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

RAISING CANE: Hun School boys’ lacrosse player Danny Cano, right, looks to unload the ball in a game this spring. Senior star and Hobart commit Cano tallied 23 goals and eight assists this spring to help Hun go 8-9. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Although the Hun School boys’ lacrosse team went 8-9 this spring, the program made strides as it battled a gauntlet of high-powered foes.

“It was a successful season with the competition that we played — we put the best possible teams on our schedule that we could and for the most part competed in every single game,” said Hun first-year head coach Alex Lopes, whose squad faced Lawrenceville School, the top-ranked team in the nation, along with the Episcopal School (Pa), the Westtown School (Pa.), Gill St. Bernard’s, St. Augustine, and Academy of New Church (Pa.). more

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YOUNG AND STRONG: Freddie Young Jr. goes up for the ball for YSU as it faced 1911 Smokehouse last Monday night at Community Park in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League. Former Princeton Day School and Trenton Catholic standout guard Young tallied 16 points to help YSU defeat Smokehouse 66-37 as it improved to 4-0. In other action on Monday, Novi Wealth Partners edged Jefferson Plumbing 63-62 in double overtime and Lob City topped Speed Pro 54-41. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Freddie Young Jr. wasn’t happy as his YSU team found itself in an 11-11 tie with 1911 Smokehouse last Monday night in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League.

“We came out here kind of lackadaisical,” said Young. “It should never have been an 11-11 game.”

With former Princeton Day School and Trenton Catholic standout guard Young triggering the offense, YSU went on a 16-0 run to seize momentum and build a 34-15 lead at halftime.

“We made the change, we stepped on the gas and we kept stepping on the gas,” said Young, who starred this winter for the Lincoln University men’s hoops team. “We kept going, kept going. We played defense and turned our defense into offense. It turned out to be successful.” more

HATS OFF: Princeton Post 218 American Legion baseball player James Schiavone gets ready to bat in recent action. Princeton High rising senior Schiavone starred with his bat and arm last Sunday as Post 218 defeated Broad Street Park Post 313 13-9 to earn its first win of the summer. Schiavone went 2 for 4 with two runs and two RBIs and then produced a strong relief outing, striking out five and yielding just one hit in 2.0 innings of work to secure the win. Post 218, now 1-12, was slated to play at Allentown on June 25 before hosting Trenton Post 93/182 on June 27 at Smoyer Park. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Ending its 12-game losing streak this summer with a bang, the Princeton Post 218 American Legion baseball team pounded out 17 hits as it topped Broad Street Park Post 313 13-9 last Sunday at Hamilton High.

Princeton High standout Travis Petrone led the hit parade for Post 218, going 4 for 5 with a double, one run, and three RBIs. Nate Nydick went 3 for 4 with one run and one RBI, while Nano Sarceno went 2 for 5 with a run and three RBIs. James Schiavone, Ray Nault, and Anders Hedin each contributed two hits in the win for Princeton. more

STEPPING UP: Princeton High girls’ lacrosse player Joci Lee races upfield in action this spring. Senior defender Lee helped PHS show marked improvement this season as it went 12-9 after going 7-12 in 2023. The Tigers edged Montgomery 9-8 in overtime in the first round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North Jersey Group 3 tournament to post their first win in the state tourney since 2021. PHS ended its season by falling 11-5 at Northern Highlands in the quarterfinal round of the state tournament. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Although the Princeton High girls’ lacrosse team ended its 2024 campaign with a tough 11-5 loss at Northern Highlands in the quarterfinal round of the state tournament, that defeat can’t diminish what the program accomplished as it regained its winning ways.

After struggling through a frustrating 7-12 season in 2023, the Tigers posted a 12-9 record this spring.

“Last year was a hard year for all of the girls, but it was a growing year,” said PHS head coach Katie Federico. “It really allowed a lot of them to mature. The seniors really took on that leadership role this year. It was the confidence and trust in each other — they played so well as a unit. That year of rebuilding really did help, as hard as it was.” more

COMING THROUGH: Hun School girls’ lacrosse player Olivia Kim, center, looks to elude two Lawrenceville defenders in the Mercer County Tournament semis. Senior star and Williams College commit Kim enjoyed a big final campaign, talking 57 goals and 11 assist to help the Raiders go 9-8. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Although the Hun School girls’ lacrosse team ended the spring by losing nail-biters to local foes Princeton High and Princeton Day School, Geoff Chrisman appreciated the intensity and skill level displayed in the rivalry clashes.

