WILLPOWER: Hun School baseball player Will Kraemer makes contact in a game last spring. Junior infielder Kraemer, who hit .333 last year, will be looking to have another strong season for the Raiders this spring. Hun gets its 2024 campaign underway by playing at Lawrenceville on March 28. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

As the Hun School baseball team opens its 2024 season this week, it is facing a string of early tests.

“This is probably the most challenging schedule we have had, especially in the beginning of the year, that first week is a gauntlet,” said Hun head coach Tom Monfiletto. “We start off at Lawrenceville (on March 28) and then we play St Peter’s (on April 1) and then we play Pennington (on April 3) and then we play the Hill School (Pa.) (on April 5). Those are going to be some really difficult opponents and then we go down to D.C. and play a doubleheader (on April 6) against two of the better teams in that area, Landon School (Md.) and Jackson-Reed High School (Washington, D.C.). Having success in that first week will be a huge jump off point and catalyst. Either way, we will learn a lot about ourselves as a team.” more

SAM’S CLUB: Hun School softball player Sam Jolly heads to first base in action last spring. Sophomore infielder Jolly, who batted .672 in 2023 in her debut season for the Raiders, figures to be an offensive catalyst again for Hun this spring. The Raiders host Lawrenceville on March 28 to start their 2024 campaign. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

With the Hun School softball team coming off two superb seasons that have seen the program win consecutive Prep A and Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) titles, the Raiders realize that their foes are primed to knock them off their perch.

“They know that there is a big target on their backs and everybody is after us,” said Hun head coach Kathy Quirk, who guided the Raiders to a 15-2 record in 2023. “They have to be confident in themselves.” more

MAKING A STATEMENT: Stuart Country Day School basketball player Taylor States dribbles past a foe in a game this winter. Sophomore forward States averaged 20 points and 12 rebounds this season in helping Stuart go 6-7. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

While the Stuart Country Day School basketball team got off to a shaky start this winter, the Tartans ended the season with a bang.

Stuart lost two of its first three games and had a 3-7 record in early February, but ended the campaign with three straight lopsided wins.

Tartan head coach Tony Bowman acknowledged that his squad was out of synch in the early going this winter. more

JORDAN RULES: Princeton Day School boys’ basketball player Jordan Owens heads to the rim in a game this winter. Sophomore guard Owens scored 212 points this season to help the Panthers go 7-16. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

It turned out to be a season of growth for the Princeton Day School boys’ basketball team as its lineup featured young players in key roles.

In reflecting on the campaign which saw three freshmen, a sophomore, and two juniors see the bulk of playing time, PDS head coach Eugene Burroughs liked the way youth was served this winter.
“I think my kids did a great job of progressing throughout the year,” said Burroughs, whose team posted a 7-16 record and made the Prep B state semis. “When you look at our scores and watch how we played earlier in the year, it was more focused on playing hard and competing. Then we shifted into the next phase, defending and rebounding at a good level. We improved in that area and then we shifted to focusing on offense.  more

WILL TO WIN: Notre Dame High wrestler and Princeton resident Will Renda celebrates with coach EJ Nemeth at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Region 6 tourney after clinching a spot at 215 pounds in the Boys Wrestling State Championships in Atlantic City. Junior Renda went on to go 2-2 in his debut at states, falling in the third place consolations. (Photo provided by Will Renda)

By Bill Alden

Will Renda enjoyed competing for the Princeton Amateur Wrestling Society (PAWS) as a grade schooler, but he eventually got away from the mat.

The versatile Renda focused on football, lacrosse, and basketball in middle school before entering Notre Dame High in 2021.

But as he worked out after his freshman football season at Notre Dame, Princeton resident Renda started thinking about returning to the mat. more

TIP OF THE SPEIR: Princeton High girls’ hockey player Cassie Speir, right, chases down the puck in a game during the 2022-23 season. Junior star Speir scored 31 goals this winter to help PHS advance to the Annis Cup semis and go 3-11 (including 1-1 in two games against the Lawrenceville School JV). (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

As the winter unfolded, Christian Herzog urged the players on his Princeton High girls’ hockey team to take a more business-like approach when they took the ice.

“We had some talks at the end of the season, like ladies we can always come out and laugh it up and dance to music in between periods at the games, I would like to make this more serious,” said PHS head coach Christian Herzog. “I want us to lean towards a team that is more serious the whole game.” more

STICKING WITH IT: Hun School boys’ hockey player Brendan Marino, left, goes after the puck in a game last season. Senior forward Marino’s production was a bright spot for the Hun offense as the Raiders went 3-12 this winter. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

In taking the helm of the Hun School boys’ hockey team this winter, Eric Szeker was looking to lay the foundation for something special.

