Washington
Washington Township knocks off No. 3 Kingsway, but Minutemen aren’t satisfied
WASHINGTON TWP. – Knocking off the No. 3-ranked team in South Jersey would have sent shockwaves through the stands for the Washington Township High School wrestling team in most years.
Not Wednesday.
Instead, the Minutemen kept their celebration pretty low key for the achievement. And head coach Eric Ring certainly noticed.
“I was pretty excited how the guys reacted afterwards, they didn’t act like they had just won the Super Bowl,” Ring said. “They know there’s more to it now. It’s a fun dual meet, but as we saw last year, things can change come playoff time.”
More: Two new teams wrestle their way into the latest South Jersey Mean 15 rankings for Jan. 9
Sixth-ranked Washington Township won seven bouts, including a pair of pins and two more with one-point decisions, en route to a 31-27 victory over previously unbeaten Kingsway in a Tri-County Conference Royal Division meet.
If the scenario sounds familiar to the Minutemen, it’s because they’ve traveled the same territory before. Washington Township delivered a 38-32 statement win over Kingsway last winter, but suffered a 39-22 setback against Kingsway in the South Jersey Group 5 playoffs.
Sophomore Colton Hagerty said Wednesday’s victory felt good, but there’re a bigger goal in a few weeks.
“There’s more things we have to take care of this year,” Hagerty said. “We have more plans for the postseason. We will likely have to beat them again. We want to make it to (defending sectional champion) Southern this year.”
What it means
There’s a very good possibility that the two squads meet again when the team tournament begins on Feb. 5.
Ring knows things can change over the course of four weeks, but he’s thinks the Minutemen (5-0) will be focused on the challenge ahead.
“We’re a different team this year,” Ring said. “We were very senior-driven last year. But from the start of this season to now, we’ve definitely made some gains and that’s the plan, just to get better every day.
“I really liked our effort (Wednesday). We won some of those 50-50 situations when it comes down to grit.”
Kingsway (5-1) appeared to take the loss in stride. The Dragons know better days are ahead.
“We’re disappointed, we don’t like losing this one, but knowing there’s a high likelihood that we’ll see them again, it takes a little of the sting out of the loss,” Kingsway head coach Mike Barikian said.
Kingsway will certainly be a different team in a few weeks.
The Dragons are expected to welcome back senior Luke Van Brill at this weekend’s Buc Classic. A district champ and fifth-place finisher at Region 8 last year, Van Brill had to sit 30 days following his transfer back to Kingsway. He played football during the fall at Roman Catholic in Philadelphia.
Senior Nathan Taylor is working his way back from an ACL injury. The three-time district and three-time region champion should be in the lineup when the Dragons line up against Delsea on Jan. 24.
“Nate’s in the room Nate working out and looks pretty good right now,” Barikian said.
Meet notes
Township’s Michael Horn delivered a clutch pin at 138, putting the Minutemen in prime position to lock up the meet.
Senior Jackson Hoopes rolled his right ankle during his bout at 150, but fought through the injury for a 6-5 decision over Sean Kirwin to clinch the win for the Minutemen.
Township freshman Gabe Palaganas won for the third time in his last four bouts with a 6-3 decision at 190 while Kingsway freshman Aston Ford scored a late takedown at 126 for a victory.
Kingsway’s Joe Leone, who weighed in at 175, bumped all the way up to 215 and earned an impressive 11-5 decision. The junior was down 4-0 after the first period before battling back.
The Results
Washington Township 31, Kingsway 27
165: Ben Dryden, K, p. Jacob Gledhill, 4:26; 175: Cole DeNick, K, tech. fall Piotr Bochenski, 19-4, 5:46; 190: Gabe Palaganas, WT, d. Cristian Davis, 6-3; 215: Joe Leone, K, d. Andrew Osborn, 11-5; 285: Mitchell Lando, WT, d. John McEntee, 2-1; 106: Dylan Hetzel, WT, forfeit; 113: Colton Hagerty, WT, md. Jason Meola, 14-3; 120: Christian Hoopes, WT, p. Tyler Capra, 4:35; 126: Ashton Ford, K, d. Mark Simmons, 6-4; 132: Ramon Alfonso Arroyo, md. Aiden Hardy, 12-1; 138: Michael Horn, WT, p. Nicholas Markizon, 3:24; 144: Tommy DiPietro, K, md. Chaz Melton, 10-0; 150: Jackson Hoopes, WT, d. Sean Kirwin, 6-5; 157: Chase Helder, K, d. Raymond McFall, 7-3.
Tom McGurk is a regional sports reporter for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and Burlington County Times, covering South Jersey sports for over 30 years. If you have a sports story that needs to be told, contact him at (856) 486-2420 or email tmcgurk@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @McGurkSports. Help support local journalism with a digital subscription.
Crews are on the scene of a serious crash on I-95 South in Stafford, Virginia.
Virginia State Police confirmed the crash was fatal but has not yet confirmed how many fatalities there were.
All southbound lanes are closed at mile marker 146.
Traffic is being diverted to Route 1 at exit 148.
This is a developing story. Stay with News4 and nbcwashington.com for updates.
