Thursday,
June 23, 2016
By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer
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Bergen Catholic senior Nick Suriano finished his career with a perfect 159-0 record and four state championships. |
Male Athlete of the Season:
Nick Suriano, Bergen Catholic Wrestling
Regardless of what happened during his senior season, Suriano was already cemented as one of the best wrestlers ever to don a singlet in New Jersey. Being one of the best was never an option for Suriano, though. He wanted to leave no doubt that he was the best wrestler in not just New Jersey but the entire United States. The pressure mounted with each match, but Suriano thrived on it and capped the most decorated wrestling career the state has ever seen with a truly dominant senior year.
Just like each of his previous three seasons Suriano’s quest for perfection began at the rugged Beast of the East Tournament with many of the top teams in the country entered, including several nationally-ranked wrestlers in his weight class.
Suriano became just the second wrestler in the 23-year history of the prestigious tournament to become a four-time champion. He did so in impressive fashion by pinning his way to a title with the title-clinching pin in the first period over the previous year’s Most Outstanding Wrestler, Luke Karam of Bethlehem Catholic (PA).
That was just the springboard as he entered his final state tournament with a still-unblemished mark. The passionate wrestling fan base in New Jersey wondered, ‘Could he really do it?’ as Suriano stepped into Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City for the last time. Suriano knew he could not leave without reaching his ultimate goal.
Two pins and a technical fall got him to the 126-pound state final against a familiar foe, the former state champ from Delbarton, Ty Agaisse. Agaisse wrestled defensively and attempted to frustrate Suriano, but the Penn State-bound senior got the one takedown he needed to polish off his fourth state title and a remarkable career with a final record of 159-0.
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St. Anthony senior Jalen Mosely. |
Runner-Up:
Jagan Mosely, St. Anthony Basketball
Mosely was widely considered one of the best players in New Jersey going into his senior season, but, despite a great scholastic career to that point there was still one thing missing: a Tournament of Champions crown. In Mosely’s mind, anything less than that in his final go-round would have beeen viewed as a failure. With that in mind, the 6-foot-3 guard had motivation every day to prove that he could lead his team to the mountaintop.
Mosely was not a dominant scorer (14.2 ppg) but whenever his team needed a spark, the Georgetown-bound guard was happy to provide it.
He got off to a good start with a 29-point effort against nationally-ranked Shadow Mountain (AZ), followed by 18 points, five rebounds, and five assists in a win over eventual Group 2 state champ West Side.
Mosely scored in double-digits in 15 of his final 16 games, highlighted by a career-high 31-point outburst against Queen of Peace. His best performance came against rival Roselle Catholic. He netted nine of his 16 points in the fourth quarter as the Friars pulled away for the Non-Public state title on their way to the long-sought Tournament of Champions title and another undefeated season under legendary head coach Bob Hurley.
Honorable Mention:
Rory Cochran, Paramus Wrestling
Joe Grello, Bergen Catholic Wrestling
Ja’Quaye James, Teaneck Basketball
Brandon Kui, DePaul Wrestling
Brandon Anderson, Don Bosco Basketball
Dawson Sieradzky, Wayne Hills Fencing
Eric Chakonis, Don Bosco Wrestling
Kyle Bierdumpfel, Don Bosco Wrestling
Matt Latka, Ramapo Basketball
Ronald Washington, Snyder Basketball
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Michele Sidor, just a freshman, led the state in scoring at 27.4 ppg. |
Female Athlete of the Season:
Michelle Sidor, Saddle River Day
Sidor came into Saddle River Day with little fanfare but head coach Danny Brown knew that she was going to be something special. Just how special? Well, no one could have predictied the way things would turn out. Sidor, the freshman point guard, was nothing short of dominant.
She came right out of the gate on fire, averaging 33 points per game over her first six varsity games. Playing stingy defense, driving to the basket and converting layups in transition was just part of her game. Where she really shined was beyond the three-point line. Sidor showed more range on her shot than any player in New Jersey, finishing with exactly 100 three-pointers on the season.
When it came tournament time, Sidor was already known as the best player in Bergen County. She backed that up with legendary efforts in the Bergen County Tournament semifinal and final. After a 28-point, eight rebound, six steal, five assist effort in a hard-fought win over Northern Valley/Old Tappan, she had 34 points, seven assists, and five steals against Immaculate Conception to lead Saddle River Day to its first-ever Bergen County title in any sport.
Sidor led the state in scoring with 27.4 points per game to go with 6.5 assists and 5.6 steals.
Runner-Up:
Tajae Stevenson, Paterson Kennedy
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Kennedy's Tajae Stevenson |
The 6-foot-1 Stevenson was as consistent as they come for Paterson Kennedy. Whether backing down in the post or showing off her mid-range game, the junior forward was tough for opposing defenses to guard all season.
She scored in double-digits in 30 of her team’s 31 games this season. That included in each of the Knights’ state tournament games. Stevenson played her best down the stretch in leading her team to a North 1 Group 4 section title and a berth in the Group 4 state final.
