Athletes of the Month- December

The Catholic Star Herald highlights the Diocese’s student athletes who stood out during the month of December.

Max Elton

Holy Spirit High School, Absecon

Wrestling

Max Elton’s first match at the Beast of the East Tournament at the University of Delaware didn’t go as planned, so he improvised.
After dropping a tough opening bout in the 120-pound bracket, the Holy Spirit senior reeled off seven straight wins in wrestlebacks to reach the podium. Elton, a University of Buffalo commit, took fifth place after a 3-2 ultimate tiebreaker over Saint Augustine Prep’s Kaden Naame.
He finished with an 8-2 record in his weight class, which included about 70 wrestlers.

---

Mike Hoffner

Gloucester Catholic High School, Gloucester City

Ice Hockey

Already one of the steadiest defensemen in South Jersey, Mike Hoffner has added a scoring touch in his senior season. The Gloucester Catholic rearguard scored four goals and added two assists as the Rams took on the best competition in the area and emerged with a 3-2-1 record during the month of December. Hoffner scored a pair of goals in the season-opening 7-3 victory over Pope John on Dec. 12 and began the season on a three-game goal-scoring streak.

---

Alyce Lehman

Bishop Eustace Preparatory School, Pennsauken

Swimming

It didn’t take long for Alyce Lehman to fit in at Bishop Eustace and enjoy its winning ways. The Crusaders’ freshman has contributed individual victories in four different events in coed competition while supplying crucial legs of winning relay teams as the team raced out to a 4-0 start in December. Lehman has excelled in the 500 freestyle, 200 individual medley, 100 backstroke and the 100 butterfly. Her time of 58.68 in the butterfly is a qualifying mark for the state championship meet.

---

Carly Murphy

Wildwood Catholic Academy, North Wildwood

Basketball

Wildwood Catholic’s December was perfect, and Carly Murphy was at the forefront. The Crusaders’ senior forward scored 99 points, grabbed 42 rebounds and recorded 14 assists in her first seven games as her team started the season 7-0. Murphy has eclipsed the 20-point mark twice this season, including a career high 24 points in a 52-46 win over Camden on Dec. 20. Murphy has committed to play at Swarthmore College next year.

---

Tobe Nwobu

Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill

Basketball

There has been no sophomore slump for Tobe Nwobu. After a fantastic freshman year at Camden Catholic with 381 points, Nwobu started his second campaign with even more fire. Nwobu averaged 17.3 points per game in December, as the Irish were fast out of the gate with a 5-1 record. In his final game of 2022, Nwobu scored 23 points in a 62-56 victory over Rancocas Valley.

---

Angelo Oliverio

Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill

Bowling

It’s been decades since Camden Catholic High School fielded a bowling team, and no one seems happier for the return than Angelo Oliverio.
The Camden Catholic senior placed third at the Olympic Conference Holiday Bowl at Laurel Lanes on Dec. 21 by accumulating a 702 series. Oliverio started the tournament with a 236 game, followed by a 210 game before spinning his high game of 256 to secure third place.