Happy New Year, everyone!
The past 12 months were filled with outstanding accomplishments on the local sports landscape.
From the beach in Avalon, to Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, to Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, lifeguards, boxers and the Eagles combined to make 2025 a special year for area athletes, coaches and fans.
Before my wife, Karen, and I head to the Lobster House for our annual New Year’s Eve dinner with friends, here’s a look back some of those memorable moments.
10. Avalon goes back-to-back in South Jersey Lifeguard Championships: The Avalon Beach Patrol used its depth to earn its second straight title in what is considered lifeguard racing’s version of the Super Bowl in August. Avalon’s Dolan Grisbaum led the way for the host patrol by winning the swim, Brigantine brothers Joe and Brendan Savell took the doubles row and Longport’s Mike McGrath won the singles row for the third time.
9. Cornflake calls it a career: Millville boxer Thomas LaManna hung up his gloves in December, thus ending a 15-year career that began when he was a senior at Millville High School. LaManna retired with 40 career victories, tying former world heavyweight champion Bruce Seldon of Atlantic City for the second-most wins by a local fighter. The late Richie Kates of Bridgeton had 44 wins.
8. Lamiah Berry wins state title: Absegami High School wrestler Lamiah Berry became just the third local girls wrestler to win a state championship when she earned a thrilling win in the 132-pound weight class at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall last March. Berry, now a junior, joining Cedar Creek’s Riley Learner (2023) and Buena Regional’s Shea Aretz (2024) as a state champ.
7. LeQuint Allen Jr. selected in NFL draft: Millville High School graduate LeQuint Allen Jr. was selected in the seventh round by the Jacksonville Jaguars in last April’s NFL Draft. Allen, a running back, entered last Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts with 22 carries for 91 yards (4.1 yards per carry) and 10 receptions for 54 yards.
6. Mike Trout reaches milestone: Millville High grad Mike Trout made the most of another injury-riddled season by attaining a special milestone last September. He became the 59th player in Major League history to hit 400 home runs. Trout, now 34, is among just five players with 400-plus home runs and 200-plus stolen bases (he has 214 steals) by their age-33 campaign, joining Willie Mays, Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez.
5. Cedar Creek football wins state title: Cedar Creek defeated defending champion Old Tappan 34-7 to win the State Group 3 title in November at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. The Pirates joined Millville (Group 4, 2022) and Mainland Regional (Group 4, 2023) as the only local football teams to win public-school state titles since the current system was established in 2022.
4. March Madness back in A.C.: The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference returned to Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall for the sixth straight year last March for its conference tournaments in men’s and women’s basketball. Mount Saint Mary’s won the men’s title with a 63-49 win over Iona while Fairfield won the women’s tournament by beating Quinnipiac 76-53.
The tournaments are scheduled to return to the boardwalk again March 5-10, 2026.
3. These Boots are made for A.C.: Big-time boxing returned to stately Boardwalk Hall after an 11-year hiatus last April when welterweight champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis scored a sixth-round TKO over Lithuania’s Eimantas Stanionis. A roaring crowd of over 8,000 showed up for the bout, which was the first to be held in Boardwalk Hall’s main arena since Sergey Kovalev-Bernard Hopkins fought on November 8, 2014.
2. ShopRite Classic returns to Seaview: The ShopRite LPGA Classic tournament continued its fantastic run as the area’s top sports event last June at Seaview Golf Club’s Bay Course in Galloway Township.
LPGA veteran Jennifer Kupcho won for the fourth time on tour with a one-shot victory over South Korean player Ilhee Lee.
The 38th edition of the tournament is scheduled for May 29-31 at Seaview.
1. Super Bowl victory: Local Eagles fans rejoined once again last February when the Bird won the Super Bowl for the second time via a 40-22 romp over the Kansas City Chiefs on February 9, 2025 in Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Quarterback Jalen Hurts was named Super Bowl MVP after throwing two touchdown passes and running for a TD.
The Birds also won the Super Bowl during the 2017 season and earned NFL titles in the pre-Super Bowl era in 1948, 1949 and 1960.
This season, the Eagles entered last Sunday’s game at Buffalo with a 10-5 record. They won the NFC East for the second straight year, becoming the first team to win that division at least two straight years since the Eagles also did it in 2001-04.
David is a nationally recognized sports columnist who has covered Philadelphia and local sports for over 40 years. After 35 years with The Press, he has served as a columnist for 973ESPN.com and created his own Facebook page, Dave Weinberg Extra Points. Send comments to
