Cheerleaders win awards at national summer camp

by The Record-Press

Thursday September 18, 2008, 2:42 PM

The Cranford High School Cheerleaders have returned from a National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) summer camp. It was held at Rutgers University's Livingston Campus and attracted more than 150 cheerleaders from New Jersey and surrounding states.

The National Cheerleaders Association selects award winner at each of the 1,000 camps it administers around the world each summer. Founded in 1948 by L.R. Herkimer, NCA has been conducting camps for 60 years and holds events annually for 150,000 cheerleaders and dancers around the world.

The Cranford High School Cheerleaders received the following awards at the camp they attended:

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Soccer team looks to continue its winning ways from 2007

by David Lazarus/Special to the Record-Press

Thursday September 18, 2008, 9:01 AM

When a soccer squad's defense goes an entire season without allowing more than one goal, if follows logically that the team loses few games.

That was the case with the 2007 Westfield High School boys' soccer team, which parlayed a great defense led by all-county goalie Mike O'Brien to fashion a 14-5-3 mark, which included breaking Scotch Plains Fanwood's 21-year stranglehold on the Watchung Conference.

Despite the impressive accomplishments, the season ended with two bitter 1-0 defeats to SPF in the Union County Tournament semi-finals and Columbia in the North Jersey Group IV Section II semi-finals. The loss to the Raiders avenged Westfield's first regular season sweep in more than 20 years, but accented Westfield's need for more offense in 2008.

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Westfield starts the season tonight

by David Lazarus/Special to the Record-Press

Friday September 12, 2008, 3:03 PM

As Westfield prepares to open its football season tonight with a 7 p.m. home game at Kehler Stadium against Watchung Conference rival Malcolm X. Shabazz of Newark, the challenge could not be clearer for thirdyear Blue Devil coach Jim DeSarno: To keep the program going forward, he must replace his interior lines on both sides of the ball.

The Blue Devils lost 17 seniors, including eight starters on defense and eight on offense. Among the graduates were All-Union County defensive end John Dugan, tackles Ryan Scanlon and John DiIorio, center Dan Selert, tackle Tommy Wansaw and guard Scott Newman, who opened the holes for a fine group of skill players, most of whom return this year.

"We are excited about our skill positions, but we need to develop a brand new line. We lost some pretty good guys up front so that is our big question mark going into the season," said DeSarno. "Football games are won in the trenches. If we can open some holes on offense, we again have the players to take advantage."

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Garwood 12U baseball team captures championship

by The Record-Press

Thursday September 11, 2008, 10:57 AM

Cranford girls' soccer has new coach; gets fresh start

by David Lazarus/Special to the Record-Press

Wednesday September 10, 2008, 11:56 AM

Whether it refers to the coach or to the players, the operative theme for the 2008 Cranford High School Girls' Soccer team is new. Former Seton Hall University star Jen Michewicz begins her initial season as coach with an inexperienced but talented squad that must replace 13 key players from last year including all-state star Ashley Dirocco.

"Losing so many experienced players can be challenging for any team. The team is starting over -- new coach, new players, new system. The experience from the returning varsity players combined with the talent of the younger girls creates potential for the program this year," said Michewicz.

The new coach should be familiar with much of her team, since they formed the backbone of the Junior Varsity team that she coached last year.

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Styler hopes to continue cross country 'greatness'

by The Record-Press

Tuesday September 09, 2008, 10:55 AM

As an elite athlete for legendary coach Ray White, Tim Styler helped keep Cranford High School's boy's cross country dynasty humming through the late 1990s.

Now in his third season as head coach of both the boys and girls, Styler said he is hoping to begin a new period of greatness with a strong set of returning athletes on both teams.

Styler is confident his boys' team is poised for a major leap forward. "We paid our dues the past two years growing as a team from freshmen. I certainly believe we have the talent to make a run at the local championships and to have a good showing at the state meet as we move back to Group 2 this year," said Styler.

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WF cross country faces 'over-sized' challenge

by David Lazarus/Special to the Record-Press

Monday September 08, 2008, 10:54 AM

Veteran Westfield High School Cross Country Coach Jack Martin faces a unique set of challenges each year as he tries to manage his huge squad. This season's early practices featured 108 athletes, a number that nearly exceeds the combined total from the other nine schools in the Watchung Conference.

While the depth creates competition, it can also cause logistical issues like learning everyone's name and handling more than 100 individuals.

"We try to relate to each boy on the team each day. We include the science of the sport and try most all to have fun. We also encourage the boys, above all, to be good citizens," said Martin, who said he is thankful to have such a skillful and dedicated assistant as Chris Tafelski, a former Blue Devil runner who teaches science at WHS.

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Raiders' goalie 'best in county'; getting better

by David Lazarus/Special to the Record-Press

Friday September 05, 2008, 6:54 PM

Name a cliche and it probably applies somehow to Jackie Law's high school soccer career.
The phrase "timing is everything" could certainly depict her first two frustrating years at Scotch Plains Fanwood High School.

She might have been the second best goalie in the county, but the best one, four-time all county Lauren Mains, was playing in front of her and Law was only left to wonder what would happen when she got her chance.

"Good things come to those who wait" could easily describe what happened in her junior season, when she became the best goalie in the county and eclipsed Mains' school record with 19 shutouts as the Raiders did not miss a beat in tying the school record of the previous year with 19 wins.

