For local athletes, 2012 was a year that saw some breakthrough championships achieved by Princeton University programs while some traditional high school powers hit new heights.

In February, the Princeton men’s squash team drew national attention as it beat Trinity College 5-4 in the College Squash Association (CSA) team championship match to snap the Bantams’ 13-year national title streak.

Tiger senior distance star Donn Cabral made an impact on the national scene, winning the NCAA title in the steeplechase before going on to make the U.S. team for the Olympics and placing eighth in the event at the London Games.

Coming into the fall, the Princeton field hockey team welcomed back four stars who had taken a year away from school to train with the U.S. national program with two of them, the Reinprecht sisters, Katie and Julia, ending up playing for the U.S. squad in London. The presence of the Reinprechts together with Kat Sharkey and Michelle Cesan made the Tigers a surefire national title contender. Coach Kristen Holmes-Winn’s team lived up to those expectations, going 21-1 and edging North Carolina 3-2 in the NCAA championship game to win the program’s first-ever national crown.

Led by senior star Jen Hoy, the Tiger women’s soccer team went undefeated in Ivy League play and topped West Virginia 2-1 in the opening round of the NCAA tournament to win their first game in the national tourney since their run to the 2004 Final Four.

On the high school scene, the Princeton High boys’ swimming team proved to be a powerhouse for the ages. Coach Greg Hand’s squad went 17-0 and routed Scotch Plains-Fanwood 109-61 in the state Public B championship meet to earn the program’s first-ever state crown. The Little Tigers broke eight school records in that final meet.

Over at the Princeton Day School, star guard Davon Reed averaged 24.3 points a game to help the Panthers make their first state Prep B final since 2004. In the spring, the Panther boys’ lacrosse team made its first-ever appearance in the Mercer County Tournament title game.

Led by senior stars Bryell Wheeler and Elyssa Gensib, the PHS girls track team had a big spring. In early May, it won its first-ever outdoor Mercer County Championship. Weeks later, the Little Tigers prevailed at the Central Jersey Group III meet, earning their first sectional crown since PHS took the Central Jersey Group II title in 1989.

In first week of the fall season, it didn’t look like  the PHS boys’ soccer team was heading to any title as it dropped two of its first three games. Coach Wayne Sutcliffe’s team righted the ship and ended its season by tying Ramapo 1-1 in the state Group III title game to share the crown. It was the second title in four years for the program, which had taken the title in 2009. The Little Tigers girls’ soccer team nearly matched that feat, winning its first-ever sectional title before falling in the state semis.

History was made on the tennis court as PDS singles star Samantha Asch ended her brilliant career in style. The Wake-Forest bound Asch won the first singles title at the MCT, giving her four individual crowns at the competition. She wrapped up the fall by winning the first singles title at the state Prep B tournament, helping the Panthers to the team title.

The PHS girls’ tennis team produced a championship campaign as well. Led by freshman singles star Christina Rosca, the Little Tigers won the Central Jersey Group III sectional crown and topped Moorestown in the state semis to make the finals for the first time since 1999. PHS fell in the final to Mendham to suffer its only defeat of the fall.

Winter Wonders

Coming into the College Squash Association (CSA) men’s team championships this past February, Princeton head coach Bob Callahan thought that hosting the tournament gave his team a fighting chance of beating Trinity and making history as the Bantams brought a 13-year title streak into the weekend.

Although the Tigers had lost 7-2 to Trinity in the regular season, the matches were tight and Callahan believed that having a raucous crowd on hand at the Jadwin Squash Courts could make a difference.

After breezing past Dartmouth in the quarterfinals and Cornell in the semis, Princeton found Trinity waiting for it in the title match. The Bantams found themselves facing a Tiger team inspired by a standing-room only crowd packing the courts.

Hours later, the Princeton players and fans were enjoying a triumph for the ages, as the Tigers pulled off a 5-4 triumph with senior Kelly Shannon winning the match that clinched the title and ended Trinity’s amazing run.

The win gave Callahan’s squad a 15-1 record with a quintet of Tigers earning All-American honors- junior Todd Harrity, senior Chris Callis, freshman Tyler Osborne, freshman Samuel Kang, and Shannon.

Weeks after finally overcoming Trinity, head coach Callahan faced a new battle as he learned that he had a malignant brain tumor. He had surgery in March and was back on the courts in the fall although he took a day off in October to get inducted into the U.S. Squash Hall of Fame.

The women’s squash team made a good run of its own, advancing to the CSA Howe Cup national semifinals. Coach Gail Ramsay’s team ended up placing fourth, led by All Americans junior Julie Cerullo, sophomore Libby Eyre, and freshman Nicole Bunyan.

