Athletes of the Month – September

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

Savanna Fries

Our Lady of Mercy Academy, Newfield

Soccer

The Our Lady of Mercy Academy girls soccer team is enjoying another scoring outburst from junior Savanna Fries as it stakes its claim as a contender in the Cape Atlantic League. Coming off an 18-goal sophomore campaign, Fries has been a consistent contributor as a junior, scoring 10 goals and three assists in September, as the Villagers piled up an 8-0-1 record. Not far behind is Fries’ freshman sister, Vienna, who tallied seven goals and four assists in the first month of her rookie season, making the duo one of the most dangerous combos in South Jersey this season.

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Calvin Kiker

Wildwood Catholic Academy, North Wildwood

Soccer

Wildwood Catholic Academy’s boys soccer team is off to its best start since 2016, as the Crusaders went 9-1 in the month of September. Fueling the surge is junior Calvin Kiker, who tallied 13 goals over that span. Kiker had five multi-goal games in the first month of the season and five game-winning goals to spark the Crusaders’ fast start. Kiker’s largest scoring output came Sept. 13 in a 7-0 win over Holy Spirit High School, Absecon, when he racked up a pair of goals and three assists.

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Hailey Mack

Bishop Eustace Preparatory School, Pennsauken

Volleyball

In just its third year as a varsity volleyball program, Bishop Eustace Preparatory School is already showing signs of being a top contender. The Crusaders posted a 10-2 mark in September as junior Hailey Mack contributed 104 kills during the first month of the season. Mack was at her best during the Crusaders’ tightest contest of the year Sept. 9 as her 21 kills helped Bishop Eustace prevail with a 25-19, 22-25, 25-22 thriller. The outside hitter recently celebrated her 200th career kill and is creeping up on 100 digs and aces.

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Hannah Rowan

Paul VI High School, Haddonfield

Tennis

The Paul VI High School girls tennis team is enjoying another fine season and another consistent campaign from second singles player Hannah Rowan. Through September, Rowan collected a team best eight individual victories as the Eagles went 8-2 as a team. Rowan’s 4-6, 6-4 (10-5) tiebreaker victory Sept. 8 helped secure a 3-2 win over Mainland in the Stockton Invitational. On Oct. 1, Rowan, a senior, contributed a straight sets victory to help Paul VI defeat Our Lady of Mercy Academy, Newfield, in the first round of the Non-Public South Jersey state playoffs.

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Sophia Stazi

Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill

Field Hockey

After an eye-opening freshman year, Sophia Stazi hasn’t missed a beat during year two. The Camden Catholic High School sophomore is on her way to eclipsing a rookie season that saw 33 goals and 11 assists en route to a field hockey state championship. Through just nine games this season, Stazi knocked in 17 goals and contributed 10 assists as the Irish prepared themselves for another postseason run. Camden Catholic was 8-1 through Oct. 3, and Stazi had recorded at least one goal in every Irish win.

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Jahcere Ward

Holy Spirit High School, Absecon

Football

Jahcere Ward and the Holy Spirit High School football team are both proving to be a powerful force. Ward, a senior running back, piled up 283 yards and reached the end zone seven times in the first month of the season, including twice in a 23-12 victory over Camden High School on Sept. 20. Ward, who racked up 151 yards and three touchdowns against Oakcrest on Sept. 6, averaged 5.55 yards per carry this season, which helped the Spartans race out to a 5-1 record. For his career, Ward has accumulated 1,570 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns.