In A League of Their Own

Audrey Derivaux, Haddonfield girls swimming
One of the country’s best swimmers for her age, Derivaux is a member of the U.S. National Team, has won multiple medals at major meets and recently committed to the University of Texas. She also still loves to compete for her high school team, one of the best in the state.

SJM: You have so much going on with all of your commitments in the sport. Do you still have fun competing at the high school level?
AD: Yes. I’m a part of Jersey Wahoos Swim Club, and doing that I’ve made USA teams, so it’s very chaotic and intense. But just being with my classmates during high school swimming, I feel like it’s not a lot of pressure and it’s just fun to compete. It reminds me that swimming is just swimming and there’s no need for pressure. I enjoy doing it with many of my close friends.

SJM: Do you have any specific goals for this season?
AD: I’m a junior this year and my main goal is just to show up and compete as much as possible, and have fun while doing it.

SJM: I know you recently won three individual events at the Speedo Winter Junior Championships East. Were you happy with your performance?

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AD: Yes. I was in Indianapolis [for that meet] and I won the 200 IM, the 400 IM and the 200 fly. Overall, I was very satisfied with that. I saw best times in all three of those events. There’s still more to work on, but that’s just a part of swimming—there’s always something to improve on.

SJM: Do you like swimming in that environment?

AD: Yes. I’ve been to Indianapolis several times. My first time there was for 2023 nationals, and then I was there for the 2024 Olympic Trials, but that was in Lucas Oil Stadium, not where I just competed. I was back there in March for a sectional meet, and the last time I was there was for the World Championship Trials in June.

SJM: What was the experience like of competing at the Olympic Trials in 2024 with the best swimmers in the country? Was it a confidence boost knowing you can compete at that level?
AD: Yes, definitely. I remember walking into the stadium and it was like nothing I had ever seen before. We don’t have arenas like that, obviously, so swimming in something like that was really cool. I made the 400 IM final there, so swimming and competing against the best in the sport was just an eye-opening experience for me. I was able to learn so much from it and I think I’ve grown a lot since that meet. It’s made me a better swimmer.

SJM: Were you star-struck at all, being around so many Olympians?
AD: Yes. I remember my walk-out for the final, just staring at the crowd. I had my headphones on and my headphones were shaking on my head. I was 14 years old at the time and I didn’t know what to expect. I was in the outside lane and I just wanted to go out there and swim—I didn’t have any expectations for that race. Overall for that meet, I didn’t have any expectations and I was just happy with how I performed. I made the Junior Pan Pacific Team, so I was happy with that meet.

SJM: Was making the final at that age just icing on the cake?
AD: I didn’t think I was going to make it. I remember we had prelims for the 100 back and I was in the ready room, and I remember looking at the scoreboard and seeing that I was in the final for the 400 IM. I just remember smiling so hard, because I really wasn’t expecting that.

SJM: What does being part of the National Team entail?
AD: This is my second year on the U.S. National Team. The top six individuals in each event make the National Team, and I went to the Golden Goggle [Awards] in September, which was for the U.S. National Team plus the World Championship Team. I get to go to training camps with Olympians and World Championship Team members. It’s just the best people in the sport on one team.

SJM: Henry McFadden, another Haddonfield product, is also on the U.S. National Team. Do you know him well?
AD: I do. Henry and I were on Jersey Wahoos, on the same national team for a year and a half. When he comes back for Thanksgiving and stuff like that, we always talk. He’s at Stanford now so I ask how it’s going there. We’re friendly.

SJM: Have you gotten to know Rylee Erisman, another national high school standout from Florida?
AD: I met her at Olympic Trials in 2024, and we’ve been best friends ever since. We automatically clicked, and we roomed together in Romania [for the World Junior Championships] and we roomed together at all of these camps at the Olympic Training Center.

SJM: You have gotten to travel to Romania, Australia and across our country for swimming. Do you have a favorite spot that you’ve been to?
AD: Oh, gosh. Olympic Trials was one of my favorite meets, and Romania also had a cool facility and a cool pool. I think my favorite pool has got to be the Fort Lauderdale pool or the pool in Irvine, California. They’re right on the beach, so it’s fun to go to those meets, and it kind of takes the pressure off too. It kind of feels like a vacation, but it’s not.

SJM: Do you ever get a chance to explore and do tourist things?
AD: No. In Romania, we literally just went from the pool to the hotel and we didn’t see anything. I know there are a bunch of castles there, but we didn’t see them. The one time we got to see something was in Australia—they took us to a zoo at the beginning of the meet, so we saw some kangaroos.

SJM: You come from a family of swimmers, including your older sister Lilly, right?
AD: Correct. I also have two brothers—Christopher just graduated from West Point, and Charles is a sophomore at Lafayette. We all swam growing up, although Christopher stopped when he got to West Point. They all swam at Jersey Wahoos too … and they’re probably one of the main reasons why I started. They taught me how to swim and they’ve been a big part of my life. They’re the people who keep me going in this sport.

SJM: What is a typical day like for you with your training schedule?
AD: On a typical [day], I wake up around 4:30 and then I have practice from 5 to 6. I go to school and then I come back for practice from 3:15 to 5:30. On Sundays, I’ll have dryland [exercises] from 5:30 to 6:30, and that’s typical weights and on-land exercises.

SJM: Are there a lot of days when you dread waking up at 4:30?
AD: Oh yes. When I go to school, people are like, “Why do you get up so early?” Sometimes I don’t have an answer, but I just remind myself that it’s part of the training I need to achieve my goals. It’s not the most fun sometimes, but I do it to better myself and I enjoy myself. I enjoy achieving my goals.

SJM: How do you spend your free time?
AD: When I’m not swimming, I’m either at home or just hanging out with my friends. It really depends on the day. I have a dog, Pumpkin, and I love playing with her. Swimming takes up most of my time.

SJM: What do you like about growing up in South Jersey?
AD: Haddonfield is a really nice town. I’m originally from Medford and then we moved to Haddonfield when I was 5. I love Haddonfield—I met some of my best friends there, the schools are nice, I have amazing teachers and an amazing principal, and they’ve supported me through my swimming experience. Swimming is a sport where you travel a lot, so I’m often not in school during these meets. Just having the support system at Haddonfield is really amazing.

