JACKED UP: Princeton Day School boys’ hockey player Liam Jackson controls the puck in recent action. Senior star forward Jackson tallied a goal and an assist to help PDS edge Seton Hall Prep 3-2 in overtime on December 21 in its last action before the holiday break. The Panthers, now 4-2, start the 2024 portion of their schedule by facing LaSalle College High (Pa.) on January 3 at the Hatfield Ice Arena and the Pingry School at the Bridgewater Sports Arena on January 4 before hosting St. Joseph Montvale High on January 8. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

As the Princeton Day School boys’ hockey team hosted Seton Hall Prep in its last action before the holiday break, Liam Jackson got smashed into the ice late in the second period.

Looking shaky after taking the hit which drew a penalty, PDS senior star forward Jackson skated gingerly over to the bench, seemingly finished for the game.

While Jackson was in pain, he did return to the December 21 contest. more

BIG MAC: Hun School boys’ basketball player Mac Kelly heads to the hoop in a game last winter. Senior guard Kelly starred as Hun posted two wins over Malvern Prep (Pa.) and Germantown Academy (Pa.) before the holiday break to improve to 5-5. Getting the 2024 portion of their schedule underway, the Raiders host the Pennington School on January 4, the Solebury School (Pa.) on January 6, and West Nottingham Academy (Md.) on January 9. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

In his second season with the Hun School boys’ basketball team, Mac Kelly has been taking command of the squad’s backcourt.

With standout guards Dan Vessey and Anthony Loscalzo having graduated after starring last winter, senior standout Kelly is shouldering more responsibility this winter.

“Last year was my first year here, I was trying to transition and be a point guard,” said Kelly. “We have got a lot of new guys and I am just trying to do my best with finding a balance between being a scorer and being a point guard. As your time goes on here, naturally your role on a team is going to get bigger and bigger. I am just trying to do my best to handle that.” more

OH HENRY: Princeton High boys’ swimmer Henry Xu displays his breaststroke form in a recent meet. Last Thursday, senior star Xu swam the breaststroke leg in the victorious 200-yard medley relay, placed fourth in the 200 individual medley, and then won the 100 breast as PHS topped Hopewell Valley 120-50 and Ewing 140-28 in a tri-meet. The Tigers are next in action when they face Notre Dame at The College of New Jersey on January 3. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Henry Xu focused on the butterfly when he started competitive swimming but eventually found he was better suited for another stroke.

“I used to be a flyer a long time ago, then I became a breaststroker,” said Xu, a senior standout for the Princeton High boys’ swim team. “It has been my go-to stroke for four or five years. What is interesting about me is my physique isn’t a like a normal breaststroke physique like bulky, huge. I work on the technique; my stroke rate is fast and it is pretty precise.” more

BREAKING FREE: Princeton High girls’ swimmer Annie Flanagan competes in a freestyle race in a meet earlier this season. Last Thursday, sophomore Flanagan placed first in the 200-yard freestyle and 100 back to help PHS defeat Hopewell Valley 132-38. The Tigers, now 5-0, will look to keep on the winning track when they face Notre Dame at The College of New Jersey on January 3. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Joining the Princeton High girls’ swim team last winter, Annie Flanagan was a bit apprehensive about how things would go.

“I was definitely really nervous coming in, being a freshman,” said Flanagan.

Overcoming her nerves, Flanagan ended up thriving in the team environment, emerging as a key performer for a PHS squad that went 14-0 on the way to winning the Mercer County championship meet and New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group B state title. more

GOING TO GOAL: Princeton High girls’ hockey player Maya Hagt heads up the ice in a game last season. On Friday, junior forward Hagt tallied a goal and an assist as PHS fell 9-7 to Newark East Side at Hobey Baker Rink. The Tigers, who moved to 0-4 with an 8-7 loss to Cranford last Monday, host Madison High on December 20 at Baker Rink in their last action before the holiday break. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

While Taylor Davidson has been skating since she was three years old, she didn’t start taking ice hockey seriously until middle school.

