Athletes of the Month- December

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

Kalib Capecci

Saint Augustine Preparatory School, Richland

Ice Hockey

Kalib Capecci has already provided a couple of big moments for the Saint Augustine Prep ice hockey team in the early part of the season. The junior defenseman has two game-winning goals on his ledger, as the defending state champion Hermits went 4-1 in December against the best competition in the state. Capecci started his season red-hot by registering a three-point game in a 5-1 victory over La Salle (Pa.) on Dec. 7 and repeated the feat in a 4-3 victory over Christian Brothers Academy six days later.

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Kage Jones

Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill

Wrestling

After finishing one spot short of the podium at the state championships last year in the 132-pound weight class as a freshman, Kage Jones is having a remarkable start to his sophomore season, wrestling at 157 pounds.
Jones went 9-2 in December, which included a fifth-place finish at Beast of the East on Dec. 17 before winning his weight class at the Mustang Classic on Dec. 28. Jones was named Most Outstanding Lower Weight Wrestler at the Mustang Classic after his 6-3 tiebreaker victory over Roman Onorato of Paulsboro, which helped the Irish secure the team title at the event.

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Scarlett McGlinchey

Our Lady of Mercy Academy, Newfield

Swimming

Scarlett McGlinchey’s 2023-24 swimming season is already off to a flying start. In the two December meets in which she swam, the Our Lady of Mercy Academy junior and Duke University commit went 4-for-4 in posting state qualifying times in individual events. Her time of 1:03.78 in the 100 breaststroke in a victory against Kingsway also eclipsed the National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association All America consideration time by eight hundredths of a second. McGlinchey’s times of 2:05.61 in the 200 individual medley, 24.86 in the 50 freestyle and 53.50 in the 100 freestyle were also state qualifiers. The Villagers were 3-0 heading into January.

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Shaelan McNally

Paul VI High School, Haddonfield

Winter Track

After a record-breaking cross country season, Shaelan McNally is carrying momentum into the winter track season. During the fall at Holmdel, McNally recorded the fastest time ever (18:56) by a Paul VI High School female, breaking a 41-year-old school record. This winter, the Bucknell University commit closed out 2023 by anchoring Paul VI’s girls distance medley team to a first-place finish (12:31.11) with teammates Claire Magee, Giovanna Mantuano and Macy Huber during the New Jersey Catholic Track Conference Winter Relays at the Ocean Breeze Track and Field Facility in Staten Island on Dec. 30.

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Kaci Mikulski

Wildwood Catholic Academy, North Wildwood

Basketball

The points are piling up for Kaci Mikulski, who is on the verge of a major milestone. The Wildwood Catholic Academy senior stands at 946 career points through Dec. 4 after knocking down 95 points during the Crusaders’ perfect (6-0) month of December.

Mikulski, who filled a void at point guard last season, is back at the shooting guard position this year. Over the last three years, the Jefferson University commit has been one of South Jersey’s deadliest long-range shooters with more than 150 3-pointers on her resume.

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Jack Mustaro

Gloucester Catholic High School, Gloucester City

Basketball

Gloucester Catholic ended 2023 on the right foot with a 66-55 victory over Seneca at the Butch McLean Memorial Tournament on Dec. 28 thanks to a 24-point effort from junior Jack Mustaro, who received MVP honors.

Mustaro’s December included a 25-point effort against Audubon and a career-high 32-point showing against Salem Tech as the Rams compiled a 5-1 record during the month. In his first six games of the season, Mustaro had 120 points, including 19 3-pointers and stood at 738 career points heading into 2024.