BY JENNIFER AMATO
Staff Writer
“I usually do homework and then practice. Sometimes I have two practices on the same day. I have to rush from one to another.” — Caroline Connolly NORTH BRUNSWICK — Caroline Connolly and Anthony Muldowney were chosen as the March 2005 Scholar Athletes of the Month by The Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Services.
The DPRCS chooses two students per month who excel in both academics and athletics.
“This is our third year now. It is so great because we can highlight the positivity of the community. The tremendous youth organization fosters what North Brunswick is made of,” said Lou Ann Benson, director of the DPRCS.
“I would love to be a professional baseball player because I love it so much. I have to play really hard and do my best.” — Anthony Muldowney Caroline, 10, is a fifth-grade student at Parsons Elementary School. She plays right and left wing for the recreation lacrosse team, small forward for the recreation basketball team and midfield for the travel soccer team.
“My brother, Matt, got me interested in sports. He helps me out with them,” she said.
She has been playing basketball and soccer since kindergarten and lacrosse since second grade. She even played flag football for one season.
She won second place playing rec soccer in the 9-year-old and under shooting contest. Her favorite sport is lacrosse but her favorite athlete is a basketball player.
“I like Tracy McGrady from the Houston Rockets,” she said.
Caroline doesn’t see a future career in sports.
“I would like to play in college, but not professionally. I’d like to be a veterinarian. I like animals,” she said.
She was nominated by her basketball coach.
“He said anyone with good grades could bring in their report card, so I did.”
Caroline has been on the high honor roll every marking period for the last two years and has all A’s. She said she finds it hard to balance school and sports.
“I usually do homework and then practice. Sometimes I have two practices on the same day. I have to rush from one to another,” she said.
Somehow Caroline finds spare time to do what she loves.
“I play basketball in my driveway with my brother, I walk my dog, I watch TV and I like to read,” she said.
“When I get into Linwood, I want to [participate in] the drama club, and when I get old enough I want to do Buddy Ball,” she said
Buddy Ball Basketball is a program Anthony is currently involved in.
“It’s on Saturdays from noon until 1 p.m. I help the children who are disabled practice their shooting and passing,” he said.
Anthony, 12, is a seventh-grader at Linwood Middle School. He plays guard on the rec basketball team, left midfield for the Linwood soccer team and second base, shortstop, outfield and pitcher for the Linwood baseball team.
He won the Foul Shooting Contest for the rec basketball league.
“From the rec team, two kids are picked to participate, and there is a shooting contest during a high school boys or girls basketball game,” he said.
But baseball is his true passion.
“I’ve been playing since I’m four or five. My favorite athlete is Derek Jeter,” he said.
“I would love to be a professional baseball player because I love it so much. I have to play really hard and do my best.”
He was part of the Diamond Stars AAU fall championship team. Anthony is helped by his father Jim Muldowney, the Athletic Director at Edison High School.
“Anthony gets a lot of free coaching advice,” said his grandfather, Joe Saffiotti.
Anthony does have a backup plan in case his baseball dreams don’t work out.
“I watch CSI, so I’d like to do something in forensics,” he said.
Anthony has all A’s, is on the high honor roll and is Student of the Marking Period for the second marking period this year. Anthony said he sometimes finds it difficult to balance school and sports.
“I have to use my time wisely,” he said.
In his spare time, Anthony enjoys reading and playing video games, especially baseball ones.
Anthony is inspired by his family.
“He wants to be better than his brothers,” said Saffiotti.
The Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services is accepting nominations for its Scholar Athlete program. Coaches, teachers and parents of children in grades K-12 can submit their recommendations to the DPRCS Office at 710 Hermann Road, or to LBenson@northbrunswick
online.com.
Nominations must be in writing no longer than one page long, and a copy of the student’s most recent report card must be attached.