Wildwood-Wildwood Catholic renew rivalry

The Wildwood High School and Wildwood Catholic Academy basketball teams will be playing some important games later this season.

The Warriors girls and boys squads are in the hunt for Tri-County Conference division titles and could also contend for South Jersey Group I championships.

Barring an upset, the Crusader girls will be playing in the Cape-Atlantic League tournament final and will be factors in the State Non-Public B tournament.

But they just played their biggest game of the year.

Wildwood and Wildwood Catholic might go on to earn league, sectional and/or even state titles. They could get police escorts through town and hang banners from the rafters of the gymnasium.

But trust me on this. Ten, 20, 30 years from now, when the players, coaches and fans are asked about their favorite memories of the 2023-24 basketball season, they will recount the excitement, thrills and chills they got while playing one another at Wildwood High last Saturday.

Fans from both schools crammed into the Warriors’ cozy gym to watch the renewal of a rivalry that stretches back decades.

Nearly 300 more spectators – including me – followed the action on CapeAtlanticLive.com.

“We knew it was going to be crazy coming in here,” Crusaders forward Ava Vogdes told CapeAtlanticLive after WCA’s 61-55 victory. “It was just awesome to be in the gym and in that atmosphere. I loved it. I grew up watching this rivalry, so it was amazing to finally be able to play Wildwood in front of that kind of crowd.”

Both games were tense, exciting contests that ended with Wildwood Catholic winning. The Crusaders overcame an amazing, 37-point performance by Warriors junior guard Macie McCracken to earn a 61-55 win.

In the boys showdown, WCA senior Charlie Dunner scored a team-high 18 points in a 60-55 victory. Jordan Fusik led Wildwood with a game-high 19 points, including five three-pointers.

“The atmosphere was crazy,” Dunner told CapeAtlanticLive. “The gym was jumping. I played against a lot of those guys growing up, so it was awesome to be able to do it again.”

It was the first meeting between the two boys programs since they met at Wildwood Convention Hall in the Boardwalk Classic in December of 2017.

The drought was even longer for the girls game. The Crusaders and Warriors hadn’t played since the Boardwalk Classic in 2015.

Explanations for the hiatus vary. WCA was one of the state’s top teams for a time behind coach Dave DeWeese and standouts such Caleb Fields, Taj Thweatt and Jahlil White.

The Crusaders girls program got a boost a few years ago when Sacred Heart closed its doors. Coach Steve DiPatri took over at Wildwood Catholic and was joined by future Michigan State player Kennedy Johnson.

Wildwood, one of the state’s smallest public schools, could always hold its own in girls basketball behind coaches Dave Troiano and Teresa Cunniff, and terrific players like Lisa Schultz, Monica Johnson, Lana Harshaw, Teresa Polini (Cunniff), and the three McCracken sisters – Mackenzie, Maddie and now Macie.

The Warriors boys team has also had its share of talented players such as Tylee Thomas and Jon Greene, and has annually been a South Jersey Group I contender behind coach Scott McCracken, but sometimes lacked depth.

Current athletic directors Steve Lerch (Wildwood) and Mike Rennie (Wildwood Catholic) deserve kudos for ironing out the wrinkles that developed in recent years and rekindling one of the area’s special rivalries.

“I know there are a lot of people who talk about competitive balance when it comes to schedules,” DiPatri told CapeAtlanticLive. “But I say, let the local teams play each other. This is what high school sports should be about. Look at what just went on in that gym. It was great.”

I agree wholeheartedly.

When it comes to scheduling, coaches and officials sometimes place too much emphasis on finding out-of-conference and out-of-area opponents in an effort to collect as many power points as possible for the state playoffs.

It’s understandable, but strengthening one’s schedule too often comes at the expense of some of the area’s biggest and best rivalries.

Lower Cape May Regional and Middle Township are prime examples. Because they were ridiculously put in separate divisions of the West Jersey Football League, the teams had to find creative ways to keep the Anchor Bowl alive and were unable to do so last fall.

As a result, the Caper Tigers and Panthers did not play for just the second time in at least 50 years.

Similarly, Lower Cape May’s and Middle’s boys basketball squads are not playing this season.

Fortunately, the situation appears to be improving. Besides Wildwood and Wildwood Catholic renewing their rivalry, the Anchor Bowl will be back in September.

