RETURN ENGAGEMENT: Princeton High boys’ tennis player Jonathan Gu smacks a forehand last Thursday as he battled Liam Kilmer of Mendham in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) boys’ state singles final at the Mercer County Park tennis complex. Senior star Gu, who won the title in 2022, battled valiantly but Kilmer ended up prevailing 7-5, 6-1. Gu, who went 19-2 in his final PHS campaign, is headed to Carnegie Mellon where he will be playing for its men’s tennis program. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Jonathan Gu was running late for his Princeton High graduation ceremony last Thursday, but he had a pretty good excuse.

PHS boys’ tennis star Gu had some important business to take care of in the afternoon before he could meet up with his classmates as he was competing in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) boys’ state singles final at the Mercer County Park tennis complex.

Gu, who won the competition last year, was a bit surprised to be playing for the title for a second straight year. more

FAB FOUR: Members of the Wilberforce School girls’ track4x800-meter relay enjoy the moment after the placed first in the event at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Meet of Champions last Thursday at Franklin High. Pictured, from left, are Laura Sallade, Sophia Park, Adeline Edwards, and Gwen Mersereau. Earlier this month, the quartet helped the Wilberforce girls’ squad place first in the team standings at the NJSIAA Non-Public B championship meet for the first time in program history. (Photo provided by Lois Szeliga)

By Bill Alden

Although the Wilberforce School girls’ track team is small in numbers, it had some big expectations heading into the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public B championship meet early this month.

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

COMING IN CONTACT: Princeton Post 218 American Legion baseball player Nate Nydick makes contact in recent action. Last Saturday, Princeton High rising junior Nydick had a double, two walks, and one RBI as Princeton defeated Trenton Post 93/182 10-7. Post 218, which fell 8-4 to Hightstown Post 148 last Monday to move to 2-6, plays Allentown on June 21 at Mercer County Park, plays at Lawrence Post 414 on June 22, and hosts Hamilton Post 31 on June 23, Lawrence on June 24, and North Hamilton on June 27. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

With the Princeton Post 218 American Legion baseball team clinging to a 2-1 lead over Trenton Post 93/182 in the fourth inning last Sunday at Smoyer Park, Nate Nydick lofted a fly ball to center field that appeared to be catchable.

But the Trenton outfielder slipped and the ball sailed over his head for a double that ignited a two-run rally for Post 218 as it went ahead 4-1. more

JAM SESSION: Matt Solomon of the Majeski Foundation slams down a dunk last Monday in Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League action at the Community Park courts. Solomon tallied 10 points in the contest to help Majeski defeat AEI 59-52 in a rematch of last year’s championship series. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

As the Majeski Foundation rode a late surge to the championship in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League last year, Matt Solomon didn’t have much of a role.

“I played a few games,” said Solomon, who was making his debut for the squad which is comprised of players from The College of New Jersey men’s hoops program. “I was a freshman last year so I didn’t get as much playing time.” more

SERVING IT UP: Princeton Day School boys’ tennis player Joshua Chu follows through on a serve in a match this spring. Last Wednesday, senior Chu fell at second singles as PDS lost 4-1 to the Newark Academy in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public state final. The defeat left PDS with a final record of 11-5-1. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

With an eerie smoky orange haze settling over the Mercer County Park tennis complex last Wednesday afternoon, the Princeton Day School boys’ tennis team took the court to face perennial powerhouse Newark Academy in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public state final.

Underdog PDS was fired up for the challenge of trying to upend the Minutemen, who came into the day with 29 state titles in program history.

“We really needed to bring the energy to match their energy because we knew coming in it was going to be like that,” said PDS heads coach Michael Augsberger. “They are famous for the positive energy that they have. We love that.” more

DANNY BOY: Majeski Foundation’s Danny Bodine, right, unloads the ball in a game last year in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League. Bodine helped Majeski, which is comprised of players from The College of New Jersey men’s hoops team, win the league title last summer. The league tips off its 2023 campaign with a triple-header at the Community Park courts on June 14 starting at 7:15 p.m. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

After the Majeski Foundation went on an unlikely run to the championship last year in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League, snapping a three-year title run by LoyalTees, more surprises appear to be in store as the league tips off its 2023 campaign this week.

