SJ_Sportsweekly_120419

INSIDE THIS ISSUE SJ POWer POLL ....... S2 PLAYer OF THe Week ............ S4

Williamstown again home to player of the year PAGe S6

www.southjerseysportsweekly.com

DECEMBER 4-10, 2019

Forever Eastern United

rYAn LAWrenCe/South Jersey Sports Weekly

Eastern Regional High School’s field hockey team suffered two losses in 2019, both to Oak Knoll, a private North Jersey school ranked No. 1 in the country. But they scored wins over top national programs from Pennsylvania, Illinois, Virginia and Kentucky and also collected an unprecedented 21st consecutive Group 4 state championship this fall.

By RYAN LAWRENCE Sports Editor

The 99 words are still there for anyone to see on a news story that turned 12 years old last month.

“End of a Dynasty” read the headline in The New York Times.

The lead continued with the theme.

“Eastern High School’s nine-year dynasty in New Jersey field hockey is over,” it read.

The story was from Nov. 16, 2007, when Eastern Regional High School’s powerhouse field hockey team fell in the Tournament of Champion semifinals to Oak Knoll. The loss

Eastern Regional’s prestigious field hockey team rolled to the program’s 21st straight state championship and beat state champions from three others states, too, in proving itself as a national power

Knock your message

out of the park

sunsales@newspapermediagroup.com | 856.282.1347

Free was the program’s first in-state defeat in nine years, snapping a 208-game unbeaten streak against New Jersey foes.

Fast forward a dozen years later. End of a dynasty? Hardly.

Although the Vikings once again lost to Oak Knoll, this time in the TOC title game last month, they also beat everyone else on their schedule, including a who’s who of the top teams in the state and from around the country, too. They went 23-2, with both losses coming to Oak Knoll, the No. 1 team in the country, according to MAX Field Hockey.

They collected an unprecedented 21 straight Group 4 state championship, a run that began when head coach Danyle Heilig took over the program in 1999.

Eastern has won eight of the 13 Tournament of Champions titles, claiming the distinction as the top team in the state, since the tournament began in 2006, including seven since the “End of the Dynasty” headline appeared 12 years ago last month.

“There’s no stopping it,” said Elise Pettisani, one of nine seniors on this year’s Eastern state championship team. “We’re just passing on the same traditions that have been carried on the past 20 or so years. Everyone understands that being a part of this program is more than just a commitment. It’s all the dedication and the time and the hard work put it into. It’s an understanding.”

“To be a part of such a great program with such a long legacy, it’s definitely a lot of hard work,” added fellow senior Kendall Jung, “and it’s definitely not just the team we have this year but the generations of hard work, passing it down from the next team to the next (and so on).”

Rather than succumb to the pressure that comes with putting on an Eastern please see EASTERN, page S7

S2 SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY — DECEMBER 4-10, 2019

S

SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY

POWER

POLL!

1. Eastern Field Hockey

Five Vikings were named to the SJFHCA All-South Jersey team last week, with Tara Somers, elise Pettisani, ryleigh Heck, Amanda Middleman and nina Santore all being elected to the team. (1)

2. Williamstown Football

The Braves won their second consecutive South Jersey Group 5 title in dramatic fashion as Turner inge’s touchdown run with less than a minute remaining boosted Williamstown to a 14-10 win over Lenape. (3)

3. Haddonfield Boys Cross Country

The Bulldawgs stepped up in the season’s biggest meet on nov. 23, finishing as South Jersey’s top team at the nJSiAA Meet of Champions. Haddonfield’s third place finish marks the second straight year the Bulldawgs finished in the top-three at MOC. (6)

4. Moorestown Friends Girls Tennis

After just completing two of the best seasons in program history, Moorestown Friends will enter the 2020 season having not lost to a South Jersey or Friends School League opponent since September of 2017.

(7)

5. Williamstown Girls Volleyball

Williamstown’s state championship season came to an end in the Tournament of Champions with a 2-0 loss against Group 3 champion Mendham. The defeat snapped a 15-game winning streak for the Braves. (5)

6. Cherokee Boys Cross Country

Senior ethan Wechsler was one of eight runners to put up a time of less than 16 minutes at the nJSiAA Meet of Champions, helping the Chiefs to a fourth place finish in the team standings. (4)

7. Eastern Girls Soccer

The Vikings were well represented at last week’s SJSCA Senior All-Star Game at rutgers-Camden. Midfielder kelli McGroarty, back Sara Brocious and goalkeeper Olivia Alves were all selected to play in the game.

