Tag: RHS Sports

Posted on by — 1 Comment

RHS Boys Lacrosse: Ridgewood ready to take the next step

Ridewoodsports_theridgoodblog1-300x200

Ridewoodsports_theridgoodblog1-300x200

RHS Boys Lacrosse: Ridgewood ready to take the next step

March 27, 2015    Last updated: Friday, March 27, 2015, 12:31 AM
By Matthew Birchenough
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR |
The Ridgewood News

RIDGEWOOD — As satisfying as the achievements over the past three seasons have been for the Ridgewood High School boys lacrosse team, players and coaches are sick of the same ending that has befallen the program each of those years.

Ridgewood dominated on its way a third consecutive State Group 3 title last season, outscoring opponents, 48-16, during the four-game run through the North sectional to the group final. But once again, unfortunately for the Maroons (15-8), their run ended in the Tournament of Champions semifinal for the third straight year after losing to Delbarton, 12-6.

“We’re close, but for us, that’s not close enough,” said head coach Mike Pounds, who enters his 12th season at the helm with a 185-82 record.

This season, to replicate or even exceed recent success, the Maroons face the task of replacing several key components of last year’s attack, including their top three goal-scorers and point-getters in Andrew Seiter (38 goals, 29 assists), Owen Smith (43 G, 16 A) and Matt Shippee (35 G, 23 A).

Faceoff specialist Oliver Sippel, midfielder Alex Linton, defenders Joe Ricciardi and Dan Hurley and goalie Jack Cardew also graduated.

https://www.northjersey.com/sports/high-school-sports/boys-lacrosse/maroon-boys-aiming-for-a-toc-crown-1.1296954

Posted on by — 1 Comment

Indoor Track: Ridgewood girls, boys make most of appearance at Nationals

032015-rn-rhselite
032015-rn-rhselite
Photo Courtesy of Tom Thurston
 
The Ridgewood High School boys 4-x-800 relay team finished fourth in the New Balance Indoor Nationals Emerging Elite Division last Friday at The Armory Track Center in New York. From left, head coach Josh Saladino, Kenny Marshall, Kotaro Tamura, Jack Byrne and Michael Thurston.

 

Indoor Track: Ridgewood girls, boys make most of appearance at Nationals

March 20, 2015    Last updated: Friday, March 20, 2015, 12:31 AM
By Matthew Birchenough
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR |
The Ridgewood News

One last meet on the biggest of stages provided eight Ridgewood High School runners a nice sendoff into the upcoming spring track season.

The Maroons finished up the indoor season with solid showings from senior Carleen Jeffers in the two-mile, as well as the girls distance medley relay and the boys 4-x-800 team at last weekend’s New Balance Indoor Nationals at The Armory Track Center.

“Qualifying for Nationals is not something that comes easy. It’s a result of all their dedication and hard work that goes into it,” RHS head coach Josh Saladino said. “For some of them, it was their first time on the big stage and what was encouraging to me was they all rose to the occasion. No one was content just being there.”

Jeffers, who has been the team’s headliner all year, finished 15th in the two-mile as the Maroons’ lone individual competitor.

“Running against the best in the country and hanging in there and battling with them is an accomplishment in itself,” Saladino said of the senior’s performance. “She’s as mentally tough as they come. To beat her, you’ve got to give it your best, because she’s not going to give you an inch, and she proved that again in that race.”

Jeffers’ time of 10:51.37, when converted to 3,200 meters, represented a 2.5-second improvement on her personal-best mark.

https://www.northjersey.com/sports/high-school-sports/girls-indoor-track/rhs-girls-boys-excel-on-the-big-stage-1.1292583

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Former Ridgewood Baseball star excels north of the border

032015-rn-welencehelmet2

032015-rn-welencehelmet2

Tyler Welence, a 2011 Ridgewood High School graduate, has made a seamless transition on the diamond at McGill University in Montreal, helping the school to the Canadian Collegiate Baseball Association tournament title last fall.

Former Ridgewood Baseball star excels north of the border

March 20, 2015    Last updated: Friday, March 20, 2015, 12:31 AM
By Matthew Birchenough
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR |
The Ridgewood News

The past four years have taken Ridgewood native Tyler Welence throughout the western hemisphere, but no matter where he’s gone, he has always been playing baseball.

The 2011 Ridgewood High School graduate made his latest mark on the diamond last fall playing shortstop for McGill University in Montreal, which won the Canadian Collegiate Baseball Association National Championship.

