By RICH FISHER
Contributing Editor
What a spring athletic season it has been for Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft.
The Colts had national qualifiers in sailing and crew (plus some track & field individuals), state champions in sailing, crew and track & field and state finalists in tennis and baseball
“We have multiple national championship appearances for different teams,” said Jason Lutz, the school’s director of digital media and branding, and also the head sailing coach. “Anybody who works or coaches here takes pride in the sports that are doing well, from baseball to track to golf to tennis.
“It’s a cool community to be a part of and just shows the brotherhood and determination of the kids who play these sports. I’m only one part of a bigger community here but it’s definitely a cool feeling to play a role in the success of the teams here.”
Lutz’s sailors won their second straight state title in Toms River May 17-18, and finished fourth in the Mid-Atlantic District championship at Christchurch School in Virginia to qualify for nationals a second straight year. They finished 13 out of 20 schools at nationals in Connecticut.
“To go for a second straight year is a great accomplishment and obviously takes a team effort,” Lutz said. “We have a very deep team and that helps our starters get prepared. Our second string would beat just about anybody else’s first string in New Jersey. The kids push each other to get better.
“Only 20 teams get to nationals out of 600 schools in the country. So, to make it there is an accomplishment in its own right.”
CBA had a state-record seven all-state selections this year. Junior Christopher Small and sophomore Cole Buczkowski were named first-team skippers, while junior Jules Buczkowski and freshman Patrick Kennedy were chosen for second team. Senior Matthew Dupree, junior Alton DeOliveria and sophomore Seth Santos ’27 were tabbed as first team crews.
Cole Buczkowski was also named the New Jersey High School Sailor of the Year, one year after teammate Small received the honor.
CREW
Another Colts team on water also found success.
The CBA crew team finished third in the SRAA Scholastic National Championship Regatta to qualify for the national championship meet. Photo courtesy of CBA
The crew squad qualified for the US Rowing Youth National Championship (being held June 12-15) on the basis of time trials for the second time in its history by taking a third-place photo finish at the SRAA Scholastic National Championship Regatta May 24. The program also reached nationals via petition in 2021.
The Colts varsity 4+ boat features senior Connor Burke at coxswain, while seniors Jack Keavey, Jack McMahon and Will Vieth and junior Christian Johnson are the oarsmen.c
TRACK & FIELD
The track & field team won its 28th NJSIAA Non-Public A championship with three gold medals, then took two golds and two silvers in the Meet of Champions.
The Colts track & field team shows off the 28th Non-Public championship banner in program history. Photo courtesy of CBA
In the state meet junior Luke Hnatt, senior Ryan Schmitt and sophomore Gavin Schmitt took 1-2-4 in the 3200 meters, the 4×400 relay team of seniors Colin Burke, Ethan Fianko and Daniel Fasano and junior Julian McFarlane claimed the gold, as did the 4×800 team of juniors Ryan Collins and Matt McInerney and seniors Alex Mastroly and Thomas Field. Seniors Joe Barrett and Ryan Schmitt went finished 2-3 in the 1600,
In the throwing events, senior Marcus Blasucci won the shot, while senior Albert Yodakis was third in the shot and discus.
At the MOC, Blasucci won the shot, while the 4×800 also took first. Silver medals came from Barrett (1600) and Hnatt (3200).
In the June 11 Winner’s Circle Invitational, the 1600 relay team of Hnatt, Ryan and Gavin Schmitt and Mastroly ran a 16:45.25 for the fastest four-by-1600 time in New Jersey History.
BASEBALL
CBA reached the Non-Public A state finals for the first time since 2015 and it was much more complicated this time around.
The CBA baseball team celebrates its first NJSIAA South Jersey Non-Public A championship since 2015. Photo courtesy of CBA
When the Colts met Don Bosco for a 7 p.m. game on June 11 at Hamilton Township’s DeMeo Field, the teams played to a 4-4 tie before the game was suspended due to a township ordinance that said the lights must be turned off by 11 a.m.
Thus, the two teams – neither of whom knew of the lights situation – angrily headed home and returned the next day. The Colts lost a heart-breaker in 11 innings, but that could not detract from a season in which they went 22-5 and won the South Jersey Non-Public A title.
CBA was led offensively by seniors Will Fahey, Daniel Russo and Dan Tsimbinos and sophomore Ryan Wetmore. A standout pitching staff was anchored by seniors Jack Dufficy and Shane Langan and juniors Danny DiTullio, Dylan Iwanyk and Sean Loggie
TENNIS
The Colts won their first Shore Conference Tournament title in 33 years, while claiming their second straight NJSIAA South Non-Public title.
Senior second singles player Luke Brennan helped CBA’s tennis team to its first Shore Conference Tournament title in 33 years. Photo courtesy of CBA
In the SCT, CBA avenged last year’s finals loss to Marlboro by taking a 4-1 victory, getting wins from sophomore first singles Vincenzo Caruso, senior second singles Luke Brennan, the first doubles team of junior Julian Voorhees and freshman Dylan Cuneo and the second doubles tandem of freshmen Sterling Porter and Teddy Perednia.
CBA blistered its way through South Jersey Non-Public, beating Paul VI and Wardlaw-Hartridge 5-0 and Moorestown Friends, 4-1. Caruso, Brennan and senior Ari Macaluso won at singles in the SJ title match, while Cuneo-Voorhees won at first doubles.
In the state finals, CBA dropped a 3-2 heart-breaker to Newark Academy, which won its 14th straight state title. The Colts finished 20-4 with two of its losses coming to Newark Academy.
GOLF
On the links, CBA finished 12-1 and claimed the South Jersey Non-Public A sectional championship.
Sophomore Jack Stamberger won the South Jersey Non-Public A title and finished third in the NJSIAA Meet of Champions. Photo courtesy of CBA
The Colts were led by sophomore Jack Stamberger and seniors Jack O’Connor, Anthony LaRosa, Cormac Whalen and Jonathan Raccuglia.
Stamberger and O’Connor finished first and second in the sectionals with scores of 70 and 71. LaRosa was tied for sixth, Whalen finished tied for 20th and Raccuglia tied for 29th.
In the Non-Public championship match Stamberger was third with a 68 and O’Connor seventh at 74. By virtue of those scores LaRosa finished 13th and Whalen tied for 16th in the entire state. CBA finished fourth in the state as a team.
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