Sports

TRIAL BLAZERS TURKEY BOWL: On Saturday, November 18, the Trial Blazers for Kids Club at Livingston High School held its inaugural flag football Turkey Bowl event. The club was started by Lily Kestler to honor the life and memory of her brother, Jake Kestler. Club advisors and teachers Maggie Lafferty and Mickey Ennis worked together with the Club’s executive board, Lily Kestler, Sarah Blatt, Marlie Goldstein, Andrew Rubinstein, Dylan Hochberg, and Madelyn Rothfeld, to put together this event. Within a week, 12 teams had signed up for the event and raised over $1,000 for Trial Blazers for Kids, which works to improve treatment options and find cures for pediatric cancers. Ultimately, Team Yellow and Team Green (the teachers’ team) took home the trophies

Rice University has announced the signing of Joshua Mandelbaum of Livingston to play men’s tennis at Rice University in Houston, Texas. He will be on the team’s 2024 roster, announced head coach Efe Ustundag.

Mandelbaum joins the Owls from NewarkAcademy in Livingston. He was ranked as the 44th recruit in the nation and also achieved a #1 national doubles ranking in 2021. He was named to the 2022-23 USA Today HSSA Boys’Tennis Player of the Year watch list.

Mandelbaum was named firstteam all-state in 2022, and has compiled a record of 44-1 during his high school career. He won one silver ball and two bronze balls at the L1 National Indoors Doubles Championships in his career.

Mandelbaum also started the Rally For Tennis fundraiser, this year raising over $80,000 in support of the Greater Newark Tennis and Education Foundation.

NATIONAL NORTH CHAMPIONS: The Livingston Stealth Green 11 and under baseball team are the National North Champions. The team defeated Montclair and North Caldwell in the playoffs, followed by a win against the Springfield Eagles, 12-2, to claim the championship title, Shown here, in the back row, is head coach Ed Murray, coach Alyson Rosenberg, and coach Joe Feola. In the middle row are players Eli Risis, Alan Gholston, Vincent Broderick, Liam Zotti, Gavin Feola, Tatum Kuo, and Ryan Rosenberg. In the front row are players John Agriantonis, Zach Fuchs, Ryan Traub, Ethan O’Neil, Zach Weiner, and Tanish Reikhy. Not shown are Cameron Roig, and Michael Decorso. Joe Feola Photo

LANCERS ADVANCE IN NJSIAA TOURNAMENT: On Wednesday, October 25, the Livingston High School varsity boys’ soccer team defeated Barringer High School, 2-1, during the NJSIAA Tournament. Lancer goals were scored by Jacob Lowenthal and Dylan Santucci. The Lancers advanced to the NJSIAA quarterfinals, defeating Montclair, 3-0. Livingston goals were scored by Jacob Lowenthal, Joshua Baskies, and Jason Cross. The boys’ varsity soccer record stands at 13-4-1. Shown above, left, Lancer Senior Nicolas Tserpelis readies to take the ball away from the Barringer center forward. Above, right, Livingston goal keeper Jacob Hans drives the ball downfield against a Barringer player. Don Schwartz Photos

LANCERS ADVANCE: On Thursday, October 26, the Livingston High School girls’ varsity soccer team defeated Passaic, 8-0, in the first round of the NJSIAA Tournament. Lancer team members who scored goals against Passaic were Dina Bojkovic, Bella Diianni, Hannah Taub, Mia Viola, Riley Chisarick, Sienna Goldstein, Casey Conklin, and Morgan Abramson. The Lancer record stands at 16-0-1. Shown above, Lancer forward Melanie Yaari readies up to head the ball toward the goal. Below, Lancer Ashley Budzinski heads the ball against the Passaic defense. Don Schwartz Photos

LANCERS HAVE UNDEFEATED WEEK: The Livingston High School Lancer boys’ varsity soccer team tied with Belleville (0-0) on Monday, October 23 on the Saint Barnabas Community Field. On Tuesday, October 17, the Lancers defeated West Orange, 2-1. Lancer goals were scored by Hriday Dabhi and Dylan Santucci. The Lancers defefeated Caldwell, 1-0, on Thursday, October 19, with Jacob Rosenthal scoring the only goal, during overtime. On Friday, October 20, the Lancers defeated Columbia, 3-0. Lancer goals were scored by Hriday Dabhi, Alex Volkov, and Varun Sohal. At left, Lancer Alex Volkov, #6, beats the Belleville defender to the ball

LHS GIRLS VARSITY VOLLEYBALL TEAM REIGNS SUPREME: On Tuesday, October 17, the LHS girls’ varsity volleyball team defeated West Orange, 2-0, in the Essex County Tournament (ECT) quarterfinals. They next defeated West Essex, 2-0, in the ECT quarterfinals on Thursday, October 19. The Lancers brought another win home, defeating Verona, 2-0, on Saturday, October 21, at Mount Saint Dominic Academy, winning the Essex County Girls Volleyball Tournament Championship. The Lancer record stands at 18-2. Above, Lancer frontliner Anika Dhar, #10, drives the ball to score against West Orange.

The Livingston Green Knights , a 10 and under boys’ baseball league team, won all four of their games last weekend, on the road. They beat the BC Cyclones, 7-2, and the Tenafly Tigers, 12-2, on Saturday then defeated the Highlands Black, 13-3, and the West Milford Bears, 8-6, on Sunday.

Offensively, the team was led by Dax Wendolowski and Leo Krantz with five hits and four RBIs each. Leo Woodsmall and Harrison Watt had four hits and two RBIs each.

Watt proved to be the difference behind the plate, throwing out seven runners attempting to steal. Brandon Mahoney, Leo Woodsmall and Ryan Mirman each started games and pitched well to record wins. Krantz pitched in relief in three of the four games, along with Watt and Wendolowski, preserving the wins for Livingston.

WIN CHAMPIONSHIP: On Saturday, October 21, the Livingston High School girls’ varsity soccer team captured the 2023 Essex County Girls’ Soccer Tournament Championship (ECT), defeating West Orange, 3-2 during overtime, at Millburn High School. Livingston defeated West Essex, 4-3, in five shootouts, on Wednesday, October 18, during the ECT semi-finals. Lancer Dina Bojovic scored two goals in regulation, while Izzy Kilelee scored the winning goal in overtime against West Orange. Shown above, the Lancers congratulate goal scorer Dina Bojovic, #20, who is shown at right working the ball against the West Orange defender.