The Union County Conference named its first athletes of the week for the winter season today. Congratulations to those recognized!
Kaira Brown – Kent Place: Kaira recently competed in the Bishop Loughlin Games on Staten Island. Just a sophomore, Kaira finished sixth in the fastest heat of the 600-meter race with a time of 1:37:54. She now holds the fastest time this year of any NJ runner at that distance. Kaira went on to race the 300, running her best time in that as well at 43:09.
Isla Okkinga – Kent Place – Isla has spent years learning the tactical aspects of goaltending. She quickly drops to her knees, explodes side to side in the crease and stops the rebounds. The co-captain’s training, along with her natural ability, gives her the confidence to take on all game situations. This confidence morphs into Isla staying relaxed and focused on what she can control. Referees comment on how her smile grows bigger as the game intensifies. After the first four games, Isla has an impressive save percentage of 96%.
Teddy Willmott – Scotch Plains – Fanwood: Against Roselle Park, Teddy had 17 points hitting five of seven shots from beyond the arc. He also had two rebounds, two assists and a steal in the win.
Sydney McLaughlin – Union Catholic: Olympian Sydney McLaughlin has gotten her season off to a very impressive start. This past Saturday, the senior at Union Catholic helped her team win its fourth straight Union County Relay title when she blasted a 55.8 400-meter leadoff leg on the sprint medley relay when the Vikings finished first in 4:08.28, the fastest high school time in the country this season. The Kentucky-bound McLaughlin, who became the youngest member of the U.S. Olympic Track and Field team in 44 years this past summer, opened her season with a personal best 20-7 1/4 in the long jump at the AT&T Hall of Fame Coaches Invitational on Dec. 17 at the New York Armory. That’s the top long jump in the country this season. No. 19 in U.S. indoor history, and No. 3 in New Jersey indoor history. McLaughlin has plenty of goals she’d like to achieve in her final high school indoor season, including trying to break the national indoor high school 300-meter record of 36.86, which was set this past weekend by Candace Hill.
Maguire Sweeney – Union Catholic: Maguire’s floor leadership and savvy play is a big reason why the Union Catholic boys basketball team has won three straight games to improve to 5-4 on the season. Sweeney, a 6-3 senior swingman for the Vikings, doesn’t fill up the stat sheet with gaudy numbers, but his heady play, tenacious defense and instincts for the game have made a profound impact on Union Catholic’s success. “Good things happen for us when Maguire is on the court,’’ said Union Catholic head coach Jim Reagan Jr. “He’s a very cerebral player and he leads the teams in taking charges. He stablize the game when he’s on the floor, and makes great decisions.’’ Sweeney, who averages four points, three rebounds, and two assists per game, scored six points and had three assists to help the Vikings rally to defeat Seton Hall Prep, 57-52, on Sunday at the Scholarship Fund for Inner City Festival at Kean University in Union. Sweeney had four clutch free throws late in that game and delivered an alley-oop pass to Jordan Pierce, who slammed it down to put an exclamation point on the victory, which gave coach Reagan Jr. the 200th coaching win in his career. “I try to do just do whatever the team needs me to do,’’ said Sweeney. “I’d rather have no points and have us win than score 30 and have us lose. It’s all about the team and about doing what it takes to win.’’ Sweeney also excels in the classroom. He’s a member of the Spanish National Honor Society, the National Honor Society, and is an honor roll student.