Upstairs in Jadwin Gym, the Princeton University women’s basketball team continued its domination of the Ivy League, going 24-5 overall and 14-0 in Ivy play on the way to its third straight league crown. The Tigers became the first Ivy women’s team to ever make the national Top 25, climbing to 24th in the final regular season poll.

Coach Courtney Banghart’s team came agonizingly close to posting the program’s first win in the NCAA tournament, falling 67-64 to Kansas State in the opening round of the tourney.

Princeton’s great season led to its players receiving many accolades. Junior star Niveen Rasheed bounced back from a season-ending ACL injury in her sophomore year to earn Ivy League Player of the Year honors. Classmate Lauren Polansky was named the Ivy Defensive Player of the Year for a second straight season. Senior stars Lauren Edwards and Devona Allgood were All-Ivy picks in their final campaign and each ended their career with more than 1,000 points. Former Princeton men’s hoops star Mitch Henderson ’98 took over the men’s hoops program, replacing former teammate Sydney Johnson, who left his alma mater to take over the Fairfield University program. Henderson, who had previously served as an assistant coach at Northwestern for 10 years under former Tiger head coach Bill Carmody, made a smooth transition, guiding Princeton to a solid Ivy campaign and some postseason success.

After finishing third in the Ivy standings with a 10-4 league record, the Tigers were selected to play in the College Basketball Invitational and topped Evansville in the first round before falling to Pitt in the quarterfinals to end the season at 20-12. Senior star and former Hun School standout Douglas Davis ended his stellar career in style, finishing with 1,550 points, second in program history to the legendary Bill Bradley. Junior Ian Hummer was a first-team All-Ivy pick and passed the 1,000-point mark in his career.

A new coach took over at Baker Rink as longtime St. Lawrence assistant Bob Prier assumed the reins of the Princeton men’s hockey team as Guy Gadowsky left the Tigers to be the head coach at Penn State for its new D-I program. Princeton took some lumps as the players and Prier worked to get on the same page. The team posted some encouraging performances down the stretch, tying No. 9 Cornell 3-3 and topping No. 12 Colgate 6-2.

In the opening round of the ECAC Hockey playoffs Princeton pushed Yale to a decisive third game before falling 7-3 to end the winter at 9-16-7. Junior defenseman Michael Sdao was a first-team All Ivy and second-team All-ECACH pick while junior forward Andrew Calof was a second-team All-Ivy selection.

In the early going, the women’s hockey team looked like it might be headed to a long season as it started out 6-9-1.  But with senior goalie Rachel Weber leading the way, coach Jeff Kampersal’s squad got on the right track, going 6-4-1 in its last 11 games. In the ECACH quarters, the Tigers put up a valiant fight at nationally–ranked Harvard but dropped two tight games to end the season with a 12-15-4 record. Star goalie Weber earned second-team All-ECACH accolades as she posted a 2.13 goals against average with a .926 save percentage.

At DeNunzio Pool, coach Rob Orr’s men’s swimming team remained at the top of the Ivy heap, winning its fourth straight league championship. A trio of senior captains, Jon Christensen, Colin Cordes and Mike Monovoukas, each of whom were multiple-time first-team All-Ivy League honorees, led the way for the Tigers. Christensen went on to make All-American honors by placing seventh in the 200 breaststroke in the NCAA championship meet.

While coach Susan Teeter’s women’s swimming team fell just short of matching its male counterparts as they placed second to Harvard in the Ivy championship meet, sophomore Lisa Boyce solidified her status as a rising star. Boyce won three races at the Ivy championships and went on to finish in the top 40 in the NCAA meet in two events and compete in the U.S. Olympic Trials in the summer.

Showing its depth and talent, the men’s track team edged Cornell to win the Ivy League Indoor Track Heptagonal Championships for the third straight year. Coach Fred Samara’s team got individual wins from senior Donn Cabral in the 5,000, junior Peter Callahan in the 800, junior Russell Dinkins in the 500, sophomore Tom Hopkins in the 400, sophomore Conor McCullough in the weight throw, sophomore Damon McLean in the triple jump, and junior Trevor Van Ackeren in the 1,000.

The women’s track team finished sixth in the indoor Heps. The 4×800 relay team of Greta Feldman, Alexis Mikaelian, and Kacie O’Neil and Kristen Smoot placed first as did junior pole vaulter Tory Worthen to provide the highlights for coach Peter Farrell’s squad at the meet.

