St. Mary’s, MD…The College of New Jersey men’s basketball team opened the 2008 portion of the season on the road as they faced St. Mary’s College of Maryland. TCNJ would come away with a 79-63 victory to improve to 3-6 overall, while St. Mary’s drops to 7-6. The Lions snap a two-game losing skid, while SMC’s has now lost three in a row. TCNJ led by only one at the break, 39-38 but cruised in the second half.
TCNJ’s sophomore Jay Frank (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) added a team-high 19 points off the bench to help the Lions on the night as five different players finished in double digits scoring in the contest. The 19 points marks a career-high for Frank, whose previous best came last year with 17 points in a win over Muhlenberg.

Junior guard Jeff Molinelli (Pennington, NJ/Hopewell Valley) added 17 points, while senior forward Mark Aziz (Hackettstown, NJ/West Morris Central) put up 16 points for TCNJ with a 7-12 effort from the floor.
Senior guard Jeff Warner (Jackson, NJ/Jackson) added a double-double with 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, all on the defensive end of the floor. Senior guard Corey Gilmore (South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) added 10 points as well for TCNJ with four assists and a steal.
SMC’s freshman Mike Bowden (Columbia, MD/Long Reach) added a game-high 23 points for the Sea Gulls, while senior guard Tyson Lesesne (Edgewood, MD/Edgewood) finished with 10 points.
TCNJ returns to Packer Hall on Monday, January 7 hosting Buffalo State College at 8 p.m., just following the women’s home 6 p.m. match-up with Salisbury University.

Collegeville, PA… The College of New Jersey wrestling team participated in the annual North/South Duals hosted by Ursinus College on Saturday and had a successful day as they finished the event with record of 3-1.

The ninth-ranked Lions opened the tournament with a pair of victories beating Plymouth State University by the score of 36-3 and then handled Messiah College, 32-9. Those two victories extended the team’s dual-meet winning streak to 19 before falling in their third match of the tournament. TCNJ suffered a 40-3 defeat at the hands of third-ranked University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and bounced back with a 46-0 win over Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Lions are now 7-1 in dual meets this season.

Freshman John Barnett (Oakridge, NJ/Jefferson Twp.) was perfect on the day going 3-0 at 149 pounds for the Lions. Also performing well for the Lions were junior Greg Osgoodby (Waldwick, NJ/Waldwick) at 174, sophomore Dan DiColo (Budd Lake, NJ/Mount Olive) at 157 and freshman Justin Bonitatis (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) at 165 as each grappler went 3-1.

One of the bigger wins for the Lions came in their final bout as senior heavyweight Steve Carbone (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) knocked off nationally-ranked Glenn Geesman of MIT by the score of 8-6.

The Lions will face another tough task next weekend competing in the two-day Budd Whitehill National Dual Meet Tournament hosted by Lycoming College.

Match-by-Match Results

#9 TCNJ 36, Plymouth State 3
125: F. Wilkinson (Ply) won by dec 5 -3 over Dan Frank (TCNJ)
133: Ray Sarinelli (TCNJ) won by major dec. 17-3 over Chris Greenwood (Ply)
141: Brian Suozzo (TCNJ) won by dec 7 -5 over Joe McGowen (Ply)
149: John Barnett (TCNJ) won by technical fall: 4:28 over Adam Friend (Ply)
157: Dan DiColo (TCNJ) won by fall 4:53 over Jared Laganas (Ply)
165: Justin Bonitatis (TCNJ) won by technical fall, 5:00 over Mark Watts (Ply)
174: Greg Osgoodby (TCNJ) won by major decision 13-2 over Ryan Schieding (Ply)
184: Mike Denver (TCNJ) won by TB-2, 12-11 over Landon Nelson (Ply)
197: Adam Koziol (TCNJ) won by dec 8 -4 over Rob Phillips (Ply)
285: Steve Carbone (TCNJ) won by dec 5 -1 over Josh Stours (Ply)