SJM: What made you commit to Texas?
AD: I attended three official visits in September and October: I was at Cal-Berkeley, UT-Austin and the University of Virginia. They were all really fun visits and very different experiences, which I enjoyed. I landed at UT-Austin because they have an amazing facility with amazing coaches, and I’m excited to get there.

SJM: Do you know what you want to study?
AD: I’ve been thinking about it but I’m not too sure yet. 

SJM: What are you going to miss most about home, other than family and friends?
AD: Definitely my family and friends, but just the town itself. Being able to go out with my friends and be with the people I love, I’m going to miss it a lot. I take it for granted sometimes, just being able to see the people I love every day.

SJM: Your experience at the last Olympic Trials showed you how close you are to qualifying for the Olympics. Do you have your sights on the 2028 Games in LA?
AD: That’s definitely one of my main goals. I’m not there yet but I’m working toward it and putting in the training to hopefully be at that point in 2028. I need to put in the work to get there, but I’m willing to do it.

SJM: Do you have any favorite swimmers?
AD: Oh gosh, I don’t know. I would say my siblings because they’re the ones who got me into it.

SJM: Do you have a favorite event?
AD: I kind of swim the longer events, like the 400 IM, the 200 fly and the 200 back. It honestly depends on the meet, what my favorite event will be. Sometimes it’s the 200 fly, but this past meet I really enjoyed the 400 IM. When I hit my goals in short course, it’s really nice. 

Natalie Dumas, Eastern track
Dumas, a senior, has established herself as one of the premier runners in the country and is coming off a historic 2025 outdoor season in which she won the 400, the 800 and the 400 hurdles at New Balance Nationals, setting a meet record in each event. She took first in the 400 at last year’s indoor Meet of Champions and will look to add to her haul of medals this winter and spring before moving on to college track.

SJM: How is the recruiting process going?
ND: It’s great, but [rejecting schools is] heartbreaking. I want to make a decision by the end of December but I don’t have an exact date yet. The three schools I’m down to are South Carolina, Florida and Arkansas.

SJM: Do you know what you want to study?
ND: Exercise science. I grew up playing soccer my whole life and I love playing sports, so I want to stay involved. I can be an athletic trainer and still be involved, so that’s what I want to do.

SJM: It’s been a special career so far. Has it sunk in what you’ve been able to accomplish, especially this past year?
ND: It’s crazy to me, because people are constantly reaching out and there’s always new articles, and I can’t even keep up. People come up to me and tell me everything about myself and all of my accomplishments, and I’m like, “How do you know that?” They do their research. It definitely hasn’t sunk in for me, but it has for my friends. They freak out all the time, but I’m still in disbelief.

SJM: Is it nice to have that support and to enjoy it with your friends?
ND: Yes. I have such great friends and they’ve been so supportive. Now I train with the boys team and they are always pushing me and helping me overall.

SJM: Is it weird to have fans, even people you don’t know who admire your talent?
ND: It’s not weird, it’s just surprising. I’m just myself and I don’t understand the crazy hype about me. One time, I was walking in Haddonfield around all the shops and this UPS driver comes up to me and says, “Are you Natalie Dumas?” Then he started telling me all of my stats. It’s pretty interesting to get noticed in random places that I don’t expect.

SJM: Did you envision winning all three events at nationals, or did you surprise yourself?
ND: Honestly, when my dad said we were going to sign up [for all three], I thought he was crazy. I was like, “There’s no way I can do that. I could barely win one last year as a sophomore.” He was like, “You don’t have to win them. You can just run all three and see where you’re at.” I was also entered in the SMR [sprint medley relay] with my team, so I didn’t know how I was going to handle four events in one weekend. I didn’t expect any of that to happen.

SJM: Did it help that the meet was close by, in Philadelphia?
ND: It definitely helped. It’s a lot easier to get up at my house and just go to meet. At other places, like Oregon, it’s kind of rough [to travel]. It will bother my legs a little bit and I’ll have to work them up, so the meet being right near my house was great.

SJM: Running is a big part of your family, including your parents and your older sister Cadence, who was once part of this article. Have they all had big influences on you?
ND: Yes. I told my dad there was no way I was doing track in high school. I was really scared of the mental game, because it’s so tiring, and I didn’t think I was the type to do this. My dad convinced me to just sign up once, and I did because my freshman year was my sister’s senior year, so I figured I could do it with her and see if I liked it. I remember the first day at practice, there was this really tall, spring bean of a kid named Carlos. I was running right behind my sister and Carlos said, “Who is this really fast girl?” From that day forward, I started to like track more because people’s eyes would reach me and they were like, “Who is that?” I thought it was pretty cool to have people watching me run.

SJM: Didn’t you realize you were fast when you played soccer?
ND: We used to do the PACER test all the time and I was always the last one standing. I had soccer speed, but I didn’t expect to be so fast in track. I played soccer through sophomore year and eventually I stopped to do cross country.

SJM: Do you miss soccer?
ND: I miss all of my teammates, because I had been playing with these girls since I was 4. It hurts to give up a sport, but it hurts even more when you have all of those attachments to it.

SJM: Is there a big difference between running indoors and outdoors?
ND: Indoor is really, really hard. Outdoor, the weather is great and you get rolling. Our closest indoor track now is 30 minutes, but it used to be an hour. So every day we train outside, or in the school if it gets too cold. I just have to make sure I stay warm and I’m stretching when we train outside.

SJM: Do you have any particular goals for the indoor season?
ND: I always go into winter and use it as my conditioning for outdoor. I don’t put too much pressure on myself with goals, just because I want to make sure I’m stacked up and ready for spring. I just want to be the best that I can.

SJM: You’ve broken high school records of Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who is a superstar in this sport. What does that mean to you?
ND: Freshman year, I never even planned to run in college, and sophomore year I started to look at the bigger schools and wonder if I could go there, but I still didn’t have the times. I slowly started to get better and get some of those times by the end of the year, and junior year I continued to run those times. I started to realize that I could run [fast], but I never thought I could beat Sydney’s records. I remember the day that I tied her, and it was a really big shock for me.

