Will become independent in 2004, citing ruling over basketbrawl with Bayonne as last straw
Brother Tim Ahern, the principal at Hudson Catholic High School in Jersey City, said that two years ago or so, he started to think that perhaps his school was better served competing in sports outside of the long-standing Hudson County Interscholastic Athletic Association instead of being a member of the league.
"I’ve been giving it some thought for a couple of years," Ahern said. "I wanted to see if we could broaden our horizons on the athletic field. I thought it was time for a change."
However, when the HCIAA’s members voted against Hudson Catholic two weeks ago, arguing that the brawl-filled game against Bayonne should be considered a victory for Bayonne and should not be replayed at the point where the brawls took place, that was the final straw.
Ahern wanted out of the HCIAA.
"I’ll be the first to admit that it [the ruling] had a lot to do with the decision," Ahern said. "The decision went against us and I felt we were being punished for something we had no control over. I felt that it made my decision easier."
On Tuesday, Ahern sent a letter to the executive committee of the HCIAA, informing them of Hudson Catholic’s plans to officially withdraw as a member of the league, beginning with the 2004 spring scholastic season.
By law, Hudson Catholic needed to give the HCIAA a year’s notification if they were dropping out of the league. So the school will still participate in HCIAA-sanctioned contests in the fall 2003 and the winter 2003-2004 seasons, but will become strictly independent in time for the 2004 baseball and outdoor track campaigns.
It will mark the first time that Hudson Catholic has not been associated with the HCIAA since the school began varsity play in 1967.
"It is risky, but I’ve been doing some research on it," Ahern said. "We’ve basically been playing an independent schedule in baseball and basketball, so it’s not that big of a change there. I was an assistant baseball coach I made this decision on my own. I didn’t ask for any input from the coaches. They have to live with it. But the coaches all seem to be very supportive and saw no problem. If we’re not successful with it, then I will take the full responsibility."
Ahern said that he will explore the possibility of trying to form some sort of a North Jersey Catholic League.
"I’ve been in contact with a number of schools and that is a possibility," Ahern said. "I believe the potential is there."
Hudson Catholic athletic director and football coach Chipper Benway knows that finding games, especially during football season, will become quite a chore.
"It’s going to be a challenge, but this is something that the administration has thought about for quite some time," Benway said. "Certain sports are going to be hurt more than others and it will be hard to get nine games for the football team. It’s going to have its advantages and disadvantages, but I’m excited about it personally. It’s going into something that we’ve never done before. I think we’re going to see how the independent world treats us for a while, rather than applying to an established league."
Added Benway, "If we want to be considered a perennial state power, this may be the only choice. This is a sign that the administration of the school wants to have the best athletic teams possible and ready to compete on the state level. We already do so in hockey and soccer. Baseball and basketball are on the rise. Let’s see how we can do in the other sports. We just felt that we were being treated as second-class citizens in the HCIAA and that’s not right."
Benway believes that Hudson Catholic will continue to compete against "the natural rivals," like St. Peter’s Prep and Hoboken, just not competing for a league title.
However, there are two items you can be rest assured of. Once Hudson Catholic leaves the league, there will not be any independent games with the Jersey City public schools. Michael Venutolo, who is the executive director for the HCIAA and heads the health and physical education for the Jersey City public schools, will more than likely forbid his five schools (Snyder, Lincoln, Dickinson, Ferris and McNair Academic) to ever face the Hawks in any sport.
Although Venutolo denied that he would issue such an edict.
"I would never do that to anyone," Venutolo said. "I have personal friendships with the people at Hudson Catholic. We’ll still play."
Venutolo said he was "shocked and disappointed," when he heard of Hudson Catholic’s plans to leave the league.
"It’s unfortunate," Venutolo said. "I have a lot of respect for the people at Hudson Catholic. They’ve been part of our organization for a long time. We weren’t looking for conflict. We were actually looking to avoid it. Maybe after things calm down, he [Ahern] might change his mind. I think it’s a bad move for them. He’s reacting to one incident."
When Venutolo was told that Ahern was unhappy even before the basketbrawl ruling, he replied: "No one ever brought anything to my attention. If there were things he was unhappy with, we could have discussed it. We’re not unreasonable."
Another problem may arise in finding a home site for football games. Hudson Catholic currently plays at Caven Point’s Cochrane Stadium – which is now owned and operated by the Jersey City Board of Education.
"There are bound to be some bumps and bruises," Ahern said. "But I’m willing to take that chance. If it means we have to go and search for games, then so be it. If it means we have to travel, then we’ll do it to. It comes with the territory. It is a tradition-breaking precedent on my part and we’re moving into uncharted waters, but it’s a move I feel is best for the school. I want to be able to lead the school in the right direction. I’m trying to expand our horizons and possibly increase enrollment."
Added Ahern, "We’ll have a chance to play other [Christian] Brother schools in the area. It may mean a little more travel, but it’s better for the larger picture, a bigger fishbowl."
Since Hudson Catholic is affiliated with the Archdiocese of Newark, Ahern needed approval to make the change, which he received before submitting the letter.
"The Archdiocese is very supportive," Ahern said. "I’m not looking to stir a pot of controversy. I don’t want to turn this into a negative thing. I’m just venturing into waters that we never went into before, and it’s the right time to do it."
Venutolo did not return phone calls at press time, much like he failed to do when he was contacted about the HCIAA’s ruling on the fight two weeks ago.
Positive move?
Whether this is a positive move for the school remains to be seen. It is a gigantic gamble, one that may blow up in the face of Ahern and every coach in the school.
When St. Anthony decided to leave the HCIAA and go independent in 1988, at least that school had a viable product that could carry the other programs, namely the basketball team, which not only competed on the local level, but was also among the best in the nation.
Only Hudson Catholic’s hockey team has been able to truly compete on the statewide level in recent years. The soccer program has been strong inside the parameters of Hudson County, but not outside. The basketball program, dead for many years, has experienced a resurgence in the last three years under coach Steve Ricciardi. The baseball team has been solid, but last won the HCIAA championship in 1995.
Plain and simple, Hudson Catholic didn’t exactly rough up the competition in the HCIAA, yet now thinks that they can do better outside? And what championship do the athletes at Hudson Catholic now play for? A state crown? Highly unlikely.
Right now, it appears as if Brother Tim has made a move to spite the league because of the unfair ruling. He’s been a man of vision since he returned to the school as principal a few years ago. Let’s hope he truly knows what he’s doing this time.