The WJFL realigned its teams for the 2024 season. Lower and Middle are both in the Liberty Division and will meet at LCM on the weekend of September 11-12.

It’s not Thanksgiving, but it’s better than nothing.

Hopefully, it leads to more rivalries getting renewed, especially in basketball.

Anyone over 50 who grew up in Cape May County got to experience a magical time in high school sports.

Winter nights in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s were spent in steamy, packed gymnasiums watching unbelievable games featuring Charlie Wise (Lower), Floyd Shelton (Wildwood), Craig Roberson (Middle) and Bill Fisher (Ocean City).

My dad, who was a baseball and football coach at Lower in the 1960’s and early 70’s, took his three sons to almost every Lower Cape May boys basketball game in 1971-72, when Wise, Randy Scott, Duke Anderson, Terry Welsh and Mike Johns were taking on Middle, Wildwood, Wildwood Catholic, Ocean City and the rest of the CAL.

Those games were must-see events. If you wanted a seat for a 7 p.m. game, you had to get there by 4 or you were usually out of luck.

A few years later, dad got to watch his oldest son play football and baseball against LCM’s Cape May County rivals.

Those games are always among the topics of conversation whenever the LCM Class of ’76 gets together.

Final scores, accolades and accomplishments fade with time, but the bonds formed and the memories created during those games last forever.

Congrats to Wildwood Catholic and Wildwood for creating those moments for their basketball teams last Saturday.

Avalon edges SIC in County Lifeguard Championships

WILDWOOD CREST – With about 200 yards remaining in the doubles row of the 39th Cape May County Lifeguard Championships Monday night, Avalon’s Gary Nagle and Dave Giulian dug a little deeper.

The crew had a slight lead over Sea Isle City’s Danny Rogers and Pat Scannieco, and Wildwood Crest’s Pat Bakey and Jake Klecko. Suddenly, a wave formed and began to roll toward the beach.

Whoever caught it would likely win the race.

“I told Dave, ‘This is our wave and we have to get on it,'” Nagle said. “It was time to empty whatever was left in the tank.”

Avalon hopped on the swell and rode it across the finish line to win the event for the second straight year. They crossed in 9 minutes, 32 seconds, followed by Sea Isle City in 9:40 and Wildwood Crest in 9:48.

“Being defending champs, there was a little bit of pressure,” Nagle said. “We saw some other crews earlier this summer and they were talking (trash). But it was all in fun. It feels good to win this again.”

Their effort, along with a victory from singles rower Ryan Finnegan, also helped Avalon repeat as team champions. Both Avalon and Sea Isle finished with 22 points. Avalon won the tiebreaker with a 4-3 edge in head-to-head competition in the seven events. Ocean City was third with 20 points, while host Wildwood Crest edged Cape May for fourth on a tiebreaker after both scored 13. Zeb Hinker led Cape May with a victory in the open paddleboard race.

Races were held in front of a large, rowdy crowd. Spectators filled the beach at Rambler Road to root for their favorite patrols. The familiar chant of “Sea … Isle, Sea. … Isle” could be heard throughout the evening, especially when Mary Kate Leonard won the women’s box swim for the second straight year.

Leonard finished in 8:54, followed by Ocean City’s Lexi Santer in 8:59 and Wildwood Crest’s Adrienne Biello in 9:02.

“First, let me say it hurt really bad,” said Leonard, 19, who swims for Boston College. “I took it out fast and got the lead early and then was able to hold on. That run up the beach (to finish the swim) was even harder, though. None of us are runners.”

Santer didn’t have much time to recuperate. Less than 10 minutes after the swim was complete, she was back in the ocean for the women’s paddleboard race.

It didn’t take long for her to get her second wind, however. The 26-year-old occupational therapist rallied to win the paddleboard in 6:19, followed by Wildwood Crest’s Maddie Priest in 6:24 and Avalon’s Alyssa Sittineri in 6:30.

“I was pretty tired after the swim, so I was in last place at the start (of the paddleboard) and had to work my way up to the front,” said Santer, who also competed in the five-person surf dash relay. “It was hectic, but they didn’t have any women’s events here up until a couple years ago, so I wanted to compete.”

Santer’s Ocean City teammate, Michael Giardino, used a similar strategy to win the open box swim.