“This was the first time I was ever part of a team that ended up winning the highest honor possible, and the feeling was so foreign to me after we won, the sense of accomplishment didn’t set in for a few hours,” Welence said earlier this week.

For his performance during the Redmen’s run, Welence earned the tournament MVP.

“Honestly, I always just try my best to help the team win, whatever that means doing,” he said. “I was very happy I was able to play a role in getting our team the title, but it was truly a full team effort.”

Welence exhibited the same sort of team-first attitude in his years at RHS.

https://www.northjersey.com/sports/high-school-sports/boys-baseball/maroon-baseball-alum-makes-good-in-montreal-1.1292625

Posted on by — 2 Comments

RHS Boys Basketball: Freshman team a fine fit for longtime Ridgewood coach

Ridewoodsports_theridgoodblog-300x200

Ridewoodsports_theridgoodblog-300x200

RHS Boys Basketball: Freshman team a fine fit for longtime Ridgewood coach

MARCH 6, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW BIRCHENOUGH
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

RIDGEWOOD — The natural progression for many coaches at the high school level is to start out at the freshman or JV ranks before landing a job leading a varsity squad.

Ridgewood High School freshman boys basketball coach John Fiocchi climbed that ladder years ago, but the descent back down the rungs of the high school game has been just as a rewarding.

“This has been the most fun I’ve had: coaching the freshmen,” Fiocchi said last Friday, shortly after receiving an award from the Bergen County Coaches Association recognizing his role in staging the Bergen County Freshman Tournament the past 20 years.

For tournament director Joe DelBuono, the honor — presented to Fiocchi at halftime of the championship game at RHS — was long overdue.

“He’s dedicated himself to the tournament for over 20 years,” DelBuono said. “It’s about time that someone recognized that he does this, and it’s a good thing for the younger coaches to see too — that you dedicate yourself and you get some appreciation for it.”

Fiocchi has served on the tournament selection committee for more than 20 years and has been instrumental in coordinating the use of Ridgewood facilities every year for the tournament semifinals and finals, leading many to refer to the tournament as “The Road to Ridgewood,” according to DelBuono.

While the coach of more than 40 years is seemingly on top of everything when it comes to the freshman tournament, the recognition took him by surprise.

https://www.northjersey.com/sports/high-school-sports/boys-basketball/coaching-remains-fresh-for-maroon-hoops-mentor-1.1283601

Posted on by — Leave a comment

RHS Wrestling : Ridgewood 182-pounder has high hopes heading to states

Basis eines Athletengrabes

Basis eines Athletengrabes. 510 v. Chr.

RHS Wrestling : Ridgewood 182-pounder has high hopes heading to states

MARCH 6, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW BIRCHENOUGH
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

There’s just one wrestler still standing for the Ridgewood High School team that defied expectations all season long.

Junior Kyle Inlander earned a third-place finish at last weekend’s Region 2 tournament to clinch a spot in this weekend’s state tournament, which starts later today at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

“I’m really excited to compete on the big stage, and I’ve put everything I have into this moment,” Inlander, a 182-pounder, said by phone Wednesday night.

“I couldn’t be more proud of Kyle,” RHS head coach Torre Watson said in a phone interview Tuesday. “He’s focused on trying to do the best he could for this team and make it out for the tournament. Him being the one to represent our team is just a tremendous feat.”

Ten Ridgewood wrestlers competed in the region tournament held at Bergen Community College. The Maroons had 11 qualifiers — junior Julian Bangash had to drop out due to injury — after a dominant performance in the District 6 tournament held the previous weekend, in which nine RHS wrestlers reached individuals finals and four captured titles.

RHS didn’t repeat that level of success at regions, but for good reason.

https://www.northjersey.com/sports/high-school-sports/wrestling/rhs-182-pounder-aims-to-state-his-case-1.1283607

Posted on by — Leave a comment

RHS Athlete is Recognized for outstanding contributions to the RHS Girls Soccer team

Weil Honor

Weil Honor

RHS Athlete is Recognized for outstanding contributions to the RHS Girls Soccer team

February 19,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, RHS senior soccer and lacrosse player Natalie Weil was recognized at the National Girls and Women in Sports Day celebration on February 1 at Seton Hall University for outstanding contributions to the RHS Girls Soccer team, where she also served as one of the team’s co-captains. Sponsored by the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport, the event celebrated the many achievements of girls and women in sports, recognizing female athletes, coaches and administrators.

