I attended Hillsborough High School's fifth hall of fame induction Saturday night at the Redwood Inn in Bridgewater.
Just a few notes from the event:
Shawn Mayer, the former Raider star quarterback/defensive back, who went on to have a standout career at Penn State, was one of the inductees. He's in Europe trying to catch on with a NFL Europe team.
He won a ring as a member of the New England Patriots team that beat Carolina 32-29 in Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004 at Reliant Stadium in Houston. He had a key tackle against another Hillsborough High graduate and hall of famer -- Ricky Proehl, who had an outstanding NFL career as a receiver.
Jared Jones, a 2000 Hillsborough graduate, was also inducted. Jared is now playing for the Albany Conquest in the arenafootball2 league. Jones was a three-sport star at Hillsborough before going to Syracuse. His father, Warner, inducted him and had several humorous stories about his son. Eric Jones, a 1995 HHS graduate, and Hillsborough standout quarterback/defensive back, was inducted in 2004.
Former wrestling star Brian Robinovitz, Hillsborough's all-time career leader in wins, was also inducted. He was a third-place state tournament place winner as a senior. He was presented by Raider head coach Steve Molinaro, who said that Robinovitz "put Hillsborough on the map state wide."
Robinovitz, who now lives in Howell, went on to be a two-time Atlantic Coast Conference place winner at the University of Maryland. He now works in the mortgage business and lives in Howell.
"I'm sure Brian remembers that his teammates called him Robo," Molinaro said. "Everybody thought it was because it was the first four letters of his last name, but I think it was the way he approached the sport. He set a school record for the most wrestling partners he went through in a season."
Robinovitz, a four-time state tournament qualifier, and three time Region 5 champ, had a 105-16 career record.
Hillsborough girls basketball coach Jim Reese presented Stephanie Shoop, a 1999 HHS graduate, who finished with 1,232 points for her career. Shoop eventually graduated cum laude with a biology degree from Brown. She's now a teacher and head coach at South River.
Jinny Gill Strawderman, who also played at Brown, and a 1986 HHS graduate, was presented by former Raider coach Barb Hudock.
"I'm glad that coach Hudock kept me at guard in high school rather than move me to the post," Strawderman said. "She knew where my future was in college."
Track star Tierra Hicks, now an assistant coach at her alma mater, was also inducted and presented by Raider coach Rick Refi. She teaches health and physical education at Hillsborough. She was a four-time varsity letter winner and four-time school team MVP. She went on to Montclair State University where she holds school records for the 400 and 400-meter hurdles.
Former coach Fred Mountjoy and longtime Hillsborough contributors Jack VanCleef and Bruce Wayne were also inducted. Mountjoy started the Raiders' boys' track team and was also on the first football staff at Hillsborough. In just the third year as a varsity program, the boys track team went 14-0 in 1972.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Just a few
Lenny Cathcart, the president of the Plainfield Board of Education, told me Wednesday that longtime assistant Reggie Robinson is now the head coach of the Plainfield High football team. Two summers ago, we witnessed a bizarre epic that included Robinson believing he was the head coach, then Clinton Jones being retained, then Jones resigning, then coming back after his players rallied for him. Well, now it looks like Robinson is going to take Jones' spot.
I wrote the story Wednesday afternoon. I can only go on what Board officials tell us and Cathcart says there won't be a repeat of what turned into a big top production in the summer of 2005. I hope he's right, but I'll miss Clint.
Franklin baseball coach Bill Nickel, a Brearley High School graduate, will be in his first year of coaching the Warriors. He said that the school is hoping that the team can play as many as nine home games behind the new high school on Elizabeth Avenue. Now, if only the township can get a referendum passed so the football team can get a new facility there. Ackerman Field is a worse than Brooks Field in Somerville and that's saying quite a bit.
We have one more head football coaching job opening remaining and that's at Bridgewater-Raritan. We should know about that in the next week or 10 days.
I wrote the story Wednesday afternoon. I can only go on what Board officials tell us and Cathcart says there won't be a repeat of what turned into a big top production in the summer of 2005. I hope he's right, but I'll miss Clint.
Franklin baseball coach Bill Nickel, a Brearley High School graduate, will be in his first year of coaching the Warriors. He said that the school is hoping that the team can play as many as nine home games behind the new high school on Elizabeth Avenue. Now, if only the township can get a referendum passed so the football team can get a new facility there. Ackerman Field is a worse than Brooks Field in Somerville and that's saying quite a bit.
We have one more head football coaching job opening remaining and that's at Bridgewater-Raritan. We should know about that in the next week or 10 days.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
In the break
Our winter all area team runs Sunday (March 25).
