'Dream Come True': NJ's First Amputee K9 Officer Throws First Pitch At Phillies Game 'Dream Come True': NJ's First Amputee K9 Officer Throws First Pitch At Phillies Game
'Dream Come True': NJ's First Amputee K9 Officer Throws First Pitch At Phillies Game New Jersey's first amputee to serve as a K9 police officer got a special call-up to the majors. Officer Michael Braxton Jr. with the Atlantic City Police Department threw out the first pitch at the Philadelphia Phillies game against the Washington Nationals on Saturday, Aug. 17. He patrols Atlantic City with his K9 partner Ryker. Braxton's lower left leg was amputated after an off-duty motorcycle crash in 2013 and he recovered enough to return to the police force. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Michael Braxton Jr. (@ia…
Victorious Treats: Toms River Wrestler Celebrates Olympic Bronze At Hometown Donut Shop Victorious Treats: Toms River Wrestler Celebrates Olympic Bronze At Hometown Donut Shop
Victorious Treats: Toms River Wrestler Celebrates Olympic Bronze At Hometown Donut Shop For Sebastian Rivera of Toms River, the only thing that tastes as sweet as an Olympic medal might be donuts from a hometown shop. The former Rutgers University wrestler won a bronze medal representing Puerto Rico at the 2024 Summer Olympics. He was back in Toms River less than two days after his final match in Paris to pick up some treats at Ob-Co's Donuts. The Fischer Boulevard shop posted a Facebook picture on Tuesday, Aug. 13 of Rivera posing with his bronze medal and a box of donuts. "Congratulations, NJ local, Sebastian Rivera, for winning the bronze in wrestling for Puerto Rico!…
Buzzer-Beater Takedown Makes Sebastian Rivera First Rutgers Wrestler To Medal At Olympics Buzzer-Beater Takedown Makes Sebastian Rivera First Rutgers Wrestler To Medal At Olympics
Buzzer-Beater Takedown Makes Sebastian Rivera First Rutgers Wrestler To Medal At Olympics Sebastian Rivera is going down in Rutgers University history. The Toms River native, who finished his final Scarlet Knight season as a grad student with a 30-1 record, became the university's first grappler to medal at the Olympic games. Rivera took home a bronze in the 65kg freestyle for Puerto Rico with a buzzer-beater takedown of Mongolia's Tulga Tumur-Ochir on Sunday, Aug. 11. Click here for a breakdown of Rivera's Olympic run from Rutgers Athletics and here to watch his buzzer-beater takedown.
NJ Hurdler McLaughlin-Levrone Close To Olympic Gold Repeat With Support From Family, HS Fans NJ Hurdler McLaughlin-Levrone Close To Olympic Gold Repeat With Support From Family, HS Fans
NJ Hurdler McLaughlin-Levrone Close To Olympic Gold Repeat With Support From Family, HS Fans New Jersey hurdler Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is cruising right to the gold. The Dunellen native is ten hurdles and one lap around the track from potentially achieving a very rare Olympic feat. McLaughlin-Levrone, who turned 25 on Wednesday, Aug. 7, coasted into the finals of the track and field women's 400-meter hurdles at Paris 2024, dominating her semifinal race on Tuesday, Aug. 6. The Union Catholic Regional High School graduate clocked a time of 52.13, which was the best in all three heats and the fastest time ever in an Olympic semifinal. A two-time Olympic gold medalist, McLaughlin-…
Penn State Pommel Horse Sensation Stephen Nedoroscik Wins Bronze — AGAIN Penn State Pommel Horse Sensation Stephen Nedoroscik Wins Bronze — AGAIN
Penn State Pommel Horse Sensation Stephen Nedoroscik Wins Bronze — Again Stephen Nedoroscik has done it again. The Penn State alum who hails from Worcester, Massachusetts, nailed another pommel horse routine at Paris 2024, winning his second bronze medal. Nedoroscik, 25, shot to fame as the USA men's gymnastic team's official "pommel horse specialist," earning the team its first medal in 16 years. On Saturday, Aug. 3, Nedoroscik racked up 15.300 points on the pommel horse behind two-time world champ Rhys McClenaghan, of Ireland, who won the gold.
