In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence just across the river in Philadelphia, the Courier-Post sports staff has compiled a wide-ranging list of the top 250 South Jersey athletes of all time.
Our staff scoured the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and Daily Journal archives, spoke to countless South Jersey athletic luminaries and argued endlessly on the final list of 250 names.
To be eligible for this list, an athlete must have attended a South Jersey high school, lived their formulative years in South Jersey or gained their notoriety from their connection to South Jersey.
In the coming weeks, we will present the names in reverse order until we get to No. 1.
USA 250 South Jersey Athletes of All Time links
201-250 | 151-200 | 101-150
51-100 | 26-50 | 1-25
This week, we bring you the athletes from 200-151:
200. Pete Kugler, Cherry Hill East
A tenacious defensive lineman won five championships in professional football, winning three Super Bowl titles with the San Francisco 49ers and two USFL titles with the Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars. Kugler played in 81 games over his eight-year career in his NFL career, which was all with the San Francisco 49ers. During his senior year at Cherry Hill East in 1976, his head coach Bo Wood called him the best lineman he ever coached. He was a standout lineman at Penn State and was drafted in the sixth round (147th overall) by the 49ers in the 1981 NFL Draft.
199. Tracy Burkhardt, Washington Township
One of the top female athletes in South Jersey, Burkhart was a three-sport star with the Minutemaids. She starred at Kean University in softball, collecting 194 hits, including 42 doubles and 10 triples while stealing 52 bases and driving in 111 runs during her collegiate career. She was also a successful coach, leading the Minutemaids to 353 wins and three state titles on the softball diamond.
198. Turk McBride, Woodrow Wilson
A sack master at Woodrow Wilson where he set a program record with 13 sacks in his senior season and was a Parade All-American in 2002. McBride went on to play at Tennessee before becoming a second-round pick (54th overall) by the Kansas City Chiefs. He would play 66 games (24 starts) in the NFL for Kansas City, Detroit and New Orleans, posting 9.5 sacks and 125 combined tackles.
197. Dezman Moses, Willingboro
Keeping it in the Moses family, Lauren Moses’ brother, Dezman was a three-sport standout with the Chimeras. He was a difference maker on the gridiron where he was a star defensive end at Willingboro. Moses shifted to linebacker and put together a strong career at Tulane before signing with the Green Bay Packers in 2012. He would also play for four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs.
196. Lauren Moses, Rancocas Valley
One of the cornerstones of the Red Devils’ girls’ basketball program, Moses played in four state championship games, earning two title. A premier player In the post, Moses tallied a program-record 1,823 career points for RV. She was the Courier-Post Player of the Year in 2013. Moses was also a 1,000-point scorer at the University of Virginia.
195. Sally Starr, Shawnee
No athlete has learned more varsity letters than this Starr as she compiled 24 of them during her standout careers at Shawnee and Ursinus. She competed in field hockey, basketball and softball with the Renegades, earning All-South Jersey status in the fall and spring sports. She earned a dozen more varsity letters in college, switching from softball to lacrosse as her spring sport. In field hockey, Starr helped lead Ursinus to three straight AIAW Division I finals. Starr was selected to the U.S. Field Hockey Team and participated in the 1978 and 1979 National Sports Festivals.
194. Haason Reddick, Haddon Heights
A fracture femur ended his senior season at Haddon Heights High School prematurely, but after walking onto the team at Temple University, Reddick’s football career took off. He’s played nine years in the National Football League, including two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. He was the 13th pick overall in the 2017 NFL Draft and a two-time Pro Bowl selection.
193. Charlie Pratt, Palmyra
A three-time All-American at Manhattan College, Pratt captured the NCAA title in the 220 low hurdles and finished second in the 120 high hurdles. He was a national AAU champion in the decathlon, winning the title in the first time he ever competed in the event. He participated in the 1956 United States Olympic Trials, placing fifth in the high hurdles.
