SJSW Notebook: Off and Running

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September 18, 2019

Clearview Regional High School sophomore was the recipient of the SJSW Player of the Week after claiming the Gloucester County Tournament singles championship.

South Jersey Sports Weekly is a publication that launched in April. It’s produced by Sun Newspapers and appears in the physical copy within the Suns throughout South Jersey (in Moorestown, Medford, Cherry Hill, Washington Township, Deptford, etc). each Wednesday. Most of the content also appears online. The weekly, online notebook will provide you with even more of the content within SJSW’s physical pages.

It’s difficult to believe we’re less than two weeks away from October already, but here we are — the high schools sports season is well underway and flying toward its second month.

If you haven’t seen the physical copy of South Jersey Sports Weekly yet (it’s free inside your weekly Sun Newspaper in 20 towns, including Haddonfield, Cherry Hill, Marlton, Mullica Hill, and Medford) be sure to grab a copy. There is some print-only content, like our Weekly Power Poll, a top-10 ranking of all of the teams throughout all of the sports each season that changes with each edition.

Also included both in print and here in our weekly notebook: the SJSW Player of the Week. The honor this past week went to Carlee Cristella of Clearview Regional High School’s tennis team.

How did the Pioneers’ sophomore singles player celebrate the first weekend of the high school sports season? She announce herself as the best girls tennis player in her county through consistently strong play in the annual county tournament.

After reaching the quarterfinals of the Gloucester County Tournament a year ago as a freshman, Carlee Cristella was focused and prepared on winning the title this year and made it happen by beating Our Lady of Mercy’s Grace Hamburg in straight sets in the championship match.

“She’s a focused player, and she knows what she needs to do to win a point,” said Clearview coach Colleen Senor. “She knows a lot of the other players in the county and because of that she knew what to expect from the competition. Her goal was to win the tournament and that’s exactly what she did. Watching Carlee play in any match is fun, but watching her strive to be at the top in this tournament was a thrill. She goes after every ball, moves around the court flawlessly, and uses good mental strategy in each game. I anticipate her being one of the top players in the conference and being a contender in the (South Jersey Interscholastic Championships).”

The SJIC, also often referred to both as the Coaches Tournament and the Vineland Tournament, gets underway this Saturday at Vineland High School.

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ICYMI: More stories from last week

Overcoming adversity: After suffering two serious injuries during her high school career, Emma Karch is back and making an impact at Cinnaminson.
Cherokee High School football had a rare down year last year, to say the least: the Chiefs won one game. But with a talented junior quarterback back from injury, Cherokee is off and running in 2019 and eager to put ’18 in the rearview mirror.
After qualifying for the NJSIAA Meet of Champions in her first two seasons, Seneca junior Emma Klouchek has high hopes for 2019.
Who is his toughest teammate? Favorite opponent to face? Who does he think is the best goalie in the state? Cherry Hill West senior keeper Ian Sachs tackles that and more in the weekly SJSW Q&A.

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Games to Watch

Wednesday, Sept. 18
Boys Soccer: Cherokee vs. Shawnee
3:45 p.m. at Shawnee High School

Thursday, Sept. 19
Girls Soccer: Triton vs. Williamstown
4 p.m. at Triton High School

Friday, Sept. 20
Football: Haddonfield vs. Cinnaminson
7 p.m. at Cinnaminson High School

Saturday, Sept. 21
Cross Country: Ray Hoagland RV Invitational
Varsity races begin at 10:40 a.m. at Eastampton Sports Complex

Saturday, Sept. 21 and Sunday, Sept. 22
Girls Tennis: South Jersey Interscholastic Championships
Play begins at 9 a.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday at Vineland High School

Monday, Sept. 23
Field Hockey: Seneca vs. Bishop Eustace
4 p.m. at Bishop Eustace Prep

Tuesday, Sept. 24
Girls Volleyball: Cherry Hill East vs. Sterling
3:45 p.m. at Sterling High School

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