Cranford Ice Hockey team opens season strong; defeats Raiders 5-1

by By MICHAEL ECHAN -- CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT

Wednesday December 03, 2008, 1:22 PM

ROSELLE--The Cranford ice hockey team started off their 2008-2009 campaign about as strong as a team could, routing Scotch Plains-Fanwood, 5-1, on Tuesday in the first round of the George Cron Tournament.

It didn't take long for the Cougars (1-0) to assert themselves in their season debut at the Warinanco Skating Center. Right winger Eric Pawlick needed just 24 seconds to score the first goal after he took a pass from defenseman Vince Fitzgerald. Cranford scored at least one goal in every period, including a second tally from Pawlick in the second period. Seven different Cougars earned points during the contest, with Pawlick collecting a game-high three points (two goals, one assist).

Photo by Jim Occi -- The ChronicleThe Cranford ice hockey team started off their 2008-2009 campaign strong, routing Scotch Plains-Fanwood, 5-1, on Tuesday. Cranford keeper Colin Mayberry (pictured above) excelled between the pipes, stopping 14 of the 15 shots Scotch Plains-Fanwood took. Several times, he deflected close-range shots from the Raiders with multiple players blocking his view. Defenseman Vince Fitzgerald (No. 46) looked on during the first round of the George Cron Tournament.

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Cranford High School swim team hopes to continue stream of success

by DAVE LAZARUS -- CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT

Wednesday December 03, 2008, 10:46 AM

CRANFORD--Perhaps the most daunting challenge facing high school coaches is replacing the talent that graduates each year.

The seasons that prove more challenging than others are usually those that follow the loss of nearly indispensable athletes like 2008 graduates Sean French and Mark Bagniewski, but veteran Cranford High School Swimming coach Barbara Kolesa is hopeful that young talent can continue the Cougars' recent success.

French, now swimming for Montclair State University, and Bagniewski, currently at Stevens, left quite a legacy--highlighted by the Mountain Valley Conference (MVC) championship in the 200 medley relay.

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Verona too tall a task for Brearley FB to overcome

by By MICHAEL ECHAN -- THE CHRONICLE

Tuesday November 25, 2008, 12:47 PM

KENILWORTH-Apparently, David can't always win every match-up against Goliath.
An under-sized Brearley football team had no answer against Verona as the Hillbillies trounced the Bears, 36-7, last Friday on a frigid Ward Field in the NJSIAA/Gatorade North 2, Group 1 semi-finals. The loss also brought an unceremonious end to Brearley's playoff run and its 2008 season.

All season long, Brearley (9-1) used sound technique and execution to overcome any size disadvantage it faced, but Verona (10-1) presented an entirely different challenge. Not only was Verona a large, physical team, with many of their players listed at or over six feet and 200 pounds, but they also used an explosive passing game led by six-foot, three-inch tall receivers Carlo Calabrese and Chris Looney--an attack rarely seen by Brearley this year.

"They had a couple inches on our defensive backs and were able to out-jump them," senior lineman Jim Stafford said. "On the line, they were just bigger than us, and I guess we just couldn't do this one."

PHOTO BY JIM OCCI/THE CHRONICLE
Brearley quarterback Tom Mannix (No. 8) is brought down by Verona's Brett D'Alessandro (No. 43) and Carlo Calabrese (No. 4) during last Friday's game. The Bears were similarly stopped by the Hillbillies, losing a 36-7 decision in the NJSIAA/Gatorade North 2, Group 1 playoffs.

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CHS girl's volleyball team defeated in Tourney of Champs

by By DAVE LAZARUS -- CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT

Monday November 24, 2008, 2:28 PM

HACKENSACK--The magical post season run of the Cranford High School Girls volleyball team abruptly ended Thursday night as Northern Highlands defeated the Cougars in straight sets in the first round of the Tournament of Champions at Hackensack High School.

Despite the disappointment, the 2008 season will be indelibly etched in the memories of all associated with Cranford volleyball as the year in which the Cougars emerged from being a county power to a state force, a sentiment shared by Coach Lucy Diaz.

"The girls had something to prove. Many doubted if this Cranford team had what it takes to compete with the best, especially after falling to Union Catholic in the counties," said Diaz.

Photo Courtesy of Al BrownAlthough Hoeffler (pictured above) sparkled with seven kills and four digs during the first round of the Tournament of Champions at Hackensack High School last Thursday, the Cougars fell short 25-19, 25-20, as Northern Highlands defeated them in straight sets.

