Howard Princz

Stories from Howard Princz

Straight off George Street, that’s how we roll
Howard Princz
Tuesday, June 15, 2010

The All-American Soap Box Derby is an annual family sporting event that has been going on since its origination back in 1933.

 

The tradition has continued on a local level in the metropolitan area, specifically the New Jersey Soap Box Derby since 2000. It is an event that was coordinated by retired New Brunswick police officer Bruce Hawkins and longtime city recreation director Michael Blackwell, who is now the New Jersey Soap Box Derby director and current president of their board of directors.

 

Softball scorching hot into playoffs
Howard Princz
Thursday, May 20, 2010
In her seventh season at the helm as head softball coach at Highland Park High School, Lori Szentgyiorgi stated that this season so far is "our best."

This year's squad did not lose any starters from a year ago, the coach said. "We're starting a couple of levels higher than (had we) lost some players . . . . We’re working more on situations, different defensive plays and different styles of batting," she added.

Boys tennis ramping up for 2010 with a new coach
Howard Princz
Monday, March 29, 2010

In four seasons at the helm of the Highland Park boys varsity, Tom Sclafani did an outstanding job to help change the landscape of local boys tennis. This year's squad will be led by a man who is a legend as a coach for both the boys and girls programs from the 1980s to now, Robert Kertes.

Kertes, who has been a mainstay in both girls and boys tennis programs at Highland Park, has some very important goals in mind. The girls squad won the GMC Blue division title eight of the last nine years, and also captured a Central Jersey Group I championship.

Hardwood Notes - Mar. 2010
Howard Princz
Sunday, March 7, 2010

HIGHLAND PARK, MARCH 3 - CJ Quarter-finals

Junior guard Jocelyn Summers led a balanced attack with 18 points including the 1000th point of her career, as the third-seeded Owls rolled into the semifinal round of the Central Jersey Group I playoffs with a 60-48 victory over sixth-seeded Metuchen on March 3rd.

Wrestling program earns first states invites
Howard Princz
Sunday, February 28, 2010

The Highland Park High School varsity wrestling team finishes 11-11 on the season and earned a lot of accolades along the way.

The Owls came up one position short of placing into the Group 1 sectional tournament, finishing seventh, but were led by a number of young and seasoned grapplers who showed their merit and strength in on the mat and off.

Hardwood Notes - Feb. 2010
Howard Princz
Sunday, January 24, 2010
One surprise for the Owls this season on the hardwood has come so far from senior small forward Lashaun Parkey. He's "our sixth man off the bench . . . (Parkey) changes the tempo of the game and the attitude of the team when he is in there," says Nobles.

Frank Husslein, a 6-6 senior center, transferred from East Brunswick last season and "didn't play at all last year . . . he is trying to be more balanced," said the coach. "He has a lot to learn and he needs to be more aggressive." Husslein leads the squad in rebounds for the season through Jan. 31.

After the final bell, even the villains could use some help from a friend
Howard Princz
Wednesday, December 23, 2009

The National Football League and Major League Baseball have done a lot over the years to help retired players with physical and emotional issues once their careers have come to a close. Their work is well-known. What about the world of professional wrestling?

 

Dawn Psaltis Damatta of Woodbridge, better known to World Wrestling Entertainment and Extreme Championship Wrestling fans as Dawn Marie, has made it her priority to help those struggling to meet their everyday needs through a charitable foundation, Wrestlers Rescue.

 

Sen. Bill Bradley reflects on the values that shape a life
Howard Princz
Tuesday, December 8, 2009

On the evening of December 7th, former United States Senator and New York Knicks hall-of-famer Bill Bradley presented a number of assorted stories on Sports and Politics for the Eagleton Institute of Politics on the Douglass Campus Center at Rutgers University.

Whether passing legislation or shaping national opinion, Bradley would focus his time on large-scale reform while serving in the U.S. Senate from 1979 to 1997. He also ran for President in 2000. He was the driving force behind the Tax Reform Act of 1986, which lowered tax rates for millions of American and closed billions of dollars of special interest loopholes. He advocated expanded global trade and federal budget priorities that bolstered the national economy and met critical human needs.

Owls fall hard in Central Jersey final
Howard Princz
Saturday, December 5, 2009

At halftime,Highland Park only trailed by 14-6 in the sectional football championship, versus top-seeded Asbury Park. Then the roof caved in.

