Cougars wrestling sees two wins; faces challenges

by By DAVE LAZARUS -- CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT

Tuesday January 06, 2009, 6:00 AM

CRANFORD--After cruising to two lopsided wins on Saturday, the Cranford High School wrestling team now heads into the deep end of the pool, with three straight difficult matches.
Commencing with a home battle against Governor Livingston Saturday, Jan. 10 at noon, the Cougars next travel to Rahway on Wednesday, Jan. 14, before hosting state-ranked Roselle Park on Friday, Jan. 16.

Coach Darren Torsone is hopeful his young team has gained enough confidence and experience to tackle the tougher competition.

"We wanted to get off to a solid start to get some momentum and confidence for the tougher portion of our schedule. We have done well so far, beating teams that we should beat," said Torsone.

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Giaccio takes title at tourney

by The Chronicle

Wednesday December 31, 2008, 12:00 PM

Cranford sophomore Joseph Giaccio (left) took first place at 112 in the Bloomfield tournament on Dec. 28. Giaccio, the district champion at 105 as a freshman, advanced his record to 4-0 with the two victories. "My wrestling is feeling really good," said Giaccio.

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Week sees wins for Cougars girls' and boys' basketball

by By DAVE LAZARUS -- CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT

Wednesday December 31, 2008, 9:00 AM

CRANFORD--Monday, Dec. 29 was a breakthrough day for the Cranford High School basketball program as both the boys' and girls' teams annexed their first victories of the young season.

After starting their season with two losses, the Cranford girls' basketball team relied on a suffocating defense to break into the win column for the first time in the consolation game of the Nutley Tournament. With a commanding 28-5 lead at the half, Coach Jacquelyn Huber was able to give her entire squad significant playing time and ten girls scored. Junior guard Jamie Webb led the Cougars with ten points, followed by senior guard Mary Kate Minitelli and junior forward Taylor D'Antico with six.

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Bears open wrestling season with victorious roar; sweep two opponents at tourney

by By DAVAE LAZARUS -- CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT

Tuesday December 30, 2008, 2:27 PM

KENILWORTH -- After completing the finest season in school history in 2008, David Brearley's wrestling team served notice that this year's team may be just as powerful. The Bears opened their 2009 season on Dec. 27, 2008, sweeping two opponents at the Brearley Duals Tournament.

In the finals, the Bears took care of highly regarded Seton Hall Prep 45-24. In the opening round Brearley crushed Dover 67-12, while Seton Hall prep turned back Sayreville 42-25. Sayreville took the consolation match over Dover 45-18.

The Bears' three returning region champions Kenny Knapp, Joe Lospinoso and Umar Taramov led the way with two victories apiece but Kenilworth showed balance across nearly every weight class.

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Athlete of the Week: 12.26.08

by The Chronicle

Thursday December 25, 2008, 6:36 AM

Photo by Alex Taner/The Chronicle Congratulations to this week's Athletes of the Week, senior Colin Mayberry, captain and goalie of the varsity ice hockey team, and sophomore swimmer Kathleen French. Colin made made 13 saves in a 9-0 win over Scotch Plains and then made 26 saves in a 1-1 tie with Westfield this past week. Kathleen achieved a personal best time in the 200 yard individual medley and has assisted in helping the 200 yard medley relay remain undefeated.

Presented in conjunction with Cranford High School.

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Bears open '08-09 boys' basketball season with a win

by By DAVE LAZARUS -- CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT

Wednesday December 24, 2008, 12:33 PM

KENILWORTH--David Brearley's basketball teams opened their 2008-09 seasons Monday with varying results.

The Boys team rolled to an impressive 66-42 home victory over local rival Roselle Park as seniors Shadee Daniels and Cory Stryker each scored 13 points. Senior three-sport star Tom Mannix chipped in with 12 points for the Bears, who pulled away early, taking a 14-7 lead after one quarter.