Senior Daniel Kolodzik had a big year for the wrestling team, making first-team All-Ivy at 157 pounds. Princeton hosted the 2012 EIWA Championships and head coach Chris Ayre’s team provided the home fans with some memorable moments. Junior Garret Frey took second at 125 while Kolodzik was fourth at 157.

Kolodzik, Frey, and sophomore Adam Krop went on to compete at the NCAA Championships.

Spring Shifts

Coming off a 2011 season that was derailed due to a rash of injuries, the men’s lacrosse team rebounded with a memorable campaign. Coach Chris Bates led his team a 6-0 Ivy League campaign and the league’s regular season title. Although the Tigers fell to Yale in the title game at the Ivy tournament, Princeton did make the NCAA tournament through an at-large bid.

Playing at defending national champion Virginia, the Tigers put up a valiant fight before losing 6-5 to end their season at 11-5 overall, a marked improvement on the 4-8 mark posted in the nightmare 2011 campaign. A trio of seniors, defenseman Chad Wiedmaier, goalie Tyler Fiorito, and longstick midfielder John Cunningham earned All-American recognition along with emerging sophomore star Tom Schreiber. After tallying 60 points on 32 goals and 28 assists, good for ninth-place on Princeton’s single-season list, Schreiber figures to be Princeton’s go-to player in the future.

The women’s lacrosse team posted a winning record but narrowly missed out on postseason play. Coach Chris Sailer’s squad went 8-7 with Jaci Gassaway, Cassie Pyle and Lindsey deButts earning first-team All-Ivy League recognition. Freshman Erin McMunn was an honorable mention choice and the Ivy Rookie of the Year.

Over at Clarke Field, the baseball team came agonizingly close to making the Ivy Championship Series, going 20-19 overall and 13-7 in league play, falling one win short of the Gehrig Division title. Coach Scott Bradley’s team got a superb season from junior pitcher Zak Hermans, who was named Ivy League Pitcher of the Year and led the Tigers in wins (6), ERA (3.00), strikeouts (60), opposing batting average (.241) and innings pitched (63.0). Senior Sam Mulroy and junior Alec Keller joined Hermans as first-team All Ivy picks.

It was a tough year for the softball team as it went 14-32 overall and 8-12 in Ivy play. After the season, Trina Salcido stepped down as the head coach, ending a five-year tenure that saw her guide the Tigers to the 2008 league crown. She was replaced in June by Lisa Sweeney, a former star pitcher at Lehigh and an assistant coach with Penn.

With the NCAA championship regatta being held at nearby Mercer Lake, the women’s open crew team gave the home fans something to cheer about. Coach Lori Dauphiny’s varsity eight took fourth in the grand final and the Tigers placed fourth overall in the team standings at the competition. Earlier, Princeton won the team points title at the inaugural Ivy League Sprints. Senior Kelly Pierce and junior Heidi Robbins earned first-team All-American recognition.

The women’s lightweight crew took fifth at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) grand final. Coach Paul Rassam credited his two senior stars, Emily Clonts and Kathryn O’Connell, with providing the leadership that kept the top boat on course.

After taking fourth at the Eastern Sprints, the men’s heavyweight varsity eight placed seventh in the IRA regatta. The future looks bright for coach Greg Hughes program as the top boat included only one senior, Ian Silveira.

The men’s lightweight top boat made the top six at both the eastern Sprints and the IRAs, taking third in the former and sixth in the latter. Coach Marty Crotty and the program said goodbye to a decorated group of seniors that included Steven Cutler, Gianthomas Volpe, Alex Rubert, Derek Porter and Connor Edel.

Over at DeNunzio Pool, the women’s water polo team produced a breakthrough season, winning the Eastern title on the way to making its first-ever trip to the NCAA championships. Coach Luis Nicolao’s team went 29-6 and placed sixth in the NCAA tourney.

Sophomore Katie Rigler was named the CWPA Southern Division Player of the Year and earned first-team All-Southern honors along with classmate Molly McBee. Senior goalie Kristen Ward and senior center defender Audrey Zak earned second-team All-Southern recognition.

The men’s volleyball team made progress, going 13-10 and making the EIVA semifinals. Coach Sam Schweisky’s team got superb play from Cody Kessel, who  was named both the 2012 EIVA Newcomer of the Year and a member of the All-EIVA First Team. Junior middle Michael Dye also earned first team honors while senior captain and three-year setter Scott Liljestrom was named to the second team.

Men’s golf placed fifth in the Ivy Championship with senior Evan Hermeling and sophomore Greg Jarmas earning All-Ivy honors for coach Will Green’s squad.