“It was a lot of fun, it was definitely good Princeton crosstown lacrosse which is always awesome,” said Hun first year head coach Chrisman, a 2003 PHS alum who played lacrosse and football during his high school days. “You want to see it doing well. There is so much on the line, it feels like. Having played in games when I was here and now coaching in them, you get to feel that emotion. You are going to see those kids at Hoagie Haven. The girls are neighbors, they grew up with each other. They play club together.”

In the 14-10 loss to PHS, Hun was tied 6-6 with the Tigers at halftime but couldn’t close the deal in the second half. more

QUICK ON THE DRAW: Princeton Day School girls’ lacrosse players Kelly Christie, left, and Shelby Ruf go after a draw in a game this spring. Senior star Christie and junior standout Ruf starred in the midfield this year for PDS as it went 15-6. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

As Lucia Marcozzi took the helm of the Princeton Day School girls’ lacrosse program this spring, it was all hands on deck.

“It was so much fun, I am lucky with such a good group of girls,” said Marcozzi, a former Bucknell University women’s lax standout who has been coaching in club programs for several years. “It was such a small team that everyone had to do anything.”

That lack of depth hurt the Panthers as the fifth-seeded Panthers fell 14-9 to fourth-seeded to Saddle River Day in the quarterfinal round of the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public Group B tournament. more

FAMILY AFFAIR: Tommy Parker, center, the longtime manager of the Princeton Post 218 American Legion baseball team, enjoys the moment with members of his family last Thursday afternoon as the baseball field at Barbara Smoyer Park was dedicated in his honor. The dedication was memorialized by the unveiling of a plaque citing Parker’s “hard work and dedication to the lives of Princeton’s youth,” listing his contributions as founder/GM/coach of Post 218 from 1990-2022, a longtime coach of youth baseball and youth football, and a local leader in civil rights, worker rights, and youth athletics. It marks the first time that Princeton has dedicated a field in someone’s honor. (Photo provided courtesy of Princeton Recreation Department)

By Bill Alden

With the sun shining brightly midway through last Thursday afternoon, the soccer fields and baseball diamond at Barbara Smoyer Park were quiet with practices and games hours away.

But there was a buzz around the pavilion building in the center of the park as a crowd of around 100 had gathered to honor Tommy Parker, one of the shining stars of the Princeton community.

The throng was on hand for a ceremony dedicating the park’s baseball field in the honor of Parker, the longtime manager of the Post 218 American Legion baseball team and a community activist. The dedication was memorialized by the unveiling of a plaque citing Thomas A. Parker’s “hard work and dedication to the lives of Princeton’s youth,” listing his contributions as founder/general manager/coach of Post 218 from 1990-2022, longtime coach of youth baseball and youth football, and local leader in civil rights, worker rights, and youth athletics. more

IRON MIKE: Mike Kane of Princeton Supply looks to unload the ball during a 2023 game in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League. Last Friday night, Kane tallied 14 points to help Princeton Supply defeat Lob City 61-52 in its season opener. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Mike Kane enjoyed a superb career with the Drew University men’s basketball team and a memorable graduate season this winter for Widener.

Former Notre Dame High standout Kane totaled 698 points in his four seasons at Drew and then averaged 7.5 points and 3.3 rebounds a game this winter as he helped Widener go 24-5 and advance to the Round of 32 in the NCAA Division III tournament.

But while Kane produced many highlight moments in his college career, taking the court last Friday night for Princeton Supply as it faced Lob City to open its campaign in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League held a special meaning for him. more

SWINGING AWAY: Princeton Post 218 American Legion baseball player Travis Petrone follows through on a swing in recent action. Last Monday, Petrone, a rising Princeton High senior, had a hit in a losing cause as Post 218 fell 7-1 to Hamilton Post 31. Princeton, which moved to 0-9 with the defeat, hosts Bordentown Post 26 on June 19, plays at North Hamilton on June 21, hosts Lawrence Post 414 on June 22, plays at Broad Street Park Post 313 on June 23, and at Allentown on June 25. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Having lost its first six games this summer, the Princeton Post 218 American Legion baseball team was primed for a breakthrough as it hosted Broad Street Park Post 313 last Thursday evening at Smoyer Park.

“It has been a tough stretch coming into this game,” said Post 218 manager Peter Nielsen. “I see the hunger in these kids. They are ready to get that first win.”

