Athletes of the Month – April

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

Adrienne Abalos

Gloucester Catholic High School, Gloucester City

Golf

Adrienne Abalos is quickly making a name for herself on the South Jersey golf circuit.

As the only female on Gloucester Catholic’s team, Abalos has been a vital contributor for the Rams this season during her freshman year, helping Gloucester Catholic take a close 177-179 win over Cumberland in March when she carded a 46.

Individually, Abalos placed second among all females at the Camden County Championships at Valleybrook Country Club on April 20 by shooting 100 on the 18-hole course. A day later, she placed 16th among 56 females in a nine-hole competition at the South Jersey Invitational at Westwood Golf Club with a score of 52.

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Nick Antonicello

Wildwood Catholic Academy, North Wildwood

Baseball

Nick Antonicello’s start to the 2026 season was simply scorching.

The Wildwood Catholic Academy junior shortstop hit safely in his first 13 games and posted a .744 batting average as the Crusaders went 5-8.

During a four-game winning streak in mid-April, Antonicello went 13-for-16, scored 11 runs and drove in nine more. His 5-for-5, six RBI performance against Winslow on April 16 led the Crusaders to a 17-9 win.

Through April 24, Antonicello also pitched 24 and a third innings, striking out 32 batters. He threw a five-inning shutout (12 strikeouts) on March 31 in a 10-0 win over Bridgeton.

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Jules Jackson

Paul VI High School, Haddonfield

Softball

Jules Jackson is proving her phenomenal freshman year was no fluke.

Jackson, a sophomore outfielder at Paul VI High School, was hitting .605 through April 27, and her 78 career hits gives her an outside shot of breaking 100 before her junior year.

Through her first 14 games this season, Jackson has only been held hitless once, while supplying multiple hits on eight occasions. The speedy leadoff hitter has walked 10 times and swiped 24 bases. Jackson also has proved she can hit for power with 11 doubles and a pair of home runs in that span. She helped the Eagles piece together a five-game winning streak in April, as the team was 8-6 just past the halfway point of the season.

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Grace Marczyk

Holy Spirit High School, Absecon

Lacrosse

Grace Marczyk has helped turn the fortunes of the Holy Spirit High School girls lacrosse team.

The Spartans struggled out of the gate this season with just one win in their first five games, but won five of their next six thanks to an offensive explosion, led by Marczyk.

The junior buried 26 goals and added 11 assists in her first 11 games this season to help Holy Spirit right the ship. Her four-goal effort helped the Spartans earn a crucial 13-9 victory over Woodstown on April 9 and she supplied another four tallies in a dramatic 10-9 upset win over Paul VI on April 23, where she recorded her 100th career point.

Marczyk is a three-sport athlete who also excels in soccer and swimming.

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Sean McGettigan

Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill

Golf

Sean McGettigan is heating up at the right time of the season for the Camden Catholic High School golf team.

The senior lefty fired a plus-nine 80 at the Camden County Championships at the par-71 Valleybrook Country Club on April 21 to tie for fifth place out of 80 golfers. Jumping back into dual matches, McGettigan shot a match-best one-over-par 36 in a one-stroke victory over Cherry Hill West on April 23 to raise the Irish’s record to 6-2 on the season. McGettigan was also the top scorer in a one-stroke victory over Moorestown on April 16, when he carded a two-over-par 37.

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Chris Papageorgiou

Wildwood Catholic Academy, North Wildwood

Tennis

Chris Papageorgiou earned his stripes early by thrusting into the first singles spot at Wildwood Catholic Academy during his freshman year and remaining there all four years.

Papageorgiou surpassed the 25-career win milestone during his senior season, as he won six matches through the month of April. His opening day three-set thriller (5-7, 6-2, 10-4) over Luis Salvatierra of Oakcrest helped the Crusaders secure a tight 3-2 victory and begin their pursuit of a second-straight winning season, following an 11-4 campaign last year.

Papageorgiou has won six of his first 10 matches this season, and the Crusaders are undefeated when he secures a victory.