ROCK AND ROLL: Princeton High boys’ track star Zach Della Rocca displays his form in a 2022 race. Senior and Princeton University-bound Della Rocca enjoyed a big spring. He finished first in the 100 meters and second in the 200 at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSI AA) Group 4 state championship meet on June 10. A week earlier, Della Rocca took first in the both the 100 and 200 at the Central Jersey Group 4 sectional. At the Mercer County championship meet in late May, Della Rocca won the 200 and took second in the 100. (Photo provided by Ben Samara)

Zach Della Rocca couldn’t do any sprint training for more than six months over the fall and winter due to a leg injury, but made the most of his last two months with the Princeton High boys’ track team when he could finally run this spring.

While senior star Della Rocca was limited to upper body weight lifting during his hiatus from the track, he made a strong statement when he got back in action.

Competing in the 100 and 200 meters rather than in the 400, his main event in the 2022 spring campaign, Della Rocca proved to be dominant.

In the Mercer County Championships in late May, he took first in the 200 and second in the 100, helping PHS win the boys’ team title.

Two weeks later at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 4 Sectional meet, Della Rocca produced a title double, winning the 100 and the 200.

At the Group 4 state meet, Della Rocca placed first in the 100 in 10.86 seconds and set a new personal record of 21.62 to finish second in the 200 meters.

“I felt great,” said Della Rocca after the Group 4 meet. “That was a big goal of mine — winning at sectionals and then winning at groups. That was something I wanted to achieve coming into this season. And I didn’t get to do it in winter because I was injured. It meant a lot to me that I could get first in the 100 and second in the 200.”

Over the course of the spring, Della Rocca lowered his own 100 or 200 school record five times. He set the 100-meter best when he won sectionals in 10.64. His improvements have kept him satisfied with his progress.

“Every time I get a PR, that’s great, that’s the direction I want to be heading,” said Della Rocca. “With the 100, it wasn’t quite my PR but I’m happy with it because the 100 is such a technical race. It’s all about the start, and there are so many factors that go into it. I’m happy with that time, but I know I can definitely get it better.”

It wasn’t easy for Della Rocca to deal with his hiatus from the track.

“It was definitely hard in the winter when I was injured because I put so much time in training in the fall,” said Della Rocca, who has committed to continue his track career at Princeton University. “It’s really frustrating when you get injured and then you can’t compete. I put the work in at physical therapy and recovered and so far this spring I’ve felt great and had no problems. I’ve felt no pain, which has made me happy. I’m glad I’m able to be back on the track finally.”

Dealing with that frustration, though, made Della Rock a better leader this spring.

“The thing about this year is that I can actually help my team members through meets and help them with their starts because I now know somewhat what I’m doing,” said Della Rocca. “And in the weight room, I’m able to help them because I’ve been through the program for a year. I have a lot more experience in those ways. And navigating through meets because they can be confusing where to check in and everything. Then I can help with competition mentality and with form. Competition can be really anxiety producing for a lot of people — so helping them through that and helping them keep their form during races.”

Della Rocca is excited about getting opportunity to compete at the next level across town with the Princeton men’s track program.

“It’s a dream come true,” said Della Rocca. “I’ve looked up to those runners for so long. Now realizing that I’m going to be a part of that team, it’s a dream come true. That team is so exceptional. With the exception of the spring, they’ve won Ivies the last eight years. They placed seventh at nationals last year. They’re one of best track teams in the country and one of best academic schools in the country too. It’s the best of both worlds and I’m so grateful that I have the opportunity to be on that team and to go to Princeton.”

Having just joined the PHS track team as a junior after focusing on soccer before that means that Della Rocca has a higher ceiling for improvement, and he has heard only good things about Tiger sprints coach Robert Abdullah’s work.

“He’s great at developing sprinters and getting them faster,” said Della Rocca. “He’s almost like a magician — they don’t know how he does it. That’s something I was excited about. All of the coaches I have talked to during the process, none of them had a reputation like that. That’s exciting for me, especially because I am playing catch-up in a way. Having him and his skill set will benefit me greatly and I’m excited to what I can do when I start getting coached by him.”

PHS head coach Ben Samara credits Della Rocca’s success this spring coming back from injury as forcing him to rethink his approach to training.

“Zach’s return has caused me to do a deep dive on coaching philosophy and training philosophy,” said Samara, whose father, Fred, recently retired as the head coach of the Princeton University men’s program after a storied 46-year tenure. “I’ve been researching and trying to make it something I’m focusing on. His return defies all logic in terms of training, injury, how you come back from those things. For him to sit out eight months and be able to come back and do what he’s doing speaks to what sort of athlete he is. He’s a once-in-a-generation talent.”

