June
11, 2004
Male
Athlete of the Season:
Rory O'Donnell, St. Joe's (Mont.) Wrestling
Rory O'Donnell came into his senior season with a huge chip on his shoulder after falling by a single point in the semifinals at 130 pounds in the NJSIAA state tournament during his junior campaign. Then he decided to work with former Montclair State National Champion Florian Ghinea and the move paid off quickly.
Not only did he improve his skills on the mat, but on his feet he was nearly unstoppable. Despite wrestling top-notch competition all year long, O'Donnell was rarely tested at 140 pounds. He closed out his scholastic career with his finest performance against his toughest foe.
Facing
off against Jack Decker of Seton Hall Prep, O'Donnell took control early and
never gave Decker a chance to make it a contest. He took Decker down three
times in the first 68 seconds of the bout en route to a 12-7 triumph. O'Donnell
finally achieved the only accomplishment that had eluded him over his solid
four-year varsity career. He capped his senior season with a 31-0 record.
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| Marcus Williams averaged doubel figures and helped St. Anthony to a second straight T of C title. |
Runner-Up:Marcus Williams, St. Anthony's (JerseyCity) Basketball
Nowadays, high school basketball players are often defined by having one position and the versatility not nearly as prevalent as it has been in generations past. But every so often, a player comes along who may not set the world on fire with a dazzling pass or a NBA-range three-point shot, but just knows the game and practices the fundamentals. The most clear-cut example of that player in New Jersey is St. Anthony's guard/forward/center Marcus Williams.
The 6-2 Williams averaged just a shade over 10 points per game, but the versatility he showed in playing all five positions on both ends of the floor for the best team in the state made him as valuable as legendary head coach Bob Hurley Sr. has had during his tenure at the helm.
The Friars played the top competition in and out of state with Williams often covering the opposing team's top offensive threat. The incredibly steady play of Williams, offensively and defensively, was the main reason why the Friars capped an undefeated season with a NJSIAA Tournament of Champions title.
Honorable
Mention:
Diego Crespo,
Paramus Catholic Wrestling
Luis Santos, PCT Basketball
Tyrell Biggs, Don Bosco Basketball
Cory Dunn, Rutherford Wrestling
Tony Murphy, Paterson Eastside Basketball
Mohammed Khadraoui, Paterson Kennedy Track
Andrew Redvanly, Pascack Valley Hockey
Marcus Gomes, Westwood Basketball
Billy Dwyer, St. Peter's Prep Hockey
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| Rutgers bound Essence Carson led Eastside to the T of C finals. |
Female
Athlete of the Season:
Essence Carson, Paterson Eastside Basketball
Essence Carson has received just about every accolade a player could possibly achieve over her first three years, and in the process putting Paterson Eastside back on the map of high school basketball. No matter what the score, the calm, but fearless, demeanor of Carson reflected in the play of her teammates.
The Lady Ghosts were often caught watching Carson as she grew in the early years, but in her senior season they became a team cast in her image. But when things got tough, Carson was looked upon to make a big play. As all great players do, she rose to the occasion. As a 6-0 guard/forward, she could play all five positions and often did on both ends of the floor. Her game showed few flaws and as the games got bigger, so did her presence.
The Rutgers-bound Carson elevated her level of play as the games became more important. She lifted her team to Passaic County and Group 4 titles. She led the Lady Ghosts all the way to the Tournament of Champions final, where they finally ran out of steam and fell to Malcolm X Shabazz.
A student at Rosa Parks High School for her musical talents, she was designated to play for Paterson Eastside, but it was the music that has always been a first love. It played a huge part in her decision to stay in-state and attend Rutgers University over a bevy of other top-notch programs, including two-time national champion, the University of Connecticut.
Runner-Up:Amelia Rivera, IHA Swimming
Over the past decade, Immaculate Heart Academy has become a breeding ground for some of the state's top swimmers, who are often known for their versatility. Amelia Rivera defined not only that versatility, but tremendous success as well.
The junior took home four gold medals at the Bergen County championships. She won the 200-meter Individual Medley and blew away the field by more than a second in the 100-meter Backstroke. She also was part of the 400-meter Freestyle Relay team and the 200-meter Medley Relay team that took home first place. Rivera finished off her season by winning two races in the Parochial A final to help the Blue Eagles cruise to a state championship.
