Friday, December 7, 2007
Revival of an Old Tradition Signals the Start of a New Era/Portledge Varsity Boys Hockey Returns to the Princeton Day School Invitational
This weekend the Varsity Boys Ice Hockey team will be playing in the Princeton Day School Invitational Tournament. This tournament has a very rich history and boasts prestigious hockey programs such as Lawrenceville, The Hill and Brunswick as former champions. The Portledge Panthers are also part of the glorious past of this great event. During the mid 80s, a Portledge team that included current Advancement Director Turk Lewis '87 and was captained by former Headmaster Hugh Gregory's son John '86, was victorious over a competitive field of fine hockey clubs. Then in the late 80s, another Portledge team, whose most dynamic player was current Portledge parent and alum Justin Ort '90, once again hoisted the PDS Trophy in victory. Finally, the 1996 Panthers, coached by Mr. Pierre Ranger and yours truly, and captained by two Sophomores who would go on to make a great deal more Portledge Hockey history, defeated Princeton Day and a heavily favored Millbrook School to secure yet another championship at this annual ice hockey fest. A few years later those two Sophomores, Jordan Karp '98 and James Sedoruk '98, would lead a Panther squad that included several future NHL professionals and Division I college stars, in the first of three consecutive Brooks-Pingree Holiday Tournament championships. Could this return to the Princeton Day Tournament usher in a new era of Portledge Hockey success? We'll have to wait and see. Right now, however, we are all very excited about seeing Portledge return to this classic competition of some of the best schoolboy hockey in the Mid Atlantic region.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Winter Sports Schedules Now Up On The Portledge Website
A blog reader recently asked about the Varsity Girls and Boys Ice Hockey schedules. You can find the schedules for all the Portledge Winter Sports teams by going to (Portledge.org) and clicking on Athletics. Then just hit the schedule tab and you will get the full schedule page. If you would like detailed information on a specific event, use the school calendar tab at the top of the home page. Thanks for checking out the blog and we'll see you down at the rink!
Athletes of the Week
Congratulations to our first Winter Athletes of the Week. From Left to Right: Ashley Wade '11, Siena Falino '09, Tom Parisi '11 and Mark Dourmashkin '10. Tom and Ashley both received and Ice Hockey athlete of the week award for their fine performances both getting two goals against Rye Country Day and Morristown-Beard respectfully. Mark played some great basketball during the Martin Luther tournament this past weekend and finally, Siena Falino earned her award for scoring two goals against Gunnery in a 2-1 overtime win last Wednesday -- the last goal was scored with 1 second left in overtime.GREAT JOB GUYS!!!
A Tough Loss, But What A Game/ Varsity Girls Ice Hockey Takes on League Rival Morristown Beard
When the Portledge VGIH team joined the Mid Atlantic Girls Hockey League they knew that one of the biggest obstacles to becoming champions would be defeating the current league champs, the girls from Mo-Beard. The Lady Panther skaters have played some great games against the girls in crimson and white over the last few years, and their first meeting this season was quite a tussle.
It was a windy and chilly night down at Beaver Dam for this early season contest between WIHLMA powerhouses Portledge and Mo-Beard. The stands filled up quickly with supporters of both sides and the early play had a real fast pace to it. Unfortunately for the Portledge girls, their opponents seemed a bit more ready to go at the beginning, and it wasn't long before Portledge found itself down 2-0. As the period was coming to a close, Freshmen Ashley Wade was able to fire a wrister by the MB goalie and give the Lady Panthers some life, only to see their enthusiasm dashed by another MB goal that made the score 3-1 at the end of the first period. The teams traded goals in the second period as Portledge followed a MB score with a beautiful power play goal by Sophomore Chelsea Caracciolo. Caracciolo's blast from the point was set up by a beautiful cross ice feed from captain Siena Falino. Still, the Portledge girls trailed by two going into the third. This was a great period of hockey with both teams rushing the puck from end to end only to be stopped by some fine goaltending from Portledge net minder Jess Sarrantonio and her opposite # on the Mo-Beard side. As the game was entering its last five minutes the Freshman dynamo that is Ashley Wade took a feed from behind the goal and slid one by the crimson keeper. Now the Panthers were only behind by one and before to long had pulled their goalie for an extra attacker. The puck stayed down in the MB end and the Portledge team had some quality chances, but alas, none found the back of the net and Mo- Beard escaped with a 4-3 victory. Players and coaches from both teams congratulated each other on a fine game and there were a few "can't wait for the next time" uttered around the rink. If this is what league play in girls hockey is about, well....Bring It On!