For bouncing back from injury to producing a once-in-a-generation season for the PHS track squad, Della Rocca is the choice as the top male performer of the spring high school season.

Top Female Performer

HARD TO STOP: Princeton Day School girls’ lacrosse player Tessa Caputo, left, looks to unload the ball run a game this spring. Junior star Caputo led PDS in points (126), goals (81), and assists (45) as the Panthers advanced to the Prep B state final and the semis of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public Group B tourney and Mercer County Tournament in going 13-8. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

When the Princeton Day School girls’ lacrosse team hosted the Hun School in early April, Tessa Caputo took matters into her hands for PDS.

Junior star Caputo scored a pair of goals in the first 2:03 of the contest to help spark the Panthers as they went on to a 16-14 win and avenged a tough 10-6 defeat in 2022 to their cross-town rivals.

“Losing that game last year and watching that happen was devastating and I think that really fueled us today,” said Caputo, who tallied seven points on five goals and two assists in the win. “We were so excited for this game, we really wanted it. In the end, it came down to who wanted it more and I think we really wanted it.”

With the Panthers clinging to a 15-14 lead in the waning moments of the contest, Caputo fired in an insurance goal to end the scoring.

“Having a one-goal lead with four minutes left in the game wasn’t enough,” said Caputo, whose final tally came with 1:37 left in regulation. “I had that opportunity, I feel confident with that shot, I do that every day in practice. I felt like that was a sure one so I took it.”

PDS head coach Tracy Young credited Caputo with sparking the Panthers against Hun.

“Tess is not normally a midfielder for us,” said Young. “Paige [Gardner] and Sophie [Jaffe] have been playing much more of our mid. Since they were two that were not feeling great, I had to go with Tess which benefited us in the long run. She came out hot really quick.”

Caputo saw the win over Hun as a confidence builder for a Panther squad that began the season by falling 18-17 to Blair Academy and 12-9 to Shore.

“We had a pretty rough start to the season,” said Caputo. “We just needed a couple of wins under our belt and I think it is really going to be good.”

Caputo, who tallied 27 goals and 17 assists in the first six games of the season, kept firing away as the Panthers went on to advance to the Prep B state final, MCT semifinals, and New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public Group B semis.

Utilizing her skill and versatility, Caputo ended up leading PDS in points (126), goals (81), and assists (45) as the squad posted a final record of 13-8.

“I have definitely been stepping up to play some more mid and I am taking the draw this year,” said Caputo, who has committed to attend Fairfield University and play for its Division I women’s lax program. “I am normally a low attacker, so being able to do that is really awesome.”

Over the years, Caputo has formed a special partnership with senior standout Gardner, a fellow Fairfield commit.

“It is awesome working with Paige,” said Caputo of Gardner, who allied 65 goals and 40 assists this spring. “I am going to be playing with Paige in college; I would say her being committed there was a pretty big factor in me committing there. Fairfield is such an amazing school and to be able to have another four years with my best friend is awesome.”

Young credited the pair of Caputo and Gardner with making PDS hard to stop.

“Tessa and Paige are just phenomenal in the way that they were feeding it in,” said Young after PDS topped Notre Dame 12-11 in early May. “When you have a Paige and a Tessa that we know they are trying to double-team every single time, we have got to rely on those other people like Sophie [Jaffe] and Jess [Hollander] coming up big.”

For coming up big all season long in triggering a high-powered Panther offense, Caputo is the choice as the top female performer this spring.

Top Newcomers

After opting to not play for the Princeton Day School boys’ tennis team as a freshman in a 2022, Heyang Li joined the squad this spring.

“One of my private coaches, Glenn Michibata, helped convince me to play high school tennis because he thought it was really fun,” said Li, explaining his decision. “It is really fun playing with all of these guys.”

Starring at first singles, sophomore Li ended up having a lot of fun in his debut campaign.

At the Mercer County Tournament in April, Li won the first singles title, posting a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win over defending county and state singles champion Jonathan Gu of Princeton High in the final.

In facing the formidable senior star Gu before a big crowd at the stadium court at the Mercer County Park tennis complex, sophomore Li kept things simple.

“It was staying solid and being positive the whole time, playing my game, getting to the net, and hitting to his backhand,” said Li, reflecting on taking the first set. “I was taking my time, creating space and finding an opportunity to win the point.

