South Jersey Magazine - Marlton / Medford

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SJM_FallAthletes_1023FINAL.qxp_Feature 10 / 19 / 23 10 : 28 AM Page 3 ? sean mcfadden Shawnee boys soccer A junior forward , McFadden has been a key contributor since he was a freshman and has gotten better United for 12 years now . It was crazy , because they went eachyear . This season he has developed into the leading scorer for one of South Jersey’s best teams and down 1 - 0 and then they came back and won 2 - 1 . It was hashis sights set on helping the Renegades win a sectional title . nothing like anything I had ever experienced before . In the U.S . , the atmosphere is OK , but when you go there South Jersey Magazine : Do you have any ferent . I saw it and I’m able to bring it to my game . it’s completely different . particular goals in mind for yourself or the There’s a team we played in Madrid called Rayo Valle - team this year ? cano — they play in La Liga in Spain . They were incred - SJM:You’re obviously a huge fan of the sport . Are Sean McFadden : For the team , we want to go far ible , and I think everyone on that team is going to go pro . youlooking forward to the World Cup coming because last year we lost in the Coaches ’ Cup final and I took things that they did and put it into my game . here ? the sectional final . We want to use that as a momentum SM : I’m very excited . We’ve been talking about it forever , boost and take it to the next level this year , and win both SJM:Have you gotten to do a lot of traveling because there’s been rumors about it but it was never the Coaches ’ Cup and sectionals . For myself , I want to get throughsoccer ? confirmed . I’ve been saving up money since I was 6 to go all - conference again and I’d like to be all - South Jersey , SM : Well , my dad won a trip to England last October and to the final . but I have to push for that . we went in May . It was a Premier League thing . My favorite team is Man United so I was able to go see them SJM:Have you started thinking about college yet ? SJM:I heard you went to Spain last year for soccer . play at Old Trafford . It was a dream come true for me , SM : A little bit , yeah . I went to a few ID camps this Whatwas that experience like ? because I’ve been watching Man summer . There were a lot of colleges at Lafayette and it SM : It was an incredible experience . My [ club ] was interesting to see . The coaches are nice and under - coach , James Galanis , has been like a standing . I was assigned to the Vassar head coach , who I second dad to me my whole life . He really liked . He appreciated that I could play anywhere . brought our club team over there and There are a few colleges that I really like . My friends went we played against Real Oviedo , one to Rider and I like that school a lot because I know it so of the top club teams in Spain . It was well . incredible to see how good some of these guys are , because they read SJM:What’s it like to play club soccer for James the game so much differently than Galanis , who was Carli Lloyd’s coach for many us . They live it and breathe it there , years ? and they’re taught it completely dif - SM : He’s amazing . I’ve been working with him since I was 5 years old and he’s made me the player I am today . He picks out the smallest things in the game and he reads the game like no one else . We play against teams and we dominate possession and control the game . He makes it so everybody can play anywhere , so if a striker has to play center back , he’ll put them back there , or if a center back has to play left wing , he’ll put them there . We don’t just kick it forward , he likes to play the modern way like you see on TV with the best teams in the world . SJM : What do you like about growing up in Medford ? SM : Medford is great because I’ve always wanted to play sports , and Medford is a great spot to do that . I’ve always hopped from sport to sport : I’ve always loved soccer , but I’ll go to hockey or basketball or flag football . Medford wants you to get into sports and I don’t know if it’s like that in other towns . It still happens today , because I go out and ref and I see all of these kids playing sports , and I’ve also coached before . SJM : Do you know what you want to study in college ? SM : I like physical therapy . I dislocated my knee a few years ago , and one of my dad’s good friends owns a physical therapy place , so I was able to go there . It was interesting to see how young athletes can get to where they want to be . I want to have that feeling that I helped someone get on the field again . SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 20 issue 7 SouthJerseyMagazine.com 3 ? |