“The biggest thing this year was trying to develop a culture and a way that we want to play every single day, whether that is practice or a game,” said Szeker, a 2013 Hun alum who served as the captain of the Raiders in his senior season and went on to play college hockey at Western New England University.

“It was having our Hun hockey identity rebranded to what I would like to see from it and what we want to see out of the long term. I think we were able to do that this year, which was one of our biggest successes.” more

GAME TYME: Hun School boys’ basketball player Drae Tyme, right, heads to the hoops in a game this season. Junior forward Tyme, who also stars in football, gave the Raiders some rugged inside play this winter as they went 10-14 and advanced to the Prep A state semifinals. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

For the Hun School boys’ basketball team, its run in the Prep A state tournament epitomized the up-and-down campaign produced by the squad this winter.

Hun defeated Peddie 86-60 in its Prep A opener on February 15 before falling 67-59 at Blair in a semifinal contest four days later to end the season with a 10-14 record.  more

BLASE OF GLORY: Princeton High wrestler Blasé Mele, left, controls a foe in action this season. Last Saturday, junior Mele placed sixth at 138 pounds in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Boys Wrestling State Championships in Atlantic City.

By Justin Feil

Blasé Mele is hoping to continue his trend of improving his state finish each year.

The Princeton High junior placed sixth at 138 pounds in his third trip to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Boys Wrestling State Championships in Atlantic City on Saturday.

“It’s such a hard tournament,” said Mele. “I’ve been there twice. The environment is like no other. I’d like to say I’ve competed everywhere, and the environment is like no other. It’s starting to set in how it’s been pretty cool. I have one more year and I’m shooting for gold. I’m trying to get Princeton its first state title.” more

HEARTBREAKER: Princeton Day School girls’ hockey player Lily Ryan races up the ice in a game earlier this season. Last Wednesday, senior star Ryan tallied a goal and an assist as second-seeded PDS fell 4-3 to third-seeded Immaculate Heart Academy in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Girls’ Ice Hockey State Tournament semis at the Mennen Sports Arena. The Panthers, who led the Blue Eagles 3-1 in the third period, ended the winter with a 12-6 record. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

It was round four this winter between the Princeton Day School girls’ hockey team and Immaculate Heart Academy as the foes met in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Girls’ Ice Hockey State Tournament semis last Wednesday at the Mennen Sports Arena.

In the previous three meetings, the teams played tight, tense contests with PDS coming away with two wins, including a 4-3 victory over the Blue Eagles in the Librera Cup semifinals on February 7 in their last clash before the state tournament. more

GOING OUT WITH A BANG: Princeton University women’s hockey player Sarah Fillier, right, races up the ice in a game earlier this season. Last Saturday, senior star forward and team captain Fillier tallied three goals and an assist to help seventh-seeded Princeton top 10th-seeded Dartmouth 5-1 in a single-elimination contest in the opening round of the ECAC Hockey tournament. The Tigers, now 14-10-6 overall, will play at second-seeded Clarkson (29-3-2) in a best-of-three ECACH quarterfinal series starting on March 1. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Playing in her last game at Hobey Baker Rink for the Princeton University women’s hockey team last Saturday afternoon, Sarah Fillier didn’t waste any time showing that her home finale was going to be one to remember.

With seventh-seeded Princeton hosting 10th-seeded Dartmouth in a single-elimination contest in the opening round of the ECAC Hockey tournament, senior star and team captain Fillier tallied a goal and and an assist to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead. more

SPRINTING STAR: Princeton High girls’ swimmer Kyleigh Tangen heads to victory in the 100-yard freestyle at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group B state final last Sunday at the Rutgers Aquatics Center. Tangen also placed first in the 50 free as the Tigers fell just short of winning their second straight state title, losing 89-81 to Chatham in a meet that came down to the final event. PHS finished the season with a 14-1 record. 

By Bill Alden

As the roar of the crowd packing the Rutgers Aquatics Center hit ear-splitting levels last Sunday afternoon with the state title rematch between Princeton High girls’ swimming team and Chatham coming down to the final event, Kyleigh Tangen kept her mind on the task at hand.

