SWEET SUCCESS: Princeton University men’s basketball player Tosan Evbuomwan heads to the basket in the Ivy League tournament. Senior star Evbuomwan helped the Tigers win the Ivy tournament and then go on to a magical run to the NCAA Sweet 16, the first time the program advanced that far since the tourney was expanded to 64 teams in 1985. The 15th-seeded Tigers upset second-seeded Arizona and seventh-seeded Missouri before falling to sixth-seeded Creighton. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

For local sports programs, 2023 turned out to be a year that will be remembered for some of most stirring postseason runs in recent years.

Over at Princeton University, the men’s basketball team captivated hoops fans across the country last March as it advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time since the tournament was expanded to 64 teams in 1985. The Tiger women’s hoops team produced a special run of its own as it made the second round of the NCAA tourney for a second straight year. Senior Patrick Glory made history for Tiger wrestling, winning the NCAA title at 125 pounds, earning the second-ever national title for the program and the first since Bradley Glass won the heavyweight crown in 1951. Princeton track and field star Sondre Guttormsen won the pole vault at the NCAA Indoor Championships, making it two straight titles for him at the meet.

In the spring, the Princeton men’s lacrosse team won the Ivy League postseason tournament for the first time since 2010. The Tiger women’s water polo team advanced to the NCAA semis for the first time in program history as it went 30-4. Capping a dominant campaign, women’s lightweight rowing earned three gold medals at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) national championship regatta on Mercer Lake in early June. The program also won the IRA Commissioner’s Cup team title for the second straight year, earning 72 points, 15 points better than runner-up Boston University. The Tiger men’s lightweights won both the varsity 8 and second varsity 8 grand finals at the IRA. As a result, the Tigers won the President’s Cup, awarded to men’s lightweight program accumulating the top point total at the regatta. Tiger men’s golf placed first in the Ivy League championships, carding a +16 total of 880, 18 shots better than runner-up Columbia.

Moving to the fall, the Princeton men’s water polo team advanced to the national semis for the first time in program history. The Tigers fell 17-13 to top-seeded UCLA in the semis to end the season at 28-6. Women’s soccer produced another stellar campaign, going 10-5-4 as it topped Michigan 1-0 in the first round of the NCAA tournament and advanced to the second round for the fifth time in its last six trips to the NCAAs. Men’s cross country took first in the Ivy League Heptagonal Cross Country Championships and went on to take 11th in the NCAA Championships.

Across town at the Hun School, the Raider softball team continued its dominance, winning its second straight Prep A state title, going 15-2. The Hun baseball team enjoyed another championship campaign, winning the Prep A state title after taking second in the Mercer County Tournament. The Raider boys’ lacrosse team won its second straight MCT title, edging Allentown 5-3 in the final. In the fall, the Hun field hockey team made history, winning the outright MCT title for the first time as it produced a brilliant 15-5 campaign.

Over on Great Road, the Princeton Day School boys’ lacrosse team bounced back from a disappointing 6-11 season in 2022, going 15-7 and advancing to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public Group B final for the first time in program history where it got edged 10-8 by Gill St. Bernard’s. After tough losses in the MCT and the Prep B state tourney, the Panther girls’ soccer team caught fire down the stretch in the NJSIAA Non-Public A tournament, posting five straight wins on the way to the state title. The Panthers defeated Mount St. Dominic 2-0 in the state final to finish the season at 17-2-3 and earn the program’s first ever Non-Public crown.

Capping a season for the ages, the Princeton High girls’ swim team went 14-0 on the way to winning the NJSIAA Group B state title. It marked the program’s first state crown since 1983. The PHS boys’ hockey team won the MCT in dramatic fashion, edging Hopewell Valley 3-2 in overtime in the final to win its first county crown since 2020. Senior Ava Rose ended her PHS wrestling career on a high note, winning the title at 114 pounds at the NJSIAA Girls’ State Wrestling Championships.

In the spring, the PHS boys’ track team utilized its depth to place first in the Mercer County Outdoor Track Championships. Coming through in the clutch, the Tiger boys’ golf team won the MCT, besting Allentown in the first hole of a playoff after the foes tied at 299 through 18 holes. The PHS girls’ golf team also earned a MCT title, posting a team score of 327 to defeat runner-up WW/P-South by 10 strokes.

The Tiger girls’ volleyball team put together a sensational fall, going 30-1, winning the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 3 sectional title and then taking the Group 3 state crown, defeating Millburn 2-0 (25-21, 25-12) in the championship match. It marked the first-ever state title for the program that first gained varsity status in 2014. Guided by first-year head coach Ryan Walsh, PHS boys’ soccer won the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 4 sectional title and went on to win the Group 4 state championship as it edged fellow powerhouse Kearny 3-2 in the final to end the fall at 22-2. It marked the fourth state title for the program and first since 2012. The Tiger field hockey put together a memorable campaign, advancing to the finals of both the Mercer County Tournament and the NJSIAA North Jersey Group 4 sectional on the way to a 17-3 record. The PHS girls’ cross country took first at the Mercer County Championships with three runners placing in the top 10 in the meet.

CROWNING GLORY: Princeton University wrestler Patrick Glory celebrates after winning the NCAA title at 125 pounds. Glory topped Matt Ramos of Purdue 4-1 in the final to earn Princeton’s first NCAA wrestling crown since Bradley Glass ’53 won the heavyweight title in 1951. (Photo provided courtesy of Princeton Athletics)

PU – Winter

Making history and capturing the imagination of the nation in the process, the Princeton University men’s basketball squad advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time since the field was expanded to 64 teams in 1985. Coach Mitch Henderson’s squad was seeded 15th and upset second-seeded Arizona 59-55 in the first round and seventh-seeded Missouri 78-63 in a second round contest on way to the Sweet 16.