In May, Li won the first singles title at the Prep B state tournament, helping the Panthers to win their second straight crown at the competition.

Weeks later, Li pulled out a 4-6, 6-4, (11-9) win over Braden Chavez as PDS topped Ranney 5-0 to win the Non-Public South sectional final.

In the Non-Public final against perennial powerhouse Newark Academy, Li topped Andrew Kotzen 6-3, 6-4, to earn the only win for the Panthers as they fell 4-1 to end the spring with an 11-5-1 record.

It didn’t take long for PDS head coach Michael Augsberger to realize that he had something special on his hands in newcomer Li.

“Heyang has the mindset of a professional, that is the way he trains,” said Augsberger. “He just saw the fun that they guys have. He loves the group of guys that we have; that helped him warm up to the idea of playing team tennis. He knows those other guys look to him and he wants to be seen doing the right thing, making sure that the guys see him committed in practice.”

Augsberger had fun watching Li’s game. “I have seen really quick hands and he is lightning quick,” added Augsberger. “I love the way he volleys the ball and his touch. He is really fast and he gets to things too.”

Li’s assessment of the impact of his win over Gu in the MCT proved to be a preview of things to come.

“It is mentality, it has made me a lot stronger,” said Li, who went out to make the Round of 16 at the NJSIAA state singles tournament before getting knocked out. “I feel great.”

For joining the PDS boys’ tennis program and emerging as one of the top singles players in the state, Li is the choice as the top male newcomer.

Coming into this spring, Kathy Quirk was hoping that freshman Sam Jolly would be up to the challenge of batting leadoff for a veteran-laden Hun School softball squad.

Jolly didn’t waste any time showing that she could be a catalyst at the top of the batting order. In a season-opening doubleheader sweep of Mercersburg Academy, Jolly went 6 for 7 with five runs and eight RBIs.

As Hun got off to a 13-0 start, Quirk credited her precocious freshman second baseman with being a key to the team’s success.

“Jolly is doing a great job, she has that slap and she is patient,” said Quirk. “She will draw the walk and she will hit the ball.”

Jolly kept producing as the spring went on, batting an eye-popping team best of .672 with team-highs in hits (43) and runs (32) as Hun went 18-2, winning its second straight Prep A state title and repeated as Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) champions.

In reflecting on Hun’s championship season, Quirk cited Jolly as making a big difference for the Raiders.

“Jolly is just such smart player; she is a left-handed slapper but she will look at where the girls are and will place the ball over the third basemen’s head or will hit a power hit,” said Quirk. “She just knows what to do to get on base. I can’t say enough about her as a freshman and what she contributed to the team.”

Jolly’s amazing production from the lead-off spot in her debut campaign as Hun enjoyed another big season makes her the pick as the top female newcomer.

Top Coaches

THE FORCE IS WITH THEM: Wilberforce School girls’ track coaches Lois Szeliga, far left, and Kristen Yonkman, far right, enjoy the moment with their athletes after the squad won the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public B state title for the first time in program history. The team’s 4×800 relay went on to place first at the Meet of Champions, making more history for the program. (Photo provided by Lois Szeliga)

With the Princeton Day School boys’ lacrosse team coming off a disappointing 6-11 season in 2022, Joe Moore believed his squad was hungry to get back on the winning track this spring.

“We are all playing and coaching with a chip on our shoulder,” said PDS head coach Moore. “We had a salty taste in our mouth at the end of last year and we are taking that with us this year.”

For Moore, there was extra incentive to guide the Panthers to a big season as he had announced that 2023 would be his last year at the helm of program, having decided to step back to devote more time to his job at Centercourt and his young family.

The Panthers served notice early in that they were going to be a force in 2023, getting off to a sizzling 5-1 start.

“We have nine of our 10 starters returning this year,” said Moore, reflecting on the team’s early success. “We are very mature on both sides of the ball, which is helpful.”

That maturity showed in the Prep B state final on May 1 as PDS overcame an early 4-1 deficit against Gill St. Bernard’s to pull out a 9-6 win and earn its first Prep crown since 2017.

“It is amazing; ultimately we are going to use this to give us confidence,” said Moore of the Prep B crown.

“We know we can win a championship now. We just have to continue to prove it and get better every day in our own way. I know we really wanted to get this one. It is nice to have a championship at this stage of the season where you can use it to build momentum.”

