It was learned this week that the Hudson Catholic athletic administration did the right thing by self-reporting a major dilemma in its boys’ soccer roster.
The powers-that-be realized that the soccer team had played an ineligible player for the first seven games of the season, a player whose high school eligibility had expired.
The player first attended St. Peter’s Prep in 2012, then went to Camden Military Academy in South Carolina for three years and arrived at Hudson Catholic’s door this year, looking to transfer back home.
The school was apparently unaware that the student had first attended St. Peter’s Prep. Camden Military allowed the student to repeat his freshman year, thus having only three years appearing on his transcript.
When someone on the Prep’s coaching staff realized that the player had indeed been part of his program five years ago, they alerted Hudson Catholic athletic director Nick Mariniello.
“I reported it to the NJSIAA as soon as I found out,” said Mariniello. “Never did the transcript say anything about St. Peter’s Prep. We brought the kid in and asked him. He said he completed the year at St. Peter’s and that was it. We would have had no knowledge of that year until now.”
So as a result, the first four wins the Hawks received this season and also the one tie (the Hawks were 4-2-1 at the time Hudson Catholic learned of the indiscretion) are now recorded as forfeit victories for the opponent and losses for the Hawks.
“We submitted all the information to the state [the NJSIAA, the overseer of high school sports in New Jersey] within 12 hours that we noticed there was something wrong,” Mariniello said. “The mother was upset and very apologetic. There was no malice involved, nor intent. We had no idea what was happening.”
Mariniello said that the student is an excellent student, securing a 3.4 grade point average. It’s just an unfortunate mistake, one that was caught in time to save the rest of the season.
The Hawks play in the Hudson County Tournament sometime this week….
Also in the administrative files, North Bergen’s boys’ soccer team has been declared ineligible for the upcoming NJSIAA Group IV state tournament because the team received three red card ejections this season – one in the season opener against Bergen Tech and another two losses that the Bruins suffered to the hands of bitter rivals Union City.
What stinks is that the Bruins have played extraordinarily well this season, winning seven of 11 matches played thus far. Now, because of the red cards, the Bruins will miss out on the state playoffs.
Incredibly, the Bruins have three wins against teams that were ranked among the Top 20 in the state at one time this season – namely Kearny, which was ranked No. 2 at the time of the setback; St. Peter’s Prep, which was 13th at the time of its upset loss; and Elizabeth, which was No. 20 and was undefeated at the time they faced North Bergen.
“We had a little bit of emotion that got out of hand,” North Bergen veteran coach John Belluardo said. “It’s a shame we can’t play in the state tournament, but it’s out of our hands.”
Still, it has been a sensational season for the Bruins.
“It’s been a phenomenal run,” said Belluardo, who is now just a handful of victories away from his 400th career win as the North Bergen soccer coach. “After we knocked off three teams in the Top 20, it’s been incredible. We now have to look forward to the county tournament.”
The Hudson County Tournament, which begins this weekend, features the Bruins as the top seed, courtesy of their wins over Kearny and St. Peter’s.
One of the biggest surprises is junior forward Ryan Yacovino, who has scored eight goals with his talented left foot.
Midfielder John Santin has also been solid (one goal, six assists) as has another midfielder Balbino Rivera.
Paul Montufar has been a steady contributor with six goals and four assists.
The defense is keyed by goalkeeper Michael Mejia, who is easily the best net minder in Hudson County. Mejia stopped two shots at point blank range as well as a penalty kick to preserve the white sheet against Elizabeth.
“If the defense holds us together, we win games,” Belluardo said. “We beat some quality teams on the road. It’s phenomenal.”
Just not getting disqualified for the state tournament is not very good at all…
Before we get into the Top Characters List posting, I just wanted to write that I lost a close personal friend Wednesday in former St. Peter’s College SID and current NJIT Assistant Athletic Director in Charge of Sports Information Tim Camp.
More than 25 years ago, Tim took over for me after I resigned at St. Peter’s. He reached out to me in the first days he had the job, looking for help, which I gladly obliged. We became the best of friends.
I’ve sat with him through his health problems, two battles with cancer and open heart surgery, but I always thought he would be there. I spoke to him last Thursday and said I would drive up to Danbury, Conn. to see him on Sunday, but he said that he didn’t want me to come if he couldn’t talk. He died Wednesday afternoon.
Tim, who was the consummate professional at both St. Peter’s and NJIT, leaves behind a mom and a sister and countless people who adored him, like his BFF right here. This leaves me heartbroken. I’ve lost a lot of people, family and friends in my life. This one is going to be very hard to get over. I’ll miss my buddy. So will everyone who knew him…
OK, here goes with Sports Character No. 6 on the list of Top 25 Sports Characters in Hudson County over the last 25 years. That distinction goes to Charlie Rozzi of Hoboken.
Anyone who knows Charlie knows that he’s the ultimate character, from his fanatical devotion to the Cleveland Browns, to his dedication and love to the kids of Hoboken, whom he coached and worked with over the years.
If you stop into Stan’s Sports Center (a business with its own cast of characters), chances are you’ll run into Charlie, because he’s always there. Rozzi also spent the last few years as the administrative assistant coach with the St. Peter’s University baseball team. A loveable guy who ends up being seen everywhere, Charlie deserves his spot here at No. 6…
Hudson Reporter High School Football Top Five: 1. St. Peter’s Prep (3-1). 2. Union City (3-1). 3. Hoboken (3-1) 4. Hudson Catholic (3-1). 5. Lincoln (2-2)…
Hudson Reporter High School Boys’ Soccer Top Five: 1. North Bergen (8-2-1). 2. St. Peter’s Prep (10-2-1). 3. Bayonne (8-2). 4. Union City (6-4). 5. Secaucus (8-3)…–Jim Hague
Jim Hague can be reached via e-mail at OGSMAR@aol.com