The Catholic Star Herald highlights the Diocese’s student athletes who stood out during the month of June.
Claire Magee
Paul VI High School, Haddonfield
Track and Field
Claire Magee keeps seeing her school records get broken – by Claire Magee.
The Paul VI High School junior has made the 400 meter run her signature event as she continues to improve the school record in the single-lap event. Magee first claimed the Eagles’ school record last year, toppling Aliya Rae Garozzo’s mark of 56.88, which was set in 2019.
This year, Magee broke her own record by clocking 56.11 in a fifth-place finish in an incredibly talented field at the Non-Public A state championships.
On June 4, Magee eclipsed the 56-second mark and bested her own time by nearly a half second (55.69), finishing sixth in the state at the Meet of Champions.
Anna Marquardt
Bishop Eustace Preparatory School, Pennsauken
Lacrosse
Anna Marquardt became the first girls lacrosse player from Bishop Eustace Preparatory School to be named a USA Lacrosse All-American, which is awarded to student-athletes who exhibit superior skills, exceptional game knowledge and outstanding sportsmanship.
The recognition was well-earned as Marquardt led the Crusaders to a 13-6 record and an appearance in the Non-Public state quarterfinals. On the season, Marquardt scored a team-best 51 goals along with 21 assists and 123 draw controls. The Fairfield University signee accumulated four straight 40-goal seasons and finished her high school career with 189 tallies and 60 assists, in addition to 177 ground balls and 490 draw controls.
Mia Merlino
Holy Spirit High School, Absecon
Softball
Holy Spirit High School was the last softball team alive in the Diocese of Camden this season as the Spartans made another deep playoff run. It gave senior Mia Merlino more time to savor the moment and add to her already impressive resume, which included more than 100 career hits and 200 career strikeouts.
Merlino batted over .400 this season, and on May 3, she became the first Holy Spirit player to reach the 100-hit milestone in 13 years when she hit safely in a 2-0 loss to Oakcrest.
During Merlino’s time at Holy Spirit, the Spartans won 50 games and reached the semifinal round of the Non-Public B playoffs three times, including a sectional final appearance in 2024.
Merlino will attend the University of Delaware next year.
Julian Onesti
Saint Augustine Preparatory School, Richland
Track and Field
Before graduating, Julian Onesti proved he was one of the fastest runners in the state as the Saint Augustine Preparatory School sprinter turned in an incredible senior year on the track.
After clocking 10.58 seconds in the 100 meter dash in the Atlantic County Championships in May, Onesti shaved another two hundreds of a second off his personal record and placed third in the Non-Public A state championship.
Onesti went out with a bang, running 10.46 to take third place at the Meet of Champions on June 4. With a slight wind at his back, Onesti’s time was an Atlantic County record and the 12th-fastest time ever recorded at the Meet of Champions. He will run track next year at Rider University, Lawrence Township.
Jackson Smallets
Gloucester Catholic High School, Gloucester City
Baseball
Jackson Smallets ended his Gloucester Catholic High School career as a state champion, throwing 101 pitches in a 7-4 victory over Pope John XXIII Regional High School in the Non-Public B state final June 11 at Veterans Park.
Smallets’ final outing represented another outstanding start, as he allowed just five hits in 6 1/3 innings. For the season, Smallets pitched 89 innings, allowed just 19 runs (1.21 ERA) and struck out 66 batters. Smallets’ 2025 resume included a 12-strikeout performance in a complete game win over Saint Augustine Preparatory School as well as a six inning one-hitter (nine strikeouts) in a 3-0 victory over Cherry Hill West.
Smallets will play at Coastal Carolina University in South Carolina next year.
Ryan Wodazak
Saint Augustine Preparatory School, Richland
Lacrosse
Opposing defenders just couldn’t figure out how to stop Ryan Wodazak, especially in the most crucial time of the season.
The Saint Augustine Preparatory junior scored 43 goals this year, including nine hat tricks. Six of those hat tricks came in the Hermits’ final six games of the season. Wodazak’s fourth career four-goal game came in the Hermits’ opening round of the Non-Public state playoffs in a 9-4 win over Montclair Kimberley Academy. Wodazak helped Saint Augustine roll to a 16-4 record as the Hermits were regarded as one of the top teams in the state.
He is committed to play lacrosse at Penn State University after he graduates high school in 2026.
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