis McTamney named NSCAA All-Americans — The Bordentown Boys’ and Girls’ soccer team enjoyed a lot of success in their 2012 fall seasons, including a Group 2 State Championship Finals appearance for the girls.
   Still, the biggest recognition came when senior defenseman Brandon Hudik and senior striker Alexis McTamney were named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America’s All-American team. Hudik and McTamney also earned All-State honors in 2012.
Number 4
   Bordentown’s Alexis Mctamney Scores 100th Career Goal — Alexis McTamney needed 32 scores entering her senior season to reach the 100 career goals milestone She began attacking the “goal” from the start of the season. On Oct. 16, McTamney left little doubt about her legacy on the Bordentown pitch when she found the back of the net with 10 minutes to play against cross-town rival Northern Burlington in front of a packed house.
   McTamney would go on to lead her team to a C.J. Group II Championship and a Group II State Finals appearance.
Number 3
   Florence Football Wins C.J. Group I State Championship — The Florence Flashes football team battled its way through a grueling Central Jersey Group I bracket, having to travel to undefeated Point Pleasant Beach and once beaten Shore Regional, to capture the 2013 crown.
   The Flashes overcame two deficits and used a late field 33-yard field goal by Doug McArthur in the fourth quarter to propel the team over Point Pleasant Beach and into the finals.
   In the championship game, Florence once again came from behind and took a 14-7 lead in the third quarter, followed by a go-ahead field goal by McArthur in the fourth to put the Flashes up 17-14. The field goal wasn’t enough for the win, and Florence needed two overtimes, 150 plus rushing yards from Rich Myers and Curtis Thompson, and three rushing touchdowns to cap-off the players’ conquest of the mighty Shore Conference — adding another State Championship football trophy to their collection.
Number 2
   NBC’s Cody Melton Wins Wrestling State Championship at Heavyweight — Northern Burlington’s Cody Melton became the school’s second ever state wrestling champion when he captured the 285 pound weight class at the 2012 NJSIAA State Wrestling Championships at Boardwalk Hall in March. Melton battled a severe ankle injury early on in the season, but managed wins in the perennial All-Star Classic, District 25 and Region 7 tournaments en-route to the state crown.
Number 1
   Florence’s Lexi Smith Breaks National Field Hockey Scoring Record — After standing for 28 years, the national field hockey record for goals in a career was finally broken by Florence Memorial High School’s senior Lexi Smith.
   Smith, a center forward for the Flashes, scored 44 goals as a freshman to get started in 2009, and broke the record on Oct. 9 with a goal against Riverside High School.
   Despite losing in the second round of NJSIAA state playoffs, Smith shattered the old record and finished with 191 career goals.