#9 TCNJ 32, Messiah 9
125: Dan Hughes (TCNJ) won by major dec 20-9 over A. Clark (Mess)
133: J. Cragg (Mess.) won by fall 1:15 over Ray Sarinelli (TCNJ)
141: Mike Jacoutot Jr. (TCNJ) won by dec 9 -3 over L. Putnam (Mess)
149: C. Gin (Mess) won by dec 2 -0 over Ryan McCabe (TCNJ)
157: Dan DiColo (TCNJ) won by dec 9 -4 over M. Hojnacki (Mess)
165: Justin Bonitatis (TCNJ) won by fall 6:06 over T. Zampel (Mess)
174: Al Wonesh (TCNJ) won by dec 5 -2 over D. Jones (Mess)
184: Greg Osgoodby (TCNJ) won by major dec 9-0 over M. McHugh (Mess)
197: Jim Tomczuk (TCNJ) won by dec 5 -3 over T. Hopkins (Mess)
285: Steve Carbone (TCNJ) won by fall 0:58 over E. Arbiza (Mess)

#3 Wisconsin-La Crosse 40, #9 TCNJ 3
125 – Brandon Music (UWL) won by dec. Dan Hughes (TCNJ), 7-6
133 – Jordan Kolinski (UWL) won by dec. Ray Sarinelli (TCNJ), 7-3
141 – Kevin Barber (UWL) injury def. Mike Jacoutot, Jr (TCNJ)., 1:42
149 – John Barnett (TCNJ) won by dec. Eric Seppelt (UWL), 5-2
157 – Jay Milz (UWL) won by dec. Dan DiColo (TCNJ), 4-3
165 – Tim Palmer (UWL) won by major dec. Justin Bonitatis (TCNJ), 14-4
174 – Josh Chelf (UWL) pin Greg Osgoodby (TCNJ), 2:04
184 – Josh Zabel (UWL) pin Jim Tomczuk (TCNJ), 2:45
197 – Andy Moore (UWL) dec. Joe Bozzomo (TCNJ), 5-1
285 – Dan Laurent (UWL) pin Steve Carbone (TCNJ), 1:06

#9 TCNJ 46, MIT 0
125 – Dan Hughes (TCNJ) dec. Grant Kadokura, 6-1
133 – Dan Frank (TCNJ) dec. Greg Wellman, 3-2
141 – Brian Suozzo (TCNJ) dec. Keynan Tanote, 2-1
149 – John Barnett (TCNJ) forfeit
157 – Dan DiColo (TCNJ) forfeit
165 – Justin Bonitatis (TCNJ) forfeit
174 – Al Wonesh (TCNJ) forfeit
184 – Greg Osgoodby (TCNJ) medical forfeit over Travis Samuel
197 – Joe Bozzomo (TCNJ) major dec. Joe Silverman, 24-10
285 – Steve Carbone (TCNJ) dec. Glenn Geesman, 8-6

-30-

 

Photos By Bill Bates

SERIOUS CRASH – The heavily damaged 2002 Chevy Tahoe that was headed North on the Black Horse Pike when it crossed the double line and into oncoming traffic when it collided with the tractor trailer that is seen in the background. The driver of the Tahoe had to be freed from the vehicle which took Mount Ephraim\’s Rescue crew approximately 45 minutes.

Victim Identified as Pennsauken Patrolman Thomas J. Soto, age 27

 Bill Bates

NEWS Correspondent

Acting Camden County Prosecutor Joshua M. Ottenberg, Mount Ephraim Police Chief Edward Dobleman and Pennsauken Police Chief John Coffey reported the death of an off-duty Pennsauken police officer in a pre-dawn car crash Saturday in Mount Ephraim.

Mount Ephraim and Haddon Heights Police were advised by Camden County Communications that there was a motor vehicle accident reported in front of the Pretzel Factory on the Black Horse Pike. Police arrived and advised communications of a motor vehicle accident with heavy entrapment, an SUV verse tractor trailer.

