Wednesday, June 18, 2014

By Richie 'Ballgame' Barton

Male Athlete of the Season:
Johnny Sebastian, Bergen Catholic Wrestling

JOHNNY SEBASTIAN

To put anyone into the conversation of the best high school wrestler ever to come out of New Jersey is extremely high praise for a state known for its wrestling prowess. Bergen Catholic's Johnny Sebastian was in that conversation before his senior season even began, but he knew his legacy would be determined not by what he had accomplished his first three years in high school, which included a pair of state championships, but how he finished off his high school career.

With all eyes on him every time he took to the mat, Sebastian was unfazed by the attention and went about his business until a pair of rare setbacks in the same match. The 182-pounder bumped up to 195 and was beaten in overtime at the Clash Duals in Minnesota and suffered a torn labrum in the process. The senior season that should have been a smooth road to history had suddenly hit a pot hole.

But Sebastian was determined to write his own ending and went through an intensive rehabilitation program to ensure he got back on the mat. He helped lead his team to a Non-Public A state title, he embarked on his ultimate quest for a third straight gold at the NJSIAA Championships in Atlantic City. He was largely untested until the 182-pound final where he got everything he could handle from Brearley Regional's Joey Balboni, whose only loss of the season came to Sebastian at the Beast of the East in December.

With the score tied at 4 going into the overtime and having to fight off a charging Balboni throughout the third period, Sebastian put all his energy into one last shot. He hit it, a single-leg takedown, to win the match and his third state title. With the thrilling victory, he became just the 25th wrestler in the history of New Jersey high school wrestling to win three individual state titles and earned first-team All-American honors as he ended up as the No. 1 ranked 182-pound wrestler in the U.S.

Runner(s)-Up:
Anthony Giraldo, North Bergen Wrestling and
Nick Suriano, Bergen Catholic Wrestling

ANTHONY GIRALDO	NICK SURIANO

With a state title under his belt, there was only one way for Anthony Giraldo to top his whirlwind junior season: To win it again and to be perfect in the process. Giraldo did just that in a tough weight class by beating all 41 of his opponents during the season, which he capped with a 3-1 win over a former state champ, Watchung Hills' Mike Magaldo, in the 132-pound state final .

Giraldo, only North Bergen's second state champion in its long history, became the school's first two-time state champ and also won the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award for New Jersey. He will continue his career next year at Rutgers University.

Although just a sophomore, Nick Suriano has a unique drive that fueled him to quite possibly the most dominant season by an underclassmen ever in New Jersey wrestling. He either pinned, won by technical fal, or won by major decision against his first 44 opponents before a 7-0 thrashing of Holy Spirit's Pat D'Arcy in the 113-pound state final. The state title was Suriano's second in as many years and he is on a current pace to shatter the state record for wins in a career with an unblemished 87-0 mark.

Honorable Mention:
Alex Whelan, Ramsey Hockey
Dave McFadden, DePaul Wrestling
Jake Rollins, Glen Rock Bowling
James Buser, Mahwah Track
Paul Jorgensen, Don Bosco Prep Basketball
Juwuan Carter, DePaul Basketball
Alphonso Gee, Paterson Kennedy
Luke Annichiarico, Old Tappan Track
Cody Calcagno, Don Bosco Prep Hockey
Austin White, St. Peter's Prep Basketball
Kyle Bierdumpel, Don Bosco Prep Wrestling
Matt Roy, Glen Rock Hockey
Zack Chakonis, Don Bosco Wrestling
Gennaro Anzevino, Bergen Catholic Hockey
Tarin Smith, St. Anthony's Basketball
John Nunez, Paramus Catholic Swimming
Ryan Burkert, St. Peter's Prep Wrestling
Alex Thomas, Hawthorne Christian Basketball
Robbie Maggiulli, Emerson/Park Ridge Wrestling
Leondre Washington, Teaneck Basketball

Female Athlete of the Season:
Melissa Heath, Northern Highlands Basketball

MELISSA HEATH

After the departure of the program's all-time leader in scoring, rebounding, and blocked shots (Jackie Reyneke, now playing at Princeton University), it was a big question mark as to whether Melissa Heath could step in and become an impact player and not just a complementary piece to the puzzle. That question was answered emphatically throughout the season and especially in the big games when Heath rose to the occasion time after time.

In the Bergen County Tournament semifinals, Heath hit all 13 of her free-throw attempts as Highlands upset No. 1 seed and defending county champ IHA. Then, in the county final against Teaneck, she had another well-round performance with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and five blocked shots to lead the Highlanders to their first-ever county title.

The state tournament was more of the same with Heath scoring at least 15 points in all five of the Highlanders' state games. Her best game came in the North 1, Group 3 final in a rematch with Teaneck. She had game-highs of 23 points, nine rebounds, and five assists but it was her play down the stretch that was the difference. She blocked two shots in the final three minutes with the game tied, then sank two free-throws with five seconds left to ice the 61-57 victory and the program's first section title in nine years.

Runner-Up:
Corinne Myers, Westwood Track

CORINNE MYERS

Myers had a stellar winter season on the track, going undefeated against New Jersey competition. She remarkably won section titles in the 800, 1600, and 3200, along with anchoring the winning 4X400 relay team. But as the season winded down the Northeastern-bound senior chose to focus on her best distance, the 800.

She saved her best for last with 2:10.52 performance to win the NJSIAA Meet of Champions. Then, in the New Balance Nationals, she had a personal best 2:09.02 to finish third in the nation with the fourth-best time ever among New Jersey high school runners.

