The Student News Site of Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School

The Fanscotian
The Student News Site of Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School

The Fanscotian
The Student News Site of Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School

The Fanscotian
Jonah Leske

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor

Jonah Leske is a junior at SPFHS, and is the Sports Editor for The Fanscotian. Jonah was awarded 1st place in both the Sports Writing and the Timely Sports categories at the annual Garden State Scholastic Press Association conference. Jonah is a member of both the bowling and volleyball programs and loves to watch sports, especially the Yankees and Steelers. He is the President of the Peer Math Tutoring Club along with being on the Executive Board of the Jewish Student Union.

All content by Jonah Leske
The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Boys Basketball team huddles during a timeout. The Raiders went 15-12 in 2023-2024, and won the Union County Conference - Mountain division.

SPF Boys Basketball Shoots to Start 2024-2025 Season off Strong

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
December 17, 2024
Junior Elissa Steingart Announces Commitment to Lasell University Lacrosse

Junior Elissa Steingart Announces Commitment to Lasell University Lacrosse

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
December 16, 2024
The Scotch Plains-Fanwood boys soccer team huddles before kickoff. The Raiders topped Ridgewood 3-2 on Tuesday Nov. 19, in a double overtime thriller.

Freshman Aavik Akarte Plays Hero in State Semifinals with Golden Goal; SPF Soccer Prevails over Ridgewood 3-2

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
November 20, 2024
Senior Devin Pearce celebrates after a header goal. The Raiders beat Newark East Side 5-0 on Tuesday Nov. 12, and advanced to the sectional finals where they will face Westfield.

Boys Soccer Sectionals Finals Preview: SPF and Westfield Set to Face off Once Again

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
November 14, 2024
Never in My School: A Letter to the Community

Never in My School: A Letter to the Community

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
November 14, 2024
Senior Anand Sahasrabudhe Announces Commitment to Middlebury College Tennis

Senior Anand Sahasrabudhe Announces Commitment to Middlebury College Tennis

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
November 13, 2024
Freshman kicker Colby Martin poses alongside special teams coach Marc Fabiano. Martin has played in the final four games of the regular season after getting injured during the opening game.

Fractures to Field Goals: Freshman Kicker Colby Martin’s Story of Setbacks to Comebacks

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
November 1, 2024
Senior Jake Lukko Announces Commitment to Montclair State University Lacrosse

Senior Jake Lukko Announces Commitment to Montclair State University Lacrosse

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
October 21, 2024
Junior Delaney Farley Announces Commitment to James Madison University Track and Field

Junior Delaney Farley Announces Commitment to James Madison University Track and Field

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
October 18, 2024
The SPF Girls Volleyball team kneels around head coach Adrienne Stack as they try to regroup during a timeout. The Raiders beat the Dayton Bulldogs 2-1 (26-28, 25-17, 25-16) on Thursday, Oct. 10, at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School to improve their record to 13-5.

SPF Girls Volleyball Top Dayton Bulldogs 2-1; Continue Hot Streak with Five Wins in a Row

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
October 11, 2024
Senior Jayden Richards Announces Commitment to Franklin & Marshall College Football

Senior Jayden Richards Announces Commitment to Franklin & Marshall College Football

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
October 2, 2024
Senior captains Devin Pearce and Luca Passucci walk off Shimme Wexler Field together after the final whistle. The Raiders have gotten off to an 8-0 start in the 2024 season after a recent win against Governor Livingston.

SPF Boys Soccer Starts Season off 8-0; Ranked No. 7 in State by NJ.com

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
September 27, 2024
Junior Caleb McDowell Announces Commitment to Yale University Men’s Lacrosse

Junior Caleb McDowell Announces Commitment to Yale University Men’s Lacrosse

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
September 23, 2024
The SPF Boys Soccer team celebrates with Raider Nation after Taso Pavlou's golden goal winner. The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Raiders beat the Montclair Mounties 3-2 at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School on Monday, Sept. 9.

Pavlou’s Golden Goal Winner Lifts No. 16 SPF Raiders Boys Soccer Over No. 10 Montclair Mounties 3-2; Young Nets Two

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
September 10, 2024
Jordan Wolman, SPFHS alumni and POLITICO sustainability reporter, speaks to students as a guest speaker of the Environmental Club. Wolman graduated from SPFHS in 2017 and was one of the first students to take AP Environmental Science at SPFHS.

