Sports

Old Bridge repeats as Group 4 champs

Yankees prospect Spencer Jones talks torpedo bats, plate consistency Spencer Jones, the Yankees’ No. 6 prospect according to Baseball America, will be the big name to watch in Somerset to begin the 2025 season. Courtesy of Somerset Patriots SOUTH BRUNSWICK – Some teams shy away from the spotlight. Not Old Bridge volleyball. The players know […]

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4 weeks ago

June 12, 2025

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SOUTH BRUNSWICK – Some teams shy away from the spotlight.

Not Old Bridge volleyball. The players know that other squads are gunning for them, so might as well embrace it. Bring it on.

“We love it,” senior Adrian Marke said. “We love it. We’re always there for it. … Every team plays their hardest against you, and they want to take you down.”

Troy Markle added, “It puts a target on our back, and it keeps you on your feet. You always want to be No. 1, and to keep that spot is really something special. We’re just used to that, and it’s just based on experience. So, we’re comfortable in that situation.”

Indeed, in turn, the Knights play hard back, and they’re always ready and unfrazzled.

Wednesday, Old Bridge repeated as NJSIAA Group 4 champions with a 25-17, 25-18 win over Livingston at host South Brunswick High School – a familiar championship site for the program. Old Bridge has now won six state titles in the last seven tournaments (it was cancelled in 2020 because of the pandemic).

The team has been known for its enthusiastic fan support through the years, and a large number of students again showed up in purple and black, cheering and chanting, even leading the National Anthem.

It’s cool to play volleyball in Old Bridge.

The Knights (32-1) completed another special season in emphatic fashion with Wednesday’s triumph. They cruised in the first-game win. In the second, both teams tussled for the lead until Old Bridge took off to break a 12-12 tie.

Soon it was 15-12 and 19-14, and Old Bridge never trailed again. It seemed fitting that Oskar Lapinski put an exclamation point on the final point with a power shot that Livingston couldn’t return.

The junior has been dominant all spring with 317 kills and had a team-high 11 in the win. His classmate Marke complements Lapinski, keeping opposing teams off-balanced and he chipped in nine kills in the final with 243 for the season.

Markle, the steady senior setter, led with 21 assists (769 on the season) and six digs. In all, the Knights received balanced contributions throughout the box score, and that’s what makes the team so potent.

Markle said he can place the ball to anyone, and they’ll all make the right decision. Lapinski, too, is happy for the support.

“I’m just glad to be a part of such a special program,” said Lapinski, noting the team’s chemistry from grass volleyball games to team dinners. “Knowing that we have such a well-rounded team is really good for me. … I trust everyone with all my heart that we could get a kill anywhere on the court.”

Seniors Ali Chaudary (321 digs), John Femiano (76 digs), Logan Fernandes (138 kills, 118 digs), Noah Brown (82 kills, 27 digs) and Anthony Pizzulli (104 digs) have all been key members, and junior Alex Kozikowski chipped in three digs and two blocks in the championship win.

“Our seniors, I mean, what a ride they’ve had,” Hopman said. “In the last three years they only lost two matches.”

He then noted the victories each year – 32, 32, 29.

“That’s a credit to the seniors,” he continued. “Most of them have been playing for three years, and they just love the sport. They’ll probably go home and play in someone’s backyard. That’s what they did last year. They’re always playing, they love the sport and there’s no moment that’s too big for them because they’re just happy to be on the court.”

As the coach was in the midst of a post-game interview, Chaudary walked by, and they embraced.

“Thank you, Hop,” he said. “Thank you so much. Everything you’ve done, thank you. Appreciate it.”

In turn, Hopman appreciates his players and all the 360-degree support.

“It’s been a pleasure to be part of the program as it’s grown,” Hopman said. “It’s grown so much that we have a lot of support from our administration. We’ve had great coaches like Tom Buoni, Wayne Lach and our new younger coach Jonny Ortega, who played for us and is now coaching. That’s special, too, to have a player come back and want to coach with us.

