<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=45NA4i_0t4q4GKu00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=45NA4i_0t4q4GKu00" width="1200" height="765" ><figcaption>GOING TO THE SHIP: The Southern Regional sailing team gathers to show off the third-place trophy after finishing behind Christchurch and Severn in the Mid-Atlantic Championship regatta on May 12. (Photos Courtesy Steve Warren)</figcaption></figure>It’s been 20 years since it last occurred, but the Southern Regional sailing team is on its way to the national championship regatta.Following two excellent racing sets by A Division duo Turner Ryon and Belle Placa and B Division trio Erin Little, Jude Ryon and Noah Tallman, the Rams captured third place in the Mid-Atlantic Scholastic Sailing Association Championships on the Toms River, earning a place in this year’s Interscholastic Sailing Association National Championships in Charleston, S.C., slated for June 1-2.“This is something we’ve been shooting for in the 11 years I’ve been here,” said Southern coach Steve Warren, whose Rams managed 168 points, 14 points behind first place Christchurch and 10 behind second place Severn. “We came so close last year, coming up short by just two points, so I was hoping the kids weren’t putting too much pressure on themselves. We were all looking forward to this regatta, knowing how close we were last year. The idea going in was that anything in the top 10 was something we could work with.”In the first race, Southern got off to a slow start, with Placa and Turner Ryon finishing 11th and Little and Jude Ryon turning in a seventh-place finish in the first race.“That first race was a little tricky, and we had to dig back to end up where we did, but there was no panic after the first set,” Warren said. “It was all up from there and our consistency the rest of the day was big.”At the end of Saturday racing, Southern held a 19-point lead on Christchurch, with Seton Hall Prep, Severn and Norfolk Academy separated by just 10 points in the third through fifth positions. On the second day of racing, Christchurch showed its strength, surging to the top of the standings and pulling away during the later stages to take the title. Severn won the final race in both divisions to solidify second place. Christian Brothers Academy finished fourth with 177 points.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4TAFnp_0t4q4GKu00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4TAFnp_0t4q4GKu00" width="1000" height="973" ><figcaption>EYES FORWARD: Jude Ryon (left) and Erin Little keep watch on what’s in front of them during the Mid-Atlantic Championship regatta on the Toms River this past weekend.</figcaption></figure>“Almost everything fell our way on Saturday,” Warren said. “Turner and Belle stayed consistent throughout the day while others in a really tough A Division were mixing good results with bad. Meanwhile, Erin, Jude and Noah were just amazing in the B Division. Sunday brought some challenges, but we were able to avoid bad races and Jude and Erin got us a win in the 13th race when we really needed it.”Turner Ryon and Placa turned in a 10-race set of 11-5-5-2-7-6-6-5-1-7, while the B Division crew managed a set of 7-1-4-3-2-2-1 on Saturday to propel the Rams to the front of an 18-boat field. The last time the Rams qualified for the national championship regatta was 2004.“Qualifying for the national championships is hard,” Warren said. “Only 20 schools in the country make the cut, and only four from our district make it. You win regattas like this one by not having bad races and not taking too many risks. Saturday was a long day, and if our sailors weren’t able to handle the ups and downs they would have been worn out for Sunday. Fortunately, we have kids who keep everything on an even keel. We have a talented, deep team and we can’t wait for Charleston.”With the big trip to Charleston now on the horizon, the Southern sailors could use a little financial boost from sponsors. Contributions to the program are tax deductible and can be made by contacting Warren at 609-703-4326 or by sending a donation through Venmo to @Friendsof-SouthernSailing.Southern Tracksters Fare Well at County MeetCole Cramer wasn’t the only one who scored first-place points for the Southern Regional boys track and field squad at the Ocean County Championships, but he was the only one to break a Shore Conference record doing so.The Rams’ junior sprinter