(8)

8. Shawnee Football

The renegades shut out Ocean City, 28-0, to win the program’s third consecutive South Jersey Group 4 championship. Shawnee has dominated the sectional in recent years, winning S.J. Group 4 five times in the last seven seasons. (nr)

9. Lenape Football

For the second time in 2019, the indians came up short on the road against Williamstown as Lenape fell to the Braves in the South Jersey Group 5 final. Against all other opponents, Lenape sported a 9-0 record entering their Thanksgiving clash with Shawnee. (2)

10. Cherokee Football

The Chiefs put together a remarkable postseason turnaround, sweeping through the Central Jersey Group 5 playoffs after losing their last four games of the regular season.

Cherokee’s Central Jersey Group 5 title is the program’s first since 2014. (nr) ■

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Wroniuk digs deep during Braves’ title run Williamstown’s Summer Wroniuk is the 2019 Girls Volleyball Player of the Year after leading the defense with 387 digs and serving as a leader on and off the court

By MIKE MONOSTRA Sports Editor

Standing in the center of the court with a volleyball hurtling toward her at high speed is when Williamstown senior Summer Wroniuk is at her best.

“That’s the fun part,” Wroniuk said about trying to defend against high-speed spikes and tricky offensive plays. “It’s just more competitive, more active, it’s fun to be in.”

In 2019, Williamstown girls volleyball climbed to the top of the mountain with the program’s first Group 4 state championship in seven years. The Braves were well-rounded, with several outstanding players such as Lilyanna Martucci, McKenzie Melvin and Raina Hughes. But when the ball was in the opposing end of the court and the Braves went on defense, Wroniuk led the way. The Williamstown libero for three seasons, Wroniuk denied the opposition hundreds of times, recording 387 digs.

Mike MOnOSTrA/South Jersey Sports Weekly

Summer Wroniuk led Williamstown girls volleyball in digs and served as a leader for the Braves as the team won the 2019 Group 4 state title.

Wroniuk was a defensive standout, a leader on and off the court and South Jersey Sports Weekly’s selection as Girls Volleyball Player of the Year.

“It’s really crazy,” Wroniuk said of how the 2019 season turned out. “Four years flew by. It feels unreal.”

Wroniuk couldn’t have imagined being a Girls Volleyball Player of the Year when she first joined the program in 2016. Wroniuk hadn’t played the sport prior to high school, instead competing in gymnastics.

After she decided to quit gymnastics, Wroniuk looked for a new sport to play. That’s when head coach Chris Sheppard convinced her to join the volleyball program.

Wroniuk quickly progressed through the freshman and JV levels in her first season, eventually moving up to varsity

before her 2016 season was over. In 2017, Wroniuk stepped into the libero position for the first time after playing setter as a freshman.

“I was quick on my feet, so they said they were changing my position because the position wasn’t filled,” Wroniuk said.

“It was definitely a big role to fill. It was actually nerve wracking, but it was fun to fulfill.”

In volleyball, the libero is a player who can substitute for anyone in the back row of the court. Rules prevent the libero from making a kill on a ball above the net, going up to the net for a block or playing on the front row, making the player the leader of the defense in the back of the court.

“We’ve been fortunate in that we’ve had please see WRONIUK, page S5

DECEMBER 4-10, 2019 – SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY

Lenape’s Megan McKenna, Kingsway’s Abigail Brown and Cherokee’s Alex Kulinski were three of the players honored as part of the 2019 All-South Jersey team at halftime.

S3

The majority of the 2019 All-South Jersey team consisted of players from the Olympic Conference. Among those honored were Eastern’s Elise Pettisani, Camden Catholic’s Katie Walsh, Eastern’s Tara Somers and Lenape’s Megan McKenna.

Some of the top seniors from around South Jersey played their final high school game last Monday at Washington Township High School in the 2019 South Jersey Field Hockey Coaches Association Coaches Cup. The red team defeated blue, 3-1, with Eastern’s Elise Pettisani, Tara Somers and Egg Harbor Township’s Jette Trumbauer scoring for the winning team. Haddonfield’s Abby Marthins scored for the blue team. ■ Lenape’s Megan McKenna winds up for a shot for the red team.

