Tag Archives: sports
Gauging Interest In A Sport With A Funny Name
Have you ever heard of pickleball? Believe it or not, it’s an actual game that’s been steadily growing in popularity since it was invented in the 1960s. In fact, according to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association’s 2015 Participant Report, pickleball is played by over two million people.
Coach McAneney’s Legend Lives On
By Eric Mossop, Athletic Director, Pennsauken High School
This past month, the Pennsauken High School athletic family suffered a huge loss with the passing of legendary football coach Vince McAneney.
PYAA Spring Registration Begins This Month
PYAA baseball, softball, and soccer will begin taking registration for the spring 2016 season this month. Pennsauken and Merchantville resident boys and girls are invited to join these leagues.
Country Club Golfers Give Back To Help Veterans
By Frank Sinatra, AAP Editor
Jim Bisignaro organizes a “skat” golf game most weekends at the Pennsauken Country Club. At the end of the game, 35 to 40 golfers chip in a dollar per person, which is then donated to the Fisher House Foundation, a non-profit that provides free or low cost lodging to veterans and military families receiving treatment at military medical centers.
Friday Night Lights Held On September 18 Versus Winslow
By Billy Wright, Pennsauken High School Athletic Director
The fourth edition of “Friday Night Lights” football is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 18, as the much improved Winslow Eagles will take on the home-standing PHS Indians. Pennsauken knocked off the Eagles last year at Winslow 7-0.
The night game is a big hit with both the students and community, as well over 2,000 Big Red supporters are usually in attendance. The Athletic Department will rent lights to conduct what is expected to be an exciting contest and extravaganza. The game is slotted for 7:00 p.m. at Vince McAneney Field. So mark your calendar and be a part of the Friday night under the lights experience.
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.
South Jersey Thunder Begins Inaugural Season In Pennsauken
By Frank Sinatra, AAP Editor
There’s a new semi-pro football team in the Northeast Atlantic Football League, and they’ve decided to call Pennsauken home.
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.
Pennsauken’s Bittle Displays Passion For Sports Memorabilia
By Melanie Zayas, AAP Intern
If you have a question about collecting sports memorabilia, Pennsauken resident Ron Bittle would have an answer.
