College Corner: Hopatcong grad Macaluso wins Colgate Games title
Courtney Macaluso "was feeling terrible" at the Colgate Women's Games final on Saturday. But after traveling from Hopatcong to Brooklyn to compete for five weeks, Macaluso was determined to make the most of her opportunity.
The top qualifier in the college-open 55 meters, Macaluso crossed the line even with Chatham alumna Ogechi Nwaneri in the final race at the 168th St. Armory in Manhattan. Both finished in 7.38 seconds, but Nwaneri was given first place in a photo finish.
"I really had to work for it," said Macaluso, a Caldwell College sophomore. "I beat everyone out of the blocks, but (Nwaneri) came up in my blind spot. She's so much taller than I am, she was in front of me. She came up at the last possible second, and I leaned at the finish line."
Macaluso won the series with 55 points overall, her first major title since the NJSIAA North 1 Group I 100 and 200 meters as a Hopatcong senior in 2013. Alicia Donaldson was second (45) and Nwaneri third (40) after the six weeks of competition.
Macaluso had competed in the Colgate Games – the nation's largest amateur track series for girls – last year, but failed to advance to the semifinal. She finished seventh the first week, did not compete the second, then won the 55 in the third preliminary, and was second by one hundredth of a second in the fourth. Macaluso also won the semifinal, with Nwaneri a tenth of a second behind her.
"It helps with the anxiety in the spring season, because you're already in the motion of things," Macaluso said. "I do it for the fun, and it keeps me busy. It's something to look forward to, and gives me a destination to work hard for. I like to compete."
Montclair State sophomore Matt Santangelo (Hanover Park) was named the New Jersey Athletic Conference Indoor Field Athlete of the Week. Santangelo threw a season-best and ECAC-qualifying 47-33/4 to win the shot put at the Wesleyan Invitational II. Santangelo also won the CTC shot put (47-41/4) as the Red Hawks claimed the team title. Sophomore Daniel Barreira (Hanover Park) anchored Montclair State's winning 4x800 and placed second in the open 800. Senior Michelle Churchman (Morris Hills) was part of DeSales' winning 4x800 and also placed third in the 1,000 at the CTC Championships.
Georgia freshman Keturah Orji (Mount Olive) had a personal-best 21-2 to finish second in the long jump, No. 4 in NCAA Division I this winter and fifth in indoor school history.
American sophomore Reagan Kolakowski (Mendham) finished second in the mile at the Townsend Invitational.
Freshman Bria Saunders (Parsippany) had a personal best of 24.57 while placing second in the 200 meters, was part of Rutgers' second-place 4x400, and also placed fifth in the 60, at the Metropolitan Championships.
LaSalle junior Stephen Lewandowski (Mountain Lakes) had a personal-best 2:30.7 in the 1,000 at Yale's Geigengack Invitational. Lehigh sophomore Katie Hatler (Jefferson) placed third in the 60-meter hurdles (personal best 8.92).
James Madison senior Kristen Landry (Mountain Lakes) had a three-second personal best of 5:08.09 while placing 26th in the mile at Penn State's Sykes & Babcock Challenge Cup.
Wake Forest junior Samantha Jones (Randolph) was the top collegiate finisher in the 3,000 at the Virginia Tech Elite Meet.
Monmouth sophomore Dylan Capwell (Hopatcong) set a school record as he won the 500 (1:04.54) at Boston University's Scarlet & White Invitational. Hawks senior Ben Boyd (West Morris) set a school record of 47.64 while finishing third in the 400. Capwell, Boyd, Geordan Ferguson and sophomore Malcolm Chavis (Roxbury) placed third in the 4x400. Monmouth senior Taylor Bernstein (Montville) won the shot put. Holy Cross sophomore Gabriela West (Chester/Villa Walsh) finished 29th in the 400.
Freshman Malcolm Montilus (Mendham) was part of NYU's second-place distance medley (10:14.8), which had the third-best time in NCAA Division III this winter.
Senior Morgan Redmond (Kinnelon) was part of Moravian's 4x400 which placed seventh at the Ramapo Indoor Select on Saturday night. Redmond also finished 17th in the 60-meter hurdles. Rowan senior Jesse Spector (Morris Hills) placed 12th in the mile.
Women's Basketball
Mansfield freshman center Brielle Kelly (West Morris) was named the PSAC East Athlete of the Week and Freshman of the Week on Monday. It was her second straight PSAC East freshman honor. Kelly was also named ECAC Division II Rookie of the Week on Feb. 3. Kelly scored a game-high and career best 21 points including the final nine points the Mountaineers' 53-50 defeat of Lock Haven on Saturday. She went 8-of-16 from the floor, including a 3-pointer. Kelly had 17 points, including 13-of-16 from the free throw line, in Mansfield's 83-72 loss to Millersville on Wednesday. Kelly is currently second on the team with 10.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.