 

FUEL CONTAINED – The 75 gallons that ruptured during the crash can be seen to the right as it was contained by the fire department and haz-mat unit. Numerous debris can be seen scattered all over the roadway from the crash including the Tahoe\’s driver side front tire – seen at left. (click on photo to enlarge)

Mount Ephraim Fire and EMS along with Haddon Heights Fire and EMS and Virtua Paramedics were dispatched to the scene for a motor vehicle accident rescue assignment. Units arrived and Haddon Heights EMS transported one male passenger, a relative of Soto\’s from New York, to Cooper University Hospital in Camden for his injuries.

The male driver who succumbed from his injuries was identified as off-duty Pennsauken Police Officer Thomas J. Soto, 27, of Pennsauken. Pennsauken Police Chief John Coffey released that Thomas had been a member of the department since July of 2006. Prior to joining the force he had worked with the department as a civilian special officer for about two years.

Soto was heading north on the Black Horse Pike in a 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe when his vehicle crossed into oncoming traffic and hit a Pathmark tractor trailer. The truck driver, Lawrence J. Bochard, of Fords, NJ, was uninjured.

The cause of the collision is under investigation. Preliminary investigation suggests alcohol was not a factor in the crash.

Companies remained on scene well into the morning as they contained a rupture from the side saddle fuel tank of the tractor trailer. Approximately 75 gallons of fuel had leaked onto the roadway due to the crash. Clean-up of the hazardous material and removal of the un-operable tractor and trailer took several hours.

Other agencies that assisted at the scene were the Mount Ephraim and Camden County Emergency Management, Camden County Prosecutor\’s Office, Camden County Fire Police, NJ State Police, and NJ Department of Transportation.

The Black Horse Pike was shut down completely and traffic was re-routed onto side streets around the area. All four lanes of the pike were re-opened shortly before 1 PM.

Our sympathy is extended to the Soto Family and the Pennsauken Police Department that he so faithfully served. 

DAMAGED TRUCK – The tractor trailer that was hit by the SUV as it crossed the double line into oncoming traffic. The tractor trailer was un-operable and had to be removed from the highway by special heavy duty towing equipment which took several hours.

 

 

 

January 4, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LAWRENCEVILLE–Rider senior Jason Thompson (Mt. Laurel/Lenape) compiled 26 points and 11 rebounds, and his younger brother, sophomore Ryan Thompson (Mt. Laurel/Lenape) added a career-high 24 points and six rebounds, but it was not enough to defeat Marist in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victory at Rider Friday night. \”They made more plays then we did in the last couple of minutes,\” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey. \”It was discouraging the way it ended.\”

Trailing 80-78, Marist senior Ryan Stilphen made a three-point play, with a lay-up on an inbounds pass and a foul shot with 3.4 seconds left to give Marist the win. \”Give Marist credit, they made all the plays going down the stretch,\” Dempsey said. \”Good teams are not going to go away. They kept battling, making shots and making plays, and the next thing you know it turns back into a dog fight.\”

Trailing 73-71, Rider (8-6, 1-2 MAAC) out-scored Marist (8-6, 2-1 MAAC) 8-2, six points coming from the Thompson brothers, to take a 79-75 lead with 2:09 remaining. Red Fox freshman guard Jay Gavin made a three point field goal with 1:39 remaining to cut the lead to one. Gavin finished with a team-high 21 points off the bench. \”Gavin really stepped up and made some big shots,\” Dempsey said.

Rider junior Harris Mansell (Cheltenham, PA/Cheltenham) made one of two foul shots for an 80-78 lead, before Stilphen’s game-winning three point play, the 17th and final lead change of the game. \”In that situation, up two, we had to guard against the three-point field goal,\” Dempsey said. \”In my wildest dreams I didn’t think a three-point play would end the game. If you defend the three and they score a lay-up, you can live with overtime at home, but I never expected a three-point play.\”

Stilphen finished with 11 points, including the 1,000th of his career and now has 1,006 career points, the 25th Red Fox to reach 1,000 career points.

