BEST MOMENT and BEST BREAKTHROUGH TEAM FINALISTS
After eight days of taking Twitter suggestions for 16 categories for the second annual Acey Awards for the 2013-14 school year, today marks Day 4 — the halfway point — of the official voting period. We move on to BEST MOMENT and BEST BREAKTHROUGH TEAM today. The Best Moment category has expanded from the preliminary nomination list posted last week, thanks to additional suggestions from The Record local sports staff. The Best Breakthrough team list of finalists has been reduced to 15 after receiving 25 nominations via Twitter.
To be fair to the other Acey categories, both polls below will remain open for just 24 hours, so cast your votes for who you believe should win Best Moment and Best Breakthrough Team awards within that time from your computers, smart phones and/or tablets. You can also vote on Twitter, @VarsityAces (essentially able to cast multiple votes per category), by retweeting the tweet that has your pick for each respective finalist. Only retweets that occur within 24 hours of being posted will count — again, to be fair to the other Aceys categories. Category winners will be determined by the highest combination of Retweets on Twitter and poll votes right here on the blog. All 16 Acey Award winners will be revealed at our Aceys Award party on July 16, held at Moe’s Southwest Grill at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome to join. Let us know if you plan on coming.
With that, good luck to all the finalists. And if there are any questions going forward, feel free to tweet us @VarsityAces.
In Case You Missed It
Tuesday:Â Official Best Game and Best Play Finalists (Polls now closed)
Wednesday:Â Official Best Upset and Best Championship Performance Finalists (Polls now closed)
Thursday: Official Best Male Breakthrough Athlete and Best Female Breakthrough Athlete Finalists (Polls now closed)
OFFICIAL BEST MOMENT FINALISTS
– Two years after being partially paralyzed by contracting a rare illness during her sophomore softball season, now-senior Erin Kelly, of Hackensack, walks on the field for Senior Day. The extremely rare disease (transverse myelitis) — one in which is contracted by only one in every million people – left her initially paralyzed from the waist down and ultimately left her with a balance problem. She had 1-in-3 chance of being paralyzed for the rest of her life, but Kelly — clad in her blue and white Comets uniform — walked around the bases without assistance in Hackensack’s final home game. Kelly had received an outpouring of support on social media in the weeks leading up to Senior Day after an attempt to leave her on the field for just one play, though officials denied those requests. Kelly will be majoring in biology when she heads to Fairfield University this fall, a direct result of what she’s been through.
The quote: “I’m just lucky to be walking.†— Hackensack’s Erin Kelly
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– St. Joseph’s Quai Jefferson and his mother are honored as part of the New York Yankees Hope Week. Jefferson has been taking care of his mother since she was diagnosed 11 years ago with multiple sclerosis, an incurable autoimmune disease. At the age of only 10, he had stepped up as his mother’s primary caregiver, cooking, shopping, cleaning, doing laundry, taking her blood pressure and injecting her twice a day with a drug that eases the effects of MS — all while being an honors student and football and basketball star. Jefferson met over a dozen Yankees and threw out the first pitch before a game against the Baltimore Orioles.
The quote: “What a story. They really are best friends. Vaida says she takes care of Quai and Quai takes care of her. It’s just unbelievable. How many kids 14-15 years old can do that? When you see the personality he has and his dedication to his mother, it’s no surprise that he’s a successful young man.†— New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira
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– Rival Wayne Hills and Wayne Valley girls soccer teams (and both schools) come together for “Kicks For Cancer†just days after the passing of Dana Smith, who died of cancer last fall. Dana Smith was the wife of Wayne Hills’ athletic site coordinator Brad Smith, a regular on the sidelines of many Wayne Hills sporting events for the past 15 years having served as an assistant soccer coach for over a decade and also coached golf as well. The “Pink Gameâ€Â was at played at Wayne Valley and the Wayne Valley Booster Club sent all proceeds from the event directly to the Smith family.
The quote: “Last year we made a concerted effort to do something together to raise money for the cause. At the time, we didn’t have anybody this close involved with our team or our school that we had in mind. We were just doing it for the cause. The timing of this year was ironic, but everyone has been so supportive. Not limited to Wayne Hills, or to the soccer team. It’s been everyone. … “She was a very positive person. So unselfish. She’d do anything for anybody at anytime.†— Wayne Hills girls soccer coach Greg Rehberger
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– With the late Jim Loverdi‘s 12-year-old son, Jake, in the dugout and Loverdi’s widow, Tammy, and daughters Jessica and Jamie cheering them on, Passaic Tech baseball defeats Clifton, 7-0, on opening day in first game back after the death of their coach. Loverdi, 44, died last July 25 while vacationing with his family in Florida. Loverdi was a lifelong Little Falls resident who taught physical education and health for 17 years at Passaic Tech. He coached the varsity baseball team, was the defensive coordinator for the Bulldogs’ football team and coached the freshmen basketball team.
