It’s been 21 years since a South Jersey school won the Meet of Champions, but from 1984 through 2003, South Jersey won seven of a possible 20 championships with Paul VI in 1984, 1988, 1989 and 1994, Haddonfield in 2001 and Mainland Regional in 2002 and 2003.
With the Meet of Champions coming up Saturday, let’s take a look at those seven championships as well as a look at every South Jersey school that’s ever qualified for the MoC as a team, going back to Haddonfield, Eastern, Audubon and Wildwood Catholic back in 1978!
THE WINNERS
Paul VI in 1984
Despite a 1-2 finish by Andy Martin and Bill Babcock, Paul VI outscored North Hunterdon 53-66 to win its first championship. Ron Faith, Chris Hageman, George Steinhoff and Tom Metzger all finished in the top 20 for PVI, Faith in 6th, Hageman in 11th, Steinhoff in 12th and Metzger 20th and Tom Donnelly clinched the team title when he crossed the line in 47th. John Wolfram and Richard Stallings also raced for Paul VI.
Paul VI in 1988
Another close one for PVI, and it was 5th man Jim Wolfram who clinched the victory by finishing 11 spots ahead of CBA’s 5th runner. CBA led Paul VI 30-37 after four runners but Paul VI won 62-65. Jason DiJoseph was the overall winner, Matt Cieslik placed 14th in 16:24, Vincent Cieslik 20th and Joe Cranston 32nd to set up Wolfram. Sixth man Pete Dougherty finished one spot behind Wolfram and Bob Cranston was Paul VI’s 7th runner.
Paul VI in 1989
This time Joe Cranston led PVI in 3rd with Dougherty in 9th. Vincent Cieslik, Ron Caponigro and Tom Keefer finished 22nd, 37th and 44th and Paul VI topped Camden County rival Highland 50-89. Eric Bayles and Frank Innes backed up PVI’s top five in 71st and 78th.
Paul VI in 1994
The Eagles made it four championships in 11 years, topping CBA again, this time 63-81. John Williams and Joe DiGiacomo finished 2nd and 6th to lead PVI, with Brian Bach, Ryan Anderson and Matt McNally 25th, 30th and 50th.
2021 Haddonfield
Haddonfield put a remarkable three runners in the top six and rolled to a 37-point win over Old Bridge. Chris Platt, Skipp Stiles and Breton Bonnette went 2-5-6, all under 16 minutes, and Tim Vitez in 69th and Brian Goldberg in 71st locked up the team title for the Bulldogs. John Bernetich and Ben James also raced for Haddonfield.
2002 Mainland Regional
Greg Hughes and Jimmy Wyner finished 7th and 11th , backed up by Brian Gertzen in 28th, Matthew McGroarty in 58th and Spenser Popeson in 59th, and Mainland edged 2nd-place Toms River North 101-104. Joseph Masters and Blait Goltra also ran for Mainland.
2003 Mainland Regional
Another close one for the Mustangs, who edged CBA 68-74. Mainland was led once again by Hughes and Wyner in 2nd and 10th , with Masters 18th and Popeson 24th. Alex Palmentieri was 5th man in 66th, with McGroarty 93rd and Ian Roddy 103rd.
ALL SOUTH JERSEY TEAMS AT THE MEET OF CHAMPIONS
2023
7. Haddonfield 200
9. Cherokee 215
13. Cherry Hill East 287
2022
3. Cherokee 106
6. Haddonfield 183
12. Cinnaminson 309
2021
3. Haddonfield 134
7. Cherokee 242
8. Cherry Hill East 259
15. Cinnaminson 324
18. Haddon Heights 360
20. Audubon 521
21. Bishop Eustace 621
2020 [Holmdel Invitational exhibition]
4. Haddonfield 121
8. Cherry Hill East 195
2019
3. Haddonfield 129
4. Cherokee 136
8. Cherry Hill East 217
18. Haddon Twp. 419
2018
2. Haddonfield 86
3. Kingsway 164
6. Cherokee 188
12. Cherry Hill East 276
15. Camden Catholic 301
17. Bishop Eustace 438
19. Haddon Twp. 500
2017
2. Kingsway 96
6. Haddonfield 178
19. Haddon Heights 499
2016
7. Cherokee 204
10. Kingsway 260
13. Haddonfield 302
17. Bishop Eustace 402
18. Sterling 445
2015
4. Haddonfield 145
7. Cherokee 214
8. Cherry Hill East 220
14. Haddon Township 355
