Sports Shorts

Pinelanders Youth Soccer Club, Howell, is now accepting registrations for the spring 2009 recreational soccer season.

Registration is open to boys and girls who will be ages 4-18 on April 1, 2009; birth certificates are required at registration. Girls ages 5-18 can choose all-girl or co-ed soccer. The fee is $45 per player, $90 maximum per family. An additional $10 perplayer late fee will be charged for registrations received after Feb. 8. There are no residency requirements.

Players can register at www.pinelanders.com or come to a registration session at Howell Middle School North, Squankum-Yellowbrook Road, on Friday, Jan. 16, from 7-9 p.m. Parents/guardians must bring their child's birth certificate, and use the gym entrance at the back of the school. If schools are closed, check the Web page www.pinelanders.com or call Jem Treadwell at 732-919-2111, mailbox 1.

The Ice-Lantics synchronized skating teams returned from snowy Connecticut sporting gleaming medals after their first competition of the season at the Terry Conners Synchronized Skating Classic in Stamford this month. The event drew teams from across the Middle Atlantic and lower New England states. The newly formed Beginner 3 team took first-place honors with their pleasing "Pocket Full of Sunshine" program, putting their artistry on display in swirling golden dresses, in perfect precision. Skating in the line with them was Kellyanne Turturro of Jackson.

The Ice-Lantics' teenage Intermediate team debuted their "Gladiator" program of complex formations and maneuvers, intricate footwork, and breathtaking transitions with speed, accuracy and in complete unison to music from the award-winning film score to a silver medal finish.

"A silver medal is a great achievement first time out," said a determined Samantha Lopez, 12, a seventh-grader at Christa McAuliffe Middle School. "But we're shooting for first, so it's back to work! We've got the talent, we've got the coaching, and we've got the will to do it." Joining her in winning the Intermediate medal was Christina Aiello of Howell.

The Ice-Lantics' Beginner 1 team took the crowd out to the ballgame in licensed apparel from the Anaheim Angels Major League Baseball team, driving in a homerun performance to music from the film "Angels in the Outfield" and earning a fourth-place medal.

Synchronized skating is the fastest growing discipline in the sport of figure skating, with more than 500 teams competing across the United States. Garden State Skating Club's Ice-Lantics Synchronized Skating Association, a non-profit organization, was established in 1996 with 12 skaters and quickly became one of the premier teams in the country, attracting skilled skaters from all over New Jersey.

Twenty young "synchro" standouts make up the two Beginner teams, while Ice- Lantics' Intermediate squad consists of 21 seasoned competitors. Coached by Lynne Leger and Konstantin Kaplan and assistant coach Kaitlyn Buffone, the teams perfect their routines in rigorous weekly practices at the Gold Coast Ice Arena (formerly Wall Ice Arena.) The Intermediate team will compete at United States Figure Skating's 2009 Eastern Synchronized Skating Sectional Championships in Morristown in January against teams from the Eastern section of the United States. The Beginner teams will also be crisscrossing the Northeast this winter in pursuit of more medals.

For more information about synchronized skating in New Jersey, and sponsorship opportunities, contact team manager Angie Rosen at arose57@aol.com or visit www.ice-lantics.com.

All boys and girls ages 10 to 14 are invited to participate in the local level of competition for the 2009 Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship, sponsored by the Howell-Jackson Council 6201. The local competition will be held on Saturday, Jan. 17, at the St. Veronica School gymnasium, Route 9 north in Howell. On-site registration will begin at noon and the competition will begin at 1 p.m.

The Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship is sponsored annually, with winners progressing through local, district and state competition. International champions are announced by KofC international headquarters based on scores from the statelevel competitions. All boys and girls 10 to 14 years old are eligible to participate and will compete in respective age groups. Last year more than 151,000 sharpshooters participated in over 3,100 local competitions.

All contestants on the local level are recognized for their participation in the event. Participants are required to furnish proof of age and written parental consent. For additional information, call Steve at 732-901-1954.

Registration is now open for the spring season at Howell Hockey, a recreational roller hockey program for boys and girls from Howell and surrounding areas. The program has new and experienced players in age ranges from kindergarten through high school. New teams are drafted each season, and everyone plays regardless of skill level. The program plays traditional 5- on-5 hockey, not the newer 4-on-4 roller format. All games are played outside on two full-size rinks at Deer Wood Park located on Lakewood-Allenwood Road in Howell.

The younger age divisions are arranged to be more instructional and focus on skating and the basic rules of the game. The older divisions become more competitive. Registration fees include a personalized jersey, a 10-game schedule followed by playoffs, trophies and an awards picnic to close the season.

There will be several in-person sign-up dates scheduled in January and February at the Ramtown School on Ramtown-Greenville Road in Howell. Prospective players can also mail in their registration. Forms are available at the program's Web site. For more information about the club, go to http://www.howellhockeyclub. net or call the hotline at 732-886-8855. Registration ends mid-February, and games begin in March.