Nov 2012 - Nassau Journals

14 THE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2012
AMERICAN REPERTORY BALLET continued
Stephen Campanella as Solider Doll - Credit-George Jones
How has ARB’s Nutcracker evolved since you began performing
in it?
It has undergone several overhauls over those 50 years, from a
version choreographed largely by the founder of Princeton Ballet,
Audrée Estey, plus choreography after the original Petipa-Ivanov ballet,
to a version choreographed by the previous artistic director, Graham
Lustig, to yet a third and current version. The current director,
Douglas Martin, brought back the much-loved First Act Party and Battle
scene choreography of Ms. Estey; choreographed much of his own
Snow Scene and Second Act with ARB’s Ballet Mistress, Mary Barton;
and used some of the Petipa-Ivanov choreography.
In a personal note, I am often called to perform in the Party Scene
as the father of the family in which I started out as the youngest boy.
The following students are performing in the Act I Party Scene,
Snow Scene, and/or in an Act II divertissement of ARB’s Nutcracker.
They are all in the American Repertory Ballet Workshop (ARBW),
which is the performance division of Princeton Ballet School’s advanced
levels.
Other local participants in American Repertory Ballet’s rendition
of the Nutcracker Ballet include:
Emmanuelle Farrell, Plainsboro
Marian Farrell, Plainsboro
Sara Garcia, North Brunswick
Kaila Jones, Plainsboro
Imogen Lea, Cranbury
Utka Ozdemir, Plainsboro
Chelsea PeBenito, East Brunswick
Dominique Rafael, East Brunswick
Nina Reyes, Cranbury
Anna Shpilsky, East Brunswick
HIGHTSTOWN HIGH’S GIRLS’
SOCCER
By Rich Fisher
Heading into the 2012 season, Hightstown High girls’ soccer
coach “Doctor” Don Hess had high hopes for an experienced
team coming off a 10-6-3 season.
At mid-season the record stood at 7-4, which was OK but perhaps
not as impressive as folks might have been expecting.
Dig beneath that mark and look at the play of the field, however,
and the Rams were certainly living up to the expectations of Hess and
assistant Ray Griffis.
We Will Never Forget
Hightstown was beset by two season-ending injuries before the
year even started and had several players fighting nagging injuries
throughout September and early October.
All four of the Rams losses were by one goal and, with any luck,
Hightstown would have had a glittering record.
But as the leaves began to change in mid-October, Hess felt
things were on the upswing.
“We’re getting most of our players back, and I think things are
going to pick up,” said Doctor Don, who won his 200th career game
to open the season. “This is a great group of girls, I really like these
girls and I want to see them finish with the best record possible and
really have a nice season.”
One of the big keys to this year has been goalie Lisa Jerry, whose
dedication to the program last season was typical of what Hess was
talking about with his players.
As a junior, Jerry was splitting time with senior Erin Sobkowiak.
But when the JV goalie went down with an injury and Hightstown
had no one to take her place, Hess asked Jerry to move down, and
she did so without a complaint.
“She didn’t mind playing down,” Hess said. “The JV finished 13-
0-1. It was a case of either
sending her down or breaking
in a new girl, and I hate to
break in a girl who never
played before because that’s
how people get hurt. So we decided
to send Lisa down. We
could always call her over
from the JV field if we needed
her on varsity.”
The time on JV did not slow
Jerry’s progress. Through this
year’s first 11 games, she had
60 saves and three shutouts.
“She’s been fine,” Hess said.
“She’s been playing well. She’s
Hightstown defenders Becca Cordo (left)
and Cate Douglas have been stellar
alternating between sweeper and stopper
this season.
had some stellar games. Especially
with the high target
shots in the upper 90. She’s
very good at getting her hands
on it. And her punts have
been improving a lot, she has really gotten better.”
Jerry has been helped by the strong defense of Becca Cordo and
Cate Douglas, who switch between stopper and sweeper, depending
on the opponent. Sophomore marking backs Melissa Barnes and
Cristina Tous have also done solid jobs.
A key to the midfield was the return of Erin Daley from injury.
The senior forward/midfielder is the team’s top playmaker, and Hess
felt as she got healthier it would help the offense click better. Lydia
Walsh has also been a force as the opposite side winger.
The big threat up front has been sophomore Dakota Mills, who
had six goals and three assists through 11 games, after debuting on
varsity with eight goals and two assists last year. Alexa Lopez and
Walsh have also been finding the back of the net.
“We have a lot of players contributing; of course they look to
Dakota because she’s a big target and has a good foot,” Hess said.
“I’ve moved her back to halfback just to take the mark off her. People
go after her, she gets taken down a lot, and gets banged up a lot.
“We moved her into the halfback spot to make a run through or
put her into space. She holds the school record in the 200, so she’s
got good speed.”
And with his walking wounded returning slowly but surely, Hess
is hoping for a fast finish to the season as well.