Environmental Club Welcomes POLITICO Sustainability Reporter and SPFHS Alumni Jordan Wolman

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
May 13, 2024
Dave Portnoy, seen center with pizza in hand, stands outside of Massa Roman Square Pizza in Scotch Plains. Portnoy has turned his hobby of rating pizzas into a lifestyle, creating a worldwide name for himself online.

Social Media Pizza Reviewer Dave Portnoy Visits Massa Roman Square Pizza in Scotch Plains; Gives the Pizza a Rating of 8.1

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
May 7, 2024
Sophomore Joe LaRosa celebrates after sliding into second base in the bottom of the first inning. The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Raiders baseball team defeated the Glen Ridge Ridgers 11-1 at SPFHS on Saturday, April 27.

SPF Baseball Wins Seventh Straight Game against Glen Ridge 11-1; Evan Doyle Makes First Start of Season

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
April 28, 2024

Sairah Llano Announces Commitment to The College of New Jersey Softball

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
April 26, 2024
Junior Olivia DiSalvo Announces Commitment to SUNY Cortland Softball

Junior Olivia DiSalvo Announces Commitment to SUNY Cortland Softball

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
April 12, 2024
SPF BOE Announces Warren Hynes as New SPFHS Principal

SPF BOE Announces Warren Hynes as New SPFHS Principal

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
April 1, 2024
Sam Sponheimer Announces Commitment to Stockton University Mens Basketball

Sam Sponheimer Announces Commitment to Stockton University Mens Basketball

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
March 19, 2024
The SPF Raider Baseball team celebrates after a win during the 2023 season. The Raiders went 9-16, reaching the quarterfinals of the Union County Tournament.

SPFHS Baseball Hopes to Rebound After Down 2023 Season

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
March 19, 2024
Senior Mackenzie Virgil points to the camera with the Rider University logo in the background. Virgil announced her commitment to Rider's Track and Field Team on Tuesday, Feb. 13.

Mackenzie Virgil Announces Commitment to Rider University Track and Field

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
February 21, 2024
Jack Sponheimer (No. 1) dribbles at the top of the key, trying to fend off a Cranford defender. The SPF Boys Basketball team lost 56-48 on Thursday, Feb. 8 to the Cranford Cougars at SPFHS.

SPF Boys Basketball Fizzle in First Round of Union County Tournament; Fall to Cranford 56-48

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
February 9, 2024
Billy Joel, age 74, sits at the piano playing one of his many famed songs, posing for the cover of his recent single ‘Turn the Lights Back On’. Joel’s new single was released on Feb. 1, 2024.

‘Turn the Lights Back On’: A Melodic Comeback to Music by Billy Joel after a 17 Year Intermission

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
February 6, 2024
Caleb Downs (No. 2 in red) runs away after picking off the quarterback in a regular season game. After the retirement of head coach Nick Saban, Downs announced he will be playing in Columbus, Ohio for the Ohio State Buckeyes the rest of his college career.

Taking Advantage of the NCAA: College Athletes Using the Transfer Portal for Bad

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
February 5, 2024
Shawn Johnson stands among young football players, coaching them to success. Johnson was named the new SPFHS Varsity Football Coach.

Shawn Johnson Named SPFHS Head Varsity Football Coach

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
January 26, 2024
Raider Jack Sponheimer (left) fights for a loose ball with Viking AJ Altobelli (right). The SPF Boys Basketball team lost 70-62 to Union Catholic on Saturday Jan. 20 at SPFHS.

Union Catholic Bests SPF Boys Basketball in Battle of Scotch Plains 70-62; Carpien Scores 22

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
January 22, 2024
Why Sports Broadcasting is Taking a Turn for the Worst

Why Sports Broadcasting is Taking a Turn for the Worst

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
January 18, 2024
The SPFHS Boys Basketball team celebrates with Coach Steven Siracusa after his 100 career victory. The Raiders defeated the Cranford Cougars 53-38 on Thursday Jan. 11 at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School.