SJM: When did you start believing that you could perhaps be an Olympian someday?
ND: Not until recently: My junior year is when I started to think that maybe I could. I didn’t think much of it during the winter, but by the end of the outdoor season, I started to realize that I’m able to run with the pros. When I went to run at the pro meet, I started to think I could make it to the Olympics.

SJM: What else do you do for fun?
ND: I constantly try to hang out with all of my friends and make sure I get to see everyone. I’m always cooking and baking, and making sure I do meal prep for workouts. I used to sew, but I don’t really do too much of that anymore.

SJM: I saw in a previous interview that you’re a big fan of cannoli cake. Is that something you bake?
ND: [Laughs] I wish I could learn how to do that cake. It’s from my favorite cake store, Sweet Eats. Their cakes are delicious and if I don’t have one for my birthday, you might see me crying.

SJM: Do you like growing up in South Jersey?
ND: It’s great—the only thing that sucks is the weather. I hate the cold, I just can’t do it, but overall New Jersey is great and I’ve made a great environment with my friends here. I love it.

SJM: Do you have a favorite race?
ND: I can’t really say I have a favorite. I know the mile is my least favorite—it’s the hardest event in track and field, at least that’s my opinion. I’ve done almost every event you can think of and I think the mile will forever be the hardest one. The 800, for some reason, is the easiest of the three that I do now. We know it’s not easy, but it’s easier than the others. The 400 might be my favorite because it’s painful but fun, and I might like the 400 hurdles more if I got my technique down.

SJM: Do you have a certain song you listen to before a big race?
ND: I don’t really have anything that I listen to, because normally what happens is that I leave my AirPods at home. I always forget, so I’m always warming up in silence.

Cole Hagerty, Washington Township wrestling
A three-time district and two-time region champion during his stellar career with the Minutemen, Hagerty placed fourth in the state last year at 126 pounds. He is aiming for a state crown this season as a senior before moving on to Drexel University.

SJM: It seems like just yesterday that you and your classmates were making a name for yourselves as freshmen. Is it hard to believe this is your final season at Washington Township?
CH: It’s crazy how fast it goes. Everyone says that it’s over in the blink of an eye, and now it’s already my fourth season. Even now, as we’re getting ready for our first competition, the practices are going so fast.

SJM: It’s a very talented senior class. Did you all grow up wrestling together?
CH: Yeah, we’re all real close and that make it easier during hard practices, because you know you’re with your boys. We all have the same goal: to try our hardest, to get on the podium together, and to win.

SJM: Do you feel like your team can get back to the sectional final this year after falling to Southern last year?
CH: I believe we can. Every single season, we get better as a team as the season goes on because everybody gets in better shape and fine-tunes their skills. I feel like we can compete with any team, so we have a good chance.

SJM: Do you have any individual goals?
CH: Of course, winning that state title is No. 1. I want to place high at the national tournaments too, like Beast of the East and Escape the Rock. I want to win some matches there and get myself ranked in the national rankings. I also want to win another region title and just keep winning as much as I can.

SJM: Does it help that you know what to expect now at all of those tournaments?
CH: It gives me a real good outlook of where I’m at. I versed nationally ranked guys last year, and that really lets me know where I’m at. I feel like I can compete with anyone and beat anyone. I have a good chance of going far this season with all of the experience I’ve gained and all of the big tournaments I’ve competed in since freshman year. My coach has made it a point of emphasis to go to the hardest tournaments and wrestle the hardest matches to get us ready for the end.

SJM: Do you know what weight you’ll be wrestling in the postseason?
CH: I’m going to do 132. I feel stronger at 32 and I think it will make it easier for me to be ready. I’m just going to focus on getting better each day.

SJM: Did you grow up going to Boardwalk Hall for states?
CH: Me, my mom and my little brother used to go all the time and I always thought it was the coolest thing ever to see the guys walking out on the red and green carpets. It was a goal of mine to be under those lights [in the finals], and I want to make that happen this year.

SJM: What’s it like to wrestle in that environment?
CH: It’s so cool to be a part of it. Each day is a new feeling. My first year, I only knew what the first two days felt like, and making it to the third day is such a weird feeling. All the guys have worked their butts off to get there and you see all the fans. You just know the whole season was worth it and it feels so good on day three.

SJM: Did you ever play other sports growing up?
CH: In elementary school I did football, baseball, wrestling, soccer—my dad pretty much put me in everything. I was kind of small, so I just felt like wrestling was my thing. My little brother does baseball, my other brother does football—we all picked our own thing.

SJM: What made you commit to Drexel?
CH: I really liked the co-op opportunities. I also feel like the coaches—Mauro [Correnti] and [Matt] Azevedo—really care about who are as a person. They have a good culture there and it’s a real good school, so I think it will be good for my future.

SJM: Do you know what you want to study?
CH: I’m probably going to study accounting. I’m not 100% sure, but I know I want to do internships and co-ops.

SJM: It will be cool being in the city.
CH: Yeah. It’s going to be a change, but I like trying new things, so it will be fun.

SJM: What do you like about growing up in Washington Township?
CH: I’ve always lived there and I like that it’s a big town. There’s always new cliques and new people to see. I also like that sports are real big there, and if you play sports, you won’t have trouble making friends. Everybody has the same goal of living a healthy lifestyle and winning.

SJM: What else do you for fun?
CH: When I take a break from training, I like to go down the Shore, go to the beach, hang out with my friends, go out to eat.

SJM: Do you have a certain routine before a big match?
CH: I really just walk and visualize what I’m going to do in the match. I always like to be calm—I don’t want to get overly excited, so I try not to show emotion. I just have fun, because it’s all to have fun, and trust that the training I put in is enough to win the match.

SJM: What’s it like winding down when you come off the mat? Are you able to enjoy the rest of the bouts?
CH:  Oh yeah, after my match I like to watch the other athletes compete. You want to be a student of the sport; you always want to learn from someone else. Whether it’s their pre-match routine or the way that they wrestle, I like to take certain things. I watch college guys on YouTube all the time and see what I can add to my game to get better.

SJM: Do you think you’re going to stay around the sport even after you’re done wrestling?
CH: I know I want to wrestle all four years in college, and when I have kids, if I have a boy, he’s going to wrestle. I’ll let him do other sports, but I’ll really emphasize being a wrestler, because I love being around the sport. Coaching is something I’d like to do too.

