MORE TO COME: Nick Matese, left, marks a Notre Dame High player last fall in his senior season for the Princeton High boys’ soccer team. Star center back and co-captain Matese helped PHS go 22-2 last fall on the way to winning the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 4 state championship. Matese is currently in preseason training as he starts his college career with the Swarthmore College men’s soccer team. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Nick Matese started playing soccer when he was three years old and saw no reason to leave the game after wrapping up his Princeton High career last fall.

“Soccer has been a big part of my life,” said Matese, who starred at center back last fall as the PHS boys’ soccer team won the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 4 state championship. “There were some really good coaches that inspired me and helped me grow as a player as I was getting into high school. I didn’t really want to give it up just yet.” more

SOCKING IT TO THEM: Natan Wysocki competes in a meet earlier this summer for the Community Park Bluefish swim team. Wysocki helped the Bluefish place first in the team standings at the Princeton-Area Swimming and Diving Association (PASDA) championship meet last month. Wysocki finished first in the 50-yard freestyle and second in the 50 backstroke at the meet. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Kelsey Schwimmer saw a greater intensity around the Community Park Bluefish swim team this summer than in the past.

“One of the things that stood out to me was how much participation and involvement we had,” said Bluefish co-head coach Schwimmer. “It is always pretty high, but we were seeing huge turnouts at our morning practices. Usually that first hour is a little less well attended because it is earlier, but it was full every single day. I think that really just goes to show how hard our coaching staff was working and how much the kids were enjoying it and excited to come out and swim and be with their friends.” more

BALLHAWK: Adriana Salzano, left, controls the ball in a game last fall during her senior season for the Princeton Day School girls’ soccer team. Salzano, who helped PDS win the first New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public A title in program history in 2023, is currently in preseason training with the Monmouth University women’s soccer team. She is looking to make an immediate impact when the Hawks play at Temple on August 15 in their season opener. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Adriana Salzano emerged as a star right away during freshmen season for the Princeton Day School girls’ soccer team in 2020, scoring a team-high nine goals as the Panthers went 10-1 in a season curtailed by COVID-19 concerns.

This fall, Salzano is aiming to be a major contributor from the outset as she starts her career with the Monmouth University women’s soccer team.

“I definitely want to come in there and make an impact as early as possible just like I did in my freshman year in high school,” said Salzano, who started preseason training earlier this month as the Hawks prepare for their season opener at Temple on August 15. “I went into PDS, I had a goal to start and help the team in any way that I could. That is my same goal for Monmouth. Another big one is that I want to be the CAA (Coastal Athletic Association) Rookie of the Year. I know it is a big one to reach for but if I work hard, there is no limit to that.” more

ROCK ON: Pasquale Carusone, right, goes after the ball last fall in his senior season for the Princeton High boys’ soccer team. Carusone scored a team-high 28 goals last season to help PHS win the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 4 state championship. Carusone is heading to the University of Rochester this week to start preseason train for his freshman campaign with Yellowjacket men’s soccer team. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

A dream is coming true for Pasquale Carusone this week as he starts preseason training for his freshman season with University of Rochester men’s soccer team.

For Carusone, who starred last fall as the Princeton High boys’ soccer team won the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 4 state championship, his rise up the ladder in the sport has been motivated by the goal of someday being a college player.

“I feel like playing in college is really important for me,” said Carusone, noting that he started shooting for that when he got into the game as a youngster. “When I played the sport, it was always to move to the next level. I started at PSA (Princeton Soccer Academy) and then my dad said if you want to take it to the next level, you should go to PDA (Players Development Academy). I moved to PDA and worked my way up to the MLS Next team. That was probably the best spot to get recruited at. I got my looks and stuff like that.” more

ENCORE PERFORMANCE: Members of the Princeton Supply team celebrate after they topped Lob City 42-26 last Wednesday at the Community Park courts to sweep the best-of-three championship series in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League. It marked the second straight league title for Princeton Supply, who went 12-0 this summer. (Photo provided courtesy of Princeton Recreation Department)

By Bill Alden

After Princeton Supply won ugly with a lackluster 41-39 victory over Lob City in the opener of the best-of-three championship series of the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League, Troy Jones and his teammates were determined to produce a sharper performance in game two.

