In today’s recent trend of having specialized high school athletes – with more and more coaches requiring their players to play one sport all year long – it’s refreshing to see a kid not only participate in three sports, but dominate in all three.
Jason Pineda is one of the vanishing breed of athletes who just goes from sport-to-sport without missing a beat and enjoying every minute of it.
“I’m always having a great time being competitive,” said Pineda, the recent Weehawken High School graduate. “During the summer, I’d play baseball in a summer league game and then have to go to football practice. I’d go home, rest a little, then go play basketball. Sometimes, it got crazy, but it’s something I always wanted to do. I always thought that I had to play all three.”
Pineda became a football player first when he was a youngster and then baseball and basketball just followed suit.
“All I did was play sports with my friends,” Pineda said. “It just went into playing every sport and that’s what I’ve been doing forever.”
Weehawken’s athletic programs benefitted from Pineda’s versatility this season.
Pineda, also known by the nickname of “J.J,” was the starting quarterback on the Weehawken football team, leading the Indians to their best season in almost a decade, throwing for 1,200 yards and rushing for 800 more, accounting for 18 touchdowns running and passing. He was named All-NJIC Meadowlands Division for his efforts.
Pineda was a standout guard on the basketball court, also earning All-NJIC honors.
And Pineda carried his prowess to the baseball diamond as the starting catcher for the Indian team that went to the Hudson County Tournament semifinals for the first time. Pineda earned All-NJIC honors again and was recently named to the Hudson Reporter All-Area team as a catcher.
And for his efforts, Pineda has now been named as the recipient of the 2011-2012 Hudson Reporter Male Athlete of the Year award, symbolic of being the best athlete in Hudson County to compete in more than one varsity sport. It marks the 21st year that the Hudson Reporter Newspapers chain has honored the county’s best athlete with the award.
Pineda is only the second athlete from Weehawken to receive the honor, the other being Danny Lopez in 2003-2004.
In fact, there are a lot of similarities between Pineda and Lopez, who went on to become a standout baseball player at Seton Hall University, other than playing the same three sports.
“I think there are a lot of parallels,” said Weehawken baseball coach Anthony Stratton, who coached both athletes in baseball and coached Lopez in football. “They were both extremely hard working kids. They were both leaders. They’re both extremely well liked by everyone and very respectful. They have similar personalities. The likability and the respect they have for the sports they played; those stand out.”
Stratton said that athletes like Pineda come along so infrequently.
“You only get a chance to coach a kid like J.J. maybe once in a lifetime,” Stratton said. “I was lucky enough to get two, him and Danny. They’re both natural born leaders. J.J. doesn’t have to say much. He’s such a soft speaker. But just by his mannerisms and actions, he leads.”
Weehawken athletic director Zach Naszimento became the head football coach last season, inheriting Pineda.
One of the first moves Naszimento made was moving Pineda back to quarterback from wide receiver in order to operate the new Wing-T offensive set he was installing.
“He made my life so much easier, because he was a natural leader,” Naszimento said. “The intangibles he offered as a leader can’t be described. The other kids listen to him. He’s the first one to practice and the last one to leave. He had to learn a whole new system, but he flourished with it.”
“I was strictly a wide receiver and defensive back my junior year,” Pineda said. “I went into meet with Coach Naz and he told me that I was going to be the quarterback. That’s exactly what I wanted to hear. I was so grateful to get the chance to play quarterback again, where I played my first two years. It gave me a boost of confidence, but I knew that I had a good supporting cast with me.”
Naszimento sang Pineda’s praises.
“He never struggled with the terminology and the schemes,” Naszimento said. “I really surprised how well he took to it. For this kid to do what he did in his first year with the offense was tremendous. I was lucky, because he was a legitimate threat with the ball. When he ran, he ran away from people. He was also an excellent defensive back. He had four interceptions and ran one back for a touchdown. The kid never came off the field. He did kickoffs, kickoff returns, punts. He was the leader and he had to play. He is also such a fierce competitor.”
Weehawken basketball coach Jake McNish had Pineda on his team for three seasons.
“No one worked harder,” McNish said. “No one was more encouraging to his teammates from the bench. He was always pulling for his teammates. He never missed anything, open gyms, practices, games. He was always there. He also did everything I asked of him.”
McNish also coached both Lopez and Pineda.
“Danny was a little more muscular, but they are cut from the same cloth,” McNish said. “They have the same intensity and internal drive. When J.J. was younger, he just wanted to work harder than everyone else. He wasn’t as good of a basketball player as he was in football and baseball. But he worked harder than anyone. He’s just the All-American kid, the kind of kid you wouldn’t mind having date your daughter. He’s the nicest kid in the whole world.”
Pineda believed that being a good catcher in baseball helped him become a better quarterback in football.
“It helped to have my body squared and being on my toes,” Pineda said. “It definitely helped a lot. Football is my favorite, but I might be a little better in baseball. It’s close.”
Pineda was asked what it meant to be the top overall male athlete in Hudson County.
“I can’t stop thinking about that,” Pineda said. “I feel like playing all three sports isn’t new to me, because I’ve done it for so long. But to be the best athlete? Wow! I remember seeing film of Danny Lopez and to be considered with him is an honor. He was definitely a role model and I feel so grateful to be part of that little club from Weehawken. It’s a real accomplishment.”
Pineda said that being from Weehawken helped him succeed.
“Weehawken always has a lot going on,” Pineda said. “The people in Weehawken, the coaches, they helped to keep me busy and I depended upon them a lot. Weehawken is a really great place and I’m happy to represent Weehawken. We don’t usually get much recognition, so this means a lot.”
“To have this kid represent us with this award is amazing,” Naszimento said. “I was blown away. Small schools like Weehawken don’t get this honor. It’s such a special accomplishment for our district.”
The little township has the biggest male athlete in Hudson County. Jason Pineda has done his community proud.
HUDSON REPORTER MALE ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
1991-1992-Jason Casessa, Hoboken
1992-1993-Alex Rodriguez, Secaucus
1993-1994-Eduardo Gomez, Hoboken
1995-1996-Rashard Casey, Hoboken
1996-1997-Czar Wiley, North Bergen
1997-1998-Koz Perez, North Bergen
1998-1999-Mike Forcum, Hoboken
1999-2000-Jonathan Robinson, Memorial
2001-2002-Bryan Durango, Memorial
2002-2003-Jason Blanks, Hoboken
2003-2004-Danny Lopez, Weehawken
2004-2005-Mike Brown, St. Peter’s Prep
2005-2006-Garrett Askew, Hudson Catholic
2006-2007-Evan Rodriguez, North Bergen
2007-2008-Chris Jones, Lincoln
2008-2009-Michael Kuzirian, Memorial
2009-2010-Kevin Innis, St. Peter’s Prep
2010-2011-Jose Veras, Dickinson
2011-2012-Jason Pineda, Weehawken
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com. You can also read Jim’s blog at www.jimhaguesports.blogspot.com.