“It’s like the perfect storm. I’ve got great assistant coaches, great athletic director, great principal, and when you have everybody that wants to see you succeed and everybody that’s supporting you, and the players feel that – then they just play better.”

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new dinosaurs, same old problems – The Daily Eastern News

Luke Brewer (Rob Le Cates) Kicking off the “big three” of blockbuster films this month (“Jurassic World Rebirth,” “Superman” and “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”), “Jurassic World Rebirth” doesn’t make for a strong start as it’s just the same familiar beats we’ve all seen before. I’ve been turned off from the Jurassic franchise ever since […]

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43 minutes ago

July 7, 2025

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Kicking off the “big three” of blockbuster films this month (“Jurassic World Rebirth,” “Superman” and “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”), “Jurassic World Rebirth” doesn’t make for a strong start as it’s just the same familiar beats we’ve all seen before.

I’ve been turned off from the Jurassic franchise ever since “Jurassic World” (2015) but decided to give the franchise the benefit of the doubt with the latest installment being rather separate from everything prior, allowing for a truly individualistic story to be told.

The film follows the rich pharmaceutical agent Martin Krebs (Rupert Friend) enlisting Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson), Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey) and Duncan Kincaid (Mahershala Ali) to infiltrate the island where genetic testing for the original Jurassic Park was done.

I wish I could say these actors are entertaining to watch together, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Not a single one of them has chemistry with another and all of their scenes are plagued by questionable writing that often has them repeat something already said or explicitly tell the audience what’s happening.

It’s not even like the film is trying to hold the audience’s hand, it’s more so like the film was trying to explain to the kids in my theater what was happening as if they couldn’t gather that from just paying attention.

The film’s first half-hour starts off pretty slow, but the plot picks up once the crew starts their task of retrieving blood samples from the three largest living dinosaurs across the sea, land and air to create a revolutionary drug that could increase humanity’s lifespan.

Seems simple enough, right? Well, not so fast.

This island features a mix of mutated and regular dinosaurs that attack the main crew often as per usual with this franchise.

I was never a huge fan of the mutated dinosaurs, so balancing the two here really helps the film feel more in line with the Jurassic Park trilogy as the fear instilled by the more recognizable dinosaurs is front and center once again.

The same could’ve happened with the mutated dinosaurs, but the trailers sold away all of that from the very beginning.

One mutated dinosaur is designated the D-Rex and only really appears briefly in the opening scene and throughout the third act.

Knowing it was coming thanks to the trailer ruined that part of the film. If the trailers omitted the scenes with the D-Rex, there would’ve been a lot more horror to go along with it.

Horror is something this franchise has been lacking for a long time, and I really wish this was the film that capitalized on it.

For example, there is a subplot involving a family stranded on the island that adapts a raft sequence from Michael Crichton’s “Jurassic Park” novel that the original film was based on.

This scene is rather tense and engaging but all the horror aspects of it feel ripped away to keep things PG-13.

Despite this, there are some positives to “Jurassic World Rebirth” that I hadn’t felt from the franchise in a long time.

The cinematography is really strong as intense scenes are typically shot wider to allow for the scale of the dinosaurs and the environments to be a part of the tension.

On the flip side, there are plenty of calming wide shots that feature Alexandre Desplat utilizing the iconic motifs created by John Williams to freeze the audience in awe while creating new works that fit a variety of emotions whether it be wonder or sadness.

The design of the film is also incredible and has been a strong suit of the franchise from the very start.

If you’ve seen anything from this franchise before, you can guess what everything looks like pretty well, but the mutated dinosaurs are truly stunning.

Despite the short appearances, the D-Rex having a design inspired by the Rancor from Star Wars made it a standout among the rest.

Aside from the occasional mutant dinosaurs, “Jurassic World Rebirth” isn’t anything that different from what the franchise has already shown us.

