Sussex County Sports Blog
By Dan Cleary
1/3/2010 - Top Teams Of The Decade
It is that time of the year again. That time when everyone looks back on the past 12 months and people like me tell you what the top 5, 10 or whatever stories were for the past year.
Picking the top stories is extremely subjective, but some are a slam dunks. Like last year, the No. 1 story in the Mugs Media area was realignment and the death of the Sussex County Interscholastic League.
But after that, you can pick numerous stories depending on what sports you follow. The point being is that lists serve no other purpose than to provoke thought, which is a good thing. There is no right or wrong, it is whatever you feel is important.
So with the end of the decade upon us, I thought I would join the “List Parade” and name the top 5 teams of the last 10 years in my humble opinion.
I used no scientific formula, just my subjective observations. Some teams may surprise you, some won’t. But now that the decade is over, these are the top teams of 2000s.
1. HIGH POINT WRESTLING 2008-The Wildcats garner the No. 1 ranking for their history-making run two seasons ago which culminated with their first-ever Group 3 state title.
The area has seen some amazing wrestling teams over the years with Kittatinny’s incredible run of seven state championships in the 2000s leading the way. But the Cougars could never reach the pinnacle of the sport. Kittatinny came tantalizing close a couple of times, but the Cougars never finished the consensus No. 1 team in the state.
In fact no area team had done the trick (Blair Academy is not a member of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association) since the great Jefferson teams of the early 1990s.
But High Point finally got its state-title monkey off its back in 2008 by steamrolling its way to a 30-1 season with a dominating 63-3 win over Sayreville in the Group 3 final. The Wildcats only loss was to Blair as the Wildcats beat everyone else in New Jersey with ease.
The core of that team is still wrestling for the Wildcats. The “Fab Freshmen” of Nick Francavilla, Ethan Orr, Drew Wagonhoffer, Joey Gaccione and Billy Smith bolstered an already solid lineup that included Joe Donahue, Tyler Forbeck, Gavin Tarsa, Vin Gallo, Billy Gould, Tom Diviantonio, Billy Hotalen and senior leader Brad Thomas.
The fact that the Wildcats lost two starters to injuries—Kyle Donadio and Griffin Panicucci—before the state tournament makes what they did even more impressive.
The Wildcats unfortunately could not defend their title in 2009 due to their disqualification for not wrestling enough matches against teams from New Jersey, but 2010 promises to be another magical year in Wantage.
2. SPARTA GIRLS BASKETBALL 2001—The Spartans ushered in the decade as not only one of the best teams in the area, but in the state.
The Spartans had already won state crowns in 1985 and 1990 and reached the final three more times before finally claiming their third banner in 2001 with a resounding win over Toms River South.
Girls basketball in the early 2000s was as good as it gets in the area with Sparta, North Warren and Newton all reaching the final game at the Dunn Center in Elizabeth. But only the Spartans took home the big prize.
The Spartans went 27-2 and only lost to Jefferson in the SCIL Festival final before falling to Group 4 champ Columbia in the Tournament of Champions.
The 2001 team was a perfect blend of basketball players who knew their roles and executed them perfectly. Coach Fred Geffken knew he had a special bunch and they did not let him down.
The squad featured four Division I athletes and tremendous depth. Jessica Trainor, who couldn’t score a lick, was the top point guard in the area and was possibly the best defensive player in the state.
What she did to Kelley Suminski of Mendham in the state semifinals is the stuff legends are made of. Trainor, who went onto an outstanding career for the University of Virginia’s soccer team, locked up Suminski one-on-one despite giving up eight inches to the All-State performer and future Stanford University star.
Mendham was a big favorite coming in to win the Group 3 crown and the TOC, but thanks to Trainor the Spartans advanced.
Melissa Yeagley, who went on to play at Iona, was the MVP of the final game, but Meghan Jent, who played at Robert Morris, was a force all game and was the team’s high scorer. Diana Dilworth, Olivia Keil and Brittany Keil, who was a freshman and would eventually play at Holy Cross, rounded out the best girls hoops team of the decade.
3. SPARTA FOOTBALL 2003-- Sparta football returned to glory in the early part of the decade and coach Pat Shea capped his first stint with the Spartans by guiding the Spartans to the first and only 12-0 season in Sussex County history.
Yes, I know there were some other great teams in the decade like Pope John and Hopatcong, but no other team can lay claim to being perfect.