The quote: “He’s always with us. He never left my heart, never leaves my mind. This year isn’t about me; it’s about this team and it’s about him.†— Passaic Tech senior shortstop and captain Juan Reina
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– Just three months after the death of former teammate Madison Holleran, Northern Highlands junior Catherine Pagano runs incredible final leg of the distance medley relay at the Penn Relays — where Holleran went to school — to take the Highlanders from 11th place to 3rd. Pagano — anchoring a quartet which included Anna Richard, Amanda Pook and Hilary McElwain — ran a 4:52.28 1,600 split as Highlands finished in school-record 12:02.79.
The quote: “The girls were excited to be down here. Obviously, there is some extra meaning to the kids individually. I’m sure that played a role, but for the most part, they wanted to run well for each other and the team.†— Northern Highlands coach Tom Viscardi
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– Just two days after the death of the beloved Jon Goldstein, Wayne Hills’ student body packs the house for the boys basketball first game after his passing and delivers one of most complete performances of the year in an 84-62 victory. The student body honored Goldstein’s memory with T-shirts with his nickname “Goldy†on the back and chanting “We love Goldy!†late in the fourth quarter.
The quote: “When we stepped in the gym it was very emotional. The whole routine of what we go through was different with Goldy not being there. It was really hard to focus on basketball because you can’t get your mind off of it. He’s such a part of this team, it was very difficult in the beginning. It was very difficult the whole game, really. It was just really hard. We played well, we played like we should. We really did it for Goldy. It was very difficult, but I’m happy my team came together and found a way to win the game for him.†— Wayne Hills senior guard Kevin Wills
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– IHA’s Jordan Stefanacci starts the Blue Eagles’ Senior Day game and takes the opening kick after three ACL surgeries during her high school career. Just as it was last December, Stefanacci’s Twitter bio still reads, “Never ever give up.†Never giving up netted her an opportunity to play the game she’s loved forever next year at Gettysburg, despite only seeing significant time at IHA as a sophomore. Despite only playing one season, she still had an immense impact on the program while rehabbing and recovering from the series of ACL tears.
The quote: “A lot of people told me I should stop, some people still do even to this day. I’d have coaches and parents telling me to hang up the cleats and give up… but I love soccer. I’ve loved it all my life, and since the day I started playing, I said I wanted to play in college. I don’t want anything to stop me. My knees are a set back, but in the end, it shows how much I want it. Never did it occur to me to quit. I always knew I deserved more than I got and if I worked hard, good things would come. I never wanted to have any regrets that I quit. I don’t want to give up on my dream.†— IHA’s Jordan Stefanacci
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– Midland Park’s girls basketball crowd explodes for Boonton’s Gabby Gilio in the final minutes of the North 1, Group 1 quarterfinal, won handily by the Panthers, 59-34. Gilio, a 5th-year senior with Down Syndrome, “stole†the ball from Panthers star Rebecca Rabiero and scored in her final game in a Bombers uniform, setting off the celebration at Midland Park.
The quote: “Everybody gets caught up in the winning and losing of games and sometimes a lot of people lose reality. I try to remember that there’s a lot more involved than just that.†— Midland Park girls basketball coach Jim Drury
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– Wallington’s Danny Severino gets hit by a pitch in the first inning just under his left eye, remains in game, and later delivers game-winning RBI single — with hindered eyesight, a swollen eye and a loose tooth — to give Panthers their first win of the year against North Arlington. He also played the next day in a Wallington win over Bogota. Severino is headed to Monmouth to play football, after performing well as a wide receiver for the Panthers the last two years.
The quote: “He is a great kid. He is a tough kid for me. He has been that way all the years that he has played for me. I wish he would show more vocal leadership on the field, but he shows it in his play. He hustles all the time. He practices hard.†— Wallington baseball coach Jim Kondal
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– Hasbrouck Heights boys tennis makes a return trip to the North 1, Group 1 sectional final after the death of long time coach Neal McCarthy. From 1979 to 2013, McCarthy led the Hasbrouck Heights boys and girls tennis teams to 837 wins and 25 league titles — 16 girls, nine boys — and five sectional titles (three girls, two boys). His last sectional title came last spring (’13), leading the boys to the North 1, Group 1 championship — the first in nearly 20 years for the boys. McCarthy also taught music for over 50 years at Hasbrouck Heights.
