SPOTSWOOD, NJ - Spotswood High School's varsity baseball team kicks off the 2023-24 season on Tuesday with a home-at-home against Metuchen High School. It will be the Chargers' final season playing in the Swamp before SHS's varsity baseball field gets updated. Spotswood's home field earned its nickname for its ability to become a swamp whenever it rains. The poor drainage would often leave the field soggy for days after heavy rainfall. Despite that, the Swamp is not without its charm and has been the Chargers' home field since 1997.
"There is magic in this ballpark," Spotswood High School Head Baseball Coach Glenn Fredricks said. "Spotswood has only lost six times at the Swamp since 2019."
Spotswood would like to keep that magic rolling after last spring's Greater Middlesex Conference Blue Division championship and a 21-8 overall season record.
"The Chargers enter 2024 as the defending Blue Division Champions, having defeated St. Thomas in a winner take all division final last May," Fredricks said. "The team won 21 games and advanced to the Central Jersey Group Two Sectional final, one of the toughest in the state, for the first time since winning it in 2010. To return to that game, this year’s edition must replace 15 wins on the mound, 88 innings pitched, 13 wins and the offensive production of record-setting shortstop Casey Cumiskey. Cumiskey, now at Seton Hall, led all of New Jersey with 60 hits a season ago and owns a majority of the offensive career records at SHS."
In addition to Casey Cumiskey, the Chargers also lost outfielder Dylan Kartelias, pitcher Jackson Walsh and catcher Chris Bottiglieri. Key varsity players returning are seniors Luc Acquaviva (right-handed pitcher), Mason Bitalla (catcher), Breckyn DeAngelis (outfielder/right-handed pitcher), Jack Louro (right-handed pitcher) and Colin Pfeiffer (first base/catcher), juniors William Buchan (infielder/right-handed pitcher), Carter Cumiskey (first base/left-handed pitcher), Stephen Henits (outfielder), Shawn Lennan (third base), John Lubin (outfielder/right-handed pitcher) and Tyler Oleksy (left-handed pitcher) along with sophomores Ryan Orth (infielder/right-handed pitcher), Gavin Romeo (second base) and Sebastian Saracino (outfielder/right-handed pitcher). Joining the Chargers varsity this season are seniors Gavin Cahill (outfielder), Cole Frost (left-handed pitcher) and Mateo Rivera (right-handed pitcher) along with juniors Jack Bicsko (left-handed pitcher), Joe O'Halloran (outfielder) and Brandon Rivera (catcher/first base).
DeAngelis has committed to play for Drew University's Division III men's baseball program. Louro has also committed to play Division III ball for Neumann University's men's baseball program. Carter Cumiskey has verbally committed to join his brother Casey at Seton Hall University's Division I men's baseball program.
Fredricks taps the Chargers pitching staff's depth as being one of the team's strengths.
"Charger pitching will get much welcomed help with the return of Luc Acuqaviva, Will Buchan and Jack Louro," Fredricks said. "The trio will join SHU commit Carter Cumiskey, senior Breckyn DeAngelis, Ryan Orth and junior Tyler Oleksy on this year’s pitching staff."
Spotswood's offense does lose some punch with the graduation of Casey Cumiskey, but still has strong bats in the lineup.
"On offense, the young but experienced lineup should produce runs," Fredricks said. "DeAngelis, Carter Cumiskey, Sebastian Saracino, Ryan Orth and Shawn Lennan return a good amount of production and experience. The offense will need to gel quickly for run production and the pitching staff has big shoes to fill coming off of a season which saw seven shutouts and 11 games of one run or less."
Spotswood's Thursday scrimmage with South Brunswick was canceled due to the rain. The Chargers play one final scrimmage against Middletown South on Saturday before opening the season on Tuesday at Metuchen High School. Game time against the Bulldogs is at 10 a.m. The home-at-home continues at the Swamp on Thursday, April 4. Spotswood's home opener is at 11 a.m. at the Spotswood High School Varsity Baseball Field.
]]>MONROE TOWNSHIP, NJ - The defending Greater Middlesex Conference Blue Division champs hosted the Chargers' first home meet on Tuesday at the Rossmoor Golf Course. Spotswood High School defeated St. Thomas Aquinas High School 185-235 for the Chargers' second straight victory to open the 2023-24 season. The Chargers defeated Timothy Christian High School on Monday in Spotswood's season opener.