Photo: Natalie Weil with RHS Girls Soccer coach Jeff Yearing.

Coffee.clubshow?id=mjvuF8ceKoQ&bids=363195

Hotwire US

Microsoft Store

Posted on by — Leave a comment

RHS wrestling: Wins keep coming as tough tests loom for Ridgewood

P0012

P0012

RHS wrestling: Wins keep coming as tough tests loom for Ridgewood

January 23, 2015    Last updated: Friday, January 23, 2015, 12:31 AM
By Matthew Birchenough
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR |
The Ridgewood New

RIDGEWOOD — On the cusp of embarking upon an unforgiving schedule against some of the area’s top teams, the Ridgewood High School wrestling team delivered a message that it’s ready to take on all comers.

The Maroons put together a dominant effort Wednesday night, defeating Ramapo, 54-13, in a Big North Freedom showdown to maintain their perfect record within the division.

The win extended Ridgewood’s win streak to four and helped to further remove the disappointment of a 39-24 defeat at Old Tappan last Friday.

“We applied all our mistakes [from the Old Tappan match] to this match,” said junior Julian Bangash, whose 3-2 decision over Sean O’Connor at 138 pounds extended his personal winning streak to nine matches. “No one messed up today. Every person that wrestled today wrestled the best that they could have wrestled. That didn’t happen against Old Tappan, and that’s not going to happen again.”

Nick Saglimbeni (152), Kyle Inlander (182), Kiel Pechko (195) and Aaron Delvecchio (220) all pinned their opponents to help the Maroons run away in the match and improve their record to 10-2 overall (3-0 in the Freedom Division).

The win also gave Ridgewood positive momentum heading into a stretch in which they will face three teams in the top six of The Record Top 25 rankings.

https://www.northjersey.com/sports/high-school-sports/wrestling/rhs-healing-in-time-for-tough-slate-1.1234851

Posted on by — 1 Comment

Two RHS Girls Soccer Players Make All-State Team

Soccer Honors 1_15
Soccer Honors 1_15
Two RHS Girls Soccer Players Make All-State Team
January 14,2015

Ridgewood NJ, Two RHS soccer players, senior Colleen Berry and sophomore Hailey Ricciardi, were selectedby the New Jersey Girls Soccer Coaches Association (NJGSCA) to the North 1 Regional All-State team. Both girls were also chosen as two of the elite top twenty players from the North 1 Region. Photo: Coach Jeff Yearing stands with Colleen Berry, Hailey Ricciardi, and Assistant Coaches Jackie Hurley and Sarah Volkomer at the NJGSCA Awards Banquet.

Coffee.clubshow?id=mjvuF8ceKoQ&bids=363195

Posted on by — 1 Comment

Ridgewood Wrestling riding momentum from solid finish in counties

ancient_olympics_wrestlers

Ridgewood Wrestling riding momentum from solid finish in counties

January 9, 2015    Last updated: Friday, January 9, 2015, 12:31 AM
By Matthew Birchenough
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR |
The Ridgewood News

The Ridgewood High School wrestling team passed an early-season test with a strong performance at last week’s George Jockish Bergen County Coaches Association (BCCA) Holiday Tournament, giving the squad some early-season momentum heading into its dual-match schedule.

The Maroons scored a team total of 78.5 points, which was good enough for 12th place overall in the tournament held Dec. 29-30 at Rockland Community College in Suffern, N.Y., and second among Group 4 schools, finishing only behind Old Tappan (seventh, 87 points).

“We were fortunate enough to come out with five medal-winners, which is the second-highest total we’ve ever had,” RHS coach Torre Watson said earlier this week. “We were really very happy about how we did.”

Senior Nick Saglimbeni (152 pounds) and junior 182-pounder Kyle Inlander — Ridgewood’s captains — both earned third in their respective weight classes after falling in the semifinals to the eventual champion.

https://www.northjersey.com/sports/high-school-sports/wrestling/rhs-captains-coming-up-big-on-the-mat-1.1189261

Posted on by — 1 Comment

Ridgewood Boys Basketball upshifts, downshifts during six-game win streak

IMG_0539_MI

Northen Highlands at Ridgewood file photo

Ridgewood Boys Basketball upshifts, downshifts during six-game win streak

January 9, 2015    Last updated: Friday, January 9, 2015, 12:31 AM
By Greg Tartaglia
SPORTS EDITOR |
The Ridgewood News

MIDLAND PARK — Jon Davila went from being a passenger in a Ferrari to being the driver of a Volkswagen in a 24-hour span.