The team’s magical run ended with an 86-75 loss to sixth-seeded Creighton in Louisville, Ky. The Tigers, who ended the winter with a 23-9 record, were led by senior stars Tosan Evbuomwan and Ryan Langborg with junior Matt Allocco and freshman Caden Pierce emerging as standouts. The Tigers had struggled in February, suffering defeats to Dartmouth and Yale, but got hot down the stretch. Hosting the Ivy League postseason tournament for the first time, Princeton defeated Penn 77-70 in the semis and Yale 74-65 in the final before raucous throngs at Jadwin Gym to punch their ticket to March Madness.

ON POINT: Princeton University women’s basketball player Kaitlyn Chen looks to unload the ball in a game last winter. Star point guard Chen helped Princeton win the Ivy League tournament and advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament for the second straight season. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

A pair of battle-tested seniors, Julia Cunningham and Grace Stone, along with junior stars Kaitlyn Chen, the Ivy Player of the Year, and Ellie Mitchell, the Ivy Defensive Player of the Year, and precocious freshman Madison St. Rose, the Ivy Rookie of the Year helped women’s basketball make some history of its own. Rebounding from losing its first two Ivy League games, coach Carla Berube’s squad found its stride and won the Ivy postseason tournament as it topped Penn 60-47 in the semis and Harvard 54-48 in the final before enthusiastic Jadwin Gym crowds.

Moving on the NCAA tournament, the 10th-seeded Tigers defeated seventh-seeded North Carolina State 64-63 in the first round of the NCAA tournament, advancing in March Madness for the second straight year and just the third time in program history. The Tigers’ run ended when they fell 63-56 to second-seeded Utah in the second round to finish the winter at 24-6.

Overcoming a slow start, men’s hockey got on the winning track in the middle of the season, putting together a 9-6 stretch. An injury to star goalie Ethan Pearson slowed Princeton’s momentum but coach Ron Fogarty’s squad did top Union 6-4 in the first round of the ECAC Hockey tournament. The Tigers got swept by Harvard 2-0 in the ECACH quarterfinals to finish at 13-19.

Star forward Sarah Fillier returned from a leave of absence, which saw her win an Olympic gold medal and two world championships while playing for the Canadian women’s national team and picked up where she left off, leading women’s hockey with 37 points on 19 goals and 18 assists. Coach Cara Morey’s squad finished the season at 15-15-1 overall, falling to Colgate 2-1 in a best-of-three ECAC Hockey quarterfinal series.

A highlight of the winter came when Princeton celebrated the 100th anniversary of historic Hobey Baker Rink in early January with a pair of men’s and women’s doubleheaders that drew sellout crowds and attracted hundreds of returning hockey alums.

Senior standout Patrick Glory made history for wrestling, winning the NCAA title at 125 pounds, earning the second-ever national title for the program and first since Bradley Glass won the heavyweight crown in 1951. Coach Chris Ayres guided the Tigers to a 4-11 overall record and 1-4 Ivy mark in dual competition. Princeton placed seventh in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) championships with Glory winning at 125, Quincy Monday placing second at 165, and Luke Stout finishing third at 197. Along with Glory, Monday went on to excel at the NCAA championship, taking third in 165.

In September, Ayres unexpectedly left the program to take the helm of the Stanford wrestling team. Longtime Tiger assistant Joe Dubuque succeeded Ayres as the head coach.

Raunak Khosla starred as men’s swimming placed second in the Ivy League Championships. Coach Matt Crispino’s team ended the meet with 1443.5 points, just short of Harvard who won the meet with 1545 points.

Senior star Khosla, for his part, tallied the maximum point total of 96 and was named Phil Moriarty High Point Swimmer of Meet along with Yale’s Noah Millard. He played first in the 200-yard butterfly, the 200 individual medley and the 400 IM at the meet. With 380 career points at the Ivy Championships, he was also named Harold Ulen Career High Point Swimmer.

Led by Nikki Venema, women’s swimming rolled to first place at the Ivy League Championships. Coach Bret Lundgaard’s squad piled up 1,480 points at the meet with Harvard well behind in second at 1,254. It marked the 24th Ivy title in program history.

Senior standout Venema was the High Point Swimmer of the Meet, policing first in the 50-yard freestyle, the 100 freestyle and the 100 butterfly. Venema ended her Princeton career being named All-Ivy 19 times.

After the season, Lundgaard left the program to guide the University of Kentucky’s combined men’s and women’s swimming and diving program. Tiger assistant coach Abby Brethauer was promoted to take the helm of the Princeton squad.

Coming through in a nail-biter, men’s track won its eighth straight Indoor Ivy League Heptagonal Championship as it edged Harvard by one point for the title. Coach Fred Samara’s squad got a second place finish in the 4×400-meter relay, the last event of the meet, to nip the Crimson.

Individual victors at the meet for the Tigers included Greg Foster in the long jump, Sondre Guttormsen in the pole vault, Philip Kastner in the heptathlon, Duncan Miller in the mile, Daniel Duncan in the 60, and Sam Rodman in the 1,000. Senior standout Guttormsen went on to win the pole vault at the NCAA Indoor Championships. He cleared 6.00 meters (19 ‘8 1/4) to win the indoor crown for the second straight year.

Alexander Kelly starred as women’s track took second in the Indoor Ivy League Heptagonal Championship. Kelly placed first in both the triple jump and long jump. Other individual victors for coach Michelle Eisenreich’s squad included Tessa Mudd in the pole vault and Madeleine Wood in the high jump. The Tigers had a team score of 151.5 in taking second at the Indoor Heps with Harvard winning the meet at 177.

Ben Harrington and Henry Wedbush came up big as men’s volleyball produced another winning campaign. Coach Sam Shweisky’s squad went 14-12 and advanced to the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) final where they fell to No. 3 Penn State. Junior outside hitter Harrington was named as a first-team All-EIVA selection after piling up 334 kills while sophomore setter Wedbush was a second-team All-EIVA selection after recording 895 assists.

