Athletes of the Month-June 2024

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

Shawn Brady

Bishop Eustace Preparatory School, Pennsauken

Track and Field

A double threat in the shot put and discus, 2024 Bishop Eustace Preparatory School graduate Shawn Brady pieced together one of the best seasons for a South Jersey thrower in recent history.

Brady finished third in the discus (179 feet, seven inches) at the Meet of Champions at Pennsauken High School on June 12 after capturing a Non-Public B state championship in the disc (179-1) on June 8 at Stockton University, Galloway, on June 8. Brady, whose best toss of the season was 181-10 on May 2, will continue his throwing career at Rutgers University in the fall.

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Tate DeRias

Gloucester Catholic High School, Gloucester City

Baseball

Tate DeRias’ second official no-hitter of the season came in the state Non-Public B championship game as Gloucester Catholic defeated Saint Thomas Aquinas, 10-0, on June 7. DeRias recorded the first 13 outs via strikeout in his five-inning masterpiece, which gave the Rams their 21st state title in school history.

For the season, DeRias, a University of Miami signee, threw 53 and a third innings and allowed just five runs (0.66 ERA). He struck out 91 batters and allowed just 22 walks and 16 hits. DeRias also supplied some pop at the plate, batting .411 while driving in 22 runs.

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Emma Douglas

Our Lady of Mercy Academy, Newfield

Softball

Emma Douglas will be remembered as one of the most dominant pitchers in South Jersey high school history. Douglas, who will play at the University of Scranton next year, left her mark at Our Lady of Mercy of Academy as the school record holder in strikeouts, with more than 820 during her four years of high school ball.

Douglas struck out 281 batters this season while maintaining a .444 batting average at the plate. She led the Villagers in hits, extra-base hits and runs scored while pitching more than 95 percent of the team’s innings this season.

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Shaelan McNally

Paul VI High School, Haddonfield

Track and Field

Shaelan McNally set a new meet record with a state championship victory in the 3,200 run in a time of 10:24.00 at the Non-Public A championship at Stockton University, Galloway, on June 8. The Bucknell University signee followed up with a second-place finish in the same event at the Meet of Champions event June 12 at Pennsauken High School.

McNally became the first female athlete at Paul VI High School to win an individual track and field state championship since 2019 and the first female distance runner from her school to win a state title since 1992.

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Noah Plenn

Saint Augustine Preparatory School, Richland

Lacrosse

For the second straight year, Noah Plenn was selected as an All-American from USA Lacrosse, becoming the fifth player in Saint Augustine Preparatory School history to earn that recognition more than once.

Plenn, a Class of 2024 graduate, led the Hermits with 39 goals this season while recording 17 assists in just 14 games. For his career, he racked up 109 goals and 61 assists to finish fifth all-time in school history in goals scored. The University of Delaware signee was just the ninth Hermit to hit the 100 career goals milestone and the first to accomplish that feat since 2016.

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Hanna Watson

Holy Spirit High School, Absecon

Lacrosse

Hanna Watson’s high school lacrosse legacy ended with a career best 150-point season, which included 77 goals and 73 assists as Holy Spirit High School made its third straight trip to the Non-Public B state championship.
Watson finished her magnificent career with 278 goals and 278 assists to exit as one of the highest scorers in South Jersey history. Watson, a four-year starter, never scored less than 50 goals or 125 points in a season. Watson, a three-sport athlete who played field hockey and basketball, will continue her lacrosse career at Florida Southern College next year.