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

JOLLY GOOD: Hun School girls’ basketball player Sam Jolly, right, looks to unload the ball in recent action. Last Monday, second-seeded Hun defeated seventh-seeded Hamilton West 58-35 in the first round of the Mercer County Invitational. The Raiders, now 10-10, will host third-seeded Pennington in the MCI semis on February 14. In addition, Hun will be competing in the Prep A state tournament where it is seeded second and will host third-seeded Lawrenceville in the semis on a date to be determined. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

With point guard and leading scorer Gabby D’Agostino sidelined by appendicitis, it was next player up for the Hun School girls’ basketball team as it hosted Pennington last Wednesday in a MAPL Tournament Play-In game.

“We had to step up for Gabby and play for Gabby,” said Hun sophomore guard Sam Jolly. “She put her heart out for this team and we wanted to make sure that we gave it back.” more

NO QUIT: Princeton High boys’ basketball player Remmick Granozio looks to unload the ball under pressure in a game earlier this season. Last Wednesday, senior guard Granozio scored six points with three assists and two rebounds to help PHS defeat STEMCivics 67-48. The Tigers, who lost 44-34 to Delaware Valley last Monday to move to 10-9, play at WW/P-North on February 7 before hosting Notre Dame on February 9. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Remmick Granozio didn’t waste any time getting the Princeton High boys’ basketball team rolling as it hosted STEMCivics last Wednesday.

Gathering in the ball off the opening tip-off, senior guard Granozio raced straight to the hoop and knocked in a lay-up.

“It was a tip to me and then I was going to get it to Jahan [Owusu],” said Granozio. “But there was no one in front of me, so I just went in. It was good.” more

BEARING DOWN: Princeton High boys’ hockey player Graham Baird, left, controls the puck in recent action. Senior star and assistant captain Baird tallied a goal and an assist to help PHS defeat the WW/P Hockey Co-op on January 30. The Tigers, who lost 3-2 to Nottingham last Monday to move to 5-10, will start play in the Mercer County Tournament on February 9 where they are seeded fifth and will face fourth-seeded Notre Dame in a quarterfinal contest at the Mercer County Skating Center. In addition, PHS will be playing Robbinsville on February 11 at the Grundy Ice Arena in Bristol, Pa. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Graham Baird is showing his versatility and character this winter for the Princeton High boys’ hockey team.

Starting the season at defenseman, senior Baird has moved up the ice for PHS.

“I have been just where the team needs me, I am on offense for now,” said Baird. “It is good. Before we didn’t have much depth on offense. Mixing me into the offense gave us more of a second line and we are able to produce which is good.” more

THE WRIGHT STUFF: Hun School boys’ basketball player Sam Wright heads to the hoop for a layup in a game earlier this season. Last Monday, postgraduate Wright scored 14 points as Hun fell 92-67 to the Perkiomen School (Pa.). The Raiders, now 8-12, will be playing at Pennington on February 8 in a Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) tournament play-in game with the victor advancing to the semis on February 10 at Hun. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Sam Wright has been keeping busy athletically doing his post-graduate year at the Hun School.

“I am doing baseball and basketball all year round,” said Wright, a star pitcher on the diamond and Quinnipiac baseball commit who has emerged as a star guard this winter for the Hun boys’ hoops team. “I am excited for baseball, but I am really focused on basketball right now.” more

ABBY ROAD: Stuart Country Day School basketball player Abby Chirik puts up a shot on recent action. Last Saturday, sophomore guard Chirik scored eight points in a losing cause as Stuart fell 49-25 to Bridgewater-Raritan. The Tartans, now 3-7, host Central Jersey College Prep on February 8. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

After the Stuart Country Day School basketball team fell 49-25 to Bridgewater-Raritan last Saturday, the squad headed to a classroom near the gym for an extended postgame debriefing.

Stuart head coach Tony Bowman gave his players a clear message as they assembled in the wake of the setback. more

MAKING A SPLASH: Princeton High boys’ swimmer David Xu displays his breaststroke form in a meet earlier this season. Last Saturday, junior star Xu placed first in both the 200-meter individual medley and 100 backstroke to help PHS finish first in the team standings at the Mercer County Swimming Championships. It marked the third straight county crown for the Tigers. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Knowing that it had a target on its back as it went for a third straight title at the Mercer County Swimming Championships last Saturday at the WW/P-North pool, the Princeton High boys’ swim team made a statement in the first final of the meet.

Competing in the 200-meter medley relay, PHS placed first in a time of 1:49.82 with WW/P-North taking second in 1:51.78.

“Everyone is after us, I think going into finals there was about a half second that separated us,” said PHS head coach Carly (Misiewicz) Fackler. “We knew going into it that it was going to be a close race. The guys were ready and very much up for the challenge. Jerry Liu with the freestyle leg in the event had probably the best 50 free I have ever seen him swim.” more

SENIOR MOMENT: Princeton Day School girls’ hockey player Logan Harrison controls the puck in a game earlier this season. Last Friday, senior captain and star forward Harrison scored a goal and had an assist to help PDS defeat Randolph 4-0 as the program held its annual Senior Night celebration. The Panthers, who lost 4-2 to Immaculate Heart last Monday to move to 8-4, host Morristown-Beard on January 31 before playing the Pingry School on February 1 at the Bridgewater Sports Arena. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

As the Princeton Day School girls’ hockey team held its annual Senior Night celebration last Friday when it hosted Randolph High, Logan Harrison was deeply touched.

“It is a great experience. I have been playing here for seven years — this last year I have seen all of the seniors of the past graduate, and now it is like my time,” said senior star forward and team co-captain Harrison. “It is really moving honestly. It really was bittersweet, I was so glad to have my family here too.”

The team’s Class of ’24, which includes 10 players, was honored with numbers posted on one side of the rink and posters with messages from their teammates at the other end. That group has developed a family feeling over the years. more