![Fiery Winter Athletic Performances Deliver Honors to Pennington]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1776775578/penningtonorg/tx7jkylbfwd16xefct9w/DylanNapoleon_edit.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1776775578/penningtonorg/tx7jkylbfwd16xefct9w/DylanNapoleon_edit.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1776775578/penningtonorg/tx7jkylbfwd16xefct9w/DylanNapoleon_edit.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1776775578/penningtonorg/tx7jkylbfwd16xefct9w/DylanNapoleon_edit.jpg","width":1095}])
While much of the state was suffering under brutal winter weather, including near record snowfall totals and punishing temperatures, Pennington’s Red Hawks were blazing hot this past season, both on the basketball court and in the pool.
For the second year in a row, Pennington’s Varsity Girls’ Basketball team captured the NJISAA Prep B championship, defeating Villa Walsh 57–36 in Morristown. Thanks in part to that win and stellar quarterfinal and semifinal matchups en route to victory, several members of the team were named to the 2025-2026 NJISAA State All Prep B teams: Senior Anna-Kaisa Hokkanen and sophomore Eden Ashiavor were both named First Team, with junior Sara Surtz and sophomore Dayonna Doggett named Second Team; Red Hawks’ team captain Caiden O’Connell ’26 also received an honorable mention. Within the MAPL league, Ashiavor and Doggett also earned honorable mentions.
Over on the boys’ side, Dylan Napoleon ’26 was recognized by the Mercer County Basketball Hall of Fame as the recipient of the 5th annual Jim Davis Award and Scholarship. As a sports reporter for The Trentonian, Jim Davis covered high school boys’ basketball for decades. His stories often detailed the efforts and contributions of players known as unsung heroes for their grit and selfless performances, and their overall impact on the game. As a senior guard/forward, Napoleon also scored his 1000 point for Pennington this past season and was named All-Prep First Team by The Trentonian. Also recognized by The Trentonian was Joshua Benka-Coker ’27, who earned Second Team honors.
Meanwhile, in the water, the boys’ and girls’ earned both team and individual accolades. The Varsity Boys’ Swim team won the 2025-2026 NJISAA State Prep B State title, the 25th state championship overall in combined program history for Pennington. The girls' team finished second at the same meet, with Hania Jernigan ’28 placing first overall across both Prep A and Prep B categories, earning All-State honors for her top-spot finish.
Ethan Han ’29 was named Prep B Swimmer of the Meet after winning two events outright—the 200-yard individual medley and the 100-yard backstroke, also across both A and B categories. Adding to his arsenal of victories, Han also placed third overall at the prestigious Easterns Swim Meet held at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA. Han’s performance in the boys' 100-yard breaststroke set a new School record and fell just shy of the All-American consideration time.