Washington
Sounders FC, Starbucks and Washington Youth Soccer launch Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass to celebrate the next generation of soccer across the Evergreen State | Seattle Sounders
RENTON, WASH. – Sounders FC, in partnership with Starbucks and Washington Youth Soccer, today announced the launch of the Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass, a first-of-its-kind statewide initiative designed to inspire the next generation of young athletes across the Evergreen State. As the sport reaches a defining moment across North America, the Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass invites every registered Washington Youth Soccer athlete aged 18 and under to receive a complimentary ticket to select home matches this season, connecting young players and their families across Washington to the heart of Sounders FC matchdays and Pacific Northwest soccer culture.
More than a ticket initiative, the Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass is rooted in a shared belief that soccer belongs to everyone who plays it. With over 90,000 registered Washington Youth Soccer athletes eligible for the program – which includes access to additional discounted tickets for friends and family members – the Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass celebrates those that continue to shape the sport’s strong foundation across the state. Coming at a significant moment for soccer in the region, with Seattle hosting six matches during the FIFA World Cup 2026™ this summer, Sounders FC and its partners are joining together to invest in the players, families, clubs and communities that fuel the game year-round.
“The Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass is about recognizing that every young player across Washington is already part of the story of this club,” said Sounders FC President of Business Operations Hugh Weber. “The Sounders are not just Seattle’s club – it’s Washington’s soccer club. Many of the players who wear our crest today, including Jordan Morris, Paul Rothrock and Jackson Ragen, grew up playing in Washington Youth Soccer. Their journeys are proof that the connection between local soccer communities and Sounders FC is real, lasting and deeply rooted.”
The program is available for the Rave Green’s final 12 MLS regular-season and Leagues Cup home matches of the 2026 campaign, beginning with Seattle’s first contest after the 2026 FIFA World Cup break against archrival Portland Timbers on Thursday, July 16 (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, FS1, iHeartMedia Seattle, El Rey 1360 AM). Eligible Washington Youth Soccer athletes can access the offer through a **dedicated online portal** using their WYS Player ID.
With Seattle as its hometown, Starbucks is deeply rooted in communities across Washington and beyond. Starbucks serves as the initiative’s founding partner to make professional soccer more accessible for families throughout the season. A longtime Sounders FC partner, Starbucks joins the club in its commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for youth athletes and their families across Washington, reinforcing shared values of community, connection and access to the game.
“We are proud to partner with Sounders FC and Washington Youth Soccer to expand our support for youth soccer across our hometown of Seattle and communities across Washington,” said Starbucks Senior Vice President of Global Marketing Erin Silvoy. “At Starbucks, we believe sports are a powerful force for connection, that brings people together through shared rituals and moments of joy. By helping more youth experience soccer first-hand, we hope to inspire the next generation while supporting the athletes, coaches and families who make our communities stronger.”
Founded in 1961, Washington Youth Soccer is one of the region’s leading youth sports organizations, helping shape generations of players and families through recreational and competitive opportunities across the state for more than 60 years. Affiliated with U.S. Youth Soccer, U.S. Soccer and FIFA, Washington Youth Soccer works alongside nearly 200 member clubs and local associations to help grow and strengthen the game at every level, creating accessible pathways and enriching experiences for youth athletes and their families throughout Washington.
”We see this partnership as a catalyst to inspire the next generation of youth soccer players,” said Washington Youth Soccer Executive Director Roger Levesque. “There is something unique about attending a Sounders match at Lumen Field – the sights, sounds and world-class soccer all contribute to a goose bump-inducing experience. But the true inspiration comes from living the highs and lows of a match together, alongside family, friends and thousands of fans, who for 90 minutes, are all on the same team. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with Sounders FC and Starbucks to bring this experience and the joy of soccer to the Washington Youth Soccer community.”
MLS is currently amid an extended break from play for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, with Seattle returning to action on Thursday, July 16 against the Portland Timbers on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, iHeartMedia Seattle, El Rey 1360 AM).
ABOUT SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
Born in 1974 and a member of Major League Soccer since 2009, Seattle Sounders FC is one of North America’s leading professional soccer organizations. The club has captured nine major trophies since its inaugural MLS season, and following its Leagues Cup victory in 2025, Seattle became the first team in U.S. soccer history to win every major competition (Concacaf Champions Cup, MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield, U.S. Open Cup, Leagues Cup). Since the club’s MLS debut, Sounders fans have set the standard for soccer support in North America, leading the league in attendance for eight-consecutive seasons (2009-2016), routinely ranking in the global top 30 among all professional clubs and never finishing outside of MLS’ top three.
Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to responsibly sourcing and roasting hi-quality arabica coffee. Today, with a global footprint of more than 41,000 company-operated and licensed coffeehouses and a growing presence in consumer-packaged goods, we are the world’s premier purveyor of specialty coffee. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at about.starbucks.com or www.starbucks.com.
ABOUT WASHINGTON YOUTH SOCCER
Washington Youth Soccer (WYS) is the largest youth sports organization in Washington State, serving more than 90,000 players through a network of over 200 member associations and clubs statewide. WYS is committed to fostering the physical, mental, and emotional growth of youth through the game of soccer by creating opportunities for players of all backgrounds and ability levels to learn, compete, and thrive. Through leagues, tournaments, player development programs, coaching education, community partnerships, and initiatives supported by the Washington Youth Soccer Foundation, WYS works to grow the game and create meaningful experiences for young athletes across Washington.
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