From the Morris School District:
Falcons on Fire: Three Student-Athletes Make FMS Sports History
Middle school athletics flourishes at Frelinghuysen
As Frelinghuysen Middle School Athletic Director Marc Gold reviewed the results of the school’s year in sports–a banner year at that, with five county championships–he noticed three student-athletes each had played on a championship team in all three seasons of 2018-19: Girls Soccer in the fall, Girls Basketball in the winter, and Girls Lacrosse in the spring.
When he checked back through FMS sports records, Mr. Gold confirmed that Braeden Siverson (8th grade), Rachel Van Sciver (7th grade), and Anna Rivetti (7th grade) had accomplished something unprecedented in the history of FMS athletics. Their sports achievements will be recognized at the Morris School District Board of Education meeting on June 24, 2019.
Braeden, Rachel, and Anna all were integral to their teams’ success. FMS coaches Jake Cahill and Carly Minerowicz offered a recap of their contributions to their teams:
Girls Soccer, Group 4 County Champions:
“Braeden started every game for our county champion soccer team as the lone striker in our formation. She was our leading goal scorer with seven goals and was a constant disruptive force for the opposing team’s defense.
“Anna started every game as a center defender on our county champion soccer team as a 7th grader. Our team had six shutouts during the season and only gave up two goals in a game once, with the others being shutouts or one-goal games. Anna has the respect of her teammates and her coach for being incredibly dependable in terms of position and play; she will always “show up” in the biggest moments.
“Rachel became a crucial defender as a 7th grader for our county champion soccer team after starting the season injured. Our defense was constant and consistent during the season, and Rachel was a key part of each of our six shutout games. She plays aggressively and competes on a daily basis.”
Girls Basketball, Group 4 County Champions:
“Anna started every game for our undefeated county championship basketball team as a 7th grader at point guard, averaging 7.5 points per game. She was also a tremendous distributor for us on offense, and her teammates benefited greatly from her ability to find them with passes. Anna also played exceptional defense by shutting down passing lanes and forcing turnovers. During the 3rd quarter of the county championship game, she took over and ensured a come-from-behind victory. Her coaches and teammates know they can count on her at all times.
“Rachel played in every game as a 7th grader at forward while averaging two points per game. She also played tremendous defense for us and displayed great energy on the court. Rachel played her best game of the season in the county finals and is well respected by everyone around her for her hard work in practice and games.
“Braeden started every game at guard, averaging 5.3 points per game. Braeden is also a tremendous defender who would shut down the opposing team’s ball handler. Her competitive spirit was infectious as she would pick up the ball at half-court and make it nearly impossible for the other team to try and run their offense.”
Girls Lacrosse County Champions:
“Rachel showed her adaptability this year as she played both defense and attack and started every game. She did what was necessary to support her teammates to help defend the team’s undefeated record. She finished the season with five goals.
“Braeden led the 2019 team on and off the field. Her tremendous talent and passion for lacrosse was a key factor to the success of the season. Starting every game, she led the team with 40 goals, 19 assists, and won close to 50 draws.
“Anna started all nine games this season and proved she is a versatile player whose speed and aggressiveness made her a force on midfield. She finished the season with 22 goals and 18 assists.”
Exceptional Programs, Exceptional People. With one of the largest middle school athletic programs in Morris County, Frelinghuysen Middle School provides an excellent training ground for Morristown High School athletics.
Mr. Gold, the FMS Athletic Director and a House Supervisor, spoke of the school’s intentional effort to help students find their place to belong through sports or other extracurricular activities:
“Student participation is a top priority at FMS, and we provide many different opportunities to support our students’ diverse interests. The athletic program is a great way for our students to form strong connections with other students and with adult mentors.”
He thanked the FMS coaches for creating “an environment that is supportive, competitive, safe, and most importantly, fun for our students.”
2018-19 FMS Sports Round-Up. In an exciting year overall, the FMS sports teams earned a total of five championships–only the second time in the school’s history (having previously done so in 2008-09). Here is a recap of the year:
Boys Soccer: Back-to-back Group 4 County Champions
Girls Soccer: Group 4 County Champions
Field Hockey: Group 4 County Second Place
Cross Country: Boys–Second Place in NJ Morris County Races; Girls–Fifth Place in NJ Morris County Races
Girls Basketball: Back-to-back Group 4 County Champions
Wrestling: Third Place County Champions (with several first place County Champions: Art Ritter, James Grizzetti, Conor Watson, and Rob Murphy)
Girls Lacrosse: County Champions
Baseball: Group 4 County Champions (five championships out of the last six years)
Track: Girls–Second Place in NJ Morris County Track Championships (with multiple individual placements, including Mia Bedoya, first place in the 800 and Rosie Lirieri, first place in the mile)