SJM: More and more girls are wrestling now, so even if you have a daughter you can stay around the sport.
CH: I don’t know if I want my girl wrestling. She can play soccer.

Chris Abreu, Cherry Hill East boys basketball
Abreu, a junior, transferred to Cherry Hill East as a sophomore and made an immediate impact with his ability to get to the basket, create for himself and his teammates, and contribute defensively and on the boards. He led the Cougars to a 26-4 record and a one-point loss to Lenape in the sectional championship game.

SJM: Last year was a special one for you and the team. Do you have high hopes heading into this one?
CA: Yes. We have high expectations and we have to fulfill them. Personally, I don’t want to lose a game. We started last year 12-0, so I’m just trying to beat every team.

SJM: You came so close to a sectional title. Do you think about that game a lot, or have you moved past it?
CA: I haven’t moved past it. I always think about it, especially since we lost by one point. It hurts, but I feel like we can get it this year. Our whole team is back except for one person.

SJM: After going to Paul VI as a freshman, was it easy to transition to Cherry Hill East since you already knew a lot of your teammates?
CA: Yes. I’ve known Jacob Jones, who was a senior guard last year, since I was like 5. I versed Chris [Delgado] a lot when I was younger too. I just met Jamieson [Young] last year, but I fit in with him and everyone.

SJM: What are the strengths of this year’s team?
CA: We like to play fast and we try to be a defensive team. Everybody on the court is basically a point guard so we like to push the ball.

SJM: What is your role?
CA: I have a lot of roles to fill but I’m mainly the new point guard. I’ve always played point guard ever since I was younger. Last year I played the four, so I didn’t have the ball in my hands a lot, but I scored a lot.

SJM: What have you been working on to get better?
CA: All offseason, I was working on improving my shot. That’s all I’ve been doing, trying to get my angles right.

SJM: Do you watch a lot of basketball?
CA: Yes—more college than NBA. I went to a Drexel-Syracuse game and I also went to a Drexel-UPenn game that was really good.

SJM: Are there certain guys you try to emulate?
CA: I watch a lot of Jalen Brunson and try to model my game after him. I also watch a lot of SGA [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander]. They both stay patient, they can shoot the ball, and Jalen Brunson is around my height.

SJM: Who are your biggest rivals?
CA: Cherry Hill West, of course. I also really want to get back at Lenape.

SJM: What’s the toughest South Jersey gym to play in?
CA: There really isn’t one. I just played at Haddonfield for the first time and I didn’t really like the rims. But I actually like to go [into hostile environments]. It pumps me up and sometimes I play better in other teams’ stadiums than in ours.

SJM: Have you started thinking about college yet?
CA: I’ve had a few looks. It’s always been my dream. [It’s going to take] a lot of hard work and I have to watch more basketball to become a better point guard.

SJM: Do you know what you would want to study?
CA: Not yet. I was thinking business, but that’s what everybody does, so I might do something different.

SJM: If I could give you four other guys from South Jersey to run with, not counting your teammates, who would you pick?
CA: I’ll take Matt Laskowski from Cherry Hill West, and I don’t know their names, but the two big guys from PVI who were freshmen last year. For my three, I’ll probably have to go with Jaidyn Boyd from Lenape. That would be a really good five.

SJM: What else do you do for fun?
CA: I play video games and hang out with friends, but that’s about it. I play basketball a lot.

SJM: What’s your go-to video game?
CA: [NBA]2K. I use the Golden State Warriors because Steph Curry is my favorite player.

SJM: What do you like about growing up in South Jersey?
CA: I like eating and there’s a lot of good options for food here. 

Kirsten Gibson, Cherry Hill West girls basketball
Still just a junior, Gibson entered this season with 824 career points already after averaging 18 as a sophomore to go with 2.9 rebounds and 2.3 steals while knocking down 60 total 3-pointers. She sparked the Lions to the first state championship in program history and is receiving serious recruiting interest.

SJM: Your older brother Quinn was part of this story last year. Are you two close?
KG: Yes, we are. I have a younger brother who plays too; he’s in sixth grade. 

SJM: Has Quinn helped you get better as a player?
KG: Yes, he has. We’re both very competitive and we always have been since we were little. We would always get in arguments over little things, but he’s been a great role model and he’s pushed me to be the best version of myself. We give each other advice and we critique each other, but it’s all positive in the end. We’re just trying to be the best siblings we can for each other.

SJM: How much height does he have on you?
KG: I would say about 7 inches. It’s pretty unfair when we play—he just dunks on me.

SJM: Last season was obviously a special one for you and the team. Did you feel it had the potential to be a state championship season?
KG: I did. My freshman year we played at Mainland in the [sectional] semis for Group 3 and we lost in the last second. They were a great team—two of their players are now at West Chester and one’s at FDU. So going into last year I knew we had a chance to win it all, but we just wanted to stay humble and keep the main thing, the main thing. We worked to get to that point and it was amazing to accomplish the goal.

SJM: Has it sunk that this was the first time in program history?
KG: It still feels surreal. It hasn’t really sunk in yet. I’m sure it will feel more real once I leave, but it’s still so recent.

SJM: After a really promising freshman season for you personally, you were even better as a sophomore. Did you feel more comfortable playing on the varsity level?
KG: I did. Freshman year I was a little nervous, as any freshman would be. But last year I started to take on a different role and more of a leading role. I knew my teammates had my back and they would always support me, so it just felt like I could do my thing and they would always be encouraging me.

SJM: After graduating a lot of key players, what is the outlook for this season?
KG: It’s a whole different team and we’re going to have to adapt. We’re very young this year, so it will be exciting to see how we develop over the season. We lost four starters, so it’s a whole new lineup other than me. I have to take on a bigger leadership role and encourage girls to get better every day, and try not to get frustrated. At the end of the day, everyone is trying to do their best. 

SJM: Are you anticipating a lot of special attention from opposing defenses—maybe some box-and-ones?
KG: I am. My coach already talked to me about it, and I’m just going to have to keep playing my game, share the ball with other girls and hope that we can win games.

SJM: Do you have any personal goals?
KG: I would say hitting the 1,000 mark and just keep going—don’t let up.