With PHS trailing Chatham 79-77 as the foes hit the water for the 400-yard freestyle relay, Tiger senior Tangen stood in the blocks ready to swim the anchor leg, surveying the situation. more

PASSING IT ON: Princeton High girls’ basketball player Riley Devlin passes the ball in a game earlier this season. Last Wednesday, senior guard Devlin scored 10 points as seventh-seeded PHS fell 62-57 to 10th-seeded Middletown South in the first round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Central Jersey Group 4 sectional. The defeat left the Tigers with a final record of 15-9. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

For Riley Devlin, getting to play at home in her final game for the Princeton High girls’ basketball team as it hosted Middletown South in the first round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Central Jersey Group 4 sectional was something she won’t soon forget.

“It was our first state game here in a really long time, we were really hyped,” said PHS senior guard Devlin, reflecting on the matchup last Wednesday between the seventh-seeded Tigers and the 10th-seeded Eagles. “We had a lot of energy. We were excited to be home in front of our parents and fans.” more

HOMING IN: Princeton Day School boys’ hockey player Han Shin, right, battles a foe in recent action. Last Thursday, senior defenseman Shin tallied a goal and two assists to help sixth-seeded PDS defeat 11th-seeded Morristown-Beard 4-0 in the first round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public tournament. On Monday, Shin contributed an assist as PDS fell 3-2 in overtime to sixth-seeded St. Augustine in the Non-Public quarterfinals to end the season with a 10-8-1 record. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

It was Han Shin’s last game at McGraw Rink and it turned out to be one of the best performances of his career.

Senior defenseman Shin scored a goal and had two assists to help sixth-seeded PDS defeat 11th-seeded Morristown-Beard 4-0 in the first round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public tournament last Thursday. more

COURTING SUCCESS: Princeton High girls’ swimmer Courtney Weber does the breaststroke leg in an individual medley relay race earlier this season. Last Thursday, senior star Weber placed first in the 200-yard IM and the 100 breast to help top-seeded PHS defeat second-seeded Manasquan 96-69 in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Central Group B sectional final at The College of New Jersey. The Tigers, now 13-0, will face Shawnee in the group semis on February 21 at Passaic Tech with the victor advancing to the final on February 25 at Rutgers University. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

While Courtney Weber is determined to compete hard this winter in her final campaign for the Princeton High girls’ swimming team, she has another major goal.

“It is my senior year, so I have been trying to focus on just having fun and keeping the fun in the swimming,” said Weber.

Last Thursday Weber had a lot of fun, placing first in both the 200-yard individual medley and the 100 breaststroke to help top-seeded PHS defeat second-seeded Manasquan 96-69 in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Central Group B sectional final at The College of New Jersey.  more

FAST FINISH: Princeton High boys’ swimmer David Xu displays his breaststroke form in a recent race. Last week, junior star Xu placed first in both the 200-yard individual medley and the 100 backstroke as second-seeded PHS fell 96-74 to top-seeded Chatham in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North 2 Group B sectional final. The defeat left the Tigers with a 13-1 final record. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden 

As the second-seeded Princeton High boys’ swimming team faced top-seeded Chatham in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North 2 Group B sectional final last Wednesday, it was round three in state tournament action between the powerhouses.

With PHS having lost to Chatham in the Public B state final in 2022 and in the sectional final last winter for its only two defeats in the last two seasons, the Tigers realized that they faced an uphill battle in the showdown of undefeated squads. more

SHOOTING STAR: Princeton High boys’ hockey player Brendan Beatty fires a shot in recent action. Last Friday, junior star Beatty scored two goals as 16th-seeded PHS fell 7-3 to 17th-seeded Scotch Plains-Fanwood in a New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Public Soth Play-in round contest. The defeat left the Tigers with a final record of 5-13. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

With the Princeton High boys’ hockey team having suffered five straight losses heading into its New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Public South Play-in round contest against Scotch Plains-Fanwood last Friday afternoon, the Tigers were viewing the state opener as a fresh start.

“We were hoping to re-set and see if we could get the wheels going again,” said PHS head coach Rik Johnson. “Unfortunately our numbers were down, I think we had 11, 12 skaters today.” more

FINE AND DANDY: Princeton Day School girls’ hockey player Sammy Dandy, left, battles for the puck in a game earliest this season. Last Wednesday, freshman defender Dandy contributed two assists to help second-seeded PDS defeat top-seeded Morristown-Beard 3-1 in the Librera Cup final at the Twin Oaks Ice Rink in Morristown. The Panthers, now 11-5, will be competing in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Girls’ Ice Hockey State Tournament where they are seeded second and will host a quarterfinal contest on February 26 between the victor of the first round contest between seventh-seeded Kent Place and 10th-seeded Madison. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden
Having lost 6-0 and 5-0 to Morristown-Beard in two regular season meetings this January, the Princeton Day School girls’ hockey team was looking to flip the script when the rivals met in the Librera Cup final last Wednesday.