Delsea’s Kylie Taylor moves the ball up the field for the blue team.

Clearview’s Gigi McAlpin tries to snag a loose ball.

Collingswood’s Lauren O’Neil leads the blue team on the attack.

ALL PHOTOS Mike Monostra/South Jersey Sports Weekly

Clearview junior Ali Palumbo smiles as she receives an award for being named to the 2019 All-South Jersey team at halftime.

SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY

PLAYER OF THE WEEK!

S4

SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY — DECEMBER 4-10, 2019

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

The Culmination of a commitment

Dalton Short

SHAWNEE HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR FOOTBALL

A veteran two-way player, Short was instrumental in the renegades’ playoff run that resulted in a South Jersey Group 4 championship. in the title game, Short ran for 102 yards and scored a touchdown on offense and recorded nine tackles (second on the team) on defense in a 28-0 win over Ocean City. During Shawnee’s first three postseason games, Short scored three touchdowns on offense (two rushing, one receiving) and also was credited with a forced fumble on defense.

Quotable: “Dalton Short has been a three-year starter at linebacker for the three-time state champion Shawnee renegades,” Shawnee head coach Tim Gushue said. “As a sophomore he registered 29 tackles, two sacks, and an interception and as a junior he took on more responsibilities and had 86 tackles and two sacks. As a senior, he currently has 96 tackles and a forced fumble. He is one of our senior captains and is a great role model for our younger players.”■

rYAn LAWrenCe/South Jersey Sports Weekly

Ethan Wechsler joked that he might have only been the fifth fastest freshman in his class three years ago. After making the decision to “go all in” on the sport, Wechsler became one of the top runners in the state, finishing fourth in the Meet of Champions in back-to-back seasons.

In the summer before his sophomore season, Cherokee’s Ethan Wechsler decided to dedicate his time to improving as a runner. Two years later, he’s won two state championships (one individual, one team) and earned a scholarship to Syracuse, too.

By RYAN LAWRENCE Sports Editor

When you follow up a breakout junior season by PR-ing at every course in the fall of your senior season and helping fuel your senior-laden team to the program’s first state title in a dozen years, it could be difficult to pinpoint a personal highlight or favorite moment.

Cherokee High School’s Ethan Wechsler has had a remarkable two-year run. The Syracuse University-bound runner was a top-five finisher at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions in each of his final two high school seasons.

But Wechsler didn’t hesitate to identify the top achievement of his high school career.

“Winning sectionals was fun, winning

county and conference we just expected that,” Wechsler said. “(But) winning Group 4 states was everything for us. We hadn’t won it since 2007. And plus, we didn’t have that great of a race.”

If the state meet had been scheduled for October, Wechsler would’ve been as confident as ever in his team. And with good reason: Cherokee had six of the top 10 finishers at the Olympic Conference Championships a week before Halloween.

But heading into the state meet at Holmdel on Nov. 16, the Chiefs weren’t at 100 percent.

“I think it shows the commitment everyone still had,” said Wechsler, who headed into Thanksgiving preparing for the Nike Northeast Regionals in Wappinger Falls, N.Y., with the hope of competing in Nationals in Oregon this month. “A lot of people would have been like, ‘Oh we don’t have (this person at 100 percent), so we’re just going to give up.’ But no one did that.”

The pride Wechsler has in his team’s ultimate accomplishment is a testament to his leadership and work ethic as a runner in a high school career that is culminating with him earning South Jersey Sports Weekly Boys Cross Country Athlete of the Year for the second straight year. “(If you would have told me I’d do that) after my freshman year, I would have been like, ‘What, I’m like the fifth fastest guy in my own class?’” Wechsler joked.

Wechsler’s path from uncertain freshman in a crowded class of talented ninth graders three years ago to finishing fourth at the Meet of Champions in consecutive years (his time this season was 15 seconds faster than last year’s finish) is a result of his commitment to the sport. Wechsler decided to take the sport seriously in the summer before his sophomore season.

“Might as well go all in,” Wechsler said.

“And I try to help a lot of (the younger) kids with that now. Everyone always thinks it’s some secret. But there isn’t any secret, you just do whatever Shak (Cherokee coach Steve Shaklee) tells you and you’ll be fine.

“It’s crazy. But I know how much everyone on the team runs, just because I’m around them all the time. Whoever does the most runs, it yields the most success. It’s really simple.”