SJM: Have you started thinking about college yet?
KG: I have. I have two offers right now, from Rider University and NJIT, and the recruiting process has been amazing. It’s a lot, but hopefully this year it will pick up even more, and by the end of the summer hopefully I’ll have an idea of where I want to go.

SJM: Do you watch a lot of basketball?
KG: Yes, I do. I’ve been watching since I was 5. My family is big on sports—it’s all we watch on TV. We watch college basketball more than the NBA because there’s not a lot of defense played [in the pros]. I’ve liked Notre Dame forever, so I’m tuning in for them constantly. It’s cool to see Hannah Hildago from [South Jersey] play for them. She’s amazing.

SJM: Do you know Hannah at all?
KG: Going into my eighth grade summer, I went to PVI [Paul VI] and played pickup with her. Her energy was through the roof and it was really cool to see. She’s probably the best player I’ve ever played against. I guarded her a few times and it was a tall task.

SJM: Hannah will be in the WNBA soon. Do you have dreams of doing that yourself?
KG: I do, but I would say my biggest dream is going Division I. I haven’t really thought about playing in the pros because that’s such a big goal. My mom actually played at Drexel, so I’ve always dreamt of going somewhere local to play D-I and continuing my basketball journey.

SJM: You actually kind of look like Caitlin Clark.
KG: I get that a lot. It’s funny, because my younger brother is in middle school, and when his bus drops him off, I’m outside shooting. Everyone says, “Oh my gosh, look, it’s Caitlin Clark!”

SJM: She’s done so much for the game. Are you a fan of hers?
KG: I am. I didn’t watch the WNBA in past years, but now that she’s a sensation, I’ve watched multiple games. I actually went to one with my team—we were playing in Indianapolis for an UnderArmour tournament, so we saw her in action. It was great.

SJM: What else do you do for fun when you’re taking a break from basketball?
KG: I hang out with my friends and family a lot. I’m really close with my cousins, so when they’re home from college, I hang out with them. I’ve actually taken on the hobby of golf too. It’s not serious, but something to do for fun.

SJM: Do you have any idea what you would like to study in college?
KG: I was thinking something in finance, because I’m good at math. I’m not set on that, though.

SJM: What do you like about growing up in South Jersey?
KG: I like the competitive atmosphere and how close everyone is. Everyone competes and goes to see each other play. I like the opportunities I get living here.

SJM: Do you like going to school at Cherry Hill West?
KG: Yes, I do. It’s a great community. Last year in our playoff run, we actually had a full student section. When we played Moorestown to win [sectionals], our student section stormed the court. It was a good feeling. They all traveled to Rutgers for the state championship, and that meant a lot.

SJM: What school in South Jersey is the toughest place to play?
KG: Probably Moorestown. Their fans like to heckle me, I guess because of my older brother.

SJM: If you could have four other players in South Jersey to play with in a pickup game, other than your teammates, who would you choose?
KG: I would say Brooke Stagliano from Paul VI—I play AAU with her—and then Analyse Intenzo from Moorestown, Brielle Alaba from Cherokee and Jahzara Green from Gloucester Catholic.

Jake Jones, Shawnee boys basketball
Jones, a 6-foot-2 senior guard, averaged a team-high 16.3 points as a junior and entered his final scholastic season with 898 points and 110 3-pointers in his standout career. He is hoping to help the Renegades contend in the Olympic Conference Patriot Division.

SJM: Can you believe it’s your senior season at Shawnee?
JJ: No. It’s gone by so fast.

SJM: What are your goals this year for yourself and the team?
JJ: I want to win. Obviously, the goal is always Group 3, but I definitely want to win the conference first. My personal goal is to hit 1,000 points.

SJM: Do you feel like the team is much improved compared to last season?
JJ: We got a new coach last year and we had a lot of injuries, so this is a new year. Everyone is back this year, including the guys who couldn’t play because they were hurt, and we’re very senior heavy. I’ve known these guys since I was like 4 years old—we’ve grown up together. Now that everyone is back in the right spots and we’re all together, it’s nice. We have 11 seniors.

SJM: What was it like to transition from legendary coach Joe Kessler to new coach Dillon Fields last year?
JJ: It was a learning experience. I’ve known [Coach Kessler] my whole life. He saw me when I was young and he’s the reason I went here. But I knew Fields and I like him. It’s hard to change, especially halfway through your high school career, but I think he did a pretty good job with what he had. He’s a good coach.

SJM: Has basketball always been your main sport?
JJ: Yes. I also played lacrosse my whole life, but after freshman year I stopped and just played basketball more.

SJM: How did you get into basketball in the first place?
JJ: I’ve been playing since I was young and I always played up [a level]. I thought it was fun and a lot of my buddies played with me. Some kids didn’t play lacrosse, but everybody played basketball.

SJM: Have you always been a shooter?
JJ: Yes. I think it’s something I was born with. I was one of the bigger kids so they always tried to put me down low, but I would always shoot—even when I wasn’t supposed to. I think it’s one of those things where some people can, and some people can’t.

SJM: Do you know what you’re doing next year?
JJ: Not yet. Hopefully I can play, but I have to see how this year shakes out.

SJM: Are you a big fan of the game?
JJ: I love college basketball—I’m not a big fan of the NBA. I watch college anytime that I can. 

SJM: Are there certain players you like to watch?
JJ: I like Kon Knueppel a lot. He was kind of overshadowed by Cooper Flagg [last season at Duke], but he still went out and averaged 20 a night. I like Trey Parker too, because his flashy passes are fun to watch. When Tyrese Maxey was at Kentucky, I really liked watching him.

SJM: If you could pick up four other players from South Jersey to run with, not including your teammates, who would you choose?
JJ: I would take Louis Galasso from Cherokee—I’ve been playing against him my whole life and he’s pretty good. I don’t know a lot about the [current] South Jersey guys because I would always play with the older kids, so I would say Judd Holt from Cherokee is another one. I would love to play with Quinn Gibson again, because I played AAU with him for a little bit and he’s a great kid. And for the last one I would say Troy Gilhool, who just graduated from Moorestown and is really good.

SJM: Who is the rival you look forward to playing the most?
JJ: I would definitely say Cherokee or Moorestown. I never thought much of Moorestown but they’ve been pretty good these last few years and they shocked us a couple of times. Whenever we go there, you can’t even hear yourself think, so I like to play there because their fans are really into it. 