On Tuesday, the Ridgewood High School senior was one of five Maroons to score in double digits in a quadruple-overtime, 89-87 win at Indian Hills.

“We were trying to tell kids about the game in school [Wednesday], and I couldn’t remember one thing that happened after the third quarter,” Davila said with a chuckle. “The game was going way too fast.”

Such was not the case later that day, when the 6-foot guard was Ridgewood’s top scorer with nine points in a 45-33, non-conference victory at Midland Park.

“Last night was full-court man-to-man, both teams, virtually the whole game,” RHS head coach Mike Troy said Wednesday. “This one was, they [Midland Park] sat in a zone and made us work the ball side-to-side. The complexion and the strategy of the games were far different.”

https://www.northjersey.com/sports/high-school-sports/boys-basketball/rhs-upshifts-downshifts-during-win-streak-1.1189187

Posted on by — Leave a comment

The RHS Girls Tennis team won the North I Group IV state sectional title

tennis-balls

The RHS Girls Tennis team won the North I Group IV state sectional title

November 24,2014Ridgewood NJ, The RHS Girls Tennis team won the North I Group IV state sectional title, beating Bergen Tech in the finals and Livingston High School in the semis.

The squad also tied for second in the Big School County Tournament this season, and Sara Canilang and Liz O’Keefewon the doubles championship. Medha Kirtane is the coach.

This year girls RHS Tennis was ranked number 2 in The Record’s Top 15 Tennis rankings.

Other team members with media permission granted to be named are Monica Vitting, Kelly Rekucki, Kat Bonfiglion, Brianna Patek, Kolby Erskine, Swathi Raguian, Alex Absey and Julia Yoon.

,br>
Microsoft Store

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Ridgewood Boys Cross-Country runs at ‘elite’ level to win section

111314-rn-boyschamps

PHOTO COURTESY OF JACOB BROWN
 From left, Jack Byrne, Nick Barnabic, Kotaro Tamura and Billy Byrne pose with the championship trophy

Ridgewood Boys Cross-Country runs at ‘elite’ level to win section

NOVEMBER 14, 2014    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2014, 12:31 AM
BY RON FOX
CORRESPONDENT |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Very good runners have become outstanding runners as the Ridgewood High School boys cross-country team has gathered momentum and rolled through the season’s latest major meets.

“Our first three kids have been very consistent over the whole season,” coach Mike Glynn said a few days after the Maroons won the North 1, Group 4 sectional championship for a group-record 22nd time. “And they ran even faster Saturday. They put themselves in a different league. They’re becoming elite runners.”

The Maroons were so dominant that they captured three of the top four spots in the race.

Junior Kenny Marshall was the individual champion, junior Nick Barnabic took third and sophomore Billy Byrne was fourth. They stood out as usual, but so did a host of their teammates — all seniors — who provided the important depth to earn the title. Jack Byrne finished 15th, Kotaro Tamura was 17th, Henry Ricatto 24th and Sam Calello finished just outside the top 25. Tamura continues to battle determinedly despite the fact that his foot problems still have not subsided. The other three upperclassmen all ran their personal bests on the Garret Mountain course.

https://www.northjersey.com/sports/high-school-sports/boys-cross-country/maroon-boys-prove-they-re-elite-1.1133425

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Catch-22: Ridgewood H.S. girls add to record number of sectional cross-country titles

111314-rn-girlschamps

PHOTO COURTESY OF JACOB BROWN

 

The Ridgewood girls cross-country team defeated runner-up Randolph, 42-61, to capture the North 1, Group 4 title last Saturday. From left: Sam Halvorsen, Corina Cobb, Olympia Martin, Abby Taylor, Carleen Jeffers, Meghan Adams and Kelly Cleary.

Catch-22: Ridgewood H.S. girls add to record number of sectional cross-country titles

NOVEMBER 14, 2014    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2014, 12:31 AM
BY RON FOX
CORRESPONDENT | 
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

With good reason, a race usually focuses on the lead runners, but Jacob Brown was looking for the middle of the pack to turn the tide last Saturday. The Ridgewood High School girls cross-country coach made his point clear.

“He hammered it home,” said senior Carleen Jeffers, who finished second to junior teammate Sam Halvorsen in the North 1, Group 4 meet at Garret Mountain, Ridgewood’s state-record 22nd such title. “He wanted our seventh girl, Corina Cobb, to beat [Randolph’s] No. 5 girl. That was our main focus.”

