Athletes of the Month – May 2026

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

Dom Botto

Saint Augustine Preparatory School, Richland

Rugby

Dom Botto’s rugby career concluded with school records and state championships.

The Saint Augustine Preparatory School senior helped his Spring 15 team win its school record fifth-straight state championship on May 16 as the Hermits defeated Christian Brothers Academy, 57-30.

In the final offensive possession of the season, Botto surpassed the 350-point milestone on a successful two-point conversion kick. He scored a Hermits’ spring team record 91 points in his senior season, including eight tries, 24 conversions and one penalty kick.

Botto graduates as the program’s all-time leading scorer at 351 career points and will continue playing rugby at the University of South Carolina next year.

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Noah Danza

Gloucester Catholic High School, Gloucester City

Baseball

Noah Danza has already set career highs in almost every category. The superstar shortstop has become a main pillar of one of South Jersey’s best high school baseball teams.

Through May 20, Danza was batting .514 this season, including a 23-for-35 (.657) stretch in May that saw Gloucester Catholic capture its second straight Joe Hartmann Diamond Classic championship.

Danza, a Mississippi State University commit, went 5-for-5 (four RBIs) on May 9 in a win over Vineland; plus, he was perfect May 16 with a 4-for-4 performance (two RBIs) against Bishop Eustace. He recorded both his 100th career hit and his 100th career run scored earlier this season.

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Michael Diggins

Paul VI High School, Haddonfield

Golf

Michael Diggins produced his best round of the season when it mattered most, as the Paul VI senior shot a 3-over-par score of 75 at the South Jersey Non-Public championship on May 4 at Mountain View Golf Course in Ewing.

Diggins finished two strokes behind sectional champ Joseph Recco of Saint John Vianney and placed second on a match of scorecards (back nine) over Saint Augustine Preparatory School sophomore Torrin Denton, who took third out of 82 golfers.

Diggins, who qualified to play for the state championship, fueled the Eagles to a 10-9 season, which included an Olympic Conference National Division championship.

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Kinsey Hagan

Holy Spirit High School, Absecon

Softball

Kinsey Hagan’s first year on Holy Spirit High School’s softball team has been a smashing success.

Through the first 20 games of the regular season, the freshman third baseman hit .443 and scored a team-high 32 runs as the Spartans won seven of those games.

Hagan hit safely in 18 of Holy Spirit’s first 20 games, making her one of the Spartans’ most consistent players in the batter’s box this season. 

Of her 27 hits, seven went for extra bases, including three triples and her first career home run on April 23 in a 17-8 victory over Our Lady of Mercy Academy.

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Ayana Jackson

Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill

Flag Football

There was no second-year setback for Camden Catholic’s flag football team, as it went 9-5 a year after establishing the program.

Senior Ayana Jackson took major strides by catching a team-high 68 passes for 892 yards. Her 13 touchdown receptions also led the Irish.

Jackson had four 100-yard games this season, including a three-touchdown, 110-yard performance against KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy on April 29.

Jackson, a three-sport athlete at Camden Catholic, will play two sports in college; she is committed to play both flag football and soccer at Immaculata University.

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Emma McCarthy

Paul VI High School, Haddonfield

Lacrosse

Paul VI High School’s all-time leading scorer reached another lacrosse milestone as she notched her 300th career goal during a four-goal, three-assist performance in a 15-4 win over Bishop Eustace on May 19.

Emma McCarthy secured her third straight 75-goal, 100-point season as she accumulated 77 goals and 108 points through May 21 as the Eagles carried an 11-6 record. Paul VI entered the Non-Public playoffs on a three-game winning streak where McCarthy supplied 15 goals and 10 assists in that span. She is committed to play lacrosse for the University of North Carolina next year.