Strong Year in C.M.C. Sports

It was an exciting year to be a student-athlete, coach, parent and fan in Cape May County high school sports. All six high schools experienced team and individual accomplishments throughout the fall, winter and spring seasons. From local titles to state titles and everything in between, it is easy to say that the 2016-17 year was a triumphant year for sure.
 
MIDDLE TOWNSHIP:
Middle Township made history in more ways than one this school year.
In the fall, the field hockey team won the program’s first ever South Jersey Group I sectional title on Nov. 3, 2016 and made it to the Group I semifinals. Jenna Herlihy became the first Cape May County field hockey player to score over 100 career goals and is currently the state’s leading goal-scorer with 146 for her career. The Lady Panthers set a program-best record of 17-2-2.
The girls’ basketball team went 25-4 in the winter season and earned a share of the Cape-Atlantic League United Division title after finishing 11-1 in the conference along with rival Wildwood Catholic. They earned the top seed in the South Jersey Group II playoffs and hosted the final game of the group tournament. The team will lose starters to graduation, but will return several talented underclassmen.
Bridget Ruskey, Allison Hunter and the Panther girls’ lacrosse team were hot topics surrounding Cape May County sports in the spring season. Ruskey and Hunter became state record holders in goal scoring and assisting, respectively. Ruskey finished her high school career with 485 goals while Hunter finished her high school career with 318 assists. The duo will continue their education and lacrosse careers at Division I La Salle University in Philadelphia.
Overall, the team finished their stellar season 18-3 and won their first ever South Jersey Group I title on May 25, which marked head coach Jackie Scuderi’s 100th career win. They sustained their dominance all the way to the Group I state final game. Although they lose core players to graduation, the Lady Panthers have several underclassmen who will continue the lacrosse legacy.
 
OCEAN CITY:
Ocean City produced three repeat championship teams this school year.
The field hockey team won their fifth straight South Jersey Group III sectional title this past fall season on Nov. 4, 2016 and won the Group III title on Nov. 16. The Red Raiders made it to the semifinal round of the state Tournament of Champions. They finished their outstanding season 22-4 with many of their key players continuing their careers at Division I colleges.
The girls’ basketball team had an incredible year as well, finishing with a school record of 30 wins with just two losses. The top-ranked Red Raiders won the Cape-Atlantic League Championship title over Middle Township and the South Jersey Group III title over Mainland Regional this season. They made it all the way to the state final after winning in overtime to Central Group III champion Ewing. The team will be returning multiple talented underclassmen next winter season after losing key players to graduation.
The girls swim team made a splash again in the winter season by finishing 10-2, winning their fourth straight South Jersey Public B title and making it to the state final round of the group tournament. Top swimmers Amanda Nunan, Ryann Styer and Maggie Wallace were top finishers in the state’s Meet of Champions.
The success of the Red Raiders teams continued in the spring with both of the lacrosse teams going undefeated in the Cape-Atlantic League. The girls finished 17-3 overall and made it to semifinal round of playoffs while the boys finished 13-6 overall and made it to the quarterfinal round.
 
WILDWOOD CATHOLIC:
Wildwood Catholic earned titles in all three seasons.
The boys’ soccer team went undefeated in the Cape-Atlantic League United division, claiming the title with a 15-4-1 record overall. The Crusaders earned the No. 2 seed in the South Jersey Non-Public B section and made it all the way to the sectional final. Beck Lindsay, Anthony Zampirri, Rakim Coyle and Jared Wallace earned first team honors in the league.
For the fourth straight year, the boys’ basketball team clinched the Cape-Atlantic League United Division title over rivals St. Joseph, Middle Township, Pleasantville, Cape May Tech and Buena Regional. The Crusaders finished their season with an overall record of 16-11 and had two players score 1,000 career points in the season.
The girls’ basketball team earned a share of the Cape-Atlantic League United Division title after finishing 11-1 in the conference, alongside rival Middle. The Lady Crusaders finished 22-5 overall and had one standout player score over 1,000 career points.
The softball team reached the state championship game after winning the program’s first ever South Jersey Non-Public B group title on June 1. Wildwood Catholic finished the season 18-6. The Crusaders’ future looks bright as the team comprised of mostly underclassmen will return next spring.
In track and field, rising senior Charles Fields made a name for himself in the Non-Public track and field championships. Fields earned three gold medals for his performances in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and the long jump. He became the first Crusader in school history to earn a medal in the state Meet of Champions.
WILDWOOD:
The tiny high school on Pacific Avenue in Wildwood had huge seasons in girls and boys basketball. Both teams combined for a winning record of 46-12.
The Lady Warriors went 24-5 this year and became South Jersey Group I champions after defeating Haddon Township on March 7. The win marked their ninth South Jersey Group I title in school history and their first since 2008, all under longtime head coach Dave Troiano, who celebrated coaching his 1,000th career game during the season. The McCracken sisters (recent graduate Mackenzie and rising junior Maddie) dominated the court, posting double figures in almost every game. Mackenzie finished her high school career with 1,896 points and Maddie is well on her way to reaching the 1,000 point milestone with two more seasons with the Warriors to play.
The boys posted a 22-7 record, won a share of the Tri-County Classic Division title with Clayton and made it to the South Jersey Group I semifinals this season. The Warriors had a stretch of winning 13 straight games. Rising senior standout Kyion Flanders led the team (and the state) with 839 season points and reached the 1,000 career point mark early on in the winter season.
 
CAPE MAY TECH:
One of the most talked about boys’ basketball players in the Cape-Atlantic League this year was Josh Wright. He scored his 1,000th career point in Feb. 8’s 68-46 win at Cedar Creek, becoming the first Cape May County sophomore to reach the milestone. On Feb. 23, Wright became Cape May Tech’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing the previous record of 1,110 career points held by 2003 graduate Keith Palek. The rising junior set the new record of 1,168 points with two more seasons to play with the Hawks.
The boys’ basketball team gained some buzz in the league early on in the winter season when they earned a huge 67-66 overtime win against Wildwood Catholic on Dec. 22, 2016. The Hawks led 34-20 going into halftime, but the visiting Crusaders came back in the second half to tie it up 60-60 at the end of regulation. Wright scored a game-high 22 points, including the buzzer-beater in overtime, to give the host Hawks the victory while teammate Ray Abbott added 19 points.
 
LOWER CAPE MAY:
The Lower Cape May girls’ lacrosse team started many underclassmen this spring season, but played with veteran experience by finishing the season 12-5 under former player and first season head coach Joann McLaughlin. The Lady Tigers continued their success in the post season by earning the No. 3 seed and a first round bye in the South Jersey Group II playoffs. For the first time in program history, they hosted and won their first playoff game to send them to the semifinals. They will return many key starters in the next spring season.