“It is very competitive. With the nine teams, anything is possible at this point,” said Evan Moorhead, the executive director of the Recreation Department and longtime summer hoops commissioner. “I can’t pick out a favorite going into this season. I think there is a lot of parity there and a lot of teams with potential.” more

HALL PASS: Princeton Day School boys’ lacrosse player Ollie Hall heads upfield in a game this spring. Last Saturday, senior attacker Hall passed for five assists but it wasn’t enough as third-seeded PDS fell 10-8 to top-seeded Gill St. Bernard’s in the NJSIAA Non-Public Group B state final last Saturday at East Brunswick High. PDS finished the spring with a 15-7 record as it won the Prep B state title along the way. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Ollie Hall had extra incentive to make the most out of his last chance to take the field for the Princeton Day School boys’ lacrosse team as it faced Gill St. Bernard’s in the NJSIAA Non-Public Group B state final last Saturday.

After having been sidelined for the Non-Public quarterfinal and semi due to a concussion, senior attacker Hall got cleared for the final on Friday and he wanted to return the favor his teammates had given him by advancing to the title game in his absence. more

FRESH APPROACH: Princeton High boys’ tennis player Garrett Mathewson makes a return in a recent match. Freshman Mathewson has starred at third singles in his debut campaign as PHS won the Mercer County Tournament and made it to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Central Jersey Group 3 final. The fourth-seeded Tigers, who fell 3-2 at second-seeded WW/P-South in the sectional final last Monday, ended the spring with a 14-2 record. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Garrett Mathewson is just a freshman, but he has brought plenty of savvy to the court for the Princeton High boys’ tennis team.

“I have played since I was very young; my mom was a bit tennis player, she is the one who really got me into the game,” said Mathewson, who took up the game at age five and started playing competitively at age 10. “I have had a long time playing matches. I have a lot of experience — each day I strive to get better.”

Last week, third singles star Mathewson played a very good match as fourth-seeded PHS hosted fifth-seeded WW/P-North in the quarterfinals of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Central Jersey Group 3 sectional, topping Jayant Venkatesan 6-2, 6-2 as the Tigers prevailed 5-0. more

FINAL SHOT: Princeton Day School boys’ lacrosse player Harry Bernardi gets ready to unload a shot as third-seeded PDS rolled to a 23-4 win over 14th-seeded Gloucester Catholic last week in the first round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public Group B. Last Thursday, senior star Bernardi scored three goals to help PDS rally to a 16-14 win over sixth-seeded Holy Spirit in the Group B quarterfinals. The Panthers, who improved to 14-6 with the victory, were slated to play at second-seeded Rutgers Prep on June 6 in a semifinal contest with the winner advancing to the final on June 10. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Things looked bleak for the Princeton Day School boys’ lacrosse team as it fell behind visiting Holy Spirit 7-2 in the first quarter of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public Group B quarterfinal last Thursday, but Harry Bernardi wasn’t fazed.

“We have been in this spot before,” said PDS senior attacker Bernardi. “The offense was doing their part. I knew it would shift into one of those games where the offense would dominate. I knew the defense would come back.”

In the second quarter, third-seeded PDS started to find a rhythm, narrowing the gap to 10-6 to sixth-seeded Holy Spirit at halftime. more

TOURNAMENT RUN: Princeton Day School girls’ lacrosse player Jesse Hollander sprints upfield in recent action. Last Wednesday, junior midfield Hollander tallied one goal and three assists to help third-seeded PDS defeat 14th-seeded Morris Catholic 18-4 in the first round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public Group B tournament. On Saturday, Hollander chipped in two goals and two assists as the Panthers defeated sixth-seeded Villa Walsh 18-7 in a Group B quarterfinal contest. PDS, who improved to 13-7 with the win, was slated to play at second-seeded Montclair Kimberley Academy on June 6 in a semifinal matchup with the victor advancing to the final on June 9. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Jesse Hollander and her teammates on the Princeton Day School girls’ lacrosse team had plenty of motivation as they hosted Morris Catholic last Wednesday in the first round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public Group B tournament.

