Category Archives: Sports
Jamison And Dow Named Athletes Of The Year
By Billy Wright, Pennsauken High School Athletic Director
Wrestling and football student-athlete David Dow made it relatively easy for the PHS coaching staff to vote for Athlete of the Year honors when he not only won the NJSIAA Region 7 195 lb. wrestling title, but also mowed through the competition a week earlier to win the District 28 title. David’s region gold medal was the first region championship for a PHS grappler since Gerald Smith won the 103 lb. title in 1983. For his region win, the Courier Post named David to the prestigious All South Jersey team, the first Indian athlete named first team since 1968, when Mike Panarella was honored. Ironically, the old meets the new, as Panarella currently serves as a volunteer assistant coach for Code Red. David will be attending Baker University in Kansas on a wrestling scholarship.
The girl’s voting was much closer, as four budding stars were in the running: All South Jersey bowler Jessica Bello, two sport star Olivia Summerville, and track and field stars Olivia Jamison and Amanda Bakley. Olivia Jamison eked out the voting of the coaches and claimed her second consecutive Athlete of the Year honor. Bello led South Jersey in season average; Summerville was first team all conference in volleyball and lacrosse; and Bakley set three school records on the track. For her part, Jamison won the 400 meter dash at both the BCSL and NJSIAA sectional championships and anchored the school record-setting 4×100 meter relay and the super sprint medley. Olivia will be attending Morgan State University on a track and field scholarship.
Booker Wins State Title, Dow Earns Gold
By Billy Wright, Pennsauken High School Athletic Director
For Martin Booker, Jr., the first sign of possible greatness came in the Washington Township football game last November, when he scooted around the line of scrimmage three times for long touchdown runs. In the sloppy, muddy conditions that day, it was obvious that Martin was the fastest man on the field. When the winter track season began, Martin once again showed his speed, as he won repeatedly in his specialty, the 55 meter dash. But Martin’s latest conquest came at the expense of other NJ Group III competitors, as he raced away with the state championship. The gold medal was the first in school history for a winter track athlete. Martin’s first place finish provided 10 of the 17 points that PHS scored that day, good for fourth place in the team battle.
Registration Begins For Challenger Baseball League
The Challenger Baseball League of Cherry Hill is preparing to begin its 10th season, offering a fun and healthy activity for players with special needs.
The League provides a little league experience for children and young adults with special needs ages 4 and up and is open to all neighboring areas. Players are grouped by age and ability, so that all participants have the opportunity to succeed. Buddies are provided for players, or family members are invited to join in the fun. There is no fee to participate in the program.
Game days are on Sundays, beginning in April and running through June. Games run approximately one hour. As part of the little league experience, players also enjoy team picture day and an end-of-the-year trophy day and family BBQ.
For more information or to register, visit http://www.challengerball.com.
Flyers Great Bob “The Hound” Kelly Visits Delair School
Bob “The Hound” Kelly from the Philadelphia Flyers poses with a Delair student who was able to put on a hockey uniform the fastest during a special assembly.
T.E.A.M. – Teamwork, Education, Attitude, and Motivation – make up the formulation for success. This was the message imparted to students by Bob “The Hound” Kelly, a member of the Philadelphia Flyers’ Stanley Cup Championship teams in 1974 and 1975 who now serves as the team’s “Ambassador of Hockey,” visiting schools and teaching kids about the importance of teamwork.
Kelly spoke to students about the importance of people working towards a common goal and how it is helpful to everyone. Learning to work together is a lifetime skill that should never be forgotten. Students also participated in a competitive contest to see who could get dressed into a hockey uniform the fastest.
This was a wonderful program for all who attended.
Phifer Wrestling Wins Pirate Classic
The strong Phifer Middle School wrestling team recently won its fifth Pirate Classic wrestling tournament, beating the second place team, Collingswood, by over 90 points. The Pennsauken Indians placed a team-record 11 wrestlers in the finals. The young wrestlers’ skills continue to grow and feed the strong Pennsauken High School teams, who are now a well-known force in South Jersey wrestling.
