ROXBURY, NJ – Roxbury High School fall athletics are off to a good start, with the football team achieving a 4-0 record, the volleyball team going 6-1 so far and the girls soccer team at 3-1.

To the school’s athletics director, Stuart Mason, the success of the Gaels teams this fall will not be a surprise. He said he was happy with the work put into preparation before the games began. “I am impressed with how hard the athletes and coaches worked in the offseason and believe this will be another great fall season for the Gaels,” Mason said.

He said the teams’ coaches, including first-year head coach of the field hockey team, Kate Norgard, have “high expectations” for their athletes.

“Coach Norgard is excited about newcomers, freshman Avianna Zanni and sophomore Brooke Franetovich, and expects them to give a spark to the offensive line along with returning seniors Adisen Aemisegeo and Catie Colatrella,” Mason said. The team is led by captains Mia Decker, Ayla Hart and Catie Colatrella.

Moving to the cross-country squad, Mason said coach Derek Bischoff’s team trained hard all summer for season which began with the annual Roxbury Invitational at Horseshoe Lake on Sept 9.

“For the girls, senior Madison Gargiulo will look to lead a group of returning runners,” he said. “Coach Bischoff is also hopeful for contributions from a talented freshman group. The boys graduated a handful of runners last yea,r and are looking for contributions from new faces.”

Mason he and Bischoff are optimistic for a competitive season due to the returning leadership of Jared Weiss, a senior.

The boys soccer team won its first state sectional championship in more than 20 years last season and Coach Kevin Franco expects the team to make another long run in the tournament this year, Mason said. As of today, the team is 1-3.

Junior Jake Donnelly and senior Luke LeSuer “anchor the defense” in front of athletic goalkeeper Connor Stark, a senior, Mason said. “Senior Lucas Amenta and the midfield will target scoring threat, Asher Metz, a junior,” he added.

The athletic director said he believes the girls soccer team will continue to be competitive in one of the top divisions in the state. “Look for senior Jules Osterman to find the back of the net often,” Mason predicted. “Sophomore Maddie Anderson will help control the back while seniors Kylie and Kendra Haughey will provide leadership for one of the deepest teams in recent memory.”

For the first time in school history a football game was played before the start of the school year, Mason noted. The “week zero comeback win against Parsippany Hills was one that people will be talking about for a long time,” he said. “Jared Irwin, a senior, had three interceptions and a touchdown reception in the come from behind victory.”

Since that great season-opener, the Gaels have won three more great contests.

“A talented senior class that includes quarterback Anthony Skawinski and standouts Matt Rattay, Colin Richter and Jahmani Miller will be counted on to continue to make plays the rest of the year,” Mason said. “Coach Ryan Roumes believes his team has the talent to extend their season well into November.”

First-year volleyball coach Alison Correnti “looks to improve on the previous season's 13-12 record with a new core group of athletes,” said Mason. Based on the record so far – six wins and only one loss – the Gaels are on the way to reaching that goal.

Returning to lead the group is all-conference outside hitter Tayla O´Connor, a senior. Classmate Ella Izzi and Junior Bianca Jackson are providing power in the middle blocker positions, Mason said. The Gaels will also look to juniors Jenna Heiser and Bella Gill to help lead the team this season.

Moving to girls tennis, Mason said Coach Rob Doyle’s program “is continuing to grow and looking to improve from last year despite graduating 11 seniors.” The Gaels return junior Bella McHugh in the first singles spot, and Ella Desjardins, a junior, moves up to second singles.  Newcomer sophomore Salome Osuna-Mesa rounds out the top three.

Coach Caitlin Gluck’s gymnastics team is excited about the new season, and senior Bianca Marchese-Petro and juniors Kaitlyn Duras and Kaleigh Howell “will lead the team and compete as all around gymnasts,” noted Mason. He said sophomore Bianca Marotta, “is a new face to watch.”

Meanwhile, Gaels cheerleaders “will continue to  impress the large crowds at Friday Night Lights with their acrobatic stunts and routines,” vowed Mason. “Captains Grace Edelman, Kenzie Herzog and Jacquelyn Sottile will lead Coach LaCosta’s program,” he said.  

On the musical side, this year’s Marching Gaels are led by senior Drum Major Justin Masi and junior Drum Major Kate McDougal, Mason said. “Through their highly competitive program, they will be bringing the Myth of Icarus to life in their show entitled "Too Close to the Sun." You can check out their first performance at the Roxbury Marching Band Classic on Saturday, Sept. 23, held at Roxbury High School.

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News Source : https://www.tapinto.net/towns/roxbury/sections/sports/articles/exciting-fall-underway-for-roxbury-high-school-sports