The Spartans won the SCIL behind its talented and well-balanced offensive attack led by one of the best field generals, in my opinion in county history, Eric Reese. Reese possessed tremendous ability, but his leadership and game management were second to none.
Reese went onto a fine baseball career at Fordham University.
Adam LaValley was one of the most versatile players the Spartans have ever had. He could run the ball, catch and kick. He also played great defense. Chris Mullen, Tom Zanetich, Ryan Lindsley, Tom Lindsley and Ryan Skorupka were fantastic skill players, while Doug Alpers, Tim Yeagley and Kevin Taylor were superb on the line.
The Spartans knocked off a very game Montville squad 14-10 before blanking Dover 16-0 at Giants Stadium in the best farewell gift Pat Shea could ever receive. The thing I remember about the final was that it was snowed out and played later in the week, but nothing could throw off that Sparta club.
There may have been Sparta teams with more talent during the decade, but like the 1972 Miami Dolphins, no one can say they were perfect for 12 games.
4. JEFFERSON SOFTBALL 2003- Jefferson’s legendary coach Ed Levens had guided the Falcons to the state final five times in his illustrious career, but the Falcons could never win the “Big One.”
Well, that was until Dawn Gilchrist hit her version of the “Shot Heard Around the World” or at least Oak Ridge. The Falcons (23-3) were facing a mighty Hamilton West team, whose coach told everyone before the game that if it scored one run it would win.
Well, someone forgot to the tell the Falcons and behind the outstanding pitching of freshman Brittany Gerritsen the Falcons finally won one for “Lev” as Gilchrist sent everyone home with a dramatic walk-off bomb in extra innings in one of the most exciting conclusions to a sporting event I have ever covered.
This championship game, too, was postponed first due to bad weather. The teams had gathered on Saturday morning in Toms River to play but only got three innings in before the field was unplayable.
All it did was delay the inevitable as the Falcons capped a season in which it shared the SCIL with Sparta, won the Morris County tourney and the North 2, Group 3 section crown.
The section crown was most memorable as well as six senior starters opted not play the game against Cranford to attend the Senior Prom. But a little-known freshman who would become one of the top hoops players in Jefferson history stepped up and etched her name in Jefferson lore.
Dedra Pritchard had already handed in her uniform for the season before Levens asked her to play during the school day, and Pritchard delivered the game-winning hit in the bottom of the seventh to send the Falcons to an unlikely 3-2 victory.
The Falcons would drop down to Group 2 in 2004 and win another state title behind outstanding pitcher Carolyn McCrea. But that 2003 group of Gilchrist, Gerritsen, Amanda Gates, Amy Tasker, Maria Grill, McCrea, Lauren Cirule and catcher Steph Wyman will always hold a special spot in Levens’ heart.
5. NORTH WARREN BOYS SOCCER 2002-Throughout the 2000s, Sparta’s boys soccer team dominated the area, but North Warren became the only area soccer team, boys or girls, to win a state crown.
The Pats in fact won the Group 1 crown in 2002 and 2003 and lost in the 2004 final, facing the same opponent all three times, South Jersey power Schalick High School.
North Warren has one of the most rich soccer traditions in the state, dating back to Blairstown High School and Fred T. Ehrgood, and then the legend, Jack Sweet, who put tiny Blairstown in Warren County on the soccer map.
But the Pats could never win an elusive state title despite sporting some of the top players in state history, like the Rhodes and Sweet brothers. That changed in 2002 when the Pats hit the road and won the title with a 4-3 win.
The Pats had no trouble scoring and they came out you in waves. Chris O’Donoghue was an incredible scorer while future St. John’s star Rory Quinn was magical with the ball at his feet.
Dan Snyder’s crew, which also featured Greg Sassaman, Dirk Swaneveld and Sean Meehan, gave the North Warren faithful a ride they will never forget.
