By TOM WILLIAMS
A total of 29 Ocean City High School athletes were named first team all stars in their sports this fall.
The teams were selected by vote of the coaches in the Cape-Atlantic League and the West Jersey Football League.
Leading the way was the undefeated girls cross country team – CAL and South Jersey Group 3 champions – with sophomore Alexa Palmieri and junior Casey McLees as repeat selections from 2017. They were joined on the first team by junior Becca Millar and senior Brooke Farr.
The field hockey team, which was also undefeated in the CAL and won the South Jersey Group 3 championship, had five first team all stars. The quintet featured senior Reese Bloomstead, a repeat selection from last fall, along with seniors Jaclyn Charbonneau and Maddie Kahn, and juniors Molly Reardon and Morgan Pizagno.
The boys cross country team, which finished second in the conference but won the CAL Meet and the South Jersey Group 3 title, was led by junior Anthony Conte and senior Gavyn Fox, both repeat first-teamers from 2017. Also named to the first team were juniors Max Kelly and Luke Kramer. Sophomore Tyler Greene received honorable mention.
The boys soccer team, which won its conference title and the CAL Tournament, had four first team selections. Leading the way was senior Hunter Paone, chosen for the second straight year. Joining him were his twin brother, Trevor, plus seniors Matt Brook and Joey Sacco.
The girls tennis team, which shared its conference championship, placed junior Jordan Moyer on the first team as a singles player and the doubles team of junior Brynn Bowman and senior Rosalie Graham, who won the CAL Doubles Tournament. Honorable mention went to senior singles player Gina Schmid and the doubles team of senior Nicole Blum and junior Ashley Devlin.
The girls soccer team – which advanced to the second round of the Coaches Invitational Tournament, the semifinals of South Jersey Group 3 and the finals of the CAL Tournament – had a trio of first team all stars. Senior Anna Devlin was chosen to the first team for the third straight season, the best of any OCHS athlete. Junior Delaney Lappin and sophomore Faith Slimmer, also first team picks in 2017, led the way. Honorable Mention went to junior Abbey Fenton and freshman Summer Reimet.
The football team, which qualified for the NJSIAA playoffs a second straight year and set numerous school passing records, placed six players on the first team in the Independence Division of the WJFL. Four key parts of that passing game – seniors Ian Aungst, Brandon Lashley and Bill Kroeger and sophomore Jake Schneider – were selected. So were senior Brandon Lin and junior Chris Armstrong. Second team honors went to senior Travis Stoerrle and sophomore punter Joe Repetti.
Things have been great the last 10 weeks at OCHS with a challenging Thanksgiving Day football game still to come. The Raiders won 10 league or NJSIAA championships and had a combined 85-24 record. These impressive all star selections just serve as the culmination of a fabulous fall.