Honorable
Mention:
Tahirah
Williams, IHA Basketball
Heather Zurich, Pascack Valley Basketball
Melissa Czorniewy, Holy Angels Basketball
Mackenzie Lynch, DePaul Catholic Basketball
Mary Langan, IHA Swimming
Nikki Flores, IHA Basketball
Dana Rotio, Paramus Catholic Basketball
Katie Rohner, River Dell Basketball
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| Sean McCurdy was a key contributor to St. Anthony's second straight T of C title. |
Boys'
Team of the Season:
St. Anthony's (J.C.) Basketball
Although several teams in the area had their best seasons ever or in recent memory, this one was a no-brainer. Without a superstar, without a scorer that averaged over 13 points a game, the Friars executed to perfection what has made them the most storied program in New Jersey, hard-nosed, full-court pressure defense.
Easily the deepest team in the area, head coach Bob Hurley Sr. was not afraid to go 12 players deep during any game if he felt it was necessary. But when game got close, and not many did, he often turned to his leader, Marcus Williams. Grouped along with the three-guard attack of Derrick Mercer, Sean McCurdy, and Ahmad Mosby, they formed the most dangerous backcourt in the state.
Williams
also played in the frontcourt with Otis Campbell, Ahmed Nivens, Lamar Alston,
and Barney Anderson. The Friars was not at its best during the state tournament,
yet still won all of its games by double-digits in finishing off a 30-0 season
with a 67-55 victory over Bloomfield Tech in the Tournament of Champions final.
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| St. Peter's Prep made it all the way to the Meadowlands and the Parochial State final. |
Runner-Up:St. Peter's Prep Hockey
An unlikely team to be up for this award when the season started, St. Peter's Prep raced out to a quick start winning its first ten games, and after a mid-season lull, the Marauders came alive for head coach Joe Maione during the state tournament and showed the big boys that they were not only in the same class as the highly-recognizable programs, but better.
Netminder Billy Dwyer and forwards Gio Capodanno and Anthony Facciponte were outstanding in the state tournament. He back-to-back 30-save efforts in downing Don Bosco Prep and top-seeded and nationally-ranked Delbarton to reach the NJSIAA Parochial final.
They lost a third-period lead and the game to eventual state champion Seton Hall Prep, 4-2. But make no mistake about it; the Marauders proved they will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.
Honorable
Mention:
PCT Basketball
St. Mary's (Ruth.) Wrestling
Don Bosco Basketball
Emerson (U.C.) Basketball
Pascack Valley Hockey
Northern Valley/Demarest Basketball
Bergen Catholic Wrestling
Northern Highlands Swimming
Pascack Valley Basketball
Paterson Catholic Basketball
Girls' Team of the Season:IHA Swimming
Immaculate Heart Academy has been a force on the swimming scene for quite some time now. Much like our boys' team of the season, St. Anthony's (J.C.) basketball, the Blue Eagles do not have a clear-cut leader. But they have swimmers a tremendous balance of swimmers that are proficient in a wide variety of strokes and distances.
The Blue Eagles were widely considered as the top team in the state heading into the winter season and did nothing but add to their growing mystique. Like most of the teams on the Barton's Best list, they were lights out in the state tournament.
Led by
Amelia Rivera, Mary Langan, Amanda Curley, Christina DiNapoli, Megan Marino,
and a host of others, the Blue Eagles won all three of their state tournament
contests by at least 62 points to capture their 11th consecutive Parochial
A state title.
 |
| Nasheema Johnson and Eastside got all the way to the season's final game. |
Runner-Up:Paterson Eastside Basketball
Everyone knew the talents of senior standout Essence Carson, but the supporting cast came a long way as the season wore on. The vastly-improved frontcourt of Nasheema Johnson and Sasha Lowery gave the Lady Ghosts another dimension to their overall game. Now holding Carson in check did not mean an automatic victory. As a matter of fact, it was completely the opposite.
When the backcourt trio of Antoinette Linney, Faquaya and Asia Rollins, were successful in protecting the ball and hitting open shots, the Lady Ghosts were nearly unstoppable.
Paterson Eastside struggled offensively, but had enough strength defensively and on the glass to win its third straight Passaic County title. They also won the North 1 Group 4 title for the second straight year, but they finally cleared a huge hurdle. Behind the stellar play of Carson, the Lady Ghosts won the Group 4 state title and made it all the way to the Tournament of Champions final before falling to Malcolm X Shabazz.
Honorable
Mention:
Cresskill
Basketball
Marist Basketball
IHA Basketball
Ramapo Fencing
Pascack Valley Basketball
Paramus Catholic Basketball
River Dell Swimming
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