Daelum Mawji and Karim Elbarbary stood out for the men’s squash team as it posted an 11-4 record. Coach Seas Wilkinson’s team fell to Trinity in the College Squash Association (CSA) team quarterfinals on Friday. Senior No. 1 Mawji and junior No. 2 Elbarbary earned first-team All-Ivy recognition.

Producing another superb campaign, women’s squash placed third in the College Squash Association (CSA) Howe Cup national tournament. Coach Gail Ramsay’s squad went 11-3 and was led by first-team All-Ivy performers senior Andrea Toth and sophomore Molly Chadwick.

Posting its best team finish in the NCAA Championships since 2014, the Princeton fencing teams took second in the combined team standings behind champion Notre Dame. Coach Zoltan Dudas’ team had 11 fencers earn All-American honors. Six Tigers made their weapon semifinals and three placed second including Jessica Lin in women’s épée, May Tieu in women’s foil, and Mohamed Hamza in men’s foil.

MAC ATTACK: Princeton University men’s lacrosse player Coulter Mackesy cradles the ball in a game this spring. Mackesy paced the Tiger attack, leading Princeton with 78 points on 55 goals and 23 assists, making him the second player in program history with at least 45 goals and 20 assists in a season along with Mike MacDonald in 2015. The Tigers won the Ivy League postseason tournament and advanced to the NCAA tourney for the second straight year. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

PU – Spring

Producing a remarkable reversal of fortune, Princeton baseball posted a 24-23 record this spring after going 7-33 in 2022. Coach Scott Bradley’s squad placed third in the Ivy League regular season standings and took second in the Ivy postseason tournament, falling to Penn in the final. Scott Bandura and Kyle Vinci provided batting punch as Bandura hit .365 with nine homers and 41 RBIs while Vinci slugged a league-record 20 homers and had a program-record 57 RBIs. Tom Chmielewski led the mound corps, posting a 6-6 record with a 3.40 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 76.2 innings.

Serena Starks sparked the hitting attack while Alexis Laudenslager dominated in the circle as softball won the Ivy League regular season title. Coach Lisa Van Ackeren’s squad went on to fall to Harvard in the final of the Ivy postseason tournament to finish the spring at 29-20. Starks was named the Ivy Player of the Year as she led the league in in batting average (.411), runs scored (36) and hits (65). Laudenslager was selected as the Ivy Pitcher of the Year going 17-10 overall with a 2.13 ERA and 179 strikeouts in 141 innings.

Winning the Ivy League postseason tournament by topping Yale 19-10 in the final, men’s lacrosse won the Ivy tourney for the first time since 2010 as it made its second straight trip to the NCAA tournament. Coach Matt Madalon’s squad fell 13-12 at Penn State in the first round of the NCAAs to end the spring with an 8-7 record. Coulter Mackesy paced the Tiger attack, leading Princeton with 78 points on 55 goals and 23 assists, making him the second player in program history with at least 45 goals and 20 assists in a season along with Mike MacDonald in 2015.

With Jenn Cook taking the helm of women’s lacrosse as she succeeded the legendary Chris Sailer, who retired after the 2022 season, the Tigers made the Ivy postseason tournament. Princeton got edged 11-10 by Yale in the Ivy semis to finish with a 7-9 record. Kari Buonanno sparked the Tigers from the midfield, leading the team in scoring with 47 points (29 goals, 18 assists) while leading in ground balls (20) and ranking second in draw controls (40).

Fnu Nidunjianzan starred for men’s tennis, playing at first singles and earning first team All-Ivy League honors. Coach Billy Pate’s squad went 16-13 overall and 3-4 Ivy.

Advancing to the second round of the NCAA tournament for the third straight year, women’s tennis topped Fordham 4-0 in a first round contest. Coach Jamea Jackson’s squad fell 4-0 to Virginia in the second round to end the spring at 17-7 overall and 7-0 Ivy League. It marked the fourth straight league title for the program. Senior star Daria Frayman was named the Ivy Player of the Year and advanced to the Round of 32 in the NCAA Women’s Singles Championships, becoming the first Tiger to do so.

Sondre Guttormsen starred as men’s track placed second in the Outdoor Ivy League Heptagonal Championships. Senior Guttormsen placed first in the pole vault to make him a four-time Ivy champion, winning both indoor and outdoor titles in the pole vault for two, consecutive years. He went on to finish sixth in the event at the NCAA Championships. Other victors at the Heps meet included Greg Foster in the long jump and Phil Kastner in the decathlon as Princeton piled up 137 points in taking second with Harvard taking first with a score of 203.

Legendary Hall of Fame Princeton track coach Fred Samara stepped down in June after guiding the program for 46 seasons. The 73-year-old Samara coached his team to 51 Heptagonal team and 502 individual Heps championships. He also coached 10 different Princeton Tigers to nine NCAA championships and guided six of his athletes to the Olympics. He was succeeded in August by Jason Vigilante who has been at Princeton since 2012, serving as the head coach of the men’s cross country team and as an assistant with the track and field program where he oversaw the distance contingent.

Alexandra Kelly starred as women’s track took second at the Outdoor Ivy League Heptagonal Championships. Kelly took first in the triple jump and third in the long jump. Other victors at the meet for Princeton included Tessa Mudd in the pole vault and Shea Greene in the javelin. Coach Michelle Eisenreich’s squad scored 160 points in taking second at the Heps with Harvard posting a winning score of 193.

Jovana Sekulic helped spark women’s water polo to a historic season. Sekulic led the Tigers in goals with 78 as they advanced to the NCAA semis for the first time in program history. Coach Derek Ellingson’s team fell 18-8 to Southern Cal in the semis to end the spring at 30-4.