Honorable Mention:
Emily Crevani, Old Tappan Basketball
Jordan Wilmoth, IHA Basketball
Dani McMahon, Saddle River Day Basketball
Julia Guerra, Indian Hills Track
Samantha McClutchy, Westwood Basketball
Michelle Rubinetti, Demarest Track
Madison McGlone, Bayonne Basketball
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St. Anthony's Kaleb Bishop |
Boys’ Team of the Season:
St. Anthony’s Basketball
With a mixture of talent, desire, and senior leadership, the Friars continued on the path forged by Bob Hurley, the Friars' longtime head coach who has already been enshrined in the National Basketball Hall of Fame. St. Anthony always strives for perfection with the goal of playing their best ball come state tournament time.
Led by Player of the Year Jagan Mosely and backcourt mates R.J. Cole and Asante Gist, the Friars suffocated opposing teams into submission.
Of their 32 wins this season, 29 of them came by double-digits including all of their state tournament wins. That was capped by a 55-38 win over Linden to secure another perfect season and the Tournament of Champions title.
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Bergen Catholic's Kevin Mulligan |
Runner-Up:
Bergen Catholic Wrestling
Bergen Catholic has been known for drawing up the toughest schedule in the state and one of the best in the entire United States. The Crusaders have made it clear they will wrestle anyone, anywhere, anytime.
The Crusaders got things started with a best-ever performance in the Beast of the East Tournament before an eye-opening 69-3 romp over archrival Don Bosco Prep. Unfortunately, their shot at a No. 1 national rankings fell by the wayside in a three-point loss to Bethlehem Catholic and a two-point loss to Wyoming Seminary (both from PA).
With that in the rear-view mirror, Bergen Catholic took it out on its opponents in the state tournament with three dominant victories, outscoring its three foes by a whopping 162-27 to win a fifth straight Non-Public A state title and the program’s 10th overall.
Honorable Mention:
Teaneck Basketball
Emerson/Park Ridge Wrestling
Paramus Wrestling
Don Bosco Prep Hockey
Ramsey Hockey
Hudson Catholic Basketball
Wayne Hills Fencing
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Saddle River Day won the Bergen County title and got all the way to the Non-Public B state final. |
Girls’ Team of the Season:
Saddle River Day Basketball
When Danny Brown took over as athletic director and head coach of the girls’ basketball team at Saddle River Day four years ago, he had a vision of turning the nearly dormant program into a county champion. With his first class of incoming freshman now seniors and with a standout freshman thrown into the mix, that vision became a reality.
The aforementioned Sidor led the state in scoring, but make no mistake...this was not a team whose success revolved around one player. The Lady Rebels also had the best defensive player in North Jersey in senior guard Dani McMahon, who could single-handedly disrupt an opposing team’s offensive gameplan. Sharpshooting Carly Christofi, paint presence Kayla Oge and do-everything Kelly Hannigan (all seniors) rounded out a starting five that all played their roles well.
Jackie Wolak, Cassie Cruz, Caity House, Maggie Kuntz, and Jenna Jordan all provided quality bench minutes to give the Rebels the one thing they never had: Depth. Between the deep benchand the cohesiveness of the players, the Rebels jelled together quickly and never looked back.
After a loss to a top five team in New Jersey, Rumson-Fair Haven, Saddle River Day ripped off 18 straight wins. They entered the Bergen County Tournament as the No. 3 seed, but left no doubt at tournament’s end who the best team in the county was. After a scare from Northern Valley/Old Tappan in the BCT semis, the Rebels led wire-to-wire in a 53-36 victory over Immaculate Conception to earn the school’s first championship.
It was not the only trophy the Rebelsreceived. Next up was the Non-Public B North state playoffs where the field was more talented than years past. After a hard-fought win over Morris Catholic in the section semifinals, the Rebels went back and forth with Queen of Peace all the way down to the final play. Clinging to a one-point lead, Jackie Wolak stole an inbounds pass with seconds remaining that secured a 66-63 victory and another first, a Non-Public B North section title.
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Old Tappan won a second straight sectional championship and the girls basketball program's first-ever outright state title. |
Runner-Up:
Northern Valley/Old Tappan Basketball
After defensive standout Alexie Piccinich and leading scorer Ariana Chipolone both went down with season-ending ACL tears it looked like any championship aspirations that Old Tappan might have had also went out the window.
The Golden Knights never felt sorry for themselves and never changed their goals. Led by four-year starting point guard Emily Crevani and the emergence of sophomore center Alex George, Old Tappan went on quite a run through the state tournament.
After impressive double-digit wins over Teaneck and Ramapo to grab a second straight North 1, Group 3 section title, OT squeaked past Voorhees to reach the Group 3 state final for the second straight year. Waiting for them was the same team who beat them in the 2015 Group 3 state final, Middletown South. In the 2015 game, the Golden Knights got off to a slow start with just one first-quarter point and never led. This time around it was a completely different beginning and ending.
The Knights got off to a strong start and shutout Middletown South in the second quarter to take a 23-5 halftime lead before holding on late for a 47-36 win and the school’s first Group 3 state title in girls’ basketball.
Honorable Mention:
Paterson Kennedy Basketball
Immaculate Conception Basketball
Bergen Tech Fencing
Ramapo Gymnastics
Ridgewood Gymnastics
Paterson Eastside Basketball
Westwood Bowling
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