“I have known how to skate forever — my dad grew up playing hockey,” said Davidson. “But I played house league because we always went skiing. I started playing club about three years ago. I have definitely been working on it a lot more recently.” more

HART AND SOUL: Princeton Day School girls’ basketball player Mia Hartman brings the ball up the court last Thursday as PDS hosted Noor-ul-iman in its season opener. Senior guard/forward Hartman scored 11 points as the Panthers prevailed 54-13. PDS plays at Trenton Central on December 21. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Mia Hartman got her senior season with the Princeton Day School girls’ basketball team off to a great start last Thursday.

With PDS hosting Noor-ul-iman in its season opener, guard/forward Hartman scored eight points and picked up an assist in the first few minutes of the game as the Panthers jumped out to a 10-0 lead.

“That was great; definitely seeing that was a huge lift because we work very hard in practice,” said Hartman. “We practice the same things and we executed very well. It is refreshing — now we have the bodies, now we have the pieces to execute.” more

MAKING A SPLASH: Princeton High boys’ swimmer David Xu competes in a butterfly race last season. Junior Xu and the Tigers got their 2023-24 season off a good start as they topped Hamilton West 111-50 last Thursday inter opening meet. In upcoming action, PHS swims at Robbinsville on December 14 and then hosts WW/P-North on December 19. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

While the Princeton High boys’ swimming team has gone 27-2 over the last two years, that sparkling record has been tinged with some frustration.

Both of those defeats came to fellow powerhouse Chatham, with one coming in the Public B state final in 2022 and the other taking place in the sectional final last season.

As PHS headed into the 2023-24 season, Tiger head coach Carly Misiewicz believes those setbacks could spur her swimmers to new heights this winter. more

FLYING START: Princeton High girls’ swimmer Lauren Girouard displays her butterfly form in a race last season. Senior star Girouard and her teammates are looking for an encore performance this winter after going 14-0 in 2022-23 on the way to winning the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group B state title. PHS started this season by topping Hamilton West 114-40 last Thursday. The Tigers will look to keep on the winning track as they swim at Robbinsville on December 14 and then host WW/P-North on December 19. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

With the Princeton High girls’ swimming team coming off an undefeated season in 2022-23 that saw it win the program’s first state title since 1983, the squad isn’t shying away from talk of an encore performance this winter.

“You always feel that there is this target on your back, before it was within the county and now I feel like it is more statewide,” said PHS head coach Carly Misiewicz, whose team went 14-0 on the way to winning the Mercer County championship meet and New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group B state title. “I feel like we thrive in those situations. They have said multiple times that they want nothing more than to repeat this year. They got a taste of it last year but they are ready for some more again.” more

OH YES: Princeton High boys’ basketball player Jahan Owusu heads to the hoop in a game last year. Senior guard Owusu, the team’s leading scorer last season, figures to be a go-to player again this winter for the Tigers. PHS tips off its 2023-24 campaign by playing at Ewing on December 14. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Last winter, the Princeton High boys’ basketball team saved its best for last, going 5-3 in its last eight games with two of the losses coming by one point in hard-fought postseason contests.

With PHS having only lost a couple of senior starters from that squad, Patrick Noone believes that his returners have picked up from where they left off as they have gone through preseason practices.

“The vibe has been really good, they are really connected,” said PHS head coach Noone, who guided the Tigers to a 10-13 record last winter and whose team tips off the 2023-24 season by playing at Ewing High on December 14. “They are really enjoying themselves. We have got a lot of returning guys and some key newcomers so it has been good.” more

ON THE RISE: Princeton High girls’ basketball player Gabby Bannett goes up for a layup in a game last season. Senior star forward and team captain Bannett will be depended on to provide production and leadership for the Tigers this winter. PHS opens its 2023-24 season by hosting Ewing High on December 14. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Although the Princeton High girls’ basketball team hasn’t played a regular season game yet this winter, Dave Kosa is already impressed by his squad’s spirit.

“We had our best practice today, it was just having a great vibe,” said PHS head coach Kosa.

