HHRS Lady Admirals Win NJSIAA Central Group 1 Championships

(Trophy image: Front row, left to right: Julia DiGiorgio, Sarah Mulligan, Rebecca Vaughan, Christine Doelger, Kendall Keelen, Linda Gallagher, Gabby Villali. Second row, left to right: Asst Coach Patrick, Vincenza Villali, Kamryn Hubeny, Emma Curry, Olivia Iannace, Sophia Shea, Asst Coach Grimes, Ali Quast, Head Coach John Corneliusen)

HIGHLANDS, NJ, June 12, 2015 - It’s been almost 30 years since Henry Hudson Regional School has seen a girl’s softball championship, but the wait is over. This season, with much hard work and determination, the varsity Lady Admirals have made the wins look easy, moving them along to the state tournament and crowning them champions in the NJSIAA Central Group 1 final and easily winning the state Group 1 semi-finals against New Egypt.

Head Coach John Corneliusen proudly says of this remarkable team, “It became apparent quite quickly that this was a very special group of girls. I cannot point to any one player or skill that gives them an edge; it’s all of them collectively. Their teamwork, sportsmanship, vision and drive has created a unique team that I hope sets the standard for years to come at HHRS.”

On May 11th, the team beat out Ranney to secure their first outright B Central Division crown since 1986 (they shared the honor with Mater Dei in 2010 & 2011). As they entered the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 1 final on Friday, May 29th. third-seeded Lady Admirals was victorious over top-seeded Bound Brook to secure the Championship title; on June 3rd, they topped New Egypt to take the state Group 1 semi-final. Their record is 21-3 overall for the season.

As principal, Lenore Kingsmore, stated, “It’s been a long time coming and I’m extraordinarily proud of these girls and the coaches. They have worked so hard and it’s paid off with such a stellar season, but they are not just amazing athletes; they are also incredible students, most of whom are on the Honor Roll and three of the girls also attend M.A.S.T.”

The girls rotate game captain roles, with seniors Kendall Keelen, Julia DiGiorgio, Linda Gallagher, Rebecca Vaughan, Gabby Villali, Christine Doelger, & Sarah Mulligan all sharing leadership for the team.

The school superintendent, Dr. Susan Compton, stated “the 2015 HHRS girl’s softball team is leaving an athletic legacy that will live on for many years; a record that has been one of the best of all athletic teams during the school’s existence for the last fifty two years. The exemplary teamwork among these girls is tremendous and their softball coach, John Corneliusen is one of the best in the state of New Jersey.”

For more information on the Lady Admirals and other happenings at Henry Hudson Regional School, please visit www.hhrs.us/tridistrict.

About Henry Hudson Regional School

Henry Hudson Regional School, a middle school and high school, serves the towns of Atlantic Highlands and Highlands from grades seven through twelve. It is located adjacent to Twin Lights State Park in Highlands, New Jersey, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and Gateway National Recreation Area at Sandy Hook. Henry Hudson Regional School provides a personalized learning experience that enables students to meet and exceed all content area learning standards by maintaining small class size, securing low student-to-teacher ratio, utilizing highly engaging curriculum that fosters academic achievement in a changing global, technological society, and embracing a strong partnership with its community. Henry Hudson equips students with the skills needed to develop self-esteem and character, to communicate effectively, to think critically to solve problems, to learn respect for cultural differences and to work cooperatively with others. www.henryhudsonreg.k12.nj.us

Mr. John Corneliusen has been teaching for 12 years at HHRS. He has been coaching girls softball for 10 seasons at Henry Hudson; this is his 6th year as Head Coach with the previous 4 years as varsity assistant coach.

About NJSIAA

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, founded in 1918, is a voluntary, non-profit organization made up of 433 accredited public, private and non-public high schools in the state. The New Jersey Association joining with the other forty nine State Associations constitutes the National Federation of State High School Associations which has represented the best interests of high school athletics since 1920, and today represents 22,000 schools, more than 330,000 coaches, and almost 4.5 million high school athletes.

http://www.njsiaa.org/everything-njsiaa/about-njsiaa