Much Ado About Mount Athletes

The Mount Saint Dominic Academy winter sports season last week was full of achievements and champion-caliber results.

"This has been one of the most successful winter months to date here at the Mount in athletics,” according to Athletic Director Lorenzo Sozio. “Our winter track and swimming programs have had an outstanding two weeks in the NJSIAA state tournaments. I can’t express enough congratulations to our winter programs for all their success. Thank you to all of our athletes for their hard work and dedication.”

Here’s a roundup of the Lions winter sports teams:

 • Winter Track: The Lions won their second straight NJSIAA Non-Public B championship easily outscoring second place Kent Place of Summit, 100-29, on Feb. 20 in Toms River.

The team made history as they crossed the 100-point plateau – a mark no team had crossed in any group championship. In addition, Mount St. Dominic set three Non-Public B records in the process.

MSD winners included:

 • Kathleen McCurdy, Alissa Casas, Nicole DeStefano and Ashlynn Field – 1600M relay team (4:12.28).

• Amanda Corbosiero – 1600M (5:13.82) and 3200M (11:07.67).

• Sarah Talmadge – shotput (36’ 1¼”).

• Kelsey O’Driscoll – third in 3200M (12:02.04)

• Kelly Dunnigan – third in the high jump (4’10”)

• Eva Larsen – fourth in the high jump (4’8”)

• Beatrice Beljur – fifth in the shotput (30’10¾”).

Kelsey O’Driscoll (’12) finished third in the 3200 (12:02.04) and Naughton took fourth in the 3200, running 12:07.82. Kelly Dunnigan (’11) took third in the high jump (4’10”) while Eva Larsen (’13) was fourth in 4’8”. Beatrice Beljour (’12) finished fifth in the shot, with a throw of 30’10¾”.

The Lions also competed in the NJSIAA Prep championships Feb. 16 and finished second, just a half point behind the champion, Lawrenceville.

SWIMMING: Mount St. Dominic swimmers defeated Pingry, 96-74, on Feb. 22 to earn a berth in the NJSIAA Non-Public B championship versus Mount St. Mary of Watchung on Feb. 26  at The College of New Jersey in Ewing. In the championship, the Lions fell to Mount St. Mary of Watchung, 100-70.

Against Pingry, the Lions were led by Lauren Buckworth, Abigail Ortman, Megan Wujciak and Maggie Coleman, each of whom won two events.

• Buckworth -- 200 intermediate (2:13.23) and 500 free (5:24.16)

• Ortman -- 200 free (1:57.66) and 100 back (1:01.29)

• Wujciak  -- 50 free (24.98) and the 100 free (53.38)

• Coleman -- 100 fly (1:02.78) and 100 breast (1:13.39).

The Lions finished undefeated (10-0) and won the Super Essex Conference (SEC) for the second straight year. Mount St. Dominic also took third at the state prep championships earlier this month.

BOWLING: The Lions finished fifth in the SEC while the JV Lions were fourth in the division. Leah Jankoski led the varsity with a 136 average while Caitlyn Dwyer was second with a 111 mark. The Lions’ JV team was paced by juniors Monica Adams and Christina Gattas, along with seniors Rosemarie Barbalace and Catherine Morgan.

BASKETBALL: The Lions basketball season came to an end on March 1, as the team came up onshort, losing to Roselle Catholic, 42-30, in the NJSIAA, Non-Public A state tournament game. Mount St. Dominic was seeded 14th in the section while Roselle Catholic garnered the third seed. The Lions were 9-12 at season’s end, but won their last game, 33-29, over Montclair. It was the third time this season the Lions had beaten the Mounties. Mallory Shickora had 13 points to lead the Lions while Camille McPherson scored 10.

IN OTHER SPORTS NEWS: Kendahl Shortway has been hired as the new Mount St. Dominic’s lacrosse coach, according to Mount St. Dominic’s Athletic Director Lorenzo Sozio.

Shortway, a Vernon native, played high school lacrosse at Vernon and was the team captain in 2004. She is a graduate of The College of New Jersey, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in 2004. This past summer, she received a master's in Sports Studies at the University of Tennessee. Previously, she was a club lacrosse coach for the Volunteers and a freshman coach at Vernon High School.