That’s it for now, see you on the sidelines.
|
5/16/2013 Pope John Takes Aim At Softball Title 5/9/2013 Wildcats Look to Repeat 5/4/2013 Spartans Eye HWS Lax Crowns 4/27/2013 A Tribute To My Dad 4/3/2013 Firing Rice A Good Start 4/1/2013 Spring Broadcast Schedule 3/25/2013 Soccer Coaches Will Be Missed 3/18/2013 Hoops Season Review 3/13/2013 O'Connor Goes Out A Winner 2/21/2013 High Point Eyes H/W/S Crown 2/20/2013 PJ-Sparta III 2/18/2013 Wildcats Bounce Back To Win State Title 2/5/2013 Wynne, Lions Continue to Roar 2/4/2013 Girls Hoops Power Points 2/4/2013 Boys Hoops Power Points 1/29/2013 H/W/S Boys Hoops Preview 1/27/2013 H/W/S Girls Hoops Preview 1/18/2013 Jones Steps Down As Wallkill Football Coach 1/10/2013 How Are Good Are the Lions? 1/2/2013 2013 Comes in With A Bang; Pretty in Pink Saturday 12/27/2012 Winter Broadcast Schedule 12/12/2012 NJAC Football All-Stars Freedom 12/12/2012 NJAC Football All-Stars American -2 12/11/2012 NJAC Girls Soccer All-Stars 12/10/2012 NJAC Football All-Stars American 12/9/2012 NJAC Girls Tennis All-Stars 12/8/2012 NJAC Boys Soccer All-Stars 12/3/2012 Newton Win Worthy Of Parade 11/27/2012 Pats Making History 11/11/2012 State Football Pairings 11/5/2012 Sandy Wreaks Havoc 10/24/2012 SUCO Hall Has New Look 10/17/2012 Pope John Soccer Eyes History 10/3/2012 H/W/S Soccer Set To Start 9/27/2012 H/W/S Field Hockey Starts; State Makes Right Call 9/20/2012 NJSIAA Comes Up Snake Eyes 9/12/2012 Fall Broadcast Schedule 9/11/2012 We Should Never Forget 9/7/2012 Academies Not The Right Way To Go 8/17/2012 Football Group Classifications 8/7/2012 Horse Show Trots On 7/31/2012 Turf Field Great For Newton 7/24/2012 Martinek, Big Blue Good Fit 7/9/2012 BBCOR Bats Right Move 6/27/2012 NJAC Baseball, Softball Stars 6/20/2012 (Mugs Media Exclusive) Van Orden Takes High Point Job 6/17/2012 Wildcats Win Thriller 6/7/2012 High Point Continues Magical Ride 5/30/2012 Tech Caps Record Season 5/21/2012 Wildcats Capture Crown 5/16/2012 State Should Break Lax Tourney Into Sections 5/8/2012 Spartans Eye H/W/S Title 5/1/2012 Girls Lacrosse Tourney Set To Start 4/22/2012 Wildcats Eye Tourney Title 4/13/2012 Games of the Week Back on The Air ! 4/6/2012 Scholar-Athlete Dinner Great Event 3/27/2012 Lipscomb Perfect Fit For SCCC 3/20/2012 Geffken Leaves Lasting Legacy 3/5/2012 Mugs Media Will Survive 2/20/2012 Lawrence Makes Big Splash With PJ 1/30/2012 Paternostro Passes Away 1/24/2012 (Mugs Media Exclusive) Falcons Hire DeGennaro 1/23/2012 When Paterno Came to Wallkill 1/19/2012 Vikes Hit Rough Seas 1/15/2012 NJAC Races Heating Up 1/7/2012 Martinek Wraps Fine Career 12/14/2011 NJAC Should Push Back Starting Date 12/6/2011 Football Plan Rejected 11/27/2011 Magical Season For Braves 11/15/2011 Wayne Hills Misses Opportunity 11/8/2011 Vikings Back in The Big Dance 10/31/2011 Christensen, Wildcats Roar 10/25/2011 NJAC Makes Changes 10/13/2011 DiSomma Brings Home Title 10/4/2011 H/W/S Soccer To Start 9/27/2011 Mustangs, Leach Make History 9/19/2011 Lions Bounce Back For Carlson 9/11/2011 We Should Never Forget 9/8/2011 Wildcats Show Fight 8/21/2011 Are You Ready For Some Football? 