clocked a time of 10.39 seconds during the prelims of the 100-meter dash before turning in a finals time of 10.42 seconds to win the event. Cramer also won the 200-meter dash in 21.29 seconds.Meanwhile, senior Santino D’Amelio snagged the county title in the 3,200-meter run with a time of 9:36.25, in addition to third-place points in the 1,600-meter run by crossing the line in 4:26.26. Sophomore Darrin Hamlin managed to grab the runner-up spot in the triple jump, finishing with a distance of 42 feet, 1 inch.Also in third place were senior Tyler Bobo, who clocked a time of 15.20 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles, and senior Matt Nolan, who ended with a top throw of 158 feet, 8 inches in the discus. Nolan also placed fourth in the shot put at 46 feet, 3 inches.Keegan Foote finished fourth in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 59.00, while Sean Carey took fifth in the discus with a top distance of 128 feet, 9 inches; Mason Hurt swiped fifth in the 110 hurdles in 15.85; and Kyle Skiendzielewski finished sixth in the 3,200 with a time of 9:58.64. Southern’s 4×100 and 4×800 relay teams placed second and third, respectively, with times of 43.63 seconds and 8:48.78.As for the Southern Regional girls, Jessica Smart turned in a pair of excellent efforts, winning the high jump with a height of 5 feet and snatching the runner-up spot in the javelin with a top throw of 110 feet. Samantha Cushing also won the county crown in the pole vault with a height of 10 feet.Elsewhere, Kodi Mikuletsky finished second in the shot put with a distance of 35 feet, while Kathleen Saxton grabbed third place with a top throw of 106 feet, 8 inches in the javelin and took fourth in the discus with a distance of 96 feet, 8 inches. Jessica Bruther finished fourth in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:24.02, while Casey Collins snatched fifth-place points in the 3,200 with a time of 11:36.40 and sixth in the 1,600 at 5:27.26. Brianna Tapia took sixth in the shot put at 32 feet, 9 inches, and Gemma Bonjiorni snagged sixth in the 400 hurdles at 1:11.91.Southern’s 4×100 squad finished third in 52.07 seconds, while its 4×400 crew ended up second in 4:12.37, and the 4×800 bunch clocked 10:15.61 to place third as well.For Barnegat’s girls, Amaya Afflick placed second in the 400 hurdles in 1:05.32 and grabbed third in the 400-meter dash with a time of 59.51 seconds. Sophia Loutas also took two positions in separate events: third in the 100 hurdles with a time of 16.77 seconds, and a fourth-place distance of 34 feet, 2½ inches in the triple jump. Rachel Bonhard was fourth in the long jump with a distance of 15 feet, 8 inches, and the 4×400 foursome finished fifth in 4:22.67.As for the Bengals’ boys, Kyle Greenleaf was fifth in the 400 at 51.04 seconds, while Gianni Antonelli grabbed fifth in the shot put with a throw of 46 feet, 1½ inches, and the 4×400 team also ended up fifth in 3:34.26.For the Pinelands Regional girls, senior Brenna Omert was the lone point scorer, taking fifth in the 400 dash with a time of 1:00.23.Southern Tennis Team Wins Division AgainFor a second straight season, the Southern Regional boys tennis team captured the Shore Conference Class A South division championship, knocking off Jackson Memorial, 5-0, on May 13.While Sean Kahl squeezed out a victory at first singles, 5-7, 6-0, 7-6 (10-4), Paul Schriever cruised to victory at second singles, 6-1, 6-0, and Rohil Gandhi managed a 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (10-5) win at third singles. Sam Fierra and Matt Pleyn easily won at first doubles, 6-0, 6-1, and the tandem of Joseph Woehr and Garron Smith rolled to a 6-1, 6-1 win at second doubles.— David Biggy</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

Southern Regional Sailors Qualify for National Championship Regatta

It’s been 20 years since it last occurred, but the Southern Regional sailing team is on its way to the national championship regatta. Following two excellent racing sets by A Division duo Turner Ryon and Belle Placa and B Division trio Erin Little, Jude Ryon and Noah Tallman, the Rams captured third place in the Mid-Atlantic Scholastic Sailing Association Championships on the Toms River, earning a place in this year’s Interscholastic Sailing Association National Championships in Charleston, S.C., slated for June 1-2.

Southern Regional Sailors Qualify for National Championship Regatta

Comments / 0