“We definitely wanted to play more of a possession game, we didn’t want them to have the puck,” said PDS head coach Jamie Davis. “We wanted to keep the puck away from our defensive end and keep it down at our offensive end. We tightened up our roster a little bit, especially on defense.” more

CROWD PLEASER: Princeton University men’s basketball player Caden Pierce dribbles around a defender in recent action. Last Saturday, sophomore forward Pierce tallied 17 points with 11 rebounds to help Princeton top Penn 77-70 before a sell-out crowd of 5,515 packing Jadwin Gym. The Tigers, now 17-3 overall and 5-2 Ivy League, host Brown on February 16 and Yale on February 17. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

The fans started streaming into Jadwin Gym 90 minutes before Princeton University men’s basketball team tipped off against arch-rival Penn last Saturday evening in the first sell-out in the building since December 12, 2001 when the Tigers hosted Kansas.

In the second half, the throng of 5,515 on hand was uneasy as a gritty Quaker squad led the Tigers 42-36 just after halftime and knotted the contest at 59-59 with 7:59 left in regulation. more

OH BROTHER: Princeton High boys’ swimmer Jaiden Xu displays his freestyle form in a meet earlier this season. Last Friday, junior Xu placed first in the 200-yard individual medley, edging twin brother David, and second in the 500 freestyle to help second-seeded PHS top third-seeded Summit 92-78 in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North 2 Group B sectional semis. The Tigers, now 13-0, face top-seeded Chatham in the sectional final on February 14 at the Raritan Bay Aquatic Center in Perth Amboy. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Jaiden Xu produced a personal breakthrough as the second-seeded Princeton High boys’ swim team edged third-seeded Summit 92-78 in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North 2 Group B sectional semis last Friday.

Racing against his twin brother David in the 200-yard individual medley, Xu took first just ahead of his brother, earning his first triumph in the IM sibling rivalry. more

GOING THE DISTANCE: Princeton High girls’ swimmer Sabine Ristad heads to victory in a 500-yard freestyle race earlier this season. Last Friday, Ristad placed first in both the 500 free and the 100 backstroke to help top-seeded PHS defeat fifth-seeded WW/P-South 120-50 in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Central Jersey Group B sectional semis. The Tigers, now 12-0, will face second-seeded Manasquan in the sectional final on February 15 at The College of New Jersey. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Sabine Ristad didn’t waste any time getting things rolling for the top-seeded Princeton High girls’ swim team as it hosted fifth-seeded WW/P-South in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Central Jersey Group B sectional semis last Friday.

Swimming the backstroke leg to lead off the 200-yard medley relay in the first event of the meet, junior Ristad helped the PHS A quartet take first by nearly three seconds.  more

GABFEST: Princeton High girls’ basketball player Gabby Bannett puts up a shot in recent action. Last week, Bannett starred on her Senior Day, tallying six points with three rebounds, two steals, and an assist as the Tigers topped WW/P-North 47-33 on February 6. On Monday, PHS competed in the Mercer County Tournament where it was seeded sixth and fell 87-33 to third-seeded Trenton Catholic in a quarterfinal contest. PHS, now 14-8, is next in action when it takes part in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) state tournament. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Gabby Bannett has been dealing with a balky shoulder this winter but she wasn’t about to sit out her Senior Day game for the Princeton High girls’ basketball team last week.

“I have dislocated it three times so it has been a little tough; actually last game it happened again,” said senior guard/forward Bannett, who has been wearing a brace on her shoulder. “I wasn’t sure if I should play today, but I am really happy that I did.”

There were some happy moments before the game against WW/P-North on February 6 as Bannett was honored along with the team’s other senior, Riley Devlin, with posters and balloons displayed in the gym.  more

FRESH APPROACH: Princeton Day School girls’ hockey player Hark Sandhu controls the puck in a game early this season. Freshman Sandhu helped second-seeded PDS defeat third-seeded Immaculate Heart Academy 4-3 last Wednesday in the semifinal round of the Librera Cup. The Panthers, who improved to 10-5 with the win, were slated to face top-seeded Morristown-Beard in the Librera final on February 14. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Della Gilligan is just a freshman but she has already proved to be a versatile performer for the Princeton Day School girls’ hockey team.

“I was originally defense at the beginning of the year and then they switched me to forward,” said Gilligan. “It was a little nerve-wracking; we got through it.” more