The dream season for the North Bergen wrestling team continued on Tuesday when the Bruins went to Hackensack to first defeat Vernon, 41-29, in the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1, Group IV first round, then shocked second-seeded and host Hackensack, 34-28, to advance to the sectional championship for the first time in four years.
The Bruins, who now own an impressive 20-1 record, were slated to face top-seeded Randolph at the Morris County school Thursday night for the sectional crown. North Bergen was looking for its first state sectional title since 1993.
The Bruins earned the right to wrestle for a state title thanks to the heroics of 152-pounder Rico Rodriguez and 215-pounder Ralph Lopez, both of whom won via pin to secure the upset win over Hackensack.
If the Bruins can pull off yet another upset and head to the overall Group IV state finals at the Ritacco Center in Toms River this weekend, it could be one of the biggest stories in the history of Hudson County wrestling. Stay tuned.
And although they were hammered by Seton Hall Prep in the first round of the Parochial A North state playoffs, Hudson Catholic making the state playoffs in only its third year of returning to the sport is nothing short of miraculous…
Congratulations go out to McNair Academic sophomore Leslie Njoku, who captured an amazing four gold medals at the Hudson County Track Coaches Association Indoor Championships at the 168th Street Armory in New York last week.
Njoku turned a very rare feat, winning the 55-meter hurdles, the 800-meters, the long jump and the high jump. In the 800-meter run, she set a new meet record. That is some display of diversity and talent….
Now that his best friend Mike Miello has become the new head football coach at William Paterson, could Hoboken’s Ed Stinson be joining his long-time buddy and former Rutgers assistant on the staff at WPU? Or could there be another local school that jumped into the mix for Stinson’s services? Rumors persist that Stinson is in the running to take over the entire program at Marist High School in Bayonne, but if Miello has his way, he would love Stinson to run his offense at Willie P. Stay tuned…
Here’s an interesting little note with a local flavor. Last Monday night, Savannah State of Georgia became only the second team ever to finish an NCAA Division I basketball season without a single victory, losing to Florida A&M to finish the season 0-28.
The leading scorer that night for Florida A&M? None other than Jersey City native Tony Tate, who first played at St. Anthony, then went to Marist, before totally disappearing and then reappearing at the Florida school. Tate had 23 points in the win that gave Savannah State its piece of history.
It’s amazing to think that Tony Tate and Elijah Ingram were once highly regarded rookies together at St. Anthony and the wild series of events that have turned both of their lives totally upside down. Ingram has enrolled at New Mexico State and will play there next year…
Pretty sad to hear the news that a huge brawl broke out between fans at the St. Peter’s Prep-North Bergen HCIAA Coviello semifinal Wednesday night, a game won by the Marauders of Prep in a huge upset. When will we learn that this behavior is intolerable on any level? Already, early Thursday morning, people from both sides were pointing fingers, saying that it was the other side that started the donnybrook. My point is that there shouldn’t be fights involving high school sports. Period. No need for blame and to point fingers.
What should have been a great win for the Marauders is tainted by the rowdy hooliganism of their so-called faithful. Both sides are at fault. This kind of debauchery has no place in sports, especially in Hudson County…
Now, here goes the Great Hagueini’s predictions for Super Saturday and the HCIAA Coviello and Seglio championships. Look for a clean sweep for Bayonne in the Coviello, with the boys and the girls both capturing titles, and for Hoboken’s boys and County Prep’s girls to capture titles in the Seglio…
Don’t forget, the Hudson County Sports Hall of Fame dinner is set for Thursday night at the Casino in the Park in Jersey City. There still is time to get your ticket to attend the event.
Heading the list is former Jersey City State and Montclair State head coach Ollie Gelston, along with former St. Joseph of the Palisades and Notre Dame football standout and current Hudson County Freeholder Tom Liggio, County Prep baseball coach Mike Zadroga, Marist girls’ basketball coach Bill DeFazio, Secaucus track coach and athletic director Stan Fryczynski, and former Union Hill basketball standout and current North Hudson Regional fire captain Eric Inauen.
Also, former Lincoln track standout Larry Ross, former Hoboken football great Bob Lisa, former Weehawken three-sport great Pete Wisniewski, Bayonne High School swim coach Tom Wojslawowicz, former Queen of Peace football coach Ralph Borgess, Kearny track coach Jim Cifelli and the late Frank Cumiskey, who was perhaps the greatest gymnast to ever come out of New Jersey.
Long-time Lincoln Park Little League President Jerry Meyers has been selected as the Marty Seglio Memorial Community Service Award recipient.
Tickets are priced at $65 and can be purchased by calling the Hudson County Parks Department at (201) 915-1386. It should be a great night of nostalgia and memories. Make plans to attend…. – Jim Hague