Spotswood's Michael Furey finished on top of the leaderboard with a 41. Mia Masarik, Peter Yarus and Dominic Spicuzzo rounded out the top four to help Spotswood win the Chargers home opener. St. Thomas' David Ryden rounded out the top five. Tuesday's meet results are as follows:
Spotswood is back in action on Tuesday, April 2, when the Chargers travel to the Raritan Landing Golf Course in Piscataway to take on Perth Amboy High School. Perth Amboy opened its season this week with a 209-229 loss to Calvary Christian High School. Since Spotswood and Perth Amboy are on spring break next week, tee time is 9:30 a.m.
]]>SPOTSWOOD, NJ - Chargers senior Ethan Bennett officially committed to Arcadia University's Division III men's lacrosse program on Monday in a special Signing Day ceremony in Spotswood High School's Media Center. Bennett's lacrosse journey began in second grade when he took part in his first clinic with the East Brunswick Blackhawks. The Spotswood native played for the Blackhawks travel club from third through eighth grade. Five years ago, he moved on to the Blue Star Lacrosse club in Princeton.
Since Spotswood High School doesn't have a lacrosse program, he joined the Chargers winter and spring track and field teams. He earned his varsity letter with the spring track team freshman year. Bennett runs sprints, relays and hurdles in the winter and participates in sprint and javelin in the spring. Not having the opportunity to play in high school like other area lacrosse players is definitely a regret for Bennett.
"I am disappointed that I wasn’t able to play on a high school lacrosse team," Bennett said. "I always wonder if I would have been a better player if we had a high school team for me to play on in the spring."
"Even though I am graduating, I would love to see a SHS lacrosse program start because I hope my younger brother gets to have the high school lacrosse team experience that I didn’t get," Bennett added.
Despite not having a high school team, Bennett has put his heart and soul into the sport. He's thrilled to be able to take his game to the collegiate level with Arcadia's men's lacrosse program. He was attracted to the program by the "amazing coaching staff" and the "beautiful campus."
Arcadia University is located in Glenside, Pennsylvania. The Knights play in the Middle Atlantic Conference.
"When I first committed to Arcadia, I felt relieved, like a weight was lifted off my chest," he said. "I was also very excited and proud that I had committed to playing at the next level."
"I am looking forward to improving my game and having fun playing at the next level," Bennett said.
He plans on majoring in computer science or biology at Arcadia.
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EDISON, NJ - The Spotswood High School golf team opened the spring season with a 185-215 victory over Timothy Christian High School on Monday at the West 9 Golf Course. Spotswood's Mia Masarik and Timothy Christian's Luke Sicoli both lead the leaderboard with a 45. The Chargers' Michael Furey, Dominic Spicuzzo and Peter Yarusalso finished in the top five to help the defending Greater Middlesex Conference Blue Division champs start off the 2023-24 season with a win. The results from the March 25 meet are as follows.
Spotswood hosts St. Thomas Aquinas High School at the Rossmoor Golf Course in Monroe Township for the Chargers' first home meet of the season. Tee time is at 3:45 p.m.
]]>SPOTSWOOD, NJ - Longtime borough resident Greg Keelen is in the running to become America's Favorite Teacher. Voting opens up on Monday, March 25. The contest, which celebrates teachers across the United States, is sponsored by Colossal. America's winning teacher receives $25,000, a trip to Hawaii along with a featured article in Reader's Digest. Keelen is a middle school social studies teacher at the Robert L. Craig School in Moonachie. He began teaching the school's sixth through eighth grade students in 2003.
"Since we are a single school district, I am the only social studies teacher for our middle school students," Keelen said. "This also requires me to take many different roles within my school."
In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Keelen is one of the eighth grade advisors who help students find the right secondary education option for them. He also coordinates events for the eighth graders, including field trips, Student Day when the kids get to be staff for the day, as well as the annual semiformal and commencement ceremony. Keelen is a Dama Club advisor, working with students to create a film adaptation of a children's book each year while also producing a daily school news program for the RLC-TV News.
With all that on his plate, Keelen is a husband and a father of two teenagers. As an educator, Keelen gets the rare opportunity to work with middle schoolers for three consecutive years.
British physicist Stephen Hawking said, “If you look behind every exceptional person, there is an exceptional teacher.” This is actually what led Keelen on the path to becoming a teacher.
"It is funny, as a student, especially as a middle school student, I was always a square peg in a world of round holes," Keelen said. "I often felt out of place, was bullied, and struggled to be my true self. I was always drawn to the performing arts and using my sense of creativity."
