Category: _Sports

When Josh Jantas took over the St. Peter’s Prep soccer program four years ago, he wanted to be able to return the Marauders to an elite status, like the way they were when Jantas was a player at Grand and Warren. “That was always a goal,” said Jantas, who was part of three straight HCIAA …

Continue reading “SCOREBOARD 11-20-2011

A return to glory for Prep soccerMarauders capture Hudson County Tournament title; first county crown since 2005”

Everything was all set in place. Nick Espana was going to have a sensational year in the deep and talented Union City High School football backfield. The speedy junior was destined to be a perfect complement to fellow backs Steve Le and Roy Santiago. “You should have seen him in the preseason,” Union City head …

Continue reading “ATHLETE OF THE WEEK 11-13-2011

Finally, a shining moment for Union City’s EspanaSoaring Eagle running back finds some solace in big performance against Ferris”

There were two deaths in the past week that hit close to home. One was a very famous sports figure that had local ties, the other was a local legend, both as an athlete and a coach. Former heavyweight boxing champion “Smokin’” Joe Frazier died after a brief battle with liver cancer. Frazier held the …

Continue reading “TASTY TIDBITS 11-13-2011

Memories of Frazier, GarguiloBoys’ soccer update; Great Hagueini picks playoff games”

Matt Hogan was beginning to wonder if the McNair Academic boys’ cross country team would ever get the chance to get over the hump and win an NJSIAA state sectional championship. Sure, Hogan’s girls had experienced their fair share of successes in the past and brought home a handful of state championship trophies over the …

Continue reading “SCOREBOARD 11-13-2011

Year of the CougarMcNair Academic captures first-ever boys’ cross country state sectional crown”

Lincoln High School head football coach Robert Hampton likes to use his wide and diverse love for music when describing his football players. Recently, he used a different analogy when he compared his standout running back of a year ago, two-time Hudson Reporter All-Area honoree Tyron Stevens, and his cousin, Teddy Spann, who is currently …

Continue reading “ATHLETE OF THE WEEK 11-06-11

Spann-ing the combination of athletics and academicsLincoln do-everything gridder also among top in his senior class”

When St. Peter’s Prep shocked the high school football world in 1994, defeating the No. 1 team in the country, Bergen Catholic, in the Parochial A North state championship game at Giants Stadium, the Marauders had a mighty mite of a fullback from Jersey City named Mike Medrano, who looked more like a longshoreman than …

Continue reading “TASTY TIDBITS 11-06-11

Former Prep grid standout Medrano takes to MMACounty champs crowned in cross country in snow; state sectionals moved”

There had been a handful of times when legendary North Bergen football coach Vince Ascolese was pondering the thought of retiring. Maybe it was a decade ago or so, when a bunch of ill-advised minions tried to take a run at his job, but Ascolese wasn’t ready to walk away. Or maybe it was a …

Continue reading “SCOREBOARD 11-06-11

The end of an era in North BergenAscolese announces retirement after storied 50-year career; Bruins Stadium renamed in his honor”

Jared Crayton hasn’t had the easiest roads towards high school football stardom. The St. Peter’s Prep senior running back was forced to be a mature young man far before his time, then had to bide his time to get a chance to play, then had to overcome an injury to finally get his chance to …

Continue reading “ATHLETE OF THE WEEK 10-30-2011

Prep’s Crayton overcomes adversity, injuryScores four touchdowns in huge win over Memorial”

The first round of the NJSIAA football playoffs are just two weeks away and it appears as if several local teams are still in contention. Some have already clinched a spot in the postseason and are jockeying for seeds and possible home field advantages in the first round, while others are still fighting to qualify …

Continue reading “TASTY TIDBITS 10-30-2011

Local football playoff picture taking shapeMemorial appears headed for first berth since 2001”

Claudio Kawecki has always enjoyed a passion for the game of golf. A former standout at Montclair Kimberley Academy, Kawecki, now a resident of Hoboken, was also a former club champion at the Upper Montclair Country Club, the same course where both the LPGA and the Senior PGA held prime events, not to mention the …

Continue reading “SCOREBOARD 10-30-11

Hoboken’s Kawecki earns chance of a lifetimeWins contest to be PGA star Davis Love III’s caddie for a day”