The Catholic Star Herald highlights the Diocese's student athletes who stood out during the month of December.
Nick Aversa hasn't missed a beat in transitioning to a leadership role. The Paul VI High School junior was named captain of the team in December and ended up producing four goals and a team-best 18 assists in nine games during the month. Aversa scored a goal in each of Paul VI's four wins in December and posted multi-assist efforts seven times. Heading into the new year, Aversa was just nine points shy of 100 for his career with 29 goals and 62 assists. Aversa has also proven himself a reliable scorer in the spring, as he tallied 27 goals last year for the boys lacrosse team.
Michael Craft has enjoyed a strong start to the wrestling season, winning two major tournaments and posting a winning record at the Beast of the East Tournament. Craft, a Camden Catholic High School junior wrestling at 150 pounds, won his weight class Dec. 14 at the Robin Leff Tournament at Southern Regional, Stafford Township, going 4-0 and pinning West Essex's Reid Clausi in 1:29 in the final. Craft went 3-2 at the Beast of the East in Newark, Del., on Dec. 21 and followed with a 4-0 showing at the Mustang Classic at Brick Memorial High School on Dec. 28, winning by major decision (11-0) over Justin Bullock of Mount Olive in the final. Craft was 13-2 through December.
The Camden Catholic boys bowling team is on a roll thanks to a red-hot start to the season by senior Sean Lacey. In five matches in December, Lacey averaged 207.3 pins per game to lead the Irish to a 3-2 record. Lacey spun a career high game of 279 in a 4-0 win over Lenape on Dec. 11. Through Jan. 3, Lacey had eclipsed 200 pins in 10 of his 18 games and had posted a pair of 700 series. His most complete effort came Dec. 4, when Lacey rolled 236, 246 and 268 for a 750 series against Shawnee.
The transition from freshman phenom to sensational sophomore has been seamless for Lola McGonigle. The Wildwood Catholic Academy guard posted six straight double-digit efforts in December, including a season-high 27 points in a 61-53 win over Atlantic Tech on Dec. 21. Through Jan. 4, McGonigle has scored 134 points in her first eight games of the season, averaging just shy of 17 points per game, as the Crusaders were 6-2. In just 34 career games, McGonigle was almost halfway to 1,000 points with 481 points and 76 3-pointers already on her resume.
Gloucester Catholic High School, Gloucester City
On Dec. 20, Jack Mustaro broke the Gloucester Catholic High School basketball single-game scoring record with a 55-point effort in a 98-93 overtime victory over Clayton. Mustaro, who achieved his 1,000th career point last season as a junior, unseated his brother RJ Mustaro in the record books as RJ had broken Ryan Rooney's 43-point record in 2022 with a 45-point night. Jack Mustaro is a three-sport athlete who plays football and baseball and is closing in on the all-time basketball school scoring record, which is held by 1969 graduate Dom Carrera at 1,507 career points. Through Jan. 4, Mustaro had accumulated 1,412 career points and was second all-time on the list.
Freshman Rhiannon Stanker has been the perfect addition to the powerhouse Our Lady of Mercy Academy Swimming Team. Stanker has secured four individual victories for the Villagers in two important victories over Mainland and Cherry Hill East to start the season 2-0. Stanker won the 100 yard backstroke (1:01.01) and the 500 freestyle (5:17.99) to help the Villagers open the season with a 99-71 win over Mainland. On Dec. 19, OLMA took down No. 6 in the state Cherry Hill East, 106-64, in a statement victory. Stanker won the 200 individual medley in 2:11.5 before besting the field in the 500 free in 5:20.62.