They kept the pressure up in the second stanza with a 21-10 advantage for a comfortable 35-17 halftime lead. There was no letup in the third quarter, as an 18-7 spurt gave them an imposing 53-24 lead, allowing second-year coach Jim Grady to clear his bench.

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Third time not the charm for Cranford Cougar's wrestling

by By DAVE LAZARUS -- CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT

Wednesday December 24, 2008, 9:00 AM

Photo by Jim Occi/The ChronicleAfter starting their season Saturday with road victories over Colonia and Johnson, the Cougars were denied a third straight victory during Monday night's match, when they dropped their home opener 48-28 to Iselin Kennedy. Pictured above, JP Christiano (152 lb. class) brings down his opponent in 2:19.

CRANFORD--The third time proved not to be the the charm for the Cranford High School wrestling team on Monday night.

After starting their season Saturday with road victories over Colonia and Johnson, the Cougars were denied a third straight victory during Monday night's match, when they dropped their home opener 48-28 to Iselin Kennedy.

After unbeaten sophomore Kyle Markovitch got the Cougars off to a 4-0 start with a 14-0 win at 119, Cranford was undone by five straight defeats from 125 through 145.

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Cougars gear up for promising '08-'09 wrestling season

by The Chronicle

Monday December 22, 2008, 11:23 AM

CRANFORD--Cranford High School wrestling Coach Darren Torsone has seen his share of outstanding wrestlers in his coaching career and is not reticent to challenge his two outstanding sophomores to achieve greatness in their careers.

Joe Giaccio and Kyle Markovitch began their high school wrestling careers by winning district titles. Along with fellow defending district champion Julian Campo, these three form the heart of what should be an improved Cougar team.

As a freshmen last year, Giaccio and Markovitch--both outstanding PAL wrestlers--had little trouble adjusting to competing at the high school level.

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Athlete of the Week: 12.19.08

by The Chronicle, presented in conjunction with Cranford High School

Thursday December 18, 2008, 2:33 PM

Photo by Alex Taner/The Chronicle

Congratulations to this week's Athlete of the Week, Rocky Poszyler, a senior, co-captain on the Varsity Bowling team. He currently has a team high average of 187. Last week Rocky scored a team and series high of 602 at the Westfield tournament.

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Cranford Ice hockey team scores seven goals in eight minutes to defeat Raiders

by By Dave Lazarus -- CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT

Wednesday December 17, 2008, 3:10 PM

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Photo by Jim Occi/The Chronicle

After a three game scoring slump--where the opposition's goalie seemed like an octopus and the goal looked as small as an atom--Cranford's hockey team finally awoke with a vengeance scoring an incredible seven goals in eight minutes en route to a 9-0 wipeout of Scotch Plains Fanwood, Tuesday night at Warinanco Park Rink in Roselle. The victory improved the Cougars to 2-3, with both wins coming over the Raiders.

CRANFORD--After a three game scoring slump--where the opposition's goalie seemed like an octopus and the goal looked as small as an atom--Cranford's hockey team finally awoke with a vengeance scoring an incredible seven goals in eight minutes en route to a 9-0 wipeout of Scotch Plains Fanwood, Tuesday night at Warinanco Park Rink in Roselle.

The victory improved the Cougars to 2-3, with both wins coming over the Raiders.
After struggling to a 5-1 win in the earlier tussle, the Cougars raised their level of play, a fact that Coach Rich Hurley attributes to the lessons the team learned during its losing streak to Johnson, Mendham and Chatham

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Cranford Cougars lose first meet to New Providence

by Dave Lazarus -- CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT

Wednesday December 17, 2008, 11:29 AM

CRANFORD -- Despite double victories by Woo and Walano, the Cougars lost their first meet of the year Tuesday, as New Providence took the meet--ending the 400 yard freestyle relay--and won 86-84 at Memorial Pool Cranford.

