Schools
Haddon Township Sports Week
The wrestling team had three matches decided by a single point last week.
There was no shortage of excitement around the Haddon Township High School wrestling team last week as the Hawks had three matches decided by just a single point. While the wrestling team had to sweat out contests, the Haddon Township girls’ basketball team produced a couple of lopsided victories. Meanwhile the boys’ basketball team heads into its toughest week of the season.
WRESTLING
It was a busy and drama-filled week for the Hawks, who took to the mat for six matches, winning three. The week started off with a heartbreaking 31-30 loss to West Deptford. Haddon Township got pins from Daniel Clemente, Sean Brooks and Jason Martinak, but lost at each of the five latest weight classes. The Hawks bounced back with a dominant Friday effort with wins over Lower Cape May (67-4) and Holy Cross. Chris Wolf, Jason Groff, Brooks, Martinak and Mike McCutcheon each went 2-0 on the day.
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The Hawks may have run out of gas on Saturday as the team mustered just one win in a quad meet. They scored a dramatic 34-33 victory over Northern Burlington, but lost 37-36 to Cherokee and 57-12 to Long Branch State.
Haddon Township will take on a couple of Colonial Conference foes this week. Sterling comes to town Wednesday, followed by Haddon Heights, on Friday.
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GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
Haddon Township and Collingswood have both found success with young player this season and last week’s showdown figured to be a close, defensive battle. It didn’t disappoint.
The Hawks’ defense allowed them to overcome a two-point first quarter in a 36-29 victory. The Hawks trailed 4-2 after the first session, but took the game over by outscoring the Panthers, 12-5 in the second quarter. Bella Preziosi led the way offensively with 16 points, while Sarah Getzinger scored six of her 14 points in the fourth quarter to help seal the win.
Sophomore Alayxiah Carr had the hot hand a couple of days later, netting a team-high 14 points in Haddon Township’s 59-26 win over Lower Cape May. Freshman Morgan Lenahan also had a big night with 14 points, while Getzinger and Preziosi scored 10 each.
The Hawks will spend some time on the road this week with contests against Paulsboro (Tuesday) and Moorestown (Saturday).
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
The Hawks improved to 9-4 with a 48-43 win over Collingswood last week. Senior Tyler Easterday shined in the win, hitting a trio of shots from beyond the arc.
Easterday has become one of the Hawks top scorers this season after spending the previous two years in a reserve role. His stretch of hot shooting—which included a team-high 13 points in the win over Collingswood—has gotten the attention of opposing coaches, who have been sending extra defenders his way. Easterday hasn’t minded the attention one bit.
“I love it,” he said. “Baseball-wise I have been a starter ever since my freshman year so I have always liked that pressure. I have always wanted to be in the games the past two years, but it just didn’t fall my way. I was a little small, but I grew a little bit and I love that the ball is going to me, because it just improves my confidence even more.”
The Hawks have a difficult week ahead. They take on Paulsboro (15-0) on Wednesday and rival Haddonfield (14-1) on Thursday. A couple of solid showings could give the Hawks a giant boost of momentum as the playoffs creep closer.
SWIMMING
Several Haddon Township swimmers got to compete against the best South Jersey has to offer last week at the SJISA Meet. This week team action returns as the Hawks take on Gateway/Woodbury, today, at 7:30 p.m.