Since the state wrestling tournament was moved up a week, I've been in an unusual spot, having a head start on the rest of the folks on our staff. Simeon Pincus, who has the ice hockey beat, will set a staff record for the latest ending winter beat. Bridgewater-Raritan will play Randolph for the state championship Friday 6 p.m. at Mennan Arena in Morris Township. That would be March 23.
I've reached out to Iowa State 197 pounder Kurt Backes of Branchburg, who was second in the NCAA Division 1 Tournament Saturday night. Backes and Hampton's Robbie Preston of Harvard -- the Crimson's 133-pounder -- both went to Blair Academy, so we didn't get a chance to cover them in high school. I hope to have something more detailed on Kurt's career at Iowa State later in the week. Backes was beaten in sudden death overtime by American University's Joshua Glenn.
Pingry school graduate Zac Shanaman, who now wrestles at Penn, didn't place at 145.
Talked to Middlesex's new head baseball coach Mike O'Donnell Sunday and he told me he figures it may take until a week from Wednesday for most teams to get outside again. The snow, ice, sleet and whatever else that fell Friday is going to take some time to melt. Baseball season in New Jersey is so, so wonderful.
Off to Clinton.
Since the state wrestling tournament was moved up a week, I've been in an unusual spot, having a head start on the rest of the folks on our staff. Simeon Pincus, who has the ice hockey beat, will set a staff record for the latest ending winter beat. Bridgewater-Raritan will play Randolph for the state championship Friday 6 p.m. at Mennan Arena in Morris Township. That would be March 23.
I've reached out to Iowa State 197 pounder Kurt Backes of Branchburg, who was second in the NCAA Division 1 Tournament Saturday night. Backes and Hampton's Robbie Preston of Harvard -- the Crimson's 133-pounder -- both went to Blair Academy, so we didn't get a chance to cover them in high school. I hope to have something more detailed on Kurt's career at Iowa State later in the week. Backes was beaten in sudden death overtime by American University's Joshua Glenn.
Pingry school graduate Zac Shanaman, who now wrestles at Penn, didn't place at 145.
Talked to Middlesex's new head baseball coach Mike O'Donnell Sunday and he told me he figures it may take until a week from Wednesday for most teams to get outside again. The snow, ice, sleet and whatever else that fell Friday is going to take some time to melt. Baseball season in New Jersey is so, so wonderful.
Off to Clinton.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Football time
Somerville longtime assistant Greg Arakelian was appointed as the Pioneers new head football coach by the Board of Education Tuesday night. While former Somerville coach Kevin Carty is known for his passion for offense, Arakelian's background is on the defensive side. The Pioneers are advertising for an assistant coach. We'll have more on Greg's background in Thursday's newspaper.
Also got a phone call Tuesday night from a Plainfield High supporter, who said that former Cardinal assistant coach Reggie Robinson's name has been submitted to the Board of Education to replace longtime coach Clinton Jones. We've been through this before and there is no question that many more stories will be written on this topic.
Also got a phone call Tuesday night from a Plainfield High supporter, who said that former Cardinal assistant coach Reggie Robinson's name has been submitted to the Board of Education to replace longtime coach Clinton Jones. We've been through this before and there is no question that many more stories will be written on this topic.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Saturday, March 03, 2007
tough day
I felt like a vulture tonight after Bridgewater-Raritan's Roy Dragon III and Hillsborough's John Mangini lost their semifinal bouts. Unfortunately, part of our job is to talk to well-known kids when they are beaten. And I waited for both after their wrestleback bouts. I was the stalker with the notebook.
At the state tournament, we get a chance to talk to kids when they are in a better mood since they get an opportunity to wrestle again and win in wrestleback rounds. Believe me, it's tough to talk to the kids after such bitter outcomes. I never did get to talk to Dragon III or Mangini, but I was able to get a few words from Hillsborough coach Steve Molinaro and Bridgewater-Raritan's Greg Evans on reaction to the semifinal matches.
Here's some of Southern Regional sophomore Glen Carson's reaction to his four-session overtime victory over Dragon in the 215-pound semifinal.
"I had only seen (Dragon) wrestle one time at the (New Jersey Coaches) All Star meet (Jan. 28) and he wrestled (Hopatcong's Zack) Rey," Carson said. "It's hard to scout him when he's wrestling a big kid like Rey. It's hard to shoot on a guy like Rey. I knew (Dragon) got in the underhooks and got those off. I did everything right. I just wrestled a really smart match."
Carson said he got a huge boost when he had survived the first period against a wrestler who was 146-11 with 111 falls coming into the bout.
"When he was on top he was working me very hard and he was very strong on top, but after that first period he got really tired and that's when my conditioning came in," Carson said.
