Dinner Time: The Morris Knolls field hockey team had its post-season dinner at Zeris Inn in Mountain Lakes on Monday, Nov. 16, and Knolls coach Amy Ottavinio presented retiring assistant coach Jane Jones with a plaque to commemorate her 18 years of service with the Lady Eagles' field hockey program.
The seniors on the Morris Knolls High School field hockey team were honored at the team's post-season dinner at Zeris Inn in Mountain Lakes on Monday, Nov. 16. The Lady Eagles seniors (left to right): Michelle Zollo, Mallory Vanderyajt, Cassie Tomkins, Nikki Halm, Martha Lavery, Taylor Deemer, Jenna Channel and Lindsey Albanese.
The Knolls junior varsity team strikes a pose (left to right): Rachel McCormick, Casey Francisco, Brianne Destanko, Nicole Zvolensky, Stacie Sala, Jess Grahwer, Morgan Vrabel, Amanda Ezzi, Kayla Delgado and Amanda Hamill.
Knolls varsity field hockey coach Amy Ottavinia (right) presents a plaque to assistant coach Jane Jones, who is retiring from coaching after spending the last 18 years in various capacities with the Morris Knolls field hockey program. "She has been my right-hand man for the past five year," Ottavinia says.
Morris Knolls field hockey honors Jones
DENVILLE - The Morris Knolls High School field hockey team put the final touches on its 2009 season at a post-season team dinner at Zeris Inn in Mountain Lakes on Monday, Nov. 16. Amy Ottavinia took the occasion of the team's final get-together to pay tribute to Jane Jones, who is retiring from coaching to spend more time with her family after having been associated with Morris Knolls field hockey for the past 18 years, the last five as an assistant to Ottavinia. Jones was presented with a plaque to commemorate her time with the Lady Eagles. "Mrs. Jones has been my right-hand man for the past five years and I will truly miss her as a person and as a coach," Ottavinia says. "She is a caring person who always puts the students' needs first and she is always there for the girls on and off the field. "I can't thank her enough for the time and dedication she has put into the Morris Knolls field hockey program." Ottavinia also announced that four of her players were given all-county and all-conference recognition based on votes of the respective coaches. Nikki Halm was named to the first-team All-American Division team of the All-Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference and to the second team on the All-Morris County team. Halm was also selected to play in the Senior All-Star Game on Saturday, Dec. 6, at Montclair State University. Mallory Vanderyajt was a second-team all NJAC selection and an all-county honorable mention. Shannon Fisher was a conference and county honorable mention and Megan Fredricks was a conference honorable mention. Morris Knolls, which finished with a 9-10-2 record, also received the American Division's Sportsmanship Award on a vote from the NJAC coaches. "That's a great compliment to our program," Ottavinia says. "It's nice to know that other teams perceive your program as respectable and sportsmanlike.? Ottavinia had special praise for her seniors - Lindsay Albanese, Taylor Deemer, Jenna Channell, Martha Lavery, Michelle Zollo, Cassie Tomkins, Halm and Vanderyajt. "This was one of the closest senior classes I have ever coached," Ottavinia says. "Their unity made a big difference on the field. "They played for the love of the game and the love for each other ... I shall truly miss them." NOTES: Fisher finished as the Lady Eagles' leading scorer with 10 goals and three assists ... Vanderyajt had eight goals ... goaltender Sabrina Goldtrap finished with a save percentage of 81 percent. ...
