Athletes of the Month – January

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

Nick Aversa

Paul VI High School, Haddonfield

Ice Hockey

Nick Aversa’s sophomore campaign has been a big reason for the Paul VI’s ice hockey team’s jump to the top of the standings.

Aversa scored 14 goals during the month of January as the Eagles established themselves as the only undefeated team in Colonial Valley Conference play. Through Feb. 7, Paul VI was 15-4 overall and 5-0 in the CVC Valley division. At that point, Aversa led the Eagles with 22 goals and 30 assists. He had three hat tricks on the season, including a dominant four-goal, two-assist effort in a 7-1 victory over Lawrenceville High School B on Jan. 22.

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Charlie Dunner

Wildwood Catholic Academy, North Wildwood

Basketball

As Wildwood Catholic Academy’s most consistent scorer, senior Charlie Dunner has found several avenues to fill the bucket each game. Both an inside and outside threat, Dunner has averaged approximately 15 points a game as the Crusaders navigate the waters of a tough Cape-Atlantic League schedule. A pass-first point guard, Dunner also contributes five assists and 4.5 rebounds a game. Highlights this year include a 21-point effort against Saint Joseph Academy, Hammonton, on Jan. 24 and a career best 27-point game against Millville on Feb. 1. He received MVP honors with a 18-point game against Wildwood on Feb. 3.

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Julia Kopcho

Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill

Swimming

Camden Catholic’s best distance swimmer has come a long way in helping the team secure valuable points en route to a landmark season in the pool. Junior Julia Kopcho broke the two-minute mark in the 200 freestyle on Jan. 30 with a time of 1:59.57, while posting a time of 5:25.67 in the 500 free during that same meet. Kopcho has since shaved a minute and a half off her 500 time and is one of Camden Catholic’s most dependable participants in all three of the team’s relay events. Kopcho helped pace the Irish to a division title and their first playoff victory in more than 20 years after an 89-81 victory over Red Bank Catholic in the Non-Public South quarterfinals.

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Sabrina Little

Holy Spirit High School, Absecon

Basketball

Holy Spirit High School’s top scorer was quite busy in January, posting 180 points in a span of a dozen games. During that time, the Spartans won eight games and were 14-8 heading into the Cape-Atlantic League Tournament. Sabrina Little matched a career high with 28 points on Jan. 16 in a 69-57 win over Atlantic City. Her finest defensive game came on Jan. 27, when she recorded 10 steals in a 59-54 win over Manchester Township. Little has eclipsed 20 points on eight different occasions this season and surpassed 900 career points in early February.

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Jacob Michaud

Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill

Bowling

In just its second year back from a more than 30-year hiatus, the Camden Catholic High School boys bowling team won the Olympic Conference National Division with senior Jacob Michaud leading the way. Michaud averaged 203 a game in five matches in January, which included a season-high 678 series in a 4-0 win over Seneca on Jan. 3. Michaud has helped lead Camden Catholic to a 7-4-1 overall record by averaging 204 pins a game through Feb. 7.

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Braiden Tedesco

Paul VI High School, Haddonfield

Swimming

No matter the stroke, Braiden Tedesco has made a habit of touching the wall first. The Paul VI senior specializes in the 100 backstroke (55.01) and 200 individual medley (2:04.37), but has shown his versatility by capturing first-place finishes in the 100 breaststroke, 100 butterfly, 200 freestyle and 500 free this season. It has added up to a tremendous individual season and an even better team record as the Eagles finished undefeated (9-0) in the regular season, won the South Jersey Swim League Bering Sea Division and won a first round playoff meet over Bishop Eustace.