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MARCH 2026 FREE
Big four pace Cardinals to best swim season in years BY RICH FISHER
Josh DeMarco recalled his freshman year, when the Lawrence High boys swim team was just skimming by. “We couldn’t even fill a full roster,” the Cardinals senior said. “We had 12 people and we still made it to quarterfinals of states. It’s cool to see how its developed. Everyone has gotten better. It’s just crazy to see how everyone is progressing.” Lawrence progressed to its finest showing in the NJSIAA Central Jersey sectionals in nine years, as the Cardinals reached the CJ C finals before falling to powerful Moorestown. They finished 10-3 overall, took second in the Colonial Valley Conference Championship and earned eight firstplace medals at the CVC meet. “Every year our goal is to get one step LHS swimmers Nick Straka(left), Yusuf Kurbetinov, Josh DeMarco and Aidan Verga further in states,” head coach Ryan Shive pose for photo after combining for eight gold medals in the Colonial Valley Conference said. “We kept making the semifinals and Championship. coming up a little bit short.”
Not this time. “We knew we had a special group; we rebounded our numbers a little bit,” said Shive, who was assisted by Emily Palombo and Hillary Hargraves-Dix. “This year our swimmers are dedicated and motivated. They practiced really strong. We’re really proud of how well they were dedicated to the sport, and taking advantage of their potential to have such a great year.” The Cardinals were paced by four powerhouse swimmers – seniors DeMarco and Nick Straka and juniors Aidan Verga and Yusef Kurbetinov. The four combined to set all three school relay records, while DeMarco owns the 200 IM (2:08.03) and 100 breast (1:03.59) records, and Straka set the standard in the 100 free (52.43) and 100 back (52.09). “Josh broke the breaststroke record as a freshman in his first swim meet and that was a 20-year-old record,” Shive said. See ChAMPS, Page 17
Jake Nerwinski gives back after MLS retirement BY RICH FISHER
Back in elementary school, Jake Nerwinski attended Dave Boggs’ soccer camp in Lawrenceville and loved it. As a professional player, he returned to what’s now the BoggsBarrett Soccer Camp as a guest speaker. And loved it just as much. “That was really cool coming back to where I went as a kid,” Nerwinski said. “To be able to speak to the kids there was actually really special for me.” And so, forced to step away from his Major League Soccer career, Nerwinski knows what he wants to do next. After playing six seasons with the Vancou-
ver Whitecaps FC and two with St. Louis City SC, he had to retire due to injuries. Facing life without soccer for the first time, Nerwinski spent the past year exploring careers in the “real” world but something was always missing. Soccer. He just couldn’t leave he sport. Thus, he plans to become a soccer agent while also opening a new training academy in Mercer County. “The past year I was looking to get back in (as a player) but also looking to the future to see what life without playing soccer would look like,” Nerwinski said. “Ideally I would like to do both. To offer (being an agent) with
my training would be something very strategic and positive. “I’m very well connected with a lot of different front office people in MLS. I know that world, I think offering that type of network to aspiring youth soccer players in Mercer County could be something great.” One of Mercer’s well-known soccer personalities feels that Nerwinski’s return would be beneficial to area players. “Having someone like Jake returning to his roots and giving back to the youth of the sport is huge!” said former Lawrence High player PJ Barrett, the other half of the BoggsBarrett camp. “It’s a testament to his characSee NERWINSKI, Page 18
Jake Nerwinski
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