Local athletes shine in college roles

By Josh Lashley
SPARTA — Zach Leach (Pope John High School) and Dillon Mendel (Sparta High School) were both part of the Rowan University (Glassboro, NJ) baseball team this past season. Mendel, a sophomore infielder played in 32 games and started in 25 of them for Rowan. He led the team with a .354 batting average. Mendel had 34 hits, including three doubles, a triple and 10 RBIs. He also scored 18 runs. He was chosen as a New Jersey Athletic conference (NJAC) Athlete of the Week in May.
Leach, a freshman catcher started in 14 games and had a .250 batting average for the Profs. Leach had 10 hits with a double, a triple and a home run. He also posted eight RBIs and scored six runs.
The Profs tallied an overall record of 29-18 and they were 13-3 at home. In the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) they went 10-8. They advanced to the NJAC Tournament where they finished 2-2 with wins over Rutgers-Newark and Kean University and losses to The College of New Jersey and Ramapo College.
From there, Rowan moved on to the NCAA Division III South Regional held in Danville, Virginia. The Profs went 1-2 in the South Regional with a triumph over Emory University and defeats at the hands of LaGrange College and Salisbury University.
Claire Incantalupo (Sparta High School) was a junior competitor in middle distance runs and hurdles for the Rowan University women’s track and field program this spring. Incantalupo was part of the Rowan 4 by 400 relay team that earned First-Team All New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) honors. She also placed fifth in the 400 at the NJAC Championships. Incantalupo was named to the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Atlantic Region Team.
The Profs hosted and placed second at the NJAC Championships.
Jack Cacciaguida (Sparta High School) was a freshman on the roster of the Ramapo College (Mahwah, NJ) men’s tennis team this year. Cacciaguida had a record of 4-2 in singles competition and in doubles play he posted an overall mark of 3-2.
The Roadrunners went 12-8 overall and they were 4-0 on their home courts. In the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) they posted a mark of 3-0. Ramapo won the GNAC Tournament with victories over Rutgers-Newark (5-0, semifinal round) and Johnson & Wales (5-0, championship match).
From there, the Roadrunners advanced to the NCAA Division III Men’s Tennis Regional where they lost to Yeshiva University in a match held in Amherst, Massachusetts.
Jeremy Van Herwarde (Pope John High School) was a junior member of the Rider University (Lawrenceville, NJ) men’s tennis program this year. Van Herwarde, listed as a marketing and international business major had three wins in both singles and doubles competition.
The Broncs had three wins overall, with two occurring on their home courts.