Sports

When Yuliia Stakh, a freshman at Livingston High School, earned a spot on the varsity tennis team, in September – defeating her opponent in third singles – she had been in the U.S. only a couple of months, and had not touched a racket for six months.

Yuliia, her seven-year-old brother, Andrii, and her mother, Viktoriya, left Ukraine in March. Husband and father Nazar remains in Ukraine. He works for a volunteer organization that assists the military in getting supplies.

“We talk to my father every day; every day, we miss him,” said Yuliia.

“We want to see Nazar, but have to wait until the sky is open, when the war is finished and when a man can travel,” said Viktoriya.

Their conversation with the Tribune was punctuated with updates about the Russian attacks on Ukraine. “Today is not a good day,” said Yuliia on Monday. Russia had just unleashed its most widespread strikes yet against Ukraine.

JV LANCERS WIN: The Livingston High School girls’ junior varsity volleyball team defeated Mount Saint Dominic, 2-0 , on Wednesday, September 28, at home in the LHS Fitness and Wellness Center. Shown here, Lancer Jubilee Moon serves against the Lions. Don Schwartz Photo

VOLLEYBALL TEAM WINS: The Livingston High School varsity girls’ volleyball team defeated Mount Saint Dominic, 2-0, on Wednesday, September 28, at home in the LHS Fitness and Wellness Center. Shown here, Lancer Nadia Khalay “soars and scores” against the Lions. Don Schwartz Photo

LANCERS DEFEAT WEST ESSEX: The Lancer varsity girls’ soccer team defeated West Essex, 3-1, on Thursday, September 29, on the LHS turf. Shown above, Lancer wing Jadyn Kestenbaum breaks away from the Knights defender. At right, after scoring her second goal of the game, Katherine Riccardi jumps into the arms of Avery Reiman. Don Schwartz Photos

LANCER FOOTBALL TEAM HOSTS MONTCLAIR: The Livingston High School varsity football team took a 10-0 lead against Montclair into halftime, only to be defeated, 31-17. The Super Essex County matchup was played on the LHS turf on Thursday evening, September 22. The Lancers next host Montville on Friday evening, September 30, at 6:30 p.m. Shown above, Lancer quarterbackAidan Healy, #12, hands offtoAedan Ramos, #20. At left, Lancer quarterbackAidan Healy, #12, throws a completion to Danny Cullen. Don Schwartz Photos

The Livingston High School boys’ varsity soccer team was defeated by the Pirates, 2-0, on Friday evening, September 23, on the LHS turf. Shown above, Lancer goalkeeper Jacob Hans makes a diving save. At right, Lancer junior Josh Baskies controls the ball against Seton Hall. Don Schwartz Photos

J.V. LADY LANCERS DEFEAT MOUNT OLIVE: The Livingston High School girls’ junior varsity soccer team defeated Mount Olive, 2-0, on Friday, September 23, on the Saint Barnabas Community Field Turf. Above, Lancer Sophia Botea leads an offensive drive against Mount Olive. Below, left, Lancer Sophia Marx clears the ball down field for the Lancers. Below, right, Lancer goalkeeper Zoe Gilberg drives the ball down field against the Marauders. Don Schwartz Photos

HOME LOSS FOR LANCER SOCCER TEAM: The Livingston High School boys’ varsity soccer team suffered a loss at home to the Newark Academy Minutemen, 2-1, on Monday, September 12, on the Saint Barnabas Community Field. Shown here, Lancer senior Gabriel Kanchik controls the ball against Newark Academy.

HOLDS BAKE SALE FOR LNHN: Summer Levy, soon to turn 13 years old and become a Bat Mitzvah, took on a mitzvah service project to give back to the community. Levy, who has enjoyed baking since she was a young girl, hosted a bake sale on Saturday, September 17, featuring homemade red velvet cupcakes, fudge brownies and Rice Krispie treats. She raised over $1,800 in sales and donations, and all proceeds will go to Livingston Neighbors Helping Neighbors (LNHN), which supports local families encountering unexpected hardships. At left, Levy whisks together ingredients for red velvet cupcakes, a staple of the bake sale she ran to support Livingston Neighbors Helping Neighbors. Above, Levy, fourth from the right, enjoys the support of friends Remi Zales, Allie Schiller, Lila Urban, Allison Ritch, Emma Diamond, Arden Ginsberg, and Alex Gellin at the bake sale event.

The Livingston High School girls’ varsity cross country team started off its fall season with victories over Super Essex Conference (SEC) American Division rivals Nutley High School and Montclair Kimberley Academy. The Lancers got off to a strong start in the race with Sydney Leigh, Bridget Gulfo, Sophia Paparsenos and Taylor Dannis going through the first mile with the leaders and then pulling away in the second and third miles. Leigh won the race, followed by Gulfo in second, Paparsenos in fourth, and Dannis in fifth. Lila Maru closed hard over the final mile to finish in sixth place, followed closely by Sophia Yan in tenth, Carol Flores in 11th and Nikki Heifler in 12th. Also running well for the Lancers were newcomers to the program Phoebe Liu and Jordyn Fersko, who finished 20th and 21st in the race, which included 41 athletes.

Junior Varsity