With Wechsler and a senior class that includes at least three other athletes that will continue to run in college, Shaklee has some work cut out in molding the next championship Cherokee team. But he also has living, breathing examples of what you can acplease see WECHSLER, page S5

DECEMBER 4-10, 2019 – SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY

S5

SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY

AWARDS With the fall season coming to a close, South Jersey Sports Weekly will be naming Athletes of the Year in nine high school sports over the course of the next three weeks, as well as a boys’ and girls’ team of the year for the fall sports season.

The teams and players are selected from the 30 high schools within SJSW’s coverage area.

GIRLS TENNIS:

Renna Mohsen-Breen, Moorestown Friends GIRLS SOCCER:

Riley Tiernan, Eastern BOYS SOCCER:

Ryan Burrell, Delran FOOTBALL:

Aaron Lewis, Williamstown BOYS CROSS COUNTRY:

Ethan Wechsler, Cherokee GIRLS VOLLEYBALL:

Summer Wroniuk, Williamstown GYMNASTICS:

Coming next week FIELD HOCKEY:

Coming next week GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY:

Coming next week

GIRLS TEAM OF THE YEAR:

Eastern Field Hockey

BOYS TEAM OF THE YEAR:

Coming next week

rYAn LAWrenCe/South Jersey Sports Weekly

“It’s really a matter of what you’re willing to do to get there,” Cherokee coach Stephen Shaklee said of Ethan Wechsler.

“Everyone wants to get there. It’s the question of whether you’re the type of person that will do what you have to do to get there. And Ethan was that type of person. He decided he’d do everything.”

WECHSLER

continued from page S4 complish when you put in the work.

“It’s helpful and it’s something that can help motivate others,” Shaklee said. “I’ve used (Wechsler) already in talking to younger guys on the team. We (just) had a meeting with some of the JV guys, talking about what’s possible and telling them not to set their sights too low. You never know what you can achieve.

“It’s really a matter of what you’re willing to do to get there. Everyone wants to get there. It’s the question of whether you’re the type of person that will do what you have to do to get there. And Ethan was that type of person. He decided he’d do everything.”

Although Wechsler was the runner-up individually in the Group 4 state meet, a year after taking the title, his time this year was more than 26 seconds faster. This was the

pattern he followed throughout his senior season, and in his high school career, too.

Each year, each race, he’d set new PRs. As with selecting a most memorable moment, Wechsler again points to the team, the chemistry of his class and collective commitment they made to the team and each other, as a leading factor to his own achievements.

“I don’t think I’ve done a run alone in like three weeks,” Wechsler said. “So we all push each other. If you have six people checking you — ‘Did you run yet? Did you run? — it really gets to you, instead of being self-reliant or only having one person check up on you. …

The team is like family at this point.”

And like any family, Cherokee’s cross country team is actually celebrating Thanksgiving together. Enjoying a holiday feast and reveling in all that Wechsler and his teammates accomplished this fall. ■

Mike MOnOSTrA/South Jersey Sports Weekly

Williamstown’s Summer Wroniuk tosses the ball up for a serve during an October match at Cherry Hill East. In addition to leading the team in digs, Wroniuk was also one of the Braves’ top servers in 2019 with 62 aces.

WRONIUK

continued from page S2 some really good liberos come through in a 12-year stretch,” Sheppard said. “She’s right there with any of them.”

Sheppard believes Wroniuk was so successful because of her ability to break down a play moments after it happened. “(I’ll) watch her replay the point in her mind and what she did bad or what she did good,” Sheppard said. “I watched a few players come through where they replay a point in their mind and everyone who’s ever done it has turned out to be a really good player.”

One area where Wroniuk emerged this season was as a leader. Wroniuk credited the team’s past captains for their encouragement and leadership, allowing her to step into that role.

“As the years went on, it just kind of grew and grew,” Wroniuk said of her leadership abilities. “I got closer to my teammates.”

Sheppard said one of Wroniuk’s best assets was her ability to stay

Story idea? Email us: news@southjerseysportsweekly.com

composed in pressure situations.

“She gets fired up when we’re doing well, but she also stays at an even keel and she’s been at the varsity level since her freshman year,” Sheppard said. “That’s another good attribute; she doesn’t get flustered.”