Post 218 built a 2-1 lead heading into the fourth inning on run-scoring hits by Mike Prete and Gavin Lauer. more

SISTER ACT: Stuart Country Day School lacrosse player Lauren Lee defends a foe in a game this spring. Freshman midfielder Lee combined with her older sister, junior attacker Allison Lee, to trigger the Tartan offense. The younger Lee tallied 21 goals and 10 assists while her sister led the way for Stuart with 88 goals and 10 assists. The Tartans posted a final record of 6-12. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Enduring some ups and downs this spring as it incorporated a number of young players into its lineup, Stuart Country Day School displayed its growth by ending the season on a high note.

Stuart defeated the Solebury School (Pa.) 16-1 and then topped Gill St. Bernards 14-7 in its season finale on May 20 as the Tartans posted a final record of 6-12.

Stuart first-year head coach Paige Meszaros saw the pair of wins as a culmination of the effort her players put in this spring. more

FULL EFFORT: Princeton Day School baseball player Keegan Fullman fires a pitch in action this spring. Freshman Fullman starred with his arm and bat in his debut campaign, helping PDS go on a late run that saw it win four of its last five games, including a victory in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) South Jersey Non-Public B tournament. The Panthers ended 2024 with a 6-17 record. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

When the Princeton Day School baseball team lost 2-1 to Trenton High in mid-May to suffer its seventh defeat in its last eight games and drop to 2-16, it appeared that the Panthers were heading to a rough homestretch.

But PDS head coach Eric Schnepf saw the loss to the Tornadoes as a step forward.

“That was a really close game,” said Schnepf. “That got us going, we started to play better.” more

SUPPLY CHAIN: Troy Jones puts up a shot for Princeton Supply last year in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League. Star guard Jones helped Princeton Supply win the league’s best-of-three championship series in 2023 as the squad broke through for its first crown. Princeton Supply is back to defend its title as the league tips off its 35th year with a doubleheader on June 12 at the Community Park courts. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

For the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League, its slogan of “#Still Here” is ringing true in a big way this week as the league is tipping off its 2024 campaign with nine squads ready to hit the Community Park courts.

With the venerable hoops circuit entering its 35th year, Rec Department executive director and league commissioner Evan Moorhead is proud of its staying power.

“It is a lot of the same faces from last year, there are a lot of returners which is good,” said Moorhead, reflecting on the 2024 campaign with which will start with a doubleheader on June 12 at Community Park. “There is good loyalty to the league, guys come back, year in, year out. We know them, they know us. It is always a big one when you are on the 5s or the 0s. It is another nice milestone to reach considering where we started in the summer of 1989 and here we are in 2024. We are still going strong, it is still a popular league and still drawing fans. It is one of the top leagues, if not the top outdoor league, in the area. A lot of leagues have moved inside.” more

FIRST CLASS: Princeton High boys’ tennis player Garrett Mathewson blasts a backhand in a match earlier this spring. Last Friday, sophomore Mathewson produced a straight-set win at first singles to help top-seeded PHS defeat fifth-seeded Middletown South 5-0 in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Central Jersey Group 3 semis. The Tigers, who improved to 16-0 with the win, were slated to host second-seeded WW/P-South in the sectional final on June 4 with the victor advancing to the Group 3 state semis on June 6 at the Mercer County Tennis Facility. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Even though Garrett Mathewson is just a sophomore, he hasn’t been fazed by moving into the first singles spot this spring for the Princeton High boys’ tennis team.

“It has been great, it feels good to be at first singles,“ said Mathewson. “Last year I was at three, it was kind of hard.”

In facing a higher level of competition this spring in the top singles spot, Mathewson has focused on staying in the moment. more

ALL IN: Princeton High boys’ lacrosse player Alex Famiglietti heads upfield in recent action. Junior midfielder Famiglietti tallied two goals and one assist as ninth-seeded PHS fell 13-10 to eighth-seeded Northern Highlands in the first round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North Jersey Group 3 tournament on May 24. The defeat left the Tigers with a final record of 11-8. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

It proved to be an uncomfortable sense of déjà vu for the Princeton High boys’ lacrosse team as it played at Northern Highlands in the first round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North Jersey Group 3 tournament.

Last year, PHS headed up to Northern Highlands in the NJSIAA opener and lost 14-12.

In the 2024 state tourney rematch on May 24, the ninth-seeded Tigers found themselves in another nail-biter with eighth-seeded Northern Highlands as the foes were locked in a 9-9 stalemate heading into the fourth quarter. more