Sophomore Kelly Shon added to her already impressive resume for the women’s golf team. She placed seventh in the Ivy Championship as coach Nicki Cutler’s team placed seventh in the team standings. Shon went on to compete in the NCAA East Regional, the U.S. Women’s Open, and the USGA Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship.

Senior distance star Donn Cabral produced a milestone outdoor season for the men’s track team. The Glastonbury, Conn. native won the NCAA championship in the steeplechase, becoming the first Princeton track athlete to win an NCAA title since Tora Harris won the high jump in 2002.

Earlier in the season, Cabral helped coach Fred Samara’s team win the Ivy League Heptagonal outdoor championship, marking the program’s second straight triple crown emblematic of sweeping the Heps cross country, indoor, and outdoor titles. Cabral placed first in the steeplechase and the 10,000. Other individual victors for Princeton included Tom Hopkins in the 400, Conor McCullough in the hammer throw, Damon McLean in the triple jump, and Joe Stilin in the 5,000.

Junior Greta Feldman had a breakout year for the women’s track team, taking fifth in the 1,500 at the NCAA championships. Coach Peter Farrell’s women’s squad took second at the Outdoor Hep behind Cornell. Feldman won the 800 at the meet and helped the 4×800 relay to victory while senior Eileen Moran placed first in the 100 and 200 and helped 4×100 relay to victory. Junior Tory Worthen won the pole vault.

Junior Matija Pecotic solidified his status as one of the top players ever for the men’s tennis program, getting named the Ivy League Player of the Year for a second straight year. The Tigers went 12-12 overall and 3-4 in Ivy play and longtime head coach Glenn Michibata resigned after the season. He was replaced in late May by Billy Pate, the head coach at the University of Alabama for the previous 10 years.

The doubles pair of freshman Lindsay Graff and senior Hilary Bartlett  earned first-team All-Ivy honors as the women’s tennis team went 12-10 overall and 5-2 in Ivy play. After the season, head coach Megan Bradley-Rose left the program to pursue opportunities in her home state of Florida. She was replaced in June by former women’s pro tennis star Laura Granville.

Olympian Efforts

A number of current and former Princeton athletes competed at the London Summer Olympics in August, producing some memorable performances.

Tiger athletes ended the London Olympics with seven medals, piling up a gold (Caroline Lind ’06- U.S. women’s 8), two silvers (Adreanne Morin ’06 and Lauren Wilkinson ’11 – Canada women’s 8), and a bronze (Glenn Ochal ’08- men’s four) in rowing, a bronze in women’s soccer (Diana Matheson ’05- Canada), and two bronzes in fencing (Maya Lawrence ’02 and Susie Scanlan ’14 – U.S. team epee).

In rowing, other Tigers performed well as Sarah Hendershot ’10 and partner Sarah Zalenka took fourth in  the women’s pairs while Sam Loch ‘06 helped the Australian men’s 8 take sixth, Gevvie Stone placed seventh in the women’s single sculls, and Robin Prendes ’11 helped the U.S. men’s lightweight finish eighth in their competition.

Fencing star Soren Thompson ’05 made his return to the Olympic epee competition after taking seventh at the 2004 Olympics. In London, Thompson was eliminated in the round of 32.

Recently graduated Donn Cabral ’12 became the first Princeton track and field athlete since high jumper Tora Harris to earn a spot in the Olympics as he made the U.S. team in the steeplechase. Cabral finished a solid eighth as he clocked a time of 8:25.91 for the 3,000-meter race, less than eight seconds behind the winner, Ezekiel Kemboi of Kenya.

The Reinprecht sisters, Katie ’13 and Julia ’14, were key performers for the U.S. field hockey team that took 12th place, highlighted by a win over eventual silver medalist Argentina.

Another Princeton alum, David Blatt ’81, earned a medal in a coaching capacity as he guided Russia to an 81-77 victory over Argentina in the bronze medal game. It was the highest Olympic finish in men’s basketball for Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union prior to the 1992 Games.

Fall Focus

With four players, Kat Sharkey, Michelle Cesan, Katie Reinprecht, and Julia Reinprecht, returning to the field hockey team after taking a year off to train with the national team, the Tigers were seen as a surefire contender for the program’s first NCAA title.

Coach Kristen Holmes-Winn’s squad proved to be a powerhouse, losing just once in the regular season and dominating Ivy League play by outscoring foes 45-1 in going 7-0 in league play.

Taking a No. 2 seed into the NCAA tournament, the Tigers cruised past Lafayette, Drexel, and Virginia to advance to the Final Four. In the semis, the Tigers survived a nailbiter, edging defending national champion Maryland 3-2 in overtime. In the title game, Princeton fought back from two deficits to nip North Carolina 3-2 to fulfill its destiny.