PDS was seeing its first action since getting knocked out of the Mercer County Tournament and Prep B state tourney a week and a half earlier and was playing its final game on Smoyer Field before its turf gets replaced. more

IN PURSUIT: Princeton High girls’ lacrosse player Riley Devlin goes after the ball in a game this spring. Last Thursday, junior midfielder Devlin tallied four goals in a losing cause as 10th-seeded PHS fell 12-7 at seventh-seeded Middletown South in the first round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North Jersey Group 3 tournament. The defeat left the Tigers with a final record of 7-12. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Riley Devlin was determined to set a good example this spring for her younger teammates on the Princeton High girls’ lacrosse team.

With PHS losing a stellar group of seniors from its 2022 squad to graduation, junior midfielder Devlin knew that she had to shoulder more responsibility.

“As a sophomore, I laid back under the seniors last year, so it was a big adjustment,” said Devlin. “We have a really young team, not a lot of seniors. I was really trying to teach them and coach them. The freshmen are really talented — they definitely made progress.” more

BIG BEN: Princeton High baseball player Ben Walden connects with the ball in game this spring. Junior Walden emerged as key player for PHS this season, helping the Tigers go 6-16. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Starting the last week of the regular season with a bang, the Princeton High baseball team rallied to defeat Bound Brook 10-9.

“That was a good win, especially at that point because we knew we still had a shot to get into the state tournament,” said PHS head coach Dom Capuano, whose squad scored a run on the bottom of the seventh inning to pull out the victory. “It was a tough one. It was back and forth and to finish that off was good.”

Unable to build on that triumph, the Tigers fell 17-1 to Seneca on May 16 and 10-0 to Franklin two days later as they failed to make the state tournament and ended the spring with a 6-16 record. more

POWER PITCHING: Princeton Day School baseball player Dylan Powers fires a pitch in recent action. Sophomore Powers proved to be a bright spot for PDS with his arm and bat as the Panthers went 1-22 this spring. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

It would have been understandable if Eric Schnepf got discouraged as the Princeton Day School baseball team went 1-22 this spring in his first season at the helm of the program.

Schnepf, though, will have fond memories of his debut campaign notwithstanding the win-loss record.

“It was great; when kids share your love of the game and want to compete, it makes it easy,” said Schnepf. “I was lucky to have a good group who gave me their all. They wanted to be challenged, they wanted me to hold them to a higher standard. When they met that level, I let them know and when they didn’t reach that level, I let them know. They can take criticism, they wanted to be coached. When they play well, they motivate themselves. They inspire the guys around them. I had a blast. I hope the kids had as much fun as I did.” more

ABBY ROAD: Hun School girls’ lacrosse player Abby O’Brien heads upfield in a game this spring. Senior attacker and Stevens Institute of Technology-bound O’Brien scored a team-high 66 points this spring on 50 goals and 16 assists to help Hun go 10-6. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

After the Hun School girls’ lacrosse team fell 8-7 in overtime to Notre Dame in the Mercer County Tournament quarterfinals, the squad could have got through the motions as it ended the season with two regular season contests.

Instead, Hun saved its best for last, topping Robbinsville 13-9 on May 10 and then defeating Princeton High 18-11 in its season finale on May 16. more

JOLLY GOOD: Hun School baseball player Mike Jolly follows through on swing in recent action. Senior outfielder/first baseman Jolly enjoyed a big final week of his Hun career, helping the Raiders advance to the Mercer County Tournament final on Friday where it fell 5-3 to Allentown and then win the Prep A state title by topping Peddie 2-0 last Monday in a winner-take-all finale of the double-elimination tournament. Hun, which also won the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) title this season, finished the spring with a 19-8 record. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Displaying its resilience, the fourth-seeded Hun School baseball team started a run to the Mercer County Tournament final by rallying from a 7-0 deficit to edge fifth-seeded Steinert 9-7 in the quarterfinal round.

In the semis, Hun stunned top-seeded Notre Dame 5-3 on May 16 to earn a spot in the final against sixth-seeded Allentown as the Raiders went for a second straight county crown.

As Hun took the field at the Trenton Thunder Ballpark last Friday evening for the final, Michael Jolly and his teammates were fired up to go for the title repeat.

“We put together two very good games against Steinert and Notre Dame, two very good programs themselves,” said senior outfielder/first baseman Jolly. “I was proud of the way we fought and clawed out way back to the championship. There was a lot of people here, bright lights; it is cool to play in an atmosphere like this.” more