Capping a dominant campaign, women’s lightweight rowing earned three gold medals at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) national championship regatta on Mercer Lake in early June. The Tigers prevailed in the double, varsity 4, and varsity 8. It marked the varsity eight’s third consecutive IRA gold medal. That boat has not lost to another lightweight boat since 2019. Coach Paul Rassam’s program also won the IRA Commissioner’s Cup team title for the second straight year, earning 72 points, 15 points better than runner-up Boston University.

Producing another strong showing at the NCAA championships, women’s open rowing placed third in the team standings at the regatta for a second straight year. The Tigers piled up 113 points in taking third behind champion Stanford (129) and runner-up Washington (120). Coach Lori Dauphiny’s varsity 8 took third in its grand final to produce a highlight at the regatta.

The men’s heavyweight rowing varsity 8 came through with a third-place finish at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) national championship regatta to earn its first medal at the event since 2016. Coach Greg Hughes’ squad earned fourth place in the Ten Eyck team standings with 236 points, trailing California (288), Washington (253) and Yale (253). It marked a four-spot jump from 2022 for the Tigers.

Producing one of its best performances ever at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) national championship regatta, men’s lightweight rowing won both the varsity 8 and second varsity 8 grand finals. As a result, coach Marty Crotty’s squad won the President’s Cup, awarded to men’s lightweight program piling up the top point total at the regatta, for the first time since 2010. The 2v8 went undefeated in 2023 while the varsity 8 earned its first national title since 2010.

Ricardo Fantinelli led the way as men’s golf placed first in the Ivy League championships. Fantinelli finished first individually, carding a five-under 211 for the three-round competition. In the team standings, Princeton had a +16 total of 880, 18 shots better than runner-up Columbia. It marked the program’s 31st Ivy League title all-time and first since 2019. Coach Will Green’s squad went on to place 12th at the NCAA Norman Regional.

Victoria Liu and Catharine Rao starred for women’s golf as Liu was named the Ivy League Player of the Year while Rao was selected as the Ivy Rookie of the Year. Coach Erika DeSanty’s squad placed fifth at the Ivy Championships at +55, 13 strokes back of winner Penn. Liu, for her part, competed at the NCAA Palm Beach Gardens Regional, finishing tied for 25th overall at 7-over.

GETTING HER KICKS: Princeton University women’s soccer player Pietra Tordin, left, leaps up to kick the ball in a game this fall. Tordin led the Ivy League game-winning goals (seven) while finishing second in the league with 12 goals, helping the Tigers advance to the second row of the NCAA tournament. She earned third-team All-American honors alone with first-team All-Ivy accolades. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

PU – Fall

Senior linebackers Ozzie Nicholas and Liam Johnson spearheaded a stingy defense and senior quarterback Blake Stenstrom guided the offense as football battled through a tense campaign. The Tigers went 5-5 overall and 4-3 Ivy League with two of their league losses coming in overtime and the other by two points as Princeton finished one game behind league tri-champions Dartmouth, Harvard, and Yale.

Coach Bob Surace had 10 players earn All-Ivy honors with Johnson and Nicholas both getting named as first-team selections while offensive lineman Jalen Travis and defensive back Nasir Hill were second-team choices with offensive lineman Nick Hilliard receiver AJ Barber, receiver Luke Colella, defensive lineman Jack DelGarbino, linebacker Will Perez, and punter Brady Clark being selected for honorable mention.

Working a number of new faces into the lineup, field hockey went through an up-and-down season. Coach Carla Tagliente’s squad 8-9 overall and 5-2 Ivy League, advancing to the final of Ivy postseason tournament where it fell 2-1 to Harvard. Freshman defender Ottilie Sykes emerged as a standout for the Tigers, earning first-team All-Ivy honors and getting named as the league’s Co-Rookie of the Year.

Pietra Tordin and Madison Curry led the way as women’s soccer produced another stellar campaign. Coach Sean Driscoll guided the Tigers to a 10-5-4 record as they topped Michigan 1-0 in the first round of the NCAA tournament, advancing to the second round for the fifth time in its last six trips to the NCAAs. Princeton fell on penalty kicks to Texas Tech in the second round after the foes played to a scoreless draw through regulation and overtime. Forward Tordin and defender Curry earned first-team All-Ivy League, second-team United Soccer Coaches All-East Region, and United Soccer Coaches third-team All-American honors.

Forwards Danny Ittycheria and Nico Nee, along with midfielder Jack Jasinski, starred as men’s soccer lost several nail-biters along the way. Coach Jim Barlow’s squad went 4-8-3 overall and 1-4-2 Ivy League. Ittycheria was a first-team All-Ivy selection with Nee and Jasinski earning second-team All-Ivy honors.

The trio of Lucia Scalamandre, Kamryn Chaney, and Sydney Draper came up big to help women’s volleyball enjoy another winning campaign. Coach Sabrina King guided the Tigers to a 14-9 overall and 11-3 Ivy League record with their season ending with a 3-1 loss to Brown in the Ivy postseason season tournament. Scalamandre earned first-team All-Ivy honors with Kamryn Chaney and Sydney Draper getting named as second-team All-Ivy selections. Draper was also chosen as the Ivy Rookie of the Year.

MAKING A SPLASH: Princeton University men’s water polo star Pierce Maloney gets ready to fire the ball in a game this fall. Maloney tallied 33 goals and 41 assists to help Princeton go 28-6 and make the NCAA semis for the first time in program history. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Roko Pozaric triggered the offense as men’s water polo made history. Pozaric tallied 66 goals and 45 assists as Princeton topped Harvard 8-5 the Northeast Water Polo Conference (NWPC) final and then topped UC-Irvine in the NCAA quarterfinals to make the national semis for the first time in program history. The Tigers fell 17-13 to top-seeded UCLA in the semis to end the fall at 28-6. Coach Dusty Litvak was named the NWPC Coach of the Year while Pozaric was named All-NWPC First Team and the conference’s Most Valuable Player. In addition to Pozaric, Vladan Mitrovic was a first-team All-NWPC selection with goalie Kristof Kovacs and Pierce Maloney earning second-team All-NWPC honors.