Former NJ High School Pitchers Are Teammates On Yankees — For A New York Minute Former NJ High School Pitchers Are Teammates On Yankees — For A New York Minute
Former NJ High School Pitchers Are Teammates On Yankees — For A New York Minute Two former Toms River High School North baseball players were briefly teammates in Major League Baseball. The New York Yankees traded for Chicago Cubs pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. on Wednesday, July 31, sending infielder Ben Cowles and pitcher Jack Neely to the Windy City. The right-hander is the nephew of Al Leiter, a three-time World Series champion who pitched for the New York Mets and Yankees. The former New Jersey Institute of Technology player was 2-4 in 41 appearances for the Cubs in 2024. He struck out 55 batters and had an earned run average of 4.23 in 38.1 innings. The Leiter trade ca…
Fans Beg NBC To Sign NJ Olympian Who Called Gold For Simone Biles Fans Beg NBC To Sign NJ Olympian Who Called Gold For Simone Biles
Fans Beg NBC To Sign NJ Olympian Who Called Gold For Simone Biles Has New Jersey's Laurie Hernandez found her calling? The New Brunswick native was a member of the US women's gymnastic team's "Final Five" at just 16 years old, winning gold at Rio 2016 alongside Simone Biles. This week, the 24-year-old shined as one of the most colorful commentators, calling Biles' and Team USA's wins alongside commentator Rich Lerner, both for NBC, at Paris 2024. Following her major commentating debut, fans — and even some sports journalists — are calling on NBC to give Hernandez the contract they say she deserves. Hope NBC signs Laurie Hernandez to a long-term contr…
Meet NJ Photographer Capturing Some Of The Most Iconic Shots At Paris Olympics Meet NJ Photographer Capturing Some Of The Most Iconic Shots At Paris Olympics
Meet NJ Photographer Capturing Some Of The Most Iconic Shots At Paris Olympics You've probably seen some of Elsa Garrison's shots, but you may not even know it. The West Orange (Essex County) resident, who moved to the area from Minnesota with her husband 12 years ago, has captured some of the most iconic moments at the Paris Olympics 2024 for Getty Images since the games began last month. Getty Images Elsa Garrison for Getty Images Garrison covered her first Olympic games as an editor at Nagano 1998. She covered her first Olympic games as a photographer at Torino 2006. She's also worked at London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020/2021 and Beijing 2022. Daily Voice…
Jersey Shore Judoka Eliminated From 2024 Olympics, Enjoys 'Unreal Experience' In Paris Jersey Shore Judoka Eliminated From 2024 Olympics, Enjoys 'Unreal Experience' In Paris
Jersey Shore Judoka Eliminated From 2024 Olympics, Enjoys 'Unreal Experience' In Paris A West Long Branch man from a storied judo family had his quest for Olympic gold in Paris cut short after losing his first contest. Jack Yonezuka was defeated 10-0 by Adil Osmanov of Moldova in a round of 32 fight in the 73-kilogram weight class on Monday, July 29. He lost by ippon (points) after he was given his third shido (a penalty) three minutes and 40 seconds into the match. Before his fight, the 2021 Shore Regional High School graduate shared Instagram pictures and videos of his view aboard Team USA's boat during the opening ceremony along the River Seine on Friday, Ju…
These 23 New Jersey Athletes Are At The Paris Olympic Games: Here's When To Watch These 23 New Jersey Athletes Are At The Paris Olympic Games: Here's When To Watch
These 23 New Jersey Athletes Are At The Paris Olympic Games: Here's When To Watch The Paris Olympics have begun!  And, in case you missed it, several of Garden State's fittest and most athletic residents are there (scroll for their names, sports, and hometowns). A total of 23 athletes from New Jersey have qualified for the Olympics and are ready to make their run at the gold. Events kicked off Friday, July 26. Click here for a complete schedule of the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Garden State athletes include: Paxten Aaronson, of Medford: Soccer Bam Adebayo, of Newark, and 2020 Olympian: Basketball Jack Alexy, of Morristown: Swimming Jackie Dubrovich, of Riverda…
Gregg Berhalter, NJ Native, Fired As Head Coach Of US Men's Soccer Team Gregg Berhalter, NJ Native, Fired As Head Coach Of US Men's Soccer Team
Gregg Berhalter, NJ Native, Fired As Head Coach Of US Men's Soccer Team The search is on for a new head coach of the US Men's National Team. The team flamed out in front of hometown fans and were bounced from the 2024 Copa America in the group stage after losing to Urugay and Panama.  It was the first time the US failed to advance out of the group stage. On Wednesday, July 10, the US Soccer Federation made an unsurprising announcement: The team's head coach, Englewood native Gregg Berhalter, 50, had been "relieved of his duties, effective immediately." The search for a new #USMNT head coach has begun. pic.twitter.com/BFVedpnyfo — U.S. Soccer …
Jersey Shore Native Lands First MLS Head Coaching Job: 'An Incredible Opportunity' Jersey Shore Native Lands First MLS Head Coaching Job: 'An Incredible Opportunity'
Jersey Shore Native Lands First MLS Head Coaching Job: 'An Incredible Opportunity' An Atlantic County native is getting his first shot at managing a Major League Soccer club. B.J. Callaghan was named as the second head coach in Nashville SC franchise history, the team announced in a news release on Wednesday, July 3. The Ventnor City native will replace interim manager Rumba Munthali, who was promoted after longtime head coach Gary Smith left the club in May. Callaghan's appointment as Nashville's new boss came just two days after his 43rd birthday. "We are so excited to usher in this new era for Nashville Soccer Club with B.J. as our head coach," gen…