HAMMONTON—St. Joseph Academy fields just three varsity sports teams in the winter, but despite limited action, the Wildcats managed to delight their fans with strong team and individual performances during the 2022-23 season.
Several Wildcats earned recognition for their play during the season, and three were chosen as the Gazette’s Players of the Year for their respective teams.
St. Joe’s wrestling team struggled with a short-handed roster this winter, but despite the team enjoying mixed success, senior Nick Melchiore turned in a strong season, earning Player of the Year honors.
Melchiore finished the season with a 26-9 record competing at 150 and 157 pounds, and was the Wildcats most consistent wrestler this season. He provided senior leadership to a young team and placed third at the District 30 tournament, earning a trip to the Region 8 championships.
On the basketball court, St. Joseph’s girls team enjoyed its best season in a decade. Leading the way for the Wildcats was junior guard Cassidy Perri.
Perri was St. Joseph’s leading scorer this season, averaging 16.4 points per game. She topped 20 points six times, including a season-high 33 against Cape May Tech.
A talented passer and defender, she moved the ball well and sparked a team that continued to improve throughout the season.
St. Joseph’s boys basketball team had its share of ups and downs during the season, but one of the Wildcats most consistent players was senior forward Devon Theophile, the Gazette’s Player of the Year.
Theophile stepped into a more prominent role for St. Joe this season and was one of the team’s leading scorers and one of the state’s top rebounders.
He averaged 16 points per game, topping 20 points seven times.
The senior pulled down 14.2 rebounds per game, including six games of 20 or more boards.
Theophile enjoyed 21 double-doubles and was named a Cape Atlantic League All-Star.