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SJM_FallAthletes_1023FINAL.qxp_Feature 10 / 19 / 23 10 : 28 AM Page 4 ? sydney kowalczyk Moorestown field hockey A senior forward , Kowalczyk is leading the Quakers in scoring for the second year in a row and is well [ Miller ] was so welcoming and made me realize that on her way to a repeat selection on the all - South Jersey team . She is headed to Wagner College for waswhere I was meant to be . field hockey , but has several goals she wants to accomplish at Moorestown first . SJM : Other than sports , what do you do for fun ? SK : I love hanging with my friends ; my family has four SouthJersey Magazine : How is your senior season announcer on TV . I take an honors video production class dogsand two cats , so I’m always hanging out with my goingso far ? at school and it’s a course I’m very interested in . Wagner pets too and I love them . Sports definitely take up a large SydneyKowalczyk : It’s awesome , so much fun . It’s is in Staten Island , so it’s right across from New York City , part of my life and everything I do revolves around that . been really cool just being able to lead the team , not just which has countless opportunities for broadcasting . I was If I’m not at practice , I might go up to the fields by as a senior but as a captain . I feel like they look up to me also looking for a small school with not a lot of people , myself . It’s almost like a getaway from life — field and it’s awesome being in that role . It’s bittersweet in a because I feel like it’s hard to connect with your teachers hockey lets me take a step back and clear my head . way , because I feel like I’m owning the field , but I only at big schools , and being an athlete , you might miss If I’m ever stressed , I go to the field and start hitting , have one more year left . I wish I could do this forever , classes . So I think knowing my teachers will be beneficial because it helps me relax . but I know I have to take advantage of the opportunities forme . And when I was with the team on campus , I I’m getting now . lovedthe team dynamic and chemistry . Coach Niki SJM:I know you live in Medford but attend Moorestown . How do you like the school ? SJM:What are your personal and team goals for SK : I love it . My mom and I talk about this all the time : this season ? It was definitely the best decision for me personally , SK : Our team goal is always to get to states . We have a because I have seen myself do so much better than I bunch of little goals leading up to that , but we want to probablywould have at Shawnee . It was tough leaving make it as far as we can go . My personal goal was to get my friends , but I also met so many new ones and I don’t to 100 goals [ for my career ] . It looks out of reach now , think I’d be the player or person I am today if I had gone butI’m just taking it game by game and leading my toShawnee . I just needed a new experience and a new team the best that I can . I’m not really worried about my outlookfor high school . … I didn’t know anyone and I’m own goals , it’s more about what’s best for the team . I a shy person , so it brought me out of my comfort zone . would love to get that achievement , but I just want to take the team as far as we can go . SJM:What do you like about growing up in Medford ? SJM:What has it been like to be part of SK : It’s a cute little town and I love it . Everyone is a storied program like Moorestown’s ? so friendly . But sometimes it’s inconvenient SK : It’s incredible . My sister played there so she was because it’s a half hour away from part of the program before I was . They’ve always Moorestown , so I’m going back and forth had a reputation for being a good field hockey team . a lot . [ Ali ] Collins and all of the coaches pull everything out of us and they want the best for us . I just know SJM:What is the rivalry game you that playing for them , I’ve become not only the lookforward to the most ? player but the person that I wanted to be in life . I SK : Shawnee is a big rivalry , and it found the love for the game and I don’t think I alwayshas been between the two wouldbe the player I am today without them programs . I get to see my friends pushingme . and play against them , which is always fun . Any South Jersey SJM:What made you commit to Wagner ? schoolwhere I know SK : My sister is now a college goalie for lacrosse at someone , it’s an intense Merrimack , and she’s five or six hours away . I’m very game , not only because closewith my parents and I love my home in gen - it’s bragging rights , but eral , so I didn’t want to go far away . I was looking at because I take every schools that were quite a long distance , but I real - game seriously . I hate ized I wanted to be close to home . I want my parents losing more than I like to be able to watch me play , and if I need them for winning , so I take anything , it’s only an hour and a half away at most . I everything very want to major in communications and broadcasting , seriously . because I’m very interested in being a sports SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 20 issue 7 SouthJerseyMagazine.com | 31

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