The Ocean Star from Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey • 21

Lifestyles Entertainment Milestones Obituaries School News Deja View Classified SECTION Striking A Chord Page 31 Reading Is Fun Page 30 PORTS May 31, 2002 Page 21 ANOTHER POINT ef rt flit II II ff tie Go matte isi fv warn wst Group Califano wins pivotal match in victory over Dayton 1 1 -'i I. provided the decisive team point to aid the school's first Group I crown. Califano played through a boisterous crowd in the favor of the Bulldogs while posting the last team point, ending with a 6-3 victory in the second set which was tied at 3-3 at one kids. I felt real good for them and that is the bottom line," said Point Beach coach Ed Hanley of the team's Group I title win. "I really didn't feel all that confident," he said.

"A lot of people didn't even think we were going to win South Jersey Group but we just did not pay atlen- A tion to the papers." While Point Beach got key victories in each round from sophomore first singles Sean Hanlcy. it was Califano's point. The victory also marked a rebound after losing a hard fought 6-3, 6-4 result in the semifinal match with Cresskill. -He is BOYS TENNIS WRAP "It was amazing. We thought we had a chance heading in." Sean Hanley sophomore first singles beginning of the second set it was up to me when everyone started focusing on our match.

I won it 6-3, but it seemed a lot longer than that." Point Beach reached its first ever Group I final by beating Cresskill earlier in the day which also saw victories from senior third singles Ed Morales and the first doubles pair of junior T.CDcAmicis and freshman Mike McCormick, all winning in straight sets. The Gulls had momentum and strong starts in both rounds as Scan Hanlcy was dominant in each first singles victory beating the Cougars' Sahil Kothari 6-4, 6-0 in the semifinals and Dayton's Jared Weisman 6-2, 6-0 in the final. The two victories marked a rebound after Sean Hanley lost just his third match of the year two days before in the SJ GI final. "I felt good for him that he got to accomplish this," said Ed Hanley of his son. "Scan played real well and really picked it up after Tuesday's loss." "It was amazing.

We thought we had a chance heading in," said Scan Hanlcy. "We were under rated, but thought we definitely had a SEE HISTORY, PAGE 25 By Keith Grace Junior second singles Alex Califano passed quite a test with history on the line for the Point Pleasant Beach boys tennis team last Thursday. In coming through, he aided the Gamel Gulls in producing one of the day's biggest surprises at Mercer County Park as they won the NJSIAA Group I Championship. Just two days after winning the program's third South Jersey Group I crown last Tuesday, Califano and Point Beach secured the 3-2 in over Dayton, the North Jersey Section 2 Group I champ and defending Group I champ in the final. The team also beat Cresskill.

the North Jersey Section 1 Group I champ. 4-1 in the semifinals. The Group I Championship marks the first for any athletic team at Point Pleasant Beach High School. The feat is also the first of any tennis program in Ocean County. With the Group I Championship under its belt, the team advanced to the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions, also marking a first for any team at the school "This was just real nice for the 61.

6-3 victory over Dayton's Chase I rcuJIich in the final that stole the show. With the team score eventually split at 2'2 with Scan Hanlcy already finished and senior Dan Mc Etwee and sophomore Stuart Mclntyre controlling tempo for an eventual 6-2. 6-2 win on another court at second doubles, Califano always going to compete and I knew if he would play his game and volley well be could win." said Ed Hanley of Califano. "He had to maintain his composure and did that" "I just tried focus on the ball and everyone started cheering for me. That really helped me out big." said Califano.

"I knew right in the Sophomore first singles Sean Hanley won straight set victories In both the semifinals and finals to aid the Point Pleasant Beach boys tennis team In winning the NJSIAA Group I Championship last Thursday. Tourney runs keep Crayt Wilson Beach's SJ I success f. Boyle, Boro beat Buena to reach SJ Gil final By Krtth (J rare In the Point Pleasant Boro softhall team's run to tlx" NJSIAA South Jersey Group It final, whuh was played yesterday, every step up seemed bet let than the one hrlorc Together through three vicicwics in prior rounds, it sent the I Panthers to Cherry Hill West search of a c1inaj title in their first SJ (HI final appearance results not available at press time Tuesday saw quite a battle as the third seed By Keith Grace A day it all came together Maybe there is an outside shot of debate if this 2002 team is the best 0 the long history of Point Pleasant Beach's traditionally successful boys tennis program. There is no debate, however, that last Thursday was certainly the program's best day. Both history and result solidify that.

For a team that at times this season suffered let dw ns in high-profile matches, last Thursday was a day when the planets were perfectly aligned. It was a day when the sun rose and set perfectly on head coach VA llanley's program at Mercer County Park The events could not have been scripted any better Defying the odds and baffling the "experts" of scholastic tennis, the Camel Gulls made history Not expected by many to do so. Point Beach won its first NJSIAA Group I Championship It is the first overall group team title for any sport in the school, (Vean County too had its books rewritten In a county full of big Oroup IV fish, these little Group I Gulls became the first boys tennis team to win a group championship "Uroythmg cane tjrctbct." said lid Hanlcy. whose team advamcd to its third Group I appearance af ter arnHbcr South Jersey Group I title this season "They have been really playing wcU these last couple of weeks of the season They are playing good tennis and with more confidence Situations hich did not bode as well a pair of tough Shore ConfctTK Up 10 show downs, including losses to Freehold Township and Toms River Last car-lie this season, were key reasons for victories last Thursday In Point Beach's 4 1 win over Cresskill in the (31 semifinal, the first double pair of junK TC. DcAmici and freshman Mike McCotmn played their best ten ni of the year, according to A Hanlcy for key team point In the 3-2 over Dayion in the final, which rc unrd the title, second singles Ak Califano played a focused and poised a round of tennis as ever Califano rode out a wave of aJvtrvfy in the process, realizing half way through hat hi point could he the deciding factor.