The Tigers finished the season with a 21-1 record and the honors rolled in. Holmes-Winn was named as the national coach of the year while senior midfielder Katie Reinprecht was selected as the national player of the year. Sharkey ended her career as the all-time leading scorer in program history and earned All-American honors along with the Reinprecht sisters, Cesan and junior goalie Christina Maida.

Led by a group of eight seniors, the women’s soccer team produced a memorable campaign. Coach Julie Shackford’s squad went undefeated in Ivy League play, a marked improvement from a frustrating 6-10-1 season in 2011.

The Tigers went on to top West Virginia 2-1 in the opening round of the NCAA tournament, posting the program’s first win in the national tournament since its 2004 run to the Final Four. Princeton fell 3-1 to Marquette in the second round of the NCAAs to finish with a 14-4-1 record. Senior star Jen Hoy was named the Ivy Player of the Year after scoring 18 goals, the second best single season total in program history. Hoy was joined on the All-Ivy first-team by classmates Allison Nabatoff and Rachel Sheehy together with junior Gabriella Guzman and sophomore Lauren Lazo.

The men’s soccer team fell just short of an Ivy crown, going 4-1-2 in league play. Coach Jim Barlow’s squad was led by senior co-captains Mark Linnville and Matt Sanner, who both earned first-team All-Ivy recognition. Sanner’s younger brother, freshman forward Thomas, was an honorable mention All-Ivy pick and the league’s Rookie of the Year.

Coming off back-to-back 1-9 campaigns, the football team chose the word “believe” as its mantra as it looked to produce a turnaround season. After dropping its first two games, Princeton looked to be heading down the same path. But coach Bob Surace’s team caught fire, winning four straight games to put itself atop the Ivy race. Included among those wins was an amazing comeback victory over defending champion Harvard that saw the Tigers rally from a 34-10 fourth quarter deficit to pull out a 39-34 win.

While Princeton lost three of its last four games, the team still ended up at 5-5 overall and 4-3 in the Ivy, the program’s best one-season turnaround in more than two decades. A special highlight came after the Dartmouth game when the campus held the traditional bonfire celebration, emblematic of beating Harvard and Yale in the same season.

Senior defensive lineman Mike Catapano won the Bushnell Cup as the Ivy Defensive Player of the Year. Catapano was joined on the All-Ivy first team by classmate and fellow defensive lineman Caraun Reid and freshman Anthony Gaffney, who was honored as both a defensive back and a return specialist.

Juniors Chris Bendtsen and Alejandro Arroyo Yamin placed first and second for  the men’s cross country team as the Tigers won the Heps. It was sixth Heps crown in the last seven years for the program and first for new head coach Jason Vigilante.

The women’s cross country team fell just short of matching their male counterparts, taking second at the Heps. Junior Greta Feldman finished eighth to lead the way for coach Peter Farrell’s squad.

The men’s water polo team was ranked in the top 20 all season long but ended up short of making a return trip to the NCAAs as it took third at the Eastern Championships. Coach Luis Nicolao’s team was led by sophomore Drew Hoffenberg and senior Tim Wenzlau, who were both named to the CWPA All-Southern Team.

Senior Lydia Rudnick ended her career on the women’s volleyball in style, leading the Ivy League in both kills (370) and points (415) on the way to a being a unanimous first-team All-Ivy League honoree. She was joined on the All-Ivy first team by freshman Kendall Peterkin as the Tigers went 12-12 overall and 9-5 in league play for coach Sabrina King to tie Columbia for second in the Ivies.

Hun

Under new head coach Ian McNally, the Hun School boys’ hockey team showed progress. Led by the trio of goalie Devin Cheifetz, forward Alex Vukasin, and defenseman Brad Stern, the Raiders advanced to the championship game of the Independence Hockey League (IHL) and finished with a 10-9-1 record.

The Hun girls’ basketball team also made it to a championship game as it played in the state Prep A title contest where the Raiders fell to Blair. Coach Bill Holup’s squad went 15-12 as it was paced by seniors guards Ashley Ravelli and Jackie Mullen. Holup notched the 250th win of his coaching career with a 50-48 victory over Lawrenceville in the Prep A semis.

Hosting the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) tournament, the boys’ hoops team pulled some upsets on the way to the title game. Coach Jon Stone’s team fell to Blair in the championship contest and then lost to the Buccaneers days later in the Prep A semis to end the winter at 14-12.