192. Isabeau Levito, Mount Holly
The area’s latest Olympian, Levito competed in figure skating at the Milan Games last winter. She was the 2023 United States national champion and a three-time bronze medalist. She skated her way to the gold medal in the World Juniors in 2022.
191. Ed Smith, Pemberton
Hailing from one of the signature families from Pemberton, Smith played minor league baseball in four different organizations before embarking on a career in the National Football League. He played tight end for Atlanta, Detroit and Philadelphia. Smith turned down several scholarship offers to power college football teams and went to play baseball when the Chicago White Sox drafted him in the seventh round of the 1987 MLB Draft.
190. Allison Munch, Burlington Township
A two-sport star at Burlington Township, Munch put her athletic talent to the officiating world at a young age, becoming a youth softball umpire when she was just 16. She rose to the college ranks as an umpire, working four national championship games, including three behind the dish. She also became the NJSIAA softball rules interpreter.
189. Matt Emmons, Pemberton
Nobody hit the mark better than this rifle shooter. Emmons competed in four Olympic Games (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016), earning a gold medal in 2004 Athens. He also won a silver and bronze medal. At the 2018 World Championships, he won a silver medal. Emmons is the shooting coach for the Czech biathlon team.
188. Mike Racobaldo, Woodrow Wilson
A state champion in two sports, Racobaldo helped lead the Tigers to titles in baseball and basketball. The 1970 graduate won six varsity letters during his time at Woodrow Wilson. The Tigers won two state titles in baseball and was a two-time All-State selection at two different positions – pitcher and first base. He was drafted by Cincinnati in the 1970 MLB Draft, but went to the University of Houston on a basketball scholarship. He was inducted into the Camden County Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.
187. Antron Brown, Northern Burlington
A track star with the Greyhounds, Brown made his name on the speedway where he’s regarded as one of the top drag car racers in the nation. After a successful career on the NHRA’s Pro Stock Motorcycle circuit, he switched to Top Fuel dragsters where he was a four-time NHRA champion. Brown also competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1997, competing in the 100-meter dash.
186. Chad Severs, Ocean City
The most prolific goal scorer in South Jersey high school history, the 2000 Ocean City High School graduate led the area in scoring three times and still holds the region’s record for career goals with 159. He helped lead Ocean City to two state championships before going to play at Penn State where he posted 38 goals and 90 points in his collegiate career.
185. Jersey Joe Walcott, Camden
“Jersey Joe” made a name for himself in the boxing ring where he fought professionally for 23 years and was one of the best heavyweights in the world during the decades of the 1940s and 1950s. He was oldest heavyweight champion in history when he won at the age of 37. The Pennsauken/Merchantville native fought Joe Lewis for the heavyweight title in 1947, making Walcott the oldest boxer to fight for a title. He also fought Rocky Marciano at Philadelphia’s Municipal Stadium in 1952. Life after boxing saw Walcott get into referring and even professional wrestling before becoming Camden County Sheriff in 1971.
184. Gary Melchionni, Bishop Eustace
This talented guard led Bishop Eustace to an unbeaten season and state championship in 1969. He went on to play at Duke University where he was the first two-time captain for the Blue Devils and became one of the top backcourt players in the nation. Melchionni went on to play professionally with the two seasons with the Phoenix Suns.
183. Claudia McCarthy, Millville
One of the female pioneers in sports, McCarthy competed in field hockey, basketball, tennis and ran track at Millville before moving on to Trenton State College. She went on to become one of the most successful coaches in South Jersey history, including a 50-year career as the Thunderbolts’ field hockey coach where she won 610 games.
182. Emma Matera, Delran
One of the pioneers in girls’ wrestling in South Jersey, Matera is the first-and-only two-time state champion from the area. She was a four-time state place winner, finishing third and fourth in the state the other two seasons with the Bears. She went 64-6 in her scholastic career and is currently wrestling at Ursinus.