Nicholas Bendtsen set the pace as men’s cross country took first in the Ivy League Heptagonal Cross Country Championships. Bendtsen placed fourth individually to lead the Tigers with Jarrett Kirk taking seventh and Connor Nisbet coming in eighth as Princeton had a winning score of 40, three points better than runner-up Harvard. Coach Jason Vigilante’s squad went on to place first in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic regional and then ended the fall by coming in 11th at the NCAA championships.

Fiona Max led the way as women’s cross country finished second in the Ivy League Heptagonal Cross Country Championships. Max placed seventh individually as the Tigers had a team score of 63, trailing victor Harvard by nine points. Coach Brad Hunt’s team placed sixth in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic regional to wrap up its campaign.

Women’s rugby made progress in its second campaign as a varsity sport with close losses to Mount St. Mary’s and Queens as it fell just short of the program’s first victory. Coach Josie Ziluca’s team had a final record of 0-6.

PIPING UP: Hun School field hockey player Piper Morey, right, celebrates after a Raider goal in the Mercer County Tournament final against Princeton High in late October. Freshman standout Morey scored a team-high 13 goals as Hun win the MCT title and ended the season with a 15-5 record. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Hun

The one-two backcourt punch of senior stars Dan Vessey and Anthony Loscalzo sparked the Hun School boys’ basketball team. With Vessey scoring 361 points and Loscalzo tallying 352, coach Jon Stone’s squad went 14-13 and advanced to the semifinals of both the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) and Prep A state tournaments.

Under new head coach Sean Costello, girls’ basketball posted an 11-13 record and advanced to the Prep A state semis. Postgraduate star guard Emily Dwyer led the way from the perimeter for the Raiders with 300 points while senior co-captain Sasha Moise starred in the paint with 277 points and 160 rebounds.

Justin Laplante and Ella Estulin provided offensive firepower for boys’ hockey, tallying 38 and 33 points, respectively. Coach Ian McNally guided the Raiders to an 11-13 record, posting a 3-1 mark down the stretch to end the winter on a high note. This spring McNally stepped down from the program and was succeeded by assistant coach and former Raider star Eric Szeker, a 2013 Hun alum.

Michael Chiaravallo provided punch in the middle of the batting order, hitting .405 with five homers and 22 RBIs while Jackson Bailey led the mound crew with a 1.06 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 33 innings as baseball produced another stellar campaign. Coach Tom Monfiletto’s squad went 16-7, advancing to the final of the Mercer County tournament and winning the Prep A state title.

Lexi Kobryn starred with her arm and bat as softball rolled to another dominant season. Junior Kobryn had 178 strikeouts in 92.1 innings with a 0.76 ERA as the ace of the Hun pitching staff and batted .517 with six homers and 31 RBIs to lead the Raiders to a 15-2 record. Coach Kathy Quirk’s team routed Pingry 10-0 in the Prep A final to win its second straight state crown.

Dan Cano led the attack, Dillon Bucchere starred in the midfield, and Ryan Donahue spearheaded the defense as boys’ lacrosse enjoyed another championship campaign. Coach Jim Stagnitta’s squad went 12-4 and won its second straight Mercer County Tournament title, topping Allentown 5-3 in the county final. Stagnitta, who also coaches the Whipsnakes in the Premier Lacrosse league, stepped down from the program after the season.

Olivia Kim and Abby O’Brien sparked the offense as girls’ lacrosse produced a winning campaign. Coach Kathleen Jaeger guided the Raiders to a 10-6 record.

Anna Casciano provided a highlight for girls’ track as she placed first in the shot put at the Prep A state championship meet. Coach Todd Smith’s squad placed sixth in the team standings at the Prep A meet.

Anthony Aririguzoh starred for boys’ track at the Prep A state championship meet, taking second in the 200, 400, and long jump. Dante Barone won the shot put and Eric Scully placed second in the 1,600 at the meet as coach Todd Smith’s squad took fifth overall at the meet.

Senior stars Ana Dios and Norah Kempson, along with junior standout Phoebe Thielmann and precocious freshman Piper Morey, helped field hockey make history. Coach Tracey Arndt guided the Raiders to a 15-5 record and their first outright Mercer County Tournament title as they edged Princeton High in a penalty shootout in the final after the foes played to a 3-3 tie through regulation and overtime. Dios and Thielmann starred in the midfield while Morey led the team in scoring and Kempson was a rock at goalie.

Producing another dominant campaign, football went 8-1 as it outscored the opposition 360-53. Quarterback Miles O’Neil (106-for -147 passing for 2,151 yards and 20 touchdowns) and receiver Liam Thorpe (26 receptions for 697 yards and six TDs) formed a potent passing combination for coach Todd Smith’s squad.

Conor Frykholm starred in the midfield for boys’ soccer, tallying a team-high nine goals. Coach Patrick Quirk’s squad ended the fall at 9-9-1.

Krista Sahrbeck took helm of girls’ soccer after serving a year as an assistant coach and guided the Raiders to a 2-10 record.

Jacob Newman set the pace as boys’ cross country placed fifth in the Prep A state meets as he came in 10th individually. Coach Kurt Wayton also got a superb race from sophomore Newman in the Mercer County championship meet as he took eight individually to help Hun finish 15th in the team standings. Wayton’s girls’ squad finished sixth in the Prep A meet, led by a 26th place finish from freshman Jade Boucree. In the county competition, Boucree took 72nd as Hun came in 14th overall.