SPF Boys Basketball Continues Winning Ways Against Cranford; Siracusa Achieves 100 Coaching Win While Win Streak is Boosted to Six in a Row

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
January 12, 2024
Senior Anderson Pollack looks towards the basket after shooting. The Raiders lost 45-44 against Rahway on Tuesday Dec. 19 at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School.

Boys & Girls Basketball Go 1-1 in Home Opener Doubleheader; Baylock Scores 18

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
December 20, 2023
Junior Luca Passucci and Senior Sohem Rai try to play around the Westfield defenders against the Blue Devils on Nov. 4. Both Passucci and Rai were awarded postseason honors after great seasons.

Bringing Home the Hardware: Boys Soccer and Football Players Receive Postseason Honors

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
December 7, 2023
Olivia Stahley dribbles through defenders while playing for the SPFHS Field Hockey team. Stahley graduated in 2023 and now plays for the Scranton University Field Hockey team.

Raiders on the Collegiate Stage: How SPFHS’s Top Athletes Have Shined in the Bright Lights

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
December 3, 2023
Players huddle around coach Steven Siracusa during a timeout against the Elizabeth Minutemen on Feb. 12. The SPF Boys Basketball team finished the 22-23 season with a record of 16-10 and made it to the sectional quarterfinals.

Looking Ahead at the Boys Basketball 23-24 Season: How a New Wave of Stars Will Lead the Raiders to Victory

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
November 27, 2023
The Raiders celebrate after winning a point off of a Danielle Kramer block. The SPF Girls Volleyball team lost 2-1 (13-25, 25-22, 18-25) to the Millburn Millers on Tuesday Nov. 6 at Millburn High School.

End of a Run: SPF Girls Volleyball Loses in Sectional Finals to Millburn 2-1

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
November 8, 2023
The Raiders celebrate after a victory in the semifinals of the North Jersey Section Two Group Four tournament. SPF defeated Ridge 1-0 on Wednesday Nov. 1 at Shimme Wexler Field to advance to the Sectional Finals.

Finals Bound: Caden Matulonis’ Second Goal of Tournament Sends SPF to Championship

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
November 2, 2023
Freshman Massimo Passucci (8) dribbles through the Perth Amboy defense getting ready to shoot. The SPF boys soccer team beat Perth Amboy 1-0 on Wednesday Oct. 24 at Shimme Wexler Field in the first round of the sectional tournament.

Caden Matulonis Sends Perth Amboy Home with Golden Goal Winner; SPF Moves on to Sectional Quarterfinals

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
October 27, 2023
Junior running back Jayden Richards (23) runs into the endzone with his teammates celebrating behind him. The Raiders won 39-0 against the JFK Mustangs on Friday Night, Oct. 20 at Perry Tyson Field.

Romano and Richards’ Five Touchdowns Lead SPF to Win over John F. Kennedy Memorial 39-0

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
October 23, 2023
Both SPF and Union stand facing each other at midfield before the game as the referee gives the ground rules for the day. The Union Farmers defeated the SPF Raiders at Arthur L. Johnson High School on Sunday Oct. 15.

Boys Soccer: SPF knocked out of UCT Semifinals as they lose to Union 2-1

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
October 16, 2023
The SPFHS Raiders girls soccer team huddles before the second half starts, trying to build up energy to score a goal. The Raiders girls soccer team beat the Elizabeth Lady Minutemen 1-0 at home on Oct. 10 and advanced to the semifinals of the Union County Tournament.

Girls Soccer: Young’s Goal Lifts Raiders over Elizabeth 1-0 as they Move on to the Semifinals of the UCT

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
October 10, 2023
The SPF Girls Volleyball team loses 2-1 (25-23, 11-25, 21-25) to the Westfield Blue Devils on Thursday, October 5 at SPFHS. After winning the point, the girls celebrated as they tried to keep the momentum on their side.

SPF Girls Volleyball Loses in Heartbreaking Fashion to Rival Westfield 2-1, Despite Two Headed Monster of Kramer and Ngumah up Front

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
October 6, 2023
Scotch Plains-Fanwood Raiders lost 31-0 against cross town rivals Westfield, on Friday, September 22 at Perry Tyson Field. Running back Callum Fynes takes it past the defender to move the chains.

Scotch Plains-Fanwood loses to Westfield 31-0; falls to 1-4

Jonah Leske, Sports Editor
September 24, 2023
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