181. Ted Narleski, Collingswood
Armed with a fastball that allegedly reached close to triple digits, Narleski was a premier relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched six seasons in the majors, including five with the Cleveland Indians and was a two-time All-Star with the Tribe. Narleski was one of the top athletes to come out of Collingswood where he played baseball and football. He was named to the Courier-Post’s All-Century Classic Era Team (1939-1974).
180. Jamie Franks, Shawnee
A two-time All-State selection, Francks was the Garden State’s Player of the Year in 2004. He delivered 65 goals for the storied Shawnee program before becoming a key player with Wake Forest where he helped the Demon Deacons to a national championship in 2007.
179. Chris LaPierre, Shawnee
Regarded as one the best two-sport athletes in the region’s history, LaPierre was a star on the football field and lacrosse pitch. He scored a South Jersey-record 44 touchdowns in 2008 and was among the leaders with 519 career points. In lacrosse, he scored 199 career goals for the Renegades and the midfielder was selected as the Most Valuable Player of the Under-Armor All-America game before enjoying a stellar lacrosse career at the University of Virigina.
178. Laura Darling, Shawnee
A three-sport star with the Renegades, Darling earned nine varsity letters in high school and 10 more at Ursinus College. Darling was the South Jersey Field Hockey Player of the Year during her senior season at Shawnee. At Ursinus, she won the prestigious Linda McIntyre Award for excellence and dedication to women’s sports. After her playing career, she became the director of the Garden State Games and director of Olympic Development while also serving as Assistant Executive Director of the USA Field Hockey Association.
177. Reggie Welch, Woodrow Wilson
One of the top athletes from the eastside of Camden, Welch deposited 2,938 career points for the Tigers, the most in South Jersey history at the time he graduated in 1992. Welch led Woodrow Wilson to two sectional crowns. He played collegiate basketball at Cleveland State (two years) and Coppin State (two years).
176. Lex Therien, Cherokee
One of the best to put on the Cherokee uniform, Therien was a key producer during the Chiefs’ girls basketball glory days. Therien scored 1,283 points as a four-year starter, guiding the team to a 92-10 record, which including three South Jersey Invitational Basketball Tournament titles, two sectional championships and a state title. She was the South Jersey Player of the Year in 2020 and was a two-time All-State selection. Therien went to have a standout career at Loyola where she scored a program-record 44 points in a game in 2024.
175. Byron Carmichael, Rancocas Valley
Carmichael scored a RV-record 35 goals en route to South Jersey player of the Year honors as a senior in 1998. He went on to become Marshall University’s all-time leading scorer with 58 goals and 128 points, earning MAC Player of the Year twice. He went on to play before professional soccer and played eight seasons with the Ocean City Barons/Nor’easters where he tallied 62 goals and 148 points in 102 games — all team records.
174. Stephen King, Shawnee
A two-time state champion and two-time South Jersey Player of the Year for the Courier-Post, King led the Renegades to a 99-5-3 mark over his scholastic career. He was the New Jersey Gatorade and NSCAA Player of the Year as a senior when he scored 24 goals and 21 assists. At Maryland, he started 93 games and scored 30 goals, helping to lead the Terrapins to the 2005 NCAA national championship. He went on to play four seasons in professional soccer, logging 77 games with Chicago, Seattle and D.C. United.
173. Drew Roskos, Delran
A two-time New Jersey Player of the Year and three-time United Coaches Association High School All-American, Roskos scored 84 times for Delran, including a school single-season record of 33 in 2021 along with 22 goals in 18 career playoff games. He is currently playing soccer at Bucknell. Roskos was also a standout wrestler, posting a 120-12 career record.
172. Bo Melton, Cedar Creek
A football, basketball and track star for the Pirates, Melton made his mark on the gridiron, Melton caught 51 passes for 766 yards and nine TDs as a senior, while adding 451 yards and seven more TDs as a rusher. Melton stayed in state, playing at Rutgers University, catching 164 passes for 2,011 yards in five seasons. Melton was the 229th pick int he 2022 NFL Draft by the Seahawks, but was later claimed off the practice squad by the Packers. In three seasons at Green Bay, Melton has 31 catches for 458 yards and four touchdowns, including two in the playoffs.