“We knew we didn’t shoot particularly well out here on Monday, it was probably our worst game of the season,” said Jones, explaining the team’s mindset coming into the contest last Wednesday night at the Community Park courts. “We all talked after the game, we knew we played a bad game. It happens but we still won. Coming in today, it was we know how to play basketball. We know how to win so we came with the mindset of forget Monday.” more

FAMED DUO: Ben Stentz, left, and Evan Moorhead are all smiles after they were both inducted into the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League’s Hall of Fame last Wednesday evening at the Community Park courts. Stentz served as the commissioner of the summer hoops league for 15 years and became the executive director of the Rec Department. Moorhead succeeded him in both roles and still holds those positions. (Photo provided courtesy of Princeton Recreation Department)

By Bill Alden

It was an idea hatched by Ben Stentz and Evan Moorhead in 2008 over some pizza and beer at Conte’s.

Brainstorming over ways to best celebrate the 20th season of the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League, Stentz suggested creating a league Hall of Fame. more

MAMMOTH PROGRESS: Kate Becker heads upfield in 2022 during her senior season for the Princeton High girls’ lacrosse team. Becker has continued her lacrosse career at the next level for the Amherst College women’s program and emerged as a key playmaker for the Mammoths this spring. Attacker Becker tallied 18 goals and a team-high 17 assists in her sophomore campaign to help Amherst go 8-8. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

After being slowed by injury in her debut campaign for the Amherst College women’s lacrosse team in 2023, Kate Becker got up to speed this spring.

Former Princeton High standout Becker tallied 18 goals and a team-high 17 assists in her sophomore season to help the Mammoths go 8-8. more

BRIT BALL: Will Kraemer celebrates after getting a hit for Great Britain in the U18 Baseball European Championship held earlier this month in Regensburg, Germany. Rising Hun School senior Kraemer batted .429 with nine hits in 21 at-bats, four doubles, seven runs, and four RBIs in the tourney to help Great Britain finish fourth in the competition. (Phot provided courtesy of Derrick Kraemer)

By Bill Alden

Will Kraemer culminated his junior season for the Hun School baseball team this May by helping the squad win the Mercer County Tournament title at the Trenton Thunder Stadium and Prep A state championship on its home diamond.

In July, Kraemer found himself competing for another title some 4,000 miles away from the Princeton area as he played for Great Britain in the U18 Baseball European Championship in Regensburg, Germany. more

SOARING TO VICTORY: Peter Sorber of Princeton Supply (blue shirt) soars to the hoop Monday night in the opener of the best-of-three championship series in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League. Sorber contributed seven points, eight rebounds, two steals, and two blocked shots to help top-seeded Princeton Supply edge third-seeded Lob City 41-39. Princeton Supply, now 11-0, will go for its second straight league title as it faces Lob City (7-4) in game two on July 31 with the third game, if necessary, slated for August 2. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Cruising to an undefeated record as it goes for a title repeat, Princeton Supply found itself in a battle with Lob City last Monday in the opener of the best-of-three championship series in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League.

With its offense sputtering, top-seeded Princeton Supply trailed third-seeded Lob City early in the second half at the Community Park courts. more

SHOOTING STAR: Cal Caputo looks to unload the ball in action this spring during his senior season for the Williams College men’s lacrosse team. Former Princeton Day school standout Caputo led Williams in scoring this spring, tallying 61 points on 44 goals and 17 assists as the Ephs went 9-7. Star attacker Caputo totaled 161 points over his college career as he scored 120 goals with 41 assists. (Photo by Shiv Patel, provided courtesy of Williams College Athletics)

By Bill Alden

Cal Caputo thrust himself into the national spotlight for a day in April after producing a moment of brilliance for the Williams College men’s lacrosse team.