Honorable Mention:
Francesca Russo, Wayne Valley Fencing
Taylor Brown, Paterson Eastside Basketball
Sam Fuehring, Immaculate Conception Basketball
Allison Lee, Northern Highlands Fencing
Katherine Haines, Ridgefield Park Basketball
Kayla Gibbs, Teaneck Basketball
Izzy McMahon, Saddle River Day Basketball
Julia McClure, Secaucus Basketball
Caitlin Roche, IHA Basketball
Madison Dunbar, Northern Highlands Basketball

Boys' Team of the Season:
Bergen Catholic Wrestling

BERGEN CATHOLIC WRESTLING AT THE BCCA AWARDS DINNER. THAT'S OUR OWN DONNIE SPATARO (right).

Led by state champions Johnny Sebastian and Nick Suriano, the Crusaders not only proved themselves to be the best in New Jersey but one of the best in the nation as well. To be a great team though, there has to be great coaching and a balanced lineup that brings it to the mat every time out.

Bergen Catholic took on the best of the best both in and out of state. The Crusaders had its shared of bumps in the road both individually and collectively as a team, but never wavered when their No. 1 ranking in New Jersey was on the line against in-state competition.

The Crusaders beat a strong Delbarton squad in the section semis before getting past archrival Don Bosco Prep in the Non-Public A North section final. The state final was more of a formality as they crushed St. Augustine 52-9 to secure their third straight state title.

Runner-Up:
Teaneck Basketball

TEANECK WON ITS 4TH STRAIGHT JAMBO TITLE.

With the loss of three-time first-team All-Bergen selections Shaakir Lindsey and Joel Hernandez, it seemed like the Highwaymen would naturally take a step back and possibly dethroned after three straight Bergen County Jamboree titles. But with freshman sensation Leondre Washington running the point and Caesar DeJesus emerging as a consistent scoring threat, Teaneck surprisingly did not miss a beat and collected trophies just as it has in years past.

The Highwaymen cruised to the Bergen County Jamboree final where they had to pull out a hard-fought victory over Don Bosco Prep to become the first team in the long history of the Jambo to win four straight titles.

Defending its North 1, Group 3 section title proved to be much easier. The Highwaymen never trailed in any of their four tournament games within the section, winning all of them by at least 20 points to repeat as champions before eventually falling to Tournament of Champions finalist Newark East Side in the Group 3 semifinals.

Honorable Mention:
Paterson Eastside Basketball
St. Anthony's Basketball
Hudson Catholic Basketball
St. Peter's Prep Basketball
Don Bosco Prep Hockey
Ramsey Hockey
Pascack Hills Basketball
Ramapo Fencing
Glen Rock Hockey
Hawthorne Christian Basketball
Lyndhurst Bowling

Girls' Team of the Season:
Northern Highlands Basketball

NORTHERN HIGHLANDS: COUNTY & STATE SECTIONAL CHAMPS

With the aforementioned Heath becoming a force inside and with four-year starter Madison Dunbar running the point, the Highlanders' had a 1-2 punch that could rival anyone in North Jersey. It was the role players who emerged as the season went on to create a unit that could beat an opponent in a variety of ways.

Sophomore forward Emily Bonafacic often came up big as a third scoring option in big games. Rachel Jubelt did the same as a defensive wizard who often harassed the opposing team's point guard by not allowing them to get into their offense smoothly. Just as important as the players forming into their roles was that the Highlanders progressed as the season went on and peaked at the perfect time.

After using a strong fourth-quarter to secure an upset of No. 1 seed and defending county champion IHA in the Bergen County semis, they closed out strong again in the final against Teaneck. The Highlanders clamped down defensively and allowed just one point over the final seven minutes for a 57-44 victory and the school's first county title in basketball.

It looked like Teaneck would get revenge in the section final until the Highlanders clamped down defensively once again. Trailing by seven points less than five minutes to play, they allowed just one field goal over the final 4:39 and came back on the road to secure the program's first section title since 2005.

Runner-Up:
IHA Basketball

IHA: NON PUBLIC A STATE CHAMPS

Playing one of the toughest schedules in the state, the Blue Eagles seasoned themselves for runs at county and state titles. But after being upset by Northern Highlands in the Bergen County semis, it left only one singular goal that would define their season. Winning the section simply was not going to be enough. They had to go down to Toms River and do what no North Jersey Non-Public A team had done in recent memory, go down there and win to earn a berth to the Tournament of Champions
.
Whether it was Caitlin Roche hitting big three-pointer, Alex Mesropyan playing rock solid defense and running the offense, or players like Jordan Wilmoth and Lindsey Rogers providing an inside presence, the Blue Eagles were very balanced on both ends of the floor. It was another inside presence who would scored the biggest basket of her life and the biggest of IHA's season.

Facing old nemesis and perennial state powerhouse St. John Vianney, Oge scored on a layup with 4.5 seconds left for the game-winning basket as IHA won its first Non-Public A state title in over a decade with a 45-43 victory.

Honorable Mention:
Paterson Eastside Basketball
Lincoln Basketball
Midland Park Basketball
Teaneck Basketball
Ridgefield Park Basketball
Bayonne Basketball
Immaculate Conception Basketball
Secaucus Basketball
Holy Angels Bowling

TO BUY A COLLECTOR'S PRINT OF THIS STORY, PLEASE VISIT 4FeetGrafix.com.