It was a windy and chilly night down at Beaver Dam for this early season contest between WIHLMA powerhouses Portledge and Mo-Beard. The stands filled up quickly with supporters of both sides and the early play had a real fast pace to it. Unfortunately for the Portledge girls, their opponents seemed a bit more ready to go at the beginning, and it wasn't long before Portledge found itself down 2-0. As the period was coming to a close, Freshmen Ashley Wade was able to fire a wrister by the MB goalie and give the Lady Panthers some life, only to see their enthusiasm dashed by another MB goal that made the score 3-1 at the end of the first period. The teams traded goals in the second period as Portledge followed a MB score with a beautiful power play goal by Sophomore Chelsea Caracciolo. Caracciolo's blast from the point was set up by a beautiful cross ice feed from captain Siena Falino. Still, the Portledge girls trailed by two going into the third. This was a great period of hockey with both teams rushing the puck from end to end only to be stopped by some fine goaltending from Portledge net minder Jess Sarrantonio and her opposite # on the Mo-Beard side. As the game was entering its last five minutes the Freshman dynamo that is Ashley Wade took a feed from behind the goal and slid one by the crimson keeper. Now the Panthers were only behind by one and before to long had pulled their goalie for an extra attacker. The puck stayed down in the MB end and the Portledge team had some quality chances, but alas, none found the back of the net and Mo- Beard escaped with a 4-3 victory. Players and coaches from both teams congratulated each other on a fine game and there were a few "can't wait for the next time" uttered around the rink. If this is what league play in girls hockey is about, well....Bring It On!
Program Shows Real Depth/JV Boys Basketball Opens Season With Fine Play and Lots of Talent
What Does This Year's JV Boys Basketball Team Look Like?
This year's JVBB team is an interesting mix of characters. They are a fun loving group that likes to hang out together (they already have team nicknames) and really compete hard in games. Their leaders are Sophomores Bryce Behar aka "Brizzle" and Bashir Desgrottes aka "B Diddy". Bryce is an energetic shut down defender and Bashir is a talented point guard that has the ability to score as well as distribute the ball. On the forward line we have two powerful players in Freshmen Adeola Adgebite aka "Man Child" and Blake "Tiny" Martin. Both these guys rebound very well and have displayed a deft touch around the basket. Freshmen Vishal Chinchwadkar aka "Cookies", Steven "Stevie D" Dourmashkin, Eddie "Huai Not" Huai and Ben "Lobley" Lobley run the wings and provide the squad with excellent ball handling skills and good overall team speed. Finally, there is Chris McCloskey aka"McCloskey" who flies around the court with reckless abandon and brings some real energy and a spice of dash to the team's play.
The JVBB opened up its season with games against two of their toughest opponents(Upper Room and Columbia Prep), and although both these games ended in losses, you couldn't help but be impressed with the effort and fine play of all the players. Mr Clark is doing a great job of getting the guys to play as a team, and we are all looking for great things out of this group as the season goes on.
This year's JVBB team is an interesting mix of characters. They are a fun loving group that likes to hang out together (they already have team nicknames) and really compete hard in games. Their leaders are Sophomores Bryce Behar aka "Brizzle" and Bashir Desgrottes aka "B Diddy". Bryce is an energetic shut down defender and Bashir is a talented point guard that has the ability to score as well as distribute the ball. On the forward line we have two powerful players in Freshmen Adeola Adgebite aka "Man Child" and Blake "Tiny" Martin. Both these guys rebound very well and have displayed a deft touch around the basket. Freshmen Vishal Chinchwadkar aka "Cookies", Steven "Stevie D" Dourmashkin, Eddie "Huai Not" Huai and Ben "Lobley" Lobley run the wings and provide the squad with excellent ball handling skills and good overall team speed. Finally, there is Chris McCloskey aka"McCloskey" who flies around the court with reckless abandon and brings some real energy and a spice of dash to the team's play.
