December 7, 2005

One last look at the CAL fall sports season

By TOM WILLIAMS
Sports Columnist


The blocking sleds are stored away, the hockey sticks are in a safe place and the tennis rackets have been taken indoors. The fall sports season is over in the Cape-Atlantic League.

The CAL streak of NJSIAA football championships has been extended to 19 years, Ocean City won a state title in field hockey, and both Ocean City and St. Augustine went all the way in boys soccer.

It was another fall season filled with success. But, before we completely file away all records from the Fall of 2005 and move on to basketball, wrestling, swimming and indoor track, lets review some of the highlights of the season.

BEST MALE ATHLETE: He played for four years and led his team to four NJSIAA championships. Gaining success on both sides of the ball, he scored more points this fall than everyone in CAL history except Ocean City’s Kevin Sinclair and Hammonton’s Ron Dorsey. He is Jack Corcoran and he is the best the fall had to offer.

BEST FEMALE ATHLETE: Throughout her field hockey career at Ocean City, Rachel Hunter has kept the other guys away from the Raiders’ goal. She is the biggest single reason why OCHS has had one of South Jersey’s finest defenses during that period. And she will now take her skills to Ohio State.

MOST SIGNIFICENT INJURY: Atlantic City’s football team had one of the CAL’s finest defenses and a powerful runner in Marshall Jones. But, when quarterback Bruce Harris went down in the season’s second game with a season-ending injury, it altered the Vikings’ campaign. Harris could throw the ball and he could also make a play out of nothing with his quickness and agility.

AIR CAL: With the passing of Absegami’s Mike Isgro and Mainland’s Matt Flynn, the past two seasons have been something the CAL has never seen before. And the receivers have been just as impressive – K.J. Borlandoe and Ryan Abdilla at Mainland, Mark Schenauer and Lee Jones at Absegami. They brought not only success to their teams but great excitement to CAL football.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Ocean City’s Renee Tomlin set school records in swimming and track during her first three years of high school. This fall, to keep a promise, she went out for cross country for the first time. She finished 12th in the NJSIAA Meet of Champions, the top finisher from the CAL, and added another impressive line to the resume she will take with her to Georgetown University.

GAMES OF THE YEAR: Coincidentally, they were Absegami’s only losses in football. The Braves dropped a 35-31 thriller to St. Joseph in the season opener that went down to the wire. Then, after 10 straight wins, Gami lost a 32-25 overtime decision to Cherokee in the South Jersey Group 4 final. It took those kind of performances to beat Gami.

KEITH MARELLA AWARD: Keith was the last CAL football player to score all five ways during a season. In 1998, the St. Joseph player scored six rushing TDs, caught five TD passes, brought back one kickoff and two punts and scored once on defense. Three players came close this year, each scoring four of the five ways. Lower Cape May’s Matt Szczur had eight rushing TDs, a kickoff return, punt return and a defensive score. Dan Bonato of Ocean City had three rushing, one as a receiver, one kickoff and one punt. Charles Curcio of St. Joe had four rushing, three receiving, two punt returns and one on defense. The winner, on the tiebreaker, is Szczur, who also threw two TDs.

MOST SIGNIFICANT ILLNESS: Ocean City senior Brittany Sedberry was focused on a third win in the NJSIAA Cross Country Meet of Champions this fall. No other CAL runner had done it once. She seemed to be on her way when an illness struck that restricted her breathing. It forced her to stop running in the South Jersey meet and prevented her from running in the state meet. It was not the way the career of the CAL’s greatest cross country runner should have ended.

BEST CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT: It’s a tie. St. Augustine Prep added Field Turf to its football stadium, the first school in the CAL to play on the surface, which will also benefit its soccer and lacrosse teams. Then there is the Mustang Corral, which replaced its 40-year old bleachers and press box with surroundings more fitting their successful football program.

COACH OF THE YEAR: There were so many worthy efforts. Paul Sacco earning his 200th victory and state record seventh straight NJSIAA championship. Trish LeFever winning her sixth state title in field hockey. Doug Colman, taking Absegami to its greatest season. But the nod goes to Mike Pellegrino, whose Ocean Coty boys soccer team was undefeated against a tremendous schedule, winning its sixth South Jersey title in seven years and fourth state title in those same years. This season his Raiders also added the championship of the Coaches Tournament. And, besides, he is the only coach who can flawlessly mix Jay Z with Chubby Checker.

We fans had quite a fall. With talented athletes like Szczur, Schenauer, Colleen O’Donnell, Richard White, Kimmie Krzyk, Steve Hevalow, Rafael Duarte, Karisse Bendijo, Megan Doran, Casey Beyel and many others returning, next fall is something to anticipate.

Lets hope the winter of 2005-06 is just as exciting.



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