8/12/2011 SUCO Hall of Fame Class Stellar 8/3/2011 PJ's Moore Picks BC 7/24/2011 Ungerman Classic Great For Hoops Fans 7/14/2011 Vernon Drops To Group 3 7/8/2011 Kelly, Dugan To Lead Braves 7/2/2011 Sussex Stars Shine 6/21/2011 High Point Finds Solution With Percey 6/13/2011 What A Ride For Sparta 6/4/2011 Historic Blasts For PJ, Sparta 5/23/2011 Judgment Day for Lions, Vikes 5/15/2011 Ruban Steps Down At Wallkill Valley 5/9/2011 Boys Lax Tourney Should Be Good One 5/6/2011 Vernon Girls Favorite To Win H/WS 4/29/2011 Pope John Names New Basketball Coach 4/23/2011 H/W/S Tourneys To Start 4/10/2011 GIrls Hoops NJAC Stars 4/2/2011 History Made At Pope John 4/1/2011 Pope John Names Football Coach 3/25/2011 Local Boys Hoops Stars Honored 3/20/2011 Hopatcong's Rey Wins National Title 3/16/2011 Lions Saga Continues 3/9/2011 (Mugs Media Exclusive) Paternostro Steps Down 3/5/2011 Great Run For High Point Girls 2/17/2011 Hats Off To Cats 2/12/2011 American Division Up For Grabs 2/3/2011 A Look At H/W/S Girls Hoops Tourney 1/25/2011 H/W/S Boys Hoops Preview 1/18/2011 More Females Join Coaching Ranks 1/9/2011 Pretty In Pink Classic Great Success 1/2/2011 Wildcats Look To Make History 12/21/2010 Skyhawks May Fly The Coop 12/14/2010 Alumni Game Fun 12/6/2010 NJAC Girls Soccer Honors 11/30/2010 NJAC Field Hockey Honors 11/18/2010 Local Boys Soccer Players Honored 11/11/2010 Rangers Return To Playoffs 11/6/2010 Vikings Make History 10/28/2010 Tourney Time Brings Questions 10/20/2010 Power Point Presentation 10/14/2010 North Warren Football On The Rise 10/7/2010 H/W/S Tourney Under Way 9/30/2010 Stop The Insanity 9/22/2010 Tough Break For Chiefs 9/11/2010 We Should Never Forget 9/8/2010 NJSIAA Moving In Right Direction 8/17/2010 Activity Fees New Reality 8/10/2010 Zabriskie Makes County Proud 8/2/2010 PJ Soccer Family Rallies For Good Cause 7/24/2010 Is Cheerleading A Sport? 7/15/2010 Marchiano Named Sparta Coach 7/7/2010 Change Good For Vikings 6/27/2010 Up And Down Year For NJAC 6/15/2010 New Sparta Coach Has Big Shoes To Fill 6/8/2010 Shea Steps Down At Sparta 6/1/2010 TOC On Chopping Block 5/20/2010 Beatty Cup Great Idea 5/3/2010 Spartans Gain Top Seed 5/1/2010 Local NJAC Standings 4/23/2010 Bello, Lions Ready To Roar 4/18/2010 Mustangs Ready For H/W/S 4/17/2010 Local NJAC Standings 4/11/2010 Local NJAC Standings 4/5/2010 Girls Lacrosse Has New Look 3/22/2010 Sports Programs In Doubt 3/15/2010 NJSIAA In Fight For Its Life 3/8/2010 No 'Rocky' Ending For Orr 3/1/2010 What We Learned At H/W/S 2/28/2010 Local NJAC Hoops Standings 2/19/2010 Wrestling Needs A TOC 2/12/2010 H/W/S Tourney To Tip Off 2/10/2010 Local NJAC Hoops Standings 2/8/2010 Clearing Up Tourney Questions 2/6/2010 Local NJAC Hoops Standings 2/1/2010 (Exclusive to Mugs Media) Levens, Falcons Part Ways 1/31/2010 Local NJAC Hoops Standings 1/20/2010 Great Night For Wrestling 1/18/2010 Local NJAC Basketball Standings 1/11/2010 Geffken Makes Right Choice 1/3/2010 Top Teams Of The Decade 12/27/2009 O'Connor Hits Magic Mark 12/15/2009 Sports-Specific Way to Go 12/3/2009 NJAC Makes Changes 11/23/2009 Geary, Spartans Play Instant Classic 11/16/2009 NJAC Should Look At Football 11/8/2009 Sussex Football Puts On Show 10/29/2009 Great Start To H/W/S Tourney 10/22/2009 Expanded Brackets Good Idea 10/13/2009 New Tourney Set To Kick Off 10/7/2009 Classy Chernati wins 300th Game 9/29/2009 Tough Start For ex-SCIL Teams 9/11/2009 We Should Never Forget 9/8/2009 NJAC Era Begins 9/1/2009 Parzero Perfect For Pats 8/23/2009 New World For Mugs Media 8/9/2009 Fun At The Fair 8/2/2009 Fond Memories of Dick Stoltenborg 7/24/2009 Hall Nominees All Deserving 7/14/2009 Opening Day Will Be Tough 6/28/2009 SCIL Show Special 6/2/2009 Newton Makes Disque Proud 5/19/2009 Tri-County Tourney Great Idea 5/12/2009 NJSIAA Hits Grand Slam 5/1/2009 How About A Lacrosse Tourney? 