After making all 10 of its foul shots in the first half, Rider missed its first eight foul shots of the second half and finished 12 for 21 for the game. \”Foul shooting has been an Achilles’ heel for us, but it never really cost us a game until tonight,\” Dempsey said.

Trailing 69-58, Marist out-scored Rider 15-3, eight points by David Devezin, to take a 73-71 lead with 3:11 left to play. Devezin finished with 14 points. \”Devezin was really hard for us to guard,\” Dempsey said. \”He put a lot of pressure on our defense, driving the ball.\”

Rider out-scored Marist 15-6 over the first 6:40 of the second half, six by Jason Thompson and five by Ryan Thompson, to take a 60-51 lead.

The Thompson brothers accounted for 31 of Rider’s 45 first half points. The \’double-double\’ for Jason Thompson was his eighth of the year and the 38th of his career.

Senior Kam Warner (Pleasantville) came in off the Rider bench and made three three-pointers in 15 minutes of action, finishing with nine points.

\”We scored enough points tonight,\” Dempsey said, \”but we had a difficult time stopping them in spots when we really needed a stop, and that is where the game got away from us.\”

\”This is a terrific win for our program,\” said Marist head coach Matt Brady, \”on the road against a team that is clearly a threat to win the regular season title. They are well coached and have a lot of answers.\”

Rider hosts Canisius in a MAAC game Sunday afternoon at 2pm.

 

 

 

Photo by Bill Bates

 

ROAD WORK CONTINUES – Periodically during the day time and night time road work still continues on the Route 76 overpass on Kings Highway at the Mount Ephraim and Gloucester City border. Residents in Gloucester City on Thompson Avenue and Chestnut Avenue along with residents in Mount Ephraim on Sartori Avenue can expect some increased traffic once in a while as some of the work requires Kings Highway to be shut down completely. The road work is from the surface replacement to all six lanes on Route 76. The project is not scheduled for completion until this upcoming June.

By GENE ZALESKI, T&D Staff Writer | Friday, January 04, 2008

source thetadd.com

The sound of barking dogs reverberated throughout the Orangeburg County Fairgrounds Thursday afternoon as rows of pickup trucks with license plates from North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Tennessee, Florida, Indiana and Maryland lined the grassy fairgrounds lawn.

The 43rd annual Grand American Hunt and Show\’s prehunt Coon Fest, sponsored by Orangeburg\’s New Hope Baptist Church, drew an estimated 500 coon hunters eager to share in a little fellowship, down-home Southern cooking and some gospel favorites.
continue on………..

Gwynedd Valley, PA… Junior Hillary Klimowicz (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) posted a double-double and was tabbed as the most valuable player of the Gwynedd-Mercy College Classic as the Lions defeated the host school in the title game 54-40 on Saturday.

Klimowicz finished with a game-high 18 and added 12 rebounds as she was perfect from the floor making all nine of her shots. The center also added six blocked shots. In the two wins in the tournament, Klimowicz connected on a blistering 16-of-18 shots from the floors and averaged 10.5 rebounds and five blocks.

Senior Sara Best (Voorhees, NJ/High Bridge) added to the victory with 12 points and seven rebounds and earned a spot on the all-tournament team. Sophomore Alex Gregorek (Mahwah, NJ/Academy of Holy Angels) also scored in double figures as she netted 10 points and added seven rebounds.

TCNJ defense shined holding the Griffins to only 40 points, the fewest allowed by the Lions this season, and only 22percent shooting from the floor. Gwynedd-Mercy made only 13 field goals on 59 attempts.

Next up for TCNJ is another non-conference game hosting Salisbury University at Packer Hall on Monday, January 7 at 6 p.m.