As excited as she was to be named Girls Volleyball Player of the Year, Wroniuk said it can’t match the feeling of winning a state title. Being able to achieve the Braves’ ultimate goal after coming up short in her first three seasons is something Wroniuk will remember forever.

“Everything came together,” she said. “Four years was definitely a long time, so to get that goal was a big accomplishment.”

Sheppard believes Wroniuk will leave a lasting impression on the program. He sees Wroniuk’s story of going from a novice player to defensive star as an inspiration for future Braves.

“She worked to get where she’s at,” Sheppard said. “If we get other kids with the same kind of commitment, maybe they’ll put themselves in the same conversation as Summer Wroniuk.” ■

@SJSportsWeekly

South Jersey Sports Weekly

Follow us online: SouthJerseySportsWeekly.com

S6

SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY — DECEMBER 4-10, 2019

FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Lewis steps up in the biggest moments for Williamstown The Michigan-bound defensive lineman led the Braves with nine sacks and made a championshipclinching sack in the South Jersey Group 5 final against Lenape

By MIKE MONOSTRA Sports Editor

The waning seconds of the South Jersey Group 5 championship game gave Williamstown senior Aaron Lewis a chance to prove he was one of the best defensive players in the state.

The University of Michigan-commit led the Williamstown defense onto the field with a 14-10 lead over Lenape and less than a minute remaining in the game. Before the Indians’ drive started, Lewis took a moment to take in the atmosphere.

“As soon as we got on that field after we scored and we had to stop them … I was just standing there, thinking, these are the moments you live for,” he said.

“Blowout wins are such a good thing to have, but playing in those situations where you have to make a play and you have to get to the ball, those are the things I’ll cherish the rest of my life.”

Lewis stepped up to the occasion, forcing a Lenape fumble on the final play of the game to seal the victory and a second straight state title for the Braves.

Lewis’ performance in the sectional final was just one of the numerous clutch moments the Williamstown senior had in 2019. Despite being double-teamed throughout the year, Lewis managed to record 80 tackles and nine sacks in 12 games, helping the defense earn five shutouts despite playing in what many believed to be the toughest division in the West Jersey Football League. Lewis’ strong play make him South Jersey

Mike Monostra/South Jersey Sports Weekly

Aaron Lewis led Williamstown with nine sacks in 2019 and helped the Braves win back-to-back sectional titles for the first time in program history.

Sports Weekly’s Football Player of the Year..

“He’s been doing it all year, not just in (the sectional final),” head coach Frank Fucetola said.

“Aaron’s been doing it play after play for 12 games. I expect him to do it, because that’s how he’s been doing it all year.”

Lewis has played a big role in making Williamstown football one of the top programs in South Jersey over the past two seasons. He became a force on the varsity team two seasons ago when he recorded seven sacks as a sophomore. Ever since then, Lewis has been on the radar of opposing teams as offenses tried to figure out how to neutralize him.

“I just tried not to make excuses,” he said.

“I didn’t want to come off the field saying,

‘I’m not making plays man. They’re sitting here, double-teaming me.’ It just wanted to make me work harder. It made me want to go out and watch videos and figure out how to stop those double-teams.”

Despite the double-teams and extra focus, Lewis was able to record a career-high nine sacks this season. Four of those sacks came in Williamstown’s two victories over Lenape, the two toughest wins the Braves had all season.

Lewis stepped up to the plate for a defense missing several key pieces due to injuries.

However, he refuses to take much of the credit for the defense’s success, instead saying players such as defensive lineman Donovan Ezeiruaku and linebackers Joey Racobaldo

and Turner Inge were just as responsible.

“They helped so much,” said Lewis, adding his teammates helped take the focus off him.

“Donovan, Joe, knowing everyone’s situation, knowing we had a lot of injuries, they stepped into really big roles this season.”

Lewis wasn’t exempt from avoiding the injury bug. In the final game of the regular season against St. Augustine, Lewis suffered a UCL tear in his right hand. The injury forced Lewis to play with a cast just as the playoffs were kicking off.

“I feel like the injury made me play harder,” he said. “In the beginning, I didn’t know how it would affect me with the cast on. After practicing, after trying a couple of things out, it wasn’t really that bad.”

Even while dealing with the injury, Lewis continued to play with the same energy he had all season. Fucetola believes the defense fed off of Lewis’ energy all season and feels Lewis’ work ethic and heart allowed him to achieve success throughout his career.