SJM: What else do you do for fun?
JJ: We’re always playing pickleball or going swimming—there’s a lot to do in Medford. All of my buddies have beach houses, so we spend a lot of time at the Shore, either surfing or bodysurfing.

SJM: What do you like about growing up in South Jersey?
JJ: Jersey gets a bad rap, but down here you would never know it’s New Jersey. I like my town because it’s very quiet, it’s very pretty and there’s a lot of things to do. I like driving past all the lakes and looking out, and it’s just a cool place to be. Everyone is nice and I haven’t really met anyone in my school that I don’t like. It’s very respectful and it’s a good town to be in.

Jackson Wheeler, Lenape wrestling
Wheeler is coming off an impressive junior season in which he captured his first district championship, finished second at regions for the second year in a row and won a pair of matches at the state tournament. He has lofty goals for his senior campaign before continuing his career at Millersville University.

SJM: Can you believe it’s your senior season?
JW: It’s definitely flown by, for sure.

SJM: What are your personal and team goals this year?
JW: My personal goal is definitely to place at the state tournament. As a team, we would like to win districts again, because we won last year and we want to defend that title.

SJM: Do you feel like the experience from the last two years, competing at states both times, will help you in your goal to reach the podium?
JW: Definitely. My sophomore year, I didn’t win any matches [at states], so winning two matches was a big jump for me. I’m glad I got to experience that and now I’m looking to place.

SJM: Did you grow up going to Boardwalk Hall to watch the state tournament?
JW: No, not really. I started wrestling in fourth grade, but I was always a baseball guy [first]. I didn’t really start getting into wrestling until high school. I got to go to states as a sophomore, and I can say, it’s an experience. It’s really cool.

SJM: What’s it going to take to get on the podium?
JW: Grit, effort and all the work I put in before the tournament. I’ve put in more work this year than any other year, so I’m excited to see how I do.

SJM: Are you wrestling 215 again?
JW: Yes. Last year, I weighed in at 192 at the state tournament, and this year I’m at 205.

SJM: Wrestling is probably the toughest sport to play in high school, along with football. What do you love about it?
JW: I love how it’s so hard physically and mentally, and it challenges me a lot, which I like. It helps you in every aspect of life.

SJM: I know you’re still a good baseball player for Lenape, but you’re going to focus on just wrestling in college?
JW: I’m going to focus on wrestling, but maybe I’ll do club baseball. That’s what I’m thinking, but who knows? This summer, I was [open to] trying baseball or wrestling, but I didn’t necessarily want to do both. It ended up being wrestling, which I’m happy about, because that’s the way I was leaning anyway.

SJM: What did you like about Millersville that made you commit?
JW: I loved the campus and the team vibes, and the coach [Jerry Boland] is from around here. I really liked him and he’s great. I had lunch with the wrestlers and they all seem nice.

SJM: Do you know what you want to study?
JW: I’m definitely studying education and probably special ed. I do a lot of stuff involving special needs people, so I knew that’s what I wanted to do. I help with the Challenger League every spring—it’s a baseball league for special needs people.

SJM: Do you have high hopes for your senior baseball season too?
JW: Yes. We lost a few seniors but we had a younger team last year, so I think we’ll be good. I’m going to pitch and bat, so I’m excited.

SJM: What else do you do for fun?
JW: I hang out with my family, my friends and go to the gym.

SJM: Have you always lived in Mount Laurel?
JW: Yes. I met my friends there and I love the school system.

SJM: How do you get ready for a big match?
JW: I like to prepare early to calm my nerves. If I get ready early, I feel more confident.

SJM: Do you like to watch other wrestlers compete when your match is over?
JW: Yeah, I definitely watch the other weight classes, and even my weight class to do a little scouting. I can see if they’re heavy on top or if they don’t like hand fighting or low singles.

SJM: Do you have a go-to move?
JW: My low single is definitely my bread and butter. Wrestling at 215, I feel like I’m faster than a lot of guys.

SJM: Do you think you’ll stay involved in wrestling after your career is over?
JW: I would definitely like to coach either wrestling or baseball, or both.

Jackson Lavallee, Moorestown boys swimming
Lavallee, a senior, has been a key contributor to three sectional championship teams during his memorable career at Moorestown, in a variety of events. He placed ninth in the 500 free at the Meet of Champions as a junior and is looking for more team and individual success before moving on to Bowdoin College.

SJM: Are you excited for your senior year?
JL: Yes. It should be a lot of fun. There’s a lot less to do, especially school wise.

SJM: Do you have any particular goals this season?
JL: I just had my big midseason meet [for club swimming], but I had a virus so I couldn’t compete. For high school, we took third place last year, second place the year before, and third place the year before that. So we just have one goal in mind, which is to win it all. Two or three guys from my club team who are also from Moorestown just exploded [during the club meet], so I’m excited about that. We’re in a good spot to put away some good teams this year.

SJM: Do you have any personal goals?
JL: I was All-South Jersey third team last year, so I would like to get on the first or second team. I want to place in the top three or four at MOCs in the [500 free], and get in the top 10 in another event, maybe the 200 or 100 free.

SJM: Is the 500 free your favorite event or just your best event?
JL: Well, in club I swim 500 and 1,000 free, and I don’t like any of it. But the 500 is definitely my best event for high school even though it’s not my favorite. I like swimming the shorter stuff with my friends, especially on the relays.

SJM: How did you become a distance guy?
JL: When I was younger, I was 5-11 and 120 pounds soaking wet, so I wasn’t able to get a lot of speed behind me. But I could always go, go, go. Even though I can sprint now because I’m a little bit bigger guy, the distance has always just stayed with me.

SJM: Who do you swim club for?
JL: I swim at SJAC [South Jersey Aquatic Club]. We have a good group of guys and girls over there. Us and Wahoos are like 1A and 1B around here.

SJM: What is your training schedule like?
JL: We’re less strict than a lot of the other clubs. Normally, once you get to junior year, it’s seven or eight practices a week, so you can go Monday through Friday in the afternoon with one or two mornings thrown in and a morning on Saturday. It’s not too bad.

