Athletes Of The Week: Alexandra Schlobohm and Derek Singer

Alexandra Schlobohm

In her first season on the New Providence girls’ varsity track team, Alexandra Schlobohm is performing well as a sprinter in the 100M and 400M races.

The sophomore also competes in the 4X400, 800 and 200 at times, but regardless of the race, she continues to improve. At the Conference meet last weekend, the Schlobohm took first in the 400M in 1:02.09. To make it double sweet, the girls’ team took first place overall.

“I thought overall, we did a really good job. I think a lot of individuals stepped up. There was a freshman girl who ran the last leg in the 4X400M. I think she did a really good job even though she was nervous,” Schlobohm said. “I think the 400M was lucky. I really pushed myself at the end because I was in between two girls the entire race, just sandwiched between these two really tall girls from Kent Place. I don’t know who they are, but right at the end, I finished by leaning forward and I think that’s how I got first.”

Schlobohm also took third place in the 200M (28.17); third place in the 4X400M with Anna Crisafi, Christina Vyzas and Jackaina Pluvios (4:32.96); and second in the 100M (13.37).

At the Union County Relays on May 6, Schlobohm, along with teammates , Courtney Connoly and Vyzas, took third in the 4X800M with a time of 10:00.67.

Schlobohm, Connoly, Toner and Crisafi also took fourth in the Distance Medley with a time of 13:19.83. This was a new experience for Schlobohm, who ran the 800M leg of the DM for the very first time.

“It was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done. It’s a miserable race. It’s awful, especially the first time,” she said. “So I did that and I think I got 2:30 something. The next day, I ran the 4X800M — [my coach] had me run another one — and I cut a couple seconds off the time, so I did a lot better and it felt a lot better the second day. The 800M was interesting.”

Schlobohm and track team will now compete at the East Coast Relays this Monday, at Randolph High School. The sprinter said she may compete in the 4X400M and 4X800M races and is expecting some good competition.

With State Sectionals around the corner, followed by the Group 1 State Meet and Meet of Champions, Schlobohm isn’t sure what races she will compete in, if at all.

“As far as I know, I’m not quite sure where I’m going to fall in with those people because I haven’t seen all of them, and I haven’t really heard of them,” she said. “I know is probably going to do amazing because that mile is just ridiculous. Like 4:19 or something. That’s just amazing. As for me, I have no idea. The whole team, I guess you can pick out a few people I can see going farther, like Caitlin Toner and . She’s good at the shot put.”

As for her own personal goals, Schlobohm said she is striving to run the 400M in 60 seconds — her current personal record is 61 seconds — and to break 13 seconds in the 100M run.

Even if the sophomore doesn’t reach those goals in the final upcoming meets, she always has next season.

“I’m on a really high elite club soccer team, and we’re supposed to do fitness six out of seven days a week. So I looked at track to get in shape initially for soccer,” she said. “Then, I started liking it a lot and taking it more seriously. Now I love to race and I love to practice. I like to run, so I’m definitely going to keep doing it.”

Schlobohm, who has been a member of the girls’ varsity soccer team since her freshman year and plays club soccer year-round, has her sights set on eventually playing division one soccer in college.

“I’m definitely going to use soccer as a way to get into the best academic college I can get into. I’ll be recruited next year so probably by this time next year, I’ll know where I’m going,” she said. “A lot of coaches come to watch us play in tournaments. But I have to pick, by this summer, a few that I want to go to, and go to their camps and stuff. It’s a really hard decision to make. I’d like to go south because it’s warm.”

Academically, Schlobohm said she does well in science and math, and is thinking about pursuing a major in business or finance in college.

Derek Singer

Midfielder Derek Singer just finished up a stellar season with the boys’ varsity lacrosse team.

On May 16 against Livingston, the sophomore had the game winning goal, putting the Pioneers ahead 8-7, with 1:54 remaining in the game. With a team victory of 10-7, Singer had three goals and two assists overall.

“We wanted to get our tenth win so that was important to us, and it was a senior night so it was big for [Livingston],” Singer said. “So it was exciting. It was close and then in the fourth quarter, we came out on top.”

A week earlier against Cranford, in the Union County Tournament, the team lost 8-5. But Singer managed three goals and one assist.

“That game was important to us,” he said. “We really wanted to come out and win a county game. We were up 4-0 in first half so we pretty much thought we had it. But I guess we slowed down and they came out, pumped up, and came back to beat us.”

A few days later, the Pioneers had a sweet victory over rival Governor Livingston, 9-2. Singer had one goal and a few assists. “That was a team win,” Singer said. “Everyone did well. It was fun, it was very exciting.”

The Pioneers lost in overtime to Verona on Thursday afternoon, but Singer had one goal and one assist.

“We played Verona a few times this season, and we know they’re good. As usual, we came out and did alright, but they were beating us,” the sophomore said. “We found ourselves in the fourth quarter and it was 8-4. Our coach told us, ‘Just keep trying. I’ve seen crazier things happen.’ We ended up scoring four goals in a row and sent it into overtime. In overtime, unfortunately, we got a couple good shots, but they came down and scored.”

The team thought the Verona match-up was their final game of the season, but learned on Thursday that they had one final game versus Bernards, which took place earlier this morning. The team was attempting to break the school record for season wins, which is currently 10 wins. The team unfortunately lost to Bernards 8-5, with a final season record of 10-11.

But Singer, who is first in the state in ground balls, said he thinks the team did well this season and will be back to play next season.

“I think we turned a lot of heads. We did a lot better than everyone thought we would so that was exciting,” he said. “I think the team has a bright future.”

College is a few years off for Singer, who also plays varsity football and JV basketball. But he said he may attempt to play one of his three sports in college.

Congratulations, Alex and Derek!