When Union Hill head football coach Joe Rotondi first laid eyes on Pedro Sosa, he simply knew that Sosa was going to be a good football player. At 6-foot-5 and 275 pounds, with agility and quick feet, Rotondi knew that Sosa had the makings of a solid offensive lineman. The only problem was convincing Sosa, who didn’t want to play football.
After some poking and prodding, Sosa finally gave into Rotondi’s pleas. Now, it sure looks as if Rotondi definitely knew early on what he was talking about.
Sosa, who only played his first year of competitive football last year, gave a verbal commitment to sign a letter of intent to attend and play football at Rutgers University in 2003.
Sosa, who is ranked in The McCarthy Report (compiled by West New York native Dennis McCarthy and his sons) as the No. 1 offensive lineman in New Jersey for the upcoming 2002 football season, had offers from practically every big school in the country, including Maryland, Virginia, Duke and Penn State. But he chose Rutgers for several reasons.
"I felt comfortable there, with the coaching staff and the people," Sosa said. "Being that it’s close to home was also a big reason. Part of it was also that they were the first school to offer me a scholarship. I’m really excited about Rutgers. It’s like a dream come true."
Sosa said that he was also influenced by Rutgers assistant coach Mark D’Onofrio, the North Bergen native who recruited him.
"Being that he’s a Hudson County guy helped a little as well," Sosa said.
Rotondi said that he was proud of Sosa’s decision.
"I think he made a mature decision," Rotondi said. "When the offers started coming in, it was unbelievable. Word traveled fast on him. But Pedro met several times with the Rutgers staff and attached himself to them. He believes in what’s going on at Rutgers. He had all these offers from schools all over the country, but he figured that the time has come for Rutgers. He also knows that he’ll have a chance to play early there."
Although he is flattered by the ranking from the McCarthy Report, Sosa said that he isn’t paying much attention to it.
"It’s nice to be recognized, but it really doesn’t matter," Sosa said. "It’s something nice on paper, but I have to prove it on the field. I have a clear mind about college now and that helps a lot."…
Talk about another local product whose stock is on the rise. St. Anthony’s talented forward Terrence Roberts was more than impressive at the recent ABCD basketball camp at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck.
Playing with the best players in the nation, Roberts stood out, averaging nearly 10 points and eight rebounds per game, earning All-Star recognition. The 6-8 Roberts, projected to go to a big-time school, like the Big East, was ranked among the Top 10 prospects at the camp. It should be very interesting to see where Roberts ends up going to college. But he will certainly have a standout senior year for the Friars, who will try to "three-peat" at the Tournament of Champions in 2003…
Although the St. Anthony’s girls’ basketball team will miss long-time coach John Grutkowski, who resigned last week, they’re getting a true hoop legend as a replacement, in Cathy Meyers O’Callahan, the former St. Anthony and Montclair State basketball star and Hudson County Hall of Famer.
My friend "B.C." will do a great job coaching with the Friars and it’s good to see her coaching in the area once again…
On a sad note, condolences go out to Marist girls’ basketball coach Bill DeFazio, whose father, Charlie, lost a long battle to cancer last week. I know Billy was so happy that his father finally got the chance to see him coach in a game, one that eventually led to a Parochial B state championship in 2001. My prayers are with the DeFazio family at their time of loss… — Jim Hague