The 200 yard medley relay remained unbeaten as Woo rejoined Yotcoski,Walano and Van Ostenbridge to win in 1:53.92. Woo took the 200 yard freestyle in 2:02.46 and the 100 yard backstroke in 2:02:44.

Walano won the 50 yard freestyle in 23:90 and the 100 yard butterfly in 1:04.52. Schneider won the 200 yard Individual Medley in 2:20.66. The quartet of Woo,Lento,Van Ostenbridg and Walano also won the 200 yard freestyle relay in 1:44.69.

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Cranford Cougars to open '08-'09 basketball season against Union Catholic

by By DAVE LAZARUS -- CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT

Tuesday December 16, 2008, 11:42 AM

CRANFORD--When the Cranford High School Girls Basketball team commences its 2008-9 season Friday night at Union Catholic it will be a homecoming of sorts for Cougars coach Jacquelyn Huber, who was a three-year starter for the Terriers.

Huber, who learned from one the area's top coaches, Kathy Matthews, will revisit her old stomping grounds with a veteran team, including four returning starters. Only three-year starter Stephanie Couto graduated from last season's team, which compiled a 15-8 record in Huber's initial season as coach.

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Cougars swim team extends record 3-0

by By DAVE LAZARUS -- CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT

Monday December 15, 2008, 10:51 AM

CRANFORD -- Impressive depth and a complete team effort allowed the Cranford High School coed swim team to withstand the loss of its top two swimmers and win two meets last week, extending their record to 3-0.

Happily for the Cougars, the absence of freshman Brian Woo and sophomore Allison Schneider were due to their participation in a national club meet in Buffalo, NY and they competed in Tuesday's home match against New Providence.

"I reminded our team that we were starting the meet 20 points down without our missing swimmers and the importance of fighting for every extra point, and they rose to the occasion," said coach Barb Kolesa. "We do have a significant amount of depth on our team. (It) is the reason that we have qualified for the state team tournament two years in a row."

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Club Ice Hockey to hold appreciation night, Dec. 15

by The Chronicle

Sunday December 14, 2008, 9:56 AM

CRANFORD--Presented by the Friends of Cranford High School Ice Hockey, Inc.,  all Club Hockey Players are Invited to Cranford's Home opener, to be recognized as future high school players.

They will get in free, that night, if they are wearing an Ice Hockey club organization's hockey jersey.

"Chuck-A-Puck" will also be introduced that night.

The event will be held on the night of Monday, December 15 at the Warinanco ice rink. Game starts at 6 p.m.

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U12 Soccer Club Crew wins Travel Fall Championship

by The Chronicle

Friday December 12, 2008, 3:02 PM

Photo courtesy of Ray Duffy Photography Cranford

The U12 Cranford Soccer Club Crew (pictured above) recently won the the MNJYA Flight No. 2 Travel Fall Championship. From left to right (bottom row): Michael DeMarco, Ben VanWhy, Mark Christiano, Medo Mansour, Jamie Cook, Gavin Murray, Louis Cappucci, Daniel Delayo. From left to right (middle row) Anthony Maglino, Thomas LaRose, Jarett Witzal, Zachary Hoffman, Stewart Tillyer, Michael Wielgus (top row) Coach Mark Witzal and Coach Anthony Maglino.

With a victory in their last game, the Crew completed a remarkable undefeated season, going 7-0-3, and only allowing 11 goals over the course of the fall season in the process.

After falling behind early 1-0, the Crew mounted a second half assault, scoring 4 unanswered goals and going on to a 5-2 victory, with scoring contributions from 5 different players.

From the start of the second half, it was apparent that the Crew would simply not be denied, controlling the play for most of the half.

The team never wavered from its season-long recipe for success-tireless and relentless defense, tactical mid-field ball movement, economical and precision scoring and timely keeper saves.

The boys had to battle and work hard all season and came together nicely as a team, showing heart and character along the way. Good luck to the Crew in their coming Spring season.

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