Athletes of the Month – May 2025

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

Makayla Bernard

Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill

Flag Football

Camden Catholic’s first season of competition in flag football was a smashing success thanks to an impressive crop of underclassmen. That list begins with sophomore Makayla Bernard, who threw 50 touchdowns as the team’s quarterback.

Bernard set the school record for touchdown passes in a game (eight) in her very first appearance and led the Irish to a 12-5-1 overall record (8-2 in the West Jersey Football League).

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Madison Berry

Holy Spirit High School, Absecon

Softball

In the last 35 years, no softball player from Holy Spirit High School had accumulated 100 hits by her junior year. That all changed last month when junior shortstop Madison Berry reached the 100-hit milestone during an 8-2 win over Rutgers Prep in the quarterfinal round of the South Jersey Non-Public B playoffs on May 29.

This season, Berry has accumulated multiple hits in a game 11 times, including a 4-for-4 (four RBIs) performance against Atlantic City on April 13. A strong-armed, sure-handed middle infielder, Berry is near the team lead in several offensive categories, including hits, runs scored, RBIs, stolen bases, extra-base hits and slugging percentage.

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Imani Dennis

Bishop Eustace Preparatory School, Pennsauken

Track and Field

Known more for her high-end skill set on the basketball courts, Bishop Eustace Preparatory School senior Imani Dennis became a state champion in track and field May 30, winning the discus event at the Non-Public B championships at Stockton University in Galloway Township.

Listed at just 5-foot-7, Dennis threw the discus 123 feet, 2 inches on her first attempt to win gold by nearly eight feet over a field of 22 competitors.

On May 20, Dennis threw 106-1 to take second place out of 26 female athletes at the Eustace Throwers Meet on her home field. She also took second place in the small schools bracket at the Camden County Championships on May 10.

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Matthew Duphorn

Paul VI High School, Haddonfield

Golf

Matthew Duphorn produced a strong finish to his high school golf career by shooting a plus-five 77 at the South Jersey Non-Public championships May 8. Duphorn finished tied for ninth in the tournament and helped the Eagles secure eighth place in the team standings.

The previous day, Duphorn carded an 81 in the Olympic Conference Tournament to lead Paul VI to a sixth-place finish in the standings. Duphorn, who will play golf at the University of Dallas in Irvine next year, shot even par three times this season during nine-hole dual meets.

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Emma McCarthy

Paul VI High School, Haddonfield

Lacrosse

Emma McCarthy is rewriting the history books. After scoring the game-winning goal to give Paul VI High School its first soccer state championship, McCarthy etched her name in the lacrosse records books by reaching the school’s all-time goal scoring record in her junior year.

The last of McCarthy’s 85 goals this season tied 2024 graduate Avé Martin’s school record of 226 career goals.

McCarthy, who is committed to play for defending national champion University of North Carolina, set a new career high in points (123) this spring, which brings her total to 338 in three years. McCarthy’s final game this season was a six-goal effort in a 15-12 loss to Bishop Eustace, as the Eagles ended their year with an 11-6 record.

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Robbie Miller

Wildwood Catholic Academy, North Wildwood

Baseball

Sophomore year was a rousing success for Robbie Miller and the Wildwood Catholic Academy baseball team. In just their second year back from a five-year absence, the Crusaders won six games and continue to build momentum for the future.

At the plate, Miller batted .459, drove in 28 runs, stole 21 bases and scored 18 times. On the mound, he pitched 33 innings, struck out 47 batters and posted a 2.52 earned run average.

Miller’s talents were on full display May 19 as he struck out 10 in six innings without allowing an earned run (four hits allowed) in a 10-2 win over Winslow. Miller also went 2-for-3 at the plate that day and drove in a pair of runs.