It was a pretty busy weekend for Sheila Rivera.
The long-time Secaucus girls’ volleyball coach earned induction into the New Jersey Scholastic Coaches Association Hall of Fame Sunday at the Pines Manor in Edison.
Rivera earned the place of permanent prominence by having such an incredible resume, a 10-year record of 232-42, complete with three NJSIAA state championships, eight Hudson County titles, six BCSL and NJIC league titles, and four times honored as a Coach of the Year.
The honor comes only a few days after telling her players that she is stepping down as the head volleyball coach at Secaucus to devote more time to her family.
Rivera has a 9-year-old son Damon and a 6-year-old daughter Riley. Both Rivera and her husband Ralph are active coaches at either the youth recreation or the high school level.
Rivera said, when she returned to the position a few years ago after former coach Tiffany Aciz Meyer went out on maternity leave, that it wasn’t going to be forever.
“My kids don’t want me to leave, because they love it,” Rivera said. “When I first left, I thought that was going to be it. But I came back, I had to play it by ear as the kids got older. I’m always going to be a part of Secaucus volleyball. It’s just not going to be on a daily basis anymore.”
Rivera said that she has a lot of pride being a part of all 19 NJSIAA state championships that Secaucus has collected over the years, either as an athlete, an assistant coach or a head coach.
“I told the girls that I would be there to watch the 20th one,” Rivera said. “It wasn’t easy telling them. There were some tears. But I told them that I just couldn’t do it anymore and I have to be there for my own kids.”
So receiving the state Hall of Fame recognition was a fitting farewell.
“It really was like icing on the cake,” Rivera said. “It was a wonderful day, how the whole thing was run. It’s nice to have so many people honor me. When it comes from your peers, you know that it means something, because they all realize what you had to go through as a coach.”
Since Rivera only told her players that she was retiring just last week, there has been no talk about a possible replacement. Rivera was the lone coach from Hudson County inducted into the NJSCA Hall of Fame this year…
Sunday afternoon at the Jackie Robinson Little League complex in Bayside Park off Garfield Avenue in Jersey City, there will be a ceremony honoring the 70th anniversary of the immortal Robinson playing his first professional game in Jersey City’s Roosevelt Stadium.
The program will begin at 12:30 p.m. with Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop speaking, along with other dignitaries, including representatives from the Jackie Robinson Foundation.
There will also be a clinic for youth baseball players, as well as a game between the Pershing Field Pony League and the Jackie Robinson Little League All-Star teams.
Yours truly will serve as the Master of Ceremonies for the celebration. It should be a fine day of recollection and remembrance of one of the biggest moments in professional baseball history…
Also this weekend, Weehawken will host its annual tournament for Autism Awareness at Weehawken Stadium.
Saturday, the schedule features Weehawken vs. Hoboken at 1 p.m., Secaucus vs. Hasbrouck Heights at 4 p.m. and Ferris against Indian Hills at 7 p.m.
Sunday, it’s St. Anthony vs. Roselle Park at 1 p.m., with Union City facing Dumont at 7 p.m. and St. Peter’s Prep facing Red Bank Catholic at 7 p.m.
Next weekend, the softball Weehawken for Autism Awareness festival begins. On Saturday, Wood-Ridge faces St. Anthony at 1 p.m., with Cliffside Park facing Hoboken at 4 p.m. and Bayonne facing Dumont at 7 p.m.
On Sunday, April 24, the tourney has Dickinson facing Secaucus at 1 p.m., with Park Ridge facing Union City at 4 p.m. and St. Dominic Academy facing host Weehawken at 7 p.m. at the softball field down near the Hudson River waterfront.
Organizer Anthony Stratton, the head baseball coach at Weehawken, is proud to have such an array of talented teams coming to Weehawken, especially the Hudson County group.
“Last year was such a big success, so we wanted to do it again this year,” said Stratton, who said all proceeds of the two tourneys going to the Team Unlimited Foundation, which works with autistic youngsters through local baseball scout Mike Garlatti of the Colorado Rockies organization.
“We have a great contingent of Hudson County teams coming in,” Stratton said. “Teams want to get involved. We’ve already received calls for next year. It’s a great weekend. The whole thing is to raise awareness for autism.”
Each team will bring someone who has been affected by autism to throw out the first pitch. Weehawken’s representative is Javon Navarro, who was in attendance last Sunday as Weehawken hosted a special banquet at the Weehawken Elks for all the participating teams.
As for Stratton’s team?
“We’re struggling right now,” Stratton said. “Our best player, Brian Rodriguez, dislocated his finger in practice and is just coming back now. We’re not pushing him back, because he has a great future in baseball.”
The Indians are 0-4 right now, but that record is sure to improve shortly…
Snyder High School boys’ basketball standouts Ron Washington and Kenyan Goodson both announced their intentions to play college basketball at Raritan Valley Community College. Both Washington (Second Team) and Goodson (Third Team) were recent honorees on the Hudson Reporter All-Area team. Now they get to play college basketball together in the fall…
Union City native Pat Lynch, who made his mark in the boxing game as the manager for three-time world champion Arturo Gatti, has been elected to the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame. Lynch will receive his award at the 47th annual induction dinner in November…
Hudson Reporter High School Baseball Top Five: 1. Bayonne (5-1). 2. St. Peter’s Prep (4-1). 3. Union City (4-1). 4. Memorial (2-2). 5. Hudson Catholic (3-1).
Hudson Reporter High School Softball Top Five: 1. North Bergen (4-0). 2. St. Dominic Academy (4-1). 3. Union City (2-1). 4. Hudson Catholic (3-2). 5. Hoboken (2-2). – Jim Hague
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.