Tallying a flashy over-the-shoulder goal to give Williams a 10-9 triple overtime win against rival Middlebury on April 24, former Princeton Day School standout Caputo’s shot made the ESPN SportsCenter Top 10 Plays of the Day. more

JAM SESSION: Freddy Young Jr. goes in for a dunk in action earlier this season in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League. Last Monday, Young scored 19 points to help second-seeded YSU defeat seventh-seeded Jefferson Plumbing 68-51 in a quarterfinal matchup as the league playoffs got underway. The quarterfinals will wrap up on July 24 when ninth-seeded SpeedPro plays top-seeded Princeton Supply and third-seeded Lob City faces sixth-seeded J. Majeski Foundation at the Community Park courts. The semifinals are slated for July 26 at the CP courts, starting at 7:30 p.m. The opener of the league’s best-of-three championship series is scheduled for July 29 at 8 p.m. at CP. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Freddy Young Jr. led the way as second-seeded YSU defeated seventh-seeded Jefferson Plumbing 68-51 last Monday in a quarterfinal matchup as the playoffs got underway in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League.

Former Princeton Day School and Trenton Catholic standout guard Young tallied 19 points and another former PDS star, Ethan Garita, chipped in 15 as YSU improved to 7-2. Charlie Gillikin scored 20 points for Jefferson Plumbing in a losing cause. more

TICKET TO PARIS: Davon Reed celebrates after he helped Puerto Rico defeat Lithuania 79-68 in the FIBA (International Basketball Association) Olympic Qualifying Tournament final in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on July 10 to secure the final spot in the men’s hoops tournament in the Paris 2024 Olympics. Former Princeton Day School standout Reed scored five points with three rebounds and two steals in the final, and averaged 4.5 points and 4.8 rebounds a game off the bench in the qualifying tournament as the Puerto Rico hoops squad earned its first appearance in the Olympics since 2004. (Photo provided by Davon Reed)

By Bill Alden

Davon Reed headed to the G-League Winter Showcase last December in Orlando, Fla., looking to play his way back into the NBA.

After stints with the Phoenix Suns, Indiana Pacers, Denver Nuggets, and Los Angeles Lakers from 2017-23, former Princeton Day School standout Reed was primed to find a home in the league.

“I have played in a new city or new country every year in my career,” said Reed, who was chosen by the Suns in the second round of the 2017 NBA Draft after scoring 1,343 points in his college career at Miami. “I have become a journeyman. I am looking for some stability with an NBA team in the near future.” more

HISTORIC RUN: Coby Auslander heads upfield this spring for the Christopher Newport University men’s lacrosse team. Former Princeton Day School star Auslander capped his Christopher Newport career by tallying 55 points on 22 goals and 33 assists as the Captains went 16-6 and advanced to the NCAA Division III quarterfinals. Auslander graduated as the program’s all-time assists leader with 161. (Photo provided by Christopher Newport Athletics)

By Bill Alden

When Coby Auslander made his debut for the Christopher Newport University men’s lacrosse team in the spring of 2020, he wasn’t sure of how much of an impact he could make at the next level.

As an undersized 5’7, 150-pound midfielder, former Princeton Day School star Auslander was hoping to see the field as a freshman. Auslander achieved that goal and more, emerging as one of the team’s top playmakers, tallying 18 points on eight goals and 10 assists in a season curtailed to six games by the COVID-19 pandemic. more

GOOD KALL: Emily Kallfelz competes in the U.S. women’s 4 in action this spring. Kallfelz, a 2019 Princeton grad, will be making her debut in the Olympics later this month when she rows in the 2024 Paris Games. (Photo by Row2k, provided courtesy of USA Rowing)

By Justin Feil

Emily Kallfelz had a great excuse to miss Princeton University Reunions in this May.

The 2019 Princeton graduate was in Lucerne, Switzerland, securing a spot in the U.S. women’s 4 boat to row in the Paris 2024 Olympics, no small achievement given her ups and downs over the last five years.  more

NET GAIN: Jonathan Gu prepares to hit a backhand in action this spring during his freshman season for the Carnegie Mellon University men’s tennis team. Former Princeton High star Gu posted a 9-7 overall record in singles and 1-3 in doubles during his debut campaign for the Tartans. (Photo provided courtesy of Carnegie Mellon University Athletics)

By Bill Alden

While Jonathan Gu struggled a bit individually as he started his college career with Carnegie Mellon University men’s tennis squad, he was buoyed by support from his teammates.