The JVBB opened up its season with games against two of their toughest opponents(Upper Room and Columbia Prep), and although both these games ended in losses, you couldn't help but be impressed with the effort and fine play of all the players. Mr Clark is doing a great job of getting the guys to play as a team, and we are all looking for great things out of this group as the season goes on.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Tough Weekend for Varsity Basketball Teams As They Step Up In Competition at the Martin Luther Tournament
The Martin Luther High School Varsity Girls and Boys Basketball Tournament is known for its very high level of competition. Martin Luther Athletic Director Jim Reagan always brings in some of the finest teams from around NYC to play in this annual pre-holidays event. It is always a challenge for the Portledge teams, but we like to keep our place to see where our program stands. Just last year the Lady Panthers almost won the tournament only losing by a few points in an exciting final, and this year our boys team was definitely competitive even though they went down to defeat twice.
How Did The Varsity Girls Do?
It was a tough weekend for the VGBB team. They were playing without their starting point guard and many of the young players were experiencing this type of competition for the first time. Although they dropped both games by some considerable margins there were some definite positives that came out of the weekend. Sophomore Robyn Worrall played very well at the point and showed that she can handle the ball well when under pressure. This will certainly give Robyn and the rest of the team increased confidence when they face pressure defenses during league play. Also, Sophomore Akanksha Trivedi illustrated that she can score against some tough defenders, as well as rebound in some heavy traffic. Once again, this experience should pay off down the road. Lastly, watching the girls throughout the weekend one could see the team dynamic starting to evolve as the players got to spend more time together. Great job by coaches Henry and Reynolds in keeping the girls upbeat and making the entire weekend a positive one.
How About The Boys?
The VBBB team played two very tough and competitive games. They were in the lead at various times in both games and they demonstrated that they can score the basketball against some strong defenses. Sophomore Mark Dourmashkin really broke out in the opener against Martin Luther when he scored 25 points, while also dishing out some quality assists. In addition, Senior Ray Weinmann earned the start at center in the second game with his fine overall play and showed that he can be counted on to be a strong presence inside. Although he struggled a bit in the opener, Junior Aaron Lee played so well in the second game that he was selected as All Tournament by the tournament committee. Two losses are never easy to swallow, but the boys played well, and I think the experience they gained will help them as they try to reach their goal-to secure a spot in the IPPSAL play offs. Great job by Mr. Sandoval and Miss Nugent getting the guys ready and we will see you all at the Portledge Invitational next weekend. The girls semi finals will be on Thursday, while the boys will play their semis on Friday. Saturday will see a whole day off basketball at Wellington Gym as we play the girls consolation and final followed by the boys consolation and final. Play will begin at 11:00am and proceed throughout the day.
How Did The Varsity Girls Do?
It was a tough weekend for the VGBB team. They were playing without their starting point guard and many of the young players were experiencing this type of competition for the first time. Although they dropped both games by some considerable margins there were some definite positives that came out of the weekend. Sophomore Robyn Worrall played very well at the point and showed that she can handle the ball well when under pressure. This will certainly give Robyn and the rest of the team increased confidence when they face pressure defenses during league play. Also, Sophomore Akanksha Trivedi illustrated that she can score against some tough defenders, as well as rebound in some heavy traffic. Once again, this experience should pay off down the road. Lastly, watching the girls throughout the weekend one could see the team dynamic starting to evolve as the players got to spend more time together. Great job by coaches Henry and Reynolds in keeping the girls upbeat and making the entire weekend a positive one.
How About The Boys?
The VBBB team played two very tough and competitive games. They were in the lead at various times in both games and they demonstrated that they can score the basketball against some strong defenses. Sophomore Mark Dourmashkin really broke out in the opener against Martin Luther when he scored 25 points, while also dishing out some quality assists. In addition, Senior Ray Weinmann earned the start at center in the second game with his fine overall play and showed that he can be counted on to be a strong presence inside. Although he struggled a bit in the opener, Junior Aaron Lee played so well in the second game that he was selected as All Tournament by the tournament committee. Two losses are never easy to swallow, but the boys played well, and I think the experience they gained will help them as they try to reach their goal-to secure a spot in the IPPSAL play offs. Great job by Mr. Sandoval and Miss Nugent getting the guys ready and we will see you all at the Portledge Invitational next weekend. The girls semi finals will be on Thursday, while the boys will play their semis on Friday. Saturday will see a whole day off basketball at Wellington Gym as we play the girls consolation and final followed by the boys consolation and final. Play will begin at 11:00am and proceed throughout the day.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Exciting Start to a Promising Season/Varsity Girls Ice Hockey Opens Up With a Win at The Gunnery
The Varsity Girls Ice Hockey team is a close knit group of 12 very dedicated young athletes. Under the leadership of Head Coach Zoe Schwam they will play their inaugural season in the Womens Interscholastic Hockey League of the Mid Atlantic ( WIHLMA) . This is a great opportunity for Portledge Hockey and the girls are quite enthusiastic about their prospects.
