By Wayne Witkowski
Wrestling
Allentown High School’s wrestling team will look to get its lineup that is riddled with injuries and illness back to full strength as it heads into this key week of the schedule.
As many as four wrestlers may return to action — senior David Fischer at 220 pounds, junior Anthony Heinz at 132 and sophomores Nick Campbell at 182 and Harrison Hill at heavyweight — for the Redbirds’ home matches Jan. 11 against Shore power Howell High School and Jan. 15 against Notre Dame High School and a triangular meet Jan. 14 at Matawan Regional High School that includes Ocean Township High School.
“We haven’t had a complete team, always missing three or four guys, but we’re hoping to get kids back in the lineup,” coach Mitch Nock said.
Allentown still has performed well in a 3-4 season in dual matches against formidable nonleague opponents. The Redbirds beat Lawrence High School, 46-25, Jan. 4 off pins by Nicholas Golden (5:41) at 113 pounds, Gino Giacolona (3:56) at 120, Nicholas Pecci (2:17) at 160 and unbeaten Liam McDermott (1:09) at 170; a major decision by Isaiah Saiz, 10-2, at 145; and winning decisions by John Kuchar, 4-1, at 152 and Pete Flanagan, 5-3, at heavyweight.
A day earlier, Allentown lost to Christian Brothers Academy, 38-31, although freshman Joe Lamparelli continued along an 11-1 season at 106 pounds by pinning Patrick Dowd at 3:40. Saiz scored a major decision, 14-6, over John Meyer; Kuchar decisioned Christian Recantini, 8-4; and Matt Paglia decisioned Sam LaConte, 5-2, at 126. Paglia has 10 victories, and Kuchar is 7-3 on the season.
At this point, dual-meet wins become important as Allentown looks to return to the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group III sectionals, but that challenge has become harder after Allentown’s quad meet at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North with Hamilton High School West and Steinert High School was postponed because of the weekend snow storm. The Hamilton West meet has been rescheduled as a home meet Jan. 17. The other two have makeup dates to be determined.
“We had to make up those matches separately and when you do that, you miss practices, which are important because we have a young team with a lot of freshmen,” Nock said. “That’s one of the things we didn’t have to deal with as much.”
Youth and absent wrestlers took their toll Dec. 30 when Allentown lost, 36-25, to Nottingham High School in a pivotal meet for the Colonial Valley Conference Valley Division leadership. Nottingham went on to beat Hamilton West, 52-21, to clinch the division title that was won by Allentown last season.
Nottingham secured that match as Allentown was missing six wrestlers with a show of strength in the mdidleweights. Pete Gluszewski decisioned Drew Romein, 7-1, to give Nottingham a 30-22 lead, and James Duff decisioned Saiz, 5-1, to widen the lead to 33-22. Rommy Abouelo pulled out a 5-4 decision over Kuchar at 152 pounds to wrap up the victory.
Ice hockey
Shawn Camisa scored twice and had an assist and Nick Koch made 27 saves in goal as the Robbinsville-Allentown Ravens co-op ice hockey team beat Chatham High School, 4-2, Jan. 3 at Louckes Arena in Lawrenceville.
“It was our best win in the 11 years of the program based strictly on highest ranked opponents. Chatham is a top 10 public school Mennen Division team that some had ranked as high as No. 6 public and No. 19 in the state overall,” Ravens coach Dan Bergan said. “It was the first win over a Mennen Division opponent. Goalie Nick Koch was outstanding and made a host of great stops to preserve the win. Shawn Camisa and Josh Rosenbaum made the most of our offensive opportunities.”
Rosenbaum struck first off a pass from Ryan VanDuren with two seconds left in the first period. Camisa increased the lead to 2-0 with 10:52 left before Chatham rallied to tie the score, with its first goal scored off a power play and its second goal coming 15 seconds into the third period. Camisa scored off a pass from Rosenbaum to put the Ravens back ahead with 10:15 left, and VanDuren put in an empty-netter with six seconds left off a pass from Rosenbaum.