After falling to Allentown in the Mercer County Tournament semis, the Panthers ended the season by playing for a championship as they advanced to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public Group B final on June 10 against Gill St. Bernard’s. In its march to the title game,PDS topped Gloucester Catholic 23-4, Holy Spirit 16-14, and Rutgers Prep 8-5.

PDS came up short in the title game, falling 10-8 after having defeated Gill in a regular season meeting (8-7 on April 11) before topping the Knights in the Prep B final, leaving Moore with a bittersweet goodbye.

“It is really hard, I have been dreading this day, win or lose,” said Moore, who guided the Panthers to a 15-7 record in his final season. “If we win, it was still going to be a hard day for me. On an individual level, I am so proud of this team. I just told them, ‘I have been in this sport for 25 years as a player or a coach and this is easily one of my favorite teams to be with because of who these guys are. I am
going out exactly how I hoped to.’”

In reflecting on what will stand out about his PDS tenure, Moore pointed to the feeling of brotherhood among the guys that has been cultivated around the squad from year to year.

“We have had really talented players but more than that we have had guys who just have great hearts and take something away from this program,” said Moore, whose players and coaches hugged each other one by one after the postgame talk. “I think the coolest part is to see them come back to our practice field or to our games and give me a big hug. You can tell that they feel welcome into this program and I have always wanted to build that culture. It is a big piece of it.”

For nurturing that brotherhood over the years and leading PDS to a Prep title in his final year at the helm, Moore gets the nod as the top coach of a boys’ team.

Lois Szeliga doesn’t have a lot of resources to work with as a coach of the Wilberforce School track program.

The upper school has around 100 students and there is no track on campus. The team trains by running around a soccer field at the school or heading to the nearby towpath when the pitch is in use.

Despite those challenges, the Wolverine girls’ squad emerged as a force this spring.

After taking third in the Mercer County Championships in late May, Wilberforce headed into the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public B championship meet with their eyes on a title.

“You can see the rankings and where you can score points,” said Szeliga. “I knew that we had a chance to win and the girls all knew that.”

In order be a title contender, Szeliga had to maximize the talent at her disposal.

“We had to switch some people around and ask people to do different events,” said Szeliga, who guides the team along with Kristen Yonkman, the sprints and field coach. “We were trying to steal points in so many different events. You try to see realistically where they can end up.”

Wilberforce ended up piling up a lot of points in the June 10 meet held at Delsea High, taking first with 83 points as Montclair Kimberley Academy scored 59 to come in second. It marked the first-ever Non-Public team track title for the program.

Five days later, the Wilberforce girls made more history at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions as their 4×800 relay of Laura Sallade, Sophia Park, Adeline Edwards, and Gwen Mersereau placed first, establishing another program milestone.

Watching her runners pull away from the competition at the MOC triggered some deep emotions for Szeliga.

“I was so thrilled for them; knowing from the beginning of the season when they started seeing what a great team they were as they qualified for the Penn Relays and to see each one develop as individuals into a terrific 800 meter runner,” said Szeliga. “They all dropped their times by 10 seconds from last year; each of them became such elite runners this year individually. It was so thrilling to see them achieve that in the space of one season. When the girls finished, it was like they were swarmed by the paparazzi. We had never had anything like that before it was great. It is so amazing.”

Culminating their stellar spring, the Wolverine girls produced another thrilling performance as they placed first in the Rising Stars Distance Medley Relay at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals at Franklin Field in Philadelphia in mid-June.

“Everybody at school is just thrilled, nobody can believe it; the parents who come to support us at all of these long meets are so thrilled and the social media is blowing up,” said Szeliga, reflecting on the team’s
success. “With the success, you did see a camaraderie. The other area teams are so supportive. Even when we went to nationals, the Union Catholic coach came over and congratulated us. You just see the embrace of the running community and the support. It is really nice. You go and coaches say, ‘Wow Wilberforce, Princeton, New Jersey.’ Even when we were at nationals, it was, ‘there is one of the Wilberforce girls.’ It is different, we used to get where is that but now people know us.”

In Szeliga’s view, those girls represented the school with a special spirit.

“There is a quote we have all over our school, “We are too young to realize that certain things are impossible … so we will do them anyway,” from William Wilberforce, who our school is named after,” said Szeliga. “All season, these girls didn’t think things were impossible for them so they just went out and tried to do them. It is a theme of the school and I really felt that the girls embodied that. It is part of the mission of the school to get out there and accomplish what you can.”

The efforts of Szeliga and Yonkman in getting their intrepid band of athletes to accomplish great things make them the top coaches of a girls’ team this spring.