Who Are the Leaders of the Varsity Girls Team?
The VGIH team is led by a trio of veterans who have all been with the program since its first game four years ago. Senior rear guard and co captain Kelly Alefeld and Senior goalie Jess Sarrantonio take charge of the Lady Panthers defensive zone with a combination of great skill and quality leadership, while Junior forward and co captain Siena Falino continues to illustrate why she is so respected in the world of Portledge athletics by maintaining a presence of thorough determination and regal eloquence. These three exceptional young ladies set an incredible example for the younger players by consistently working hard and never losing sight of their commitment to the development of girls ice hockey at Portledge.
Who Are Some of the Other Forwards on the Team?
Senior Liz Lanza returns to the ice after missing last year with an injury and is having a blast playing again. She often teams with Freshmen Alyssa Parke and Ashley Wade to form a line that creates a great deal of offensive pressure. Sophomore Addie Reilly has tremendous potential as a goal scorer and can usually be found riding shotgun on Falino's wing, always fighting hard to control loose pucks. Freshmen Maria Robbins is a consistent skater who loves to play the game, and Freshman Hope Mulry is also working hard in practice and coming along quite nicely as an all around player.
How Many Defenders Does the Team Have?
Only two other girls, Sophomores Chelsea Caracciolo and Emily Prey combine with Alefeld to form the teams blue line corps. They will each get a lot of ice time and have the opportunity to be an excellent and mobile defense. While they are all great skaters, the most impressive thing so far has been their impeccable positioning during fast paced play. It seems that they are never caught up and are always giving Goaltender Jess Sarrantonio lots of protection.
What Happened in the Lady Panthers First Game at the Gunnery?
Gunnery and Portledge have played three times in girls ice hockey with the Gunnery winning all three contests. As the teams took the ice this past Wednesday night it first appeared as if the Gunners would easily make it four straight over the Lady Panthers. Someone, however, forgot to tell Siena Falino and the rest of the Portledge players about this plan. From the drop of the puck it was a hard fought and physical contest as the referees gave the girls plenty of room to play a determined game. Both sides had good scoring chances during the first period, but neither team was able to put one by the opposing goalie and the period ended in a 0-0 tie. The Gunnery girls came out strong in the second stanza and consistently applied forechecking pressure in the Portledge zone. Finally, after a long shift with many attempts on the Portledge cage, Gunnery took the lead when their first line center sent a beautiful backhand shot past Sarrantonio and into the lower right corner of the net. The Lady Panthers steadied themselves though, and created some good chances of their own in the periods closing minutes. Even though they trailed 1-0 the Portledge girls were feeling comfortable and skating well as they took the ice for the third and final period. At the seven minute mark Falino got loose in front of the gunnery net and slid one by the keeper to tie the score at 1. As the period went on the Gunnery girls tired a bit, while the Lady Panthers were able to maintain their overall speed and pace. When the horn sounded to signal the end of regulation it was Portledge that was carrying the play. The overtime was a wild affair with the teams rushing the puck from end to end and almost no whistles to stop the rapid play. When Freshmen Alyssa Parke and a Gunnery player were sent off with coincidental minors for holding with a minute left I think it was an advantage for Portledge in that it created more open ice for Falino to work some of her magic. As the time ticked away and the clock showed 0.12 seconds to play Freshman Ashley Wade gathered a loose puck in the Portledge zone along the left boards. When she looked up she saw Falino streaking across the ice and sent the puck along in her path. The pass was perfect. It caught Falino in full stride and enabled her to get her head up at just the right time to elude one of the Gunnery defenders. Then she turned on the jets and raced towards the Gunnery zone. They couldn't catch her as all of a sudden, with less than 0.05 seconds remaining, Falino was in all alone . A slick move to the backhand and a calm finish put Portledge ahead right as the final horn sounded. THE BENCH EXPLODED IN JOY as the referee signaled goal and the girls realized that all their hard work had paid off in a very improbable victory. The 2-1 win with no time left will fade into Portledge hockey history, but it will never be forgotten by anyone who was there to witness it, or by the lucky girls who played in this amazing game.