SJM: What made you commit to Bowdoin?
JL: I went on probably seven different recruiting trips. I went to some of the D-Is around here—Lafayette and Lehigh—and I was really interested in BU [Boston University] along with Providence and Rhode Island. I also talked to a lot of the NESCAC schools, which they call the Little Ivies of D-III, like Tufts, Amherst and Bowdoin. When I stepped on Bowdoin’s campus, I sort of instantly knew it was the spot for me. It’s the best school out of all of them academic wise, but I also had a lot of fun hanging out with the team. The week before I went to Washington and Lee, and going into Bowdoin I didn’t think it would match up to W&L at all. But then I stepped on campus, and W&L didn’t even compare.

SJM: Do you know what you want to study?
JL: Economics, politics, history—something like that has always been my thing. I want to be a lawyer, and then eventually becoming a judge would be the ideal path. I think, overall, that’s the best way to make a difference. Both of my parents came from … lower-income situations than me, and I’m grateful to grow up in Moorestown. They always figured out a way to make money and provide for me, and they instilled in me the value of … making a positive impact in the world if you can do it.

SJM: What else do you do for fun?
JL: I spend a lot of time with my guys [from the club team] and I also like hanging out with friends from school. I play a lot of basketball—even though I’m not super good, I have a lot of fun doing that.

SJM: Do you like growing up in Moorestown and going to school there?
JL: It’s been an interesting experience. There are some aspects that I love, and some not so much. A lot of my friends are from outside Moorestown, but I love my teammates and I’m grateful for the opportunities that Moorestown has given me. The guys on my high school team are some of the best guys I know.

SJM: How do you prepare for a big race? Do you have any superstitions?
JL: When I was 10, I used to not brush my teeth for entire meet weekends. My mom figured it out when I was 13 or 14. She said, “Jackson, you haven’t opened your tooth brush yet.” I was like, “I don’t brush my teeth for meets.” She put an end to that one, which was fine. I used to get really nervous before some of the distance races—not about the result, but just having to swim it. Now, I’ve done it so much, so it’s just rinse, wash, repeat. I watch a lot of the Sixers, so I always do the Tyrese Maxey free throw routine right before I get on the blocks. It’s a reminder that when you get on the foul line or you get on the blocks, it’s just rinse, wash, repeat. Do what you’ve done in training thousands and thousands of times, and let the results speak for themselves.

Brielle Alaba, Cherokee girls basketball
A senior guard considered one of the best all-around players in the region, Alaba contributed 15.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.8 steals per game as a junior to lead Cherokee to the South Jersey, Group 4 championship. She is aiming for a state title before moving on to Boston University.

SJM: Was last year’s sectional championship extra-special since your team came into the final as underdogs against Lenape?
BA: Absolutely. We played Lenape twice prior to that, losing both times—one at home, which definitely hurt. But we believed in each other, and I think we might have been the only ones. It’s always nice to be the underdog and we don’t really worry about what everybody else is saying or what everybody else is thinking. We just focus on what we practice on every day and trust in our hard work. That was definitely special.

SJM: A lot of girls are back from last year’s team. What is the potential for this year’s squad?
BA: I think we’re going to be great this year. One thing I’m excited about is having an older, mature team. We only lost one starter—Liv [Selverian], who’s now at Bloomsburg—and having girls who have been here before, who know the routine, and are more confident in themselves and their play is going make us that much stronger and that much more talented.

SJM: Do you have any individual goals?
BA: It’s always been a goal of mine throughout high school to be South Jersey Player of the Year, but I think we’re definitely more focused on team goals. We’re trying to win another South Jersey title and go all the way to states.

SJM: Is it important to you to be a well-rounded player and to contribute in multiple ways?
BA: Absolutely. I’ve always strived to be a well-rounded player, just because I want to impact the game in so many ways. I love to get my teammates involved, I love to be a really strong defensive presence and obviously I love to score, but the ball doesn’t always go in the basket, so you have to be able to contribute in every other aspect to make the team as successful as possible.

SJM: How did you get started in basketball—were you pretty young?
BA: [Laughs] I couldn’t even tell you. My mom played Division II basketball at Holy Family, so basketball has always been in our family. She started me out very young and she coached a lot of my teams growing up, between clubs and school. I fell in love with it, and all my siblings play basketball too. It’s really a big thing in our house.

SJM: Does your mom still give you advice or yell instructions from the stands?
BA: [Laughs] My mom is very well behaved on the sidelines; very classy. But she’s always someone I can go to before a big game or after a big win or a loss. She’s always there to pick me up and support me. She’s very educated on basketball, so I know I can trust in her and her advice. She just wants the best for me and the team.

SJM: You come from a big family, right?
BA: Yes, I’m the oldest of six kids. My siblings are my best friends. We’re all so close in age—we have five teenagers who are all in high school right now, and then we have one little baby. It’s so much fun and we have some pretty intense games in the backyard, but it’s always great to have someone to push you on the court but also to support you on your own basketball journey.

SJM: Do you have any siblings on the team?
BA: Yes, my younger sister Nadia is a freshman this year and she’s actually starting. She’s made a great contribution to the team so far and I love playing with her. Not only is she really talented, but she’s one of my closest friends in life.

SJM: Is this the first time you’ve been on an official team together?
BA: Official team, yes. We’ve played in some little town leagues, and we play on a community Filipino team together, because we’re Filipino. But this is the first time that we’re playing on an official team together and we’ve been looking forward to this for years, along with both of our parents and our grandparents. She has a twin brother who plays on the boys basketball team, so it’s really cool that we all get to be in this environment together.

SJM: What made you commit to Boston University?
BA: The main things that attracted me to Boston University were the team culture and the coaches. When I visited them and through the process of building my relationship with them over the phone, [I felt comfortable with them]. Also, Boston University is a very strong academic school and it’s really high in my chosen major, which is biomedical engineering. I was so intrigued by the city of Boston itself too, and seeing all the opportunities not just during the college experience but post-grad with all of the internships and job opportunities. The school itself is so beautiful and it felt like home.

SJM: What made you interested in biomedical engineering?
BA: I’ve always wanted to have a profession in something where I could help others. I always knew I wanted to go into engineering because I’m heavy in STEM and really interested in design. Going to the biomed side, I want to go into research and design for prosthetics and help people who either have disabilities or have faced challenges in their life where they now need prosthetics. I would love to get to a point where I do it specifically for athletes, because I want to be able to help athletes who have faced those obstacles and make a difference in their life.