DRIVING FORCE: Princeton Day School boys’ lacrosse player Sebastian Rzeczycki drives to goal in a game this spring. Junior star Rzeczycki tallied a team-high 108 points on 66 goals and 42 assists to help PDS go 15-7 and advance to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public Group B final for the first time in program history. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

PDS

Liam Jackson (10 goals, 20 assists) and Brady Logue (11 goals, 9 assists) triggered the offense for PDS boys’ hockey. Coach Scott Bertoli’s squad posted a 7-11-3 record as it advanced to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public quarterfinals.

Eibhleann Knox provided offensive firepower with 13 goals and four assists while goalie Brigid Milligan starred between the pipes, posting a .921 save percentage to lead girls’ hockey. Coach Julie DeSimone guided the Panthers to a 7-6-3 record as they advanced to the NJSIAA state semifinals.

High-scoring guards Jaden Hall and Jaden Dublin provided a one-two punch for boys’ basketball, tallying 346 and 273 points respectively. Coach Eugene Burroughs led PDS to an 8-16 record as it made the Prep B state semis.

Mia Hartman was a bright spot for girls’ basketball as she scored 223 points to lead the Panthers. Coach Seraphine Hamilton’s squad posted a 2-20 record.

With coach Joe Moore having announced before the spring that he was stepping down after the 2023 season, boys’ lacrosse produced an inspired campaign. Bouncing back from a disappointing 6-11 season in 2022, the Panthers went 15-7 and advanced to the NJSIAA Non-Public Group B final for the first time in program history where they got edged 10-8 by Gill St. Bernard’s.

Sebastian Rzeczycki triggered the PDS attack with 108 points on 66 goals and 42 assists while freshman Andrew Ahrens made an instant impact with 47 goals and 28 assists. Over the summer, former Haverford College men’s lax coach Nick Taylor was named to succeed Moore.

The trio of Tessa Caputo, Paige Gardner, and Sophie Jaffe sparked the offense for girls’ lacrosse. Caputo tallied 126 points (81 goals, 45 assists) with Gardner chipping in 105 points (65 goals, 40 assists), and Jaffe contributed 95 points (63 goals, 32 assists). Coach Tracy Young guided the Panthers to a 13-8 record as they made the semis of both the Mercer County Tournament and the NJSIAA Non-Public Group B tourney.

Ryan Vandal produced a superb senior campaign for baseball, batting .309 with 18 runs. Coach Eric Schnepf’s squad went 1-22 in his first year at the helm of the program.

A-PLUS: Princeton Day School girls’ soccer player Adriana Salzano controls the ball in a game this fall. Senior standout Salzano scored a team-high 17 goals to help PDS go 17-2-3 and win the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public A title for the first time in program history. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Adriana Salzano had a huge season for softball, batting .703 with 15 runs and 15 RBIs. Coach Angela Adams guided the Panthers to a 3-8 record.

Heyang Li emerged as a star for boys’ tennis, winning the first singles title at the Mercer County Tournament. Coach Michael Augsberger guided his squad to the NJSIAA Non-Public South Jersey title as it topped Ranney School 5-0 in the sectional final. PDS went on to lose 4-1 to Newark Academy in the Non-Public final to end the spring at 11-5-1.

Adriana Salzano triggered the offense with 17 goals while Ella McLaren and Tochi Owunna spearheaded the defense as girls’ soccer enjoyed an historic campaign. After tough losses in the Mercer County Tournament and the Prep state tourney, the Panthers caught fire down the stretch in the NJSIAA Non-Public A tournament, posting five straight wins on the way to the state title and outscoring foes 14-1 in that stretch. Coach Chris Pettit’s team defeated Mount St. Dominic 2-0 in the state final to finish the season at 17-2-3 and earn the program’s first ever Non-Public crown.

After winning just one game in regular season action, boys’ soccer went on a stirring run in the NJSIAA South Jersey Non-Public B, posting two wins to advance to the semis. Coach Brian Thomsen’s squad fell 4-0 to St. Rose in the semis to end the fall at 3-16-1. Yaseen Mousa led the Panthers in scoring wot six goal while Todd Devin starred in the midfield.

Lilly Ryan (14 goals, 3 assists) and Tessa Caputo (11 goals, 1 assist) led the way as field hockey produced another winning campaign. Coach Heather Farlow’s squad posted a 15-4-1 record as it advanced to the NJSIAA Non-Public North Jersey semifinals.

The second doubles team of Kavita Amin and Zarna Kalra provided a highlight for girls’ tennis as they won their flight at the Prep B state tournament. Augsberger’s team went 14-5, making the NJSIAA Non-Public South Jersey final where it was edged 3-2 by Trinity Hall.

Grayson McLaughlin set the pace for boys’ cross country as it fell just short of winning the Prep B state championship meet. McLaughlin placed third overall as PDS came in second with a score of 65, one point behind champion Newark Academy. Coach Mike Mazzei’s team also got strong performances at the Prep B meet from Edward Letko and Arun Patel, who placed seventh and eighth respectively. The Panthers also excelled at the Non-Public A Group meet, placing fourth overall as McLaughlin took sixth overall.

Emily McCann solidified her status as one of the best runners ever for girls’ cross country. Senior star and Northeastern commit McCann placed second in the Prep B state meet and sixth in the Non-Public A Group meet. Coach Mike Mazzei’s squad placed second in the Prep B meet and fourth in the Non-Public A meet.