The quote: “He loved the kids, and he loved teaching them about tennis. He wanted them to love tennis.†— Hasbrouck Heights athletic director Mike Scuilla
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– Less than five months after being diagnosed with stage 3 cancer, St. Joseph hockey’s Steven Schapiro makes return to the ice in a Green Knights’ 6-1 win. After a 4-4-1 start without Schapiro, St. Joe’s finished the year 11-5 with the Dumont native and made a run to the Silver Cup finals.
The quote: “When I was first diagnosed, I was devastated. I thought there was nothing left. Once I accepted it and collected myself, I just set my mind on pushing through this just like I do with everything else. I honestly thought I’d never be able to play hockey again. And that really stuck with me, because hockey is my life and has been since I was little. I was just sitting there thinking about how far I’ve come with hockey and then to be set back so far… my dedication to the game is what helped me beat this.†— St. Joseph’s Steven Schapiro
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– For the second straight season, the Saddle River Day girls basketball team takes on Newtown High School to benefit a charity formed in memory of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings. There were four games over two nights at Newtown, called the Threes for Charity Tournament. SRD coach Danny Brown enlisted his team and encouraged others to join the “Threes for Sandy Hook†program where a donation is made for every three-point shot made by a particular squad.
The quote: “It was something much needed by our girls, our coaching staff and our community. It showed us how wonderful the world is.†— Newtown girls basketball coach Jeremy O’Connell
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– Demarest brothers Nick and Matt Leo compete on the Norsemen’s bowling team after being born with Ataxia-Telangiectasia, or “A-T,†a degenerative disease that impacts a variety of body systems, and influences their ability to speak and walk. From a wheelchair, and with the aid of ramp, the brothers have posted scores of 201 (by Nick) and 199 (by Matt).
The quote: “They get the satisfaction of doing well and improving. They also have an outlet, just like anybody else. They get to get out school and do something that defines who they are. They’re bowlers.†— Demarest bowling coach Damon Affinito
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– Wood-Ridge dedicates school gymnasium to John Bischoff. From fellow Ace Darren Cooper’s post last September: “[Bischoff] was a coach, friend, teacher, father… in Wood-Ridge, he was beloved. He also seemed to be a big fan of Varsity Aces. Both of his daughters [Nikki and Kelly] played (and played well) at Pascack Valley.â€
The quote: “A true man’s man and one of the nicest individuals I had ever had the privilege of knowing. Back in the early days of grade school, it was evident to recognize John had an untamed enthusiasm and passion for helping others. He valued ethics and sportsmanship. Even as kids, John was older and wiser beyond his year. No doubt John was smiling down…†— Kyle Dolci, via Facebook comment
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– Saddle Brook’s Brittany DeLucia, born with “muscle tightness†and unable to participate in sports growing up like her sisters, serves as wrestling team statistician and becomes a favorite of wrestlers, coaches, referees and fans around all over Bergen County. Bergen Catholic’s Johnny Sebastian even dedicated all of wins at the Bergen Holiday Tournament to her. DeLucia is aided by two forearm canes for support when walking, though still was a regular at team practices and matches, while taking care of many team responsibilities aside form the traditional scorekeeping obligations. She was planning to attend Montclair State to pursue a teaching degree.
The quote: “I don’t think there’s a coach or ref in our county who doesn’t know Brittany. She’s as popular as most of our wrestlers.†— Saddle Brook/Glen Rock wrestling co-head coach Wayne Rogers
OFFICIAL BEST BREAKTHROUGH TEAM FINALISTS
– DePaul Football: After going 5-5 in 2012, the Spartans went 10-2 and joined the Non-Public powers in 2013, creating a “Big Five,†with wins over Don Bosco (a Best Upset Acey finalist) and Bergen Catholic and eventually captured the Non-Public Group 2 state title with a 35-16 win over Holy Spirit.
– Westwood Football: After a 5-5 season in 2012, the Cardinals finished 11-1 last fall and captured the North 1, Group 2 sectional title thanks to a high-powered offensive attack — led by QB Craig Carmilani (the North Jersey Offensive Player of the Year) and WR Nolan Borgersen — that scored touchdowns on 16 straight possessions in the postseason. On the year, Westwood outscored its opponents, 484-109.
– Lodi Football: Lodi won its first 10 games, led by duel-threat QB Emmanuel Appiah (an Aceys Best Male Breakthrough Athlete finalist) and were the undefeated league champions before losing in the North 2, Group 2 semifinals against Caldwell. Lodi’s 10-1 season followed three seasons in which it won four, five and four games from 2010 to 2012.