The Blue Bishops scored 30 consecutive points in rolling to a 44-6 victory over the third-seeded Owls for a third straight Central Jersey Group I sectional title. Asbury Park finishes the year with an 11-1 record.
Owls romp in Group 1 semi-finals
Howard Princz
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
When the dust settled in the Central Jersey Group I semifinals with the second-seeded Bulldogs, two words described the overall performance from third-seeded Highland Park. Pure dominance.
It was time for four Nates and a Webb. Senior running back Nate Smith garnered 220 rushing yards and four touchdowns, while senior flanker David Webb picked off three passes and caught an 80-yard scoring strike in the Owls' 36-point shutout.
Football finds Florence formidable foe
Howard Princz
Saturday, November 14, 2009

A knock-down drag-out prizefight is the only way to describe Saturday's Central Jersey Group 1 playoff matchup between sixth-seeded Florence and third-seeded Highland Park. The Owls completed a 27-yard touchdown pass from senior Nate Smith to Mike McClain and the two-point conversion pass from Smith to Mike Long, escaping with a nail-bitten 8-7 victory at Jay Dakelman Field.

Smith cracks 2,000 and McCarrick too
Howard Princz
Monday, November 9, 2009

It was another breathtaking night for senior running back Nate Smith, who rushed for 254 yards on 14 carries with four touchdowns. The Owls rolled to a 41-0 victory over Cardinal McCarrick last Friday at Jay Dakelman Field for the Greater Middlesex Conference Gold Division championship.

Highland Park forced six Eagles turnovers and totally stymied the Cardinal McCarrick offensive scheme. Overall, Smith has 2,059 yards on the season.

Home victory over Spotswood puts Owls 5-2 overall
Howard Princz
Sunday, October 25, 2009

Playing conditions were for the birds, but head coach Rich McGlynn said the Owls “wanted to send a message to all the teams in Group I . . . We want to be a playoff team that people fear and make a statement now." Senior running back Nate Smith continued his amazing play, rushing for 190 yards and four touchdowns as Highland Park won a waterlogged 45-13 victory over Spotswood at Jay H. Dakelman Field last Friday. The Owls (5-2) have won 19 straight contests against GMC Gold Division teams, with their final conference game on Friday, November 6 at 7 p.m. at home vs. Cardinal McCarrick.

ATHLETES IN SHORTS
Howard Princz
Thursday, October 22, 2009

The Highland Park varsity girls soccer team went into the Greater Middlesex Conference tournament October 16th with a 5-4-1 record, a first-round bye, and somewhat nicked up. "We've had a lot of injuries," said head coach Chris Ruckdeschel.

Owls still "golden" in division
Howard Princz
Monday, October 19, 2009
Nate Smith seems to get all the press with his rushing yards and touchdowns this season. But a balanced effort was on display for Highland Park in their annual rivalry game September 17th against South River.
"We wanted to get other guys involved in what we do and make big plays," said Highland Park head coach Rich McGlynn.
Smith put in a good day's work -- the senior fullback rushed for 260 yards and four touchdowns -- but it was a total team effort that keyed the Owls to a 35-15 road victory. Highland Park improves to 4-2 on the season and remains unbeaten at 4-0 in their GMC division, as well as 3-0 on the road.
Sweet revenge
Howard Princz
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Last season the Owls lost a tough 16-14 decision to Middlesex in the Central Jersey Group I playoffs. This is a new season and Nate Smith, who did not play in last year's playoff game, took the game on his shoulders and the rest was history.
Playoff momentum hits a speed bump
Howard Princz
Sunday, July 5, 2009

June 28th -- It was 11 days since the last time that Sky Blue FC played, but Sunday’s clash with the St. Louis Athletica was one of pure dominance. Unfortunately, the final result before 3,256 fans didn’t pan out the way the host team wanted in keeping pace to make the playoffs.

At the 84th minute, Elise Webber of Athletica chipped a shot over the head of Sky Blue FC keeper Jenni Branam to the far post, for the tie-breaking goal in a stunning 2-1 victory at Yurcak Field.

Home-field momentum keeping Sky Blue’s playoff track alive
Howard Princz
Sunday, July 5, 2009

Wednesday, June 17th was a very important game for Sky Blue FC for a few reasons. For starters, a win would get the team out of the cellar. The second reason is keeping pace in their run to make the playoffs.

Sky Blue FC used an early goal by Rosana and a strong defensive effort to blank the Chicago Red Stars 1-0 before 2,166 fans at Yurcak Field. After a 10 day break, the team hosted St. Louis Athletica,  narrowly losing despite another excellent offensive effort.