Sports
Oak Knoll Grad Among N.J. Olympians in London
Michelle Cesan, a 2009 graduate of Oak Knoll is in London for the 2012 Summer Olympics as an alternate on the U.S. Women's Field Hockey team.
Michelle Cesan, of New Vernon, is a striker and was named to the USA National Team in 2011. She was a standout at Princeton University and has spent time on both the Developmental Squad and U-21 National Team. Cesan was a member of the U-21 Squad that took gold at the 2008 Junior Pan American Championship in Mexico City.
In college, Cesan has proved to be a serious offensive threat for the Tigers, tallying 46 goals and 16 assists and starting all 38 games as a sophomore. She was also named an NFHCA All-American for two seasons. Cesan took the 2011-12 school year off to train full-time with the Women's National Team.
At Oak Knoll, Cesan was named the 2008-2009 Scholar Athlete of the Year, an award presented to a senior athlete who has exhibited superior achievement in the areas of athletics and academics, and participation in other school-related extracurricular activities.
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The U.S. will look to make history in London as the team has not medaled at the Olympics since 1984 when it won bronze. The U.S. punched their ticket to London by defeating Argentina, 4-2, in the finals of the XVI Pan American Games in October 2011. Argentina was ranked No. 1 in the world and were six-time Pan American champions. The win marked the first time Team USA has taken home a gold medal from the Pan Am Games. The U.S. is ranked No. 10 in the world.
You can watch the U.S. Women's Field Hockey team compete beginning July 29 when they open Pool-B play against Germany. From there, the U.S. will advance to their next opponents in the tournament, Argentina, then Australia, New Zealand, and close the preliminary rounds with South Africa. The women's first semi-final will take place on August 8. The goal-medal round begins August 10. Stay tuned for updates on Michelle and Team USA's quest for the gold.
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Schedule of Televised Games
July 29, 4:15 p.m. NBC Sports - USA v. Germany
July 30, 2 p.m. MSNBC - USA v. Argentina
August 2, 5:45 a.m. NBC Sports- USA v. Australia
August 4, 2 p.m. NBC Sports- USA v. New Zealand
August 6, 5:45 a.m. NBC Sports -USA v. South Africa