Junior Kate Weeks provided the offensive punch for the Hun girls’ lacrosse team. The Boston College-bound Weeks had a number of multiple-goal games as coach Beth Loffredo’s team went 5-6.

Welcoming new head coach Don Green, the Hun boys’ lax team experienced some ups and downs as it went 7-11. Senior Iain Alexandridis provided scoring and leadership as the Raiders worked a number of young players into their lineup.

Senior star David Dudeck provided plenty of offense for the Hun baseball team, hitting .418 with three homers and 20 RBIs. But hurt by some injuries and inconsistent pitching, head coach Bill McQuade’s team finished at 9-14.

The battery of pitcher Danielle Beal and power-hitting catcher Carey Million starred for the Hun softball team. Coach Kathy Quirk’s team overcame a slow start to go 9-7 and reach the state Prep A semifinals.

Senior first singles star Chris Seitz placed third at the Mercer County Tournament as coach Todd Loffredo’s squad tied for seventh in the team standing. Seitz, who had played in the previous three MCT first singles title matches, is continuing his tennis career at Villanova.

Francesca Bello triggered the offense and Alex Kane spearheaded the defense as the Hun field hockey team showed flashes of brilliance. Coach Kathy Quirk’s team went 6-8, producing one of its best performances of the season in a 2-1 loss in the Prep A semis to eventual champion Lawrenceville.

Quarterback Blake Searfoss provided some aerial heroics while Hunter Knighton anchored things in the trenches as the Hun football team went 3-3. Coach Dave Dudeck’s team enjoyed it’s shining moment against Lawrenceville in late October when it overcame a 21-0 halftime deficit to post a 35-21 victory over the Big Red.

Sparked by dazzling midfielder Angelica Tabares, the Hun girls’ soccer team produced some high-quality performances. Coach Ken Stevenson’s team finished the fall at 4-5-4.

Goalie Chris Meinert and midfielder Nick Revano were bright spots for the Hun boys’ soccer team. Coach Pat Quirk’s squad went 4-13.

Longtime coach Joan Nuse welcomed a number of new faces to her program and guided the Raiders to a 12th place finish at the Mercer County Tournament.

PDS

Led by junior star Davon Reed, the Princeton Day School boys’ basketball team made a memorable run to the state Prep B championship game. Coach Paris McLean’s team fell to a battle-tested Rutgers Prep squad in the title contest to end the winter at 16-11. The 6’6 Reed averaged 24.3 points a game as he passed the 1,000-point mark in his career.

Dealing with a series of injuries, the PDS girls’ hoops team went with just six players for most of the winter. Utilizing her basketball savvy, coach Mika Ryan guided the team to a 9-13 record, including an uplifting run to the Mercer County Tournament semifinals which saw the Panthers upset WW/P-S and Ewing along the way. Senior star Molly Rubin and junior Lauren Johnson helped to hold PDS together.

The addition of the Colton brothers, freshman Ross and junior Rob, helped the PDS boys’ hockey team enjoy a superb season. Coach Scott Bertoli’s team went 18-5-1, winning its invitational tournament and posting wins over such teams as Moses Brown (R.I.), Notre Dame, Hill School (Pa.), and the Portledge School (N.Y.)

Senior star Megan Ofner ended her PDS girls’ hockey career in style, scoring 32 points to end up with a final total of 124. Ofner’s heroics helped coach Lorna Cook’s team go 10-7 and win the Women’s Interscholastic Hockey League of the Mid-Atlantic (WIHLMA) ‘B’ title.

Senior Garret Jensen and junior Cody Triolo provided production and leadership as the PDS boys’ lacrosse team solidified its status as one of the top programs in the area. Coach Rob Tuckman’s team advanced to the Mercer County Tournament championship game and ended the spring with a 10-7 record.

The girls’ lax team was hampered early by injury but came on strong, overcoming a 0-5 start to end at 9-9. Coach Jill Thomas’ squad was led by junior Hannah Levy, who tallied 94 points on 69 goals and 25 assists.

James Sanderson and Josiah Meekins provided a major highlight as boys’ tennis took second of eight teams in the state Prep B tournament. Sanderson and Meekins won the title at second doubles for head coach Will Asch while the pair of Jason Hirsch and Moose Kilbourne took second at first doubles.

Freshman first baseman James “J.P.” Radvany established himself as one of the top power hitters in the area, leading the baseball team in batting average (,484), hits (30), RBIs (32), and slugging percentage (.806). Radvany’s production helped Ray O’Brien’s squad post a 12-9 record.