“I said to them on December 7, this has been my best team since I have been here as far as how hard we are practicing and we are getting after it. It doesn’t matter who I put on the blue team or the white team, they are going at it versus one another. It is great to see those types of practices where we are competing. Having competition just gets everyone better.” more

GETTING HIS SHOT: Princeton Day School boys’ basketball player Adam Stewart puts up a shot in a game last winter. Junior guard Stewart figures to be a key performer for the Panthers this season as he moves into the starting lineup. PDS tips off its 2023-24 campaign by hosting Delran High on December 14. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Losing six seniors to graduation, including its three leading scorers, the Princeton Day School boys’ basketball team is undergoing a youth movement by necessity this winter.

With three freshmen, five sophomores, and two juniors figuring to get a lot of minutes this season, PDS head coach Eugene Burroughs is looking forward to seeing his team develop over the course of the winter.

“With a young group, there are going to be some ups and downs, they are going to have some good days and bad days,” said Burroughs, whose team tips off its 2023-24 campaign by hosting Delran High on December 14. “They don’t know what they don’t know. We have some good pieces and some good skill level. I think the athleticism piece is there and the ability to score a little bit is there. It is going to be fun to see them mature as a group.” more

ON THE STICK: Princeton High boys’ hockey player Brendan Beatty brings the puck up the ice in action last winter. Junior forward Beatty is the leading returning scorer for PHS, having tallied 33 points on 10 goals and 23 assists last season. The Tigers open their 2023-24 campaign by facing Notre Dame High on December 11 at the Mercer County Skating Center. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

In taking the helm of the Princeton High boys’ hockey team last winter, Rik Johnson benefited from a stellar senior group that provided leadership and production.

The team’s Class of 2023, headlined by high-scoring forwards Cooper Zullo and Ethan Garlock, led the way as PHS won the Mercer County Tournament for the first time since 2020 and advanced the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Public A quarterfinals on the way to a 15-7-1 record.

As PHS head coach Johnson looks ahead to the 2023-24 campaign, he acknowledges that his squad may have to rely on its battle-tested blue line unit to maintain the program’s winning ways. more

SHIN GUARD: Princeton Day School boys’ hockey player Han Shin controls the puck in a game last winter. Senior defenseman Shin is primed for a big final campaign for the Panthers. PDS opens its 2023-24 season by hosting the Delbarton School on December 7. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Showing flashes of brilliance, the Princeton Day School boys’ hockey team has proven that it can compete with the elite programs in New Jersey as a member of the Gordon Conference.

But PDS has fallen short of breaking into the upper echelon, struggling in the Gordon Cup and New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public postseason competition.

“I felt like our first two years in that conference, we hung with teams, we were around in third periods,” said PDS head coach Scott Bertoli, whose team went 7-11-3 last season. “We didn’t have the difference makers that the other teams had, being Delbarton, CBA (Christian Brothers Academy), and Don Bosco. We haven’t gotten over that hurdle since we have been in that conference. We have had tremendous games, we have tied some of those teams, but we haven’t beaten any of those three teams. Ultimately to get where we want to be we have got to figure that out. more

OPENING SALVO: Hun School boys’ hockey player Ryan Levesque tracks the puck in a game last winter. On Friday, senior forward Levesque tallied three goals and two assists to help Hun defeat the Haverford School (Pa.) 14-3 in its season opener. In upcoming action, the Raiders face LaSalle College High (Pa.) on December 6 at Hatfield Ice Arena and Notre Dame High on December 8 at Grundy Ice Arena before hosting St. Joseph’s Prep (Pa.) on December 12 at Ice Land Skating Center. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

For Eric Szeker, playing for the Hun School boys’ hockey team a decade ago left him with the memories of a lifetime.

“I have played on a lot of great teams, I have played in a lot of awesome places across the country and in the Northeast; honestly looking back, it was some of the best times I ever had in hockey,” said Szeker, a 2013 Hun alum who served as the captain of the Raiders in his senior season. “You get to spend eight hours a day with some of your best friends. You get to wear your school logo. We had that locker room over at Ice Land. It is no NHL locker room, but it is still your place where you get to hang out with friends, have lunch, and do homework.”

After playing juniors for the Cape Cod Islanders, Szeker went on to play four years at Western New England University, a Division III program based in Springfield, Mass. more