Samantha Tabakman (Pequannock) chipped in eight points, six rebounds and two assists as Rhode Island fell to St. Bonaventure 73-59 on Sunday. During a 70-58 win over UMass on Wednesday, the junior forward totaled 16 points, four rebounds, four blocks and two steals.
Jessica Porada (Morris Catholic) scored a game-high 27 points and pulled down 12 rebounds as Ursinus fell to Dickinson 63-62 on Saturday. In 65-56 loss to Swarthmore on Wednesday, the junior forward had 18 points and seven rebounds.
Liz Malman (Mendham) scored a team-high 18 points and pulled down five rebounds as Connecticut College beat Trinity 67-61 on Saturday. In a 65-35 loss to Amherst on Friday, the sophomore guard had 15 points and four rebounds.
Morristown's Erin McDonnell (Kent Place) had 18 points and eight rebounds as Harvard beat Yale 65-55 on Saturday. During an 83-80 loss to Brown on Friday, the senior forward totaled 15 points, five rebounds and three assists.
Freshman guard Alexa Giuliano (Morris Catholic) had 13 points, two rebounds and two steals as Columbia fell to Penn 78-57 on Saturday.
Senior forward Leanna Tallamy (High Point) had a double-double with 21 points, 12 rebounds and five assists as Muhlenberg beat Gettysburg 68-53 on Saturday.
Sophomore forward Courtney Chase (West Morris) had nine points, seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block as William Smith fell to Skidmore 70-63 on Friday.
Junior forward Shayna Ericksen (West Morris) had 12 points and five rebounds as Manhattan fell to Iona 6-41 on Thursday.
Swimming
Freshman Anthony Taboadela (Morris Hills) set a William Paterson record of 2:00.51 while winning the the 200 IM in a dual-meet loss to The College of New Jersey on Saturday. Taboadela also finished second in the 100 and 200 backstroke.
Sophomore Celia Frick (Mendham) won the 200 IM, anchored Columbia's winning medley relay and finished second in the 100 breaststroke in a dual-meet defeat of Dartmouth on Saturday. Frick also anchored the Lions' second-place medley and placed second in the 200 breaststroke in a loss to Princeton on Friday. Tigers senior Michael Strand (Chatham) swam backstroke on the second-place medley relay and was fourth in the 50 free as the men fell to Columbia.
Senior Greta Leberfinger (Chatham) won the 100 breaststroke (season-best 1:03.41), tied for first in the 100 free, and was part of the winning medley relay as Rutgers swept Providence and Georgetown on Senior Day. Freshman Shana McLaughlin (Chatham) was part of Georgetown's winning 200 free relay.
Senior Leanne Zaug (Hanover Park) won the 100 free and was second in the 200 free as Rowan defeated York on Senior Day.
Freshman Katie Gorman (Whippany Park) led off Washington College's winning 400 free relay in a dual-meet defeat of McDaniel on Saturday.
Senior Caroline Brennan (Madison) won the 500 and 1,000 free in Dickinson's loss to host Swarthmore. Devils freshman Elizabeth Smith (Sparta) was third in the 200 IM and fourth in breaststroke.
Men's Basketball
Sophomore forward Ryan Curran (Delbarton) totaled 11 points and two rebounds as Johns Hopkins beat Swarthmore 56-55 on Saturday.
Rashaan Spencer (Mount Olive) had 12 points and six rebounds as Centenary beat Immaculata 65-61 on Saturday. In a loss 58-55 loss to Cairn on Wednesday, the freshman guard had 13 points and three rebounds.
Matt Tobin (Hopatcong) 14 points and nine assists as East Stroudsburg beat Bloomsburg 89-61 on Saturday. During a 72-71 loss to Shippensburg on Wednesday, the senior guard had six points, six assists, four rebounds and four steals.
Sophomore forward Danny Weiss (Montville) had 10 points and six rebounds off the bench as Susquehanna beat Moravian 97-63 on Saturday.
Madison's Joe Sherwood (Seton Hall Prep) totaled 10 points and four rebounds as Washington and Lee fell to Randolph-Macon 82-77 on Saturday.
Senior guard Caleb DeMoss (Mendham) had 11 points and four rebounds as Wheaton fell to North Park 71-68 on Wednesday.
Ice Hockey
Senior forward Alyssa Bufis (Morristown-Beard) had a goal and an assist as Nichols defeated Southern Maine, 4-3, on Saturday.
Staff Writer Lauren Knego: 973-428-6674; lknego@dailyrecord.com