That was imperative if the Maroons were to outscore Randolph for the team title.

“I challenged Corina,” Brown confirmed. “She beat that girl and that’s impressive when your 7 beats their 5. And so did [freshman] Meghan Adams.”

Halvorsen came across in a brisk 18:52 and earned Athlete of the Week honors from The Record. Once again, good friend Jeffers finished right on her heels, just three seconds back.

“We’re competitive racing as individuals, but in a race, we’re running as a team,” Halvorsen said.

Jeffers concurred. “There is an aspect of competitiveness,” she said. “We both want to win, but when Sam does well, I’m happy for her and she’s happy for me when I do well.”

There is always something to overcome on a cross-country course, such as the hills, the rocks, the sand and the tree roots that can cause stumbles. Halvorsen began to worry about something else.

https://www.northjersey.com/sports/high-school-sports/girls-cross-country/rhs-girls-ride-depth-to-team-title-1.1133449

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Ridgewood Gymnastics earns first state-finals bid since 2011

imgres-3

Ridgewood Gymnastics earns first state-finals bid since 2011

NOVEMBER 14, 2014    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2014, 12:31 AM
BY GREG TARTAGLIA
SPORTS EDITOR |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Ridgewood High School advanced to the NJSIAA team gymnastics finals for the first time since 2011 by scoring 108.325 at the North 1 sectional meet last Saturday at RHS.

The Maroons placed runner-up to Ramapo (110.425) for the fourth year in a row but had one of the five best scores in the state besides the five section champions. That earned them a spot in Thursday’s team finals at Montgomery.

Two Ridgewood girls also qualified for Saturday’s state individual tournament in Montgomery, which begins at 11 a.m.

Yurina Harada collected bronze medals in the North 1 all-around (37.275), uneven bars (9.25), balance beam (9.35) and floor (9.325) competitions and placed fourth on vault (9.35). The senior heads to Somerset County seeking to defend the 2013 state floor title that she shared with Julianna Drapkin, who transferred from Bishop Ahr to Holmdel this year.

Maroon sophomore Mika Tamura earned her first trip to the state finals by scoring a fifth-place 36 in the sectional all-around. She was fourth on floor with a season-high 9.3 and tied for seventh on beam with a 9.1.

https://www.northjersey.com/sports/high-school-sports/girls-gymnastics/maroons-earn-1st-state-bid-since-2011-1.1133385

Posted on by — 2 Comments

Ridgewood H.S. Athletic Hall of Fame: Thirteen new inductees feted

Ridewoodsports_theridgoodblog-300x200

Ridgewood H.S. Athletic Hall of Fame: Thirteen new inductees feted

OCTOBER 31, 2014    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014, 12:31 AM
BY BRIAN FARRELL
SPECIAL TO THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

WYCKOFF — Ten athletes, one coach, the 1913 football team and the 1990-91-92 boys lacrosse teams were inducted into the sixth Ridgewood High School Athletic Hall of Fame class on Saturday at The Brick House before an audience of 165 people.

That brings the total to 69 athletes, eight coaches, five teams and four special contributors that have been inducted since Committee Chairman Jeff Yearing, a 1966 Ridgewood graduate, and then-AD Walt Hampson started the Hall of Fame in 2004, conducting inductions every two years.

Players and coaches who contributed to the Ridgewood boys lacrosse “Streak of 44” took part in the festivities at the Ridgewood High School Athletic Hall of Fame induction banquet last Saturday. The coaches in attendance, seated from left, were assistant Bob Turco, head coach Steve Jacobson and assistant Bob Blakely.

This year’s honorees were Don Taylor (RHS Class of 1961, basketball), John Marshall (1971, football/basketball/track and field), Nancy Hogan (1974, field hockey/volleyball/basketball/softball/track and field), John Cerf (1976, gymnastics), Chris VanNote (1981, soccer), Michele Marangi (1984, tennis), Paul Tornatore (1987, football), Jean Hughes (1989, cross-country/track and field), Rachel Grygiel (1993, soccer) and Mark Romeo (2002, wrestling), who is only the third wrestler to be inducted but the first to achieve 100 wins in a varsity career.

Each inductee received a personalized, 11-x-14 framed replica of the Hall of Fame poster that will be hung in the Hall of Fame gallery at Ridgewood High School outside the main gymnasium, a personalized Lucite desk memento and an RHS spirit scarf.

https://www.northjersey.com/sports/high-school-sports/football/thirteen-new-inductees-feted-1.1123451