171. Lou Rowe, Atlantic City
One of the best players to ever lace up the sneakers at Atlantic City, Rowe averaged 26.2 points per game as a Vikings’ senior and was named the New Jersey player of the year. Rowe continued his career at the University of Massachusetts, where he scored 1,249 career points and was named the 1995 Atlantic 10 player of the year. Rowe was the 30th pick of the 1995 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons. Rowe played one year each in Detroit and Golden State before concluding his professional career internationally and in the Continental Basketball Association.
170. Jenny Sell, Moorestown
Sell led her hometown Quakers to the 1987 NJSIAA Group 2 state championship. Sell helped establish Moorestown as one of the state’s top tennis powers. Sell went on to a standout career at North Carolina State University, where she was set the Wolfpack record for career match wins. A two-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection, Sell was named to the ACC 50th Anniversary tennis team. Sell later was named conference coach of the year for the ACC, Big 12, CAA and ITA while coaching at NC State, UNC Wilmington and Kansas.
169. Mike Sell, Moorestown
Sell is a two-time NJSIAA state singles champion, having won in 1989 and 1991, but his tennis career did not top out in high school. A four-year All-American at the University of Georgia. Asa player, Sell topped out as the No. 136 player int he world in singles and No. 83 in doubles. Sell turned his sights to coaching, where he coached Monica Seles to the No. 1 ranking in the world. He added the assistant coaching title for the United States for 2012 London Olympic teams. He later coached eight seasons at Louisiana State University.
168. Joan Lewis, Moorestown
A Rancocas Valley Hall of Famer for her athletic accomplishments at the former Mount Holly High School, Lewis returned to South Jersey as head coach of the Moorestown field hockey team. In 26 seasons with the Quakers, Lewis won 13 state championships, which was then a state record. Lewis won 456 games in a career that spanned from 1979-2004. Lewis is sixth on South Jersey’s coaching wins list, 16 for the state.
167. Bea Thomas, Moorestown
Of all the members of South Jersey’s 250 greatest athletes, Thomas may ultimately hold the most impressive record. Thomas passed away in 2015 at the tender age of 102. A Philadelphia native, Thomas came to South Jersey after a three-sport career at Temple University. Thomas excelled as a coach first at Palmyra, then Moorestown. Her teams won 97 consecutive swim meets at Moorestown, where she won more than 250 meets in 27 seasons. In field hockey, she was named the 1998 US Olympic Developmental Coach of the Year. She remained as the freshman team and goaltenders coach for the Quakers field hockey until the age of 92.
166. Lexi Smith, Florence
Smith started off in top gear and never let up on the pedal. With three goals in her very first varsity game as a freshman, Smith marked herself as one of the state’s best scorers. Smith would go on to set a then national record with 191 career goals. Upon graduation, smith played four years at the College of New Jersey, where she excelled as a defender, while never fully giving up her offensive bonafides. Smith scored 58 goals with 39 assists in 85 games for the Lions.
165. DJ Wagner, Camden
There was never any doubt that DJ Wagner would be a star. The grandson of Milt and son of Dajuan Wagner didn’t disappoint, scoring 2,040 career points as a third-generation Camden star. Camden had won 25 straight games when the 2020 season was cut short by COVID after winning the South Jersey Group 2 title. The Panthers eventually won 43 straight and the 2022 NJSIAA Group 2 title before losing in the Tournament of Champions final. Wagner started his college career as the University of Kentucky before transferring to Arkansas for the last two seasons. Wagner will play his senior season at the University of Maryland next winter.