Giardino, a 16-year-old rising senior at Vineland High School, was the last swimmer to enter the water but was the first one to exit. He had the most dominant victory of the night, winning by 26 seconds over runnerup Jack Christian of Sea Isle City. Defending champion Dolan Grisbaum of Avalon did not compete but is expected to return to racing later this summer.

“I slipped and fell (during the beach run) in the beginning, so I started dead last,” Giardino said. “Once I got in the water, I felt pretty good.”

As always, the most exciting event was the five-person surf dash.

Spectators lined up 10 deep on either side of the course to watch competitors sprint, porpoise dive and swim to a chest-deep buoy, then returning to the beach to tag a teammate.

North Wildwood’s Chase McCray, a 2023 Middle Township High School graduate, gave his team the lead in the third leg, Abby Melle maintained it, then anchor Hunter Bostwick clinched the victory, producing a raucous celebration with teammates Travis McCray and Logan Westerfer.

“We’ve been doing this stuff together since we were 10, 11 years old just for fun,” said Bostwick, a 16-year-old from Washington Township. “It was great to do it again with this on the line. I trusted my teammates to get the lead and they trusted me to bring it home.”

LaFragola overcomes adversity

A number of local fighters have enjoyed success in professional mixed martial arts in recent years.

Cesar Balmaceda (Atlantic City), Jeff Lentz (Mays Landing), and Tim Williams (Millville) all became champions in Vineland-based Cage Fury Fighting Championships while Lentz also won a title for Atlantic City’s Ring of Combat.

C.J. LaFragola is hoping to continue that trend.

A former three-sport standout in high school and college, LaFragola’s got his pro MMA career off to an impressive start on June 17 with a three-round, unanimous decision victory over Orlando, Florida’s Aaron Walker (1-1) at CFFC 120 at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

LaFragola had a huge crowd of supporters, most of whom sported “C.J. LaFragola” t-shirts and filling the arena with cheers.

“I wanted to come out and put on a show,” LaFragola said. “Hearing those fans cheering my name, that was just amazing. And it’s a great feeling to do this in A.C. I’ve been coming to A.C. my whole life. I wrestled here (in the high school state championships) and now it’s come full circle.”

LaFragola, who is from Little Egg Harbor, starred in baseball, football and wrestling for St. Joseph Academy in Hammonton. He focused on wrestling at Brown University, then played football and baseball for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut.

He knew he wanted to pursue a career in sports on the professional level and decided his brightest future was in MMA.

“I’m crazy and I’m willing to do anything,” he said with a laugh. “I’d try out of for the (Philadelphia) Eagles right now if they’d led me and I think I would make the team. And my dad would tell you that baseball is my best sport. But it’s the one-on-one aspect of (MMA) that’s great. You have an army of coaches and supporters behind you, but at the end of the day, it’s just you in there.”

It is a philosophy he has literally carried around for years.

After the fight, LaFragola left the arena carrying a backpack over his shoulder. Inside was a copy of the 2011 movie, “Warrior.”

“It’s always been my favorite movie,” he said. “When I was wrestling at states in high school, (security guards) would check my bag  and ask, ‘Why do you have that movie in there.?’

“It’s about family, overcoming challenges, and getting through the difficulties of live. It’s the story of fighting. It’s the story of life.”

It helped him get through an emotional week.

Before his pro debut, LaFragola attended the funeral of Sherry Schmidt, a close friend and training partner who was killed in a car accident earlier this month.

“It’s been a rollercoaster week,” said LaFragola, who wore a shirt with her picture on it after the bout. “A lot of emotions.”

Wes Hills continues to excel

Wildwood native Wes Hills enjoyed an outstanding regular season for the New Orleans Breakers of the United States Football League.

Hills, a 2013 Wildwood High School graduate, led the league in rushing with 679 yards and finished second with 10 rushing touchdowns. Houston’s Mark Thompson topped the USFL with 14 rushing touchdowns.

The Breakers finished second in the USFL’s South Division at 7-3 and will face the first-place Birmingham Stallions on Sunday in the first round of the playoffs.

The 6-foot-2, 218-pounder is hoping to sign with a NFL team over the summer, which would mark another step in what has been a serpentine journey that has featured stints with two colleges and four franchises in three professional leagues.

Hills, 28, was a standout at the University of Delaware and Slippery Rock University (Pa.) before signing with the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He was released with an injury settlement in August of that year, then signed with the Detroit Lions and scored two touchdowns against Tampa Bay later that season.