SOAKING IN SUCCESS: Members of the Princeton High girls’ swim team celebrate in the pool in late February after they defeated Chatham 91-79 in New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group B state final at the Gloucester County Institute of Technology. The Tigers ended the season with a 14-0 record as they earned the program’s first girls’ state title since 1993. (Photo provided by Carly Misiewicz)

PHS

Featuring a deep, talented, and versatile squad, PHS girls’ swimming produced a season for the ages, going 14-0 on the way to winning the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group B state title. In winning the program’s first state crown since 1983, the Tiger lineup included seniors Beatrice Cai and Annie Zhao along with junior standouts Courtney Weber, Kyleigh Tangen, Jesse Wang, Lauren Girouard, and Nora Chen; sophomores Sabine Ristad and Rachel McInerney; and freshmen Annie Flanagan and Nia Zagar. Coach Carly Misiewicz’s squad topped previously undefeated Chatham 91-79 in the state final. The Tigers also rolled to the title in the Mercer County Championships as they tuned up for their state run.

Senior star Daniel Baytin ended his career on a high note, helping boys’ swimming go 13-1 as it took first in the Mercer County Championships. Baytin was named the boys’ Most Valuable Swimmer at the meet, placing first in both the 50-meter freestyle and 100 breaststroke. He set a meet record in the breaststroke with his time of 1:03.84 in the preliminary round. Along with Baytin, a stellar group of sophomores Daniel Guo, Matias Da Costa, Jaden Jung, Tyler Cenci, David Brophy and the Xu twins, David and Jaiden, provided the Tigers with talent all over the pool. Coach Carly Misiewicz’s squad ended the season by falling 90-80 to Chatham in the NJSIAA North 2 Group B sectional final.

The one-two punch of senior stars Cooper Zullo (33 goals,19 assists) and Ethan Garlock (16 goals, 28 assists) led the way as boys’ hockey enjoyed a superb season. The Tigers edged Hopewell Valley 3-2 in overtime in the Mercer County Tournament final to win their first county crown since 2020. Coach Rik Johnson guided the squad to a 15-7-1 record in his first season at the helm of the program. PHS ended the winter by falling 9-2 to Ridge in the NJSIAA Public A state quarterfinals.

Cassie Speir triggered the offense for girls’ hockey tallying 18 goals and two assists. Coach Christian Herzog’s squad went 0-15.

Jahan Owusu (314 points) and Jihad Wilder (214 points) starred for boys’ basketball as it got better and better as the season went on. Coach Pat Noone’s team advanced to the final of the Mercer County Invitational, the “B” bracket of the county tourney, and then lost by one point in the first round of the state tournament to end the winter at 10-13.
Rachel Luo (197 points) and Riley Devlin (249 points) provided firepower from the perimeter while Anna Winters (296 points) starred in the paint for girls’ basketball as it produced a winning campaign. The Tigers edged Steinert 41-39 in the final of the Mercer County Invitational, the “B” bracket of the county tourney. Coach Dave Kosa guided PHS to a 13-12 record.

Cole Rose, Blase Mele, and Martin Brophy helped wrestling to one of its best seasons in recent years. The Tigers went 18-6 in dual match competition and placed second in the Mercer County Tournament. Rose won the county title at 120 pounds and Mele prevailed at 132 while Brophy placed second at 138. Coach Jess Monzo’s team advanced to the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 4 quarterfinals. The program did boast a state champion as senior Ava Rose ended her PHS career on a high note, winning the title at 114 pounds at the NJSIAA Girls’ State Wrestling Championships.

Patrick Kenah and Brendan Beatty sparked the attack for boys’ lacrosse. Kenah piled up 111 points on 68 goals and 43 assists while Beatty tallied 92 points on 41 goals and 51 assists. Coach Peter Stanton guided the Tigers to a 9-8 record and the Mercer County Tournament semis.

Riley Devlin had a big season for girls’ lacrosse, scoring 85 points on 68 goals and 17 assists. Freshman Quinn Gallagher emerged as a second scoring threat for PHS with 37 goals and 13 assists. Coach Katie Federico’s squad posted a 7-12 record.

Alex Winters was a catalyst for baseball, batting .385 with team highs in runs (16), hits (25), and RBIs (18). Coach Dom Capuano guided the Tigers to a 6-16 record.

Natalie Hester and Delaney Keegan provided some offensive punch for softball, hitting .333 and .364, respectively. Coach Marissa Soprano’s squad showed progress as it went 6-14, doubling its win total from 2022.

Zach Della Rocca set the pace as boys’ track placed first in the Mercer County Outdoor Track Championships. Della Rocca took first in both the 100 and 200 at the county meet while Sawyer Quallen won the triple jump and Andrew Kenny took second in the 800. Coach Ben Samara’s squad went on to take fourth in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 4 sectional meet and ninth in the Group 4 state championship meet.

Katherine Monroe took third in the 100 hurdles and Grace DeFaria placed fifth in the long jump to provide highlights for girls’ track as it placed ninth in the Mercer County Outdoor Track Championships. Coach Ben Samara’s team took 14th in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 4 sectional meet and 36th in the Group 4 state championship meet.

Coming through in dramatic fashion, boys’ golf placed first in the Mercer County Tournament, besting Allentown in the first hole of a playoff after the foes tied at 299 through 18 holes. Junior star Brooks Cahill-Sanidas led the way for PHS, tying for third individually with a two-under 70 while senior Wes Yonish placed fifth in 72 and junior Peter Eaton took 15th with a 76. Coach Pat Noone’s squad went on to place second in the North Jersey Group 3 sectional and 10th in the NJSIAA State Championships.

Senior Madeleine Zang and her younger sister, sophomore Jacqueline, starred as girls’ golf won the Mercer County Tournament. The Tigers had a team score of 327 to defeat runner-up WW/P-South by 10 strokes. Jacqueline Zang placed second individually with a one-over 73 while older sister Zang took fourth at 76. Coach Jess Monzo guided the Tigers to a second place in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Sectional and eighth in the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions.