South Plainfield junior 112 pounder Pat Hunter is a great quote. He's very colorful and doesn't hold back in what he says -- kind of like when he's on the mat. While Hunter is more outgoing and flamboyant on the mat, Delaware Valley senior Dan Kelly -- who Hunter will face in the state final -- is more reserved.
"Whatever gets you in zone," said Hunter, who will face Delaware Valley senior Dan Kelly in the state final at 112. "I have been in the zone since last year when I lost in the quarterfinals. It's been eating at me every night."
He was talking about his 3-2 loss to Kittatinny's Derek Valenti in the state quarterfinals. He did avenge that loss with a 12-3 major win over Valenti for third.
Bound Brook senior 135-pounder Nick Murray used four tilts for near falls in his semifinal second period technical fall of Kittatinny's Troy Hernandez. Murray is in the finals at 135 against Delbarton's Trevor Melde. Murray said first-cousin Andrew Flanagan, who won state titles at 145 and 152 for Bound Brook in '04-'05, will likely be at Atlantic City Sunday.
Hillsborough 152-pound senior Frankie McLaughlin has some strategy for his final against two-time state champion Scott Winston, who is now 100-0 for his career. McLaughlin lost to Winston in the Coaches All Star Meet in January.
"I can't take any bad shots," McLaughlin said. "First period, I have to look defense and keep pressure on him, but not really look to actually take any shots because he's very sharp in the first period. He'll get the better of me in the first period. I've looked at the video over and over and the shot I took him down on it wasn't a great shot. He was tired and he didn't react as fast. I have to take it to the third period and keep it close."
In ending, the homemade chicken noodle soup at the Phoenix Diner in Absecon shouldn't be missed.
Good night.
At the state tournament, we get a chance to talk to kids when they are in a better mood since they get an opportunity to wrestle again and win in wrestleback rounds. Believe me, it's tough to talk to the kids after such bitter outcomes. I never did get to talk to Dragon III or Mangini, but I was able to get a few words from Hillsborough coach Steve Molinaro and Bridgewater-Raritan's Greg Evans on reaction to the semifinal matches.
Here's some of Southern Regional sophomore Glen Carson's reaction to his four-session overtime victory over Dragon in the 215-pound semifinal.
"I had only seen (Dragon) wrestle one time at the (New Jersey Coaches) All Star meet (Jan. 28) and he wrestled (Hopatcong's Zack) Rey," Carson said. "It's hard to scout him when he's wrestling a big kid like Rey. It's hard to shoot on a guy like Rey. I knew (Dragon) got in the underhooks and got those off. I did everything right. I just wrestled a really smart match."
Carson said he got a huge boost when he had survived the first period against a wrestler who was 146-11 with 111 falls coming into the bout.
"When he was on top he was working me very hard and he was very strong on top, but after that first period he got really tired and that's when my conditioning came in," Carson said.
South Plainfield junior 112 pounder Pat Hunter is a great quote. He's very colorful and doesn't hold back in what he says -- kind of like when he's on the mat. While Hunter is more outgoing and flamboyant on the mat, Delaware Valley senior Dan Kelly -- who Hunter will face in the state final -- is more reserved.
"Whatever gets you in zone," said Hunter, who will face Delaware Valley senior Dan Kelly in the state final at 112. "I have been in the zone since last year when I lost in the quarterfinals. It's been eating at me every night."
He was talking about his 3-2 loss to Kittatinny's Derek Valenti in the state quarterfinals. He did avenge that loss with a 12-3 major win over Valenti for third.
Bound Brook senior 135-pounder Nick Murray used four tilts for near falls in his semifinal second period technical fall of Kittatinny's Troy Hernandez. Murray is in the finals at 135 against Delbarton's Trevor Melde. Murray said first-cousin Andrew Flanagan, who won state titles at 145 and 152 for Bound Brook in '04-'05, will likely be at Atlantic City Sunday.
Hillsborough 152-pound senior Frankie McLaughlin has some strategy for his final against two-time state champion Scott Winston, who is now 100-0 for his career. McLaughlin lost to Winston in the Coaches All Star Meet in January.
"I can't take any bad shots," McLaughlin said. "First period, I have to look defense and keep pressure on him, but not really look to actually take any shots because he's very sharp in the first period. He'll get the better of me in the first period. I've looked at the video over and over and the shot I took him down on it wasn't a great shot. He was tired and he didn't react as fast. I have to take it to the third period and keep it close."
In ending, the homemade chicken noodle soup at the Phoenix Diner in Absecon shouldn't be missed.
Good night.
Saturday afternoon
Well, they're washing down the four mats that the semifinals and wrestlebacks will take place on Saturday afternoon and night.