Hot to mention the famous crowd, usually seen at a wrestling match in his can and face. ttetw-ecn both the icrmfinai and final rounds on the day, every play, tr in the hncep won at least once, CKcqH ophomnrt fuM kinglet Sean Hanlcy. He continued the family name as 0e program' juggernaut. Wowing through two thy oprxoents on the wuh rtaight rt sklorif. He was mt to go bme that rxght and show that f'mn'p I plaque to bis broihcf, Brian, former Gull stan-Vit and tV frogram'i itt ANOTHtrt, PAGE 2S ft 1 i--CTs- POINT BORO WRAP SOFTBALL WRAP NJSIAA SJ Gil locals posted one of the state's Nfgrt upsets upending sect) nvi bst tturna Regional 2 I The Chiefs, ranked No 1 3 in the Mate, took a I -0 lead, but could tM hold on, due in part to nme crafty base running fmm junwn tmn Roslc and Erin Taw lak.

SEE POINT, PAGE 2i By Keith Grace Yet again, there was more than me memorable moment for the Point Pleasant Beach gitfi track team Out past weekend at Fgg Harhor Township for the NJSIAA South Jersey Group State Sectionals, Bui no moment was more so than the scene on the track of junior Allysm Krayl and aophornore Kim Wilson embracing i the conclusion of the SJ CI 8ct0 event. That tame just seconds after another moment to remember when Krayl came from behind to heal Wilson for a 1-2 Lady Cull finish in the 800. It wat Krayt't second title of the day at the distance Mandout also won her third straight S) CI crown in the GOO, adding yet another btf weekend to her prolific running career. Sentot Gcu Toobcy also wm sectional tulc hitting a personal best and new Khool tcxvti of $-4, which also tied the South Jersey Group I rmird. Meanwhile, junior Ryan Hart wai a tpwt GIRLS TRACK WRAP finisher running a 5.45.4 to place 6th in the l.oOO, before jmning Wilson, junior Christina Jarosinlsi and wphormirt Kclscy Toscano for a Mth plac result at 4 19 in the 4400 relay, A year after taking three indivsdua! title and a cdlesliofl of tori-ix finishei a 1mng team Handing, the Lady Gull tallied 40 points to ptatt fifth Is SJ GI team Mant.ng.

All of Point tkath'i lopm fmishm daic to (hi -etkend' NiStAA Group Championshipi hack at Lfg Harbor Township. Toohry, however, has opted ik to compfte in thii weekend'! mrct "To finish 1-2 like that was real special. We were surprised at all at those two finishing 12, kad Pnt fkfch coath Pill Lsani vi the Krayl-Wi)mn finish in the fcfXi. "A twij at the rat was over both pi were tight in thrir lane hue pp each whet. ThM as a rrJ high-tight" SEE LADY, PAGE 22 Point Pleasant Boro shortstop Morgan Oughton looks to make the tag on Red Bank Catholic's Erin Cltmor at second during lh Panthtr Softball team's Shore Conference Tournament quarterfinal versus the Casey this past Saturday, Point Boro won M.

Decisive first inning assures SCT semifinal berth It. fty Kriit trt The PfflOt rVavart IW nfshI team did not acte rrr time 1 all shutting dMt Red Bank Catholic dwing (hit pa4 5arday' SH Cotifertnte Tournifnrnt first inning hrh 5f fercivtly mi fTf nsotly, the firih--d host 'y Panthm Cmy 2 to to the Ct xmifiniJ, htit they Hints irpt the Case) of! the has paths in the fcip of tf inning, then rallied fat four rum In the bouorn to fort Red Rank Caiholk Id play fame desperation for the rest of the day. Junior pikhrt tii Itrnle rrtired the siite in 6Se first, keyed hy deny irf lead oft hattct Kate Marvel a pih to the hc and ophonvre kfi fickle Jamie Oevcngcr roh-hip linicay Shields r4 pottntial SC AOVAMCtMOfT, PAGE SOFTBALL rOINT BORO 4 RB CATHOLIC 2 SQ QUARTERFINAL pst winner cntt tf) Hti l'Twh4d T(ffisljp in the tounA. Ifit fiM twiing the rorwl piv-cJ, at ing i liftrrp wsih p.ft p4 the 'y PanOwrs first Pot the third straight year, Point Pteaatnt Btach Junior Afhton Krtyl had another bg wknd st tte HJiliU South Jersey Group I Slate Sectionals winning two more sectional tmes Ifl events including ht third aha'ght SJ GI trown In the.