“The maturity part, the physical part and his overall commitment to our program and doing things right,” Fucetola said on areas where Lewis improved.

“He’s the best ball player in the state, in my opinion.”

One game remains in Lewis’ high school career as Williamstown will face Cherokee on Dec. 7 in the Central/South Group 5 regional championship at Rutgers University.

After coming up short in that game last season, Lewis called the game against Cherokee a “must-win” for the Braves.

However, no matter what happens in the final game, Lewis will always remember the final play he ever had on his home field, where his final strip sack clinched a championship for the Braves.

“I just took a moment to look at the scoreboard, look around me and just enjoy it for a little bit, because I knew it was going to be one of my last times (on a high school field),” he said.

“Ending with that play is something I’ll never forget.” ■

DECEMBER 4-10, 2019 – SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY

RYAN LAWRENCE/South Jersey Sports Weekly

Eastern Regional High School players welcome Kylie Zielinski onto the field during pregame introductions at the Tournament of Champions championship game.

EASTERN

continued from page S1 uniform, wearing the weight of the program’s prestigious history each time they take the turf, this year’s version of the Vikings’ seemingly unstoppable field hockey program rose to the challenge of the toughest schedule in team history, gracefully dealt with the losses of two All-Americans last spring, one to graduation and another, current senior Kara Heck, likely the top player in the state, to injury, and added their own hardware to the school’s trophy case, too.

Eastern’s field hockey team, which finished the season as the No. 2 team in the nation, is South Jersey Sports Weekly’s selection as the girls fall Team of the Year.

“It’s exciting,” said Heilig, who has a 513-14-6 record in 21 seasons at Eastern. “There are some outstanding athletic teams (in South Jersey). So I’m proud that we are. I think the fact that we challenge ourselves and continue to challenge ourselves kind of sets us apart. And I think that’s what’s exciting for the girls. Being a part of this

program is a lifestyle. And they buy into it. It’s allowed them to be super successful.”

In 2019, Eastern was challenged right out of the gate.

They trailed 1-0 at halftime against eventual-state finalist Camden Catholic on the opening day of the fall season before rebounding en route to a 4-1 win.

Eleven days later, the Vikings began a stretch over four consecutive weekends of testing themselves against the best teams near and far. After a 4-1 loss to Oak Knoll on Sept.

14, Eastern collected wins over Cox (Va.), New Trier (Illinois), Downingtown West (Pa.), Sacred Heart (Ky.), and Wyoming Seminary (Pa.).

Eastern didn’t just win those games, but won most of them fairly easily, by a combined score of 39-5. When the season was complete, Eastern defeated five teams ranked in the Top 25 in the country and state champions from four different states.

“It was really cool,” senior goalkeeper Nina Santore said.

“Because what high school team gets to say they’re playing top teams from other states?”

The philosophy of taking on out-of-state titans was simple:

New Jersey field hockey is among the best in the country, so why not prepare for a postseason run against the best other states have to offer?

“I just think it’s fun,” Heilig said. “I don’t think it’s fun stepping on a field and beating someone 13-0 and stalling the ball for 15 or 20 minutes. And I think it shows the kids that they really are the No. 2 team in the nation. We beat an Illinois state champ, a (Pennsylvania) state champ, a Virginia state champ. .. I literally put the most challenging schedule together that I could and we friggin’ rocked it.

We rocked it.”

The fact that Eastern, which will see all nine of its seniors move on to play the sport at the collegiate level next fall, was able to “rock” that schedule, and advance to the final game of the year, an opportunity to avenge its only loss in the TOC championship game, without the services of Kara Heck, Sun Newspapers Player of the Year in 2018, is a testament to the program as a whole.

Is it easy to expect 14- and 15-year-old girls to come into a varsity program with such a storied history and never feel the enormity of the winning

streaks and state title streaks, and the stress of keeping it all alive? Of course not.

While they’re still teenagers, the athletes that decide to play field hockey at Eastern are ultra-competitive and mentally tough. They thrive under the pressure of the program.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a pressure,” Jung said. “We have high expectations that we put on ourselves and that just motivates us to do better and to strive to do great things.”

“It pushes you to be the best,” Santore added.

“You definitely feel pressure,” Pettisani said, “but it’s more of a support system rather than you’re feeling that you have to live up to something.