4/19/2009 Levens Keeps On Winning 4/11/2009 Everyone's Favorite Uncle Mo' 4/2/2009 Morris Will Be Missed 3/21/2009 SCIL Athletes Talk Of The Town 3/12/2009 Wrestlebacks Not For The Meek 3/3/2009 Kuntz Built SCCC Into Winner 2/25/2009 Festival Goes Out In Style 2/17/2009 SCIL Swim Festival First Class 2/11/2009 Heartbreak For Wildcats 2/4/2009 Expanded Brackets A Home Run 1/27/2009 Coaches Sit On Hot Seat 1/20/2009 NJAC Releases Schedules (Part 2) 1/13/2009 NJAC Releases Schedules (Part 1) 1/5/2009 I'm One Lucky Guy 12/21/2008 Tough Break For Sisco 12/7/2008 Nice Guys Finish First 11/28/2008 Back To The Future For Falcons 11/20/2008 Sussex Perfect For Runners 11/14/2008 Fitting End For SCIL Football 11/8/2008 Other Side of Cinderella 10/31/2008 Edelman, Vikes Make Good Point 10/23/2008 Rangers Riding High 10/16/2008 Old Lion Still Roaring 10/9/2008 State Plays 52-Pickup 10/3/2008 SCIL Soccer Plan Perfect 9/25/2008 NJSIAA Lacks Direction 9/17/2008 High Point's Keur Happy To Be Back 9/11/2008 We Should Never Forget 9/1/2008 Football Deaths Sobering Reminder 8/25/2008 State Plan Needs Second Look 8/14/2008 Realingment Plan Disbands SCIL (Exclusive to MugsMedia.Com) 8/11/2008 Martinek Gives Me Knight Fever 8/6/2008 Remembering Ryan Olsen 7/30/2008 No Place Like Home For Crespi 7/21/2008 Trudgeon, Braves Had Great Run 7/13/2008 Safety First For Little Leaguers 7/6/2008 Wolf, Nottle Find Winning Ways 6/29/2008 Are You Ready For The Summer? 6/22/2008 Lanier Right Man For Skyhawks 6/15/2008 A Special Thanks to Dad 6/7/2008 Defense Never Rests 5/30/2008 Kittatinny Crew Saves the Day 5/23/2008 Bello makes right call 5/16/2008 Great to be back at Festival 5/9/2008 Softball Should Have Tourney 4/25/2008 Realignment Could Be Done Deal 4/18/2008 SCIL Teams Born to Score Runs 4/11/2008 SCIL Home to Top Hurlers 4/4/2008 Lacrosse Teams Riding the Wave 3/28/2008 Wallkill's VanZile Set to Retire (Exclusive to MugsMedia.com) 3/21/2008 A Little "Mercy" for Football Teams 3/14/2008 Valenti's Title Caps Banner Year for SCIL Wrestling 3/7/2008 Taking a Hard Look at the New Transfer Rules 2/29/2008 Giving SCIL Basketball a Boost 2/22/2008 Rasslin' to the Top... Finally 2/15/2008 Handicapping the Festival 2/8/2008 The Power of Power Points 1/31/2008 SCIL Adopts Innovative Soccer Plan (Exclusive to MugsMedia.com) 1/25/2008 On the Track to an Elite Program 1/18/2008 Adding Up the Numbers 1/11/2008 Dominating the Paint 1/3/2008 Bowling with the Knights 12/27/2007 Playing Games Over the Holidays 12/20/2007 The Mitchell Report Hits Home 12/13/2007 Are You Ready for the Winter? 12/6/2007 Reform Comes Slowly to New Jersey High School Sports 11/28/2007 Handing Out the Golden Statues 11/21/2007 Time for Change in NJ High School Sports 11/14/2007 Going a Little Extra 11/7/2007 The Single-Sport Athlete Dilemma 10/31/2007 Friday Night Lights 10/23/2007 Kicking Around Re-alignment 10/1/2007 I'm baaaack... |