Jonathan Gu solidified his status as one of the greatest players in program history for boys’ tennis. Senior standout Gu advanced to the NJSIAA boys’ state singles final where he fell in straight sets to Liam Kilmer of Mendham. In so doing, he fell just short of a title repeat as he had won the tourney in 2022, becoming the first PHS boys’ player to win the state singles title since Jacob Leschly in 1984. Coach Sarah Hibbert led the Tigers to a 14-2 season as they advanced to the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 3 sectional final.

REACHING NEW HEIGHTS: Princeton High girls’ volleyball player Naomi Lygas follows through on a hit this fall. Sophomore star Lygas recorded a team-high 345 kills to help PHS win the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 3 state title and post a 30-1 record. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

The quintet of sophomores Naomi Lygas, Charlotte Woods, and Kaelin Bobetich along with juniors Lois Matsukawa and Pearl Agel powered girls’ volleyball to a sensational season. Coach Patty Manhart’s squad rolled through the Burlington County Scholastic League (BCSL) tournament to win its second straight league crown. Saving its best for last, PHS dominated in state tournament competition, winning each match in straight sets on the way to winning the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 3 sectional title and then taking the NJSIAA Group 3 state crown, defeating Millburn 2-0 (25-21, 25-12) in the championship match to end the fall with a 30-1 record. It marked the first-ever state title for the program that first gained varsity status in 2014.

The finishing touch of Pasquale Carusone (28 goals, five assists) and Azariah Breitman (11 goals, 4 assists), the playmaking of the Smith twins, Harvey (8 goals, 11 assists) and Archie (6 goals, 15 assists), and a suffocating defense spearheaded by a back four of Nick Matese, Jamie Reynolds, Patrick Kenah, and Connor Hewitt together with goalie Nicholas Holmelund combined to make boys’ soccer a powerhouse. Guided by first-year head coach Ryan Walsh, the Tigers brought a 14-1 record into the Mercer County Tournament and ended up making to the MCT final where they were edged 2-1 on a late goal by undefeated and nationally ranked Pennington.

Bouncing back from that setback, PHS won the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 4 sectional title, topping Howell 5-1 in the final. In the NJSIAA Group 4 state semis, the Tigers produced another masterpiece, dismantling Washington Township 4-0. Facing fellow power Kearny in the NJSIAA Group 4 state final, PHS rallied from a 2-1 second half deficit to win 3-2 and finish the fall at 22-2. It marked the fourth state title for the program and first since 2012.

Holly Howes (14 goals, 8 assists) sparked the offense and Alysse Kiesewetter (5 goals, 5 assists) was a two-way force from the defensive end for girls’ soccer. Coach Dave Kosa’s team posted a 10-9-1 record.

With Delaney Keegan (25 goals, 6 assists) and Erin Liggio (20 goals, 12 assists) providing offensive firepower, field hockey put together a memorable campaign. Coach Heather Serverson’s team advanced to the finals of both the Mercer County Tournament and the NJSIAA North Jersey Group 4 sectional on the way to a 17-3 record.

CHAMPIONSHIP RUN: Princeton High boys’ soccer player Pasquale Carusone races past a defender in action this fall. Senior striker Carusone tallied a team-high 28 goals to help PHS win the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 4 state title and post a 22-2 record. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Tyler Goldberg led the offense with 667 yards rushing and five touchdowns while Joe George, Anthony Famiglietti, Jake Angelucci, Carmine Carusone and Elisio Moncada sparked a stingy defense that posted four shutouts as football produced its first winning season since 2014. Coach Charlie Gallagher guided his squad to a 5-4 record.

Max Dunlap set the pace as boys’ cross country finished third in the Mercer County Championships. Dunlap took fourth individually for the Tigers. Coach Jim Smirk’s squad went on to place fifth in the NJSIAA Central Group 4 sectional and 11th in the NJSIAA Group 4 state meet. Dunlap and Joshua Barzilai qualified for the NJSIAA Meet of Champions individually where they placed 61st and 103rd, respectively.

With Grace Hegedus, Kyleigh Tangen and Kajol Karra all placing in the top 10, girls’ cross country took first at the Mercer County Championships. Hegedus finished sixth at the meet while Tangen came in eighth, and Karra placed 10th. Coach Jim Smirk’s team then took third in the NJSIAA Central Group 4 sectional and later placed fifth in the NJSIAA Group 4 state meet. The Tigers earned a wild card spot in the NJSIAA Meet of Champions and ended up 13th in the team standings at the event. Hegedus led the way for PHS, taking 44th individually.

The first doubles team of Maya-Alexandra Todorov and Ashna Bushan provided a highlight for girls’ tennis as they won their flight at the Mercer County Tournament. Coach Sarah Hibbert guided the Tigers to a 13-4 record as they advanced to the final of the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 3 sectional tournament.

GOAL-ORIENTED: Stuart Country Day School lacrosse player Allison Lee, left, battles a Peddie School player on a draw control this sporting. Sophomore Lee tallied a program single-season best of 100 goals for the Tartans. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Stuart

With Tony Bowman returning for his second stint guiding basketball after coaching Stuart from 2003-11, the Tartans showed progress. The one-two punch of senior Emily Ix (109 points) and freshman Taylor States (177 points) led the way as the Tartans went 5-6.

Allison Lee produced a historic season for lacrosse, tallying 115 points on a program-record 100 goals and 15 assists. Sophomore star Lee combined with senior standout Ix (61 points on 49 goals and 12 assists) to help coach Missy Bruvik’s squad post a 5-10 record.

Nyla Flamer (5 goals, 4 assists) sparked the offense and Emily Harlan starred in goal with 105 saves for field hockey. Coach Bruvik guided the Tartans to a 5-6-1 record.

Mizen Chennault set the pace for cross country, taking 16th in the Prep B state meet. Coach Alec Valle’s squad finished eighth in the team standings at the meet.