“I wasn’t playing too well in the fall, it was a new feeling playing college tennis and just being on a team environment,” said Gu, a former Princeton High standout who won the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) state singles title in 2022 and came in second a year later as a senior. “It is really different from high school where everybody is on a team but at the same time we all have our own responsibilities. In college, everybody is cheering as much as they can, everybody is really energized. In high school, it is more individual.” more

FORCE FIELD: Members of the Wilberforce School girls’ track team 4×800 relay quartet are all smiles after they took 10th overall at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor meet last month at Franklin Field in Philadelphia. Pictured from left, are Laura Sallade, Maria Madigan, Gwen Mersereau, and Eve Szeliga. (Photo provided by Lois Szeliga)

By Bill Alden

Although the Wilberforce School girls’ track team only had six runners this spring, that didn’t keep them from accomplishing a lot.

The Wilberforce girls took seventh out of 18 schools at the Mercer County Championships and then took third at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public B championship meet. more

ON POINT: Princeton High boys’ lacrosse player Patrick Kenah, left, races upfield in a game this spring during his senior campaign. Star attackman and Lafayette College commit Kenah tallied 108 points on 61 goals and 47 assists as he helped PHS go 11-8 and advance to the Mercer County Tournament final. Kenah ended up with 372 points in his Tiger career on 217 goals and 155 assists. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

As Patrick Kenah prepared for senior season with the Princeton High boys’ lacrosse team, he put his nose to the grindstone.

“This offseason was super crucial, I wanted to put in the work,” said Kenah. “I knew I needed to have a good season. I wanted to help the team and be a leader of this team. I think I have set myself up well to do that, and I have been put in a good position.”

Senior attackman and Lafayette College commit Kenah achieved that goal, triggering the PHS offense.

After tallying four points in a 15-4 opening day win over WW/P-North, Kenah exploded for nine points on five goals and four assists to help PHS defeat Hopewell Valley 17-11.

After a tough stretch in mid-April which saw PHS go 2-3, Kenah helped the Tigers get back on track with a 21-11 win over Notre Dame High under the lights at Mercer County Community College, piling up five goals and six assists. more

SETTING THE PACE: Princeton Day School star runner Emily McCann competes in a cross country race during her stellar Panther career. The recently graduated McCann, a Northeastern University track and cross country commit, has been a driving force for the fledging PDS track program as it has grown by leaps and bounds over the last four seasons. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

From its humble start in 2021 as a club program with about 20 athletes that competed in some varsity meets, the Princeton Day School track and field squad has certainly picked up the pace.

This spring, the PDS varsity track team saw its roster swell to 50 with the Panthers finishing third in both the boys’ and girls’ team standings in the Prep B state championship meet. At the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public Group B championships, the PDS boys and girls each finished 10th in the team standings. The Panthers also sent two girls’ relay quartets to the Penn Relays. more

NO QUIT: Princeton Post 218 American Legion baseball player Nano Sarceno launches the ball in recent action. Last Thursday, Princeton High rising senior Sarceno went 1 for 3 with one run to help Post 218 defeat Trenton Post 93/182 8-5. Princeton, now 2-13, plays at South Brunswick Post 401 on July 5, hosts Hamilton Post 31 on July 7, and then plays at Bordentown Post 26 on July 8. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Even as the losses piled up this summer for the Princeton Post 218 American Legion baseball team, Pete Nielsen never lost faith in his players.

“We have the ability,” said Post 218 manager Nielsen. “That has been my message throughout the whole season.”

After starting the 2024 season with 12 straight losses in Mercer County American Legion League (MCALL) action, Post 218 displayed its ability, posting a 13-9 win over Broad Street Post 313 on June 23. more

By Bill Alden

For Jay Jackson, playing for the SpeedPro team in the Princeton Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League this year has been a reunion tour.

Jackson, who went to Princeton High for three years and starred in football, basketball, and lacrosse before transferring to the Pennington School, was excited to team up with SpeedPro, which is comprised of recent PHS alums like Judd Petrone, Jack Suozzi, Matt Rinaldi, Brendan Rougas, and Tim Evidente.