The plot continues to follow a group going to a dinosaur-infested island and trying to escape the acting and writing aren’t strong whatsoever, but the cinematography and design still capture like always.

Failing to do anything unique with this film results in it feeling like the same old, same old.

Rating: 2/5

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Nike Releases Commemorates 50th Prefontaine Classic With Limited Products

The 50th Prefontaine Classic took place at Hayward Field on July 5, and Nike stepped up its game to commemorate the occasion. The company partnered with The Prefontaine Classic to unveil a special edition uniform and other products for Nike athletes. This included limited edition golden Air Max 1’s and a Nike N7 x Pendelton […]

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1 hour ago

July 7, 2025

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Cole Hocker (USA) at the 50th Prefontaine Classic press conference. — Jul 4, 2025; Eugene, OR, USA; Cole Hocker (USA) at the 50th Prefontaine Classic press conference at the Graduate Hotel Eugene. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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Area athletes advance to National Junior Olympics

By Bob Sutton Special to The Alamance News Several Burlington-area track and field athletes qualified for the National Junior Olympics later this month in Savannah, Georgia. Athletes placing eighth or better in the Region 3 championships last month at Reid Ross Classical School in Fayetteville move on to nationals. – Advertisement – D’Anna Cotton was […]

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2 hours ago

July 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

By Bob Sutton

Special to The Alamance News

Several Burlington-area track and field athletes qualified for the National Junior Olympics later this month in Savannah, Georgia.

Athletes placing eighth or better in the Region 3 championships last month at Reid Ross Classical School in Fayetteville move on to nationals.

– Advertisement –

D’Anna Cotton was first in the girls’ triple jump in the 17-18-year-old division and advanced in two other events.

Cotton’s triple jump was 38 feet, 5½ inches. She was fifth in the long jump at 17-9¾ and captured sixth in the 100-meter hurdles in 15.08 seconds.

Also in the 17-18 division, long jumper Diamond Moore was fourth at 17-10¼ and Ge’Kayla Goins was sixth at 17-8. Goins was fourth in the 400 hurdles in 1:06.02, while Kari Parker was seventh in the high jump at 4-5½.

Kailie Payne (15-16) was the champion in the 100 hurdles in 14.58 and placed third in the 400 hurdles in 1:04.11.

Janay Pegram (15-16) was third in the 200 in 24.34 and in the 400 in 57.21 and fourth in the 100 in 12.07.

Dallas Brooks (13-14) won the 100 hurdles in 16.48 and the long jump at 16-11½ and was the runner-up in the 200 hurdles in 30.02 and the high jump at 4-9.

Also in the 13-14 division for the 200 hurdles, Cyria McKoy was fifth in 32.17 and Kennedy Fuller was eighth at 32.70.

Payton Mcgahee (11-12) was sixth in the long jump at 14-1.

In boys’ divisions, Lacy Flintall III (8-and-under) was first in the long jump at 11-11½. Antonio Trollinger (9-10) was second in the javelin at 65-2, while Josiah McGinnis (11-12) was seventh in the javelin at 72-11.

The National Junior Olympics are set for July 18-30.

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Young Maui volleyball team brings home first national title

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A Maui club volleyball team took home a national title. The Hawaiian Style boys 15 and under team came out on top of 2025 USA Volleyball Open Division National Championship, hosted at the Minneapolis Convention Center. They downed the Diablo volleyball club in two sets to take it all. In the tournament, […]

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2 hours ago

July 7, 2025

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HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A Maui club volleyball team took home a national title.

The Hawaiian Style boys 15 and under team came out on top of 2025 USA Volleyball Open Division National Championship, hosted at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

They downed the Diablo volleyball club in two sets to take it all.

In the tournament, the team from Kahului, was dominant going undefeated at 7-0.

And they only dropped a single set in their entire run.

It’s also believed to be the first club team from Maui Island to take home a National title.

