Chimeras

Chimera: noun, singular: 1) a fabulous monster. 2) an impossible or foolish fancy. Chimeras: noun, plural: 1) a fabulous, monstrous track team in Willingboro fond of setting and achieving impossible goals. 2) Winners of the national public school record for longest winning streak. In a meet that at times bordered on the impossible and the foolish, the Willingboro boys' track team won its 152d consecutive meet Thursday. Despite rain, a bus that ran out of gas, some more rain, a two-hour delay, a little rain, a little thunder, sprinklers on the grass going full tilt, a lot of lightning, an almost-afire scoreboard, a visit from the fire department, more rain, an indoor finale and a beam in the gymnasium ceiling that got in the way of a shotput, Willingboro prevailed over Egg Harbor (69-12)

Sam Beverly realizes that the pressure is twofold this year at Willingboro. Beverly has to follow sensational Ryan O'Neal as quarterback, while his teammates must negate the loss of 16 seniors from last year's 10-2 team, which won the South Jersey Group 3 championship and finished No. 3 in the final Inquirer South Jersey ratings. Although those challenges are formidable, past performance has proved that anything is possible at Willingboro. During coach Ty Belford's three years, the 27-6-1 Chimeras have recorded three South Jersey Group 3 title game appearances, one championship (last year)

Not even Tiffany Crews expected this. Sure, the Willingboro standout was confident that her team would upset Woodrow Wilson. But to dominate the Tigers in last night's NJSIAA Group 3 girls' basketball semifinal at Deptford High School was unthinkable. "Keeping it real, I just knew that this was going to be a close game," Crews said after the Chimeras posted a 70-61 victory. "This is not a garbage team. They have skills, just like we do. But we just came out on top. " As a result, Willingboro (21-9)

Slapping their pads and rooting at the top of their lungs, the Willingboro sideline chants of "defense" grew so loud that an assistant coach had to tell them to quiet down so he could relay a play to the field. The Chimeras' calling card is their defense, and they wanted to make sure Cherry Hill West was well aware of that. The message got through. By the time Willingboro stamped out a 47-15 Burlco/Olympic Liberty Division win, the Lions had received a slew of the most withering tackles and sacks this side of the NFL's Black and Blue Division.

The Central Jersey Group 3 girls' basketball final was billed as a battle of Monmouth's depth against Willingboro's two-star tandem of Tammy Meyers and Tiffany Crews. But when half of that duo's effectiveness was nullified by foul trouble, Monmouth eased its way to a 69-52 victory in the game at West Windsor-Plainsboro North last night. The third-seeded Chimeras (22-5) were seeking their fourth straight sectional title and fifth in six years, but it was the Falcons (24-3) who walked off with their first as they put four players in double figures.

It would be fitting for Willingboro to have a 6-2 record in its first eight games this season. The Chimeras' roster carries seven players who are that height. But the most significant name, and height, on the roster is 5-foot, 8-inch senior guard Andre Self, who led the team with 18.2 points per game last year. "The bigger the game, the tougher he played," said coach Paul Collins. "He got a lot of attention from opponents last year in his first year on the varsity and he handled it. " Self is one of just two starters back for Collins.

Whether Willingboro High becomes an athletic powerhouse next season or not remains to be seen. Next year, Willingboro will receive an influx of students when it merges with sister-school Kennedy High. As far as girls' basketball is concerned, the merger could spell trouble for the rest of the Burlington County Liberty Division. Even without the additional students, the Chimeras have the nucleus of a young team headed in the right direction. The foundation for future success is here right now. COACH.

Willingboro High fooball coach Ty Belford, who has said his team needed to gain confidence, got exactly what he wanted last night as the Chimeras dismantled Cinnaminson, 21-0, in an interleague game. "When you play only five seniors, you need some confidence-builders," Belford said after his team improved its record to 2-1. "We are going to have to have our defense carry us for a while because we are so young on offense. " Neither offense was confidence inspiring, but Willingboro won the battle by getting touchdowns three different ways.

The Willingboro girls' basketball team came within a game of claiming a state title last March. The Chimeras were hit hard by graduation, but coach Guy Fowler put his trust in a pair of seniors, forward Tammy Meyers and guard Nicole Trawick, and the result is another possible run to No. 1. But Willingboro (20-2), seeded third, will need to escape the Central Jersey Group 3 sectional against the likes of top-seeded Monmouth, No. 2 Hamilton North, and No. 4 Colts Neck. Other area teams competing in Central Jersey sectionals: Rancocas Valley (18-4)

They haven't won a game on the field in two seasons, and time is running out for the Willingboro lacrosse team to change things this year. The Chimeras, 0-11 this season, have one victory in that span - by forfeit over Maple Shade, which couldn't field a varsity team, played all JV games, and forfeited the varsity games. Willingboro coach Rosemary Hackett isn't discouraged, however. "The kids enjoy playing," Hackett said. "They definitely want to win. Hopefully, we'll go out with a win. The girls seem to be enjoying themselves.