The four champions for Pennsauken were seventh grader Braily Vargas and eighth graders Miguel McEady, David Louie, and Jesus Cruz. Falling just short of being crowned champions and landing in second place at the eight-team tournament were sixth grader Angel Abreu, and seventh graders Jahneil Blue, Stephan “Pudge” Przycowicz, Carlos “Muscle Man” Padua, and Sincere Jones. The eighth graders getting second place at the tourney were Geninson Castro and Gabe “The Model” Myles. Wrestling tough and coming in third was the trio of Duane Britt, Uriel Balon, and Brian Smith.
The team’s head coach, Sean Duff, has been lucky to have a wonderful volunteer staff to help the local kids turn into such a strong force on the mat. Volunteer coaches include PYAA coach Lynn Hunter, who helps every year with try-outs and runs the successful PYAA wrestling program; Tom Locke, a Berlin Police officer volunteering his time; Dave Corson, a middle school history teacher and long-time Pennsauken wrestling coach; and Dennis Sherwood, a conditioning specialist and counselor for the middle school.
The team’s dual meet record is a strong 11 wins and three loses, with another division championship and playoff run to come. The sport of wrestling is one of the toughest sports in the world and involves a long four-month season. The kids on the team work incredibly hard to attain the level of success they have reached. It builds character and the team’s motto of “hard work and dedication” is chanted at the end of every practice.
Let’s hope for another South Jersey Middle School League wrestling championship for the hard working kids of Phifer Middle School.
Local Athletes To Represent US At World Championships
Members of MacKenzie’s Martial Arts, a popular local Karate school with a location in Pennsauken, will represent the United States at the TaeKwon-Do World Championships in London, England, held July 10– 12. Hosted by the Unified International TaeKwon-Do Federation, the competition will host the best competitors from around the globe.
Global Proving Ground Hosts “Fighters Against Spousal Abuse” Event
On Feb. 21 at the GPG Event Center, 1444 Rt. 73 N., Pennsauken, Global Proving Ground and Victorium MMA will bring New Jersey a hard hitting statement about the vile and heinous crime of spousal abuse. They will show what real fighters look like when they pick on someone their own size, gender, and skill level in the only environment where fighting should take place – in the GPG cage. Featuring the best in MMA talent, GPG and Victorium MMA will strengthen their bond and offer the masses a card not to be missed!
Play Ball! Registration Begins For PYAA Baseball, Softball
PYAA Softball, Baseball, and Babe Ruth registration begins at the PYAA Field House on Elm and Marion avenues. The dates are as follows:
Saturday, Feb. 21, 28, and March 7: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 22, and March 1, 8: 12 p.m.-3 p.m.; Wednesday, Feb. 25 and March 4: 6 p.m.-8 p.m.
Online registration is occurring now at pyaa.net. Credit cards are accepted for both online and in-person registration.
For more information, visit pyaa.net; for inquiries about this year’s softball registration, e-mail Mike Coyle at MikeCoyle@pennsaukenems.com.
PYAA Football Champs
Congratulations to the PYAA Football 120 lb. team for winning the football championships on Nov. 29! Congratulations to Coach Darryl and his coaching staff on a successful year! Thank you to all the football and cheerleading coaches, volunteers, and parents for a great year!
PHS Winter Track Relay Team State Champs
By Billy Wright, Pennsauken High School Athletic Director
PHS winter track Coach Clinton Tabb’s heart was a flutter as junior ace Marquan Jones lined up for the starters pistol in the 4×200 meter relay at the NJSIAA Group III State Relay Championships. The quartet of Jones, Brandon Harley, Ryan Wemegah, and Martin Booker Jr. were well aware that both speed and precision passing of the baton were required if a gold medal was to be earned. Marquan exploded off of the starting line to put the Indians in front. A smooth excellent baton pass to Brandon put PHS ahead to stay and provided the quartet with a well deserved championship jacket.
New GPG Event Center To Host “Fighters Against Dog Fighting”
Once again Global Proving Ground (GPG) has delved into the heart of the fighters and fans of mixed martial arts (MMA) with their latest philanthropic card called “Fighters Against Dog Fighting” on Jan. 17. This amazing card will be the second in an unending series of MMA shows and events that give back to the community at large, and it will take place at the new GPG Event Center in Pennsauken, NJ.