“We played defense first and waited patiently for offensive chances. We placed a high priority on guarding the slot areas,” Bergan said. “All three lines were supported by a gritty effort by our defensemen in the face of a hard-charging set of Chatham forwards.”
The Ravens beat Paul VI High School, 10-2, Jan. 4. Rosenbaum broke loose for five goals, raising his season total to 24, and he had two assists to give him 13 for the season. Camisa had a hat trick and three assists. He has scored 16 goals and assisted 18 this season. Liam Hartmann and Brian Eider put in the other goals, and Justin Cooper stopped 15 shots. Eider has eight goals this season.
The Ravens were scheduled for games against Monroe Township High School Jan. 9 and Red Bank Regional High School Jan. 11. They play Notre Dame at 3:30 p.m. Jan. 13 at Mercer County Park.
Girls’ basketball
Allentown is off to a 7-0 start coming into this week, but its telltale game at Red Bank Catholic High School (6-1) Jan. 7 was postponed because of the weekend snowstorm and was rescheduled for Jan. 9.
Allentown has been winning by an average of 29 points per game with only one close contest in a 62-56 season-opening victory over Steinert. Ryan Weise leads the way, averaging 20 points with a team-high 18 3-point baskets. Sarina Campanella averages 13.2 points and has 15 3-pointers, and Lauren Coiante follows with eight points per game and 13 3-pointers.
Weise scored 15 points and fellow junior Juliana Golden added 13 Jan. 6 in a 52-21 blowout of Hightstown High School. Allentown took a 28-2 lead in the first quarter and went on a 15-0 surge in the second quarter.
Campanella, a senior, fired in 25 points Jan. 3 to lead a 68-23 victory over Lawrence. Allentown widened a 21-6 lead in the first quarter to 35-11 at halftime, as four players finished in double figures, including Weise with 13 points, Coiante with 11 and Katie White with 10.
The Redbirds came into last week off the Vaughan Stapleton holiday tournament championship at Bridgewater-Raritan High School, beating Pope John XXIII Regional High School, as Weise scored 26 points and Campanella and Marin Hartshorn each scored 23, before winning the championship game, 53-32, over Montgomery High School behind Weise’s 19 points. Campanella and Coiante each scored 13.
“It’s really been our chemistry, and Sarina has done a good job as our leader as captain,” coach Linda Weise said prior to playing Red Bank Catholic. “We’ve been playing unrelenting and team basketball. Against Red Bank Catholic, we have to take care of the ball and defend their 3-point shooters. We want to challenge our players and prepare them for the Mercer County Tournament and state tournament.”
After Red Bank Catholic, Allentown played at Robbinsville High School Jan. 10 and hosts Hamilton West Jan. 13.
Allentown is 1-0 in the Colonial Valley Conference off a 66-31 victory over Nottingtham Dec. 20, as Ryan Weise sank six 3-pointers and scored 26 points that day.
Boys’ basketball
Allentown stayed in the hunt for a state tournament berth at 4-3 when the Redbirds beat Hightstown, 70-65, in overtime Jan. 6.
Nahshon Taylor broke loose for 30 points to lead four players in double figures, including Robert Hynes with 15 points, Anthony Alexander with 12 and Elijah Kelly with 10.
Taylor also sank 26 points and Alexander chipped in 20 in a loss to Lawrence, 84-70, Jan. 3.
Taylor averages 24 points coming into this week and has hit 17 3-point shots. Alexander drops in 12 points a game.
“The win was a total team effort that maybe will give us momentum,” coach Jay Graber said. “The more we play together as a team, the more the guys will play their roles.”
Allentown played Robbinsville Jan. 10 before facing Colonial Valley Conference Valley Division opponent Hamilton West Jan. 13, both at home. The Redbirds travel to Eastside High School Jan. 14 for a 1 p.m. tipoff.
“This is a big week for us,” said Graber, whose team is 0-1 in the division.