We're down to the final 8 in the state at the 14 weight classes.
We have nine semifinalists and seven of them placed last year.
South Plainfield's Nick Heilmann (103); Delaware Valley's Dan Kelly and South Plainfield's Patrick Hunter (112); Hunterdon Central's Pat Strizki (119); Bound Brook's Nick Murray (135); Bridgewater-Raritan's Tyler Riccio (145); Hillsborough's Frank McLaughlin (152) and John Mangini (160) and Bridgewater-Raritan's Roy Dragon III (215).
Seven of the nine -- the exceptions being Heilmann and Riccio -- placed last year. Kelly and Mangini were second at 112 and 152 respectively; Murray and Dragon were third at 135 and 215 respectively; Strizki fourth at 119 and McLaughlin sixth at 160.
We're down to the final 8 in the state at the 14 weight classes.
We have nine semifinalists and seven of them placed last year.
South Plainfield's Nick Heilmann (103); Delaware Valley's Dan Kelly and South Plainfield's Patrick Hunter (112); Hunterdon Central's Pat Strizki (119); Bound Brook's Nick Murray (135); Bridgewater-Raritan's Tyler Riccio (145); Hillsborough's Frank McLaughlin (152) and John Mangini (160) and Bridgewater-Raritan's Roy Dragon III (215).
Seven of the nine -- the exceptions being Heilmann and Riccio -- placed last year. Kelly and Mangini were second at 112 and 152 respectively; Murray and Dragon were third at 135 and 215 respectively; Strizki fourth at 119 and McLaughlin sixth at 160.
Friday, March 02, 2007
On the boardwalk at....
Got to Atlantic City for the state wrestling tournament at about 2 p.m. and waited for my colleague Jason Sherman to arrive.
We're staying in Absecon at a hotel on Route 30. The place got demolished by most reviewers, but it's probably unfair for me to reveal the name of it. It's not that bad, but we just got here, so give me and Jason one more day. The place is right off the Garden State Parkway, which means its a hike to Atlantic City and Boardwalk Hall where we'll have 12 wrestlers in the state quarterfinals Saturday morning.
The nature of how we report on this event has changed drastically from the days of Jadwin Gymnasium in Princeton where the tournament was held for many years before moving here in the early 90s.
The Internet age has dramatically changed everything. Since nearly all of the more than 10,000 folks who attended tonight's first night action have cel phones and can update family and friends with results as bouts end, we've had to change the way we go about things in the newspaper business. So Jason Sherman typed and typed results via his wireless card and got them back to Bridgewater where the boys and girls put the result up immediately on our website. All the press corp now has wireless, we're doing things differently to keep up.
I tried to talk to kids down on the floor. We lay in wait in the corner near the bleachers where coaches, wrestlers and trainers wait for the bouts.
Speaking of coaches, Hillsborough head coach Steve Molinaro and Brian West told me that they have promised senior 160-pounder John Mangini and senior 152-pounder Frankie McLaughlin that they will dive into the Atlantic Ocean Sunday afternoon if either of them win titles. The ocean looked rough today. I don't know about the ocean temperature, but maybe Molinaro and West can fill us in Sunday afternoon.
Both McLaughlin and Mangini are wrestling very, very well.
We're staying in Absecon at a hotel on Route 30. The place got demolished by most reviewers, but it's probably unfair for me to reveal the name of it. It's not that bad, but we just got here, so give me and Jason one more day. The place is right off the Garden State Parkway, which means its a hike to Atlantic City and Boardwalk Hall where we'll have 12 wrestlers in the state quarterfinals Saturday morning.
The nature of how we report on this event has changed drastically from the days of Jadwin Gymnasium in Princeton where the tournament was held for many years before moving here in the early 90s.
The Internet age has dramatically changed everything. Since nearly all of the more than 10,000 folks who attended tonight's first night action have cel phones and can update family and friends with results as bouts end, we've had to change the way we go about things in the newspaper business. So Jason Sherman typed and typed results via his wireless card and got them back to Bridgewater where the boys and girls put the result up immediately on our website. All the press corp now has wireless, we're doing things differently to keep up.
I tried to talk to kids down on the floor. We lay in wait in the corner near the bleachers where coaches, wrestlers and trainers wait for the bouts.
Speaking of coaches, Hillsborough head coach Steve Molinaro and Brian West told me that they have promised senior 160-pounder John Mangini and senior 152-pounder Frankie McLaughlin that they will dive into the Atlantic Ocean Sunday afternoon if either of them win titles. The ocean looked rough today. I don't know about the ocean temperature, but maybe Molinaro and West can fill us in Sunday afternoon.
Both McLaughlin and Mangini are wrestling very, very well.
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