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Buontempo wins state vaulting title

by DAVE LAZARUS -- CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT

Saturday November 22, 2008, 2:02 PM

CRANFORD--Jenny Buontempo's gamble in attempting more difficult routines in her vaulting program paid off handsomely at the state gymnastics championships last week.
A near perfect performance earned her a 9.8 to win the state vaulting title and broke her own school record of 9.65.

Early this season, Buontempo changed from a pike Tsukahara to a front handspring front, which has a higher level of difficulty.

One of the state's better vaulters coming into 2008, Buontempo had successfully competed a pike Tsukahara at the 2007 North Jersey, Section 2 meet scoring a school-record 9.65 She only learned the front handspring front, which has a starting value of 10.0, two months ago.
After trying the new program at a club practice, Buontempo decided to try the more difficult vault at the sections this year.

Photo by Alex Taner/The Chronicle

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Cougar runners finish season with strong group meet

by By DAVE LAZARUS -- CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT

Wednesday November 19, 2008, 1:16 PM

CRANFORD--Cranford's cross country teams battled some tough competition and braved challenging weather as they competed in the rescheduled state finals this past Sunday at Holmdel Park.

While cross country is generally advertised as a sport that proceeds in any type of weather, the threat of tornados and severe thunderstorms combined with the lack of adequate cover at the park for both competitors and spectators, left NJSIAA officials no choice but to move the competitions to Sunday.

It is believed to be the first time since the state group cross country meet began in 1919, that it has been postponed.

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Brearley girls fall in section final; announces presence in soccer circles

by By MICHAEL ECHAN -- THE CHRONICLE

Tuesday November 18, 2008, 3:20 PM

KENILWORTH--This wasn't just a good run for the Brearley girls' soccer team: it was the best run in the team's history. For a team that has never had a winning record since the school re-opened in 1997, its 12-6-2 record blew away all expectations.

But unfortunately, the run had to come to an end, which it did last Friday in Robbinsville as the Bears fell to the host Ravens, 4-0, in the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group 1 section final.
Brearley had no answer for Robbinsville's Lauren Greb, who scored all four goals for the Ravens (15-4), including two in the first 15 minutes of the contest. Greg finished the game with 17 goals scored for the season.

As a whole, the Ravens dominated the ball on offense, firing off 20 shots on goal to the Bears' five. Even Robbinsville's goalie, Mary Jane Seiler, was credited with an assist.

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Just out of reach: Brearley boys' soccer falls in section final to S. River

by By MICHAEL ECHAN -- THE CHRONICLE

Tuesday November 18, 2008, 1:05 PM

ELIZABETH--Every loss is painful, especially in the playoffs, where one defeat means the end of the season. For the Brearley boys' soccer team, last Friday's game was no different.

The 2008 season ended at Williams Field for the Bears as they fell to the South River Rams, 1-0, in double overtime during the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group 1 sectional final.

The differences between the Bears' Nov. 10 semi-final game against Roselle Park and their contest against the Rams' last weekend, was stark. Whereas Brearley scored early against Roselle Park in front of a large home crowd, the game against South River was nearly devoid of offense with few fans to cheer them on at a neutral field.

PHOTO BY MICHAEL ECHAN/THE CHRONICLEBrearley's A.J. Kuroski watches on as a South River opponent takes control of a loose ball last Friday at Williams Field in Elizabeth. The Bears' leading scorer was unable to find the back of the net as Brearley lost in the Central Jersey, Group 1 section final, 1-0.

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Cran girls 'crush' competition; first from county to be state champs

by By Dave Lazarus -- CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT

Monday November 17, 2008, 4:26 PM

CRANFORD--There are new two new monikers for the Cranford High School Girls Volleyball team.

The Cougars, nicknamed "The Crush" are not only state champions but are also trailblazers as they became the first Union County public school to win a state championship, when they defeated Demarest 30-28, 25-21 in the Group 2 finals Saturday at William Paterson College in Wayne.

The victory capped a whirlwind week when the Cougars won two other state tournament matches without losing a set. Their season is still not over. They competed in the Tournament of Champions last night facing Northern Highlands with the winner facing top seeded Immaculate Heart Academy of Washington Township. If the Cougars make it to that game it would be their fourth straight match against a Bergen County school.

Photo Courtesy of Al BrownThe Cougars, nicknamed "The Crush", defeated Demarest 30-28, 25-21 in the Group 2 finals Saturday at William Paterson College in Wayne, making them state champions and the first Union County public school to win a state championship. Pictured above is Chelsea Hoeffler in action.

