Sports

SWIMMING TRY-OUTS: Livingston High School has been holding try-outs for the Lancer swim team at the West Essex YMCA pool. Shown at left, swimmers warm up prior to the timed tryouts. Above, team captains include Daniel Li, Sasha Lukonen, Morgan Korn, Cori Holtzman, and Ting Lee. Lucas Swee is also a captain on the team. Don Schwartz Photos

WRESTLING TRY-OUTS: Try-outs are being held for the Livingston High School wrestling team. The team opens its season on Wednesday, January 4, at Seton Hall Prep School. Shown above on the LHS mats, wrestling team candidates build endurance with the sprint drill. At right, Lancers Aidan Carmody and Jacob Strulson work on their skills during the try-outs. Don Schwartz Photos

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL TRY-OUTS: Try-outs are being conducted for the Livingston High School girls’ varsity and junior varsity basketball teams. The season opener is set for Thursday, December 15, against Bloomfield at home in the LHS Fitness and Wellness Center. Shown above, Lancers Avery Reiman, Alexandria Winitch, Christine Belcuore and Sophia Levitt work on their dribbling skills. At right, Samantha Stecklo shoots during the foul shooting drill. Don Schwartz Photos

THUNDER ARE CHAMPIONS: The Livingston Thunder 10U travel softball team won the B level championship of the Montville League this fall, beating Pompton Lakes 11-1 in the finals. Shown in the front row are Maya Morillo, Adriana Miloslavsky, Macey Hill, and Emily Laskaris. Standing are Olivia Guild, Leah Stein, Jocelyn Lemieux, Abby Rein, Andie Glazer, Eliana Iftode, Corrine Wincko, Isabella Altieri, and Aarna Sethiya. The team is coached by Jody Hill, Jesse Laskaris, and Marc Altieri.

The Livingston High School girls’ cross country team completed the 2022 season by competing in the NJSIAA North I Group IV State Sectional Championships at Garret Mountain. The Lancers finished in sixth place overall in a tough field of 20 teams and narrowly missed qualifying for the Group IV State Championship.

The girls completed the season with an overall record of 21 wins and two losses in the Super Essex Conference (SEC) and competed well in the American Division of the SEC with seven wins and just two losses. Among the season highlights were the Lancers’ first place finish at the Lancer Invitational; second place in the SEC American Championship; third place in the Essex County Championship; and the sixth place finish at the NJSIAA State Sectional Championship.

The girls ran their best top five average of 21:53 and had a tight 46 second gap from their first to fifth runner at the County Championship.

FALL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: The Livingston 12U Stealth Baseball team won the United States Amateur Baseball League (USABL) Fall League Championship. “The boys had to fight through 10 incredible innings to prevail over the host team in West Orange,” noted team manager Ed Murray. The Stealth had a great season, garnering a 10-3 record before going on to defeat “a very good and stubborn West Orange PAL team,” 10-9, in a “marathon” ten inning game (regulation games are only six innings long). Shown here, the team includes, kneeling, Matthew Beeney Jr., Tae Choi, Cole Shapiro, Ben Strasnick, and Alan Gholston; and standing, Lucas Chen, coach Jon Strasnick, Aidan Zotti, Steve Shapiro, Darren Lyell, manager Ed Murray, Jack Uliano, Manu Silva, Praj Kumar, and coach Will Lyell.

SOFTBALL CLINIC: The Livingston High School softball team held a recent clinic for all Livingston Thunder travel and recreation players, along with some assistance from the 8U to 12U Thunder coaching staff. The high school girls offered instruction in hitting, pitching, fielding, and catching. Participants wore clinic T-shirts featuring a logo designed by the students of New Beginnings Fairfield.

FRESHMAN GIRLS’ SOCCER: The Livingston High School freshman girls’ soccer team recently concluded a 2-7-2 season. Shown here in a game against Mahwah, Lancer mid-fi elder Addison Cioffi drives the ball toward the goal against the Mahwah defenders. Don Schwartz Photo

LANCERS ADVANCE IN NJSIAA TOURNAMENT: The Livingston High School girls’ varsity volleyball team defeated Morristown, 2-0, on Tuesday, November 1, and Fairlawn, 2-0, on Friday, November 4, at home. The quarter-final and semi-final victories propelled the Lancers into the finals against Bergen Tech. The Lancer record stands at 24-2. Above, left, Lancer freshman Camilla Dong “soars and scores” against Morristown. Shown above, right, Lancer junior Bela Ubrig sets the ball during a scoring play against Morristown. Don Schwartz Photos

LANCERS FALL IN NJSIAA TOURNAMENT: The Livingston High School varsity field hockey team was defeated by Westfi eld, 3-2 in double overtime, at home on Tuesday, November 1, during NJSIAA Tournament play. The Lancers finished with a 10-7 season record. Shown above, Lancer junior forward Sydney Rubin controls the ball during a Lancer scoring drive. At left, Lancer senior captain and defender Sophia Grabelle clears the ball down the sideline against Westfield. Don Schwartz Photos