Each year we’re our own team and each year we’re working toward the program that was built before us. It just motivates us to work harder for the legacies behind us.”

When they held up the fourth state championship the school collected during their high school careers, Eastern’s seniors could look back on the

S 7

program’s 97-6-1 record during those four years, of playing in four Tournament of Champions championship games, of never losing a game to a South Jersey opponent and of losing just four games to in-state foes.

The dynasty appears to be alive and well.

“Every year is a different group,” Heilig said, “and I can really look back and remember teams, specifically what stood out about that team and what I remember about that team. I think you have to look at it as a new year. I think if you’re talking to 14-, 15-, 16- and 17-year-old kids and you’re talking about the years before them, my lord, it weighs on them enough. It could frighten them.

“I think it’s more about what they’re doing, and the game in front of them, and the support of the people that played before them, and that’s really what we talk about. It’s about the love of the program and the enjoyment of the program and the memories that they’re making that I want them to reflect on.” ■

Why Our Jewelry?

Our jewelry is handcrafted and uses unique materials imported from Uruguay.

please scan here to shop

visit us @ customcrystalboutique.com or

SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY — DECEMBER 4-10, 2019

S8

. m

GaskosFamilyFarm.com

Come Check Out Our NEWLY EXPANDED CHRISTMAS SHOP With Loads of Reasonably Priced Gifts & More!

W

Family Farm & Greenhouses

732-446-9205

Gasko’s is Your 1 Stop Shop!

112 Federal Road, Monroe Twp.

WE ARE OPEN THRU CHRISTMAS

BUNDLES OF WHITE BALSAM BRANCHES

8

2

$ 99

$ 99

Crosses, Candy Canes, Centerpieces

THE BEST CUT TREE!

Premium 7 ft. to 8 ft. Frasir Firs

THE BEST CHRISTMAS TREES

39

99 Limit 2 per Only $ customer Loads of live christmas trees to choose from!

COCONEST BASKETS 34 $

Beautifully Decorated

Local Honey

99

SEASONED FIREWOOD

Buy 4 Pallets for $150.00 Approximately 1 Cord

Free Delivery within 15 Miles

40

$

00

PALLET

Approximately 1/4 Cord

LARGE DECORATED ALBERTA SPRUCE SWAGS & $ 99 KISSING Each BALLS 3 GALLON POT FOR

2Custom Made 30Bows & Lights $

15

BEAUTIFUL ALBERTA SPRUCE

3With Custom 30Made Bows FOR

$

10

$

99

Each

3 GALLON POT

BOTH DECORATED & UNDECORATED

Decorated Kissing Balls Starting at

19

$

99

Gasko’s has some of the most beautiful decorated wreaths and blankets – It’s worth the trip even if you just want to look around at the beautiful poinsettias

OVER 100,000 MAGNIFICENT

POINSETTIAS

to choose from, grown on premises!

6” Pot 5-7 Flowers ... 4 for $1000

Large 8” Pot 12-15 Flowers ......... $9.99 Selection of with Decorative Foil Christmas 10” over 20 Flowers ....... $19.99 Bows with Decorative Foil Thousands & Thousands of

LARGE SELECTION OF WREATHS

Decorated GRAVE BLANKETS

UNDECORATED - DOUBLE-FACED

6 ea.

16” ring size ..... 8 ea. $ 00 24” ring size ..... 14 ea. $ 00 36” ring size ..... 25 ea. $ 00 48” ring size ..... 60 ea.

12” ring size .....

or $2.99 each with Decorative Foil

with Decorative Foil

Beautiful Selection of Live Arrangements & Centerpieces!

$ 00 $ 00

Starting at

9

$ 99

Up to $5999 each

Each

(Actual size of wreath much larger)

75 ft. WHITE PINE ROPING

2499

$

4

$

99 Each

Starting at

8

$ 99

Each

GOOD SELECTION OF SHRUBS TO CHOOSE FROM

Gift tes Certifica e Availabl

HAND-MADE BOWS

DECORATED WREATHS

Our Own Candle Company

SCENTED CANDLES $

2 10 FOR

13 oz. Burns up to 100 hours

QUALITY TOP SOIL 40 lb. Bags

7 For $10

SUPER DEAL

CASH OR CHECKS ONLY!

2 Cu. Ft. Bags

NO DEBIT OR CREDIT CARDS!

BLACK MULCH

5 For $10