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A muddy good win: Brearley skids by Glen Ridge

by By MICHAEL ECHAN -- THE CHRONICLE

Monday November 17, 2008, 1:56 PM

KENILWORTH--A win by the Brearley football team is hardly a rare occurrence this season, but the way the Bears achieved it last Friday was anything but normal.

The Bears, who rely on a relentless running game and a stifling defensive line, used a two-point conversion pass and a smothering secondary to pull out a muddy 14-13 win against the Glen Ridge Ridgers in the first round of the NJSIAA/Gatorade North 2, Group 1 playoffs.

"At this point of time when you get into the playoffs, the simple objective is to win," Brearley head coach Scott Miller said. "I said it to the kids after the game: style points aren't what we're looking for. We're looking to win and move into the next round. I think it was mission accomplished tonight."

PHOTO BY JIM OCCI/THE CHRONICLEA Glen Ridge defender tries to take down Brearley quarterback Tom Mannix (No. 8) while teammate Mike Palmadessa (No. 20) tries to keep another Ridger at bay during last Friday's game. The two Bears connected in the second quarter for a two-point conversion that eventually proved to be the difference-maker in Brearley's 14-13 victory.

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Former Cougars meet at collegiate level

by The Cranford Chronicle

Monday November 17, 2008, 8:00 AM

Former Cranford High soccer teammates Ryan McMahon (pictured left) and Bryan Boyer (pictured right) faced one another on Oct. 29, when Rutgers-Newark traveled to play The College of New Jersey during the TCNJ Lions' final home game. McMahon, a senior midfielder for the Lions, has two goals and an assist through 17 games. Boyer, a freshman defender/midfielder, has started in nine games for the Scarlet Raiders. TCNJ won the game, 2-1.

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Girls get in last kicks...

by The Cranford Chronicle

Sunday November 16, 2008, 8:00 AM

PHOTO COURTESY OF D. SCHINDLERThe Girls' Cranford Soccer Club got in their last kicks this past Saturday as the fall instructional season came to an end.

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Cougars soccer looks to build on 2008 success

by Michael Echan/The Chronicle

Friday November 14, 2008, 12:00 PM

CRANFORD--Boys' soccer head coach Mike Curci wasn't expecting too much for the 2008 season when he saw that he was losing seven starters from his 2007 club.

Those expectations were blown away as Cranford put together a 15-6 record this season, one that ended last Friday during a 1-0 loss to Delran in the Central Jersey, Group 2 playoffs.

Delran (13-4-1) wasted little time taking the lead as Joe Kane scored the lone goal just four minutes into the game. Cranford was not lacking in scoring opportunities, forcing Delran goalie Brad Schmidt to make 10 saves, but was unable to catch Schmidt off-balance and send the ball in the net.

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Colicchio, Miller pace runners in sectional meet

by Dave Lazarus/Correspondent

Friday November 14, 2008, 12:00 PM

CRANFORD--Cross country head coach Tim Styler has been a long-time proponent of running in packs during championship races.

Last Saturday at Thompson Park in Jamestown, his boys and girls teams executed his plan to perfection during the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group 2 Sectional finals.

Both squads finished among the top five schools, earning them a berth in the Group 2 finals.

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Bearing down: Brearley advances to section final

by By MICHAEL ECHAN -- THE CHRONICLE

Tuesday November 11, 2008, 4:50 PM

KENILWORTH--There is no place quite like home for the Brearley boys' soccer team.
With a raucous crowd cheering them on, the Bears defeated Roselle Park, 3-1, Monday at Ward Field and advanced to the Central Jersey, Group 1 section finals.

Brearley (15-4-2) seemed energized by the student-filled crowd, numbering in the hundreds, and dominated Roselle Park (10-10) in ball possession throughout the first half. After several close calls, senior A.J. Kuroski netted the first goal, tapping the ball in after taking a pass from junior Rajbir Cheema with 11 minutes left the half.

Six minutes later, Kuroski found the back of the net again. Panthers' goalie Hector Rueda emerged from the box to dive on the ball, but Kuroski fired the ball to Rueda's right and in for the score as the crowd erupted in cheers.

Brearley forward A.J. Kuroski splits a trio of Roselle Park defenders with one of his shots on goal in Monday's playoff game. Kuroski later scored twice, giving him 18 goals for the season, as the Bears advanced to the Central Jersey, Group 1 section finals.

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