“Why Not Be a Champion Today?” [PODCAST]

Last month in Philadelphia, Bridgeton's Braheme Days Jr., brought a track & field title back home. Now you can add four more names to the list of national champions representing South Jersey.

Pleasantville's dynamic twin duo, Jacob and Isaac Clark, were flanked by teammates Dagoberto Arias and Radclife Narinensingh on their way to winning the 4 x 800 Championship of America at the 2013 Penn Relays. Not only did the Greyhound runners set both school and national records with their times, but they also represented the first New Jersey school to win the prestigious event in 30 years.

"I've coached teams that were engaged to the game; these guys are married to it." ---Pleasantville Coach Alan Laws, on his team's dedication to excellence

Less than a week off their amazing finish at the "Super Bowl of track & field", the speedy Greyhounds and their head coach Alan Laws raced into our 97.3 ESPN-FM Admiral Nissan Studios to reflect on their historic accomplishments. Listen in to hear about their experience at this year's Penn Relays, and what's next for the gifted young men behind one of South Jersey's best track & field programs.

One South Jersey native's future couldn't be brighter after hearing his name called by an NFL team in last weekend's draft. Former Rutgers cornerback Logan Ryan will now find himself starring across the field at Tom Brady, and learning the playbook with Patriots coach Bill Belichick. Find out about the phone call that changed his life, and how things are going during his first week as a professional football player.

The Rutgers football family turned out to be one of the most successful during the 2013 NFL Draft. Along with Logan Ryan, six other Scarlet Knights were drafted, with five more signing free agent deals. FoxSports' Sam Hellman has more on a busy weekend for RU, which sent more players to the NFL than any Big Ten or Big East team this year.

Even more significant for Rutgers has been their impact on local communities. At last week's Scarlet-White spring game, the athletic program honored storm-displaced middle school football players from across the state by actually getting them on the field. We asked Drew Robinson, the Director of Branding for Rutgers Athletics, how these young athletes got the chance to lace em' up with the future of New Jersey football, more than six months after Hurricane Sandy.

Listen to this week's show:

Ocean City Nor'easters Football Club (GM Neil Holloway & head coach Tim Oswald)

John Pampalone, Southern Regional head lacrosse coach

Christian Mortellite, Hammonton basketball & C.A.L. leading scorer

Ryan King, Egg Harbor Township lacrosse

Sam Hellman, FoxSports Rutgers analyst

Jeremy Novick, MIddle Township tennis & 2013 C.A.L. singles champion

Drew Robinson, Director of Branding for Rutgers University Athletics

Pleasantville boys track & field team, '4 x 800' Championship of America winners at 2013 Penn Relays

Logan Ryan, Former Rutgers cornerback & New England Patriots 3rd round draft pick

We’d also like to congratulate the South Jersey Athlete of the Week:

Kaila Smith

Softball, Sacred Heart

The freshman standout led Sacred Heart to a 6-4 win over Middle Township. Smith was sensational at the plate, hitting 3-for-4 with five RBIs. Her assault against the Panthers included a home run and a double.

It’s all right here, on The South Jersey Sports Report. Listen every Saturday, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on 97.3 ESPN-FM or 973espn.com, and now catch the expanded edition every Thursday night from 6-7 p.m.

Follow Tyler Donohue on Twitter @TDsTake