Mount Athletes Dominate At Tourneys: Sports In The Caldwells

In a stunning display of athleticism, the Mount’s Anna Cacciacarne '24 and Natalia Feliz '25 secured their status as Non Public A State Champions in the Shot Put Relay at the Non Public A Relay Championships on January 10. The dynamic duo showcased exceptional skill and teamwork, leaving an indelible mark on the competitive landscape. In addition, Sophia Liwanag '25 soared to victory, clinching the title of Essex County Champion for a second year in a row in the 100 Fly at the Essex County Championships on January 15.

Here’s how the other Mount teams fared:

Basketball

The Mount's basketball squad displayed a rollercoaster of emotions on the court. A tough loss to Newark Academy on January 10th 62-58 set the stage for a fierce comeback against Caldwell on January 11th, securing a resounding 47-35 victory in the SEC American Division matchup. Freshman Bella Iannitelli's stellar performance, boasting a game high 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 steals, propelled the team to success, complemented by Junior Maddie Natale's impactful 12 points and four steals.

Fueling the momentum, the team dominated Cedar Grove on Saturday, January 13th, with a convincing 42-17 win on Senior Night. Natale once again showcased her prowess, scoring a game high 13 points. However, facing #4 in the State, Montclair Immaculate, proved to be a formidable challenge, resulting in a 39-77 loss. The team regained its winning form on Saturday, January 20th, triumphing in the Lou Benora Classic roundup against DePaul, with Natale and Iannitelli leading the charge with 13 and 12 points respectively.

The team will next face SEC American Division opponent Columbia on Tuesday, January 23, before hosting the first round of the Essex County Tournament on Saturday, January 27th.

Swimming

Switching lanes to the swimming pool, the Lions roared with back-to-back victories, overcoming Columbia 91-79 and Millburn 118-52 on January 11th and January 18th. Junior Riley Kopp's stellar performances in the 200 Free and 500 Free secured first-place finishes, while freshman Sonia Jagen's swift times in the 50 Free, and 100 Breast added to the triumph. Junior Sophia Liwanag soared to victory in the 100 Fly, and the relay teams showcased their prowess with two first-place finishes.

However, the highlight for the swimming squad came on Thursday, January 18th, at the Essex County / Super Essex Championships, where they secured 3rd Place Overall. Liwanag clinched 1st place in the 100-yard butterfly to make it back-to-back years as an Essex County Champion. The relay team of Alexa Whitworth ‘27, Jagen, Liwanag, and junior Elisabeth Rosiecki claimed 2nd place in the 200-yard freestyle relay.

The team’s next meet is on Tuesday, January 23, against Montclair Kimberley.

Winter Track

In addition to the tremendous accomplishment by Cacciacarne and Feliz in the Shot Put Relay of the Non Public A State Relays on January 10th that was stated earlier, Mount also took 6th in the Sprint Medley Relay (SMR). The relay team consisted of Riley Merklinger ‘24, Reina Casas ‘27, Lily Garbo ‘27, and Lily Nachbaur ‘25.

The following week started with a Garfield Shot Put Meet on January 15th where Cacciacarne took 6th. They ended with the Essex County Relay Championships on January 20th. The team of Cacciacarne and Feliz took home a 4th place medal. The 4 x 200 relay team of Casas, Valentina Somoza ‘26, Merklinger, and Jillian Diglio ‘27 also made some noise, notching the 3rd fastest time in Mount History!