With a roster containing only nine players, the softball team became known as the ‘Iron 9.” Coach Paul Lano’s team managed to win two games, paced by the battery of pitcher Dina Alter and catcher Jess Toltzis.

Senior girls’ tennis star Samantha Asch punctuated her brilliant career with  championship performances. The Wake Forest-bound Asch won the first singles title at the Mercer County Tournament, giving her four individual crowns at the competition. She ended the fall by winning the first singles crown in the state Prep B tournament, leading coach Ed Tseng’s squad to the team title.

Former national team player Tracey Arndt took the helm of the field hockey program and guided the Panthers to a memorable fall. Led by a quintet of senior stars in Sarah Trigg, Zeeza Cole, Cami McNeely, Corinne Urisko, and Andrea Jenkins, the Panthers advanced to the state Prep B title game and ended the fall at 11-4-3.

The combination of Britt Murray and Steph Soltesz spearheaded the defense for the PDS girls’ soccer team and kept the squad competitive. Coach Pat Trombetta’s team went 4-9-4, losing a number of nailbiters.

Welcoming a number of young players into the lineup, the boys’ soccer team underwent a rebuilding campaign. Coach Malcolm Murphy’s side posted a 3-11-2 record with sophomore midfielder Marco Pinheiro emerging as a key performer.

PHS

Having advanced to the 2011 Public B championship meet and returning a special group of seniors, the PHS boys’ swimming team figured to be a powerhouse. Coach Greg Hand’s team lived up to expectations and more. The Little Tigers dominated their foes, going undefeated and winning the county crown and culminating their season by routing Scotch Plains-Fanwood 109-61 in the Public B championship meet to win the program’s first stat title.

The team’s senior stars, Victor Honore, Derek Colaizzo, Addison Hebert, Matt Kuhlik, Jacques Bazile, and Harun Filipovic, together with a trio of sophomore standouts in Will Stange, Colburn Yu, and Peter Kalibat led the way as the Little Tigers went 17-0. In the state championship meet, PHS swimmers won nine of 11 events and set eight school records.

Juniors Serena Deardorff and Marisa Giglio starred as the girls’ swimming team enjoyed a superb campaign. Coach Greg Hand’s squad went 13-2 and advanced to the Public B Central Jersey sectional championship meet.

With Mike Wasson, Will Greenberg, Matt DiTosto and Kirby Peck triggering the offense and goalie Josh Berger anchoring the defense, the boys’ hockey team advanced to its third straight Mercer County Tournament title game. Coach Tim Campbell’s team fell to Notre Dame in the championship contest but went on to advance to the second round of the state tournament and finish with a 15-7- 2 record.

Seniors Keely Herring and Abby Hunter provided offense and intensity for the girls’ hockey team. Coach Christina Herzog’s team broke a long losing streak with a win over Summit and ended the winter at 1-11.

Senior guards Davon Black and Matt Hoffman led the way as the boys basketball team made it to the second round of the state tournament. Coach Jason Carter’s team went 12-13, losing a 50-47 nailbiter to a powerful Ocean team in the state tourney to end the season.

Going with a youth movement, the girls’ hoops team experienced some growing pains. Coach Stef Shoop’s squad went 1-18 but the future looks bright as such young players as Mary Sutton, Mira Shane, and Catherine Curran-Groome got plenty of experience in their freshman season.

Seniors Tim Miranda, Nick Gillette, and Jeff Barsamian were standouts for the PHS wrestling team. The trio all did well in the Region V tournament for coach Rashone Johnson.

Led by the high-scoring trio of Mia Haughton, Emilia Lopez-Ona, and Liz Jacobs, the girls’ lacrosse team enjoyed a superb season. Coach Christie Cooper’s team  went 14-4 and made it to the sectional semis.

Seniors Kirby Peck and Alex Rifkin led the way as the PHS boys’ lacrosse team produced another winning campaign. Coach Peter Stanton’s team posted a 10-9 final record.

The PHS baseball team struggled again, posting a 4-19 record. Senior stars Will Greenberg and Matt Hoffman played hard to the end for coach Dave Roberts’ squad.

Sparked by the heroics of junior star Marisa Gonzalez who batted over .500 with 38 hits and 42 RBIs, the softball team made strides. Coach Dave Boehm’s squad went 9-14 and edged Lawrence High 3-2 in the first round of the Mercer County Tournament, its first triumph in county play in recent memory, if ever.

Led by some gutsy play from senior singles star Eddie Percarpio, the boys’ tennis team advanced to the Central Jersey Group III semifinals. Coach Sarah Hibbert’s team finished the spring with a 14-4 record.