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Free fishing derby on Sept. 13

by The Record-Press

Friday September 05, 2008, 4:25 PM

MOUNTAINSIDE -- The Newark Bait and Fly Casting Club, Union County Department of Parks and Recreation, New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife and The Tedescos of Rumson will sponsor the 31st annual People with Disabilities Free Fishing Derby at Echo Lake Park in Mountainside on Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Rain date is Sept. 14.)

Fishing tackle and bait will be provided. There will be a clown/magic show, lunch and prizes for all registered participants.

Preregister by calling Chris Monaco at the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at (908) 527-4096. Volunteers are welcome and needed. For more information, call Fred Bercaw, president, at (908) 753-4726.

Free fishing derby on Sept. 13

by The Record-Press

Thursday September 04, 2008, 4:25 PM

MOUNTAINSIDE -- The Newark Bait and Fly Casting Club, Union County Department of Parks and Recreation, New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife and The Tedescos of Rumson will sponsor the 31st annual People with Disabilities Free Fishing Derby at Echo Lake Park in Mountainside on Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Rain date is Sept. 14.)

Fishing tackle and bait will be provided. There will be a clown/magic show, lunch and prizes for all registered participants.

Preregister by calling Chris Monaco at the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at (908) 527-4096. Volunteers are welcome and needed. For more information, call Fred Bercaw, president, at (908) 753-4726.

Barracudas celebrate swim season

by The Record-Press

Wednesday September 03, 2008, 3:40 PM

SCOTCH PLAINS -- The Willow Grove Barracudas have celebrated their undefeated season.
The celebration enjoyed by the swimmers included a family team picnic -- hot dogs, burgers and drinks were supplied by the team; families brought home made salads and desserts.

Fun and games were part of the festivities: a scavenger hunt, and relay races in the pool that included a frozen T-shirt relay and a biggest splash contest. The highlight of the day was the awards.

For boys 8 and under Michael Braun was chosen by the coaches as the most dedicated, Oliver Sherry was recognized as most improved and Kyle Greco received the Coaches' Award.

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Tennis 'junkie' will coach team

by David Lazarus/Special to the Record-Press

Tuesday September 02, 2008, 9:42 AM

When Scotch Plains Fanwood High School Athletic Director Rob Harmer needed a new girls' tennis coach to succeed the departing Kristen Turturiello, he did not have to look far.

Boys' Tennis Coach Gary Wasserman, the 2008 Union County Coach of the Year and an admitted tennis junkie, was more than willing to take on the challenge and approaches the new season with the same enthusiasm he took into his first boys' season last spring.

"For a first season coaching the boys, I think overall it was a very positive experience for both me and the boys. I feel that the team got better as the season progressed and that SPFHS was very happy with the job that I did for the boys, that they were confident I would do just as good job with the girls' varsity team. I was ecstatic when I found out that I would be coaching both teams -- great opportunity to do something you really enjoy," said Wasserman.

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Wertheimer prepping for her fifth season

by David Lazarus/Special to the Record-Press

Sunday August 31, 2008, 10:41 AM

It seems difficult to believe it was just 11 years ago that Katie Wertheimer completed an outstanding high school soccer and track career for Westfield. Just a decade removed from graduation, Wertheimer, whose surname was Egan then, begins her fifth season as head soccer coach at her alma mater as one of the rising young coaching stars.

A 2002 Colby College alumnus, Wertheimer replaced Pete Giordano, one of the finest coaches in the state, who retired after a 13-year reign with a record of 210-50-17. But Wertheimer, who believes in an aggressive attacking style, has not missed a beat and guided the Blue Devils to a 14-5-1 mark, making the county finals for the second straight year.

Wertheimer had a smashing start to her high school coaching career by taking tiny Gill St. Bernard's, a private school in Gladstone, to its best season in history and earned the 2002 Star Ledger Coach of the Year.

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St. Bart's Oldtimers Softball League

by The Record-Press

Saturday August 30, 2008, 9:40 AM

The St. Bart's Oldtimers Softball League plowed through to the end of a 16-week, 24-game schedule, with teams jockeying for final playoff positions.

Only the top 5 teams in each division earned a coveted playoff spot in what could be a grueling "one and done" championship series that will culminate in the annual Labor Day battle of the titans.

St. Luke 18 St. Stephen 10 - The Lukesters batted around in a big 11-run second inning and never looked back as they took aim at first place in the Angels Division.

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Local swimmers let Phelps' success rub off on them after the Olympics

by David Lazarus/Special to the Record-Press

Friday August 29, 2008, 4:39 PM

Westfield would seem like the last town in New Jersey that would need a boost in the popularity of swimming that has come from the incredible success of Michael Phelps at the recently completed Beijing Olympics. Sweeping both the boys and girls public championships last March made Westfield the unofficial swimming capital of New Jersey, but even the best can use a boost, and the current and former Westfield Boys' coaches say they are excited about the "Phelps effect."

Michael Phelps' performance in the Olympics will have a positive effect on swimming that should translate over to the high school level, as well.

"From what I have heard, the number of kids trying out for club teams typically doubles in an Olympic year and they anticipate it will actually quadruple due to the exposure of Phelps. What he did was amazing and it also showed what a fantastic sport swimming really is. People were glued to their televisions not to watch Kobe Bryant or LeBron James, but to watch swimming and those two were watching Phelps from the stands as well," said current Westfield Boys' coach Jeff Knight.

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