Come see the Lady Panther skaters when they take on their league rivals Morristown-Beard this coming Monday, 12/3 down at Beaver Dam @5:30pm. You won't be disappointed, and you might even catch another miracle.
Who Are the Leaders of the Varsity Girls Team?
The VGIH team is led by a trio of veterans who have all been with the program since its first game four years ago. Senior rear guard and co captain Kelly Alefeld and Senior goalie Jess Sarrantonio take charge of the Lady Panthers defensive zone with a combination of great skill and quality leadership, while Junior forward and co captain Siena Falino continues to illustrate why she is so respected in the world of Portledge athletics by maintaining a presence of thorough determination and regal eloquence. These three exceptional young ladies set an incredible example for the younger players by consistently working hard and never losing sight of their commitment to the development of girls ice hockey at Portledge.
Who Are Some of the Other Forwards on the Team?
Senior Liz Lanza returns to the ice after missing last year with an injury and is having a blast playing again. She often teams with Freshmen Alyssa Parke and Ashley Wade to form a line that creates a great deal of offensive pressure. Sophomore Addie Reilly has tremendous potential as a goal scorer and can usually be found riding shotgun on Falino's wing, always fighting hard to control loose pucks. Freshmen Maria Robbins is a consistent skater who loves to play the game, and Freshman Hope Mulry is also working hard in practice and coming along quite nicely as an all around player.
How Many Defenders Does the Team Have?
Only two other girls, Sophomores Chelsea Caracciolo and Emily Prey combine with Alefeld to form the teams blue line corps. They will each get a lot of ice time and have the opportunity to be an excellent and mobile defense. While they are all great skaters, the most impressive thing so far has been their impeccable positioning during fast paced play. It seems that they are never caught up and are always giving Goaltender Jess Sarrantonio lots of protection.
What Happened in the Lady Panthers First Game at the Gunnery?
Gunnery and Portledge have played three times in girls ice hockey with the Gunnery winning all three contests. As the teams took the ice this past Wednesday night it first appeared as if the Gunners would easily make it four straight over the Lady Panthers. Someone, however, forgot to tell Siena Falino and the rest of the Portledge players about this plan. From the drop of the puck it was a hard fought and physical contest as the referees gave the girls plenty of room to play a determined game. Both sides had good scoring chances during the first period, but neither team was able to put one by the opposing goalie and the period ended in a 0-0 tie. The Gunnery girls came out strong in the second stanza and consistently applied forechecking pressure in the Portledge zone. Finally, after a long shift with many attempts on the Portledge cage, Gunnery took the lead when their first line center sent a beautiful backhand shot past Sarrantonio and into the lower right corner of the net. The Lady Panthers steadied themselves though, and created some good chances of their own in the periods closing minutes. Even though they trailed 1-0 the Portledge girls were feeling comfortable and skating well as they took the ice for the third and final period. At the seven minute mark Falino got loose in front of the gunnery net and slid one by the keeper to tie the score at 1. As the period went on the Gunnery girls tired a bit, while the Lady Panthers were able to maintain their overall speed and pace. When the horn sounded to signal the end of regulation it was Portledge that was carrying the play. The overtime was a wild affair with the teams rushing the puck from end to end and almost no whistles to stop the rapid play. When Freshmen Alyssa Parke and a Gunnery player were sent off with coincidental minors for holding with a minute left I think it was an advantage for Portledge in that it created more open ice for Falino to work some of her magic. As the time ticked away and the clock showed 0.12 seconds to play Freshman Ashley Wade gathered a loose puck in the Portledge zone along the left boards. When she looked up she saw Falino streaking across the ice and sent the puck along in her path. The pass was perfect. It caught Falino in full stride and enabled her to get her head up at just the right time to elude one of the Gunnery defenders. Then she turned on the jets and raced towards the Gunnery zone. They couldn't catch her as all of a sudden, with less than 0.05 seconds remaining, Falino was in all alone . A slick move to the backhand and a calm finish put Portledge ahead right as the final horn sounded. THE BENCH EXPLODED IN JOY as the referee signaled goal and the girls realized that all their hard work had paid off in a very improbable victory. The 2-1 win with no time left will fade into Portledge hockey history, but it will never be forgotten by anyone who was there to witness it, or by the lucky girls who played in this amazing game.
Come see the Lady Panther skaters when they take on their league rivals Morristown-Beard this coming Monday, 12/3 down at Beaver Dam @5:30pm. You won't be disappointed, and you might even catch another miracle.
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