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Montclair High School senior student-athletes proudly sealed their futures last month during the annual fall signing day, with the Mounties’ state championship girls soccer team leading the charge in a showcase of talent and determination.
Montclair took home the North 1 Group 4 state title as they defeated rival Livingston, 2-0, for the state sectional championship. Three members of that team will continue their soccer careers, Morgane Zinn (University of Richmond), Angeline McLoughlin (University of Albany) and Cara Flynn (University of Vermont).
Two of the other Montclair programs that have found great success over the years have been the crew and swimming teams.
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The Mounties crew team is one of the best in New Jersey, and two team members announced their next destination, both in the Ivy League. Avril Callanan will not have to go far to Columbia University in New York City while Madeleine Young heads to Brown University.
The Montclair girls swimming team has been an Essex County powerhouse, winning the last four Essex County team championships. Two of the big pieces of those victories have been sisters Reagan and Keira Gilligan. Both will be attending Patriot Conference rivals. Reagan heads to Lehigh University while Keira swims for the archrival Lafayette College. The twins were named to the All-Super Essex Conference teams last season. The pair will look to make it five straight county team titles on Jan. 20.
Nicoll, Bernal Make Choices
And two of the top players on Montclair’s lacrosse teams also made their choices official. Olivia Nicoll was the Mounties leading scorer who led the Montclair girls lacrosse team to the Essex County Tournament final last spring. Nicoll will play lacrosse at the University of Pennsylvania in the spring of 2026. On the boys’ lacrosse side, Elian Bernal will take his stick to Pace University (New York).
In Zinn she led the Mounties in goal scoring with a dozen this past fall. And was Montclair’s goal leader in two of the last three seasons. Zinn was named to the All Group 4 second team for her work this past fall.
“I told her every day for the last four years that she is the most competitive person I have had the pleasure of coaching,” said acting head coach Dan Contreras about Zinn, who moved up front this season. “Her competitiveness and fierceness will take her such a long way. To come out of her natural position of center back and struggle with the adversity of playing a forward position is nothing short of admirable.”
In a shortened season, Flynn scored three goals and she has 11 career goals for Montclair. Her 2024 season was cut short because of an injury at the beginning of October, making it a tough senior season. Montclair head coach Ashley Hammond said that Flynn’s best qualities were her ability to play several positions and her intangibles.
“We call her Flynnie and she is the bright light of the team,” said Hammond before the fall season. “Cara always says nice things to everyone and is very supportive of the younger players.”
McGloughlin was named to the All Group 4 third team. She had four goals and five assists this past fall. “Angie is a special talent and she certainly can-do things with the ball that we have never had players that walked through the halls of the school can do,” said Contreras.
Nicoll Looking to Add to Scoring
Nicoll has been one of the most prolific scorers in the state with 68 goals last season. She was named to the All Group 4 second team for her work last spring. In her senior year this spring, Nicoll has accumulated 137 goals and 88 assists.
“Olivia is driven and determined,” said Montclair head coach Kim Kolodny after last spring’s season. “There’s really no stopping her when she has her mind set on something. She has bought in since her freshman year, but this year, she really locked in and took it upon herself to be a leader. She was picked (All Group 4) because she deserves it.”
Montclair High School College Signings
Swimming
- Reagan Gilligan – Lehigh University
- Keira Gilligan – Lafayette College
Girls Soccer
- Cara Flynn – University of Vermont
- Angeline McLoughlin – University of Albany
- Morgane Zinn – University of Richmond
Boys Lacrosse
- Elian Bernal – Pace University
Girls Lacrosse
- Olivia Nicoll – University of Penn
Crew
- Madeleine Young – Brown
- Avril Callanan – Columbia University
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Edward Kensik writes sports coverage for Montclair Local. More by Edward Kensik
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