Fall sports back in action at Allentown High School

When the heavy rains tapered off Sept. 12, the Allentown High School Redbirds took the opportunity to shine.

Allentown High School cheerleading co-captain Hailey Meirs leads the squad during an intra-squad scrimmage at the high school on Aug. 24. The boys soccer team won its opening game, defeating Pinelands Regional High School, Tuckerton, 1-0. Goalkeeper Connor Darrell had 12 saves and Allessandro Massone kicked the game-winning goal.

The cross-country team traveled to Cherokee High School in Marlton for an invitational meet featuring over 1,000 runners. Junior Caroline Ticse placed 10th in her race. Senior Zach Wishbow placed 33rd and freshman Marc Kwietniak placed 40th.

Athletic Director Brian Irwin congratulated the cross-country team on its success and said, "All of the runners were placed in different races based on their age and they all had over 250 competitors in each race."

The football team filled out the day of fall sports by defeating Robbinsville High School 19-8.

"It was a great game that showed the strength of our defense and the versatility of our offense," Irwin said.

With 1 minute and 38 seconds left on the clock, the Redbirds trailed Robbinsville 7-8. After a strong drive, Ross Schuerman scored a touchdown that brought the score to 13-8.

Robbinsville got the ball back with time to respond, but Sam Shonk had a clutch interception that gave the Redbirds the ball with less than a minute left.

Robbinsville used their timeouts wisely and there were six seconds left to burn up when Schuerman broke a few tackles and ran for over 50 yards to score another touchdown as time ran out.

"The team has worked very hard in the preseason and their performance in this game showed," Irwin said.

John Amabile was named head coach at Allentown High School this year. He succeeds Patrick Dowling, who coached the Redbirds to a 2-8 record last season, his only season as their head coach. Dowling was named coach Warren Wolf's successor at Brick Township High School.

Amabile resigned as St. John Vianney's head coach last December after having coached the Lancers for six seasons. The Lancers had one winning season underAmabile, and finished last season 3-7.

Amabile also coached at Lincoln High School in Jersey City, Middletown High School, now Middletown North, Wall High School and Neptune High School. He is most known for coaching Wall from 1977- 84 and Neptune from 1985-2000 to a combined five New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association sectional championships.

Irwin said all of the AHS teams appreciate all of the students, school staff and community members that attend their events.

"It definitely makes a difference with you on the sidelines," he said. "We are proud of this weekend's success and look forward to the start of the season for the other sports that were rained out."