It was that artistic spirit which caught the attention of some of his teachers at Ocean Township High School.
"A few educators on my journey recognized me as a diamond in the rough and were patiently willing to mentor my academic shortcomings while encouraging me to build on my strengths," Keelen said.
Keelen has high words of praise Sean McDonald, his TV Production teacher, Drama teacher, Robert Ryner, English teacher, Joseph Costa and Social Studies teacher, John Rafter.
"By the time I graduated high school, I planned on studying education," Keelen said. "I wanted to make a difference for others like my Mount Rushmore of educators did for me. I just didn’t know which area of education I wanted to focus on teaching. Each of these areas called to me."
His teaching position at the Robert. L Craig School allowed him to tap into all his passions.
"Thankfully, I found my right calling in teaching middle school social studies," Keelen said. "This allows me to incorporate what I learned from each of those inspirational teachers into my daily practice."
While Keelen may have felt out of place as a middle school student, he had found his stride as a middle school educator in Moonachie.
"I love the school I work in," Keelen said. "I never truly felt at home in school or in the different jobs I had before finding the Robert L. Craig School and the Moonachie community. From my first day all the way to today, RLC has not only allowed me to teach in my unique style, but has encouraged and appreciated me for being me. I love that I work in a middle school that gives me the unique opportunity to work with the same students for three crucial years of their lives."
"Middle school is such an impactful and transformative period in a young person’s life," Keelen continued. "Each day I get a chance to collaboratively problem solve, share my passions, and make a difference for students in the most dynamic periods of their lives. The bonds I have forged with students have allowed me to build a legacy that will last far beyond my years in a classroom. The chance to leave a legacy is by far my favorite part of being an educator."
Keelen's goal is to touch the lives of his students, just like McDonald, Ryner, Costa and Rafter inspired him.
"My sincerest hope is that the lessons that I teach allow students to take away more than just a running knowledge of historical facts and vocabulary," Keelen said. "My hope for what they take away from my class is a hunger to solve complex problems and a willingness to take on challenges which push them out of their comfort zone. I hope they leave my class with a willingness to think critically, to advocate passionately, and to disagree with empathy. Most importantly, I hope that my students find in my classroom a safe place to figure out who they are and, as they graduate that they have the skills needed to allow that person to flourish."
Keelen's teaching style is definitely hands-on and interactive. One of his favorite events is the annual Branches of Government Rapping Contest. The activity has participants creating raps about one of the three branches of government. Keelen doesn't just help organize the event. He headlines it to the delight of his students.
If Keelen is voted America's Favorite Teacher, he'd like to use the $25,000 prize money to invest in his own children's education.
"I do not want them to have to overcome a massive burden of debt just to be able to find a profession where they can make the greatest difference for themselves and the world," Keelen said.
Voting opens up on the East Coast in the America's Favorite Teacher Contest at 5 p.m. on March 25. To cast a vote for Keelen, visit his America's Favorite Teacher profile page online. For additional information about finding America's Favorite Teacher, visit their website.
]]>MILLTOWN, NJ - Joyce Kilmer fourth grader Calvin Corrigan is a grand prize winner in the fifth annual Pomptonian Healthy School Lunch Challenge. Corrigan received the exciting news on Thursday from Joyce Kilmer Principal William Veit.
Pomptonian Healthy School Lunch Challenge invites students from across the Garden State to submit a healthy recipe that includes the measured ingredients along with preparation, cooking and presentation directions. Students must also submit a picture of themselves with the finished dish.
Corrigan's A Berry SPUDtacular Brunch was chosen as a grand prize winner in the preschool through fifth grade category. Last year was the first time a category was added for high school students. Previously, the contest included just elementary and middle school categories. It now incorporates all grades with super and grand prize winners being chosen from each categories.
"Our judges were blown away by his creativity, cooking skills, and charm," Pomptonian Director of Nutrition Services Toni Marie Bowman said. "It was wonderful to see him create and serve his dish. We are so proud of Calvin. He was up for the challenge and went above and beyond."
As a grand prize winner, Corrigan will be awarded a special banner celebrating his success in the kitchen. The banner will be hung in the Joyce Kilmer School Cafeteria. Corrigan's dish will also be featured on JK's school lunch menu.
"We're so proud of Calvin," Veit added.
Pomptonian Healthy School Lunch Challenge is held each March to help highlight National Nutrition Month. The goal of the challenge is to help kids learn about nutrition through cooking.
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