Brilliant performances by senior sprinter/jumper Bryell Wheeler and senior distance star Elyssa Gensib helped the girls’ track team enjoy a breakthrough campaign. Coach Jim Smirk’s squad won its first-ever outdoor Mercer County Championship. Weeks later, the Little Tigers prevailed at the Central Jersey Group III meet, earning their first sectional crown since PHS took the Central Jersey Group II title in 1989.

Junior throwing star Tim Brennan had a big spring for the boys’ track team. He won both the shot put and the javelin to help coach John Woodside’s team take fourth at the Central Jersey Group III sectional meet.

After not losing a regular season game from 2009-11, the PHS boys’ soccer team dropped two of its first three games this fall. Coach Wayne Sutcliffe’s team. though, righted the ship and produced a memorable campaign. With junior Kevin Halliday emerging as one of the top scorers in the area and senior Pablo Arroyo anchoring the defense, the Little Tigers caught fire. PHS won a series of one-goal games on the way to its second straight Central Jersey Group III title. PHS then topped Moorestown 2-0 in the state semis and tied powerhouse Ramapo 1-1 in the group final to share the state crown and end the fall at 18-3-1.

Welcoming 11 new faces to its roster, it looked like it might be a rebuilding season for the PHS girls’ soccer team. But with a determined senior group of Kate Kerr, Meghan Brennan, Vanessa Guzman, Madison Luther, and star goalie Lauren Ullmann leading the way, the Little Tigers exceeded expectations.

Coach Greg Hand’s side advanced to the semis of the Mercer County Tournament and then won the Central Jersey Group III title, the first sectional crown in program history. While PHS’ stunning run ended with a 2-0 loss to Moorestown in the state semis, nobody was hanging their heads in the wake of the memorable 16-3-1 campaign.

Led by freshman singles star Christina Rosca, the girls’ tennis team went one step further than their girls’ soccer counterparts. Coach Sarah Hibbert’s squad won the Central Jersey Group III sectional crown and then topped Moorestown in the state semis to make the finals for the first time since 1999. PHS fell in the final to Mendham to suffer its only defeat of the fall.

With senior star Luke Bozich setting the pace, the PHS boys’ cross country team had a big fall. Coach John Woodside’s squad took second in the county meet and then won the Central Jersey Group III sectional meet for a second straight year. PHS ended the season with  a fifth place finish in the Group III state meet as Kevin Vahdat Sage Healy, Jacob Rist, and Conor Donahue all ran well behind Bozich.

The one-two punch of sophomore Julie Bond and senior Amelia Whaley helped the girls’ cross country team produce another solid campaign. Coach Jim Smirk’s team finished third at both the county and sectional meets.

With senior Sydney Watts spearheading the defense and junior Emilia Lopez-Ona triggering the offense, the field hockey team continued to make progress. Coach Heather Serverson’s squad went 14-5-1, advancing to the MCT quarterfinals and winning their first state tournament game in years.

The PHS football team started and ended the season in style, topping Northern Burlington in the opener and beating New Brunswick in the finale. In between, the Little Tigers lost eight games as they posted a 2-8 record. Quarterback Zack DiGregorio, running back Javon Pannell and tight end Liam Helstrom provided some highlights even as the losses piled up for coach Joe Gargione’s squad. After the season, Gargione stepped down, ending his three-year-tenure with a 5-25 record.

Stuart

A trio of seniors, Parris Branker, Angela Gallagher, and Jen Dias, provided leadership as the Stuart Country Day School basketball team suffered through a tough winter. Coach Tony Bowman’s team went 0-15 and he resigned after the season. Former Caldwell College star Dana Leary replaced Bowman and ushered in a youth movement as the program looks to revive its fortunes.

Senior standout Ani Hallowell triggered the offense and freshman goalie Harlyn Bell developed into a star as the Stuart lacrosse team showed growth. First-year head coach Caitlin Grant guided the Tartans to a 4-11 record, highlighted by a 16-5 win over Nottingham in its finale.

The return of legendary coach Missy Bruvik sparked excitement around the field hockey program. Bruvik led Stuart to several county and prep titles in guiding the Tartans for 21 years through the 2006 season before stepping down to follow daughter Kelly’s Bucknell field hockey career. Employing a number of promising freshmen, Bruvik led the Tartans to a 3-14-1 record and was encouraged as the team improved by leaps and bounds over the season.

The tennis program also saw a coaching change as former Montgomery High star Katherine Stoltenberg took the helm. With senior first singles player Katherine Hagestad providing leadership and some high-quality tennis, the Tartans tied for 12th in the Mercer County Tournament team standings.