“It has been awhile — I grew up with them and we have been playing for a while,” said Jackson, who graduated from Pennington in 2021 and has gone to play college lacrosse at Frostburg State University where he will be a senior this fall. “It is just being able to hang out with the guys on the court. It is nice to be able to get back out on the court with these guys.” more

UNITED WAY: Members of the Princeton FC 2009 United 15U pose for a team photo as they took a break from competing in the United States Youth soccer (USYS) Eastern Regional Presidents Cup in Barboursville, W. Va., last month. PFC ended up going 1-1-1 in group play at the competition as they narrowly missed advancing to the semifinals of the tourney. Pictured in the front row, from left, are Griffin Short, Cesar Carrera, Anthony Morales, Dani Da Costa, Dani Ludewig, Oscar Klein, and Gregoire Stefani. In the back row, from left, are Michael Habingreither, Jason Lee, Kingston Lipsey, Macintyre Jerdonek, Michael Caceres, Rayyaan Mohiuddin, Riccardo Meloni, and Nicolas Savard. Not pictured are Simon Danos, Yash Thakur, David Gajewski, Vivaan Ravindran, and Raphael Borentain.

By Bill Alden

Coming off winning the New Jersey Youth Soccer (NJYS) Presidents Cup in May, the Princeton FC 2009 United 15U boys’ soccer team headed to the USYS Eastern Regional Presidents Cup 2024 in Barboursville, W. Va., in mid-June where they battled hard before getting knocked out in the group stage.

The draw for the regional put the United in the same group with two strong foes from Eastern Pennsylvania and Maryland.

PFC United opened the competition by facing the Southern Chester County Dragons, ranked fifth in the Eastern Pennsylvania region. United got off to a slow start, conceding three goals in the first half on the way to a 5-0 loss. more

WILL TO SUCCEED: Will Doran prepares to fire a shot in recent action for the Williams College men’s lacrosse team. Former Princeton High star Doran tallied 38 points on 20 goals and 18 assists this season, emerging as a star during his sophomore campaign for the Ephs. (Photo by Shiv Patel, provided courtesy of Williams College Athletics)

By Bill Alden

During his senior season for the Princeton High boys’ lacrosse team in 2022, Will Doran was the main man for the Tigers, leading New Jersey in scoring with 128 points on 55 goals and 73 assists.

Heading to Williams College that fall to start his college career with the Division-III program, Doran found himself as a member of the supporting cast for the Ephs, struggling to make an impact at the next level. more

HART AND SOUL: Princeton Day School boys’ lacrosse player Hart Nowakoski, right, looks to pass the ball in a game this spring. Junior Nowakoski led PDS is assists this spring with 25 and added 12 goals as the Panthers went 7-12 and advanced to the final of the Mercer County Invitational. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Making the final of the Mercer County Invitational, the ‘B’ bracket of the county tournament, wasn’t the goal for the Princeton Day School boys’ lacrosse team at the beginning of the season, but the tourney run proved valuable for the young squad.

“Being able to play in the finals was really good for us,” said PDS first-year head coach Nick Taylor, whose team fell 8-7 to Lawrence High in overtime in the MCI title game. “You look back at our season and where we are at — we have some returning guys that are going to play a lot of minutes next year, so it was great to have that experience this year.” more

By Bill Alden

Working a number of new faces into its lineup this spring, the Princeton Day School boys’ tennis team saved its best for last.

PDS posted wins over Allentown and Ewing to wrap up regular season play and then topped St. Rose 5-0 in the first round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public South Jersey tournament. Facing second-seeded Morristown Friends in the quarterfinal round, the seventh-seeded Panthers battled valiantly as they tried to extend their season but fell 3-2.

“The match against Friends was on a knife’s edge until the end, Steven [Li] was neck and neck with his opponent at second singles,” said PDS head coach Michael Augsberger, whose team ended up with a final record of 10-8 this spring. “That was the deciding match. His opponent hit a drop shot that Steven ran after and he lost his balance. He had been dealing with a wrist injury and as he reached for the drop shot he fell and landed right on it. He played the rest of that match with it. In the second set he was up 2-1 and he played the rest of that set without a backhand. It was an incredibly tough decision that he made — he didn’t want to be the one to retire the match, that would end it.” more