164. Brenden Aaronson, Shawnee
The “Medford Messi” attended Shawnee High School for a year before moving onto the Philadelphia Union’s YSC Academy. He played 51 games for the Union, scoring seven goals, including his first professional goal in his debut. Aarsonson would play overseas with Red Bull Salzburg and is now with Leeds United. He’s also scored nine goals on the United States national team. Aaronson is a key reserve for the 2026 USA World Cup team.
163. Brian Zoubek, Haddonfield
Zoubek cast a long shadow in South Jersey basketball lore, and not just for his 7-foot-1 frame. The center led Haddonfield to three consecutive NJSIAA Group 2 championships in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Zoubek set the scoring standard for the Haddons with 2,082 career points. Zoubek went on to lead Duke University to the 2010 NCAA championship with an eight-point, 10-rebound performance in the title game. A three-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference Academic team member, Zoubek was an undrafted free agent signing by the New Jersey Nets before ending his career prematurely due to injury issues.
162. Chris Ford, Atlantic City
A native of Atlantic City, Ford put Holy Spirit basketball on the map. As a senior he averaged 33 points per game and scored 1,507 career points. His high school accomplishments drew the attention of Villanova University, where he averaged 15.8 points per game, leading the Wildcats to three NCAA tournament appearances. In 10 NBA seasons, with Detroit and Boston, Ford finished with a 9.2 career scoring average. Ford coached for 10 seasons in the NBA, five with the Boston Celtics.
161. Danielle Ryan, Shawnee
An all-time great along Tabernacle Road, Ryan won nine varsity letters including four each in soccer, basketball and one in softball. She was a four-time All-South Jersey soccer player and 1987 midfielder of the year. Amazingly, she was even better on the hardwoods. Ryan scored 2,115 career points and topped out as the 1989 South Jersey Player of the Year. Ryan scored 1,297 career points at Florida State University finishing in the top 10 on the Seminoles’ career lists for points, steals, assists, field goal percentage, free throw percentage and games played.
160. LaMarr Greer, Middle Township
Greer made Cape May County the center of the New Jersey basketball world after transferring from Overbrook to Middle Township before his junior season. Greer led the Panthers to NJSIAA Group 2 titles in 1993 and 1994. He completed his career as a McDonald’s All-American and New Jersey player of the year. Greer scored 1,022 career points at Florida State University before embarking on a distinguished career in the international professional ranks. Greer concluded a five-year stint as head coach at Middle this winter with a 104-44 career record.
159. Bill Culbertson, Camden
A star among stars in the Camden basketball universe, Culbertson led the Panthers to three South Jersey Group 4 and two NJSIAA Group 4 state titles. Culbertson scored 1,537 points and led Camden to an 80-10 record in just three varsity seasons. His 1979 state tournament run stands as one of the most impressive performances in postseason history. In five playoff games, Culbertson averaged 34.8 points, including 39 in a state semifinal against Middletown South and 38 in the state final against Union. Culbertson started his collegiate career at the University of South Alabama before spending three seasons at the University of Pittsburgh.
158. Jackie Campbell, Willingboro
A true two-sport star for the Chimeras, Campbell led Willingboro to state championships in basketball in 1979 and field hockey in 1976 and 1978. Campbell was the first 1,000-point scorer at Willingboro joining classmate Channie Hallet at the milestone. Campbell was recruited to play field hockey at the University of Virginia, where she scored a then-freshman record of 22 goals. She was a walk-on player for the Cavaliers’ basketball team as well. Campbell kept her hand in athletic endeavors as an administrator for the NCAA and Big East Conference, among other duties.
157. Eric Robinson, Gloucester Catholic
The Bellmawr native was a standout at Princeton University before embarking on a career in the National Hockey League. He’s played seven seasons in the NHL and is currently on the Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes. He has 66 goals in 455 career games. He played for the United States at the World Championships in 2021, recording three assists in 10 games as the squad earned a bronze medal.
