Although they just missed out qualifying for the upcoming NJSIAA state sectional tournament by a single power point, the North Bergen wrestling team has enjoyed a fine season, rebounding from a tough 10-10 record last year to post a 16-5 mark this year.
Veteran head coach Jerry Maietta, who is also the school’s athletic director, had a feeling that the Bruins would be much stronger this time around.
“They worked very hard in the off-season,” Maietta said. “We hoped that there would be improvement. Last year, we had a lot of holes in different weight classes. This year, we were able to fill those holes. If you don’t have guys of all sizes, then you’re in trouble. We also had kids who had another year of maturing and newcomers who have aided the lineup. Put it all together and that leads to success.”
The leader of the Bruins right now is senior 152-pounder Chris Duran, who has an undefeated 27-0 record to date. Duran already has a George Jockish Bergen County Coaches Tournament title in hand this season and he could very well be punching a ticket to the state tournament in Atlantic City in a few weeks.
Another Bruin standout is junior 130-pounder Julian Quintero, who has a 25-2 record. Quintero has overcome a shoulder injury, as well as a broken jaw that he suffered when he was viciously attacked on a North Bergen street by three unknown assailants last summer. No arrests have been made in the attack on Quintero.
Senior Jorge Reyes has a 23-3 record at 119 pounds. He was second at Region 2 last year and should be in the mix again this year.
Others to watch include senior Angel Quinones and senior Francisco Yanis, both of whom have won more than 20 matches this season.
“When the season started, I knew we had a competitive team,” said Maietta, who has also been able to put some personal troubles in the past. “We’re definitely disappointed that we didn’t qualify for the state sectional. We should have been there. We’ve had some nice wins this season [Jefferson, Hackensack, Northern Highlands and Ridgewood among them].”
It’s still a major improvement for the Bruins, who host the upcoming NJSIAA District 16 tourney Feb. 19-20. St. Peter’s Prep is the lone local team to qualify for the NJSIAA state sectionals…
The first-ever Hudson County basketball tournament will begin this weekend and the seeds for the tourney were released late Wednesday.
St. Peter’s Prep is the top seed in the boys’ tournament, followed by North Bergen second, Marist third, and High Tech fourth. St. Anthony has decided not to participate in the tourney.
In the girls’ bracket, Bayonne was the top seed, followed by Secaucus, then Lincoln third and Marist fourth.
The semifinals will be Feb. 24 and the finals Feb. 27 at Yanitelli Center on the campus of St. Peter’s College. The girls’ championship game is slated for 4 p.m., with the boys’ game set for 6 p.m. that day…
Hudson Reporter Boys’ H.S. Basketball Top Five: 1. St. Anthony (17-2). 2. St. Peter’s Prep (12-3). 3. North Bergen (13-2). 4. High Tech (15-4). 5. Marist (12-4).
Hudson Reporter Girls’ H.S. Basketball Top Five: 1. Bayonne (13-4). 2. Secaucus (13-2). 3. St. Anthony (13-2). 4. Holy Family (12-2). 5. Marist (12-6).
A team to watch in the upcoming county tourney is Lincoln’s girls, who have been on fire lately, winning six straight, including big wins over Marist and Union City. Zierra Williams and Andrea Crute have been playing well for Coach Tom Best’s squad…
Speaking of playing well, the Peacocks of St. Peter’s College have been playing real well, now the proud owners of a 13-8 overall record and 8-4 in the MAAC. We knew that Coach John Dunne’s team would be greatly improved this year, but this improved? It’s turning into a year to remember at Harvard on the Boulevard. Ryan Bacon is a premier post player in that league…
Here’s a major peeve that has been seen regularly at local sporting events – and it’s a growing trend.
What’s with people who flat out refuse to stand for the National Anthem and refuse to take off their caps? It’s a ritual that has been part of sports for ages and after all, we all reside in the United States of America, the greatest country in the world.
So do yourselves a favor by standing up and honoring our free land by respecting our National Anthem. Doing anything else is beyond unpatriotic. It’s just plain stupid. And we should make a point, especially after what this country has endured over the last decade in terms of tragedy and war, to remind every other person who lives here of that point to honor our nation when the Anthem is played. So if you see someone disrespecting “The Star Spangled Banner,” tell them exactly how you feel. Ask them to get off their duff and honor America…
Interesting item recently, noting that Jersey City courtyard sensation Flash Gordon is the father of New Orleans Saints rookie linebacker Jonathan Casillas. That’s the reason why Flash has been spotted all over the city wearing that ridiculous Saints contraption on his head. It was first thought that Flash was auditioning to be a court jester, albeit a basketball court jester, with that hat on. Now, the real reason has been revealed, with Casillas playing in this weekend’s Super Bowl.
And as a favor to avid reader and retired Jersey City police officer Jim “Alamo Jones Shoes Roscoe” Gallagher, here’s the Great Hagueini’s Super Bowl pick: Saints 35, Colts 27. Remember, don’t use the pick for any monetary wages, unless it’s for a corned beef and cabbage sandwich on rye and a grape soda with your Uncle Looie… — Jim Hague
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.