Athletes of Month- January

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

Leah Clear

Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill

Winter Track

Leah Clear submitted the newest entry into the Camden Catholic High School Winter Track record books. Clear, a senior, broke the Irish indoor record in the 800 meter run in a time of 2:23.04 at the South Jersey Track Coaches Association meet at the Ocean Breeze Complex in Staten Island, N.Y., on Jan. 16. She followed up with a 2:24.29 in the same event at the Olympic Conference Meet in Toms River on Jan. 27.

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Jake Lenox

Paul VI High School, Haddonfield

Ice Hockey

Jake Lenox has been one of the busiest goaltenders in the state this year. The Paul VI junior netminder sees an average of about 35 shots a game and has kept the Eagles competitive as they navigate a tough schedule in the Colonial Valley Conference, leading the Valley Division with a 4-1-1 mark through Feb. 4.

Lenox started off January with a bang by turning aside 54 of the first 58 shots he faced in 2023. Lenox is the school’s all-time leader in saves and made his 1,000th career save against Saint John Vianney, Holmdel, on Jan. 24.

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Sabrina Little

Holy Spirit High School, Absecon

Basketball

The Holy Spirit High School girls basketball team’s hot stretch through January ran hand-in-hand with Sabrina Little’s hot shooting. The Spartans sophomore averaged more than 12 points per game during a busy month as Holy Spirit went 9-4 over that period, including a season-best six game winning streak.

Little finished the month strong by scoring a game-high 21 points Jan. 31 in a contest against Cape-Atlantic League rival Hammonton.

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RJ Mustaro

Gloucester Catholic High School, Gloucester City

Basketball

RJ Mustaro finished January on a high note. On the final day of the month, the Gloucester Catholic senior broke the school’s single game scoring record with a 45-point effort in a 108-65 win over Clayton. That same day, Mustaro blew past the career 1,000-point mark in the second quarter, becoming the 16th male athlete from Gloucester Catholic to reach 1,000 points.

Mustaro, a three-sport athlete who also excels in football and baseball, is averaging 17.4 points per game on the hardwood this season for the Rams, who were 10-8 through January.

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Trevor Nolan

Saint Augustine Preparatory School, Richland

Swimming

Trevor Nolan will have plenty of options when the Individual State Championships roll around March 5. The Saint Augustine senior has met qualifying times for five different events through the month of January, including the 200 individual medley, 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke, as well as the 50 and 100 freestyle races.

Nolan, a Monmouth University commit, has helped lead the talented Hermits to a perfect 8-0 dual meet record this season and has been a key component of his team’s 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay teams, which also qualified to participate at states.

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Isabela Valle

Our Lady of Mercy Academy, Newfield

Swimming

The season of “firsts” continued for the Our Lady of Mercy Academy swim team. After an impressive showing in the A Division at the South Jersey Swimming Association Coaches Invitational on Jan. 21, the Villagers followed up with their first Cape-Atlantic League championship in school history Jan. 26 with Isabela Valle leading the way as the most valuable swimmer of the meet.

Valle followed that effort Jan. 30 by winning the 200 and 500 freestyle events as OLMA – the newly crowned Gloucester County champs – defeated Vineland, 89-81, in a dual meet for the first time in school history.