156. Mike Daniels, Highland
Daniels ran for 2,203 yards with 25 career touchdowns for the Tartans but drew more notice for his abilities as a defensive lineman compiling nearly 300 tackles and 27 career sacks. Daniels also wrestled for three years and qualified fo r the Meet of Champions in the discus and shot put. The University of Iowa came calling next, where he was a second-team All-Big Ten lineman in 2011. Daniels was the 132nd pick of the 2012 NFL Draft, in the fourth round by the Green Bay Packers, where he played for seven seasons. In his 10-year career, Daniels had 257 tackles, including 30 career sacks. He returned one fumble for a touchdown as a rookie.
155. Jess Copskey, Sterling
One of the smoothest scorers to ever lace up sneakers in South Jersey, Copskey scored a Camden County-record 2,991 career points while leading the Silver Knights to NJSIAA Group 2 championships in 2000 and 2001 and the 2001 Tournament of Champions title, the first South Jersey team to win that honor. Copskey scored 35 points in the TOC final. Copskey was named to the CAA All-Rookie team at Drexel University before her career was cut short due to an injury during her sophomore season.
154. Tony Black, Haddon Township
Black never got to walk at his Hawks’ graduation. The 1970 Haddon Township had a more pressing engagement that day, riding a horse named Stand By Me in his first professional race. That race never went off, but Black rode the horse to his first of exactly 5,200 career wins just a few days later. In July of 1993, Black won nine consecutive races over two days at Atlantic City Racetrack, Philadelphia Park and back in Atlantic City to tie a North American record that had stood since 1930. Black raced until the age of 61, winning his final race on Smart Tori, a horse owned by his son, Anthony Jr. Black.
153. Meredith Elwell, Moorestown
A premier two-sport athlete that starred on the Moorestown field hockey and lacrosse fields, the 1996 graduate won state championships in both sports. Collegiately at the University of Virginia, Elwell earned All-America honors in both sports leading the Cavaliers to two NCAA Final Fours in both sports. Elwell played internationally with the United States Under-23 National Team. Elwell replaced iconic coach Joan Lewis at her alma mater in 2005, winning two Central Jersey titles and the 2006 NJSIAA Group 3 championship in her two-year coaching career.
152. Matt Szczur, Lower Cape May
A three-sport star for the Caper Tigers, Szczur added track and field to his more well-known pursuits of football and baseball. Drafted out of the 38th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2007, Szczur opted instead to play football and baseball at Villanova University. A consensus All-American and CAA Offensive Player of the Year, Szczur led the Wildcats to their first FCS National Championship in 2009, earning MVP honors in the championship game with 270 all-purpose yards. After an All-Big East junior season with the Wildcats, Szczur was drafted in the fifth round of the MLB Draft by the Chicago Cubs. Szczur played parts of five seasons with the Cubs and San Diego Padres with 136 hits and 12 career home runs in 363 games.
151. Brandon Bell, Oakcrest
A running back and linebacker for the Falcons, Bell amassed over 300 tackles and 1,000 rushing yards in four varsity seasons. In State College, Bell was a three-season starter at linebacker for Penn State University. Bell had 9.5 career sacks with a high of four as a senior. He added three interceptions for his career. An undrafted rookie free agent, Bell signed with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he appeared in nine games during the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
Tom McGurk is a regional sports editor for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and Burlington County Times, covering South Jersey sports for over 35 years. If you have a sports story that needs to be told, contact him by email at tmcgurk@usatodayco.com. Follow him on Twitter at @McGurkSports. Help support local journalism with a digital subscription.
Tom Rimback grew up reading the Burlington County Times and Courier Post sports sections and began writing for the BCT in 1996. He has covered everything from Super Bowls and Final Fours to Tri-County Swimming but he’s happiest on a sideline interviewing South Jersey scholastic athletes. Follow him on twitter @Rimbacksports. Email him with story ideas at tomrimback@gmail.com and, most importantly, support local journalism with a subscription to the Courier-Post.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Ranking South Jersey’s Top 250 greatest athletes, see Nos. 151-200
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