2014
3. Cherry Hill East 126
4. Kingsway 183
5. Haddonfield 186
10. Haddon Township 213
17. Pennsville 490
2013
7. Haddonfield 237
9. Cherry Hill East 242
10. Highland 244
14. Haddon Township 323
2012
11. Kingsway 228
13. Haddonfield 274
17. Haddon Township 440
19. Schalick 562
2011
16. Bishop Eustace 450
17. Haddon Township 454
19. Haddon Heights 517
2010
2. Haddonfield 98
16. Bishop Eustace 419
18. Haddon Township 450
2009
4. Haddonfield 128
2008
4. Haddonfield 139
10. Cherokee 288
13. Cinnaminson 335
15. Haddon Heights 373
18. Haddon Township 431
2007
3. Haddonfield 159
9. Cherokee 230
11. Moorestown 243
13. Haddon Heights 356
20. Moorestown Friends 527
2006
3. Haddonfield 162
8. Haddon Township 222
9. Cherokee 243
10. Shawnee 252
15. Pennsville 315
2005
6. Cherokee 188
8. Washington Township 190
10. Moorestown 260
13. Haddonfield 326
19. Maple Shade 456
2004
5. Cherokee 149
9. Ocean City 223
16. Cinnaminson 384
2003
1. Mainland Regional 68
5. Cherokee 161
13. Cinnaminson 344
14. Maple Shade 369
15. Highland Regional 396
17. Bishop Eustace 452
2002
1. Mainland Regional 101
5. Cinnaminson 188
6. Cherokee 208
13. Haddonfield 310
18. Bishop Eustace 493
19. Maple Shade 533
2001
1. Haddonfield 87
4. Cherokee 146
5. Mainland Regional 153
14. Paul VI 339
15. Moorestown 364
17. Bishop Eustace 408
2000
2. Cherokee 69
6. Eastern Regional 190
10. Haddonfield 255
14. Moorestown 368
15. Bishop Eustace 393
19. Maple Shade 514
1999
2. Paul VI 95
3. Cherokee 104
4. Washington Township 127
8. Eastern Regional 236
18. Wildwood Catholic 495
1998
2. Cherokee 66
3. Washington Township 110
4. Shawnee 143
6. Paul VI 176
11. Haddonfield 297
14. Moorestown 319
16. Wildwood Catholic 434
1997
3. Cherokee 123
5. Shawnee 167
8. Paul VI 197
12. Maple Shade 336
15. Wildwood Catholic 393
16. Haddonfield 394
1996
6. Highland 160
15. Haddonfield 357
1995
3. Paul VI 118
6. Highland 196
10. Haddonfield 279
13. Mainland Regional 314
1994
1. Paul VI 63
4. Highland Regional 138
7. Shawnee 225
15. Absegami 361
1993
4. Paul VI 156
6. Eastern Regional 189
12. Delran 276
13. Maple Shade 355
18. Haddonfield 481
1992
4. Paul VI 146
5. Shawnee 154
9. Vineland 214
12. Cinnaminson 286
13. Bridgeton 325
14. Haddon Heights 334
15. Maple Shade 336
1991
5. Shawnee 175
7. Vineland 178
8. Paul VI 181
11. Delran 246
14. Haddon Heights 317
1990
2. Paul VI 130
7. Highland Regional 224
8. Shawnee 232
9. Haddonfield 244
10. Cinnaminson 255
16. Riverside 366
1989
1. Paul VI 50
2. Highland Regional 89
5. Haddonfield 189
7. Cinaminson 211
10. Bridgeton 251
11. Cherokee 254
16. Sacred Heart 391
18. Riverside 459
1988
1. Paul VI 62
3. Highland Regional 134
5. Bridgeton 151
6. Haddon Township 166
8. Shawnee 217
11. Cherokee 243
12. Buena 289
13. Haddonfield 318
14. Cinnaminson 361
15. Sacred Heart 364
1987
2. Paul VI 86
10. Bridgeton 250
13. Cinnaminson 270
14. Haddonfield 279
15. Sacred Heart 436
1986
3. Paul VI 149
8. Haddonfield 240
9. Haddon Township 241
12. Cinnaminson 263
13. Holy Cross 283
18. Kingsway 388
1985
3. Paul VI 138
11. Haddonfield 272
14. Haddon Township 377
16. Maple Shade 394
18. Bishop Eustace 489
1984
1. Paul VI 53
8. Eastern Regional 238
12. Haddonfield 302
13. Cinnaminson 308
14. Holy Cross 312
18. Bishop Eustace 467
1983
2. Holy Cross 109
4. Paul VI 135
16. Shawnee 372
18. Bishop Eustace 419
19. Haddonfield 478
1982
4. Paul VI 146
14. Haddonfield 367
17. Bishop Eustace 420
1981
10. Cherry Hill East 264
1980
8. Haddonfield 206
1979
6. Delsea 176
13. Haddonfield 282
1978
12. Haddonfield 259
13. Eastern 292
15. Audubon 364
19. Wildwood Catholic 567
1977
None
1976
None
1975
None
1974
None
1973
None
1972
No team scoring
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 