– Wayne Hills Boys Soccer: Starting the year ranked No. 21 in the preseason Top 25, Wayne Hills rattled off three straight upset wins in the Passaic County Tournament as the No. 5 seed, defeating No. 4 Hawthorne Christian, No. 1 DePaul and No. 2 Clifton to win its first county title since 1995. The Patriots followed that run with two more upset wins as a No. 5 seed in the North 1, Group 3 sectional tournament, defeating No. 4 Mount Olive and No. 1 Ramapo to reach the sectional final before falling, 2-1, to eventual Group 3 state co-champion Northern Highlands. They finished 16-5-2 and ranked No. 8 in the final Top 25.
– Pompton Lakes Boys Basketball: Unranked in The Record preseason Top 25, Pompton Lakes went 19-6 with wins in both the county and state tournaments for the first time in over 20 years. The Cardinals also had big wins over Glen Rock and two against Elmwood Park.
– Glen Rock Boys Basketball: After winning 17 games total in the three previous seasons, Glen Rock went 20-6 and became the lowest seed (23) to reach the Jamboree quarterfinals after upsetting No. 10 Cresskill and No. 7 Dwight Morrow. They earned the No. 3 seed in the North 1, Group 2 state tournament before being eliminated by Ramsey, 43-42, in the sectional quarterfinals.
– Wayne Valley Wrestling: The Indians went 14-4 and won their first state sectional title in program history, finishing No. 5 in the final Record Top 25 and ranked as the top public school in North Jersey, behind only Non-Public power Bergen Catholic, Don Bosco, DePaul and St. Joseph. Three Wayne Valley wrestlers medaled at the state championships in Atlantic City — Anthony Landberg (8th) at 195 pounds, Tyler Hrycak (8th) at 126 pounds and Justin Walker (3rd) at 220 pounds.
– Indian Hills Baseball: Unranked in the Preseason Top 25, Indian Hills won its league title and reached the Bergen County Tournament semifinals and held the No. 1 spot in The Record Top 25 at one point this spring. Senior pitcher AJ LoPresti and senior catcher Devin Torres were both named to second team All-North Jersey.
– Passaic Baseball: Went from the doormats of Passaic County to becoming a Top 10 team in North Jersey and earned the No. 1 seed in the Passaic County Tournament. Passaic finished 18-8, with sophomore outfieler Joey Garcia earning first team All-North Jersey honors after batting .488 and going 8-2 with a 0.87 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 64.1 innings.
– Ramsey Boys Golf: With just one senior, the Rams went 19-1 and won Bergen Group 1-2B title at Darlington by one stroke with a four-player score of 319. Ramsey also won the Group 2 state title at Hopewell Valley by four strokes with 330.
– Wayne Hills Girls Lacrosse: The Patriots went 19-1 and won the Passaic County Tournament title to go along with their league championship and No. 2 seed in the state sectional. Behind the play of seniors Ileyana Little, Victoria Cunningham, Gabriella Bussanich and Samantha Rodriguez and underclassmen such as Christina Vittas and Alexandra Davis, Wayne Hills finished with the fourth-highest scoring offense in the state (15.9 goals per game) and were one of only three undefeated teams left heading into the state tournament.
– Northern Highlands Softball: After a 14-12 season in 2013, Northern Highlands had the best year in program history this spring, going 22-5 and finishing No. 3 — behind only Indian Hills and IHA — in The Record’s final Top 25. The Highlanders, led by two-way stars Katie Duncan — who recently committed to Harvard — and Sarah Gunderson, reached the Bergen County Tournament semifinals after upsetting third-seeded Immaculate Conception and reached the North 1, Group 3 sectional final.
– Butler Softball: Unranked in the Top 25 start the season, Butler went on to go 27-4 — led by sophomore ace Larissa Spellman and senior second baseman Ally Spellman — winning the program’s first league title and reaching the program’s first Morris County Tournament final and Group 1 state final. The Bulldogs finished ranked No. 7 in the final Record Top 25.
– Fort Lee Bowling: Reached state finals for first time ever and finished second in Group 2 with best score by North Jersey team ever at the tournament; also won Big North American title.
– Waldwick Baseball: Unranked to start the season, Waldwick went an impressive 24-5 and captured the NJIC Patriot division title while averaging 8.4 runs per game, led by first-team All-North Jersey selection Connor Walsh (.480, 40 RBI, 5 HR) and Mike Salmonese (.481, 46 R, 30 RBI, 3 HR).
– Waldwick Boys Lacrosse: In just their fourth varsity season, the Warriors won a program-record 11 games, captured their first-ever Bergen County Tournament victory over River Dell, 8-7, and qualified for the North Group 1 state tournament as a No. 12 seed.