Hopatcong Sprinter Signs with Caldwell College

As a sprinter, Courtney Macaluso is used to exploding for short distances and netting excellent results. Attending nearby Caldwell College, the 2013 graduate of Hopatcong High School will be able to continue her athletic career while kicking her academic one into high gear.

Macaluso, a standout track and soccer athlete for the Chiefs, signed a National Letter of Intent with Caldwell College in May to compete at the Division II school in track and field. But that doesn’t mean she is giving up on soccer. Not one to rest on her laurels, Macaluso intends to try out for the Lady Cougar’s soccer team.

While at Hopatcong, Macaluso compiled an impressive resume of accomplishments that included:

• School record 100m dash (fully-automated timing) 12.62 (#2 in Sussex County 2013)
• Co-hand-timed record holder 100m, 200m dashes (12.6, 25.9)
• Freshman record holder in the 100m and 200m dashes (both previously stood for 33 years.)
• 2013 North 1 Group 1 Sectional Champion – 100m dash
• 2013 North 1 Group 1 Sectional Champion – 200m dash
• Top 10 finish in both 100m (10th), 200m (8th) dashes at 2013 State Group 1 Championships
• 2013 Sussex County Invitational, Runner-up, 100m, 200m
• NJAC-small school medalist (2010, 2012, 2013)
• HWS medalist (2013)
• 2012 North 1 Group 2 Sectional Runner-Up – 100m dash, Medalist – 200m dash
• 2012 State Group 2 Championships 100m dash finalist (8th)
• 2010 North 1 Group 2 Sectional Medalist – 100m dash
• Undefeated in dual meet competition: 100m (2012), 200m (2012, 2013), 400m (2012, 2013), 100mH (2013)
• All-NJAC (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)
• First Team All- NJ Herald (2012), Second Team (2013)
• Third Team All-West Jersey Star Ledger (2012 – 200m, 2013 – 100m)
• MVP 2012
• In 2013, scored a team-high 128.5 points for her team
• 2013 North 1 Group 1 Sectional Runner-up, 55m dash, medalist, 400m dash
• Third Team All-West Jersey Star Ledger (2013 – 55m)
• 2012 North 1 Group 1 Sectional medalist, 55m, 400m dashes
• 14th at the USATF Youth Indoor National Championships – 400m

Singular Determination, Group Success

Despite the fact that Hopatcong High School no longer has a winter track team, Macaluso competed as an individual entry, representing Hopatcong at the North 1 Group 1 Sectionals and State Group 1 Championships during the 2012 and 2013 seasons. 

During the winter seasons Macaluso trained and competed with the Jaguars Track Club out of Maplewood and the Polar Bears Track Club out of Fredon. This past winter she recruited a number of Hopatcong track athletes to join her as Polar Bears. That additional winter training afforded the Chiefs a head start on additional school records in the spring.

In addition to track and field, Macaluso was named second team All-NJAC her junior year on the soccer team. Her senior year she helped lead the team on the field as co-captain and was a starting letter winner all four years she was in high school. 

In addition, Macaluso was also a regular starting defender on the Hopatcong Boys travel team since U9 before switching to the NJ Dynamos U18 girls team last year where her team were finalists in four regional tournaments including State Cup.

This past spring Macaluso switched back to Hopatcong to finish her youth soccer career with her friends in town. Currently, Macaluso is playing in a women’s summer league for the Skylands Arsenal out of Frankford with her twin sisters, Corinne and Lorraine.