Monday,
June 27, 2016
By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer
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Mark Pieklo, in his final season, piloted Garfield to its first ever outright state championship in boys soccer. |
Boys’ Sports Coach of the Year:
Mark Pieklo, Garfield
For the 19 years that Pieklo has been at the helm he has been able to mesh players from different cultural backgrounds and get them to play as one on the field. The Boilermakers have always been a solid side under Pieklo, but seemed to fall just short in the state tournament.
Midway through this season, Pieklo found his team not performing up to its usual standards and laid it on the line. Was this to be a season to remember or one in which the players would look back later on in life and say ‘what if?’ His words resonated and Garfield did not lose another game the rest of the season.
Three straight one-goal wins heading into the state tournament proved that Garfield could win the close ones. After easy wins over Leonia and Parsippany in the first two rounds, waiting in the North 2, Group 2 semifinal was top seeded and perennial state powerhouse Harrison. The game went back and forth through 100 minutes and into penalty kicks. Just before the shootout, Pieklo reminded his players that this was their time and to remain confident. They did just that to win the shootout and advance to the section final.
There was less drama in the title game as Garfield pulled out a 4-2 win over Dover to win the North 2, Group 2 section title, but the Boilermakers had to fight back from one-goal deficits in both the Group 2 semifinals and final.
After battling back from 1-0 down to beat Pascack Hills, he notified his team that the state final would be his last game on the sidelines as the Garfield head coach and his players had new motivation to send him out a champion. After allowing a goal to Holmdel with 8:14 left in the game and just after a Garfield goal was disallowed, it seemed like it was the end of the road. Pieklo had one last coaching move left in his bag of tricks and moved holding midfielder David Herrera into an attacking position and sweeper Wojciech Piwowarczyk up front on set pieces.
It worked to perfect as Herrera lofted a pair of direct kicks that Wojciech Piwowarczyk headed in 27 seconds apart, the latter with 1:36 to play as Pieklo went out as all coaches dream of: as a state champion.
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Runner-Up:
Jeff Remo, Mahwah Football
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Mahwah's Jeff Remo |
Mahwah has been a consistent playoff team under Remo, making the North 1, Group 2 playoffs in nine of the past 10 years. The one thing that has eluded both Remo and the Mahwah football program was the feeling that comes with winning a state championship. Coming into camp before the season Remo knew that this senior-laden squad had a chance to win it all.
With a high-powered offense and a dominant defense that allowed just 70 points on the season and posted five shutouts, everything was clicking right from the start for the Thunderbirds. However all that success would be soon forgotten if not for the long-awaited ending in MetLife Stadium.
Against a red-hot Glen Rock team and its run-and-shoot offense, Mahwah never let the Panthers get comfortable. The T-Birds had their best half of the season when it counted most, taking a 24-0 halftime lead on their way to a 38-13 victory for Remo’s first state football title and the first for Mahwah in 34 years.
Honorable Mention:
Nick Landy, Harrison Volleyball
Paul Albarella, Northern Highlands Baseball
Dean Portas, Ramsey Ice Hockey
Drew Gibbs, Ramapo Football
Kevin Kirkby, Pascack Hills Basketball
Frank Clark, Waldwick Baseball
Joe Benvenuti, Passaic Valley Wrestling
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Girls’ Sports Coach of the Year:
Brian Dunn, Northern Valley/Old Tappan Basketball
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Brian Dunn led Old Tappan through injury and to its first-ever Group 3 state title in girls basketball. |
In a sport in which just five athletes play at one time, losing two of those five starting players to season-ending knee injuries would be considered essentially the end of that season. Old Tappan girls’ basketball head coach Brian Dunn was disappointed that two key seniors (do-everything Alexie Piccinich and All-County leading scorer Ariana Chipolone) would not be able to finish their senior seasons on the court. But he had to switch the team’s focus from sadness for those two players to opportunity for other players to step up and become part of something special.
Just after a Round of 16 victory over Indian Hills in the Bergen County Tournament, Chipolone suffered an ACL tear in the first quarter of the Golden Knights’ game against Pascack Valley. Normally there is quite an adjustment period after an injury like that, but Dunn kept his players focused emotionally and physically for the remainder of the season.
Old Tappan got back to basics and rededicated itself on the defensive end of the floor. The Golden Knights went on to win that PV and tacked on a Bergen County Tournament quarterfinal win over IHA and a quality regular season win over Teaneck.
After scoring just one first-quarter point and trailing by as many as 17 points in an eventual loss to Saddle River Day in the BCT semis, it looked to be the point where Old Tappan finally ran out of gas. Although they did go on to lose that game Dunn made sure that his team never quit and that never-say-die attitude carried right over into the state tournament.
With point guard Emily Crevani setting the tone, Alex George in the middle and three-point sniper Kaitlyn Systma on the perimeter, Old Tappan’s offense was in good shape, but it was on the defensive end of the floor that NVOT excelled in the postseason. The Golden Knights allowed over 10 points in just 2 of 16 quarters during the team’s run to a North 1, Group 3 title. Then in the state final against a Middletown South team that beat them in the Group 3 final a year earlier, the Golden Knights saved their best defensive stretch for when it mattered most.
