Inside Gloucester Twp Sports

Athletic Prowess Abounds In Gloucester Township Timber Creek High School, which opened its doors in Sept. 2001, has been brewing lots of athletic excitement in its first year of its existence; The Tartans finished the basketball season 24-3 and won their second straight Olympic Conference Patriot Division title; and much more! It has been a whirlwind senior year for Richard Stockton College's Jeff Moore. The Gloucester Township resident and 1998 Triton High School graduate helped power Stockton to the 2001 NCAA Division III Soccer National Championship, the first-ever national title in any sport in the history of the Pomona-based college. Then, the month after he led the squad to an NCAA all-division record 25 victories, the individual accolades came rolling in for Moore: All-New Jersey Athletic Conference, Second Team NCAA Division III All-America according to the National Soccer Coaches of America Association, and All-Metro Region as selected by the NSCAA.

But when the calendar hit Feb. 10, 2002, perhaps Moore achieved his greatest individual accomplishment — he was selected by the New York/New Jersey MetroStars of Major League Soccer in the league's annual SuperDraft. Moore was the 66th player selected in the six-round draft held at the All-Star Cafe at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla. Moore attended the MetroStars' tryout at the Meadowlands along with Stockton teammate Greg Ruttler (Edgewood High School) on January 26-27. Moore's impressive performance earned him an invitation to the team's training camp, which ran in mid-February in Bradenton, Fla. Moore, the Ospreys' co-captain along with Ruttler, started all 27 games and led the team and New Jersey Athletic Conference with a school-record 19 assists. He also netted six goals for a total of 31 points that ranked third on the Stockton squad. Along the way, Moore became the school's all-time leader in career assists (48) and games played.

"It's no surprise to me that the MetroStars liked Jeff," said Stockton coach Jeff Haines, who capped his fourth year at Stockton by capturing the Division III National Championship with a 3-2 win over Redlands (Calif.) in Nov. 2001. Moore assisted on Stockton's game-winning goal to clinch the title. "He can do everything," Haines added. "He's one of the most versatile players I've ever seen, plus, he's very coachable, and he picks things up quick."

According to Haines, a 1984 graduate of Pitman High School, the MetroStars will be working with the 22-year-old Moore, who is on schedule to graduate in May, as he pursues his bachelor's degree. He will be training with the MetroStars 2-4 days per week in the spring. "We're excited as a school and as a team," Haines said. "He's the first Stockton player to be drafted into the MLS and one of just three that I know of from the conference. Actually, some of the system that the MetroStars use, we have also used here at Stockton. Jeff's the kind of kid who can stick and make it. He's very durable and a tireless worker. He played in every game and played nearly all of the minutes during his four years here. One of the MetroStars' coaches commented to me that Jeff's the hardest working guy at their practice. That's no surprise. He's one of the best players to wear a Stockton uniform."

"I played one year with him at Stockton, my senior year," said former Stockton midfielder Les Lunsford, who plays professional indoor soccer for the Philadelphia Kixx of the Major Indoor Soccer League. "Jeff played the wing and could run all day."

Nice Debut

Timber Creek High School, which opened its doors in Sept. 2001, has been brewing lots of athletic excitement in its first year of its existence. But so far, perhaps nothing has been more encouraging than the performance of its wrestlers this past winter. "In a sport like wrestling where it's a truly physical sport, one of the key factors to being successful is maturity," said Coach Avery. "The physical difference between a 14-year-old boy and an 18-year-old is huge. So by not having seniors, we had to overcome our youth. Every wrestler had a role and sometimes, losing a close match can be just as important as winning a match."

Two key performers were cousins Paul Schliep and John Eden. Schiep, a 112-pound sophomore finished with 27 wins, was third at District 30, and fourth in Region 8. He wrestled at Highland last year but the redistricting thanks to the addition of Timber Creek saw him move schools. Eden, a freshman, performed well at 103. Also, juniors Mark Brownlow (140) and Todd Martin (152), and freshman Phil Kustner (over 20 wins at 125) all performed above expectations. Plus 171-pounder Ray Egger, 189-pound freshman Chuck Long and 215-pound sophomore Abe Elmore each had key victories along the way.

Timber Creek wrestled an independent schedule in 2001-02, which means they did not have to face every team in the Olympic Conference, although it did participate against teams in what would be its division, losing only to Camden Catholic and Cherry Hill West. "I feel good about the kids who will be coming up to join our program next year," said Avery, who will have the luxury of having everyone from this year's team return in 2002-03. "Our kids are really enthusiastic about starting their own thing. There's a real positive feeling about all sports at the school and our administrators are very supportive."

Highland Hoops

The Tartans finished the basketball season 24-3 and won their second straight Olympic Conference Patriot Division title. More importantly, the two top scorers were a pair of 5'10" sophomores, Lisa Steele and Danielle Hemerka. Steele averaged 20.8 points and Hemerka averaged 16.6. The Tartans advanced to the South Jersey Group 3 Championship Game at Woodstown High School, where they lost to powerful Willingboro, 52-44. This came after impressive Group 3 playoff wins over Williamstown (62-38) and Woodrow Wilson (62-45). Highland is now 47-5 over the past two years, including 20-0 in its division the last two years. With two more seasons for Steele and Hemerka, the Tartans should remain among the elite teams in South Jersey.

Content provided by South Jersey Sports Club.

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Author: SJ Sports Club-Mike Shute