The reigning girls’ tennis champion in Hudson County is named Christian Resurreccion.
That is no misprint. The McNair Academic senior owns the very unique name.
“People are more surprised that my name is Christian and I’m a girl,” said Resurreccion, who captured the Hudson County first singles title last week. “I get compliments that I have a nice name.”
Of course, with a name like Christian Resurreccion, she has to be religious. She is a practicing Roman Catholic.
“I go to church regularly,” she said.
But Resurreccion doesn’t care much for any jokes about her name.
“It’s just a very different name,” Resurreccion said.
What is also different is the improvement that Resurreccion has enjoyed over the last two years, going from a second doubles player with the Cougars to the overall county champ.
“I wanted to be as consistent as possible,” Resurreccion said. “I feel I’ve improved in all areas of my game. I think when I played second doubles, I got to experience the competition, how tough it was to beat the competition.”
Over the summer, Christian went to Lincoln Park with her father, Norman, to practice and work on improving.
“We would get to Lincoln Park together at 6:30 in the morning and stay until noon,” Resurreccion said. “My father plays a lot and he helped me.”
Resurreccion has also received private tutoring from Len Americo, the former head coach at St. Peter’s College.
“I get formal coaching from him and train with him,” Resurreccion said. “It’s been a big help.”
McNair Academic head coach Alex Taunean likes the way his ace player goes about her business.
“She’s a very hard worker,” Taunean said. “She just loves to play. She worked her way up from second doubles, so that says a lot. She always gave the team 110 percent. I thought she had a chance to win. I can’t say I’m surprised. I knew she had a shot. She’s just a very good all around player.”
Resurreccion would like to continue her tennis career in college. She has been contacted by Rutgers-Newark and is considering Seton Hall and St. Peter’s.
She was asked how it felt to be a county champ.
“It actually feels unreal to me,” said Resurreccion, whose parents are of Filipino descent. “Until my opponent shook my hand, then I felt a feeling of joy. I’ve been waiting a full year for this, because last year, I lost in the finals.”
Resurreccion said she became a tennis fan after attending the U.S. Open a few years ago with her father.
“I got to see my favorite athletes, people I look up to,” Resurreccion said. “I like Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Victoria Azarenka. I like their spirit. They inspire me to be a better player.”
Resurreccion is an excellent student, with a 96 average and a 1600 score in her Scholastic Aptitude Tests. She would like to perhaps study medicine in the future.
“Maybe physical therapy, maybe a doctor,” Resurreccion said. “Something medical.”
Resurreccion will now concentrate on the upcoming NJSIAA state tournament…
The Union City football team had to endure a bizarre forfeit loss to Bayonne last weekend, after defeating the Bees, 27-19, on the field.
Apparently, one of the Soaring Eagles who was ejected during the win over North Bergen two weeks ago, was standing on the sidelines during the game. The NJSIAA prohibits any player who was ejected from a game to be anywhere near the next contest. Since the player was on the sidelines, the Soaring Eagles were in violation of the strange rule, thus the forfeit loss.
Needless to say, no one in Union City is pleased about the state ruling. The Soaring Eagles earned the victory on the field and now have the big win get taken away on a technicality.
If the ejected player actually participated in the game, the ruling would be a little more understandable. But for simply standing on the sidelines?
Also, it means that someone had to call the NJSIAA to blow the whistle on the Soaring Eagles. Was it from Bayonne? Perhaps North Bergen, still stinging from the 40-point loss two weeks ago?
Or could have it been from within? There are a lot of people in Union City who still didn’t appreciate how head coach Wilber Valdez got his job four years ago. Could someone within the walls of Union City actually notify the NJSIAA about the infraction? It is definitely a mystery that may never get answered, but one thing is for sure. It certainly has a nasty stench to it…
One thing the forfeit loss cannot wipe out: The tremendous performance from Soaring Eagles running back Tamaine Boyd, who rushed for 191 yards and scored three touchdowns…
In other football news over the weekend, there was no forfeit this time between state-ranked St. Peter’s Prep and Kearny like there was a year ago, but the final score was so totally one-sided, 76-0, that it was almost like a forfeit. Prep quarterback Brandon Wimbush completed all six of his passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns in the win. The 4-0 Marauders have a big challenge this weekend, going up to Oradell to face a wounded 1-3 Bergen Catholic squad…
Memorial senior quarterback Bobby Bailey had a great game in the Tigers’ win over Montclair Immaculate, rushing for 137 yards and scoring two touchdowns and passing for an additional 143 more and another touchdown…
Darius Wade of Lincoln, who was the Athlete of the Week last week, continued his fine play, passing for 153 yards and two touchdowns and scored another touchdown on a 48-yard run, keeping the Lions undefeated…
Hudson Reporter H.S. Football Top Five: 1. St. Peter’s Prep (4-0). 2. Union City (2-1). 3. Lincoln (3-0). 4. Secaucus (3-0). 5. Hoboken (2-1)…
Hudson Reporter H.S. Soccer Top Five: 1. St. Peter’s Prep (10-0-1). 2. Memorial (7-4). 3. Bayonne (6-3). 4. North Bergen (4-7). 5. Hoboken (5-4)…–Jim Hague
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.