Against a team that averaged 60 points per game on the season, the Golden Knights held Middletown South without a point in the second quarter and under 40 points for just the second time all season to win the Group 3 state title with a 47-36 triumph. Despite the injury-riddled season Dunn led his team to first-ever Tournament of Champions berth and a final record of 26-5. |
Runner-Up:
Kendal George, Dumont Softball
Taking over as a head coach for the first time is stressful enough as is, but taking over for a head coach with over 400 career wins is something that might be too overwhelming for any young coach to handle. When George took over at her alma mater for her former coach, Rich Wilson, she wanted to hit the ground running and make sure her team was ready for a memorable season.
The Lady Huskies did that and then some with one amazing win after another in the Bergen County Tournament. After winning their first-round game with a three-run, walkoff HR in the bottom of the seventh inning over Hasbrouck Heights, the Huskies pulled upsets on back-to-back days in thrilling fashion. An upset over No. 2 seed and eventual Group 2 state champ Northern Valley/Demarest was followed up less than 24 hours later by 4-2 win in 10 innings over Saddle Brook for the school’s BCT semifinal berth in 25 years before losing to eventual champion IHA, 4-0, and finishing the season with a 21-6 record.
Honorable Mention:
Becky Fantry, Ramsey Field Hockey
Tara Madigan, Northern Highlands Soccer
Diana Fasano, IHA Softball
Paul Heenehan, Ramapo Soccer
Danny Brown, Saddle River Day Basketball
Tim Cullen, Leonia Tennis
Marquette Burgess, Paterson Kennedy Basketball
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Miscellaneous Awards
Best Dressed Male Coach:
Ed Rendzio, Wood-Ridge Basketball
We give credit where credit is due. Rendzio is the Michael Jordan of dolling it up on the sidelines. The bigger the game, the better Jordan played. The bigger the game, the better Rendzio’s suit is. Tailored to perfection with shined shoes to match. Rock is the man and I wouldn’t be surprised if he wears a suit and tie to go jogging.
Worst Dressed Male Coach:
Chris Gaskin, Ridgefield Park Basketball
Gaskin is an unabashed favorite here at Northjerseysports.com. While his gameday outfits have finally gotten out of the 90’s and into this millennium, there’s really nobody else who takes this title. When you end up at the Meadowlands practically begging for me to give the award to someone else, I have to give it to you just on principal.
Best AOTW Interview of the Year:
Sarah Gunderson, Northern Highlands
Gunderson has been one of the top softball players in Bergen County for the past few years. Remarkably, this year was the first time I had the chance to interview her and, quite frankly, she was hilarious. Not to mention, she studied previous AOTW’s before hers and was prepared as could be….unlike me who read the same Chick-Fil-A ad week after week and always needed 7 or 8 takes to get it done right.
Best Moment of the Barton Challenge:
Hitting a half-court after saying I was going to do it on the first try
This one is pretty self-explanatory. On a basketball court I have a knack for two things, hitting half-court shots and choking in big games. Sadly after 20-plus years that’s still true.
Best Individual Effort in a Loss:
Rachel Vellis, Wayne Hills Field Hockey
In now 15 years of doing this, it was the best individual performance I’ve ever seen in any sport. I went to this game because I figured it would be a good, competitive contest. Ramsey was on absolute fire the whole game but Vellis stood on her head from the first minute. Never in my life have I seen a goalie get peppered that bad and they were some of the most ridiculous saves ever. It was honestly incredible. The biggest shame of it all was after turning away the first 44 shots she faced and clearing away 28 corners (both the highest totals I’ve ever seen), Ramsey scored with just over three minutes to play in overtime. Vellis deserved better.
Last 5 Hip-Hop Songs I listened to
Step in the arena – Gang Starr
My mind is playing tricks on me – Geto Boys
Treat em’ right – Chubb Rock
Shadowboxin’ – GZA/Method Man
Hey young world – Slick Rick
Best Official/Umpire:
Hank Teel
Hank is just the best. Knows everyone, likes everyone, seems to get all the big games and never makes a mistake. More importantly, he truly enjoys umpiring and that makes games even more enjoyable as a fan myself to watch.
Worst Official/Umpire/Human:
John Way
This one goes without saying. Short-sleeved shirts from Structure in 1991 and a haircut to match. Guy always looks uncomfortable from the time I was his roommate in college until now. Not sure why he was back then but I can guess why now. #cutbackonthecarbs
Best Reporter at NorthJerseySports.com:
Richie Ferrari
Hard-hitting stories? Richie B’s Got 'em. Big games? Got 'em. Athlete of the week features? Got 'em. Is there anything I’m afraid of? (Heights and snakes come to mind immediately) Anyway to no one’s surprise, Richie Ferrari wins this one in a landslide victory. When Richie Ferrari comes through just make sure to stay out of the fast lane, it’s reserved.
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