SJM: What else do you do for fun when you’re taking a break from basketball?
BA: There’s usually very little time for that. [Laughs] I would say whenever I’m not playing basketball, I’m really heavy into my studies. That’s something I take pride in, the intensity of the course level I take. If I’m not doing schoolwork or playing basketball, I love hanging out with my family and friends, going to the beach, I love to travel, and I love shopping with my sister. We do that all the time. Since our schedule is so hectic, I love spending that downtime with my family and making memories.

SJM: Is there a certain travel destination on your bucket list?
BA: I would have to say Hawaii. I also want to go to more places overseas like Paris and Italy. Hopefully, as I get older, graduate from college and save up some money, I can travel the world with my friends and family. 

SJM: How about the Philippines, have you been there?
BA: I have not been to the Philippines. That is definitely a goal of mine. I would love to see Manila and learn more about my heritage and visit some of my ancestors there. That would be great.

SJM: Do you like to watch basketball, whether college, WNBA or NBA?
BA: Absolutely. We’re huge basketball fans in our house. I would say I watch mostly college basketball, because you can learn so much and they’re all so mature and talented. We’re also huge Sixers fans and we love watching the Sixers, even though that can be tough sometimes. I also love watching film with my teammates and watching film with my sister to see how we can improve as a unit.

SJM: If you could have four other players from South Jersey to run with, not including your teammates, who would you pick?
BA: Oh, wow. That’s a tough one. There are so many good players to choose from. I know one for sure would be Analyse Intenzo—we’ve been really close friends growing up and she’s obviously a very talented player, a great shooter and a great athlete. We always have so much fun together, so that’s an easy one. Jahzara Green is very talented, very strong, and she definitely has a bright future ahead of her, so I would love to play with her. Kirsten Gibson is a very good player and a great shooter. For my fourth one, I would probably go with Paul VI’s Rachel Thatcher. We’ve played against her lots of times and she’s very strong and a great defender. She seems like she would be a great teammate. That’s a tricky question, because there are so many to pick from.

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Star Watch:

BOYS BASKETBALL
Seamus Bieg, Camden Catholic: The son of former Irish star Tim Bieg, this senior point guard has carved out an impressive career of his own. He averaged 14.5 points last year for the sectional champs.

Jaidyn Boyd, Lenape: Boyd emerged as a key contributor last year as a sophomore, helping the Indians repeat as South Jersey, Group 4 champions. He averaged 8.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists.

Alex Pace, Camden: Camden has a rebuilt roster and a new head coach but the same high expectations, and this senior transfer from Georgia will help the Panthers meet them. He scored 28 and 39 points, respectively, in his first two games in purple and gold.

Jamieson Young, Cherry Hill East: Young is coming off a sensational rookie season in which he hit 55 3-pointers and led the sectional runners-up with a 15.8 scoring average.

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Jahzara Green, Gloucester Catholic: A St. Joseph’s commit, this senior forward led the Rams to their first sectional title under legendary coach Lisa Gedaka last year, averaging 18 points and 6.1 rebounds.

Analyse Intenzo, Moorestown: Intenzo has been a standout for the Quakers since her freshman year and is primed for a big senior season before continuing her career at Fairleigh Dickinson.

El-Anita Joe-Samuel, Lenape: Joe-Samuel entered her junior season with 945 career points in just two seasons after averaging 17.2 as a sophomore to go with 7 rebounds.

Brooke Stagliano, Paul VI: Arguably the best pure shooter in South Jersey, this junior buried 81 shots from behind the arc and averaged 14.3 points last year for a sectional championship team.

WRESTLING
Chase Hansen, Lower Cape May: Hansen has won district and region titles each of his first three seasons and reached the podium at states each time. His goal this year is a state crown.

Kage Jones, Camden Catholic: A senior, Jones has three district titles and two region crowns to his name. He placed second at states as a sophomore and third last season.

Salvatore Marchese, Delsea: The leader for one of South Jersey’s premier programs, Marchese went 42-5 with district and region championships as a junior and placed third in the state at 215 pounds.

Sammy Spaulding, Camden Catholic: A two-time state place winner, Spaulding was the 132-pound state champion last year, capping off a 41-3 junior season. He enters his senior season with 113 career wins.

Mateo Vinciguerra, Woodstown: Vinciguerra, a Maryland commit, went 43-3 with his second region crown as a junior and finished third in the state at 285 pounds, equaling the highest finish in school history.

GIRLS WRESTLING
Lamiah Berry, Absegami: Berry compiled a 26-5 record as a sophomore, capped off by a pin in the 132-pound state final.

Abbigale Dudley, Rancocas Valley: Dudley is closing in on 100 career wins after going 30-4 with her second region crown and a fourth-place finish at states as a junior.

Reagan Roxas, Kingsway: A senior, Roxas is coming off a perfect 33-0 season in which she captured the 120-pound state championship—her third time on the podium—and won her second region title.

BOYS SWIMMING
Ryan Quinn, Haddon Township: Quinn, a Notre Dame commit, was a state champion in the butterfly last season and placed second in the backstroke.

Christian Shenk, St. Augustine: Shenk is coming off a strong sophomore season in which he placed third in the backstroke and eighth in the 200 free at the Meet of Champions.

GIRLS SWIMMING
Addy Gebhart, Cherokee: Gebhart sprinted to state titles in both the 50 and 100 free as a sophomore. She is committed to Indiana.

Shelby Hutchinson, Haddon Township: Hutchinson’s remarkable freshman season featured a state title in the butterfly and a second-place finish in the backstroke.

GIRLS INDOOR TRACK
Sianni Wynn, Pennsauken: The two-time reigning South Jersey Track Coaches Association Performer of the Year, Wynn recently announced her commitment to Florida.

GIRLS BOWLING
Annabelle Carter, GCIT: Carter is looking to cap off her memorable career with a big senior season. A three-time All-State selection, she was a state champ as a freshman and took seventh last year.

Leanna Lescano, Cherry Hill East: Lescano, a senior, posted a 194 average as a junior and placed ninth at the state individual tournament on her way to All-State third-team recognition.

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