The Hawaiian Style 15 and under boys head coach, Kalae Tanaka said, “Every island prides themselves, but to be from an outer island and bring home such a big, tournament trophy, like such a big accomplishment means a lot to the island for sure.”

From the other islands, the Big Island volleyball club won the 18 under American and Oahu team 808 Athletic Club won the 16 under American Division.

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Two Austin Athletes to Represent USA at Deaflympics in Tokyo

Leila Sicoli and CJ Upchurch, two Austin natives and graduates of the Texas School for the Deaf, are headed to Tokyo this November to compete at the Deaflympics as members of the USA Deaf Women’s and Men’s Volleyball National Teams. The pair is chasing gold—while also building up the next generation of Deaf volleyball players. […]

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2 hours ago

July 7, 2025

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At the Texas School for the Deaf, both were introduced to a range of sports, but volleyball quickly became their shared passion.

“I have a passion for volleyball it just feels good to me. Playing gives me a special kind of feeling,” said Sicoli.

“It started when I was a kid. I had a lot of concussions, so football wasn’t an option—and my mom was a volleyball coach,” said Upchurch.

Through hard work and dedication, both earned spots on the national teams.

“It’s meant a lot—I’ve always wanted to be part of the team. I’ve met so many deaf people it’s been really, really nice,” Upchurch said.

Last summer, the athletes competed for Team USA at the World Deaf Championships, gaining experience on the global stage.

“Getting to meet the players we had a lot of competitive games. It was bittersweet, but intense,” Sicoli said.

As they prepare to return to international competition, they’re also giving back. Leila and CJ are hosting youth camps in partnership with USA Deaf Volleyball to mentor the next wave of athletes.

“Being a role model for the youth means a lot. I remember idolizing players—now being one of them really hits home,” Sicoli shared.

“My coach was someone I always admired. Seeing how he moved, how he led—I wanted to be like that. That’s what motivates me to give back,” said Upchurch.

Unlike most Olympic-bound athletes, Deaflympics competitors must self-fund their journeys—covering travel, lodging, and training expenses out of pocket.

“Going to Japan and competing for a medal—it means so much. But yeah, we’re paying out of pocket, so we have to give it everything,” said Sicoli.

For Leila and CJ, this trip is about more than competition. It’s a celebration of community, culture, and connection through sport.

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Offaly athletes selected for European U23 Track and Field Championships

TWO Offaly athletes have been selected for the forthcoming European U23 Track and Field Championships. Heather Murphy will race in the 10,000 metres in the championships which take place in Bergen, Norway from July 17 to 20. Murphy is from Offaly side of Portarlington, in the Gracefield area in GAA terms. A member of St […]

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3 hours ago

July 7, 2025

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TWO Offaly athletes have been selected for the forthcoming European U23 Track and Field Championships.

Heather Murphy will race in the 10,000 metres in the championships which take place in Bergen, Norway from July 17 to 20. Murphy is from Offaly side of Portarlington, in the Gracefield area in GAA terms. A member of St Michael’s Athletics Club in Portarlington, she is is the daughter of PJ and Patricia Murphy and is on an athletics scholarship at Montreat College in North Carolina.

Murphy has competed very successfully on the Offaly road racing circuit in recent years, winning the Jack Cox 10k in Kilcormac recently and is a very talented emerging athlete.

Tullamore Harriers’ member Ava O’Connor will compete in both the 3,000 metres steeplechase and the 1,500 metres. From Emo in Laois, O’Connor is a graduate of the phenomenally successful juvenile section in Offaly’s biggest club. On scholarship in Adams State University in Colorado, she has been in sensational form on the colleges circuit in the USA recently and her dual selection is no surprise.

SEE NEXT: Harte commits to Offaly for second year as senior football management to be reappointedY

O’Connor (pictured below) recently won her first national title in the USA when she raced to a very impressive victory in the 3000 metres steeplechase at the NCAA Division 2 Outdoor Track and Field Championships – she also lowered her own Irish U23 3,000 metre steeplechase record recently to 9.45.