He later he headed north and signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League. Last fall, he rushed for 384 yards and a TD on 69 carries and added 10 receptions for 105 yards, which led to him signing with the Breakers.

Wild, Wild, Wildwood Days

The 76ers’ coaching search ended too soon.

Instead of hiring Nick Nurse to replace Doc Rivers, they should have taken a road trip to the Jersey Shore. If they had, the Sixers might well have decided to hire Wildwood Crest’s Frank Vogel.

Given his last name, 76ers President Daryl Morey should have had no trouble finding the town. But just in case the Maps app on his phone didn’t work, he could have simply followed the crowd over the Walt Whitman Bridge on some Friday afternoon, headed to the bottom of the Garden State Parkway, veered left at the base of the Cape May Bridge and cruised along Ocean Drive.

If he had time, maybe the trip could have included a stop at Mooncussers, the Harbor View or Two Mile Landing for an Orange Crush and some fish tacos before venturing into Wildwood Crest.

That’s where they would have found Vogel.

To me, Vogel, a Wildwood High School graduate, would have been the perfect fit to coach the Sixers.

Vogel knows what it takes to win a championship, having guided Lebron James and the Lakers to the NBA title in 2020. He also coached the Indiana Pacers to back-to-back appearances in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals, something the Sixers haven’t sniffed since Allen Iverson and coach Larry Brown lost to the Lakers in the NBA Finals 22 years ago.

There are other Sixers-Wildwood connections.

Among the fans who watched the Sixers in 2001 was the late Paul Franco. Franco, a Wildwood Crest native who passed away in 2021, was a long-time season-ticket holder whose family has owned the Bal Harbour Hotel in the Crest since 1973.

In 2018, when James was opting out of his contract with the Cavaliers, Franco put up a billboard on Route 47 on the way toward Wildwood that read, “PHILLY WANTS LEBRON” in giant letters. Just below it, in smaller script, the advertisement said, “AND SO DO THE BAL HARBOUR HOTELS.”

James wound up signing with the Lakers, where he was coached by Vogel, who owns a 431-389 career record as head coach of the Pacers, Magic and Lakers.

Perhaps most importantly than Vogel’s coaching resume is his intangibles.

Having coached the Pacers and Lakers, he’s used to dealing with superstars such as James, Anthony Davis and Paul George. He knows how to handle stars, which would come in handy with Joel Embiid and James Harden, should he somehow wind up staying in Philly.

But more than anything, Vogel understands the Philly sports culture.

Being from the area means he has thick skin, which is a prerequisite for coaching in front of a demanding fan base. He could handle the boos and the calls into sports talk radio.

He learned that during a two-year stint as an assistant under former Sixers head coach Jim O’Brien in 2004-05, not to mention spending his boyhood summers on the Wildwood Boardwalk.

Wa-Wa-Watch the Tram Car Please.

***

Atlantic City hasn’t seen a professional sports franchise win a league championship since 1999, when the Seagulls won their third consecutive United States Basketball League title behind coach Kevin Mackey and USBL MVP Adrian Griffin.

The Atlantic City Gambits have a chance to end that drought this year.

The Gambits, members of the 49-team The Basketball League (TBL), earned the top seed in the Northeast Division playoffs after posting a league-best 21-3 regular-season record. They are facing fourth-seeded Syracuse Stallions in a divisional single-elimination game tonight (Tuesday) at Atlantic City High School. A victory would mean a berth in a best-of-three Northeast Division championship series.

Former Penn State standout Brandon Taylor leads the Gambits, averaging 16.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Former Atlantic City star Frank Turner averages 13 points and six assists.

***

Pleasantville welterweight Anthony Young (24-3, 8 KOs) saw his 13-fight winning streak end last weekend with a fifth-round TKO defeat against top-rated Alexi Rocha (23-1, 13 KOs) at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California.

Young, who’s ranked eighth by the World Boxing Organization, gave a respectable performance against Rocha, who is the WBO’s No. 1 contender for the first four rounds. Rocha took control in the fifth, dropping Young with a straight left. Young beat the referee Thomas Taylor’s 10-count, but Taylor wisely called a halt to the fight at 2 minutes, 15 seconds of the round.

“No excuses,” Young said on Facebook. “He was the better man that night.”